Don't ask God to make your life easier, ask Him to make you a stronger person.

Friday, August 24, 2012

2012 Finishes . . . . .

I noticed the other day that I didn't have a list of finishes for this year.  That wasn't true since I had finished a few things.

First is "January" which is one that I showed before but this time it is finished!  As in quilting and binding... whoohoo


And then there is "Sewing Seeds" .....



And finally "Winterberry".



All three are by Cheri Payne.  I, of course, used wool for all the appliques. 

The patterns are all available on my website.  "January" is also available in a kit but I don't have the kits up on the website yet.  If you are interested, shoot an email to me.

Speaking of the website, I've been doing a lot of work to it.  So if you have been before, make sure you refresh the pages!  It's finally starting to look the way I had always envisioned it in my mind.

Blessings, Cathi

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Charm Packs are here . . . . .

You asked for them, you got them.


And I didn't just make a few here and there.  I made bunches and bunches!


All sorted, collated, labeled and stacked.  Ready to head to your house.

Each bundle has 10 different yummy wool pieces of one colorway in 5" x 5" squares.  Perfect for when you need scraps for leaves, berries, snowman noses, flower petals, pumpkin eyes ..... who knows what you will come up with!


They are all available on the website.  Go to the Wool page then click on "Charm Packs".  Easier yet, just click here!

Blessings, Cathi

Friday, August 17, 2012

Tools of the trade for a professional wool dyer?

Ibuprofen and coffee, of course!


Enjoy your day! I'm off to the dye pots . . . . 

Blessings, Cathi

Thursday, August 16, 2012

The Cotton Quilt . . . . .

This Saturday, my friend and fellow vendor Martha, is having her first annual (hopefully it's annual) outdoor quilt show.


The show will be held at 4900 Troy Road, Granite Falls, North Carolina.  Granite Falls is off Hwy. 321 just above Hickory.  The show will be held from 10 am until 2 pm this Saturday, August 18th.  

Martha and her husband Jerry own The Cotton Quilt which is housed in her grandmother's sister's old farmhouse.  As you can see in the picture above, there is lots of room to hang quilts.  All the quilts hanging were made by Martha's students and customers since the shop opened years and years ago so there should be plenty to see. 

I have been to Martha's shop and I was just amazed at how much fabric a small house could hold.  Room after room of bolts and patterns and notions.  

So if you are anywhere in the Carolinas this weekend, take a trip up to the foothills and visit!

Blessings, Cathi

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Christmas QAL follow-up and other stuff . . . . .

Thanks for all the emails and postings about yesterday's Christmas Quilt Along.  I really had a good time and enjoyed visiting as many of you as I did.

I finished stitching the text and started the feather stitch on my project.  I haven't done the feather stitch in a long time so it felt a little awkward.

For those who asked, the pattern is called "Merry Christmas" by Cheri Payne.

I spent today updating my website to add the Christmas/Winter patterns.  Here is what I added . . . . .

Comfort and Joy
Merry Christmas
Winterberry
Joy
Good Cheer
Patriotic Snowman Basket
Cold Days
Let's Ride
Winter
And here is the link ......... Christmas/Winter patterns.

I hope you all had a good time yesterday.  If you didn't get the chance to participate, we will meet again on the second Saturday of September.  Our hostess will be Reenie at A Quilt Complex.  Hope you can make it!

Blessings, Cathi

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Wow, what a nap . . . . .

Dear Hubby always told me that if I took a nap that long, I probably needed it.  I can't believe I slept for 3 hours! A good, hard sleep.  I haven't been sleeping well lately so it was much needed and appreciated.

First I want to show what I did last weekend.


The Married One and the Wild One joined me for a "Christmas in July" party.  Yea, I know it was August but it had to be postponed from earlier.  The one on the left has already had the handwork applied.  I haven't decided what I am doing with these or how I am going to finish them but they are adorable!


They are an adaptation of a stitchery pattern from Buttermilk Basin.  The pattern is 10 years old but what I like about Stacy's website is that she keeps all her patterns on there, no matter how old they are.  This pattern is located in the bottom half of the "Winter" page.

This is what I have done since I woke up from the nap .....


I have also fused all the pieces together that needed to be.  Handwork will be done over the next week at night and hopefully have a finished top to show you next weekend.  Hopefully more tonight.  Off to eat dinner .... Dear Hubby is cooking for us tonight ..... something Mexican!

Golf has been postponed due to weather, the Carolina Panthers (American football) is on tv tonight so I may have to escape to my room and watch the Harry Potter marathon.

Blessings, Cathi

Merry Christmas Quilt . . . . .

This is what I have finished so far with the project I picked for the day.


Here is the pattern I am making it from .....


As usual, the colors look better in person than they do in a picture.  I have come inside from the Wool Barn to have some lunch and start the handwork.  

I have a feeling that I will be asleep in no time since it's raining outside and Dear Hubby is watching the PGA Championship on TV!  Just love lazy Saturday afternoons.

Blessings, Cathi

Announcement . . . . .

Sue has asked me to mention today that she will have a Beauty Parade of the Festive Mystery quilts!  It will take place during Sue's turn to hostess in December.

So get those sewing machines humming today and finish up your top.  Or in my case, I will be printing out the directions today and hopefully cutting.

 And what's a post without a picture......


Blessings, Cathi

Okay, I'm up, I'm up . . . . .

Just yelling at myself....

It was like a revolving door last night with people coming home at different times and each time they did, the dogs went crazy, waking me up again.

So while I take a quick shower and put on some coffee, I'll leave you with some pictures of Christmas Quilt Along pasts.



I'll be back in a bit to go around and visit soon!

PS.  The Christmas cookie story and recipe is located HERE.

Blessings, Cathi

Let's get started . . . . .

It should be early, early on Saturday morning in the U.K.  I'm still asleep and those on the Pacific coast may not have even gone to bed yet on Friday night.

I'm putting Mr. Linky up, hoping that this post will go up as scheduled so that you can go ahead and start this month's Christmas Quilt Along when you are ready.



So go ahead and grab your cuppa (whether it is coffee, tea or hot chocolate), put on some Christmas music, turn the iron on and let's get started. 

I'll meet you in the sewing room soon!


Blessings, Cathi

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

I'll be there . . . . .

As many of you know, I co-hosted the Christmas Quilt-A-Long with Sue at Quilt Times last year.


This year, all I had to do was hang out with everyone on the second Saturday of the month and quilt something Christmas-y, visit blogs, play the games, host just ONE month, etc.  But did I do any of that?

NNNOOO!

Again this year as with last, I either had a show, or a family get-together (which I had no control over) or something happened that kept me from not only playing along, but even getting in to blogland.


When Sue emailed me last week to see if I even still quilted, I assured her that I would still host this month.

With all that said, THIS SATURDAY is the next Christmas Quilt Along and I will definitely be here.

I already have my project picked out (the one on the left).


I hope you can join me!  


Blessings, Cathi