Let's get ready to sew . . . . .

Of course, for some of you, you have been sewing for hours. . . . Or haven't started yet. . . . depending on whether you just had your breakfast or you are cleaning up the dinner dishes.   Whatever you are doing, I hope it's something Christmasy and the family isn't laughing too hard when you told them what you are doing!

Me?  I have several projects I need to work on the next few months that I really thought I would finish last year.

Here they are in no particular order . . . .

Remember this one I was so close on and never finished.  I had great plans.  I think this one just needs the sashing and the borders....

 

 

And this one that said needed applique before I quilted it . . . . . .

And these great stitcheries from Gail Pan that I never did anything with . . . . .

And my Star Trip in Christmas colors that still needs a few more blocks to make it complete . . . . 

And finally this cute little snowman that I won from Carol's blog last fall that is still waiting to be made into a giftie to someone special for LAST Christmas.

So as you see, I didn't follow my own advice and work on these Christmas quilt/gifts all during the year.

But this year is different!

If you have just joined us, please visit the Christmas Quilt Along 2011 tab just under my header to see what today is all about.

Blessings, Cathi

Welcome to Christmas .....Quilt Along . . . . .

Welcome to the first Christmas Quilt Along (CQAL) of 2011 !

For those of you that are rolling your eyes and thinking, "I'm not ready yet!", it might be better if you quietly sneak out the back door because today it is all about Christmas prep quilting.  But it's okay to say HI first.

Speaking from experience and being a long time member of the Christmas forum, just spending one day a month getting ready for Christmas will save you so much aggravation and stress sometime around the second week of December.  You probably WON'T be putting binding on your last quilt at midnight on Christmas Eve.

For starters, go over to my Christmas Quilt Along 2011 tab at the top of this page, sign up on Mr. Linky, and put on a cup of hot cocoa!  A copy of this month's block will be emailed to you shortly.

Take breaks during the day to post what you have done so far.  Visit some of the others that are participating.  Remember, you don't have to play along all day and we still have that "different time zone issue".

Merry Christmas!
Cathi

Have you ordered your subscription? . . . . .

There is a new magazine coming out in April for all you quilters that love the prim style.  You know who you are!  It's called Primitive Quilts & Projects.  You can visit their website here.

They have a wonderful selection of prim quilt designers that will be featured.  

Cheri Payne - Quilts by Cheri
Dawn Heese - Linen Closet Quilts
Jan Patek - Jan Patek Quilts
Janet Nesbitt - Buggy Barn
Jeni Gaston – Woolen Willow
Kathy Schmitz
Lynda Hall - Primitive Pieces
Lisa Bongean – Primitive Gatherings
Lori Brechlin - Not Forgotten Farm
Maggie Bonanomi
Renee Plains - Liberty Star
Rita Briner - Quilter's Station
Tonya Robey - Mad Hen Primitives
Cherie Ralston - Kansas City Star Quilts
Gloria Parsons - Olde Green Cupboard
Heather Lynn - Mohair Bears and Friends
Bonnie Blue Quilts

There will be 4 issues a year with up to 15 projects in each magazine, articles, how-to's, etc.

I've already ordered my subscription, how about you?

Blessings, Cathi

It's almost time! . . . . .

for the first Christmas Quilt Along of the year! 

This Saturday, February 12th, I will be hosting the Quilt Along. Come visit my blog anytime on Saturday, sign up on Mr. Linky on my Christmas Quilt Along page (see the tab just under my header), and receive the first block pattern free! 

Here is a sneak peek of the first block.

The pattern that Sue and I designed uses blue for the background.  I decided to go a little more prim/country.  I am sure whatever colors you use will turn out great!

Sue should have her teaser block up any minute now and I am sure she used blue. Go take a peek here.

Remember, you don't have to be here all day . . . .whatever time zone you are in LOL . . . just work on something Christmasy . . . either for someone, a decoration, new stockings for the mantle, or whatever.  Throw in a Christmas movie, put on a Bing Crosby CD, have some hot chocolate and sew along with us whether for 10 minutes or for 10 hours.

It's sure to be lots of fun!

Blessings, Cathi
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Soot and Ashes - revisited . . . . .

I didn't realize it has been a week since my last post.  I've been busy....or not busy.....recuperating from the fantastic show last weekend in Statesville.  Thanks to all my bloggy friends and bloggy lurkers who came by the booth and introduced yourself to me.  You know who you are!  Forgot how much paperwork it takes to run a business, too!

I am getting better at scheduling myself and even fit in some personal quilting this past week.  Remember Cheri's Soot & Ashes freebie last fall?  I made mine with black, cream and changed the centers to red.  She told us that there would be 15 blocks with some applique but we didn't know what the final product would look like.

This is what immediately came to mind . . . .

A 4 x 4 layout instead of Cheri's 3 x 5 layout.  When I saw Cheri's, I just decided to keep mine the same way I pictured it in the beginning.

I had started to do some needleturn applique but quickly frustrated myself and switched to wool.  I'll embroider some words on the bottom  when I think of something catchy. 

Libby mentioned that maybe I should change the name to Soot and Embers since I added the red centers.  I think I like that idea.  So there it is.  A new quilt top!

Cold and rainy today.  A good day to stay in and do some handwork.  Stay warm!

Blessings, Cathi
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