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.)

November 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:

Garden Party (GP) - quilted and bound - 

Midnight Flight (MF) - blocks made
BOM (blue) quilted and bound -
BOM (Thimbleberries)  quilted and bound -
BOM (pink) quilted and bound -

1st  -   November has arrived and along with it comes that dreaded sense of urgency that the year is coming to an and and there is still just oh so much I haven't accomplished.  Toss in looming gifts and I can say with all honesty that I can feel the stress rising.  The question is, "Can I keep it at bay?"  I say that I'm going to each year, but somehow it comes creeping in.  Another attempt will be made so bear with me as I try to say, "Oh well, it'll get finished next year."  (And now we can all sit down and laugh together."

On Ringo Lake - Clue 1 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

I do not know how this happened but Thanksgiving has come and gone (?????) and Black Friday is here.  That means it's the day for Bonnie Hunter's Reader Appreciation mystery to begin!  This year it is entitled On Ringo Lake and I am in love with the colors.

First thing, I peek and see the clue and that's it for the morning as my house is literally full of bodies --- they are EVERYWHERE.  Hahahahaha --- that kind of sounds bad doesn't it?  It's the truth though.  This picture only show a few of them.

Once they are all dressed and out the door to shop and/or drive home, I get a few minutes to dart to the studio and see if I have strips that will play well this week.  Thank goodness for Bonnie's Scrap User's System.

Pioneer Days on the Way Home from Retreat

On the way home from retreat, Mister stops at a Pioneer Days event just off the highway.  It is such a great time and you can read all about it AND watch them fire the cannons by clicking on THIS LINK. 

The purpose of this post is to share what we see there that is fiber related.  One booth has stacks and stacks of quilts surrounded by sock monkeys EVERYWHERE.  I'm not kidding.  All shapes and sizes.  It also is completely ringed by home canned good.  WOW.

Brazos House - The Retreat To Remember

(Note:  If you didn't see the previous post on this retreat, please click HERE so you are all caught up and know what we are talking about.)

We are READY!  Well, at least we think so.  Our first passenger has arrived at the gate and is ready to check in.  Others soon follow shortly behind and our ground crew is hard at work getting everyone where they need to be.

Trip to Sew Krazee Quilt Shop in Granbury

Jen needs white felt and I have a birthday gift certificate burning a hole in my pocket.  That means a trip to Granbury is in order.  I rarely leave the retreat center during our time there but today is an exception.  What can I find with my present?

Garlic Knot Exchange

Waaaaay back in August, Ana suggested doing a Garlic Knot block exchange in the Facebook group.  I gave her thumbs up and away it went.  The pattern is by Bonnie Hunter, only we sized it up and chose to use red/green/white for Christmas.

When what to our shocked eyes should appear, but 30 people signed up and ready within 24 hours.  Exchange closed and away we went.

8/7  I am in Abilene for a few days and this seems like as good a place as any to get a start on these blocks.  I cut, cut, cut - starting with strips just like we are supposed to.

Brazos House - The Retreat To Remember - 24 Hours of Preparations

It's super early on a Wednesday morning and my sweetheart is dropping me at Brazos House.  I have the house all to myself and it's oh so quiet.  Outside the birds are singing along with the distant sound of bleating goats.  Life is good.

First things first, into the closet I go.  I have sooo much to unload and set up especially since I have had packages sent here all month and the boxes are piled up in the closet too.  Time to get busy.

Barbara Hartman - Transcendent Quilting

Our next stop on the Cross Timbers Artists' Studio Tour is at the home of Barbara Hartman.  I have my fingers crossed that it will not be busy here either and we will get a chance to really spend some quality time together.  My wish is granted and when we arrive, we are the only ones touring.  I am able to hand over the cheese from Richard Gatti and watch as she lights up when she realizes what it is.  How fun.  She then takes us into the front room where her quilt (that I JUST saw in Houston) is proudly being displayed.  It is entitled Autumn Evening and won the blue ribbon for Art-Naturescapes.  Woohoo.  I did take a picture of it while there but held onto it hoping to use it in this post as today has been planned since October.  All the stars aligned and I am able to take another picture with her in it.  Perfect.  I ask if I can touch it as no one gets to do that at Festival.  She gives permission for them all to be touched, turned over, and thoroughly learned from.  I am in heaven.

Lake Trail Studio Handwovens Tour

At the end of last month, we discovered the  Huffhines Art Trails Festival and met Richard and Gloria Gatti.  It was such a treat and they invited us to tour their studio today.  Ya'll know I am not one to turn an opportunity like that down so after a quick breakfast at home, we are on the road up to Double Oak.  They are part of the Artist's Studio Tour that is taking place in the Cross Timbers area and I have my fingers cross that if we get there right when it starts, we will have some time without crowds around.  It works and ours is the lone car in the driveway.  Let's go learn about weaving.

The entrance to the studio is at the back of the house where a wonderful garden and greenhouse occupy space on the property.  Oooooh, I wish.  As we walk up to the door, many of their products are displayed for sale.  It is those dish towels that I am really after.  I have wanted one every since Huffhines.

Houston!!! Year Two Day 3

And just like that, it is our last morning here.  Goodness but that time flew by.  We are already talking next year though and that makes my heart sing.  Debi has joined us for breakfast and we are literally chomping at the bit for the show to open.  Why is time standing so still?

Okay, that's it.  We can't take it anymore and it's time to walk over there.  A quick picture by the elevators and we miss not one, but two different ones and have to wait again.  Two more minutes killed.  Yeah, we are just that good.

Houston!!! Year Two Day 2

Although the clouds are hanging a bit low this morning, it's time to get up and get moving.  We have shopping to do and quilts to see.  It's gonna be a FULL day of fun and joy to our eyes.

Houston International Quilt Festival - Eye Candy #3

This is post 3 of 3 on this years Houston Quilt Festival.  If you missed the first two, please go check them out.

First up is Diamond Effervescence by Beth Nufer and Clem Buzick of Brookings, Oregon.  "The inspiration was the silk fabric.  The background fabric is a gradated cotton sateen.  I wanted to incorporate the two fabrics together."  I think they did a great job and as I stood looking at it closely, I love the way the neutrals play together going from light to darker and back to lighter.  The piecing is wonderful but the dots, oh the dots are just magnificent.

Houston International Quilt Festival - Eye Candy #2

This is post 2 of 3.  Please check the blog for the others if you wish to see all the quilts that I captured.

Let's start with the winner of the Founders' Award.  This is called Fantastic! and is by Junk Fujiwara of Narashino, Chiba, Japan.  Junko writes, "I began this work to celebrate the birth of my first granddaughter four years ago.  I was excited I made 16 blocks, especially with the flowers that I love.  I used a lot of cloth.  By combining small pieces, the leaves and flowers all look different."  It is outstanding to look at and four years just makes my mouth fall open.  I don't think I have enough years left to do something like this.

Houston International Quilt Festival - Eye Candy #1

I took way more pictures at festival this year than last so am posting the eye candy a bit differently.  They will use 3 posts and not be included in the daily journal other than through a link.  Please check on the regular post to see all the fun we had today.  Here's your LINK.

Now, onto the eye candy and please remember that I am not going to spotlight very many of the blue ribbon quilts unless I am absolutely in love with them.  I keep this blog to remember the things that really touched me in one way or another and am happy to share it with you.  These are my loves.

The big winner of $12.500 from Handi-Quilter is this lovely sampler by Janet Stone of Overland Park, Kansas entitled Garden Variety Sampler.  She says, "This quilt is a nod to my love of antique samplers.  The layout was loosely inspired by a page from an antique children's book by Walter Crane from 1878 entitled The Baby's Bouquet.  The color palette was inspired by the beautiful Japanese taupe quilts.  This is number 17 in my "Alphabet Quilt" series."  The techniques are machine piecing and applique, fused applique, hand embellishment and I absolutely am drawn to it.  The details are just tremendous.

Houston!!! Year Two Day 1

It's NOVEMBER!  That means the time for Houston's International Quilt Festival has arrived.  When tickets are purchased a year in advance, waiting for this seems to take forever and I'm thrilled that today is the day.  Lydia arrives at my house by 5:30 a.m. and within 10 minutes we are off and on our way.

It's nice to reconnect along the way and share what has been happening in our lives.  I so love this time together and for the chance to help one another out.  I am wondering if we will get a view of a beautiful sunrise but my hopes are dashed as the clouds are just too thick this morning.  A couple of hours into our trip, this is the best that happens for us.  I'll take it.

October 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:

Easy Street (ES) - bound - YES
Garden Party (GP) - quilted and bound - 

Midnight Flight (MF) - blocks made
BOM (blue) quilted and bound -
BOM (Thimbleberries)  quilted and bound -
BOM (pink) quilted and bound -

1st  -  It's October!!!  I truly think this is my favorite month of the whole year.  The weather is cooler and, well, it's anniversary month.  What could be better?  It's also Mystery Reveal month.  That means I have such excitement all around me.  It would be even better if I had my quilt finished, but this year has just been crazy for me.  I'll stay ahead of ya'll, but just barely.

Mister and I are starting out the month by attending the fair.  Yes, it was even his idea this year.  What that means for us is checking out all the vendor booths and the exhibits.  What is doesn't include is the midway.  We stay as far from that as possible.  You can read all about our day in this FAIR LINK but I will share the quilts here.  Just the pictures, as the fair really doesn't offer up much information.  I did get each person's name in their picture and I only took pictures of some of the blue ribbon winners and the Best of Show.  Enjoy.

The one I REALLY loved is on the left - the log cabin Christmas Tree.  This is a small wall hanging.  The logs are so tiny and, oh my, the time that had to have gone into planning out each one so that the candles landed in just the right place.  I absolutely am in awe of this.  Oh to be good enough to replicate it.  Perhaps some day, when I grow up.

On Ringo Lake - Summary - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

Bonnie Hunter's Winter Mystery has started once again and I am gathering all of my On Ringo Lake 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:  Cute Little Nine-Patches
Post 3:  Flying Geese
Post 4:  Diamond in a Rectangle Units
Post 5:  Birds in the Air Units
Post 6:  Another Gaggle of Flying Geese
Post 7:  Finishing the Birds in the Air Units
Post 8:  Double Geese Units
Post 9:  Blocks
Post 10:  REVEAL - setting

On Ringo Lake - Introduction - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

It's here, it's here.  I feel like a little girl who was just given the toy she wants oh so much.  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 On Ringo Lake --- 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.

I LOVE the colors and the serenity of it all.  The best part is that I have had my fingers crossed for something with dark brown in it and my wishes have come true.  Throw in the aqua and coral and oh my goodness, how lovely is this.   The worst part of today?  I don't have a car and can't go running straight to Lowe's to get my paint cards.  Arghhhh.  What to do?  What to do?

A nice surprise happens around 3 when my sweetie says he is coming home from work early.  Woot woot.  I'll have time to run to Lowe's and still get back in time to hand out candy to the trick or treaters.

At Lowe's, I am a woman on a mission.  Straight to the paint department -- quick scan and five of the 6 cards are easy peasy.  The last one is out of stock and with a quick glance, I spot a folder that has all the whites in it, snag it and out the door I go.  No, I don't feel guilty.  I spend a ton in that store each month.