Sewing Seeds . . . . .

I spent this last week helping out in the church office so the secretary could go on a vacation.  While I enjoy volunteering (it is fun to do something different once in a while like writing, printing, folding and stuffing 280 bulletins for Sunday), it makes me realize how much out of the groove I have gotten from working outside of the house.

I did manage to get some quilting done this past week.  Note I said done, not finished.  They are two different things!

I made the background for Sewing Seeds, another Cheri Payne pattern.

Cheri doesn't give detailed directions on putting things together, which I really like.  It gives so much room for change and making it my own.  She basically gives dimensions and says "Have fun with it!"  I usually change patterns to make them my own anyway.

I decided to use partial paper-piecing to make the flower base blocks.

Here is the first finished block.

So after 14 of those and a few setting blocks you have this.

Next to applique the flowers.  Since I sell this pattern in my booth, I will use all wool for the flowers.  Hard part of that is I have to use wool that I can recreate so I can cut kits at the same time.  If I were doing just one for me, I would have it finished already! (yeah, right!)

I've already picked out the colors, now to just dye them all, cut out my parts and cut kits.  No problem!!

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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Soot & Ashes & Fire . . . . .

I noticed that Cheri had a center square in the middle of most of her blocks.  I thought I would add a second color by replacing the center blocks with a red square.

Some of the blocks were already made so taking the center square out and replacing it was a little tedious but do-able.  I heard there may be 15 blocks total.  I can't wait until she reveals the rest.

Blessings, Cathi

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Welcome to Blogland, Cheri . . . . .

Just wanted to give a warm welcome to Cheri Saffiote-Payne who has finally joined us in Blogland.  There are a lot of Cheri fans out there . . . . . me included!

Cheri is giving directions to a quilt she calls "Soot & Ashes".  I don't know how many blocks there will be but so far I really like it.

Here are my blocks so far . . . . .

They went together so quickly, I may have to make another colorway! They are coming out 5-1/2" cut (5" finished) so it will be a nice little quilt when it's finished!

Blessings, Cathi
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