Today's The Day

My bladder woke me a little earlier than usual this morning, so I took advantage of the earlier time to check for the Quiltville Mystery Quilt Intro. I think it's going to be a wait-and-see as to whether I'm going to do it, based on the color scheme. The one color that appears to maybe be predominant aside from the neutrals is orange. I use very little orange, so there's little in my stash - even if I included FQs and yardage; the total would be not much more than 1/3 of the requirement. I'm considering yellow, but am sure I would have to cut into some FQs and yardage to accommodate the requirement as well.

Sum total of my orange "scraps".

Following along, saving and printing the instructions and getting the paint chips are still on the agenda, so we'll see where it goes from there in the months ahead. I can't deny that I have plenty to do! All one has to do is review my UFO Parade and see how many projects need to be finished. There are a few that aren't even showing on there yet. Digging out of my 'black hole' has been challenging!

Mystery Season

The Quiltville, Bonnie Hunter mystery introduction for 2018 is almost here. Her followers and devotees know of what I speak. Her traditional date of release for colors and yardage is October 31st. That is just two days away, on Wednesday. There has been much expectant chatter on her Facebook group, and while I'm still unsure as to whether I will actually do it this year, I'm looking forward to seeing what she has going this year.

I first 'discovered' Bonnie Hunter in 2011, probably later than many, but have been hooked ever since, attended one of her quilt guild presentations meeting her in person and had my picture taken with her...she's a quilting world Rock Star, and while I wasn't a Beatles fan, I am a fan of Bonnie's, though I still won't scream my silly head off like a teenager.

The first mystery I became acquainted with was Orca Bay though I did not make it.  Some day I hope to. And as you can see by the labeled manila folders above, I have all of the patterns from 2011 through 2017, and if you look really closely, you'll see a folder for 2018 without a pattern name...I'm ready! And to be clear and respectful to Bonnie, I will not provide any part of these patterns to anyone so please do not ask. They are Bonnie's copyrighted property and available to purchase either on her website store, or printed in one of her books.

I'm still working on (well, I haven't really since last December when I last sewed anything) En Provence from 2016 and did not do last year's On Ringo Lake.

I'll briefly explain my organization: 

I trim a regular manila folder to fit an approximate 1/4" stack of 8.5" x 11" paper. That way it's pretty much like any other soft-cover book on my shelf. I crease at the fold closest to the actual fold of the folder and print the pattern name, Bonnie's name as the author, and the year of issue. It overlaps two years, but the year released is to me the actual year date.

Inside the folder, I glue a card envelope where I keep the paint chips. I suppose you could put any size envelope to your liking, in there, or even a zippered plastic bag, but this is my own preference.

I keep the pattern sheets in order - that only makes sense, right? Except if I'm actively working on it, then, while they're still in order, the finished portions are moved to the back of the stack. 

Anticipating this years colors! Will they include green, orange, pink, yellow, red, white neutrals, cream neutrals, black or green and in what shade and hue? From where will she have taken her inspiration? Someplace she's been this year or some other time in the past? Two more days, and we'll know.

Monday's Links

I'm linking up at both Quiltville's Mystery Monday, and at Patchwork Times Design Wall Monday.

I'm slowly plodding away on En Provence.  I've sure been enjoying seeing the posts of others' progress and even of some already completed quilts.  There have been many that followed Bonnie's colors nearly to the letter (much as I did), and others who have gone their own way...all beautiful, but there have been some that have appealed to me far more than others.  I recall seeing one that was done with blues (in lieu of purple) with a background of black instead of neutrals - oh my! 

I've spent the last few days trying to catch up on elements I was short on.  So that's what this photo represents:

En Provence components

There are purple/neutrals cut for the remaining half-square triangles; there are the purple/lavenders cut, sewn into twosies to become 4-patches, and the remaining neutral strips cut to also become 4-patches.  The note just reflects the number I was short of, not the number needed for the project.  Also, I'm not yet sure of my dimensions since my plan is to make mine smaller - even though I will have the full number of units - it may become a lap-quilt and a table cover, and I may still need to make extras to fill in any areas requiring more under that scenario.

The next pic shows just a random placement of the units for the quilt's layout_I wanted to get a home-visual of how my fabric choices would be playing with each other.  Many of those units would be repositioned so that the same fabrics be spread out a little better, if possible.

Partial layout of En Provence

I haven't yet begun any further progress on Loveland Log Cabin, the UFO for the month chosen by Judy (#3 on our list), but I did get it down off the shelf, so does that count for progress?

Loveland Log Cabin

The wrist is still bothering me a little, but is so much better than yesterday.  I found I had no problem with using the rotary cutter, but had to be very careful using the iron, and setting the iron back in it's upright position was just the right movement to trigger the painful twinge, but I'm a quick learner (pats self on back) and was very careful to use a different movement to accomplish the same.

I'm not sure how much I'll get done this week, housework is calling_again_and I need to start tackling that guest room.  My aunt Irene is planning to be here on the 18th, maybe even the 17th, and she'll need a little bit of space to set her luggage.

Monday Link-ups Again

Linking up with both Patchwork Times (Design Wall Monday) and Quiltville (Mystery Monday).

Today has been busy.  First thing was a dentist appointment to seat a permanent replacement crown, then shopping at Walmart, home to put it all away, and then finally we made it out to get a Christmas tree.  Just in time too, I'd say.  The lot was ready to close up, un-decorate and head home for the season!  I'm guessing I'll be decorating a tree this afternoon/evening once the boxes are brought down from the garage loft.  

On to the quilty business at hand.

I worked on En Provence this week...right along with what seems to be half the quilters in the world.  

Spike units

I got busy and did all the Spike units, but do you notice anything?  These are the leftovers.  I sat down to start sewing, and realized I didn't pay attention when I cut.  ALL but a few were cut for one side only.  I hadn't laid my fabric down correctly when I cut so all were the same; only a few opposite sides were cut.  Back to the cutting mat!  Those top fabrics look blue, but they are purple.  Don't they make you hungry for blue-berry pie though?

Part 4 Unit

Sewing these Part 4 units, I must not have been as careful as when I did the Part 2 units.  About 14 of them needed to be re-worked, so they were un-sewed, and resewn more carefully.  Then I sliver-trimmed them all and all is now well.

Ongoing rounds of consecutive units.

Adding a round of the unit 4 to the previous three rounds has toned down the purples/lavenders from Part 3, even though it added more purple.  Friday seems so far away at this point.  I wonder if we'll be cutting into both the yellows and greens, more neutrals, or lavenders.  And what shape will the next step take?

Link-Up Monday, 12 December 2016

We're rapidly approaching mid-December! Someone, please slow time down...you know, like when we were kids awaiting Christmas and it took for-ev-er!

Linking up with Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday, and with Quiltville Mystery Monday for Part 3.

On my design wall, just playing around with my finished work, are 4-patches in purple/lavender, and 4-patches in neutrals, along with Peaky & Spike units in magenta (more like hot pink) and neutral.  I'm sure once these units are combined with the future, as yet unknown, units it will look amazing.  Adding the purple/lavenders to my display has given it an entirely different look.  Other than the neutrals, these colors are challenging me - taking me right out of my comfort zone.  Can't wait for Friday to see what's next!  

En Provence "what if"

Completed units

Hmmm, I see I didn't have the purple/lavender included in the second picture...next time.

Slow Flight to France

Hah, no, I'm not really taking a flight to France, but I decided to finally post my potential fabrics for doing this year's Quiltville mystery quilt, En Provence (see sidebar link).  Flash photography causes the colors to 'change' and show differently on fabric vs. paper...these fabrics really do match the paint chips better in real life.  We (Panda & I) found the paint chip cards with variable shades as well.

The magenta pink.

I have a piece of the same magenta pink fabric Bonnie showed.  She stated that she chose the paint chip Hibiscus because her Lowe's didn't have a chip that was as dark.  Hibiscus is the upper left chip.  Looking in the gradient cards, we found Very Berry (lower left) and Adored & Very Cherry (center two on right) that matched the fabric quite well.  I still need to go find and purchase a pink because I don't have enough of the one shown for the constant.  I have one other same-color piece but even if I used both, it wouldn't be enough.

Flame

Look who's joined me while I'm preparing this post.  Flame has curled up nicely on the freshly washed, not yet folded, fabric I purchased to use for the backing on En Provence.

Impulsive

In the photo, the one purple looks more blue, it's iffy, as is the one directly beneath it which is a little dull or brown to my eyes.

Garden Spot

My greens didn't photograph well either.  The ones that look lighter, are actually closer to the tone of the chips than those darker appearing ones.

Afternoon

I can say the same about the yellows.  Some of these are iffy - one possibly too lemony.  The one on the left second from the top looks like one in Bonnie's image, so I'm leaving it in for now even though it doesn't look remotely close.  Afternoon is the lightest color chip shown.

Neutral

My neutrals are becoming scarce without cutting into actual yardage.  Working towards the goal of eliminating as many smallest to largest scrap/chunks/pieces as possible before cutting into yardage, if I can.  Frankly, I'm getting real tired of the same-o, same-o neutrals, so will be really happy when they're gone and I can work with fresh fabrics.

Magical

I have very little in the way of any shade of lavender, and this is the sum total of my lavenders including yardage!  And again, the photo doesn't reflect the true colors.  I may have to add to this collection.

There you have it - my fabrics in contention for En Provence.  I'm looking forward to this.  Depending on the final reveal, I may turn it into two smaller quilts rather than leave it at the posted size.  These aren't "my" colors, but I'm up to the challenge of being pulled from my comfort zone, so will stick with them, and if I really don't like the end result, I know who those are of my family and friends who love purple and pink and it may become theirs...or a donation to the local guild perhaps to use as an opportunity quilt.

While I'm waiting for the first clue, I have plenty to do yet on Allietare, and with my aunt still planning to come down for Road to California in January...I have a house to get in order!

Stash Report Sunday - 30 October 2016 - Week 44

I didn't quite get Allietare's blocks turned into rows but am half-way there.  I'll show pics tomorrow. 

Panda and I got together again on Friday and went to Lowe's to get our paint chips for this year's Quiltville mystery quilt.  Afterwards we stopped at the new Hobby Lobby.  I found a nice Paris themed fabric and chose to get sufficient yardage (probably way more than needed) to be used as the backing for the mystery quilt.  I also purchased another neutral, so my stash grew a bit again this week rather than decreasing.  All-in-all, even with nothing out yet this year, my intake has been minimal.  That's because there just hasn't been a whole lot of quilting going on around here, yet here I am, still planning on doing this year's m.q. along with a few thousand others around the world {grin}. 

After our shopping, we went to lunch at a new to us both Thai restaurant where I had Pad Thai and a salad that had the yummiest peanut dressing.  With Nick having a peanut allergy, I don't get to eat this favorite dish often.  

Used This Week: 0 yards
Added This Week:  5.5 yards
Used 2016: 0 yards
Added 2016: 17.1 yards

Linking at Patchwork Times

Design Wall Monday: 04 Jan 2016

Once again, I'll be killing two birds with one stone by linking at both Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday, and at Quiltville for the Mystery Quilt link-up.  I've been seeing a whole lot of gorgeous Allietare interpretations out there, along with some other projects being worked on.  Go, check them out for yourself.

On my 'wall' (table) are the units for the final clue of Allietare, and I chose the fabrics I plan to use for the outer border (the black) and for the binding (the red), so here are the photos.  Still no sewing of course, since I'm waiting for my friend to return in a few weeks.  We'll have lots of fun then, and in the mean time, I have plenty of other projects to work on towards finishing and hopefully, those will be with next week's link-up.

unit pieces

outer border fabric, binding fabric

Another 2015 Final

The final 2015 design wall Monday is showing what's (not?) on my design wall - because it's in a bin, but the idea is that it's 'on the design wall', right? 

The project is Allietare, the Quiltville mystery quilt.  The only sewing I've done is to the strip sets so I could cut the sections for the 4-patch units. 

These are the clue components, labeled as to the clue they were given in, except the black, which was in clue 4.  Clue 5 has us sewing some of these units together, but I'm still trying to hold off until my friend Panda returns.  There's a lot of cutting but she has one of those cutting appliances so may be able to do some with that.  In fact, I didn't sew the parts to make block units in the previous clues either - just those strip sets.  I don't know if there'll be more cutting to do in a future clue or if it'll be construction only from here on out.  

While I'm waiting on my friend, at least for the next few days, I'm going to devote some time to re-acquainting myself with my 2-year-neglected genealogy work.  I renewed my "database search company" for six months, and two months are already behind me with very little work done, so for it to not be a total waste of $$, I'm intentionally going to work on it for awhile.  

And then, I want to get at least two of my prepped quilt tops quilted so they can be, dare I use the word?, decluttered out of my house and lovingly given to their respective recipients.  

Linking at both Patchwork Times and Quiltville.

Oh Yeah, it's Monday!

I'm late to the party! Can you believe it?  I spent the morning working on some personal bookkeeping and then after having watched the second Hunger Games movie the other night, I wanted to see the third one before it left the theater, so Nick and I went to the movie and had lots of butter-flavored oily and salty popcorn - but oh it tasted so good. Why is that?  Something so obviously bad, tastes so good! No dinner for me!

Anyway, back to the party.  Bonnie Hunter gave us a very easy clue this week.  It only took a couple of hours to finish it.  I'm still completely clueless as to how this is all going to fit together.  I've a smattering of the different components pinned to my design wall and in no specific arrangement.

Grand Illusion Blocks

Grand Illusion Clue #5 Simple 4-Patch black/yellow/pink

Grand Illusion Clue #5 4-Patch in yellow/aqua

Don't forget to check out those linking up at Quiltville, and at Patchwork times - I'm hitting both those parties today.

With having even more time on my hands after completing the latest clue, I cleared my workspace and put together the two remaining hot pad kits I had purchased in 2013 at Sisters.  Both have the same aproned hen with eggs, but the fabrics are different.  While making them, I was conscious of my placements when layering so that when I trimmed, I'd save as much fabric as possible - now added to my scrap bin but not counted as an addition to my stash, only a couple of strips, however, remaining also were the strips of InsulBrite, so I zig-zagged those together on my machine and used that to make yet another hot pad pulling a little fabric from my stash - believe me, it doesn't use much!

All four hot pads. 

Center was pre-embroidered on papery foundation

Love the cute little chicks fabric!

This one from 'pieced' InsulBrite - no embroidered center here!  It's only slightly smaller, under an inch, than the originals from kits.

 The hot pads were a nice change of pace on which to work.  They went together quickly.  They're quilted in the ditch along all the inner border seams.  I should make a bunch of these and practice my free motion quilting.  The binding is just a one-inch extension of the backing fabric rolled to the front and sewed down.  I chose not to add hanging loops on the latter three, but did include it in the first one - it was a bit of a pain, so I figure I can just get some round plastic loops and sew them on, but if I keep them all, I may not bother at all as I don't hang my pot holders and hot pads - they'll be used and get stained and all that goes with daily functions, and I just stack them in a cupboard.

Mystery Monday Progress

It feels good to be completely on track having all steps of the Grand Illusion mystery quilt completed.  That's at least one item of NON-stress during this time at home.

Linking up to Quiltville and wondering if in the next step, only two left, we will be tying all of the components together or if there's still a missing component to work on.  How many are playing with possible solutions?  I'm most intrigued by the green and neutral with one black square and how it will fit with the other components given its size is different.  Go to Quiltville and see how others may be guessing - and if you stopped by from there, thank you and have a wonderful Christmas.

Our tree had not yet been decorated but I had chains of Step #4 so took advantage and draped them on the tree for this photo.

Close-up, duh, right?  I'm good at stating the obvious ;p

All of the individual clue blocks grouped together.  How will they go together?

Design Wall and Grand Illusion

Clue #3 for Grand Illusion arrived on Friday - something I'm sure most are aware of by now - and the first thing I did was print out the clue as well as save it to my computer.  I do that with all of Bonnie's mystery quilts  - well, at least the ones I've done, as well as one I wanted to do but didn't - it was right about the time I 'discovered' Quiltville. 

As anxious as I was for this release, for some reason I struggled with getting moving on it.  It was a much easier clue than the first two, but still took me about as long to get it done, but done it is, except for the pressing open of the gazillion units.  I'll leave you now with just a few photos of mine, and I will be linking at both Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday, and at Quiltville for the Grand Illusion Mystery Monday link-up.

This is an assortment from the first two clues; three separate components: half-square triangles, an hour-glass 4-P block, and doubled diamonds. 

Clue #3 gave us these, but these are only half of the finished unit.  What? No, wait! Oops, these are mistakes - did you catch that I sewed the two greens side by side whereas the neutral square should be between the greens?...a little unsewing only to resew correctly did the trick.

A gazillion 1/2 units.  the 1/2 is 1/2 too many - oops. .

And finally, a selection of the finished units. 

I haven't tried playing around to see how Bonnie might have these for a final layout, I think we're missing too many pieces yet.  

I've been trimming (Bonnie's system) any smaller pieces as I work each unit - hoping that will keep my leftover scraps tamed to the point of only having a little to tend to when this project is finished.

My iron awaits, so off to press these units and then I can be busy with wonderful housework (I jest on the latter.).

Mystery Progress

There are a whole lot of folks out there working on Bonnie Hunter's Grand Illusion Mystery this year, and today we link up at her blog to show our progress. Click on her name and it'll take you to her post.

I started mine on Saturday, a full day after the release of Part 1.  Even so, I spent the rest of the weekend working on very little else, so by 11:00 p.m. last night, I had it all done.  Now my week is free for the endless stream of household chores and other activities needed to get my home in ship-shape (as if, lol) for Christmas.  

Some of my options for three of the colors, I weeded a few out.

My constant fabric all cut.

Chains of block components.

Oops! that needs to be unsewn, flipped and resewn! I found two of which I had sewn with both squares right sides up instead of facing each other.

Some of the blocks finished.  I'm not even going to attempt to guess as to how Bonnie plans these in the overall layout.

Will next week have us working with the greens and the neutrals, or a combination of those and some of the ones we worked on this week?

_______________

I am also linking this as my Design Wall Monday post at Patchwork Times.

Stash Report, Week 46, 2014

I am home and catching up.  During this week I have done laundry and lots of it, but probably not much else other than decompress.  Considered part of laundry are the fabrics I purchased during my four weeks in the wet land.  All fabric gets pre-washed.  My aunt and I took part in a small shop hop but only made it to four of eleven shops - we just didn't have the time to make it to the others, though it was very tempting to get to a couple more one day when we went to a memorial service, but we had one of my uncles and a distant cousin with us so decided not to and our time was too short anyway.

So, back to the details.  My numbers are clearly going in the wrong direction, but after actually seeing my aunt's stash, I think I have room to grow ;p


Used This Week: 0 yards 
Used Year to Date: 15.62 yards  
Added This Week Month: 22.43 yards  
Added Year to Date: 100.99 yards  
Net Used Added for 2014: 85.37 yards 

Linking @ Patchwork Times

My aunt let me go shopping in her stash!  Can you tell what these colors are for?  There are at least two that won't be included in that project.

While at my dad's, my sister and I went through a cedar chest my mom had.  In it were these cotton fabrics, along with five or six bleached feed sack fabrics.  The pink & whites are both pillow ticking, but aren't real heavy so can be used for quilting, even if only for storage sacks for finished quilts.

This is one of the feedsack fabrics.  You can still see a remnant of whatever markings were originally on it.  You can also see quite a bit of staining; I believe at least a couple of these were used as kitchen toweling.

These came from a favorite quilt shop that I go to up there each year.  I was shopping for fabrics for an upcoming mystery quilt.  Do you know which one?

These came from a shop I've been to before, but one whose fabrics don't generally appeal to me.  Some shops are that way.  This shop is still for sale in the capital city.  The green (maybe?) and the blacks will go in the mystery quilt.  I'm not sure about the bit of yellow in the banana leaves nor the purple for that quilt so will wait and see when the first cutting instructions are released.

These came from a big crafting store in that capital city.  I'd never been there before.  All, or only some, will go in that mystery quilt.  Those that don't will go back into the stash.

Do you know I had to look up the difference between capital and capitol to make sure I spelled it correctly.  I'm slipping in my "old" age!  I had it with an "o" but found out that only refers to the capitol building in the capital city.

So how have you done on additions or subtractions to your stash, whatever time frame that encompasses? 

Stash Report - Week 43, 2014

I may not be at home and getting any sewing in, but I know how to add to my stash.  There's a wonderful fabric shop here in town.  And there's a shop hop going on, so I have 1 of 11 shops visited. Not sure I'll get to more than one or two more, but I'd like to try, especially if I can get my aunt to go with me.  The hop only goes through Nov. 1st and the weather is not what I want to be out in - raining and 30 mph winds with gusts up to the 40 & 50 mph ranges yesterday!  Still pouring today.

The purchase I made this week was for the 'constant' fabric for an upcoming annual mystery quilt, so that was two yards because I may decide to use the same fabric for the binding.  I also bought three fat quarters, two of which are neutrals, and one is in the green shade needed.  I was hoping to shop my stash but since I'm 890 miles from it, I'll just pick up a few extras while I'm gone and add some new variety to my scraps.  It's a good thing, right?  

Used This Week: 0 yards 
Used Year to Date: 15.62 yards  
Added This Week: 2.75 yards  
Added Year to Date: 78.56 yards  
Net Used Added for 2014: 62.94 yards 


Linking @ Patchwork Times