Yaaaay, Phillies !!!

Can you tell which part of "the North" I was born in ?

I still haven't finished the snowman wallhanging ! The game came on and I didn't want to leave the couch for one minute to go upstairs and iron the rest of the hollyberries on. I think I'll just wait and post it after I get it quilted. It will be over the fireplace mantel this year so I HAVE to finish it. Here is a sneak peek of what I have done so far.

Blessings, Cathi

Retreating is FUN !

Retreat was so much fun. We had a horrific storm Friday afternoon near dinner time but other than that the weather was picture perfect.

This is a picture looking from the back porch down the meadow to one of the lakes Saturday morning. I had already had coffee and breakfast by then. I like to sit out on the porch in a rocking chair with the coffee in the morning but because it is later in the year than we usually go and it isn't daylight savings time yet, it was dark at 7:00.

This is a picture from the same spot Saturday afternoon. Isn't it beautiful? The leaves hadn't changed as much as I had hoped but gorgeous nonetheless.

Yes, I did do some sewing. In fact I got an entire wallhanging top finished. I hope to take a picture of it tomorrow and post then. I have some handwork to do on it that I will finish up tonight.

We had 282 registered for retreat this year which is the most ever. What a great way to spend a fall weekend .......... with 281 of my best friends in a beautiful location ......... quilting!

One last picture...

Blessings, Cathi

A quilting I will go.............

This weekend is the annual Quilters of South Carolina Pieceable Retreat. Every year, sometime in the fall, the state quilt guild for the great state of South Carolina holds a retreat at White Oak Baptist Convention Center near Winnsboro. I say "near" Winnsboro because the convention center is located past the 8th cow field on the right somewhere off the interstate. Sure, that is my description but few people that go there will argue with that. Cell service is iffy at best. But on the plus side, we stay in motel-style rooms with no phones, no tv, no internet. There are rocking chairs on big porches overlooking meadows. Coffee is ready in the dining hall very early in the morning. And because it is being held later in the year this time, the leaves should be getting close to fall perfection. You would think nothing could be better than that. Oh, but it does get better. There are also three days of quilting classes, a rowdy show and tell and program on Friday and Saturday nights, and vendors. Usually 7 vendors trapped in the middle of the country with 280 anxious quilters just itching to spend money. Too bad it's only once a year.

So if you live in South Carolina or belong to a guild in South Carolina, seriously think about clicking on the link above or leave a comment for me. We are a great bunch of people!

This Saturday is also Rudy Day (see my other blog A Quilters Christmas) so I will be working on a Christmas wallhanging. I'm not taking a class this time. Actually one of the classes is BYOP (Bring Your Own Project). Although we have some wonderful classes and excellent teachers, I really want to finish some UFO's that have been hanging around WAY too long. Hope I can post pictures when I get back on Sunday!

Blessings, Cathi

And a few more goodies

I have a few more little wallhangings I don't even have up on the wall. I haven't decided on the ideal place for them. In the meantime, enjoy!

A little cutie from Buttermilk Basin. It's made from 100% wool.

Don't remember which designer this one is but I love stitcheries.

This one needs to be called "Perseverance". I remember tracing the applique pieces for this one in 1999 (DD27 was a senior in high school). I finally finished it about 2 months ago. After all that time and work, you'd think I would have a place ready for it!

Blessings, Cathi

Fall Tour of Homes - Take 2

I mentioned on the original blog that this week was the Fall Tour of Homes through the Magical Holiday Home website. So totally forgot to mention it on this one. There are several of us participating. Here is a quick link to them all.

Cathy at The Haunted Hamlet

Carrie at Harvest, Fall, Autumn

Linda at LBP Sews

Jessica at Fall for Halloween

Leeann at Fall Festivities

Starflake at Autumn Harvest

Natalie at Natalie Meester

And finally Gingerbug at Great Pumpkin Day


Hope you enjoy !

As promised....

A few hours late but a promise is a promise..

This wreath has been added to since last year. It was pretty but it's amazing what a little filler can do to give a wreath some depth.

Above each window is this swag that is new this year. The key is to hit Hobby Lobby when they are having a great sale. Seems like lately it's every week.


This little guy is sitting on top of a metal sewing box that is sitting on top of my sweet granny's knee pedal singer sewing machine in the foyer.

This is the guest bath downstairs. On the wall to the left is the cute Pumpkin Angel that is in the blog from this morning.

Here is the mantel. The quilt is the same one I had up on the blog earlier today that I had to take off because of technical difficulties....but it's all good now.

I love pumpkin with teeth. Can you tell? Well, there's more to come!

This is a cabinet in our kitchen. We found the base at a junk shop. Dear hubby made the top to go with it. I'm so lucky to have such a talented fella.

Dining room table. Needs a table runner, don't you think?

Over the computer cabinet........the cabinet is new this year so this is still a work in progress. The paper mache pumpkin bowl was a great find at the sales table outside of Cracker Barrel a few years ago. My other little pride and joy is the feather tree which is an authentic. I keep it out year round.

Here's a close-up of the little guys. They are hand made with 100% wool. I love working with the stuff.

Finally here is the coffee table centerpiece. This one needs a table runner, also, but I've started one that I just need to finish the quilting and the binding.


Blessings, Cathi

Fall Tour of Homes 2008

Of all times for the batteries to die in the camera. *sigh* But so not to dissapoint. I'll put up some pictures from last year (which are still good for this year) and as soon as I can get the batteries today, I will upload newer pictures. And before you comment, yes, I tried all the remote control batteries. They just didn't have enough juice left. Guess what I'm asking for for Christmas? A battery charger.

Meet Fred. Fred is back again this year but he seems to be a little fuller than last year.

Aren't we all !

Pumpkin Angel is made from one of my all-time favorite stitchery designers, Saundra White, of I Done My Best. I don't think Saundra is designing anymore. I still have some of her designs that I haven't made yet thank goodness. This is hanging in the guest bath downstairs.

Blessings, Cathi

This is more like me......

I loved the idea back in April of having different blogs for different parts of my life ..... my family, quilting, gardening, Christmas and the whole fall season. But reality has set in and I have come to the realization that I just can't handle that many blogs (note that I only had one of those actually up and running !). This will be a much better format for me. Face it, I'm a complex person. LOL Well, not really. I have always wanted a more simple life but given my field (consulting engineering), my family (at the largest a hubby, 4 kids, 2 dogs, 2 cats and 2 rabbits), my love of quilting (I am on the board of our state guild and for 6 years on the board of my local guild) the love of my gardening (I still piddle with this), it's hard to make my life simple. I wish we watched tv less, took longer walks, took time in the morning for a cup of coffee on our wonderful back deck. It's just not to be ....... yet.

So I can at least start with what I have control over......my blog. But if you want to see what I had to say before, I'll keep the other one up for a while.... A Quilters Christmas
If you are reading this before Saturday, it will look pretty boring. The new template should be ready by Friday afternoon and will look great. I promise !!

In the meantime, I'll leave you with a picture of the cute tool shed I have in the garden. Obviously it's earlier this year when the peppers were still babies and the blueberries still were just thinking about turning blue.

Blessings, Cathi