October Quilt Update

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

The previous 2016 monthly update links are located at the end of this entry.  I hope that you make it that far.

Goals:  I am no longer even attempting to comment on those that were not touched.  They'll just stay on the list until they are achieved, even though life jumps in front of them now and then.

Easy Street (ES) - quilted, bound -
Old Tobacco Road (OTR)  - Clues 4, 5 - 

Allietare (A) - Scalloped and bound -  YES
Roll Roll Cotton Boll - quilted and bound -  
Chasing the Sun (CTS)  - scrappy quilted and bound -  YES
Mad City Mama (MCM) - set, label/backing/binding made, quilted, bound - Set, Label, Backing, Binding Made
Razzle Dazzle (RD) - quilted and bound

1st -  I am starting out the month RIGHT!  I have another day of class at Fabric Fanatics where Eileen Urbanek is the teacher.  Please check out this  LINK to read all about our fun.

When I get home, I discover that Mister has been working on day on some foot pedal helpers (he calls them DPH's - which cracks me up.  Doug's Pedal Helpers but they are also his initals and the logo for his photography) for friends that have requested them.  He's such a good man.

A Day With the Girls

Happy Halloween!  The sun is not quite up and I am on my way for a day with gal pals.  As I take Mister to work, the sunrise is just beginning.  It even has a Halloween feel to it.

En Provence - Introduction and Colors - YUM - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

Hey there.  I am just back from a trip to Utah and while there, Bonnie released the colors and yardages for this year's mystery.  It is based on her trip to France and is called En Provence.  I LOVE the colors and am super excited for this one.  I have been saying for quite awhile now that I want a quilt in purples and green.  The yellow and magenta are a bonus.

So, the first thing I had to do today was make a quick trip to Lowe's for the paint cards.  That meant a little shopping as well so three new violets came home with me.  That seemed appropriate since the colors matched and lavender just isn't in season here.

As soon as I get home, it's straight to the studio to see what I can come up with.  My first pull is pretty successful and although I may need a few more dark purples, the only real empty spot I have is the magenta.  I am off to Houston Quilt Festival this week and well --- dang it's as good a reason to shop as any I can think of.  I'm not pulling neutrals until much later and the same stands for getting into the strip buckets.  Once I know the sizes we are using, I will hit them up.  There are a LOT of strips already cut.  Isn't it wonderful to have a stash?  I LOVE mine.  (Psst - since I'd been remiss at putting away things from Chasing the Sun, The purples and yellows were easy pulls -- hahahaha)

Oh guess what?  I remembered that there is a bag of scraps that need to be tamed so within minutes I have created a wonderful mess but also have an entire gallon ziploc bag of scraps to use for this mystery.  Woot, woot.  More stuff cleaned up.  The rest of it?  Well, back into the bag it will go.

I'll check back in on this post to update the fabric I pick up in Houston and any others I find hidden around the house.

UPDATE!!!  While in Houston at the International Quilt Festival, I found the magenta I need for this, a few more fat quarters and everything for the back and binding.  I am simply over the moon excited and may even try and get this backing put together before the mystery even begins.  Yes, my friends, THAT is excitement.  Isn't this all just oh so lovely?  I am going with the "lavender fields" theme for the back.  Happy, happy, joy, joy.  (Yes, keep reading.  I threw this update in before the end.)

Remember that you can always find my posts regarding this by clicking the tab at the top of the blog and it will lead you to the summary page.

Are you as excited as I am?  Black Friday here we come.  If you wish to play along, please click on THIS LINK which will take you to Bonnie's page for more information.

En Provence Summary

Bonnie Hunter's Winter Mystery has started once again and I am gathering all of my En Provence 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 and Colors - YUM
Post 2:  Clue 1 - Four-patches
Post 3:  Clue 2 - Triangle in a Square
Post 4:  Clue 3 - A Four-patch Repeat
Post 5:  Clue 4 - More Triangle in a Squares
Post 6:  Clue 5 - Half Square Triangles
Post 7:  Clue 6 - Hourglass Units
Post 8:  Clue 7 - More units and The Grand Finale

Pine Needles Quilt Shop in Salt Lake City - Gardner Village

Last fall when I visited my daughter in Utah I was treated to my first visit to this quilt shop and I have been in love with it ever since.  I think I like it so much because it has so much more than just fabric for quilts.  There are lots of other ideas here that involve quilting or sewing and yet it's not about making clothes either.  Love, love, love it.  If you remember this little fabric doll set I made last November (and the wonderful story behind it that you can find HERE, then you've read about this store before.  If not, well here is today's adventure.

Fun With Allison and Arboretum Beauty

Fall is absolutely here in Texas and I have managed to sneak in an extra day with Allison before I leave town.  I'm wearing my socks that Leanne gave me while at the beach and I'm ready to walk and talk while enjoying a cup of coffee and the beauty that the Arboretum provides us.

We meet up and are out the door quick as can be.  I'm so ready for today.  Theoretically, we are not supposed to take pictures in the garden before 9 a.m. but I sneak a few that won't reflect on the garden in a bad light.  (They don't want to ruin the illusion by having all the maintenance workers in the pictures --- can't blame them.)

Briarwood October Retreat

Well --- where do I begin?  After a CRAZY two weeks of scrambling, our retreat is being held at Briarwood Retreat Center and it starts TODAY.  I am super excited and yet a wee bit nervous at the same time.  Please let this spot work out.

I am out of the house by 7 as I have to make a few stops on the way.  Bank deposits, balloons, and a few other necessities later -- arrival at the center takes place.  Upon arriving on location, I am greeted by a wonderful welcome sign.  I check in at the office to discover that I can go straight to the lodge and our keys are all waiting for us.  Yes!  Let's go.

As I arrive at the lodge, I discover that there is a wagon for us to haul equipment waiting for me and a room ready for us to set up in whatever layout will work the best.  It's time to get to work.  The rooms are in a separate building and we have a wonderful patio out back.  Yep, this place looks amazing.

Chasing the Sun - Clue 8 - The Big Reveal

OH MY GOSH!  We are here!  It's Reveal Week!  Are you excited?  Can you just work down the page without peeking ahead or are you already scrolling down?  I am so thrilled with this quilt and LOVE the way it has turned out.  Now it's your turn to finish your beauty.  Let's get started.

Cutting:  (Don't forget to mix it up if doing scrappy)

Lavender (color 6):  IF SCRAPPY:  Cut 2 - 3 1/2" squares and then subcut in half diagonally to have half square triangles (HST's).  You will have two waste triangles. (Or use whatever method you wish to cut 2 HST's.)

Lavender (color 6):  IF CONSTANT:  From a leftover 3 1/2" strip, cut 1 - 3 1/2" square.  Then cut in half diagonally, leaving you two triangles.

REPEAT THIS ENTIRE LAVENDER PROCESS WITH PURPLE (color 7) - You will need two lavender triangles AND two purple ones.

Purple (color 7):  EVERYONE:  Subcut 4 - 1 1/2" x 10" strips from your 1 1/2" strips.
Purple (color 7):  IF SCRAPPY:  Cut 4 - 3 1/2" x 10" bricks
Purple (color 7):  IF CONSTANT:  Cut 1 - 3 1/2" strip and then subcut into 4 - 3 1/2" x 10" bricks.
Black (color 8):  EVERYONE:  Subcut 4 - 1 1/2" x 10" strips from your 1 1/2" strips.

Allietare Clue #6 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

1/1/16  Happy New Year!  The first thing Bonnie did this morning when she walked into class was to hang THIS:  OH MY.  How gorgeous is this?

Chasing the Sun - Clue 7

Hello there -- welcome to week 7.  This is a SUPER EASY week and you will feel as though you almost have a quilt.  I did say almost.  Yep, big pieces coming together now.  This is so fun.

No cutting this week at all.  REMEMBER TO READ ALL THE WAY THROUGH FIRST.

BIG BLOCK 1 (make 4):  Using your Block A's and Block B's, lay out four Big Blocks as shown below.  The white square in Block A is the corner and the white edges on you Block B's are to the lower right.

Three Days of Judy Niemeyer Classes Taught by Eileen Urbanek

Prologue:  Allison and I bought patterns for Judy Niemeyer's Desert Sky over a year ago and thought we would perhaps do a Judy retreat up in Montana and catch some Bonnie classes along the way.  Well, Bonnie's classes up there sold out instantly and ended that plan.  Since then, we have been attempting to get into a local class with a certified teacher and finally scored a few months back.  Eileen Urbanek is the teacher and I am super stoked to be doing this finally.  It's time to learn something new.  Onward and upward - right?  We sign up for two, one-day classes and bring supplies for two projects.  Shortly after our arrival, we are given the opportunity to add a third day, allowing us to work on one project for two full days.  Score.  The best part of three days?  Elisabeth is doing two days and thus, we will have both of them with her.  Yay us.

Chapter 1 -- 9/29  Now for today.  Allison has located a fun coffee shop for us to meet up and visit for awhile as I have to drop my sweetie off at work and the class doesn't start until 10.  It's a great spot and we are buzzed and ready to go when we arrive at Fabric Fanatics.  Since we are the first to arrive and each person has their own 6 foot table, we decide to share sewing space, thus giving us the second table to lay things out, etc.  With our vintage ladies front and center, we are READY.  Teacher, teach us please.