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Monday, December 31, 2018

December 2018 Quilt Update


Welcome to the Monthly Update.  What does that mean?  Well, it's just little ol me trying to recap what took place during the month so that I can keep track.  I kind of use it like a journal.  Please sit back and enjoy a peek into a month of my life.

Any links that you click in this post will open in a DIFFERENT window, allowing you to continue reading this without losing the page.

So . . . . If you have followed me in the past, you know that I have set CRAZY goals each month and it's tough when they just don't happen.  I think goals are wonderful - believe me, without them I fear my lack of  movement.  The thing is -- I just don't want another year of unattainable goals making me feel stressed.  I have a busy year ahead with lots of surprises, family happenings, and retreats.  Those items alone give me PLENTY of deadlines to deal with.  As a result, I am introducing the new goal section - hahahaha, it's the same, only reasonable.  Let's hit the ground running . . . or not.  How about a hot drink and a good read?  See, life is good.  Oh, and the goals each month are at the end of the post now.

The previous 2018 monthly update links are located at the end of this entry.  I hope that you make it that far.

1st -   The last month of the year has arrived and as I look back, I'm certainly glad I pulled back.  I haven't felt crazy pressure this year BUT I also didn't have very many UFO finishes.  I'm pretty sure that won't change this month, but one never knows.  At any rate, I AM still sewing and that's a good thing.  It is the last month (as I said before but it bears repeating) so 2018 is going to be put to bed and that is a GREAT thing.  So what does today have in store?  How about some early morning cutting on Bonnie's mystery?


2018 Finished Non-Quilt Items

Each year I try and create one post that highlights all that I managed to finish this year.  It's the only way that I truly know just what took place in a quick and easy spot.  This post contains all items that are not a QUILT.  That doesn't mean that they are quilted, just not something to cover up with to keep warm.  Does that make sense?

Here we go - month by month -

January:  Rockin' Bobbin, a local quilt shop, asked me to make samples for a class they wish to offer and I am happy to help out.  I think they turned out pretty cute but I do like the table runner more than the placemats.  The napkin rings are kinda cute too.  These are not mine to keep -- just being a nice person.



2018 Finished Quilts

Another year bites the dust!  It's one I am oh so ready to say good-bye too and it is reflected in the number of actual finishes for me.  I wish I had more, but at least there are a few here to look back on.

January:  A new grandson is expected in March and this is his quilt.  All handstitched on royal blue tricot.


A New Theme



Howdy Y'all! Good Morning and Happy New Year's Eve to one and all. This past year we have been finishing UFO's. Many chose not to purchase new fabric so they wouldn't be tempted to start additional projects that would become UFO's. I attempted that as well. Note the word attempted. At any rate --- I release myself and anyone else who tried not to purchase a lot of new fabric. For one day! (Did that make you smile? --- It's like eating potato chips --- one will just not work.)

Hahahahaha! Shop like a wild woman today if you feel the need --- tomorrow is a new year and with that comes our new theme.

When is the last time you saw me post on being in the studio sewing? Right? It's been awhile. Why is that? Well, because I keep losing it to the chaos. However, I have had a epiphany and have decided to pass it along to everyone else.

Working on the Bonnie Hunter Good Fortune Mystery allowed me to discover that I didn't touch a single piece of yardage. I have used long lost strips, strings, and cut off pieces from other quilts. It's been crazy and so while at it I have also been going through each box/tote/drawer/baggie/etc. that can be found. Even old projects were opened to determine at just what stage I left them so many years ago. I lost the living room the day after Christmas and expect it to be gone for at least another couple of weeks for this project to complete. (Does that mean I found the studio? Oh my heck no, BUT I have been systematically emptying it out and returning crisper, cleaner bins that are not overflowing. I KNOW what is in them.)



So what does this mean? Well, for me I am going to embrace the fact that I am a fabric hoarder. I'm going to enjoy each minute of it. I'm clearing out what I KNOW I won't use and the What Was I Thinking? stuff to pay it forward for new fabric hoarders that are just beginning to bloom. Nice, right? (Shhhh --- enabling is fun.)

The etc. at the top? A clue to the 2019 group theme, of course. So . . . . . (drumroll please) . . . .

Saturday, December 29, 2018

Good Fortune - Clue 6 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

This month is just zooming by and my mountainous mess in the living room continues on.  I am sorting and organizing like a mad woman.  I have found so many items, long forgotten and with classes coming up in February, am actually finding places for them to be used up.

Along with this comes today's clue in Bonnie Hunter's Good Fortune Mystery.  Clue 6 is strings once again and I am at the point of needing to sort through the neutral strings so everything else comes to a halt.  It's STRINGS y'all.  My absolute favs to work with.  Making a quick trip out to the studio to retrieve the neutral sting bin, I am soon back sitting by the tree and out they come.  A quick turn of the bin and after removing just few along with sorting by whites, creams, and toasty -- I have located my paper scissors that have been missing for quite some time.  Hmmmmm.


Good Fortune - Clue 5 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

It's December 21st and the new clue for the Bonnie Hunter Good Fortune Mystery has posted.  She is being gentle on us with our holiday time, but even still I just can't even do more than look at what we are doing.  Mom H. is still in the hospital (albeit rehab) and we are running all the time along with trying to make sure everything is done that we need to do for Christmas.  It's just kinda crazy here.  The best part?  I don't let it bother me anymore if I don't manage to do the clues the day they are released.  It'll be okay.  I'll get to them when I can.  Such growth on my part, right?

12/26  Christmas has come and gone even my pavolova is just a memory.  So sad and yet, onward we go.  I promised Mister that I wouldn't make a mess in the house until after the holiday --- that makes today free and clear.  I've kind of come to terms with the fact that I need to clean the tubs and bins so might as well start with the ones I can use today.  Pulling all the yellows, neutrals, and oranges nets me enough to cut the beginning of the parts for this weeks clue.  I am truly LOVING that this mystery (x 2) has almost entirely come from my version of Bonnie's Scrap Users System.  It's amazing.


Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Good Fortune - Clue 3 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

12/7  Don't you just love this time of year?  Each Friday we wake excited and eager to see what is in store for us with Bonnie Hunter's mystery and today is just such a day.  However, all I get to do is look right now.  I am hosting a party in my home tomorrow and today is prep and clean day.  No sewing for me, but such great eye candy.  We are making chevrons, which I love, AND using the bonus triangles as well.  Perfect!!!  Now, I'm off to clean.

12/13  Almost an entire week has gone by and my life went crazy.  A party on Saturday, many trips to the hospital for my sweet mother-in-law, and some doctor and dentist appointments thrown in for good measure seem to have kept me from my fabric.  Oh, and the raccoon -- that crazy raccoon that I spent part of a day extricating from my studio.  However, all that is behind me now and I have pulled the strip bins for this clue.  It looks like the Scrap User's System will once again pull through for me.  It is so fun to use up this older stuff and keep my new fat quarters and yardage still intact for what is yet to come.


Saturday, December 15, 2018

Good Fortune - Clue 4 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

It's Friday!!!  That means another clue is released in Bonnie Hunter's Good Fortune Mystery.  It also means something else, just for me.  What could that be?  Well . . . .

I have not finished Clue 3.  Yep, it's been a bit of a crazy week here on the homestead and sewing just didn't happen.  Between doctor visits/tests, several days at the hospital helping my sweet MIL, and a raccoon that decided to hang out in the studio - let's just say it's been interesting.

However, the new clue is out and it is strings!!!!  Oh I do love working with strings and this clue looks so fun that I quickly gather some papers (and cut them lickety split) along with one of the string bins from the studio (the other one is neutrals only).  This puppy is heavy.  I know it doesn't look like much from here, but believe me -- there are a LOT of strings in here.  The only question now is, are there any in the colors I need?


Monday, December 3, 2018

Good Fortune - Clue 2 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

It seems as though this time of year just comes and goes so quickly.  I want it to slow down so that I can savor it a bit.  Am I alone?

Bonnie Hunter's yearly reader appreciation mystery is already in week two.  If you would like more information on it, please click on THIS LINK.  It will open in an new window and leave you right here with me. 

Half-square triangles are the units this week.  Woot woot!!!  These used to scare me to death but mastering the Easy Angle Ruler has made this job as easy as can be.  Now, it's just time -- time to cut and time to sew and time to press and time to clip.  It's not difficult, just TIME.  Lots and lots of it.  Ah, that's not really true either.  I spend one evening cutting and why is it more time isn't required for cutting?  Well, because, once again, I have everything I need in the strip tubs already.  The Scrap Users System really does work.


Friday, November 30, 2018

November 2018 Quilt Update


Welcome to the Monthly Update.  What does that mean?  Well, it's just little ol me trying to recap what took place during the month so that I can keep track.  I kind of use it like a journal.  Please sit back and enjoy a peek into a month of my life.

Any links that you click in this post will open in a DIFFERENT window, allowing you to continue reading this without losing the page.

So . . . . If you have followed me in the past, you know that I have set CRAZY goals each month and it's tough when they just don't happen.  I think goals are wonderful - believe me, without them I fear my lack of  movement.  The thing is -- I just don't want another year of unattainable goals making me feel stressed.  I have a busy year ahead with lots of surprises, family happenings, and retreats.  Those items alone give me PLENTY of deadlines to deal with.  As a result, I am introducing the new goal section - hahahaha, it's the same, only reasonable.  Let's hit the ground running . . . or not.  How about a hot drink and a good read?  See, life is good.  Oh, and the goals each month are at the end of the post now.

The previous 2018 monthly update links are located at the end of this entry.  I hope that you make it that far.

1st -  I am staring at the calendar today and have to stop and take a deep breath.  It's November and I barely remember October.  On the bright side, I have two grands arriving today and since I've gone all summer without any camps, I cannot tell you how excited I am.  It's going to be a whirlwind month and it's very likely that I will not reach many goals.  I'm okay with that.  Now - it's off to the airport to collect my little ones.  You can share in our fun by clicking on this Days One and Two post.

2nd - Fun at the Arboretum AND the Children's Aquarium.  It's a jam-packed day but memories are being made all around.  Ahhh, my heart is just so happy.

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Good Fortune - Clue 1 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt


Hello again!  It's Black Friday and I can't believe that the yearly fun has arrived.  I am in a crazy strange place today and even though I can't work on the clue, the Texas Renaissance fair is a nice second.  Everyone needs to play dress up now and then, right?

Upon returning from the fair, it's a long drive back to Dallas and I'm just too tired to even think about the mystery.  However, we did make a stop along the way that solidified my desire to make two quilts - one in Bonnie's colorway and one in a different one.  More work -- what am I thinking?  If you want to find out all about this mystery, here is the link to Bonnie Hunter's blog:  Good Fortune Mystery

Saturday, November 24, 2018

JT Ranch Quilt Shop - Cisco, TX (and a little antiquing too)

It's the Saturday after Thanksgiving and I have already driven from Houston to Abilene.  Now I am once again behind the wheel going from Abilene to Dallas.  My sweet man is riding shotgun and spots a billboard advertising a quilt shop in Cisco.  He puts it into the GPS and soon we are in the downtown area and parking the car for a leg stretch.  I do so love this man of mine.

JT Ranch and Quilt Shop is the most pleasant surprise.  As you enter the shop, you realize just how large it really is.  Wow.  We are instantly greeted and asked if we need any help.  That is such a plus in my book.  Asking to just wander and look around, we are left to our own devices and out comes my camera.  Take a few minutes to wander the store with me.

Sunday, November 18, 2018

Brazos Retreat - A Night at the Movies

Let the
begin.

We have looked forward to this retreat all year long.  I cannot tell you how much fun we have planning it and putting it together.  I'm pretty sure it's about on the same level as the retreat itself.  Honest.  At any rate, in the Facebook group are all the pictures that were taken and I just can't show 250 of them here, but I'll still cover the highlights.  Each person is greeted upon their arrival with paparazzi microphones in their faces, being asked silly questions just as expected at an awards show.  So, so much fun.  Here's just a couple of the entrances - light flashing in their faces and everything.  Oh yes, we ARE that good.  Classic movies are already playing and the party is ready to start.


Thursday, November 15, 2018

Prep For Retreat

Brazos Golden Globes - A Night at the Movies is about to get started.  The committee is arriving today for a day of decorating and setting up.  I'm the first one in and once the tables are all just how I want them, out come the chair backs.  Well, dang.  I kinda like how they look.  (Patting myself on the back here.)


Saturday, November 10, 2018

Houston Festival - Days Two and Three

Good Morning Houston!  I am awake before everyone else and sneak out to the hallway to make a phone call and reservations for breakfast.  We all agreed to meet downstairs at the restaurant at 8:30 and for some reason, only now is the reservation idea setting in.  Perhaps the wait last night prompted this idea and perhaps my brain just managed to crawl out of the fog of "fabric overload" I have been in since arriving.  Who knows which one but at least it's done.  Now what?  The rest of the room is still asleep so I hook up to wifi and start watching an episode of Gilmore Girls.  About 15 minutes in, Sherri peeks her head out the door and looks at me with a most confused look.  The story that accompanies the look is divine but one of those --- what happens . . . stays . . . type.  Needless to say, lots of giggles and then we just sat in the hall on the floor talking -- which for some reason was disconcerting to those who walked by -- to the point that some were concerned about our comfort or if we were locked out of our room.  Silly people --

Once the room is awake, back in we go to gear up for the day and now -- it's breakfast time.  We are given a cute little private room in the restaurant and that is awesome.  Great conversation, new friends, and full tummies make it all a success.  Onto the show -- we are armed and ready.


Friday, November 9, 2018

Houston Eye Candy 2018 - Part 2

I love that since our group is here for several days, we can take our time and REALLY see the quilts.  I've had a break and am ready for another couple of hours drooling before the show closes at 7.

Let's get started -

"Moonlight Sonata" by Susan Stewart of Pittsburg, Kansas quickly stops me in my tracks.  I had not considered making the quilt as one big block.  This square in a square really calls to me.  The black and white alone does the trick and then add in the rest of the features and I'm hooked.  Susan writes, "This is a very simple design in black and white with lots of intricate quilting.  It is embellished with bright machine embroidery and edged with free-standing lace."


Houston Eye Candy 2018 - Part 1

Houston International Quilt Festival is in full swing and I am blessed, once again, to be able to enjoy the visual feast.  Are you ready for some eye candy?  As always, keep in mind that I do NOT wander around getting pictures of the winners.  I grab the ones that grab me.  Talk to me.  Inspire me.  Here we go.

First up is "Small Happy Crazy Quilt" by Aki Sakai of Hachiouji, Tokyo.  It is a mixture of  cotton, linen, and lace along with being an original design.  She says, "I like small and cute things very much.  The designs are based on my favorite things and family memories."  It is hand quilted and includes applique, embellishment, yo-yo's, and trapunto.


Thursday, November 8, 2018

Houston Festival 2018 - Day One

I cannot explain to you how much I look forward to this type of trip each year.  Seriously!!  It is just fun and friends with some shopping and eye candy thrown in.  What could be more perfect?

This weekend we are off to Houston International Quilt Festival for just those items listed above.  My car has Lydia and Rocky in it and we are zooming south to meet up with everyone else.

Upon our arrival, check-in goes super smooth and we are able to store everything in one room right away.  The only down spot is that we had already given everything to the concierge and so had to retrieve it, but within moments it was returned and we are now set.  It's time to play.  Let's get going.


Wednesday, October 31, 2018

October 2018 Quilt Update


Welcome to the Monthly Update.  What does that mean?  Well, it's just little ol' me trying to recap what took place during the month so that I can keep track.  I kind of use it like a journal.  Please sit back and enjoy a peek into a month of my life.

Any links that you click in this post will open in a DIFFERENT window, allowing you to continue reading this without losing the page.

So . . . . If you have followed me in the past, you know that I have set CRAZY goals each month and it's tough when they just don't happen.  I think goals are wonderful - believe me, without them I fear my lack of  movement.  The thing is -- I just don't want another year of unattainable goals making me feel stressed.  I have a busy year ahead with lots of surprises, family happenings, and retreats.  Those items alone give me PLENTY of deadlines to deal with.  As a result, I am introducing the new goal section - hahahaha, it's the same, only reasonable.  Let's hit the ground running . . . or not.  How about a hot drink and a good read?  See, life is good.  Oh, and the goals each month are at the end of the post now.

The previous 2018 monthly update links are located at the end of this entry.  I hope that you make it that far.

1st -  Happy 1st Day of October.  It's my very favorite month of the year but I bet you already knew that.  It always has been.  The temperatures are wonderful, the colors are intense, and festivals dot the landscape everywhere we go.  For me --- it's just perfect.  Ahhhh, the view out my back door.


Good Fortune - Introduction - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

It's here, it's here.  I feel like a kid in a candy store.  So many choices, colors, and fun. It's time to play.  Well, alright.  It's time to start thinking about playing.  Happy Halloween to us!  (You can read all about it on Bonnie Hunter's blog at this LINK.)

The name of the mystery is Good Fortune --- I know -- you never would have guessed that without me telling you.  It's only in the title of the post AND on her picture.

The colors are bright and vivid -- almost reminiscent of Celtic Solstice, which I made two of.  Hmmmm.

I am at Lowe's by a little after 8!  Yep, no grass growing under my feet today.  Trying to be a good customer and showing gratitude for the fact that we are able to pick up paint chips several times a year, before going to the paint department I check out all the remaining fall decor.  It's unsuccessful, but I did try.  At any rate, my sweetheart is in here at least once a week while working on projects around the house.

Good Fortune - Summary - Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt



Bonnie Hunter's Winter Mystery has started once again and I am gathering all of my Good Fortune posts and placing them here so that you can link up and find what you want easily.  They will each open in a new page, leaving you access to this post.  You can always easily find this post by clicking on the tab at the top of the blog.  Please become a follower and you will always know when the new post is up.  Welcome to you all and comments are ALWAYS appreciated.

If you wish to play along with us, PLEASE click on THIS LINK to get directly to the Quiltville site and all of the information.  It'll be fun, I promise.

Post 1: Introduction: Colors and Yardages
Post 2:  Four-Patches
Post 3:  Half-Square Triangles
Post 4:  Strings
Post 5:  Chevrons and Bonus HST's
Post 6:  Two-for-One Half Square Triangles
Post 7:  More Strings
Post 8:  HST Combo Units and 16-patches
Post 8:  The Reveal - Blocks, Layout, Backs, Quilting, Finish

Saturday, October 27, 2018

Autumn Splendor - The Reveal


It's the end of October!!!  That means November is almost here and I am one booked lady for the next month.  First up is grands coming to play for a few days and the following weekend is Houston Quilt Festival, followed by our crazy, wonderful November retreat and right into Thanksgiving at my daughter's house.  There goes November.  I'm pretty sure you didn't even make it through that statement before scrolling to see the reveal.  That's why I'm just blathering away here.

The colors outside are marvelous and I'm in heaven with the cooler temperatures and time outdoors.  I've enjoyed all the morning walks and beautiful sunshine on the trees with all their colorful glory.


Ahhhh -- peace.


Okay, okay.  This week I'm not going to say a word about reading all the way to the end first, because I'm sure you've already been there.  Let's just get this sweetheart put together.  NO CUTTING.

Eons ago you made some sections that we are now going to use.  Gather your Unit 7 and 8's from clue 3 along with the wine and orange squares and bricks that you cut.

Block G - make 4

Laying out the wine 5 1/2" squares, orange 4 1/2" squares, and unit 7's as shown, stitch in sections.



First the wine 5 1/2"/unit 7's


Then the unit 7's/4 1/2" orange squares


Stitch together as shown


TA-DA -- Block G (yes, pictured upside down compared to the graph.)  This should measure 9 1/2" square.  It needs to play nice with your other blocks.



Next up is -

Block H - make 4

Now, you need the wine bricks and Unit 8's.  Lay out as shown with brown on the left of the Unit 8's..


Stitch - again, this should be 9 1/2" square when sewn.


Now, with ONE Block F and the G and H blocks, layout the center medallion.  Remember when I said I was not a big fan of my wine fabric.  At this point, I got downright scared.


It's just a simple 9-patch from here.  You've got this.  My camera is making my wine look just a wee bit crazy and lot purple.  It's not.  If you think this looks odd, just  hold on --- it will all pull together beautiful, I promise.


Here is the layout for the small size - remember I didn't sew the big blocks so it just shows as single blocks.  I'm sure you can determine that Big Block 6 is on top and 7 is below the center medallion with the two Big Block 5's on the sides as shown.


For the large size --- Here is your layout! Big Block 3 on top, Left is Big Block 1, Right is Big Block 2 and the lower is Big Block 4.  Place the center medallion in the --- hmmmm -- center, and away you go.  Stitch the center strip and then it is a simple matter of putting the three large pieces together.


Woohoo --- we have a completed center.


Onto borders and it is the same for both sizes.  With the gold that you sewed last clue, measure the center from top to bottom and cut.  This brings your quilt into square.  In order for the outer borders to fit, this should be right around 85.5" (just like the pieced borders you made), but if I'm being totally honest, I didn't measure these.  (Small will be around 67.5")  Cut two.


Sew the cut strips onto the sides.  Already, the whole look is changing.


Measuring through the center sideways, cut your top and bottom strips.  They should be around 67.5" (49.5" small).


Awesome!  The gold borders are on.


Now for your side pieced borders --- yep the longer ones for both sizes. Lay them out so that your wine is next to the gold.  Again, our look is changing and the center medallion doesn't look so crazy now.


Pin and stitch on the side borders.


A quick break from long seams to add the cornerstones we made above to the top and bottom borders.

Gather the cornerstones and the borders.


I'm showing both ends so you make sure your layout is correct.



Stitch these cornerstones on and layout top and bottom, again making sure the wine is next to the gold.


Stitch in place and TA-DA - you have a finished top.  I need a larger living room to show this really well, but just hang on.  Follow the rest of the clue and the finished, quilted beauty is at the end.


The next step for me is to make the back and this is where I'm sharing more than anything else - not instructing even a little bit.  Your back and label and bind are all your own decision, naturally.

Remember those crazy littles that we had?  Well, for some bizarre reason, I decided that I had plenty of time on my hands and set to trimming them all to 1 1/4".  Now what?  Play, that's what.


So, once I stitched that all together, I moved onto building a back with the panel I had along with leftover bits and pieces and fabrics that I just wanted out of the stash.


The center section is actually pretty fun and here is a close-up of the finished crazy piece.  It's not accurate by any stretch of the imagination but I am okay with that.  It's the back.  It's for fun.

Moving to the label, a lot of my extra little pieces get used as well.  I really don't like having scraps to tame if I don't have to (yes, there still are some) so as many as I can make work, wind up here.

Binding is made and I am ready to move this sweetheart to the quilt machine.  Question is -- Is is ready for me?  We haven't been getting along well this summer and I have another quilt on that has to be finished first.  Better get going then.


One of the things I do is make all the parts I need before going to quilting.  When it comes off the machine, I trim and add binding/label instantly.  It saves me from hunting for lost parts and things I "just know I made" disappearing.  It also keeps the stack of "to bind" down a bit because once the binding is sewn on, I set it by my chair and just work on the hand stitching in the evenings.

With a crazy, whirlwind life right now and being blessed to be surrounded by talented quilters, I am able to simply hand this sweet package off to Maria Hall for quilting.  If you haven't see my post about her, please click on this LINK to learn about her and find out if your life can be blessed as mine is.  At any rate, she has worked her magic and I have spent the evening lovingly placing the last stitches into this sweet thing.

With that said --- here is Autumn Splendor -- finished and ready to be snuggled under.  It really IS a quilt that calls for beautiful quilting in all that wonderful white space.  Have fun with yours.

Front:



And Back:


Fall Picture with sun - just to prove we did see some in October.


So, I guess that's that.  We are finished with 2018's Mystery Quilt and I hope you had a great time, learned a few things, and stretched yourself along the way.  Stay creative and please, please, please continue sharing in the Facebook group for the next month or so.  I really do want to see your treasures too.  In the words of my friend, Ana, "Piece On."