Sunbonnet Sue Quilts ~ Dreams and Shares Life~Love~Laughter

UPDATE

2012-03-04T09:15:00.000-08:00

HELLO DEAR FRIENDS AND FOLLOWERS,

THIS IS A NOTIFICATION THAT I AM NOT GOING TO

BE POSTING ON THIS BLOG ANY LONGER~

I HAVE DECIDED THAT I WILL JUST POST ON ONE BLOG, AND

I WILL BE POSTING ONLY ON MY OTHER BLOG...

WHICH WILL HAVE PICTURES OF PROJECTS THAT HUBBY AND I ARE WORKING ON ALONG WITH MY DAILY POSTINGS OF OUR LIFE AND BLESSINGS.

I WILL ALSO BE POSTING SCRIPTURE AND WHAT I AM STUDYING IN THE BIBLE FOR THE DAY.

I HAD DELETED THIS BLOG, AND SINCE I HAD 90 DAYS TO DECIDE WHAT EXACTLY I WANTED TO DO WITH IT, THIS IS THE PLAN I CAME UP WITH.

BOTH BLOGS WERE GETTING IGNORED, AND I SEEMED TO HAVE A MENTAL BLOCK REGARDING POSTINGS.

SO THIS SEEMS TO BE WORKING FOR ME NOW!

RIGHT NOW I AM ON A 100-DAY CHALLENGE TO POST EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR 100 DAYS,

AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BREAK MY MENTAL BLOCK.

PLEASE COME AND JOIN ME AT:

www.Jesus-thelambofGod.blogspot.com

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU JOIN, AND I HOPE TO EVENTUALLY BEGIN TO COMBINE THE CONCEPT OF BOTH BLOGS!

THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING ME ON THIS BLOG!!!

YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND COMMENTS HAVE MEANT SO MUCH TO ME!!!

LOVE AND HUGS,

CATHY

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WHOA~!

2012-01-25T10:08:00.000-08:00

WHOA! I can't believe it has been 2.5 months since I last posted! Life isn't that busy, but our priorities get messed with at times though. I do love you/my fellows sewing friends! I am glad if you haven't given up on me yet! I have been a little busy, but not as busy as I know I should be. Here are a few projects I've been working on:

ALRIGHT...the insert image selection has changed and I can't seem to understand how to insert an image. Can anyone help me with this? I'm stuck!!!

hugs, Cathy

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DON'T GIVE UP ON ME~

2011-11-04T07:49:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!

I'm still here and kicking! Just don't give up on me...I will be posting soon! Just been a little unproductive, and silent I guess. No news, as they say, is good news!

Today I began making 2 totes from the Moda Bake Shop pattern.... http://www.modabakeshop.com/2009/08/mill-house-inn-tote-bag.html
I just love this tote! I cut out enough strips for 2 totes. Each strip was 1.5 inches. That is WAY to small. If you do it, do 2.5inches strips. You might now need as many strips that way. Also, a 2 inch might also work. I have to add on more stips to make mine big enough.
I'll try to have pictures next post!

Everyone is healthy and doing well in our family. Today my hubby, daughter and I are going to try to tackle our garage, to empty it out and get two cars in there. We'll see if it is possible. There are some big things to consider. Anyways, it is nice that the three of us can work together on this project!

God's blessings on each of you!
PLEASE Keep our TROOPS IN YOUR PRAYERS~! They need it!

Cathy

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A GOOD OLD LONG POST! LOL

2011-09-10T09:13:00.000-07:00

Life is good when you have lots to post, and so today is good! :)

My youngest daughter has been working on a quilt for her 'future' nephew that her in-laws are trying to adopt. So far there has not been a success, but they are not going to give up until they have 'him'! They have already named him too~ A blessed child when he comes. Two years ago their granddad died, and so the middle of the quilt is made out of some of granddad's old clothes. They are hoping to give the new child a connection to their granddad that is gone now. I thought that was an interesting desire. Actually, they are hoping for two boys to complete their family (they have 3 girls by natural birth, and want these two boys to round out the family since they can't have any more of their own). So later I'll be posting the second quilt my daughter is working on.

The checker board squares are from my fabric stash!

She also hand quilted it.

The top middle square is actually a suit jacket pocket from 'granddad'.

The middle left square is part of the jacket with the lining.

The rest are shirts.

Now for the back of the quilt...

Last week my 4 year old granddaughter spent the night. She loves purses, so we designed her purse. She showed me just how long and wide she wanted it. Here is the pattern we made.

Then she picked out her own fabric from my stash.

I must say that she did not like any of my choices, so I was glad she could pick out her own!

Here are her choices for the outer and the lining.

She first picked out the the flowers which are very purple and pink with green.

This picture doesn't show the bright vivid colors correctly.

Then I picked out a few lining fabrics, and she said, "Don't you have any pink~".

I didn't think so, but did find this pink. It is much brighter in real life.

Here is her beloved purse she has hardly taken off!

It makes a Grandma very happy! :)

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Now for Hubby's latest Stain-glass project.

This is the second one for the 3 smaller living room windows he is doing.

It was designed in honor of quilters!!! Hurray!

The window is installed now, but I only have pictures of it after it was done,

and still on the work top.

I believe it measure 39X19 inches

The right end is in honor of applique and crazy quilts.

The Star patterns.....

the good old Log Cabin quilts....

It seems that both Hubby and took the summer off with our hobby's so I hope we are going to get back into the swing of things.

BUT.....

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This past May, our son took Hubby and me to visit a glass factory in Kokomo, Indiana.

It was the best tour, and the factory was established as a glass factory in 1888!!!

The old part of the buildings themselves are wonderful, and the staff was great!

I'd highly recommend it if you can go and visit and take the tour of how they make glass and blow glass also! Their products are shipped all over the world.

Kokomo Glass Factory

Watch this Video for how they make the glass...

Video on how they make glass

There were so many 'miles' of glass it was almost over-whelming,

but we also wanted to look at all them. The sheets of glass start out all very large,

but are also cut in to nice size, manageable sheets like we like to buy.

These are at least 7 feet tall I think. They are cut into these sizes from the rollers.

Here are some of the ones that they make by pressing molten glass into circles.

Hubby really wants to make some pictures with circles he bought.

This was an example they had of circles in a stain glass.

They had tables set up where they had craftmen/women working on stain glass for clients!

Do you notice the technique used around the circles in this one?

Even though we were looking at glass, I kept getting ideas for quilting!

This is one of the commissioned pieces.

I like the way the center overhangs the square outside.

We thought this one was weird, but interesting. The guy that did it was there that day.

This is a glob of the mixed molten glass before it is rolled out.

It was so hot in there, that you have to admire the guys that do this job!

These are the rollers they select to make the different textures in the glass.

The molten glass on the roller.

This is the glass as it comes out in sheets.

The really interesting thing is that no matter what the color of the glass,

it all looks bright yellow when it is molten.

You have no idea the color of the glass until it is rolled out and partially cooled!

These are the broken bits of glass kept in separate barrels and numbered to go with the correct colors.

Eventually they will remelt them and make new sheets of glass if they get a special order for the exact color. You want to just reach in and play with all the pretty colors. But the Guide warns us that it is glass and not colored gems that you would want to play with.

This isn't the best example. :)

The blown glass part was fascinating!

This was in motion.

They keep having to put the glass back into the fire to keep it soft and workable.

They glow into the pipe to make the glass get bigger.

Here are a few of the products.

They also make things like these.

Well....I think I'll continue the tour at another time....still lots of show from KOG!!!

Hope you all are well. I've been going through My FOLLOWERS blogs, and enjoying them very much!!! Hope you all are doing well!

Blessings always....

Cathy

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Long Lost Post~

2011-09-03T07:53:00.000-07:00

Hello Dear Quilter Friends..

It has been forever it seems since I last posted! I have been alive and well, but just not in the blogging mood I guess. You might say, I took the summer off in all kinds of ways. The only sewing I got done was some scrappy crazy rectangels on another scrappy quilt. Hubby also took off the summer, but just finished his crazy quilt stain glass, which I will post in my next post. Just yesterday I got a new cell phone because my old one died, and that is the only camera I have. This cell phone camera is a 3.5 mega pixel, so is a better camera than my old one. Hope it shows up nicer on here. Anyways, hubby's stain glass turned out beautiful!

The only other news right now I guess is I have 2 children deployed now. Keep our soldiers in your prayers. The war is not easy at this point, and is still very dangerous. But we have some fine soldiers in this war, and I know they would appreciate our prayers and support!

Well...that is about it for now. Atleast I broke the silence! Hurray!
Your friend,
Cathy

"Trust in Him at all times."
Psalm 62:8

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LISTEN

2011-04-30T09:55:00.000-07:00

I have much to post regarding the needle, thread and glass, but this is more important~

Please read my post on my other blog...Listen and Understand....The time is short~!

http://jesus-thelambofgod.blogspot.com/2011/04/listen-and-understand.html

In the LOVE of Christ,
Cathy

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My Heart Is Broken~

2011-04-27T21:19:00.001-07:00

A True man of God is now In Heaven!

David Wilkerson was killed in a car accident today!

Pray for his wife Gwen, as she was taken from the accident...no word yet on her condition.

Pray for his church and family!
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474979269973

2011-04-23T08:28:00.000-07:00

Happy

Ressurection

Day!

Jesus IS RISEN!!!

Rejoice in Your Hope and Salvation!!!

Place your life/heart/faith In Christ~~~

Love always,

In Christ's LOVE,

Cathy

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Much to Share~!

2011-04-12T19:18:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends~

I've got a lot to share! Hardly know where to begin. Well...first I'll share a summer quilt I just made last week for my almost 3 year old granddaughter! The fabrics are all fish or sea shells except for one square that is sock monkeys. I also added some miscellaneous hexagons I had. This is a SUMMER QUILT which means there is no batting. My daughter and sil likes quilts without batting and they like layering summer quilts for the weight. Both my granddaughters also like them.
This quilt was made by connecting with as you go.

Also this past week my youngest daughter, the artist, painted a t-shirt for her sister's husband...got that...my sil~! LOL Any ways, there is a cool story behind the t-shirt.

Here is the story:

1994 - Ford Espire

My oldest daughter bought her hubby (sil-1 this 1994 teal colored Ford Espire in about 2002.

It was bought in California, and was driven across the country when they moved.

This car is like a Timex Watch...it just keeps on ticking.

About 3 years ago, they gave the Espire to my youngest daughter and her hubby (sil-2).

Last year my artistic daughter painted the car on her hubby's birthday t-shirt.

Her hubby LOVES this shirt and wears it all the time.

Then last week, she decided to paint the same car on a birthday t-shirt for sil-1.

So here are the original shirt and the newest shirt....

There is about 275,000 miles on it, and it is still taking SIL-2 to work every day!~!

The Legend is still living~ :)))

Next is a picture of another Summer Quilt I made for DD1 and SIL1 about 6 years ago.

It is still one of my favorite and I like the borders and fabrics a lot!

I SURE WISH

My cell phone camera took better pictures!

As I've said before, the cell phone doesn't even work as a phone any more...just a camera....

so be patient with my pictures, please... :}

Next is a baby quilt that hangs on the wall of my DGD-5...

the one I just made the summer quilt for.

It may look a little familiar.

You can see the Fisher Boy that looks like its' brother...

The fisher boy was made for this granddaughter's brother who went to be with Jesus 14 months before she was born~~~~~~~~~~...so it is a very meaningful quilt for us!

Last week I took a few days to organize my scrappy fabrics.

I put them in small to large buckets...

and organized them in sizes and in precut shapes.

For example, a bucket of hexagons and hearts,

a bucket of miscellaneous squares of all kinds,

a bucket of free-style scraps sewn together.

So, I took the square bucket...

and looked at where I wanted to start with a flip and sew quilt....

Then I began...

By the way....

For the backing I used my hubby's old work shirts!

For 30 years he work business shirts until he was out of work due to his business shut down for 2 years and then went back to school to become a nurse...so NOT MORE BUSINESS SHIRTS and TIES! HURRAY~~~ he says.....

Here is the pile of his and my shirts I'm using for backing.

Here is the second row of flip and sew...

It was again, some extra squares I'd made and never used...

This is as far as I've gotten...but I love it so far...just hope I don't mess it up...

Oh...here is where I sew now that hubby has taken over my dining room table for his stain-glass...

That is my ironing board to the right and my work table to the left! I love it~~~

finally...for my surprise we are so excited about!!!

it is finally done and installed~~~

our first living room window of the series of 6 hubby is doing!

This was taken just before dusk last evening!~

It is so pretty even in the bright day light...

and at night it is pretty from the outside looking at the light from within the house!

I LOVE IT~

Hubby is doing so well...

this is only his 6th stain-glass!

Now there are 5 more living room windows to go.

The rest will have more clear glass in them.

There are three windows on the floor and 3 above these 3 windows.

This window is 16x39inches.

The upper windows are 39x60inches.

Keep in touch my dear friends....

Keep the creative juices flowing and the fun begins!

♥Cathy

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Hi

2011-04-10T19:33:00.000-07:00

Hello Dear Friends!
I am so sorry I have been absent for such a long time. My GOUT is better, but not gone. I can move my toes slowly, but not bend them on my right foot. I have had gout flair ups 4 times since Dec 2010~ My doctor tripled my long term medication so I hope the flair ups stop! I am on a low purine diet, and take my medication, but I have other things against my. Some of the other meds I take contribute to the problem. Oh, and heredity also plays a big part. I will take all the prayers I can get!

Now...I have some pictures to share, but am not ready to download them tonight. This coming week I will and then post them to share with you! One of them is really exciting for us! :)

God is good, and I am hoping everyone has a great Happy Resurrection of our LORD Jesus Christ celebration!

Keep in touch! Thank you to the new followers~! I APPRECIATE your friendship! I hope to get to know you also!

God's blessings,
Cathy

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Patty Cake... and More

2011-03-27T19:51:00.000-07:00

I saw this video on Laurel's blog! Hope you watch it! So sweet~

Here are my son and dil's cats we have been sitting for since their house fire in September. I'd love to see them play patty cake~~~

I'm doing okay...except suffering another bout of Gout! How do you like that rhymn?! LOL Not fun, I'll tell you.

So...I have mainly been sitting and going through you blogs!

Seeing what you all have been up to sewing and creating!

Tomorrow I hope to see the doctor. sigh~

But, I do have a few pictures to share.

My mother in law gave us a new angel.

Note the small details! Amazing to me...

See how tiny the butterfly's are...compared with a straight pin head...

I've found another UFO to finish. I need to still finish the quilting and may put a small border on before binding. I did this UFO about 5-6 years ago. It is the size of a large crib quilt or large lap quilt.

Here is the back...

Well...I'll enjoy looking at everyones blogs while I'm laid up with this swollen, hurting foot!

God Bless you~

Cathy

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Beautiful~

2011-03-22T19:52:00.001-07:00

This is the most beautiful advice I have ever received ~~~
(sorry...the pictures would not post...but the words are wonderful!)

An Angel says, 'Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.'
1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns . If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety . If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13.. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19 Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray..
24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good 'Thank you Jesus .'
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29 Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33 Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36 Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU.

'If God is for us, who can be against us?'

(Romans 8:31)

Cathy

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Happy Saint Patrick's Day

2011-03-17T10:18:00.000-07:00

Good Day Friends~
I am a large part Irish, and so am happy to celebrate Saint Patrick~ My family has a very long line of Christians, and I've wondered if our family was influenced by Saint Patrick himself~ Wouldn't that be cool to know?!

My Mother in Law has been very busy with her angels....

Here are some new pictures....

This one looks very springy to me~

This is just to remind you of the 7 layers of Coffee Filters she uses and that she puts the design she draws and colors all the way through all layers. What work and dedication!~

Last week when I went to see her I took my laptop and showed her my last post of her angels. Bless her heart...she said, "THANK YOU FOR SHARING THEM WITH YOUR READERS!"

That touched me...and hope you enjoy them~!

These are two different kinds of butterflies she draws...

My favorite....Happy Saint Patrick's Day!!!

This is my favorite!!!

Well...I finally finished my Squares Quilt, and gave it to my youngest daughter!

She just loves it, and that has pleased me so much~

Here is Hubby's work on his Stain Glass.

Yesterday we went shopping and bought him some new glass to finish the sides.

I will post the final pictures next time I hope! I just love this one!

It will be inserted into a window frame...

Not a good picture...but I'll try to make the last ones good next post.

Yesterday Hubby also brought me 4 new quilt books from a discount book store.

They are each so different in their patterns, and I am so excited to try each one!

Please remember to keep praying for the Japanese people in their suffering!!! We love them and want these problems to have solutions for them to get back to a normal life! God's BLESSINGS upon them, and upon you my dear friends~~~

Cathy

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Japan 8.9 Earthquake

2011-03-11T06:11:00.000-08:00

PRAY< PRAY>PRAY for these precious people in Japan, the Islands and all affected by this earthquake~ I cannot even imagine the tragedy~

Life is Full~

2011-03-06T14:54:00.000-08:00

Hello Dear Friends in Blog world~
I am so glad that so many of you enjoyed the last post~ I'm almost sure it must be a true enough story. I can see a woman from the past doing something like that to hold her tongue and patience!~ LOL

Well...We have been busy here with our creative life, even my mother in law and granddaughter. We each have our own way of being creative. As I had said before, I've been in a funk and haven't been sewing, but now I can see I think I've almost over come. I have started to hand quilt and then I'll have to put the binding on, and will attach the binding to the quilt with the sewing machine, and hand stitch it down. That will get me back to the sewing machine. :)
Here is where I'm with the quilting...Just one little corner left to do:

I have Titled this quilt....Squares...Can you tell why? :)

Difference size squares with gingham fabrics...and squares. Even the back is a large blue gingham!

Then...

Here are my yarn projects.

I'm still making the Fun Yarn scarves I hope to sell...

Have had lots of people say they want them...we'll see...

I had made one just like this for my youngest daughter...and she loves it. So soft!

Here is my most recent Prayer Shawl.

It is made with an Afghan hook...which looks like a double ended crochet hook...

Here are close ups...

I love the stitch!

You can do counted cross stitch with yarn on the grid easily!

Last week one of my granddaughters was over, and she was so proud of her creativity!

She is also quit an artist! She has the eye, and the desire! :)))

I took the above picture, and she said..."Grandma, take a picture with my hand in it also! She is 5~

I think she wanted you to see just how big this was!

Then I took a picture of my mom's Kaboodle I inherited last year.

She used it and now I'm happy to remember her when I use it!

Last week we went and visit my mother in law twice, and I just had to get pictures of her making her angels. These angels are made out of coffee filters! She has been making them for at least 5 or 6 years, and she has been so creative with them. I wish I'd taken pictures of the many different types she has made. She adds lace and glitter glue, ribbons and flowers and bows. She uses different types of markers, and colored pencils. The heads are stuffed with fiber filler. She has been selling them for all these years as fast as she can make them. There are several on the doors of the employees at the nursing home she lives in. They just love her creative works with her hands, and all the employees take the most wonderful interest in her and the angels. It is encouraging for both~

Here are just the ones she is working on, or has just completed in the past week.

They have SEVEN filters per angel!!

Here is a view of the under side of the skirt to show you just how full they are. She makes her patterns on each layer...so no matter how you look at the angel...you see her art work~

NOW...can you just imagine the work she puts into each angel??? LOADS!!! And such love into them!

Here are some of the other filters she is making right now...

NOTE my favorite...the one for Saint Patricks Day~ She even added some gold glitter for the pot of gold~

The butterfly above it not the one at the top...this is another one~

This is my mother in law...she works from her wheel chair~

Such a talented woman!!!

Finally...she hangs them with a magnet glued to the back!

My mother in law was surprised by my brother in law who came this week and gave her back a doll she had gotten for her daughter...the one that just passed away suddenly in January, in her sleep. This doll had hung on their bedroom wall, and my BIL thought our MIL would like to have it back. Now she lays nicely on my MIL's pillow and we call her Rosie's Angel doll. Another employee at the nursing home had crocheted this lovely outfit. The doll has beautiful shoes, and even has crocheted bloomers, and undershirt. Lots of work in her~

Finally...Hubby has been busy creating again~~~

We have 6 front windows in our living room. Three large long windows, and three smaller ones below the larger ones. The small windows are 39 inches by 16 inches. He is planning on making stain glass for each of the 6 windows...with some plain or bubble glass in each stain glass so you can see out a little. The first one below is for one of the smaller window so is going to be 39x16 inches to be inserted into the space, and attached with clips so you can remove for cleaning both the outer window and the stain glass window.

Here is the progression of the work so far...

Notice the wonderful carnal glass!!! Looks almost like clouds~

Now for the process of caming it...

This is the center...he still has the sides or wings to add.

We need to buy more glass.

Well...hope you enjoy my Show N Tell~ Hope you are keeping busy, and feeling well these days.

God's Blessings on you!!!

Cathy

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THE SHOE BOX

2011-02-28T16:52:00.000-08:00

A man and woman had been married for more than 60
years. They had shared everything. They had talked
about everything. They had kept no secrets from each
other except that the little Old woman had a shoe box
in the top of her closet that she had Cautioned her
husband never to open or ask her about.

For all of these years, he had never thought about the
box, but One day the little old woman got very sick
and the doctor said She would not recover.

In trying to sort out their affairs, the little old man
took down the shoe box and took it to his wife's
bedside. She agreed that it was time that he should
know what was In the box. When he opened it, he
found two crocheted dolls And a stack of money
totaling $95,000.

He asked her about the contents.

'When we were to be married,' she said, ' my
grandmother told me The secret of a happy
marriage was to never argue. She told me that If I
ever got angry with you, I should just keep quiet
and crochet a doll.'

The little old man was so moved; he had to fight
back tears. Only two Precious dolls were in the
box. She had only been angry with him two Times
in all those years of living and loving. He almost
burst with Happiness.

'Honey,' he said, 'that explains the doll, but what
about all of this money? Where did it come from?'

'Oh,' she said, 'that's the money I made from selling
the dolls.'

A Prayer...... .
Dear Lord, I pray for Wisdom to understand my man;
Love to forgive him; And Patience for his moods;
Because Lord, if I pray for Strength,
I'll beat him to death, Because I don't have time to crochet.

I'm BACK!

2011-02-20T11:56:00.000-08:00

Hello Dear Blog World Friends!....
I've missed you, but sure been busy with mourning and then 2 weeks of the FLU! So glad I'm feeling better. I did lose some weight though, and that was the best part of being sick. You know, when you feel bad you have to find something good about it. :)

I have not really sewn since the Hiatus. But I did finish a prayer Shawl which was given to a nice lady. I'm sorry but didn't get a picture of it.

Hubby has been busy with his Stain-Glass though. As you might now, he is a nurse at a nursing home. Well, there is an elderly lady there that has given up on life, and just waiting to go she says. Hubby has been trying to get her into a conversation and try to find out a little about her, and what she cares about. It turns out she has had a very interesting life, and is now basically alone. In her 90's you can imagine how sad that would be. In a recent conversation he asked her if he made her a stain glass what would she like. She said a heart. So here is her heart that she loved!

Well, I just loved it. I told Hubby I was glad he made it for her,

but I'd sure love one also. So he got busy! He let me pick out my colors....

My heart!!! I just love it!

I did get to finish putting together my 16 patch top.

Well...that is about it for now. I am glad to be back, and now I hope to get back to some real sewing. How are you doing? Keep in touch!

Your Blogging Friend,

Cathy

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A Hiatus

2011-02-03T19:21:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends...
I'm writing just to let you know I haven't fallen off the planet!
January 18th my sister in law died in her sleep, and the last 2.5 weeks have been filled with shock, grief, family, funeral stuff and just feeling. I haven't sewn much, and don't know when I'll get back to it. I hope to next week sometime. Please hang in there, and I'll hopefully see you all soon! Times like these come when we least expect it. My dear sister in law was only 59 and in relative good health. Seems the LORD just called her home.

Your Friend,
Cathy

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Further Progress

2011-01-16T17:59:00.000-08:00

Hello Dear Blog Friends,
Well, I've had a serious GI virus for about 3 full days, but am feeling more like my old self again. Whoa..when you are in the middle of it you feel horrible. I think I slept about 14-16 hours a day for the first two days. Just wanted to sleep, so didn't get any sewing done then. Now I have my two granddaughters for a week because their parents are traveling for a school and then funeral. I think the girls will allow me some time to sew. They are getting older, and I'm enjoying them very much. They even like to play games now. We play a little game called Tee-P's. Of course, Shuts and Ladders is still up there, but the little one will cry if she gets a shut/slide.

Now for the showNtell! Starting with Hubby first....

He installed a new board on top of the board he had and put a measuring grid on it.

He is always thinking of the best way to work. It is interesting to see his approaches.

Then he drew a sketch and calculated what he wanted.

Does this remind you of sewing quilts? :)

This is his drawing on plastic template from my sewing stuff!

The lay out of the cut glass so far....

The work in progress.

For the TA-DA!!!

With each piece, he is learning all kinds of new things.

I think this was a SUCCESS !!!

SCRAP-GIRL

Sews again!

The next showNtell is how I'm sewing up my scraps!

This is the white bucket of strips and scraps I posted before....

Hubby has claimed this quilt!

close ups

I used used, ironed dryer sheets for the foundation.

Now...this one is made from the 6-inch squares I turned into triangles.

I would consider this one a success and a failure. I don't think I'll make this again, but I like it just because I got it completed! Hurray!

This is those 2-inch squares turned in 16-patch!

I love it, but will NOT do this again. It just takes too much time and work.

I have 5 rows or strips done, and just need to put them together and then a border around it.

I think this one is a SUCCESS!

Friday, my youngest daughter came over with a surprise of this bolt of 6 yards of fabric she bought for me!!! The JoAnn's in her area is closing its' doors and she got it 75% off! We both just love Retro fabric, and so she thought this would be great for a backing fabric! I'll also do a little piecing and can probably get two backings out of it!

Close up...won't this make a beautiful backing?!!!

I think I'll use it on hubby's quilt back.

I think this is getting crazy, but I'm working up my tiniest scraps!

Well...that is about it for now!
Hope you all are busy creating and enjoying your productivity! I know we are!!!

Enjoy your Sewing!!!
Thanks for visiting!
Cathy

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Making Progress

2011-01-06T17:22:00.000-08:00

Hello Dear Friends...
I have been busy, but haven't taken pictures like I should.

First, I went on You Tube and found a really cool crochet pattern for basket weave. I bought a beautiful multicolored yarn and made a long scarf for myself. When I thought I was done with the length of the scarf I put it around my neck, and thought I would gag!!! It stunk!!! So, today, with a completed beautiful scarf, and the rest of the pound of yarn, hubby and I took it back to the store. When the sales girl sniffed the scarf, her face screwed up and she said, YUCK...you couldn't wear it with that smell. It was also the yarn. Now the store had plenty of other skeins like that and none of them smelled. I think what happens is when you are working with the yarn, and it gets warmed up, this horrid chemical smell comes out! That is all I can figure!
They gave me a store credit, and I had a 40% off coupon so I bought an 8.5 inch Omnigrid square ruler and ended up only paying $3 plus change. I was very happy! BUT....THEN...
While we were still out running errands, I decided to open my new square ruler, and as I was opening it I got a sharp prick to my finger. My brand new expensive ruler had a terrible nick out of it! SO< Back to the store, and hubby went in to return it for me, while I waited in the car with all the other stuff we'd bought from a lumber store. I think they had an idea we were difficult customers..but then hubby went to get another square and the very next square had the exact same nick out of it!!! He showed it to the sales girl and she was surprised, and let him have the new good one! Now I am so happy with my new ruler! I have never returned anything to this store before, and here I had to return two things in one day!!!
Wish I had taken pictures of my beautiful STINKY scarf! LOL

I have been working hard on my 2inch squares I'd cut out in the previous post. I turned them into 16 patch...and I ended up with 92-16 patches! They are really nice! I'll set them on diagonal and all half square triangles to make it square.

My oldest daughter and her husband gave me their beautiful cookie tin that I plan on using to keep my embroidery floss in! It is so much prettier and brighter than my camera shows here. The pictures on it are so real and detailed you could dream about visiting a place like this, or imagine stepping through the doors of the shops or sitting down at the table and having a cup of tea!

The Tin is 10.5 inches across...a large size!

Couldn't you just sit here and sip tea???

NOW TO SHOW OFF HUBBY's STAIN GLASS>>>

He learned to stain or tint the metal.

We have been fixing up his work table with things he needs....

He is getting ready to make a stain glass for our living room window tomorrow...

Next time I'll have lots to show I hope!

We got him the nicest glass grinder we could find. Most are not slanted so you can grind while sitting, but this one is either slanted or flat...which ever you prefer~

I showed this before..but it looks like something from Frankenstein! LOL

and we got him these drawers to store small pieces of glass and other tools.

Well..this is about it for now.

Next time I'll show you all my half square triangles I've gotten done!!! Seems like a couple hundred! Then, I have a Disappearing 9 Patch out of 4 inch squares to work on. Finally, I'll have about 6 different quilt tops in the works, and then as I cut out I'll add to each one. I'll get these scraps used up this year!!!

God bless you all...until we meet again!

Cathy

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BUSY< BUSY< BUSY~~~

2010-12-30T10:41:00.000-08:00

Hello Blog Friends!!!

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS:
I am so looking forward to 2011~ Most people make New Years Resolutions, unless they've given up on them. They say that most people do NOT keep their resolutions after even a few days or weeks...but I sure hope to keep mine! Normally I do not make resolutions, but I need to change a few things in my life so I'm taking this opportunity to work on them with a NYR! Maybe someone can help remind me throughout the year. My girls are really good at this! LOL

Here are some resolutions I'm thinking about~
1. Go to bed between 10 and 11 pm.
2. Get up by 8 am.
3. Sew every day for at least half an hour or more.
4. Read my Bible two times a day, which use to be my habit. Got out of it this past year...I think after mom passed.
5. To Journal at least half hour a day about my memories for my family. I match up pictures with the writing.

Well..here are some pictures of some projects I'm working on:

My most recent projects have been to begin cutting up my scrap fabrics into 2, 4, 6 inch squares and 3.5x6.5 rectangles and then anything smaller than 2 inch strips into a pile! This is one of my tons of scraps!

These are my 2 inch squares...just a few of them!

These are some of the pieces for strips and log cabins, etc.

I like to use used fabric sheets for these...

Now I've started sewing these together in to quilt projects.

I've been sewing the 2 inch squares into 16 patches...which I will then put a border around each or a little log cabin...with the strips...

I haven't got the 4x4 squares put together yet...still working on the 4 in a row...

With the rectangles...I'm doing two different patterns...

the braid pattern for girls and

the brick pattern for boys quilts!

NOW FOR MY CHRISTMAS GIFT

TO SHARE AND SHOW N TELL!!!

MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER SURPRISED ME THIS CHRISTMAS

WITH A QUILT SHE HAND QUILTED JUST FOR ME!!!

I LOVE IT MORE THAN I CAN SAY!!!

She did the pattern all herself...and I LOVE the ribbon of squares!!!

The stripped fabric has been inherited from my mother's stash...

and the lavender is a small flower print that daughter bought just to go in this quilt!!!

She did an excellent job quilting it!

Center panel pin-wheels

Daughter patch worked the back side also, which makes it so pretty!

These are the tops and bottoms pulled together to show you the pretty square edging!

I love her creativity!!!

Daughter made this beautiful quilt while taking care of her young family of 4 children...3 are preschoolers!!!

So what is my problem with getting a quilt done! LOL

This is an EyeLash yarn scarf my sister in law made and gave me!!!

This got me started and I made one for each of my two daughters and my daughter in law for Christmas!

My 7 year old granddaughter wanted a scarf..and I took her to JoAnn fabrics and she picked out these two yarns. They are Super Soft!!!

For her scarf I knitted it from length to length....this is just a little idea I was getting for something else to use up the left overs.

Tuesday was my youngest daughter's birthday...and I am finishing up an off white extra long EyeLash yarn scarf. She looks good in scarves!

Now...for a picture of another Prayer Shawl I'm finishing for a dear friend at church...

I love the color of this HomeSpun yarn!

Well....God Bless and keep each one of you....

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011,

Remember to have a Thankful Year unto the LORD JESUS CHRIST!

He gave us His Life....John 3:3....

Love, Cathy

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MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

2010-12-21T00:25:00.000-08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

JESUS!!!

JESUS CHRIST The LORD

LIVES

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Lots of Fun Stuff to Show N Tell

2010-12-15T08:22:00.000-08:00

Hello my dear Blog Friends!
Today is my granddaughter's 5 year birthday day, so I called her and sang my two birthday songs, I always sing on birthdays! It has become a tradition for my family that I sing these two songs to them. When my kids where born I began singing these two songs, and now that I'm a grandma I still do. If I call and they aren't there, I sing into the answering machine or voice mail. My kids will even save it for a while and re listen to it~ Now the funny think is that I can't sing worth listening to. So I sing with the LOVE from my heart for them, and they LISTEN with the LOVE in their hearts! One song is the traditional HB....and the second song I learned when I was young at church. When it was our birthday week, the pastor would ask for whoever had a birthday that week to come forward, and the small congregation would sing this song, and then you'd be expected to put an offering in a little white church bank for the LORD. I always loved putting my coins in that bank and knowing that I was truly thanking the LORD for another year of life!

Here is the song:
"A Happy Birthday to You,
A Happy Birthday to You,
Every day of the year,
May you feel Jesus near,
A Happy Birthday to you,
A Happy Birthday to you,
The best that you ever had!"

Here is the present I made for my little Granddaughter....

This is a child size 5 blue jean skirt turned into a purse!!!

There is not only the purse, but each of the four pockets can be used to put items in!

I can only imagine what a 5 year old will stuff in this little purse!

This is the back of the purse.

There are four magnetic closers on this purse...

One on each back pockets, and two holding the purse closed.

If you haven't tried magnetic closures...they are easy to install and work really well!

I used Cat fabric lining...from my cousin!

Granddaughter will probably put her little stuffed animals in here...

I also added the lace.

The two magnetic closures...

Back pocket closures.....Hope I've convinced you to try them!

This is a marker/pencil roll up I made that matches the purse lining!

It also has a little pocket that holds a pencil sharpener.

Hope she really likes these gifts!

Hubby has been busy making his second stain-glass! Thank you for each comment encouraging hubby with his new hobby. He loves it! When he began this second project he had an idea in mind. He wanted to do an ICE BURG scene with mountains and water. When he was done, I told him it looked like an ice burg scene, but I also saw something Spiritual about it. I saw a Cathedral with Majestic Mountains, and the Living Waters in it. That is what is so nice about ART is you can see different interpretations in it, and a piece of ART can speak to you!!! Hubby is anxious to learn more about stain glass and how to perfect his techniques. He knows there are several things he isn't doing yet, but will be investigating and learning as time goes on. He has also just learned that you can watch You Tube videos that will help teach him.

This is before his soldering...

Can you see the Ice burgs, mountains and water/sky?

mountains...

It was hard to get the white of the ice burgs to show up as pretty as the glass truly is.

Hubby's glass is like my fabric! Fun to look at and select from!!!

I love it!

I've been a member of a Christian Writers Group for many years. We meet once a month. This month was our Christmas party and I thought I'd show you the beautiful Jello dish our President made and brought! IT was delicious!!! It has cream cheese in it. Have you ever seen anything so beautiful???

My youngest daughter went through her fabrics and crafts and gave me what she had.

She gave me all this fabric scraps, and about half more this much I didn't show....plus...

This bag full of flannel fabrics! She has made a half dozen flannel quilts, and this is enough for several more. I'll sure have to get busy won't I???

Still working on my 15 minutes play...

This one I bound off...and could use it for a place-mat.

I've been working them into 12 squares which I AM NOT happy with. I bound off this one also, and from now on I think I'll be working only with 6 to 8 inch square sizes. That is big enough to work with.

As with most the country this week, we've had cold and snowy weather!

Burrrr...it's cold outside!!!

BUT...just to tease you a little...

A Vacation picture from Florida...

These days will come around again!!!

So in the mean time....

MERRY CHRISTMAS...

Jesus Christ's Birthday Celebration!!!

REMEMBER...

Jesus spoke to us about giving freely all year long to those in need!

Don't just give at Christmas time, but give of yourselves all year long!

May God BLESS you in Jesus' Name!!!

Cathy

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A STARTLING CHRISTMAS SURPRISE

2010-12-10T12:06:00.000-08:00

The first three Christmas’ I can remember were when I was 6, 7 and 8 years old. Each was so different from the others that when I compare them, there is really no similarity.

The first Christmas was just after my mother and I moved to Michigan after my aunt had died and left her 7 children all under the age of 9. I had lived in a quiet world without children, and so moving into their household when I was 6 was more than exciting. My mother’s brother needed help keeping himself and his large family together. That first Christmas there was a huge live tree that touched the ceiling and stood decorated in the corner of the living room. Under the tree were dozens of wrapped gifts, as we each had a number of gifts per child. After going to bed on Christmas Eve, the four of us oldest girls were in our attic bedroom when we kept hearing the wooden back screen door slamming. We were convinced that it was Santa Clause as we had no chimney for him to use.

When we awoke on Christmas morning, the living room was so beautiful it looked like a dream world. The tree lights were on, and the presents were stacked under and around the tree. There were tricycles, wagons and bikes standing around. I thought there was nothing more that could fit into that room except us excited little children! How blessed I remember feeling, not just because of all the presents, but because of all the children that I was sharing this wonderful morning with. Even as a child I knew it was special to be with other children. I don’t think I remembered that this was the first Christmas without their mother.

By the next Christmas I was back in Ohio and living with my Grandmother. There were no children to share the Christmas Eve or Morning with, and even my mother was away at work. I was alone with my Grandmother. Her tree was a 2 foot tall table top tree that was made out of silvery aluminum and was decorated with blue balls. There were no presents under that tree, and I do not remember even receiving a gift that Christmas. It was as dead and lifeless a Christmas as that poor little tree looked.

The very next Christmas my mother and I lived in the basement of a 150 year old house that was being used as a Nursing Home which my mother was in charge of. We had no tree that Christmas, and also no children of course. I remember awaking to my mother being upstairs at work. I walked into the front room which we used as a living room and there on top of our little TV were two gifts for me. One was a box with a little Noah’s Ark in it, and the other was a wind up Raggedy Andy sitting there. These gifts weren’t even wrapped. Just waiting for someone to discover them I guess. There was no joy in getting them, and no excitement to even share with anyone. I was by myself at age 8 on Christmas morning.

Now, I retold this story recently to my oldest daughter, and upon thinking of these memories I was struck with a new revelation! What had my mom gotten for Christmas? Who had given her a Christmas gift? I don’t remember getting her anything. I had always felt sorry for myself, and this is the first year I’ve thought of her disappointment that there was no one to give her a gift. She was always making sure I had something, even if it was just a roof over my head and food in my stomach and clothes on my back.

My mother went home to be with the LORD this year, and I wish I had her to discuss these memories with. I would have said, “Thank you for making that Christmas so special for myself and my cousins when I was 6 years old.” I would have said, “Thank you for going to work and for loving me enough to take me to Grandmother’s house when I was 7 years old, when you could have chosen an easier life for yourself.” I would have said, “Thank you for giving me those two wonderful gifts you left on the TV. To this day I love Noah’s Ark and still have my Raggedy Andy almost 50 years later!” I would give her a special gift of being an appreciative child! Thank you Mom for all you did for me as a child~

My 50 year old Raggedy Andy!

He has a music box in him that still works perfectly!

****************************

Hello Friends...

I hope you enjoyed reading one of my Christmas memories. I'm sure we all have many interesting ones, and I hope to read some of yours! It is a little sad this year...my first without my mother. Her headstone was just set in place and this is the back of it....

Each one of my children placed a Bible Scripture...

and we just had to let everyone know she was LOVED!

When my kids were little she began using the name G-ma...and it stuck!

Even her great grandchildren called her G-ma!

***************

I have already given my dear Hubby his Christmas present, because we went together to buy it. While he was off work the 23 months, he was so busy trying to find a job, and then going to school, that now he is working and has 3 days of work plus another day of adjusting to sleep and his schedule, that still leaves him about 3 days to PLAY!....And he was wanted to learn and play with Stained Glass! I think that is a wonderful idea. He collects beautiful glass and I collect beautiful fabric! Sounds fair to me! LOL

Hubby has taken over my sewing machine / dining room table. He loves his new hobby!

Finishing touches...

Hubby's first Stained Glass!

He put a hanger on the back and it now hangs in our entry way.

My youngest daughter...one of her newest paintings!

She is very talented! This isn't even half done!

I thought I'd show you some really tiny paintings...these are about an inch or an inch and a half!!!

This is a close up of this tiny little elephant!

A jaguar and an orangutan....

A tiny raccoon...less than an inch tall...

The little orangutan...a close up view...

Anyways...DD2 is really good at her paints!

I'm still working on my 15 minute plays of scrap fabrics and enjoying it so much. I have made at least 20 of these type creations....go to the site to see what everyone is doing!

Well...God bless each of you! Thank you for reading...and hope to hear from you soon!
Cathy

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My NEW PLAY!

2010-12-02T08:59:00.000-08:00

Hello Dear Friends,

First, as you can read above, I have a new header picture! It is a wall-hanging made for my dear cousin Joanne! It was for her birthday, and she has received it and loves it. I am so glad I made her happy!!! I also sent her a bird house my DD2 painted for a missionary ministry and I bought it from her. It is so nice to get gifts from others that do their own beautiful work! Here are the pictures:

Everything is hand appliqued and embroidered. I used colored pencils to fill in some of the flowers! Nice technique!

This is the back of the birdhouse my DD2 painted! You can almost see the lights on it. Note the small manger scene underneath the tree.

This is the side of the house with a dog and the front porch! I want to look in the window~

this is the second floor of the bird house!~ Can't you feel the snow on the roof...burrrrr~

The snow has blown onto the front porch! The cat wants into the house! You are welcome to come in for a cup of coffee OR BIRD SEED~

Here is the cute Snowman Family that lives in this Birdhouse~

NOW...I have some exciting news~
I have joined a new blog group!
This blog is called 15-Minutes Play and is by Victoria of Bumble Beans Inc. The idea is to take your scraps, no matter how tiny or ugly and work for 15-minute intervals and see what you can come up with. Just be creative and let yourself do it freely. Then after you have dozens done, try putting them together into a quilt!!!

I simply LOVE Victoria's blog!!! Please visit her blogs! She lives in NYC and she is a very accomplished quilter and quilt creator! Just take a few hours and go through her blog and enjoy!

Here are the first 4-minute plays I've contributed:

Check out the blog for the rest of the close-ups!

I am working on a pin-wheel quilt right now out of Cat Fabric that my dear cousin sent me...

There are dozens here...

WOULD YOU MIX UP THE PRINTS....OR

WOULD YOU KEEP THE SAME PRINTS TOGETHER???

Finally, I finished the second prayer shawl....
and I am also working on some SBS embroideries!!! I'll show them later!

LOVE to all!!!
Cathy

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2010-11-25T00:05:00.000-08:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

to each of you,

And God's Blessings upon you!!!

Let's don't forget to thank the LORD daily

for each and every blessing we receive!!!

Cathy

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Hello - More Show N Tell

2010-11-22T20:07:00.000-08:00

Hi Friends...
I hope you don't get tired of my show n tell...but I am always thinking of things to share!
Here we go:

I was noticing that I wasn't wanting to go into my 'messy' sewing room and sew...SO...I pushed the dining room table under the window and set up my two sewing machines and portable ironing board. The only things I pull out of the sewing room is what I'm working on. That way the mess doesn't start spreading over the house. By the way, I just love playing with the black and white pictures!

I just pull my sewing chair to which ever machine I'm using. As of today, I'm mainly using the Old 1938 Singer...you just cannot beat that perfect smooth stitch it makes!

This is my toy fire truck the kids play with while I'm sewing. I thought this was so cute.

I have a little corner in the living room set up for the granddaugthers (5 of them ages 2-7 yrs) to be able to keep busy with their art work. They all love drawing!!! My youngest daughter is an artist, and I can tell that several of the girls are well on their way. My oldest daughter provided this sweet little fairy table from someones trash pile! She is the best at rescuing stuff that is still good! The large notebook against the back of the table holds the pictures they draw. We keep them in there in plastic sleeve covers. They can look through it and see what they have done. We try to name and date each picture.

This is our cat by the four year old...lol...I love those cow feet!

Ok...enough..but of course the pictures melt my heart! The 4 year old did these, and even wrote the words.

This is the second prayer shawl I'm knitting. I have one more to make with this home spun yarn and then I think I'll use something different. This yarn is so soft, but it is also a little hard to work with I think.

These are some very old threads I inherited from my mom. I found them in a modern caboodle/make up box that mom used for storing sewing stuff. I didn't know able them, and just discovered them in the past couple weeks. It was a nice surprise since mom has been gone for over 6 months now.

All are wooden spools.

American Thread co Manufacturer's.

This is the group of Clark's Button and Carpet thread, Coats & Clark's and J & P Coats Mercerized.
The other ones that I couldn't get to turn out clear were:

Geneva cotton glace finish and

This is American Thread Co. Embroidery, Crochet, Knitting...70 yards...
The little bobbin type threads say Belding's Silks Are The Best. Seems to be pearl cotton or silk?

I am VERY thankful that my grandmother left me so many medal bobbins for the old Singer!
NOW...Don't go into culture shock...but here is my modern day thread and spools! I find them at JoAnn Fabrics last month, and the colors are so beautiful...more so than these pictures show! I will have fun using them!!!

Oh yeah...the spools are PLASTIC!!! LOL

Here are the latest embroideries I've completed!

These are stars I'll blanket stitch the edges on a quilt.

These are some examples...and I'm doing them all by hand.

Oops..I just realized I need to re-iron this one! LOL

Thanks for hanging in with my large show n tell!

Hope you enjoyed, and have a very

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

BLESSINGS THROUGH JESUS...

Cathy

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I'm Still Laughing!

2010-11-16T11:47:00.000-08:00

Here is a must-see YouTube that one of our bloggers created...Grandmarockton! Please watch it and laugh with me! Oh soooo true Grandmarockton!!! Thanks!

Laughter makes the Heart Light!
Cathy

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A Small Update

2010-11-13T16:52:00.000-08:00

Hello dear Friends...
I just got done babysitting all day, and I'm really tired, but I thought I'd catch you up a little tonight. Better a little here and there than nothing at all...right?!

First, I have NOT found my converter for my camera, so this week I went to Wal-Mart and bought a new one. :/ It was $10.52 I shouldn't have had to buy, but, oh well...sometimes you just have to admit defeat!

This year I made a wall hanging for my DD2 and her hubby! They love fall and pumpkins! In fact my SIL grows those really large pumpkins. The largest he has grown was approximately 479 pounds! So when I saw this free pattern, I thought of them.

I'm not sure why all the different colors didn't show up.

The background fabric was my husband's work shirt. That made it more special!

This is my newest project...Butterfly Garden by Leanne's House.

I am using a Moda stack of fat quarters. Can't remember the name.

Here is my first row of the first Nine Patch block.

This pattern is made up of 9-9patch blocks!

I have the first 9 patch done, but haven't taken more pictures yet.

In fact, I think I will be redoing these blocks because I am not happy with them.

Here is a very poor picture of my dear sweet Grandmother that I inherited my 1938 Singer sewing machine from. The reflection from my shadow and the glass reflection didn't make a good picture.

But, my grandmother had 7 and raised 6 children during the depression. This is in West Virginia in the 1920's...when life was very hard. In 1970 my mom and I went to visit grandmother and when we got there she was busy tearing up photos into tiny little pieces. This picture was rescued by me as it was in her hand and she was trying to tear it up also. There is a rip in this picture...not really showing up here. The reason she was tearing up her photos was because this was a very depressing time for her, and she was ashamed of her poverty. When I look at it I don't see poverty but beauty!!! I see a wonderful and brave woman who took great care of her family during hard times, and she was a good wife and mother. This picture is about 4x5inchs.

When my hubby rewired my old 1938 Singer a couple months ago, we had taken it out of its' original sewing machine cabinet. The cabinet had been in two basement floods, and it was really ruined and smelled terrible. We'd been keeping it in the garage.

Well, this Thursday my DH was chopping up the cabinet to throw it out in the trash, when he came across a small hidden compartment on the inside of the cabinet. This was a compartment not gotten to unless you had the cabinet open with the machine opened also. DH came into the house with a handful of crumbled brown paper!

These were a type of TIME CAPSULE! Among the papers were several patterns, a letter from March 1, 1943 my uncle had written to grandmother and granddad, and a note from a Doctor and his wife.

This pattern must have been from about 1940-43 for my youngest aunt. It is a girls size 14...and cost 10cents~ The company was Du Barry Patterns. I sure wish there was a date on them!

The backs of patterns still look about the same, dont' they?!

The family letter was precious, and even though my uncle is deceased now, his wife is still living and is about 85 years old. I am going to take her that letter. They had 5 children, and in the letter they had just had their first baby. My uncle mentioned their works during the war, and they were living in Macon, GA because he was in the Civil Service.

Note the 3cent stamp~ 1943

I had mentioned before the Christmas bear I was working on. Here are the pictures of it, but my little 2 year old granddaughter saw it and asked..."Can I have the bear Mimi?" What was a grandma to do? She loves it! LOL

My pile of Christmas fabric strips from my mom...

I sewed the strips into a row and top stitched them.

Cut out the bear and embroidered the face and sewed button eyes...

Finally...it's new home in the arms of my 2 year old!!!

That is it for now...because I'm out of energy tonight! Hope each of you have a blessed Sunday!

Keep in Touch!

Blessings and Smiles,

Cathy

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Ok...I'm Still Here

2010-11-08T17:14:00.000-08:00

Hello Dear Friends...
I'm still here, and my camera converter is still missing! I have pictures to show but no way to show them. Tomorrow after a luncheon, I will give the house a turn up-side down and try to find it!

Hubby is pretty exhausted tonight. After 3 12 to 13 hour work days in a row, and little real deep sleep, he is tired! But it is a good tired, and he seems to feel really good earning a paycheck again! Praise the LORD for this new job~

I watched grand kids all day, and what a pleasure they were! I also visited with my DD2 and 3 of her children! Again, what a blessing these precious little ones are. I keep thinking just how fast they grow up, and by a certain age grandma isn't as interesting. So, I'm hoping we have a good, solid relationship now.

I have been working on some of my projects. Still working on the T-shirt quilt, a scrappy quilt, embroidering miscellaneous pieces and on the Snowbound and Raggedy Ann squares, and finally I have started the Butterfly Garden quilt. Oh, and I made a little Christmas bear that I think I want to start an Etsy shop with. I would LOVE to hear from anyone with an Etsy account, and let me know how it is going for you! Any tips?

I have been enjoying your blogs, and hope I can stop and visit you often! I also try to leave comments because I enjoy sharing what you are sharing with me!

My dear cousin just let me know that she was going through her pattern files and came across loads of Sunbonnet Sue patterns, and she put them in the mail for me today! HURRAY! I'm so excited to see them, and my hope and dream is to make one every couple of days! Wouldn't that be a goal! Maybe I'll set it as a goal like in the movie Julie and Julia~! Hey, if you haven't watched that movie try to watch it soon. It is really motivating for setting goals. I'm not a goal setter or completer to often, but that movie made me want to be!

OH, Also I am still knitting on Prayer Shawls for the group I joined three months ago at our church. I'm finishing up my second shawl. The first shawl I gave to my DD2 and her three older children use it every night when they say their night time prayers. The three of them get under the shawl together and then say prayers. I was actually there one night when they did this, and they were soooo cute! The LORD must have a BIG SMILE on His Majestic Face when He sees them!

Love to each of you, and God bless and keep you in His Truth and Blessings~
Cathy

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WHERE OH WHERE

2010-11-02T08:39:00.000-07:00

Where oh Where is my camera card adaptor! I hope I find it so I can show you a Fall wall hanging I completed and gave to my daughter yesterday! I also have a few other pictures. Not so funny when you can't find something that is actually important to you!~ I usually keep it on the table next to my computer so I can grab it easily, so I hope it didn't fall into the waste basket or a grand baby moved it.

I'm getting my sewing self back under a little bit of control. It has been a battle for a long time to get my groove back for sewing. I still think about it constantly, and I do a little bit of hand sewing, but haven't been able to make myself really get my ideas flowing and into production. My hope was to make some purses/totes/bags to sell, and I made about 7, but none I'd want to sell. I either gave them away or decided they weren't good enough. I have some really nice material to use soon for these projects.

Yesterday I watched my little DGD-A who is such a sweet heart. She is 2 years old, and talks with a great vocabulary and has such a little serious side to her. She is not one of those funny rambunctious girls, but answers everything with a clear monotone Yes, or No! She is smart, and thinks beyond her little years I think. Maybe she is one of those Old Souls you hear about. Anyways, we had a nice time together. She also colors like a 6 year old. Even stays within the lines, and works so hard at her little coloring projects. I just love each and every one of these precious little people!

I think of how important it is to keep my life as an example for these little children. When I was little I took everything in about my grandmother. I could probably tell you more about her than even her own children or husband could have. I noticed everything! The way she sat, poured her coffee, talked, watched TV, got into a car, shopped with seriousness, suffered in her body, and prayed each night outloud for her many children and grandchildren...each by name! She impressed my life like no other person. My mom would even get a little jealous of grandmother/her mom because I was so 'into' my grandmother! She loved to take her clothes apart to someday redesign them. The problem was that when I was around her health was too bad that she usually didn't have the energy to put them back together again. But I heard that she was good at it!

Yesterday I found out that my daughters did not know how to spell my middle name. At first I was shocked, then upset and then thought that maybe it was my fault that I hadn't shared myself with them enough. Maybe I take for granted what they know about me, and what they would want to know. My oldest daughter is always asking me to write down my life and thoughts so she will have a record of it. She doesn't tend to remember what I say...I think, because her own life is so full and she is such a creative person herself. BUT, like so many of us, we don't really see the value in knowing about our loved ones or those closest to us until it is too late. Just like my mom and me...I always heard her stories and thought I really should write this down, or record it for the future. Last year I made ONE tape of her sharing some stories, and thought I would have her fill a few more tapes. Then she died. Now I will have to try to remember a few stories, but I've no one to really ask anything about the past to. I used my mom like my own memory. Always thinking, I'll just ask Mom. Now I can't.

My dear Hubby just got his first full time position as a nurse!!! A regular three days in a row, 12-hour days~ We are so glad to have something to count on, and a regular schedule to work around. Prayers were answered after 23 months!!!

I'll write more later...
Love to each of you my dear Friends!!!
Cathy

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More Sunbonnet Sue

2010-11-01T02:32:00.000-07:00

Check out Michelle's blog at Rosebud Quilting to see her Sunbonnet Sue Quilt! Just love her!

Love,
Cathy

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Check out....Sunbonnet Sue...

2010-10-26T10:01:00.000-07:00

For those of you interested in Sunbonnet Sue quilts....check out Barb's blog at Bejeweled Quilts by Barb! I just love the fun, clean look and especially the blanket stitch look! There are two posts to check out. Hope you enjoy!

Barb had shared that this was one of her first quilts. I thought I'd share one of my first little quilts I'd made. It was of my own creation, and I still love it because of the folk art look I think it has.

This is the back...

Have a great day! We have been under Tornado Warnings here for the past hour...and yet, I'm on the computer. :)

Cathy

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Sore Fingers

2010-10-23T19:07:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends,
Today I've been watching movies and hand quilting on my Squares quilt. Hubby had to work again today 11.5 hours. This is such a blessing considering he was hired as an 'on call' and hasn't finished the orientation yet, but since Wednesday he has worked a 12-hr shift, 14-hour shift and a 11.5 hour shift. Praise the LORD. So I got to watch movies to my hearts content and quilt. I had gone to the library on Thursday and got a handful of good Jane Austen movies! Last winter I started a Jane Austen Book Club with about 12 women, and we got one book read and then it fizzled for very good reasons and some not that interested. I understand. You have to have a passion for her to keep going. The book we read was Northanger Abbie! Today I watched Pride and Prejudice and Emma. LOVE Emma! Is anyone else interested in Jane Austen? Anyways, my fingers are really sore but I did get a lot done.

I have the T-shirts cut apart for the t-shirt quilt I'm making. I still have to iron them and cut out the 14 or 16 inch squares. The sewing together is the easy part for me. Much easier than all the cutting.

Last night I spend the evening with my youngest daughter and 3 granddaughters and grandson. It was nice and we just visited. The kids are all little, and having Grandma there seems so special to them. I just love all their running around, and trying to tell me a little story or show me something. One of the things they showed me was a little book that GD3 who is 4 had made. Her mom/my daughter wrote out the words that she wanted to go with her pictures. I tried to take pictures of the little book to show you the wonderful pictures and imagination that she used, but the words were the cutest!

Here is GD3's little book words:
Title: Unikorn (she wrote that herself)
Page 1 The boy climbed the fence to play with the girl.
Page 2 They played and found a rat.
Page 3 It asked them for help getting home.
Page 4 They brought it home.
Page 5 They were making a dance.
Page 6 The girl was walking home.
Page 7 Then she hurt her foot.
Page 8 She went to the hospital.
Page 9 Then she cried for her mom.
Page 10 She died, and was sad!
The End

We all love the last page...She died and was sad! LOL I have no idea where she got this from. I love the idea that she was imagining her emotions. Well...do you think we have another Jane Austen on our hands? :)

Here are a few pictures of my cloth dolls I've been wanting to show. I have lots of them, and may show them again in a group picture when I take more pictures of the rest of them. These pictures are already in my file.

These clothes were done all by hand. Originally I had made a little pair of boots but they were lost.

This is one of many Raggedy's I've made.

This was a little sack doll I made about 25 years ago. I had also made 5 others that were in clothes, and sent them with a friend of mine down to Peru. The friends were missionaries, and they were able to give these little dolls to little girls deep in the Amazon River. I remember they had to make a 2 day trip to get to their home. Five hours up the river in a boat also. What a great feeling that was to know that little girls that are now probably women/mothers now mostly still have their little dolls! My friend said that these were so precious and these kids didn't have any real toys. Their homes were no more than lean-twos with dirt floors. This little doll was made for my mom specifically.

Well...I guess that's all for now. Hope everyone has a very nice weekend!
Prayers and blessings,
Cathy

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Show and Tell Again!

2010-10-20T11:16:00.000-07:00

My dear Friends...Thanks for your Congrats on Hubby and my 35th wedding anniversary. We had a very nice day. We went to church and then out to eat at Ruby Tuesdays...one of our favorite places for special...next to OutBack Steak House which is out of our budget range these days. Hubby had played in a band on Saturday for a wedding and they were so generous and gave each member of the band a $50.00 gift card for Target. He saw this as our gift from the LORD for our Anniversary because he wasn't expecting this, and we were not going to get each other anything this Anniversary since we basically are still out of work. But praise the LORD that tonight is Hubby's 3rd night of orientation at a nursing home. He needs 6 nights before they will put him on the on-call list. Anyways, we went to Target after eaching lunch and picked out our anniversary gift...a rock water fall. This will remind us each time we see or hear its' wonderful babbling water.

Isn't it pretty!?!!!

This morning I was checking blogs, and I read a post by Carrie P at A Passion for Applique about a sewing machine drawer she found to buy. If you look at my post for August 31, 2010 regarding my grandmother's Singer 1938 sewing machine. About 3 years ago her sewing cabinet was in our basement which flooded 2 times, and was damaged with mold and the veneer was coming off the bottom. It smelled. So in August when my daughter and I were cleaning out my garage where it had been moved to, my daughter wanted me to throw the entire thing away. I saved the machine from her throw-out, and I insisted on keeping the upper drawer because it wasn't damaged and it was so interesting and would remind me of grandmother's cabinet! Daughter thought I was nuts. Well..I must say that Carrie restored my confidence in that I was not nuts! LOL Even adult children don't always value what we value, and it goes to show you that you should LISTEN to your own heart!!!

Inside the draw was my Grandmother's INSTRUMENT OF TORTURE!!! Just look closely at it if you don't think so~! It was the original button-holer for the 1938 Singer. OUCH! I remember using this THING!!! LOL Never would I want to use that again! My 'new' singer which is a very cheap version but works beautifully...has a simple built in button-holer and all you do is turn a knob 3 times. There is your perfect button-hole~!

Innocent enough looking box~

Here lays the tormenter~aka...Monster

RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!! LOL

The middle slidder knob is all you have to do to make a button-hole~!

Now Sunday while we were shopping I told Hubby that I'd really like to use a JoAnn fabric 50% off coupon I had to buy a table top ironing board since I love to sew in the dining room and always have to drag the ironing board from the bedroom to the dining room and back again. He just drove there after we bought the waterfall, and I was surprised. I got this for $10~ and am so thrilled with it~

I can't remember if I shared that my son and DIL's house burned down in Sept?

My son was asleep when his house fire alarm went off. DIL was in another state due to work.

THANK THE LORD GOD he got out before being overcome with smoke, and his dog, because when he opened his bedroom door the entire back of the house was a blaze! The house was 4 years old, and is being rebuilt right now....again...Praise the LORD!

With the rest of our Target gift card after buying the waterfall, we bought TWO new First Alert Smoke Detectors~~~~~~~~~ PLEASE CHECK YOUR SMOKE DETECTORS, OR REPLACE THEM AND A NEW BATTERY IF IT HAS BEEN A WHILE!!! PLEASE DO NOT TAKE A CHANCE~

My precious son got out alive, and the home was a total lose, between the fire and the smoke and water damage~

this was his office...

This was from water and smoke and fire damage alone~~~~ NOT PRETTY! You can't even tell this was a home with stuff in it...and in the office, one of those piles is the fax/printer that looked like a plastic ball. Amazing.

PLEASE CHECK YOUR SMOKE DETECTORS...

Okay...I'm changing the topic~

My DEAR Sweet cousin sent me some SunBonnet Sue fabric, and I'm so excited about it~

Well...I have more to share...so will save some~!

Love and prayers to each of you~~~

Cathy :)

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Show N Tell Night~~

2010-10-16T16:18:00.000-07:00

Good Evening dear Friends!
Tonight I thought I'd do a show and tell with what I'm working on, and other projects I'm going to be finishing! I might even list my unfinished projects on the side and check them off as I do them. This is NOT the entire list yet. Today I started with a few quilt tops that were right out front in the closet.

Check on Checks

This is the quilt top I am hand-quilting right now. I made this top about 5 years ago, and tried to throw it away 3 years ago. I had a real mess in my sewing room, and sometimes that is the way I handle stress and mess. Well, I am now thankful that my youngest daughter 'found' the thrown out quilt tops in trash bags in the garage waiting for trash day! She took them all home with her, and even took bags of fabric and other sewing stuff I was throwing out. Then after we moved 2 years ago, I was at her house and saw all my throw-aways in her closet and said I'd love to have them back. She laughed and said of course because she knew I would eventually 'snap' out of my mood! Do any of you ever do rash stuff like this?

I am hand quilting. This is my preferred way to quilt. As I've stated before, machine quilting is a complete mystery to me. My mom use to have one of those long-arm machines and she had her own business with it. That monster lived in my basement, in mom's sewing room because she lived with me. The monster was 7 feet 12 inches long, and we had to get it into our basement through the window!

Anyways, I have been telling people how I quilt, because I DO NOT BASTE anything. With my lack of patience, if I had to baste anything, I'd throw it out....LOL!

All you do is lay your back on a dining room table...again, I cannot get on the floor...so I use the dining room table. Lay your back, then batting, then top on the table. Be sure you have a bigger back than top. Then take a 14inch hoop and slip the bottom hoop under the backing in the middle of the top. Attach the top hoop and then turn over and make sure your back is smooth in the bottom hoop. Pick up and start quilting.

Smooth back...

I also usually do simply outline quilting...

This is where I sit, and I use a free standing TV tray stand. I place the weight of the quilt on the table, and hold the hoop in my hands...

When I go to move my hoop to the next area to quilt, I just drape it over this table. It works and NO BASTING!

This is the Fall quilt I made a few years ago. I use it on our bed now.

Now...Here is my huge King size Christmas quilt I started to quilt about 3 years ago, but never finished. I had been quilting it with one of those PVC pipe quilt frames. I had it in the basement of our house we moved from 2 years ago when our basement was flooded and the quilt was soaked!!! I dried it out, and put it away. I AM going to finish it, and then use it for Christmas! Now...here is the interesting way I made it. I had loads of Christmas fabric...some given to me, and lots of those Christmas panels for pillows and blocks. I knew I was never going to use them so I use the blocks for the backing, and I made crosses...some upside down so there is no top or bottom, and then appliqued some Christmas fabric ornaments to the centers.

FRONT

CROSSES

HUGE quilt...covers bottom and top too!

Edging on sides only...

Panels for backing...

This next quilt top my mom left me to finish. I love it.

At the bottom is a note pinned to the sashing of the quilt with it's measurements...92x96inches.

Well....I have so much more to share, but I'm getting tired so you probably are too!

God bless you this weekend!!!

Tomorrow is my DEAR HUBBY and my 35th Wedding Anniversary!!!

I remember when anyone married 35 years was old, but not us!!! LOL We are young!

LOVE, SMILES and Prayers,

Cathy

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I'M BACK!

2010-10-12T17:22:00.000-07:00

Hello dear Friends! I have felt bad because I've not been posting for a little while, but I have been busy with this and that. Have you ever noticed how 'this and that' seems to make time fly?! LOL Time has been flying! I'm determined to get a hold of time and get a few things completed with my sewing. Today I finished my grandson's quilt! Today is his 1st birthday, and I literally got it done 2 minutes before having to rush out the door to get to his birthday party at a pizza parlor. I am pleased with it, but I keep thinking I should have hand quilted it since I'm not a machine quilter. It is what it is, and I'm happy that it is complete.

The story behind the quilt is that my mother had originally sewn the airplane squares together with a thin sashing, to make a baby quilt for our newborn grandson/great grandson. Then my daughter told 'grandma' that he had gotten several baby quilts and what she would like is a twin size quilt made out of them. Well, mom began separating the squares, and she also picked out some fabric to use. Then mom passed away unexpectedly, so I took on the project to finish it for our dear little grandson. So this quilt is from both myself...his grandma, and from his great grandma. Today I didn't have time, but tomorrow I am going to sew a tag on the back with the info about the quilt. I also have one extra square and I'll make a coordinating pillow for his bed.

At Grandson's birthday party tonight my daughter made him such a cute HORSE CAKE! She is also the daughter that made and decorated my Sunbonnet Sue Cake for me. Isn't that Horse Cake awesome!!! I could almost brush its' mane and tail!!! It was even better in real life than the picture shows.

For my special day my son and DIL gave me a couple gifts and also some money to spend as I wanted on something fun. I decided I wanted some basic fabrics to go with some print fabrics I have around here, and I also needed some more embroidery stuff. I bought 5 yards of white fabric and 5 yards of muslin fabric. I did need some of the white to finish grandson's binding on his quilt!

I just love these old timey embroidery patterns. I have been working on the SnowBound BOM and also the Raggedy Doll BOM's. I'll take pictures of them for next time. I forgot this time. Hopefully soon I will draw some pictures of my own creations. This is something I've been wanting to do!

Welcome to the new 'Followers'!!!

I am glad to have each one of you as new friends, and I will also pray for each of you!

If you ever want to share anything at all with me, either e-mail me personally, or please leave a comment! Life is so much more fun when we share and celebrate with each other. God bless you, and keep you until we meet again!!!

Cathy :)

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A New Week - A New Start

2010-10-04T11:20:00.000-07:00

Good Afternoon Dear Friends!
I hope you all had a good weekend! Yesterday was a special day with family and celebrations! I have a few pictures to share...

Here is the beautiful cake my daughter made for me! A Sunbonnet Sue cake!!! My oldest daughter had found the baking pan at a garage sale and bought it this summer just for me! They all know I love SBS!

Didn't she do a superb job~~~!!!!!

We had vegetarian and meat lasagna with garlic bread and salad (which I forgot to take a picture). It was really nice of them to remember their dear old mom in such a nice way!

This nutcracker is to represent my dear son and his wife who couldn't come to the dinner~ They are both in the Army and like all our precious service people that give of their lives for us, we need to pray daily for them and their fellow service people like the police and others that are ready to defend us! My son called and we had a nice chat, and he also sent a nice 'long' card and added to my miliary pins.

This is my mirror twins SBS I'm working on. I think I might redo the method though. I'm experimenting. I like the fusable blanket applique the best I think. I'm needle turning here.

This doll sits on my DD2's book shelves. She was started by my DD2 when she was younger, and my dear mother finished it. She did a great job I think! It was their design and not from a pattern. So this is very special to DD2~

I LOVE the hair!!!

I love all my blog friends, and I am enjoying each of your blogs so much!

One of the new blogs is Valerie's about her losing weight goals! This is near and dear to my heart, and I've been a complete failure at losing my weight. So I am inspired by her lose, and hope this motivates me! I have begun, and when I get brave enough I might document it. For now, I am working on losing and have started the treadmill last week. My kids all pitched in a bought me my first nice pair of Nike Running shoes to encourage my goals. So now I have to work on wearing them out! LOL

God bless you and keep you in His Love,

Cathy

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A Quiet Saturday

2010-10-02T19:51:00.000-07:00

Good Evening dear Friends,
Today started out with Hubby leaving early to go and join our son in law at his church Memorial Golf outing. The money went to the Church Pantry and they raised over $1,000 for it. Our SIL's church is so good about helping those in need. We have even received some help over the past 21 months from them. It is nice to see that they don't just help people with their food needs, but they invite them into the church and receive them with love and acceptance.
Can you tell how cold it is?

Last night my sweet Hubby gave me a surprise cheese cake. I won't say what it was for, but it was delicious! He had 'hid' it in the freezer, and so we just put our piece in the microwave for 15 seconds and it was still cold, and perfect tasting! Creamy! Yummy!

Then I thought I'd share a door decoration that I keep on our coat closet door. Some of you know that my mother went to be with the LORD in April unexpectedly. I say unexpectedly because even though she was in the hospital she didn't pass from what she went in for, and no matter how old you are it is still a shock and sadness when your mother passes. She had lived in a little apartment for the past 18 years, and this door decoration had hung on her door for years unless she put a holiday decoration up. Now I pass this every day dozen of times and think about her.

Mom was a great quilter! She was an inspiration to me in so many ways! Today I finished quilting all the squares of my grandson's quilt that I had posted last month, and I am ready to put the squares together and finish it up. I quilted each square and will cover over the seams with binding fabric. This would have been mom's quilt that she had been working on for him, but I am finishing it for her. All the fabric in the quilt was also hers so that our grandson will know it was from both great grandma and grandma. I've just been thinking about her today.

The other wooden plaque I wanted to share hangs in my guest bathroom. I just love it and it had been mom's also. It is hands and hearts. It reminds me of a plaque a quilter would have.

Well, as I said, it has been a quiet Saturday except for my dog, and three cats which have kept me entertained. I emptied out a large box that still had three of the flaps attached, and I put it on the floor and 2 of the cats have investigated it and play and took naps in it.

I am blessed and so thankful for my family and for the LORD's provisions! He is a Mighty and Awesome God we serve! Let's keep Him the Center of our life, and stay in His Scriptures! There is only life in Him, and the world is temporary. It's easy to forget that!

Love and Blessings,

Cathy

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Playing Catch-Up

2010-10-01T18:54:00.000-07:00

Good Evening Friends~
Today has been a good day! I went out to eat with my aunt and we sat and talked for over 3 hours. Then I came home and had to rest up for a bit. I've had an upper respiratory bug for 2 weeks and it has left me feeling weak. Can't wait til I'm back in the swing of things.

This is my Hubby's balloon that came down at almost the exact time he got the call for the interview that lead to his new job~

This balloon was sorta like my fleece, because I had said several months ago when I thought the balloon should have come down and it wasn't showing any signs of it, that it was probably waiting for DH to get his first nursing job, and then it would come down. Well, when it came down when he got his first interview in 21.5 months of waiting I knew it was a good sign!!! Hallelujah~

While I've been sick I have been knitting on a prayer shawl which I gave to my youngest daughter yesterday. I have joined a group at church that is knitting and crocheting these shawls for those that are sick, convalescing or just anyone you want to give one to. The idea is to pray while making it, and then when they use it they will feel the prayers and the love it was made with.

I chose my DD2 because she just received a one year Bible Certificate she worked hard for this past Sunday evening. She also has 4 small children, and she reads them the Bible every night, and prays with them, and I thought she might like to use it for a special visual effect for them. Her oldest is 7 years old and she has been reading to her straight from the King James Bible since she was about 2 years old. The amazing thing is my granddaughter doesn't know it is too hard to understand and she has understood and absorbed all the stories she has heard. She knows all about Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judges, Samuel, etc. Words she didn't understand my daughter explained to her and she got it. Now the other 2 older ones also listen and have learned so much. They all have such a heart for prayer, and prayer faithfully for those they hear about that have needs~

I have also kept busy with working on my Red work on the Snowbound series. This past week DH and I went to Grandparent Day at GD1 school, and while I was listening to others I was working on my embroidery. Well, one of the little girls took a liking to it and asked me all kinds of questions about it. Finally, I thought, I bet she would like to try it herself, so I asked her and she said yes with the biggest smile on her sweet face!~ I handed her the embroidery hoop with the snowman in it and handed her the needle with the red thread and gave her just a few simple instructions and she took to it like a duck takes to water!!! It was amazing!!! She is left-handed and for some reason I thought she might have trouble with the direction I was working in, but nope, she just took off and did the stitching like an old pro~ I was thrilled and told my husband I bet she will take it up for life now. I asked her if her mother sewed and she said sometimes. Then I asked her if she would like a snowman and the hoop, needle and thread for her own, and she said YES!!! I gave her the set of materials, and had her tell her teacher that I'd given it to her so she wouldn't get in trouble. I don't think I could have given her anything she was more thrilled with. Here is a picture of her working the needle into the material and doing a superb job I might say!

Then I finished a Sunbonnet Sue embroidery. She is done in gold. I love her little dolly.

My DD1 and her DH love pumpkins, and so I did this embroidery which was a freebie, but can't remember where I got it from. The background fabric is from one of DH's work shirts which will be extra special for DD1 because her dad doesn't wear those business shirts any more now that he will be a nurse! Hurray again!! :) And I will add a fabric border to make a little wall hanging for them! My DH grows those giant pumpkins, the largest being almost 500 pounds!

Today I am working on two Twin Sunbonnet Sue appliques. I call them Mirror Twins, but don't have a picture of them yet. Hope to tomorrow~

God bless each of you, and hope you have a good night!
Love and Prayers,
Cathy

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New Job

2010-09-29T11:47:00.000-07:00

Hubby got his first job as a nurse at a local nursing home!!!
The position is PRN, or an as needed bases, but he is happy because he will get that much needed experience everyone seems to want! Of course there is no insurance with this position, but it may eventually lead to a full time position. The LORD is in control of our lives, and He knows what we need, and when we need things. We are in His hands as always!
Thank you so much for all your prayers and encouragements!!!
Love to each of you!
Cathy

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Blessed News

2010-09-28T08:14:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends,
Well...the LORD is answering prayers!!!
First, about my computer...just last night my husband woke me up after I'd gone to sleep and told me he'd fixed my computer! I was not with it for a second, and then said, "WHAT? How did you do that?" He said he wasn't for sure what he did that worked, but it seemed to be virus free now. We hadn't been able to even open a simple file or program. It was all locked up, and viruses were coming out of no where it seemed. I told my hubby that I had prayed and told the LORD I would leave the IF and When and How of fixing the computer to HIM because I wasn't going to own it or worry about it. What I wanted was HIS Will for my life, and if HE didn't want me to have a computer or be on the computer then that was what I wanted also. Then my Hubby blessed me by saying, "Well, it was probably the LORD that lead me on how to fix it." THAT MADE IT WORTH going through the viruses just to know that He gave the LORD credit for fixing it! What a blessing!

Second, Hubby has his first job interview tomorrow, Wednesday at 1pm. The woman that called gave him a short interview over the phone, and then asked if he'd come in for an interview. About 20 minutes later we got a call from one of his friends that was used for a reference and he said that he'd just gotten a call from this woman who wanted to hear his reference comments. She ended by saying she had one more phone call to make. So, this all sounds very promising~ OKAY...here is my special story regarding this....
When Hubby graduated from nursing school, I gave him a Mylar balloon which he tied to our entertainment center. Well, that was June 11th! The balloon has still floated this entire time!!! I had made the comment several times that I bet the balloon would not come down-deflate until Hubby got his first nursing job. Yesterday, Hubby took our DGD2 to school and about 10 minutes before he got back home I was here with our DGD5 and the balloon just came down to the carpet! When Hubby came in the door he was so excited and said, "I just got a phone call and an interview for a job Wednesday at 1!!!" I said, "Oh, that is why the balloon came down!!!!!!!!!!!" Isn't that something?! The LORD is so GOOD!

Now that I have my computer back, I'll be posting more regularly. Maybe have a picture or two!
Thank you for each of your prayers and words of encouragement. Isn't is wonderful to use BLOG-world to meet friends and to encourage each other when we haven't met in the Real-world! I think this is a blessing also!

Hugs, prayers, and blessings In Christ Alone! Love, Cathy

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Congrats Allie

2010-09-22T14:14:00.000-07:00

Congrats Allie on your interview at Drake's Nest Studios! "I'm the guest artist over at Terri's website, The Drake's Nest Studio. Go to the Guest Artist Gallery, then pages 2 and 3. I went over to the site and just loved your interview Allie, and also loved seeing your artwork in one spot. You are one talented lady~ I hope everyone reads the interview and sees your nice work! Can't wait to see what else you create!!!

Your Friend,
Cathy

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Thank the LORD

2010-09-19T07:55:00.000-07:00

Hello Dear Friends!

Well...we just got home yesterday from visiting with our Son. Last Sunday night we got a late phone call, the kind you don't like to receive, where he informed us his house just burned down!!! He and his animals got out safely, but the house is a total loss. His wife who is in the Army was stationed in another state so she was okay. I believe we thank God for all things, and there are reasons for all things, so I am praising our LORD for his mercies and goodness in this terrible situation! Their home had great insurance on it, so it will be rebuilt. It was a beautiful 4 year old, 3 story home. Now the restoration and rebuilding process begins. We brought home their two cats during this time and they are trying to incorportate into our home with our pets. Very interesting time.

Then, you will not be hearing from me as often for a while because my computer is destroyed by over a dozen viruses and all the other bad stuff! It will have to have the memory completely errased and new programs put on it. Please be patient because this may take us a while to get this done. I will try to use other computers when things settle down.

My dear hubby who finished his Nursing training and got passed his state boards in August has yet to even have an interview. He is still trusting the LORD for our financial situation and job. Please continue to pray for this. We have been without work for 21 months. He is 57.5 years old so I hope this is not a problem getting into this new profession.

I hope each one of you are doing well, and I'd love to hear from you. I'll pray for you and please continue to pray for us! He is our answer and I know this!

Love,
Cathy

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A Wonderful Day!

2010-09-11T15:37:00.000-07:00

Hello Dear Friends!

How nice to be able to share my joyful day with you!!!
First, the day started out with my computer getting a terrible virus that froze up my computer and would not allow me to pull anything up. It just kept showing the 'Capture' of my computer and it had even over-rode my AT&T computer protection I had. It was worthless!

I called my daughter, who called her best friend who knows about computers. She could not come today so she sent her little brother (23 years old), who came right over and spent 5.5 hours working on my computer and two others that needed help. My computer had 6-SIX terrible virus' attached to it which was 'eating' information!!!

Now my computer is working better than ever, and it also has a brand new protection on it and this one is suppose to be the best out there...and it is free on line~ Then when he went to leave I had written out a check for his time and work, and he refused to take one dime for all that work! PRAISE THE LORD GOD for His Goodness! I would have gladly paid him for his valuable and knowledgeable work, but he absolutely refused. My husband does lots of stuff for free, and he said maybe it was a pay it forward~

Then I also worked on quilting my grandson's quilt squares, and got about 5 done!!! I also worked on my SnowBound men and got 2 more finished. I'll post a couple of pictures but will post more later. These aren't the best but will show a little progress!

shows the three layers

I'M SO HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!

Love to all,
Cathy

:) :) :) :) :) :)

STILL HERE

2010-09-09T19:13:00.000-07:00

Hello friends,
I just wanted to let you know I'm still here and working on Grandson's quilt. Today I took off from sewing, when I should have gotten a lot done. Sometimes the mood just isn't there to sew. I'll try to work on it again tomorrow.

Here is a picture of my sewing machine, and one of my favorite books.

Tonight I had my writer's group where we practiced writing character sketches. It was lots of fun!

Have a good night, and maybe tomorrow I'll have more to chat about!

Your friend,
Cathy

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My Blog Inspiration and Grandson's Quilt

2010-08-31T07:35:00.000-07:00

Dear Quilting Friends,

We can encourage one another with words and in all kinds of ways. This past week I was encouraged by a gift of fabric sent to me from my dear friend! I had commented on a quilt from April 22, 2010 on this blog, and its' fabric I'd seen and she went and ordered me that particular set of Moda fabric!!! I could not believe it. Here are pictures of them...there are 36 coordinating fabrics!

These fabrics and her encouragement and love is what inspired me to start this Sunbonnet Sue Quilts blog! I had another quilt blog and deleted it due to losing my vision for what I was trying to do with quilts. Well, now I have my vision back, and hope to also get restarted on sewing with new enthusiasm!

GRANDSON's Quilt
I am going to be working on and completing a twin size quilt for my grandson. This quilt was orginally started as a baby quilt for him by my mother earlier this year. But then my daughter told her that he had a number of baby quilts and could really use a twin size. So mom just barely begun ripping out the sashing she had sewn together, and then she got sick and went to be with Jesus in April. I decided I'd redo the quilt and it would then be from both his grandmother and his great grandmother! With my newly found enthusiasm, I have begun and will have it done this week~~

The quilt has 9 planes! I love the theme. Here is the beginning of the ripping process...

The stitching was pretty easy to rip out...Thankfully...

Finished ripping...

I decided to make the fabrics around the airplanes neutral...

I layed it out on the bed and decided to stagger the blocks, with solid block inbetween...

and I'm using my mom's set of bedroom curtains for the between blocks, and since the curtains were lined in a nice white fabric I'll use that fabric for the back of the quilt! This way the quilt is really using his great grandmother's fabric panels and curtain fabrics, plus the other fabrics were hers also!!! I'm really happy and excited about doing this project. I think he will grow up and just love his special quilt!!!

Happy Quilting,

Love,

Cathy

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My Grandmother's Singer

2010-08-31T06:47:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!
In 1974 I inherited my grandmother's old 1938 Singer sewing machine and within two years had sewn 2 men's suits, and loads of blouses, skirts, dresses and even a couple quilts on it. It sewed so smoothly, like sewing through butter~ Then I got married and my sweet husband bought me a new Kenmore sewing machine and I put my old Singer into storage. It stayed in either the garage or basement for the next 34 years, until this past week~

The Singer was one of those in that dropped down in a cabinet and it was still in its original 1938 cabinet. A couple of years ago the cabinet sat in the basement when our basement flooded twice and ruined it. Last week while cleaning out the garage I decided it was time to get that old machine back into working condition! The wiring was shot, so my dear sweet hubby fixed it for me~ Here is a series of the pictures.

this is the motor opened up...and the back of the machine...

Even though it was a drop down machine, I was surprised to see it had legs on it...so is now perfect for the table. This is the simple under workings.

The foot pedal had to be completely reworked and wired.

This is the motor. It still works GREAT! I'm sure these were made to last forever! It puts those electronic machines to shame in regard to longevity! LOL...But not beauty~

The back...

the front...

Sews like BUTTER...

It is amazing how the gold has held up because both my grandmother and her daughters sewed on this machine for years...then I used it for the 2 years.

The Singer plate...

Here it is after the rewiring, and working GREAT and all polished!!! Thank you my sweet Hubby!!!

I'm sooooo satisfied! Can't wait to start sewing again on her!!!

I THINK I'LL WORK ON A SUNBONNET SUE! :)

Hope you enjoy my Show N Tell~~~

Love, Cathy

My New Blog

2010-08-28T19:49:00.000-07:00

This is my new blog dedicated to my Sunbonnet Sue quilts, and other quilt creations. I hope to share my fun with you. Please let me hear from you, especially if you are a fan of Sunbonnet Sue and her friends!

Love and Laughter,
Cathy