A Finished Penny Quilt . . . . .

Just to show you that I CAN finish something ...... albeit small.

Just love this little project from Cheri Payne.  It worked up in no time and a good use for wool scraps.

Finished size is about 14" x 24".

Pattern is available on my website if interested.  It's on the "Everyday Patterns" page.

I actually have some more sample finishes that will be ready to debut at my first show of 2014.  That's only 3 weeks away!  Yikes !!!!!

Blessings, Cathi

Maymester .....

Yes, I'm thinking of May already ...... thanks to Joyce of One Loose Thread!

Joyce has asked me to design an exclusive project for her upcoming retreat this coming May for me to teach.

Here it is ..... I'm calling it an e-satchel.

Large enough to hold a Kindle or tablet or a composition notebook inside.

And even room for a smart phone and pencil on the back.

With plenty of wool applique on the front.

For more information on this class and the retreat, click here to go to Joyce's retreat page.

At the moment, the class/project is exclusive to Joyce's retreat so a pattern won't be made available until after May.  BUT if you live somewhere in the Carolinas or Georgia, consider going to the retreat.  It is held at Camp Gravatt near Aiken, South Carolina. We'd love to have you!!

Blessings, Cathi

Six Degrees, not six years ......

The personal project I am working on is entitled "Six Degrees" but it's not supposed to take me six years to make it!

Today is the last day of my self-inflicted vacation.  I spent it the same way I spent it last year, sick in the bed with a wicked head cold.  Someone remind me to take some preventative measures next year the week BEFORE Thanksgiving.  Thanks ......

I'm feeling better today (although this posting is the last thing I will do before taking a much needed rest).

I spent several hours working on a project that I have had the fabric and pattern for for almost 4 years.

It's Six Degrees by Miss Rosie's (aka Carrie Nelson) .

I chose to make mine with blues, reds and golds of all Civil War reproduction fabrics.  Here is what Carrie's looks like.

I cut all the pieces and pieced 12 blocks ...... only 56 more to go! 

Blessings, Cathi

Un-quilting .....

Back in 2000, my daughter thought it would be great to make a quilt for her future in-laws 30th wedding anniversary.  My daughter doesn't quilt but her mother does!

I wasn't doing this alone.  She was going to learn!

Fast forward 13 years ...... the quilt has been used and washed and used and washed again (Isn't that what it is for?).

As you can see by the picture, a lot of the stitching has 'popped'.  Now I am in the process of un-stitching it so I can re-quilt it.

Question(s): 

Why did it do this?  

Did we use the wrong thread? (We used YLI quilting thread in the top and regular piecing 50 wt. thread in the bobbin).

Someone suggested that because we stitched on the bias and the fabric stretched, the thread did not so it 'popped'.

Was it just from 13 years of much loved use?

Stitching length too short?

Any suggestions or thoughts? 

(please be kind ...... this is why I don't quilt much ..... I don't know what I'm doing but I'm great at hand work ;>))

Blessings, Cathi

Second verse, same as the first .....

It seems all I have done on this post is apologizing for not blogging often enough.  No more apologies!  As my little pic says on my sidebar ...... BWO (Blogging Without Obligation).

But I will give you an explanation or two .....

A) Business has been fantastic and am down to 2 hours of sleep a night,

B) I'm a Facebook hound now.  I have to admit, FB is a lot quicker and less time consuming,

and 3) Being so tired from working has really left me having difficulty putting two words together let alone a whole blog!

So instead of a long wordy post about what I have been doing since July, I will just give a barn update .....

We now have a Wool Barn cat!

You may remember Tinker from years past on all my blogs at one time or another.  She is 15 years old and has been with us since 2 months old.  Long story but she is no longer welcome in the house by some members of the household after all but destroying furniture, carpet, sleep, etc.  So she now lives outside (she was an outside cat to begin with) and sleeps in the barn at night when it is really cold.  I think she has "un-aged" by a few years.  She seems much happier and healthier.  Nothing like a few bugs and salamanders to chase to make her feel like a kitten again!

Blessings, Cathi