January Quilt Update

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Goals:  LOTS of travel this month so not going crazy here.

Graduation quilt for Jill made - Yes
Mystery Class blocks made - Yes

Double Delight - Clues 1, 2, 3, 4 - Yes 
Easy Street (ES) Clue 8 -  Still needs borders
Old Tobacco Road (OTR)  - Clues 4, 5 - nope

Pillow for February retreat - YES
Round Robin finished and in mail - YES
Retreat kitted up and projects all prepared for - yes



1st -  Happy New Year!  For the past four years this day has been looked forward to by me with excitement and nervousness.  Not only does the mystery reveal usually come out today, but I have a class with Bonnie Hunter again.  Today it is Mad City Mama and I am using as many 1 1/2" UGLY strips as I possibly can.  I manage to complete two blocks with many other parts as well.  If you want to read about this oh so wonderful day, please click on THIS LINK.

2nd - My year is off to such a great start.  Yes, I have another day in Plano with Bonnie Hunter.  I know, I know --- you are all very jealous and it's completely understandable.  Today is our Crabapples class and I have to tell you -- I think it's one of my favorite tops so far.  I absolutely cannot wait to continue on this one.  These little trees are just so cute and I have managed to collect LOTS of great panels for the back.  Oooooh.  To read about the day, here's your LINK.

Brazos House Retreat - Winter Style

It's a new year and a new retreat schedule.  After a whirlwind January that included a trip to Montana, a trip to Colorado, two sew days at the house and a mystery in progress . . . . . I am sooo ready for retreat.  The past two days have been crazy preparing for this, but at last, I think I'm ready to go.  Brazos House:  I am headed your way for 10 glorious days.  Wohoo.

I arrive to discover a new table configuration that will allow all 17 to have their own table.  Well alrighty then.  Thank you Kay and Stan.  As I am setting up the room and my station, Roberta arrives and the party begins.  I have brought her a new-to-her Featherweight table and we promptly find her a place to settle in and set up.  Oh the joys of sewing on these vintage lovelies.

Double Delight - Clue 4 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

It's Brazos retreat time --- woohoo.  I am loving life and feel the same way about Block A.  How cute is this and how simple?  There really isn't anything much to say about it.  Since I went constant in my fabrics, I just stacked these up and webbed away at these nine-patches.  Love, love, love them.

Quilt As You Go Table Runner - January Retreat Project

In preparing for the January Winter retreat, Brenda and I decide on a "snowy" theme and then she suggests a QAYG (Quilt As You Go) project since she wants to learn how to do it.  Well alrighty then, I guess I need to get on the ball and learn how to do it myself.

Over the past month, I have cut up all available batting into squares for this and hunted down "snow" or "winter" fabric while shopping with friends.  Even in Montana, I located fabric for this project and hauled it home with me.

I have spent the last two days cutting it all into strips -- strips everywhere.  I have also made ONE prototype that I am not that thrilled with.
Now guess what?  I am leaving for retreat TOMORROW.  I suppose it's time to learn how to do this properly.  You Tube here I come again.  Okay, I've watched several videos several times and am ready to give it another whirl.  Wanna watch this experiment with me?  First things first:  After cutting the backs into squares, strips have to be sewn onto the little batting/backing sandwiches.  Working two at a time and chaining, it goes rather quick.

Soon, I have covered the squares with strips.

The next step is to trim  and square the packets.  (Isn't this a cute backing?)

I'm making this one with eight 8 1/2" squares so need to cut to that size.

That leaves me with this great packet.  Loving it.

Once I have all eight finished, I need a layout before moving on to the sashing step.  Yes, with a directional back, I had to make sure they were all sitting the right way.  Again, yes -- it would have been wise to think that through ahead of time.  Alas, some of my strings are closer to the same fabric than I would have liked.

I think I'll switch to a walking foot now since there will be so many layers going through the machine.  The sashings get pinned to the front and back of one side of a packet. 

 Once I have them sewn onto the right side of the first three packets in each row, then it is time to hook the backs together.  Once that is complete, then the top and bottom rows are sewn together using the same sashing technique leaving me with a table runner that simply needs binding.  I DO take the time to topstitch both sides of the front sashing so that there are not any ripples whatsoever.

A quick attachment of the binding and I'm ready for hand-stitching in the car tomorrow morning as my sweetheart takes me to retreat.  Oh yeah -- I'm REALLY on top of this one.  Look out -- here comes the teacher.

I finish the binding while being driven to retreat and here is a pic of both of my attempts set up and ready for the ladies.  Heaven help them please.

Double Delight - Clue 3 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

Clue three comes out today!!!  I am so excited for this cos I know it is not square in a square.  Halleluiah.  I am still up in Telluride so I have a magnificent view as I work on these.  I know, I know -- it's okay if you are a bit jealous.

First things first --- lots and lots of pink and neutral strips.  Why?  Cos we are making us a nice little stack of 9 patches.  My most favorite unit of all.

Step one is to sew them into strip sets -- some pink/neutral/pink and some neutral/pink/neutral.

Easy peasy and done in absolutely no time at all.  A quick press and soon I am ready to cut my little subcuts.  Did I tell you how much I love these units?  Well I do.

Fun With Stephannie

 I am truly a crazy person sometimes and today is one of those times.  I set up this play day with Stephannie over a month ago and then my life went nuts with traveling.  Now, I fly again tomorrow and have limited time to kit things up for the trip.  This is so not fair to Stephannie.  Ugh -- what a bad friend I am today.  Alas --- it is what it is and I spend the day running my head off while she patiently works away cutting her own projects in the living room.  I don't even remember to take pictures that's how crazy I feel today.

I manage to kit up Double Delight, my Valentine Pillow, a round robin I am working on and a few other small things while visiting and watching her prepare her own Valentine pillow.  I promise to do better next time Steph.  Honest.

Double Delight - Clue 2 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

Well it's clue 2 and we are doing the exact same thing we did last week only with cheddar centers and brown outside triangles.  More square in a squares.  Best part is that this time I am heading to Telluride Colorado in the morning and at least these are cut.  They will be made there.

And there ya have it.  This is what happens when one travels too much and forgets to take pictures of every step.  Since it's a repeat of last week, well ya know what they are going to look like and you can move ahead to the next post to really see the units.  What I will tell you is that my grandson is watching me make these and wants to know why I am making "chocolate donuts with sprinkles" instead of white donuts with sprinkles --- the kind he likes.  Upon looking at my units a little closer, I discover that he is right.  They do look remarkably like chocolate donuts.

Mad City Mama Sew Day --- Friends Are The BEST!!!

It's a Mad City Mama sew day!!!  Several of us talked about doing this while at class the beginning of the month and today is the day.  Yep -- our numbers have grown and there will be FIVE of us in my tiny living room.  We can DO it.  First things first -- take down all Christmas decorations.  Check.  Rearrange furniture.  Check.  Have Allison bring an extra table.  Check.  I think we are ready to go.

I am set up and ready for fun.  Mad City Mama here we come.  Oh -- and I have my Double Delight blocks to work on too as leader enders.

One More Billings Stop --- Lockwood

I am out at my son's house in Lockwood, just outside of Billings, MT and there is a quaint little quilt shop here within walking distance.  Yes, it is about 12 degrees outside, but I am bundled up and the walk feels good.  The sun is shining and I am enjoying the brisk air.

I arrive at Treasured Times Quilting And Gifts and am thrilled the minute I walk in the door.  Holding true to this area, each shop is unique and well displayed.   My first view is of a St. Pat's table right by the door.  It takes me all of about 30 seconds for my first item to be stored safely in my hand.  Oooooh, I see a March retreat project happening.

Double Delight - Clue 1 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

Yay!!!!  I don't think there is anything more fun than a new mystery heading our way.  I simply could not be more excited.  I have pulled some fabric from stash and added a blue that I picked up while shopping in the warehouse district with friends.  I think I am ready to go and may trim down the selections even more as we go.  For some reason, I'm feeling a bit of constancy coming on.

So let's get started with clue one.  It can be found HERE.  First up are blue squares and LOTS AND LOTS of neutral and gold triangles.  Thank goodness for an Easy Angle Ruler.  I would absolutely be lost without it.

Double Delight Summary

This is Double Delight by Bonnie Hunter and we are doing it mystery style in the Facebook group "Our Quilt World".  Please feel free to join along.  It is a free pattern on her website.  Here is the LINK to it.

I am gathering all of my Double Delight (Bonnie Hunter 2008 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.  Please become a follower and you will always know when the new post is up.  Welcome to you all and comments are ALWAYS appreciated.

Post 1:  Square in a Square
Post 2:  More Square in a Squares
Post 3:  Nine Patches
Post 4:  Block A
Post 5:  Block B
Post 6:  Setting the Center
Post 7:  Borders and Cornerstones - The Final Reveal

My Gift of a Turtle Quilt

I have been invited to spend the afternoon with my daughter's first grade class.  We are going to do a craft project that I know nothing about.  Gotta run.

When I arrive everyone is all smiles and I can tell there is a secret going on.  After hugs all around, my daughter seats me at a small table and hands out a turtle for each person to color and as she is explaining, she keeps stopping and putting her finger to her lips saying, "remember --- shhhhh."

Billings Shop Hop - Day Two

I have a bit of free time again this morning and want to try and check two more stores off my list up here in Billings, MT.  After a marvelous breakfast with my son, I am off to the Heights to check out Spring Blossom Quilt and Sew.

I have no idea what to expect as I walk through the doors, but I sure am not prepared for what is here.  The shop is TALL and there are quilts and panels everywhere.  Oh yes, I am sure I will find some fun parts to backs on quilts I am working on.  Yep, that fits my it's okay to buy rules.

Billings Shop Hop - Day One -

I have some free time this morning putting a couple of quilt shops to the top of the list of things to do.  After some mapping and research, it turns out that out of the TEN shops here in town four of them are private homes/quilters.  That leaves me six shops to check out.  Two are near me and open this morning so off I go.  First stop is:  Four Winds Quilting and I LOVE this little shop from the minute I walk in.  It is small and intimate with lots of great ideas and fun products.  The first thing I spot is the wall of great wool projects.  I keep being drawn in towards these and see one popping up in my not too distant future.  I LOVE the snowmen projects.  Oh my.

Bonnie Hunter Mystery Class 2015 Round Two - Fabric Fanatics

Oh YAY!  I have been invited back to play another day in class.  I absolutely could not feel luckier.  What a total treat.  Since I packed everything up yesterday before I left, I have to haul it all back again today.  I'm kind of taking my time leaving and my sweetie is very nervous for me.  He keeps asking, "Don't you need to go?  You still have to set up."  Yep, I do love that man.  Soon I am on the way and when I arrive and get my station in order, Miss Allison drops this cute bunch of grapes on my machine.  It says, "you are one of the bunch."  Ah, my heart.

Since this is a repeat class and I am a guest, I am laying very low and working in the main shop (lucky for me it is closed today) to do my cutting so no one sees what I am up to.  I can only work on the same steps as they are on so as not to spoil the mystery for everyone else.  It's kinda cool though, cos I am getting a LOT done on this quilt.  And no, I still can't share anything with you here.

Bonnie is using Allison's fabric to do her demo but Allison is not in the group so I wander over and take a quick picture for her.

When I return to my seat, it appears that Janet is now one of the bunch as well.  Later in the day Bonnie is the recipient of one as well.  Yep, we're quite the bunch.

Well, dang.  I think that's all I can say about today except ---- I have my mystery quilt top between 1/4 and 1/3 finished.  Yep --- I LOVE IT.

Bonnie Hunter Crabapples Class - Fabric Fanatics

It's my last day of classes and I have to admit I am a bit sad that it is all ending so soon.  (sigh).  Today is the Crabapples class and I'm pretty stoked as I am still using up those dang ugly 1 1/2" strips.  The first thing I see when I walk into the room this morning is VINTAGE MACHINES everywhere.  Oh my.  Just look at our section alone.

Soon Bonnie arrives and it's time for the lessons to begin.  First up - sewing those strips together again only this time light/dark combos.