Saturday, September 17, 2011

What Have I Been Up to Lately?

Well...not much I guess since I haven't posted for quite awhile. I've been stitching, but have also been busy with other things. We're approaching that time of year when time slips by quickly!

Last weekend, as we remembered and reflected on the events of September 11, I decided to stitch up a sampler that has been in my stash for a long time. On that Friday I was reading the weekly newsletter from Attic Needlework and in doing so, remembered that I had this pattern in my stash. Attic Needlework had another version of it in their newsletter; I had the original pattern from BBD. It seemed like an appropriate stitch to mark the occasion.


Home of the Brave
Blackbird Designs
30 count R&R Irish Creme
Victorian Motto Antique Red


I modified my pattern slightly to add "We will always remember September 11, 2001" similar to the Attic Needlework version. On the original pattern, just the year is stitched in this area. I enjoyed stitching this while reflecting on the events of 10 years ago and also while watching the Sunday football games that followed!

I took some time off of work this week and spent some time cleaning my house and cleaning through my stash! Now here's a little secret that I'll share with you...I've always wanted to be a quilter. I love the fabrics -- oh so many colors and patterns and designs to choose from! And there's nothing like snuggling under a homemade quilt! Over the years I've purchased fat quarters and patterns with the idea that I might quilt someday, but not much ever materialized from those purchases.

In late July/early August, my sister-in-law and I visited a couple of quilt shops that were participating in the Quilt Minnesota Shop Hop. Quilt Shops all over the state of Minnesota participate in this two week event and they even have fabric designed specifically to commemorate it! Long story short - I loved this year's fabric - the colors and the designs were right up my alley! I was determined to make a quilt!

One of the shops we stopped at was Rosebud's Cottage in White Bear Lake, MN. Roseanne (shopowner) had designed a pattern using the Minnesota themed fabrics that surely even a novice quilter like me could finish! I've been dying to put the quilt top together and so that's what I worked on during my time off. And, as of this morning, the quilt top is finished!



Barn Square Quilt
Design by Rosebud's Cottage
Fabric by James Meger for Quilting Treasures

I must admit, I had a couple of issues, but I worked through them and in my humble opinion I think it looks great! Once I get it quilted and put the binding on, I'll share another picture.

Well, so that's my update. I hope you are all finding some time to enjoy a bit of stitching (or quilting!) this weekend. Thanks for stopping by!

17 comments:

natalysneedle said...

Cathy, That is a lovely tribute to 9/11. I love that you stitched it monochromatically. It's nice to see designs stitched in your own way.

Kathy A. said...

Your stitch is lovely.
Congratulations on that first quilt top. You have done a wonderful job and I am confident that you have found a wonderful new hobby. Keep up the good work.

Margaret said...

That's fantastic -- your first quilt top, and it's beautiful! Beautifully done too! Love it! I love your BBD finish as well. So appropriate for 9/11.

barbara said...

You're amazing, Cathy!!! Wow, a quilter! :D And I love your rendition of the BBD chart.

Mindi said...

Love your finish, its a fantastic tribute and nice way to remember.

I love to admire quilting, and my mom is a quilter, but for some reason I can't seem to cut or sew consistent 1/4 inch seams, it makes for some pretty lopsided blocks. That's ok, my mom can't keep all the crosses going in one direction when she tries to cross stitch, so we have an agreement that we'll leave each others hobbies alone.

Michele said...

love love love your Home of the Brave finish!

jayne@~an eye for threads~ said...

I love "Home of the Brave" and I think I would have modified in a different direction; I probably would have stitched navy behind the stars. Still it is a very pretty and memorable piece.
Be always in stitches.

Brigitte said...

They are wonderful, your two BBD finishes. Both are so different in style in meaning.
Being a quilter - also a dream of mine. I also wanted to start my first big quilt this summer but then life got in the way. Your quilt top looks fantastic and I'm looking forward to seeing a picture of it finished.

Cindy said...

love your tribute to 9/11....great job. and your first quilt top is awesome.....you should be very proud of yourself! quilting is a wonderful creative outlet...i bet your mind is buzzing with more ideas! :D

Katrina said...

Very pretty finish and I love the tribute to 9/11! What a sweet quilt finish too :-).

Theresa said...

Love both your BBD projects!!! Home of the Brave is such a wonderful piece~~

Lynn said...

Lovely tribute for 9/11. I love all that red.
Well done on your quilt top! I suspect there will be more quilting in your future. Someday I hope to give this hobby a try too.

Melody said...

Cathy, congrats on your accomplishments! I smiled when I saw which quilt store you visited... Next time I visit my sister in White Bear Lake, I'll have to go downtown to the quilt shop. :)

Veronica said...

Beautiful finish. This is the first time I've seen this design. It's a lovely tribute for 9/11.

That's a gorgeous quilt for a first timer! I've recently gain an interest in quilting too so I joined a QAL for next year with my local needlework group. Hopefully mine turns out as nicely as yours did.

Giovanna said...

Congrats on your lovely stitching and sewing!

Siobhán said...

Beautiful finishes! I love the BBD/Attic tribute to those lost on 9/11. Your quilt top looks great!

Marsha said...

Good for you! I made my first quilt last year. It was hard but it was worth it. I did not quilt mine but did everything else. There's so much that goes into it, I found it overwhelming at times. Yours looks marvelous and will be awesome.
Really like the stitched piece. Very simple but striking.