October Quilt Update

Previous 2014 posts:  First of year quilt update  (There are individual class posts for 4 Bonnie Hunter classes as well if you click on Feeling Crafty label and go to older posts.)
                         End of January quilt update
                         February quilt update
                         March Quilt Update
                         April Quilt Update
                         May Quilt Update
                         June Quilt Update
                         July Quilt Update
                          August Quilt Update
                         September Quilt Update

Goals:  I may be in Telluride to see my daughter and son-in-law's new dental practice and home so once again I need to be careful here.  Finally got a screaming deal on some batting -- 45 yds for $150.00.  woot woot --- time to quilt.

Roll Quilt -
UFO - Ceramic Tea Set -
Sandwich, Quilt, and bind both Celtic Solstice (CS) quilts  - yes
Sandwich, quilt, and bind Old Kentucky Album (OKA) quilt - yes
Sandwich, quilt, and bind Jacob's Log Cabin (LC) quilt - yes
Mark Sew Squared (SS) and Peaceful Paisley (PP) quilts -
Sandwich, quilt, and bind Lazy Sunday (LS) quilt -
Remainder of spool doilies for retreat -
Work on bookmarks - yes
Crochet hats - yes
Round Robin (RR) row finished, attached, and in mail - yes
Set My Favorite Things (MFT) top - yes
Pull Fabrics for new mystery quilt - (Grand Illusion or GI) - yes

1st -  It's October!  Oh my goodness.  I literally blew off last month and really need to regroup if I am going to finish what I set out to do this year.  Today is my LAST lazy day and so I bask in it and finish book 7 of the Harry Potter series.  Whew -- that is behind me now.  Since it would be way too much to make an entire switch in one day and actually sew something, I opt to work on the Monthly Blog Update from September so that it can post.  Okay, I think I am ready now.  Let's see what one determined redhead can accomplish this month.  Do you feel the cheerleader in me?  Someone's gotta spur me on.

2nd - First thing this morning I make a "Get on Track" schedule for both quilting and the dang house,  I have absolute need for this as I feel so much better when I can see what needs to be done each day.  Here we go.  I am off to the studio and quilt 2 quadrants CS I before realizing that a couple of weeks away certainly makes a difference on the arms.  I am beat so head back into the house and cut strips for my RR blocks.  That's a good start for the month AND I was able to check off all that I planned for today.  Yes indeed, I am pretty hot stuff (cheerleading continuing).

Grand Illusion - Let the Party Begin - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

It's TIME.  Yay!  Bonnie surprised everyone today (10/10 - and what a cool anniversary gift for me) with an early release of the colors, yardage, and name of this years mystery quilt.  It is called Grand Illusion and is based on the Grand Hotel where she stayed during a visit to Mackinac Island, Michigan.  I LOVE the colors!  Should I say that again?  I LOVE THE COLORS!

I send Mister an email asking him to pick up paint cards on his way home from work and I head for the studio to pull colors based on what I see online.  It looks like I have a healthy start in my stash which makes me pretty excited.  It'll be nice not to have to spend much.  I know that I will have to pick up some yellow, but hopefully that is all.  As I'm sitting in the house, I remember the scrap bucket out back from the "treasure trove" that I was the recipient of earlier this year.  Well goodness me -- I'd better go see what is in there and if anything can add variety.  By the time I am finished, there are scrap piles everywhere but I am not sure just how many will actually work - we'll see after they are pressed.

Here is what I have:

I am being pretty picky and select a few of them before adding the rest to my fat quarter bins.  Here are my final selections with their cards and the blacks/neutrals.

A quick stop  on Saturday (10/18) to pick up yellow somehow nets me a few others as well.  I have no idea how that happens.  One minute there is just the yellow in my hand and the next . . . . well I just can't explain it.  I think I am ready.  How about you?

Celtic Solstice Summary

I am gathering all of my Celtic Solstice (Bonnie Hunter 2013 Mystery Quilt) 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.

Clue One

Clue Two

Clue Three

Clue Four

Clue Five

Clue Six - The Big Reveal

Finished Tops - Yep 2

The Backs

Ta Da - The Finish

Celtic Solstice Duo --- Finished!

All quilting is a simple meander using "Annie," my beautiful mocha 301a and the only difference between the two is in the bindings -- one is a lighter blue, the other more the jewel tone.  Also, after taking the picture, I discover that my four patches are going different ways thus creating my green and orange lines being opposite.  Oh well, the best laid plans . . .

The last stitch on the second quilt was taken this afternoon.  I am officially finished with the girls.  I still stare at them and think -- "I did that" -- in awe.  So amazing.  Thank you Bonnie Hunter for one very fun and truly educational mystery.  First stitch was taken December 2, 2013 and the final stitch today, October 17, 2014.

September Quilt Update

Previous 2014 posts:  First of year quilt update  (There are individual class posts for 4 Bonnie Hunter classes as well if you click on Feeling Crafty label and go to older posts.)
                         End of January quilt update
                         February quilt update
                         March Quilt Update
                         April Quilt Update
                         May Quilt Update
                         June Quilt Update
                         July Quilt Update
                          August Quilt Update

Goals:  I will be in Provo to meet my new granddaughter so I need to be careful here.  I am also still out of batting so unless a sale hits, I may need to do some revising here.

Roll Quilt -
UFO - Ceramic Tea Set -  nope
Quilt and bind Celtic Solstice (CS) quilts  -  nope
Sandwich and Quilt - Old Kentucky Album (OKA) quilt - no
Make blocks and set Jacob's Log Cabin (LC) quilt - yes
Set Sew Squared (SS) quilt, make back, make label - yes
Secret project for retreat (SP) finished - yes
Spool doilies for retreat - half finished

SPOILER ALERT:  IF YOU ARE GOING TO RETREAT WITH ME IN NOVEMBER - YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO READ THIS MONTH'S POST!!!!!!!

1st - I flew all day yesterday and today is a day of recuperation spent with my sweet granddaughter and my daughter.  Do I feel guilty?  Not a bit.  I am only now meeting Ophelia and she is almost 3 months old.  Where does the time go?  Yep, this is her on the quilt I made for her a few months ago.  <sign, heartthrob>

2nd - I took out Cass's sewing machine today and set it up to get some work done when she and baby are sleeping.  I have such a long list of things to do that I can't let all 8 days go by without making some progress.  I worked on the orphan patches for my retreat surprise by backing them with muslin and then matched them up with the precut fabric.  I am ready to sew.

3rd - I have made a complete mess of my daughter's living room.  I manage to work out half a dozen of my gifts and thing I have the system down now.  I am so liking these.

August Quilt Update

Previous 2014 posts:  First of year quilt update  (There are individual class posts for 4 Bonnie Hunter classes as well if you click on Feeling Crafty label and go to older posts.)
                         End of January quilt update
                         February quilt update
                         March Quilt Update
                         April Quilt Update
                         May Quilt Update
                         June Quilt Update
                         July Quilt Update

Goals:  I will have grandchildren again this month plus may be going to Provo to meet my new granddaughter so I need to be careful here.  I am also still out of batting so unless a sale hits, I may need to do some revising here.

Roll Quilt - No
UFO - Ceramic Tea Set - Repairs made is all
Alphabet Bears - Yes
Quilt and bind Nature Bound (Applique) Quilt (NB) - Yes
Quilt and bind Celtic Solstice (CS) quilts  - No - 1 Sandwiched
Set Pieceful Paisley (PP) Quilt, make back - Yes
Row Robin (RR) Blocks made and sewn into rows -- 2 quilts worth - one mailed - Yes
Cut and sew the setting for My Favorite Things (MFT) Quilt - cut, not sewn
Make Old Kentucky Album (OKA) quilt top, back, label - yes
Cut "secret" project for November retreat - yes
Cut Log Cabin (LC) blocks for Jacob quilt - strips cut -- wasn't planning on this as had a different quilt planned -- oh well

1st - Traveled to Denver and back today to pick up grands.  Did a little quilting on NB in the evening.  Pretty tired.  Too tired to even write in here.

2nd - During quiet time, I worked on my RR blocks while the kids watched a movie.  Loved the time together and yet still sewing.  After a full day with little ones, I am out in the studio quilting on NB for awhile.  This is quite the challenge for me as I have not quilted anything "stitch in the ditch" or with drawn patterns using my machine.  It is an entirely new experience.  And tough.  Free-motion is so much easier.

Don't look too close ---  I have never "shadow" quilted before.

July Quilt Update

Previous 2014 posts:  First of year quilt update  (There are individual class posts for 4 Bonnie Hunter classes as well if you click on Feeling Crafty label and go to older posts.)
                         End of January quilt update
                         February quilt update
                         March Quilt Update
                         April Quilt Update
                         May Quilt Update
                         June Quilt Update

Goals:  I will have grandsons again this month plus may be going to Provo to help out with a new granddaughter so I need to be careful here.  Not too much and if it doesn't happen, oh well.  I am also out of batting so unless a sale hits, I may need to do some revising here.

Roll Quilt - only a little accomplished here
UFO - Ceramic Tea Set - picked up slip to mend -- that's it.
BOM blocks (ALL) - yes
Mark (yes), quilt (halfway), and bind Applique Quilt (AQ) - no
Quilt and bind CS quilts  - no
Bind Gratitude Quilt - yes
Finish Scrappy Bargello (SB) top  - yes
Choose and Cut Jacob's/Hyrums's quilts   - yes

Travel:

Girls Birthday Gifts - yes
Add Ophelia to pillow - yes

1st - Another month?  Oh my.  2014 is just flying by.  Does anyone agree?  I am spending my morning getting this blog current and then Mister and I are meeting our nephew for lunch in Uptown.  We will top off the evening with a date night at the Wylie Theater.  It is Les Miserables night and I am excited.  No sewing today.

2nd - Gratitude is finished!  The binding went well and I am oh so pleased with this one.  I take a break, grab some quilt books and start the hunt for inspiration on the last two grands quilts that I need to do.  I select Old Kentucky Album (OKA) and Nifty Thrifty (NT) and then also decide to make a second Nifty Thrifty for a local shop.  We'll see how it goes.  Wish me luck and oh yeah --- the time to get it made.