Snowmen and Pennies . . . . .

I finished a sample on Monday night while watching "National Treasure 2" for the umpteenth time.

This is called "Snowman Pocket" and is designed by Karen Martinsen of KM Primitives.

Karen also has a blog that is wonderful AND was a featured home in Country Sampler magazine a few years ago!

Both the pattern and the kit will be available at shows this year as well as the website soon.

WOOL BARN UPDATE: WhooHoo!  We are official!  Waiting for the electric company to show up and hook me up .....

Blessings, Cathi

On the First Day of Christmas, I cut a square . . . . .

Temecula Quilt Co. is offering a free BOD (Block of the Day) for 12 days.  It is SO simple.  The first day is to cut a 3-1/2" square.

taken from Temecula's blog without permission - I'm just sayin'

Already I am behind!!  I think I can quickly catch up .... LOL.  I have picked out this group of fabrics that I recently bought from Schoolhouse Quilt Shoppe (Judi and Bob Rothermel's shop).  They do limited amounts of shows during the year and I was lucky enough to vend at one with them.

Day One and Two are already posted but it should take you no time to catch up with me!

Blessings, Cathi

Cabin Friends - Part 2 . . . . .

I'm finished with Cabin Friends!

I chose a simple cross-hatch for the quilting because that's what I do best. LOL

I tried meandering on another quilt the other day.  Turns out the moon and the stars and my meandering mojo weren't all in sync so I gave up on practicing.  I'm so impatient!

And what is Cabin Friends sitting on?  The Cracker Barrel rocking chair on the little porch of the Wool Barn!  The electrician came today, installed the new meter, ran electric inside and out for a few lights and an outlet.  Dear Hubby even put the door knob and deadbolt on yesterday.  Would hate for all that wool to go missing!

The inspector is scheduled for next Wednesday . . . . holidays and all or it would have been today.  Then a quick phone call to our electric provider.  At least that's how smoothly it is going in my head!  Hope it is like that in real life.

One last picture of the flooring I installed all by myself last weekend.  Looks real, doesn't it?  But should make for some easy cleanup.

Blessings, Cathi

A non-Christmas finish . . . . .

I haven't really finished or made anything Christmas-sy this year.  We are doing very little in the way of gifts.  Just a few gifts for our own kids - nothing for each other (except, of course, the wool barn in the last post which covers me for the next 10 years!)  Although my children are in awe and amazement of my crafting and artistic abilities - ahem - they do not exactly share my love of all things primitive.  So that takes them off the "mom-made-this-for-me" list.  At least things mom WANTS to make.   

I did finish this little penny rug that will hang in the bathroom after the holidays (where the pumpkin is in the post link).  It measures only 11" x 15" with each larger penny measuring 2".  

I made up the design myself such as it is.  Not much to design.  I just knew the finished size and that I wanted it on a cotton background.  I finished it like a quilt with quilting and binding.

Simple enough but quite a color impact with scraps of wool.

And just in time to put another in the finish column before the end of the year.

Blessings, Cathi

WOOL BARN update:  I primed the floors that were nothing more than 4 x 8 sheets of plywood and laid super sticky vinyl strips that look like faux hardwood floors.  Today I rolled them with the 100 lb. roller that the manufacturer recommended.  This is going to be the nicest storage building this county has ever seen!  Too overcast for pictures today.  

The Wool Barn . . . . .

Well, Merry Christmas to me !

This showed up at our house Wednesday morning in parts on a trailer.

By Wednesday afternoon, it looked like something cute and cozy.

We'll be painting it in the Spring to match the house. And landscaping and other cute things.  Maybe a barn quilt on the right side in the pic above that is facing the street.

But for now, it's my (repeat: MY) storage building that will hold just my stuff like my booth display and the bins of wool and supplies.  We'll see down the road what it will become wink, wink.

But officially, it's a storage building because the building permit stated all over it that it was NOT to be used for commercial activity or living quarters (although in a pinch if Dear Hubby were for some reason sent to the doghouse, maybe he could stay with the dogs and I could sleep out here!) But hey, if a guy can have power tools out in an outbuilding, why can't gals (or guys) have sewing machines (a power tool) out in an outbuilding, too?!

First thing I did?  Put a Cracker Barrel rocking chair out on the porch.  By the way, if you're wondering why the porch is facing away from the street (note the car), it's because I have it facing the morning sun and the garden.  I see a cup of coffee coming on!

Blessings, Cathi

Snowman Stitchery, finished . . . . .

Last September, I won this cute little snowman stitchery from Carol.

Yesterday I made it into a quilt.

I just need to make a little label and send it on it's way to a new home.  Where will it live?  You just never know.

Blessings, Cathi

Cabin Friends . . . . .

Whipped this little cutie up over the last couple of days.

I even finished the hand work!

Of course not quilted but it is going in the booth as another sample.  Anyone that has been to a quilt show and seen my booth knows that not all my samples are quilted!  The pattern is called "Cabin Friends" by Primitive Gatherings and is available on my website.

We woke up to 65 degrees this morning.  That is the high for the day.  The weather chick called for rain and dropping temps all day.  Tomorrow we should wake up at near freezing and 26 on Friday.  It may be time to work on some more samples today in between naps!

Blessings, Cathi

Cheryl's Angel . . . . .

As the phone call came in telling us to hurry to Michigan, I was pin-basting this quilt.

It was a quilt Cheryl had started probably 10 years ago.  I knew she hadn't finished it so I bugged her for months to mail it to me.  She finally sent it to me in the middle of October along with another quilt top that she had started.

She wasn't a quilter really but a sewer and a scrapbooker and a crafter.  She had pieced the top, wonder undered the applique pieces and started the machine applique.  I had hoped to finish it and send it to her by Christmas.  

I did manage to finish it this week.  On to the other one next and both into the mail to her husband and kids.  I just wish she could have seen it finished.

Blessings, Cathi

Back in March, I had written a post called "And then there were four".  It was in tribute to one of my brothers that had passed away much too young.  I can't believe I am writing another tribute again so soon and just couldn't bring myself to entitle it " And then there were three".  It just didn't seem right.  But yes, now there are just three of us left.  My sweet and VERY brave sister died yesterday after a 12 year bout with cancer.  She was 47.

High School Graduation - 1982

We had hoped to visit her the week after Thanksgiving but things had moved too progressively.  She went into hospice on Thursday.  Her husband called us Saturday afternoon.  Within an hour, Dear Hubby and I had packed our bags and were on the road to Battle Creek, Michigan . . . a 12 hour drive.  We took turns driving through the night and arrived at hospice at 9:30 yesterday morning.  She died at 11:30.  We had made it in time to hold her hand and to tell her we loved her.

We are still in Battle Creek.  Hard to believe that just a week ago I was in sunny south Florida.  Tomorrow we make the long trek back to South Carolina, Wednesday to North Carolina for a viewing, Thanksgiving at the in-laws and the funeral in Fayetteville, North Carolina on Friday.

I can't believe that I have lost two siblings in one year - two YOUNGER siblings.  

Dave on the left and Cheryl in the middle at her college graduation.

I don't have many pictures of her on the external hard drive that I brought with me.  

She was a very cute little girl.

She is in the middle front with David on the left.  Me in the back row with the WHE (worst haircut ever!)  FiberGuy hadn't been born yet and SeabeeBoy is the one on the right.

The picture below is of Cheryl moving into the college dorm.  For any of you that know me personally, yes, it does look very much like me (maybe 20 years ago).  Although she was 6 years younger, sometimes we were mistaken for twins which really irritated her!

She leaves behind her husband, Dale, who happens to be one of Dear Hubby's best friends from junior and senior high school (that one was hard to explain at their high school reunion!) and two teenagers who are very remarkable people.

Blessings, Cathi

View from my window . . or W. Palm Beach . . . . .

I have been so busy with getting ready for this show that I haven't had much time for blogging.  After a 10 hour drive on Tuesday, I made it safely to southern Florida. I stayed at a cousin's house in Plantation on Tuesday night.  I do have a picture of us but she would KILL me if I put it on here.

Wednesday was spent setting up the booth.  Trying to fit a double booth into a single space is more tiring than  setting up a double booth!  I visited with some other vendors (that I consider friends).  We only see each other at certain shows so in-between schlepping boxes and displays and sweating in this southern sun, we try to visit catch up.  We would go to dinner to do that but we are all too tired.

In the meantime, here are some pictures of the view from my window which is actually a sliding door going out on to the balcony overlooking a courtyard. 

The show runs today (Thursday) through Saturday at the Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach.  Open 10am to 6pm each day.  I got a quick peek at the quilts that are showing.  Just fabulous!  Maybe I can get some pictures but hopefully I will be too busy!!


Blessings, Cathi

Pickens, South Carolina . . . . .

This weekend I am vending in Pickens, a cute little hamlet in the upstate of South Carolina nestled between the mountains and the Piedmont.  Okay, so I'm going a little overboard with the writing.  But Pickens is a cute little town.  The show is Friday (9:00 - 6:00) and Saturday (9:00 - 5:00) and is located at Pickens View Wesleyan Church - 744 Bethlehem Ridge Road.  Google Maps picks it up just fine, thank you very much.  Beautiful church and beautiful quilts.

In the meantime, I am sitting in the hotel and going to give a shot at needleturn applique.  Yes, I know, I am supposed to be touting the hand-dyed wools and telling everyone how much easier wool is because you don't have to turn under the edges (by the way, it IS easier to applique with wool because you don't have to turn under the edges).  I wanted to do something a little different and keep what little cotton applique skills I had from totally disintegrating.

I have picked this pattern from Jan Patek.  Jan offered it on her blog on September 11th just for the one day.  I've had the background pieced and the applique pieces prepped since then waiting for the right time to start.  (Can you tell I'm too chicken to start?!)  I'm using the "freezer paper on top" method this time to see if I like it any better than I did the first time I tried it.

Wow, three paragraphs and no pictures.  Will keep you posted.  If it doesn't work out, we may have to switch to wool!

Blessings, Cathi

Just couldn't decide .....

Which blog to put this on so I put it on both! 

I was so excited to check out Ivonne's blog tonight and find this . . . . . .

She does such fabulous work . . . . . worth posting on two blogs!!

Blessings, Cathi

Wool quilts everywhere . . . . .

Seems every quilt show I have gone to lately there are more and more wool applique quilts.  I know those of you in the Mid-west and the Northeast probably don't think that is a big deal but down here in the South, that is amazing!  I LOVE it! To have even one in a show even tickles me to no end.

Here are pictures of all the quilts in the show that had wool in them.  Sorry if some are blurry.  I really can't tell on this little netbook screen if they are good pics or not.  But it could be BC (before coffee) this morning.

Lisa B's Primitive Garden won first in category.

There were two of this quilt but only took a picture of one of them.

Talk about a fun entry!  Not all wool but some of it!

Gordy's Gang

No pattern for this one!

And details of the Best of Show quilt.

How fun are these!  These were made from a Crabapple Hill pattern that was supposed to be a hat on a pillow.  They makers decided to go 3-D and make it into a hat! Correction:  This pattern is for a 3-D hat originally, not a pillow.

And finally a picture near the entrance to the Center.  I wish I had time to take a little hike down this nature trail.

Blessings, Cathi

Best of Show . . . . .

Thought I would take a minute while I can and show you the Best of Show quilt.  I took the picture last night after I finished setting up the booth.

Isn't it gorgeous!?  I'll try to take some closeup shots of the fabulous detail of it later when the show slows down.  But hopefully it won't!!


Blessings, Cathi

North Augusta, South Carolina . . . . .

I'm leaving in just a few hours for the second show this month.  I have never been to N. Augusta but heard it is beautiful.

The show is being held at the Riverview Park Activities Center which is located . . . . wait for it . . . . on the river!  Just beyond the river is Augusta National.  Yes, that Augusta National.  

Dear Hubby and TurfBoy at 2011 Masters

The show is being held by the Pieceful Hearts Quilt Guild and runs Friday from 10 until 7 and Saturday from 9 until 4.  I've heard there are about 200 quilts.  They are being judged by Susan Edmonson of Susan Edmonson Designs and a friend of mine for many years.

Come on down!

Blessings, Cathi

Confession time . . . . .

I don't like how fast cameras go through batteries!  At least mine . . . . .  I remembered my camera yesterday.  Took a few pictures of the booth and then it died.  So no quilt pictures.

I have to take pictures of every booth set up because it seems each show, the setup is a little different because of the booth size.  Some booths are only 8' deep instead of 10' which means I can only put an 8' table along the side instead of my two 5' tables.  I know it sounds confusing but every time I go to a show I feel like I'm re-inventing the wheel with my setup.  So if I take picture of every show, eventually two of them will be the same and I can just look at the picture instead of thinking so much!  LOL

Here is this past weekend's booth.

And here is a picture of my very first booth setup just a year ago in August.

Big difference from one 8' table, huh?  I've come a long way, baby!

Yesterday's booth was a booth and a half or 10' deep by 15'.  Usually a booth is 10' x 10' but I now have to have 2 booths (a double booth) because of all the wool I carry.

Also no pictures of the quilts because I never got to see any or walk the show.  Yes, I was that busy!  I heard they were beautiful.  Dear Hubby came up to help me pack up but not until about 4:30.  Just not enough time to look at quilts or shop the other vendors.  I would love to see what else is out there that I don't have.  I did run over to one vendor to buy the Lil' Twister ruler but she had sold out.  That will teach me!  I'll see her again at another show soon, I hope.

Blessings, Cathi

Wanna guess where I've been . . . . .

Thought I was hanging around the house and NOT quilting, huh?  That's why I'm not showing any quilting projects, huh?

Nah, I'm in Cabarrus County, North Carolina at a quilt show.  The weather here in the Carolinas is just perfect.  Dry weather, high of 76°, bright sunshine and the customers are still coming inside to see the quilts and shop in droves.  Friday was a wonderfully successful day.  I was so busy, I didn't get to see the quilts.  The few I did see as I ran from the booth to the bathroom have been gorgeous.  By the time this post is posted, I should be about finished packing up the van with Dear Hubby's help.

I forgot to take the camera on Thursday while I was setting up the booth.  And then forgot again on Friday when I went to the show.  Hopefully I remembered this morning and I can show you some goodies this evening or tomorrow.

I'm leaving you with a picture of my Christmas quilt that still needs a border and Nelson, the quilt model.  Hope you all have had a nice day of quilting.  Remember, there are only 

78 days left until Christmas.

I'm just saying . . . . . . . . . . .

Blessings, Cathi