"New Years Blessing & Cats Texas Style New Years Brunch recipe"

Hey quilters....hope everyone is enjoying the Holidays. This year has flown by so fast for me and can't believe it's New Years Eve. Wanted to wish everyone a Blessed 2018 and share this fast & easy Tamale casserole with you. This is a great crowd pleasure for any occasion. My family loves it and I've taken it to many quilt luncheons and church functions as well. Thanks so much for emailing me for the last step of my T-shirt quilt tutorial. Going to Florida to do some hurricane work delayed my posting a bit so I was so thrilled to receive emails from you for the last steps. As always feel free to share your finished projects anytime especially on my Facebook page. I will be sharing many fast and easy quilt patterns this coming year with you. I love making gifts and Christmas time so I decided to share "12 mos. of Quilt-Mas" this year. Fun gift sharing gifts to make throughout the year so you're not like me doing last minute sewing and quilting. Anyway...thanks again for a wonderful year and pop on over to my cooking blog for this fast and delish tamale casserole. Enjoy!

Blessed Quilting from my Home to Yours,
Cat
cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com
cookinganddecorwithcat.blogspot.com
                                                                             

"AURIfil THREAD AND JINGLE"

Hey quilters....hope all is well and you're enjoying this special season with your loved ones. I have to say I was a bit nervous when I was asked to do this special gift for my grandson. Please make a sleeping bag for my Elf on the Shelf, Jingle. Oh my word,,,,no pressure!!! I thought about it for days....and then realized just go through your "stash" and if it doesn't work then I didn't waste any money. Well....I have to say with all my quilting projects throughout the years this was hands down my favorite. It's so easy to do and that is why I wanted to share this with you. You know...just in case you get asked the same thing ;-). I love being a Gege and especially when I get asked to do something so special as this. I've made my grandson many quilts and he's only 7 and I hope to make many more! As you can see the great quality of Aurifil thread made this project easy and the colors matched perfect!
I used Aurifil 50# 2260 Red and Aurifil 50#2885 green for the outline stitching and the quilt in the ditch stitching on my domestic machine. Great quality thread and makes your projects a breeze!
Merry Christmas!

Blessed Quilting from my Home to Yours,
Cat
cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com
www.cookinganddecorwithcat.blogspot.com

Scrap Christmas fabric....cut 2 plaid 6 x 11....1 red 6 x 11....1 green 6 x 11
2 light weight batting pieces 6 x 11

Lay one plaid piece (right side facing up) and one red piece (right side facing down) on top of plaid piece...layer with batting piece on top and stich using a 1/4 inch seam allowance....Leaving a 2 " opening to flip inside out....hand stitch opening or use a washable fabric glue for opening.
Repeat same process for the plaid and green fabric.
*At this time it's easier to quilt your pieces if desired....I did some fun quilt in the ditch stitches.
Lay 2 finished pieces together and top stitch around....leave the opening (fold) unstitched (per pic)
Personalize it with some fun craft stickers if desired.
Finished size is approximately 5" x 10"
This is also a great project to do with kids for their own "Elf on the Shelf"
Hope you enjoy and have a Merry Christmas!
                                                                       

"ENDLESS WAYS 2 ENTERTAIN"...HEX OF A HALLOWEEN HOT PAD TABLE RUNNER

Hey quilters....hope all is doing well. Please continue to pray for everyone that is going through all this hurricane weather. My heart and prayers go out to all. I wanted to introduce one of my new pattern series...."Endless Ways 2 Entertain" and what better way then with a Fundraiser for a scholarship for one lucky Frankston student. If you read our paper recently you were able to view one way these Hexagon Hot Pads can be incorporated. Below is a few options that you can do with all 7 Hexagon squares. Each individual hexagon square is a "hot pad" for entertaining/serving. I like to say it's "functioning centerpiece." With the bright Batik fabrics by Hoffman you can come up with many options. Each individual hexagon square is quilted with a "Spider design" using Aurifil 50# thread. They also have 2 candles decorated with Halloween décor to complete the design along with  black netting. They are individual hexagon pieces so they stack easily for storage. Endless possibilities!
I wanted to do something for the children of our town so I was so pleased when Sabrina mentioned a Scholarship fundraiser. The runner will be on display at the town Library and raffle tickets are $2 ea. or three for $5....All proceeds will go towards a scholarship for a student in early childhood education and a Children's story time. The raffle tickets will be sold through Saturday, Oct. 7 and the drawing will be on Oct. 10th. We appreciate everyone who has already purchased their raffle tickets and supporting this great scholarship for a local Frankston student.
For more information you can contact Sabrina....Library #903.876.4463
After the drawing, I will be sharing this pattern design on blog....thanks again.

Blessings from my  Home to Yours,
Cat
cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com
Facebook....I heard it through the quilt-vine
cookinganddecorwithcat.blogspot.com

Phase 2.....""SPOOK-TACULAR HALLOWEEN ONE-Z....HEXAGON SPIDER"

Hey quilters....hope all is going well. Hope you enjoyed the "Bat square" and off to the Hexagon Spider square. I have incorporated some "helpful tips" along the way, so you decide which technique works best for you. In the pic below, you will see that I rotary cut the legs into separate segments which entails more appliqueing around each square or you can actually do a border applique around main body of legs and when "quilting" incorporate the inner parts when quilting the completed quilt. I would recommend rotary cutting one solid leg to fuse and applique. It's faster and easier and not so over whelming. You decide which technique is best. Template is below for you to print as well. You only have four Hexagon Spider squares, so have fun....change it up if you wish. As always.....share any tips that you may have. Next week will be my fun....fast....& easy tips to make the One-Z's squares. You can also use this technique for a normal size T-shirt quilt. I've had so much fun doing this quilt, incorporating the Halloween One-Z's into the design. My design wall was my "best friend", placing and moving the colors around to make it all come together. Enjoy & have fun!

"Blessed Quilting from my Home to Yours"
Cat
cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com
Facebook.....I heard it through the quilt-vine
www.cookinganddecorwithcat.blogspot.com

                                                                       

Materials:
3/4 to 1 yard of background fabric (allows extra to incorporate into border if desired)
1/4 to 1/2 yard  of spider fabric (extra for border)
6 x 6 square of black fabric
Heat n Bond Lite
Black Aurifil thread 50 weight #2692

Rotary Cut background spider square fabric into 10 1/2 strips....then rotary cut into 10 1.2 x 12 1/2 square making 4 total squares.
Rotary Cut Spider fabric 9 x 18 strip
Fuse Heat n Bond lit to back following manufacturers directions
Trace Hexagon Spider Pattern on paper side of heat n bond lite
Rotary Cut Hexagon Spider Body Segments (see tip below for legs)
Black Hexagon center....rotary cut a 6 x 6 square of Black fabric
Fuse Heat n Bond lite following manufacturers directions
Rotary cut and Fuse to main body of Hexagon Spider (see design)
Fuse Hexagon Spider Segments to Spider Square Background Fabric (per quilt design....angle spider going different directions)
Tip....Fuse legs as one solid piece or into segments....carefully leaving your 1/4 seam allowance. You can leave part of leg off and fuse after you sew squares together if you like spider to be "creeping" into adjoin square.
Also, after you have completed each spider square number it to make sure you keep it in the correct order when sewing squares together (due to angles of spider)\
Applique all parts as desired with black thread or coordinating thread for your fabric used.
You only have 4 Hexagon Spiders so have fun....add "Spooky eyes" if you wish....

Cutting Tips...
Spider (Main Body)....rotary cut Fused fabric 4" wide then trace center body and rotary cut hexagon square
Spider (Head)...rotary cut 2" strip Fused fabric....trace design and rotary cut
Spider (Legs)...Rotary cut a 1/2 " fused fabric then sub cut segments into a 45 degree angle
Spider (Center Body)...rotary cut a 2" strip of fused black fabric....trace design and rotary cut
*I use double sided tape to position pattern on fabric so it does not shift while rotary cutting....great technique if not rotary cutting.
Reposition pattern and continue cutting.
Enjoy & have fun!

"SPOOK-TACULAR HALLOWEEN RUNNER"

Hey quilters....hope everyone is doing well especially if you're like me in Texas. We've been blessed in our area but my heart goes out to all the families struggling during this horrible time. I recently received an email about a holiday runner that wasn't using One-Z's. As you can see in an earlier posts their is a simple design that I posted but was asked for a more advanced design. I've had this design on the back burner so to speak due to originally saving it for my pattern E-Book. But decided to share it after all. Sometimes when you are Blessed you realize that paying it forward is the way to go! This design is using the same circle technique as the Halloween One-Z squares. So when you get to that part of the application you will see my note to refer back to the instructions already posted on the One-Z quilt. Just like previously mentioned...Heat n bond lite will be your best friend. I love to design....actually a Residential & Commercial designer but when it comes to quilting, I love to incorporate easy techniques and design in EQ7. You have plenty of time to finish this design for Halloween or change up the Batiks and make a Christmas runner. All fabrics used are beautiful Batiks by Hoffman and thread is 50 weight by Aurifil. This design can be easily enlarged by adding more squares or you can make the individual squares larger (current design is a 3" sq.). Just remember to allow more yardage and also incorporate the "circle" to scale for the square. Well, I hope you enjoy this fast & easy technique....fell free to post your finished projects on my Facebook page. Enjoy!

Blessed Quilting from my Home to Yours,
Cat
Facebook....I heard it through the quilt-vine
email....cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com
cookinganddecorwithcat.blogspot.com

                                                                   est @ 12x50

                                                                 Finished square 3x3
Fabric needed:
*orange Batik....1 yard
*Black...1 1/2- 2 yards ( I always get extra to allow for any cutting miss-haps)
Heat n Bond Lite (1 yard) use your coupon :-)
Aurifil thread....orange 2235 50 weight
                          black 2692

*Rotary cut black fabric into 3 1/2 " strips...then cut strips into 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 " squares to make a total of 80 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 " squares (seam allowance is added)

*sew squares together (per diagram) finger pressing seams out as you go. I sew using the Auril Black 50 weight. When completed, iron if needed.
Note....I sew one row together at a time then join rows as I go.
* Rotary cut orange fabric into 2 1/4 " strips ( extra width for circles)
 Follow instructions on Halloween One-Z quilt for circle instructions & Fusing
 Cut 20, 2 " circle into quarters forming 80 pieces
*Per design layout fuse circles directly onto each square closely to your seam line. Your seam line serves as your guide throughout this process which allows easy piecing/fusing. Start at top row and fuse the way down. After all quarters are fused per design measure your top/bottom and sides to rotary cut your borders....square up if needed.
*Sew top/bottom borders then left/right borders....iron along the way if needed.
*Applique each orange quarter circle with Aurifil thread #2235
Outline Quilt or quilt in the ditch for an easy technique.
Bind as desired.
Remember....come back to my blog for the same technique to piece design for a Christmas runner...just change out the fabric choices per instructions.
Enjoy & post finished projects to my facebook page.
Blessed Quilting,
Cat

"SPOOK-TACULAR HALLOWEEN ONE-Z QUILT PART 1"

Hey quilters...we are starting phase one.if you are following along with the Halloween one-z quilt. I've been having a blast with this one and I will try and keep the directions as simple as my mind will allow. I design in EQ7 which allows me to do a pretty good accuracy for directions. My directions are for the layout with the bright batiks pictured. I will be showing the squares using my actual fabrics along the way. I kept the design basic on the computer so you can use your imagination to create your design using the fabrics of your choice. Just substitute your fabric & yardage in place of mine. I will mention that I shopped a lot of fabric/quilt stores to come up with some fun & unique Halloween fabrics and then incorporated the bright batiks as background and accent fabrics. Also, I purchased as much fabric on sale by shopping with coupons and catching quilt shops placing the fabrics on sale. You will need to purchase 2-sided Heat n Bond lite. This will be your best friend throughout the whole project. It can be purchased at your local fabric store and don't forget your coupon. Anyway, this will be the first part to accomplish so have fun and enjoy!

Blessing from my Home to Yours,
Cat
Facebook....I heard it through the quilt-vine
email...cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com

                                                                Finished size 10 x12

Supplies needed for "Bat square"
Heat n Bond Lite 2 yards plus (I keep extra on hand)
Fabric (Based on a 40" width 100% cotton & keep scraps for border piecing)
Purple...1 1/2 yards
Orange...1 1/2 yards
Black...1 yard

*Rotary cut your purple and orange fabric into 5 1/2 " strips....then cut those strips 5 1/2 x 6 1/2       which allows for your 1/4" seam allowance.
*Following diagram....sew 2 purple squares together then one purple & orange square together....press all seams out....join the two pieces together per diagram...pressing seams out.
Note...at this time you square should finish out 10 1/2 x 12 1/2 again allowing your 1/4 seams.
*Cut Black fabric into 5 1/2 inch strips (roughly 2)
Fuse your Heat n Bond lite to the wrong side of your black fabric.
Using a 5" circle trace on paper side of fusible web.
Cut each circle then cut each circle into quarters (total of 6)
Fuse on each square as per diagram following manufacturers direction on Heat n Bond lite forming the "Bat square"
*Applique each bat circle with Black thread ( I use Aurifil 50 weight #2692)
Repeat directions to complete a total of 8 squares
Have fun & will be posting next phase soon....
Blessed Quilting,
Cat

"SPOOK-TACULAR HALLOWEEN RUNNER & QUILT"

Hey quilters.....hope all is well.....recently had emails from my Halloween One-Z-Quilt asking for a design if you are not using baby one-z's. Well....as a designer, I'm always thinking/designing ahead. While I am designing in EQ7, I always like to "flip" the same concept into different designs. So while you are following along the one-z quilt you can also do these designs of the Halloween runner or quilt. You will be using my same "easy techniques" for the curve squares to achieve all designs. I will be posting the easy techniques along the way for all designs. So come along and lets all have a "Spook-tacular Halloween".

35x96

56x64

"Blessed Quilting from my Home to Yours"
Cat
Follow us on Facebook....ihearditthroughthequilt-vine
Cooking Blog....cookinganddecorwithcat.blogspot.com

"SPOOK-TACULAR HALLOWEEN ONE-Z QUILT"

Hey Quilters....hope all is doing well and surviving this summer heat wave. Crazy hot here in Texas! I finally finished my Stain Glass Window Project out of Bright Batiks by Hoffman Fabrics and quilted with awesome AURIfil Thread for our town Museum Windows. It was a long project and I will admit....bit off a more then I could chew. But it's done and on to the fundraiser table runner that will be used with the left over fabric. I was blessed to have the fabric donated by Hoffman and all the coordinating thread donated by AURIfil.
Well....it gets better....the month of August-Sept-ish....I will be sharing my Halloween One-Z quilt design/techniques with you. I know a lot of people are intimidated with a T-Shirt quilt. You will be amazed how easy it is with my fast & easy techniques. No need to worry about not having a "Long Arm"....you will be using your "Short Arm"....aka....your domestic sewing machine. Here is a sneak peak of the design....it's incorporated with 13 One-Z's (hello it's Halloween) gold squares are where the One-Z's will go.....you will learn easy applique techniques for the Bats and the Hexagon Spiders (yes those are spiders...a bit hard for me to design in EQ7) :-)....and you will learn my fast technique for Spider Web Continuous Line Quilting. I will be posting the updates on my Facebook page....I heard it through the Quilt-Vine...so follow me if were not already friends.  I have promised my niece to get this finished for her son so trust me it will be a fast-paced easy technique lesson...so start thinking of your one-zies....fabric etc. 'cause we'll be starting soon. Let me know if you ever need pattern design assistance....always glad to help with my EQ7....thanks!

"Blessed Quilting from my Home to Yours"
Facebook.....I heard it through the quilt-vine
email q's....cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com