December 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.

The previous 2017 monthly update links are located at the end of this entry.  I hope that you make it that far.

Goals:  I have removed these this month as I wish to ENJOY December without any crazy, self-imposed pressure.  They'll be back in a more reasonable form next month.

1st  - This month is starting out perfect!  We are in the middle of a mini-vacation in Atlanta and time with my sweetheart is the best kind of time I know.  From an early morning flight yesterday straight to shopping, a bitters tasting, FOOD, the CDC, the Federal Reserve, Botanical Gardens and a tiny German Market, we are having so much fun.  If you would like to follow our adventures, here is the Days 1 and 2 LINK.

2017 Finished Quilts

Last years intro:

2016 has come to a close.  Really?  I am shocked at how quick it just whizzed by.  I set a goal this year to make it a year of UFO's, allowing myself gifts and learning moments.  Well dang, those far outnumbered the UFO's and the list is still oh so long.  Perhaps 2017?

February

Roll Roll Cotton Boll  First stitch 12/31/2013    Last stitch  2/8/2017   Quilted by Allison Bayer with Bora Bora pattern.

2017 Finished Non-Quilt Items

Each year I have been trying to do a summary page here just so I know what I have accomplished in addition to quilts.  I want so badly to have a variety of tools in my toolbox and the only way to do that is to constantly try new things or practice skills already learned.  So, here's 2017 for ya --

January -  I am not sure if I'm crazy or what but am going to make a pair of slippers for everyone for their birthday this year.  I have three birthdays in January so I'm off and running.

Papa Bear Slippers

On Ringo Lake - Clue 7 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

What the what???  Waking earlier than my sweetheart today, I quietly peek at the computer and what do I see?  A new clue posted just minutes prior and a full day ahead of me.   I know he has an hour of work shortly so maybe, just maybe . . .

RACE to the studio and flip the heat.  Back to the house to gather up all the required bits, slam an orange juice, and make sure Mister is awake.

That's it --- at least it is a bit warmer this morning.  I made a mess in the studio yesterday after pulling fabrics for some upcoming projects that I am teaching in February.  A quick clear of the table (picture the arm going across a table type of clean) and I am ready.  Let's piece these geese together.

On Ringo Lake - Clue 6 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

Oh, I'm doing the happy dance this morning.  I am caught up and ready for today's clue.  Can you see me twirling all over the place?  All the way to the computer for a peek?

Oooooh!  More coral.  Hmmmmm.  My coral selection is really about gone.  Dashing through the cold, a quick flip of the heat switch in the studio and back into the house to take a few notes and tackles a few tasks.

I am really watching the clock.  Half an hour --- shouldn't the studio be warm by now?  I'm going to give it a try. 

Yay!  It's plenty warm and my fingers quickly find the stack of remaining coral fabric.  Cutting strips, I clean up the leftovers as I go.  The clue says we are finished with coral so everything is being put into a usable size.  As I go, it quickly becomes obvious that I am not going to have enough unless I want a LOT of two fabrics and a few of each of the others.  Well dang it anyway.  Another look through nooks and crannies does not reward me with any help at all.  Now what?

Oh wait --- I have an appointment at Rockin' Bobbin today to pick up some fabric for a class I am teaching in a few weeks.  MAYBE if I take the paint card with me, I'll get lucky enough to find a couple more fat quarters.

On Ringo Lake - Clue 5 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

12/22  Clue 5 and more flying geese.  The good part is that Clue 2 was a ton of practice and these should just zip themselves together.  Right?

As ya'll know from reading the previous posts, I am a bit behind BUT do manage to make cutting this clue the top priority for my hour and a half in the studio today.

All the fabrics are still out from the previous two clues - and I can strip the brown fabrics dang quick -- I've kept them smooth and pressed, saving a ton of time in that step alone.

Hello Companion Angle Ruler and soon all my little stacks are in place and I've stripped some neutrals too.  Onto the Easy Angle Ruler and I now have triangles all over the place - to add to the ones from the previous two clues.  Perhaps I need to start sewing a bit.  Well, that's all I have time for today --- other projects are calling. 

On Ringo Lake - Clue 4 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

FRIDAY!!!  Run to the computer and see what the new clue is.  I KNOW I am not ready to work on it, but it's still fun to see where this is going, right?  Bird in the Air units.  Oh yay!!  I love these as well although that certainly is a large number of them.  Carry on, girl, carry on.  Tis the season to be behind.  We all rush and rush to to get things done and somehow the joy of it all is lost in the hurry.  Thankfully, I am taking it a bit slower this month and LOVE how calm and wonderful it all is.  I've even been reading a bit.  WOW.

12/20 - At any rate, clue 4 was released almost 5 days ago and I don't even have clue 3 finished but have determined that as long as the rulers are out, let's cut for both.  I have all the pieces for clue 3 (you'll have to go to that post to read about it) cut and manage to cut 1/2 of what I need for this week before my time is the studio is finished for today.  Guess what???  I get to go and pick up my new car now.  Oooooh.

On Ringo Lake - Clue 3 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

12/8 - Friday means that another clue has been released in the Bonnie Hunter, On Ringo Lake, mystery.  It also means that I want to work on it NOW! A quick dash to the studio to turn the heat on and then back into the house.  It is dang cold out and, in fact, the coldest day of the year thus far.  Brrr.

I give it about an hour to warm the studio up and sneak back out to cut, cut, cut.  Making it through the coral strips for our Diamond in a Rectangle Units.  I think I'm one of the few who really love sewing these.  Seriously.  To me, they are just easy peasy -- apparently my brain just "gets" them.

About the time I'm ready to start subcutting, my sweetie calls from in the house.  He thinks it's too cold for me out here.  Ugh.  He just doesn't get it, but to avoid an argument, back into the house I go.  These will wait for another day.

On Ringo Lake - Clue 2 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

Whose idea was it to go on vacation the first weekend in December?  (Looking around for someone to take the blame.)  Oh right, that was me.  So here I sit in Atlanta as the clue is released.  Oooooh, beautiful coral flying geese.  They will have to wait until I return home and my fingers are crossed that I have the right size neutral strips so that the cutting will be just coral.  Now, back to vacation.

Fast forward ---- it's Wednesday now and I'm feeling the crunch.  I really don't want to fall behind at week 2.  Seriously??  Get in gear girl.

Out to the studio I go and pull the neutral strip bin of the right size.  NOTHING.  I remember using these all up earlier and have not had time to just manage scraps and refill it.  I guess I will be cutting both sets of strips today.  Here's the coolest part:  I count up my number of coral fat quarters and arrive at 14.  With a bit of math, I discover that I need approximately 28 strips to get the job done.  Awesome.  Just two of each and away I go.  (Spoiler Alert --- my math skills need some work.)