Allietare! Bonnie Hunter Mystery 2015

Bonnie Hunter has started her latest mystery quilt.  The first clue was released Friday morning. I just finished pressing my 320 half-square triangle units.  Only 294 are required but I plan to make the finished quilt a little larger so I'm making extra units as we go.

The address below will take you to Bonnie page that shows progress made on clue one.  It's fun to see people participate from around the world.
http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2015/11/mystery-monday-link-up-allietare-part-1.html

Last year my friend used Halloween fabrics and made a quilt to use during October.  I decided then that this year I was going to make my mystery quilt one that could be used during December.  Of course this year Bonnie decided to make the quilt a little smaller so I will need to extend the size on my own.  I'm always a little out of step!

I've started listening to audio books while in the studio and I find this keeps me working.  I try and select books that don't require a lot of focus, although sometimes I do have to go back and pick up what I missed.

I'm using a green fabric in place of Bonnie's gray.

These are the fabrics I'm using.  I ended up adding a few more "neutrals"
and do have more reds available.

Thanks for checking in.

Guild Panel Challenge

As a challenge for one of my guilds participants had to make something with a panel.  It didn't have to be a quilt, but of course, that's what I made.  It was fun and I like my finished product, but there's a story.

I purchased the panel along with fabric to use as a border, then I lost it.  After an extensive and exhasuting search, I purchased the fabric again.  However, I had to purchase two panels in order to get the full design with some sort of border.  (Question:  Why do fabric companies print panels and not leave enough blank space between designs so you can cut them out and have a seam allowance????)  Then I didn't even use the original, purchased border fabric.  More for the stash!

I planned to bedazzle the heck out of it but I'm having second thoughts.  

One:  People who have seen the quilt like it.  If I add crystals it loses its appeal as a usable quilt.  Crystals scratch.  Who wants to take a nap under a scratchy quilt?

Two:  I pulled out my supply of crystals to make color decisions and decide how many I would need.  I estimate it would take about $500 in crystals to give the effect I want.  Maybe I don't want to do that!

Best news:  The quilt is not due until Wednesday and I have it done today - Saturday.  OK, friends, don't fall off your chair!  I still need to add a sleave and label (and clip some threads) but I could submit it in its present condition.  It's drying on the wall right now.

50 x 54.5 inches
The panel is inside the red border.  The red border is different widths,
sides vs top/bottom, in order to make the 1/2 square triangles fit.

Trapunto behind the black and white feathers.  Hobbs Wool Batt.
Most quilting is "in the ditch" using Invisifil thread.  I'm starting
to use that rather than monofiliment.

Now it's Bonnie Hunter Allietare! Mystery time.  We got the first clue yesterday so I need to get cutting and sewing.

Thanks for checking in.

Bountiful Central Coast

I finished a quilt - two days before the deadline!!  That's almost a record for me.

I entered a (sort of) challenge for our local quilt show.  Entries needed to interpret the theme for next year's show, "Bountiful Central Coast".  I had my idea months ago, but needed to figure out how to do it.  I started construction after PIQF, finished yesterday, and delivered today.

Notice the wagon with bolts of fabric.  I thought about making tiny
quilts, but someone else gave me the idea of fabric bolts.
We harvest the fabric to make our quilts.

It's hard to see, but the water fabric has an image
of Morro Rock in the design.  The fabric is available
only at The Cotton Ball, Morro Bay, CA.

I wanted to show a fog bank.  The best I came up with was to change
the quilting design.  The feathers along the water have gray thread accents.

Our show is June 25 & 26, 2016.  Plan to attend.  Great quilts and vendors.

Thanks for checking in.

Two guilds, two workshops

I had the opportunity to take two different workshops Friday and Sunday.

FRIDAY.  Jean Impry, Garden Party.

I created a bouquet by fussy cutting flowers and leaves from various fabrics.  We arranged our bouquet, stitched them down, then the fun started.  We were to quilt (with black thread) around the various blooms multiple times and add some detail.  All this is done before adding batting and backing!

Design in process.  No details yet.

I've added the details,  I have a few flowers yet to finish, but I ran out
of bobbin thread so it was time to go home!

Close up of flowers.  The 'wrinkles" are intentional.  In fact that was a hard
part for me.  I kept smoothing out the fabrics so they would lay flat.

SUNDAY.  Patricia Beaver, Crayola quilts.

I don't consider myself a painter, but I was able to use crayons to color in a design.  I looked at design ideas on line - googling free, public domain, coloring pages - had it enlarged at a local copy place and today we traced, inked, and colored!.

I omitted the pumpkin from the center.  I'll probably quilt it in.
This is approximately 36 inches in diameter.

Close up.  The colors are very subdued so it didn't photograph well.
I may use a heavy weight thread and quilt over the black swirls.
What I won't do is embroider them by hand!

I'm happy with the results from both classes.  But tomorrow I have to get back to my deadline quilt!

Thanks for checking in.

Martian invasion

At our local show I purchased an Amy Bradley Designs pattern, "Planetary Party".  I used some of her aliens to make a quilt for my nephews.  I originally wanted them to use her creatures as inspiration and draw their own, but they're still pretty young so that didn't work out how I imagined.  Instead I selected one of Amy's designs that looked similar to their drawings.  Meant to be a Halloween quilt, it really isn't, but I like it anyway!  AND . . . it's done and mailed!!!

The quilt is long and narrow.
It can hang on a door or be
used as a table runner.  It's
about 20 x 58 inches.

I hurried Monday afternoon to sew down the sleeve
and label so I could get the quilt in the mail.  I was so
proud they would get the quilt before Halloween.

Then while loading these photos I remembered . . . . . THE EYES.
I forgot to make eyes for the Martians!  I'll have to get the quilt back 
later and add them.

I couldn't decide how to make the eyes.  I didn't want to add
a button or something similar.  I'd like to make them some
type of thread embellishment.  I'll have to think on that some more.

I've had this background fabric in my stash for over 20 years.
It's one of the original fabrics by Mary Ellen Hopkins.  It was
perfect for this quilt.  ME always said "Use your fabrics because
when you die they'll use them for Halloween costumes."  I finally
used it for a Halloween quilt.  That's a much better use.

OK, now I need to start a quilt that is due November 9.   Of course it's last minute.  It's the only way I know to work!

Thanks for checking in.

BOM BJ's Quilt Basket

I've been working on a BOM from BJ's Quilt Basket in Bend, OR.  I've actually done fairly well keeping up.  If I lived near Bend the participants meet the first Saturday of each month for show and tell.  It's impossible for me to attend but the shop mails my instructions and fabric each month.  It's not a mystery.  I just liked the pattern and decided to participate.  So where am I? . . . . I finished the August blocks last week and received September blocks this month.  I already have September done!!  Yea for me!  

I have to admit I'm still behind.  The February block was applique.  I wanted to wait until after my Philippa Naylor Empty Spools class thinking I would use techniques learned in her class.  I've gotten started, but I have quite a way to go.  There are four small applique blocks in the body of the quilt,  BUT the border has LOTS of applique.

"Timeless Tradition"
http://www.bjsquiltbasket.com/BOM.html

August blocks.
Each month we've made one 12-inch and two 6-inch blocks.

September blocks.
Since there are only 3 blocks each month, I'm concentrating on accurate piecing.

One of four applique blocks.  I can't decide whether to make the flowers
match in each block or do a variety.  The pattern calls for four different
flowers in four different colors.

I'm still working on the BOM from Fat Quarter Shop.  I'm keeping up with it as well.  I'll post an update when I finish the September sections.

Thanks for checking in.

Quick Curve Ruler

I purchased the Quick Curve Ruler a couple of years ago but had never unwrapped it and put it to use.  Mission accomplished!
I needed (wanted) a table runner for a birthday present so I decided the time was right.  I have a few questions about getting things to line up but for a first attempt it's not too bad.

16 x 44.5 inches

back side to show quilting

Thanks for checking in.