I moved my quilting into the separate studio house in the summer of 2007.  In August of that year I heard meowing under the studio which turned out to be Callie Cat.  I had to bottle feed her for the first couple of weeks.  I was living in the studio because we were having major house renovations at the time so Callie quickly imprinted me as Mommie Cat and we bonded.  She is extremely independent and has a personality that only a mother could love.  She loves fabrics and quilts and she dearly loves the TTT gals and seems to know when it is Tuesday.  Here is a chronicle of the life and times of my favorite quilt inspector.

It may be cold and freezing outside but I’ve had pretty blooms this week in the studio.  Linda is a first time customer for me.  She made this pretty Blooming Nine Patch lap quilt for a friend.  It was very nicely pieced  – she even pieced the back  – it could be a quilt top on it’s own.  This is the first time Linda has ever had a quilt custom quilted and I hope I did her quilt the justice it deserved.

Blooming Nine Patch front:

Close-up, center of quilt:

Blooming Nine Patch back:

Close up of back:

Back top corner/border:

I used a creamy yellow Permacore on the top and Bottom Line tan on the back.  The tan Bottom Line really looks light golden yellow to me.  Anyway – it worked perfectly.  Quilters Dream Puff for batting – really makes those feathers stand out and drapes so nice.

Here is the final quilt from me and the Prince before Christmas.  Time for a little quilting break for both of us.  This one is by Frances and is called Christmas Goodies. The pattern is by Teri Christopherson.   It is so very cute.  I may have to make one for me soon.  Sew Fine thread on top and Bottom Line in the bobbin.  Quilters Dream Blend batting.  I had a great time doing this one and the song, My Favorite Things, kept running through my head while I was working on it.

The TTT gals had Christmas lunch together today at a local resturant in Summerville and then went on to Betsy’s for a sampling of absolutely to die for desserts.  I took a couple of candid pics at the resturant  – didn’t get everyone as Frances and Virginia were sitting in front of window and there was a glare and Betsy had left to get ready for our visit. 

This is Joanne and Sheila.  Joanne is listening intently but Sheila looks a bit askance, doesn’t she?  Love that lime green snowman sweater she is wearing.

Here we have Cindy in the gold and Janice in the black Christmas sweater. 

Here are our three redbirds, Maureen, Corky, and Joanne.  Funny how they all sat side by side. 

The pics were taken one right after the other.  Someone across the table caught their attention. 

For the past two years the girls have given me a very generous Christmas gift.  This year I put out the word that while I appreciated the gifts very much I would much prefer that they give a gift to a charity dear to me, Heifer International. This is a project dedicated to ending poverty and world hunger by giving the recipients the means to raise food or products from their livestock.  You can learn more about it by clicking on the name.   And being good little TTT girls, they did just that.  Today I received the present above – because they gave a pig, a flock of ducks, and a promise basket (there is a red Christmas basket under the fabric).  The promise basket contains geese, ducks, chickens, and rabbits.   I am so happy with my Christmas gift and so blessed to have such a wonderful, loving group of friends.

Wishing all of my loyal readers a very blessed and merry Christmas.  May all of your wishes come true!

This quilt was pieced by Virginia when she lived in FL.  She decided to put it in our upcoming quilt show and gave me the honor of quilting it. 

Lots of ruler and circle template work.  Pebbling around each of the stars/mariner compasses.  And of course, feathers!!

Dark charcoal thread (So Fine) on the top and black Bottom Line in the bobbin.

This very sweet and romantic quilt was pieced and appliqued by my friend Janice.  It has a funny story behind it.  A few (or more!) years ago around this time of the year Janice and I traveled to Pawley’s Island to visit Island Threads Quilt Shop.  We had some purchasing plans for some specific projects in mind.  While we were perusing the shop Janice found this quilt kit and fell in love with it but because it was so close to Christmas she was feeling guilty about purchasing something so “big.”  She kept saying she should just buy it and give it to Bill (her DH) to give her for Christmas but what if he already had purchased something and he really did like to surprise her.  So I said, “Hey, I think I can take care of this problem” and I walked out onto the porch of the shop and called Bill on his cell phone.  He is in industrial sales and travels all around the LowCountry but luckily he was in cell range and I got him on the phone.  Did he have a present for Janice yet?  No?  Well, there is a quilt kit here she is drooling over but she won’t buy it.  Would you like me to buy it so you can give it to her for Christmas.  “YE S!!  That would be great,” says Bill.  So back into the shop I march and pick up the kit and buy it.  Of course, Janice is aware of all of this.  I take it home, Bill comes by and picks it up and reimburses me and takes it home and wraps it up and on Christmas Eve when Janice unwraps it she gives the academy award winning ”Oh, my!!  How did you know I wanted this??” surprise act.  All are happy.  Merry Merry Christmas.

Fast forward a few years and……………….here it is all finished for this Christmas.

I used Sew Fine by Superior thread on the top with Bottom Line (also by Superior) in the bobbin.  Cream in the light areas and a dusty pink in the colored sashings, borders, and hearts.  Janice used a busy fabric on the back but the quilting is still pretty visible thanks to Dream Puff batting.

Callie Cat loves to get under quilts.  As soon as I placed this one on the big table for pictures and went to get my camera I came back to this – the quilt had grown a big lump!

Her story is she’s inspecting for threads I missed when I was burying them. 

I spent the long Thanksgiving weekend with Jolene up on  her mountaintop aerie sewing sewing sewing.

When I was in Michigan with Corky this summer I found a Layer Cake and a pattern for it that I knew Jolene would love so I bought it for her for Christmas.  Then I couldn’t stand it and gave it to her early!  I also got yardage for the two borders.  The pattern is called Piece of Cake.  It is very easy, fast, and fun.

I didn’t have any “layer cake” packs but I did have a bunch of Christmas FQs so I made a top with them using the same pattern and added the strippy outside border from leftover pieces.

Here it is again with some cute bright FQs.  I think I have some yardage of the green stripe and if I do I’ll be adding another border to this one.

Jolene made the blocks in the top below at least a year ago.  The pattern is called Habitat.  Then she decided she didn’t want to do anything else with them.  I brought them home and carried them to the beach retreat and back to Jolene’s one trip before this one.  I finally found a border piece in my stash that I liked with them so this time I put them together.  The pattern called for 56 blocks and Jolene had made 60 so I used the four extra ones as corner stones in the border.  This one will be donated to Quilts of Valor.

The next top is a shop sample for Quilters’ Quarters that Jolene made.  The pattern is called Toast and Jam and uses Jelly Rolls and Charm packs plus yardage for the border.  Jolene had the blocks together for this one and just had to add the borders after we visited the shop and selected the fabrics for them.

This next one (another of Jolene’s) is called Split Decision.  She had the blocks made already and put them together into a top and added the border during our sewathon.

This is a block that we did at guild in July for our Block of the Month.  I fell in love with it and decided to make some just for me.  I had all the white, green, and black strips cut out before the weekend.  I got all of the individual strips sewn for 16 trees and one block completely put together.  There are probably 10-12 different greens altogether so each tree will be slightly different.

And finally, Joined  at the Hip has great seasonal patterns to fit their iron star quilt hanger.  I really like this one.  Jolene and I both made one of these.

In addition to all the sewing we had great food at Jolene’s neighbors on Thanksgiving Day.  We visited four quilt shops and ate out every day!  Fun was had by all.

‘Tis the season………lots of quilts to quilt……..first up one of Jolene’s………I Believe.  The pattern is by Pat Sloan.  Another one that we started a few years ago……..finally finished………and then it had to season awhile before it got quilted.  But it’s ready for the holiday season this year and for our upcoming show in March.

It was fun to come up with all the background fillers and designs for the applique.  I used Quilters Dream Puff batting and it gives great definition to the quilting but is still so soft and drapable.  Jolene used a flannel on the back and this quilt is kitty certified as cuddly and nap worthy!

Next up is Betsy’s Four Patch Swirl and Stars.  Betsy took the Four Patch Swirl class from Lynn Buske but wanted a different setting.  She saw one and took some pictures and we figured it out.  I really like this one and it was difficult to let Betsy have it back!

I’m giving the Prince and myself a rest and taking a few days off from quilting.  I’m going to spend Thanksgiving in the mountains with Jolene.  Can you say sew sew sew and no no no roasting a turkey??  LOL

Wishing all my friends a wonderful Thanksgiving and a season of blessings.

Corky's Four Patch Swirl

Maureen's Sunflowers

I think I’m going to do one with a Christmas theme next.

Sometimes the gods are with you and you get a quilt that just begs for the quilting you like to do best.  Thank you, Frances, for allowing me to quilt your Summer Song. 

I used Bottom Line thread in the bobbin and Sew Fine in the top……four different colors.  Same color in the bobbin throughout.  Tried a new (to me) batting – Dream Puff by Quilter’s Dream.  It quilted beautifully – gave wonderful definition – and has a fantastic drape and feel.  This was my first attempt at a feathered switchback border.