2019 October Quilt Update

Hello and welcome to the tenth Monthly Quilt Update of 2019.  Have you joined us in our theme for this year?  Do you know what it is?  Here is your hint and if you want to know all about it -- here is your LINK.  Always remember that in this group all links open in a separate window so you don't lose your place here AND there are no ads or popups EVER.

If you are new to the blog, you may be asking, "just what is a monthly update?"  I decided long ago that I just can't keep up with blogging daily.  I just can't.  Sooooo, what happens is I document a day in my life within one post and if something special happens, a separate post takes place.  See, you can stay caught up with a once a month check and then, if you're interested, see the other posts too.  It's a great system for me.

Houston 2019 - Day 1 - Happy Halloween

A VERY night has occurred but, by golly, I am on the road towards the Houston International Quilt Festival and watching the sun come up once again.  It's so reassuring each time that it does indeed rise, right?  Check out the way I caught the power lines in this driveby-try to take a picture-moment.  Pretty cool.

Frolic - Introduction - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

Happy Halloween!!!  Love, love, love that this begins today.  It is 5 in the morning and I am oh so thankful that Bonnie has posted in the wee hours.  It appears that we are going to "Frolic" in the Texas Wildflowers.  Oh my.  I love this so very much and have wanted to do a quilt in these colors for quite some time.

My car is packed and I'm heading south for the International Quilt Festival in Houston, meeting up with friends in Madisonville in a few short hours.

Once I've retrieved my passengers, our very next stop is at Lowe's in Spring, TX.  One simply cannot just go to festival without the paint chips in hand.  What would I look for?  I am not shopping for anything else this year --- just a few pieces for this mystery and I can't do that without the chips.  A quick dash in the door and straight to the paint department.  Ooooh, Sherri and I are ready to go.  Gwen stops to get a bottle of water and we are outta here.  Yes, I feel a bit guilty for not doing any additional shopping BUT my hubby is in Lowe's weekly.  That helps with the guilt.

Frolic - Summary - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

Bonnie Hunter's Winter Reader Appreciation Mystery is BACK!!!  I so love this time of year.  This makes my seventh year of following her and making the mystery quilts.  I've also picked up and completed many of her other ones that happened before that and along the way in other forms -- Plano classes and Quiltmaker Magazine.  It makes my heart happy to work on these each time I have the opportunity.

I am gathering all of my posts and placing them here so 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 also always find this post by clicking the tab at the top of the blog.  Please become a follower and you will always know when a new post is up.  Welcome to you and comments are ALWAYS appreciated.

If you wish to play along, PLEASE click on THIS LINK to get directly to the Quiltville site and all of the information.  I promise, you'll have a great time.

Post 1:  Introduction: Colors and Shopping
Post 2:  Clue 1 - Four-Patches
Post 3:  Clue 2 - Sections
Post 4:  Clue 3 - HST's
Post 5:  Clue 4 - More HST's
Post 6:  Clue 5 - Even More HST's
Post 7:  Clue 6 - Flying Geese
Post 8:  Clue 7 - Even More HST's and Pinwheels
Post 9:  Clue 8 - We're Still Flying - More Geese

Post 10:  Clue 9 - The Reveal and Finish

Sapphire Blues Clue 10 - REVEAL

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!  Five years ago, when I began this mystery fun, the reveal was on Halloween and it was also the latest in the year of all subsequent mysteries.  I guess it's a great anniversary to do the same today.  I am on my way to Houston for the International Quilt Festival and enjoying the company of great friends.  It is their Sapphire Celebration (45th Anniversary) and part of my reason for this quilts name.  Another perfect reason for today's reveal.  Are you ready???  TA-DA

Sapphire Blues - Clue 9

Oooooooh, it's getting close now!!!!  Are you ready to really see some forward movement?  Did you have a good week?  I am in Montana ---- Big Sky Country!!!  That means lots and lots of blue for me.

Sapphire Blues - Clue 8

Hey, hey, hey ----- it's Mystery Time again.  The weeks are flying by now.  I have had my grands for the past few days and am having such a joyous time.  They fly back home on Sunday so I still have today to play and so am cutting this short so I can get back to the business of grandparenting.  Is there anything better?

For this week ---- it's block time!  I bet you were wondering if it would ever happen.  Today, we get started.  You need units 7, 9, and 11.  Gather those up and then READ all the way through before starting, okay?

January 2021 Fun Ahead

We've gone and done it again!  Yep, put a group of people together and let them talk.  It inevitably leads to fun.  We are booking a cruise for January 10-17, 2021.  The ship is Carnival Fascination and it leaves from San Juan, PR and visits the ports of St. Thomas, USVI, St. Maarten, NA, St. Kitts, WI, St. Lucia and Barbados.  That's right - FIVE ports.  We are super excited and since it's 15 months away, we have plenty of time to plan and prepare.  The cost is $1200 per person for a balcony room of 3 plus you will need airfare to San Juan and a share of the hotel room for the night before, thus making San Juan ANOTHER port with a play day.  Please come and join in the fun, but make your decision quick as I will book this no later than Monday, October 25 in the a.m.  You will need a $225 deposit at that time.  Your cost includes the cruise, port fees and taxes, insurance and gratuities.

If you are at all interested in traveling with other like-minded ladies (QUILTERS), please get in contact with me right away.  We'd love to have you join us.  This is not a "quilting" cruise, but we will take hand projects for those down time moments where we can sit around and enjoy each other.

Fun times are so ahead of us.

Miller's B&B - Girl Time Again

I have worked so hard this week to be able to run away for a couple of days and play at Miller's B&B on the Lake.  With the sun not even up yet, I am on the road and arrive before 8.  I would have liked to have left earlier, but Mister was all worried about me driving in the dark --- which I did anyway.  At any rate, let's get this party started.

My goals for the next two days are simple: 1)  Quilt my Sapphire Blues mystery and attach the binding and 2) make 2 quilt tops for new baby due in November.  I'm going to use Ouiser for the quilting as she is an old friend and it's the only way I could make the journey here.  Otherwise, quilting at home would have had to happen. 

The girls are all here as they arrived last night and after our catch-ups and coffee, yes coffee and  a big cup, I am ready to get this quilt loaded.  Time to quilt.

Sapphire Blues - Clue 7

Well now.  Howdy.  I have just returned from a WONDERFUL retreat down on the Brazos River and have just been renewed by the love.  There were blues as well.  From the beautiful sky to the river, blue made it's appearance known.

Are you ready for this weeks clue?  Guess what???  NO CUTTING at all.  That's right.  This week we're going to assemble some of the units already made.

Brazos "Going Batty" Retreat

Retreat Season at Brazos is back!!!  I so love this place and time of year.  October retreat is our signal of so much fun ahead.  I completely packed the car yesterday and I am outta here.  Next stop ------  ooooh, yay!

Sapphire Blues - Clue 6

Good Morning Y'all!!!  Guess where I am.  Retreat!!!  Woot woot --- we are enjoying some time together sewing, chatting, and making merry.  I love being back at Brazos and October signals the beginning of many wonderful visits this direction.  It also means that it's a little batty here.  What's going on in your world?

Did you have an easy time with last weeks clue?  I hope so because today is basically a repeat of the procedure, but with different sizes and pieces.  Shall we get going?  Please read all the way to the end for directions to save yourself some heartache.  All the words matter.

Sew Much Love Quilt Shop Spotlight

Visiting new quilt shops is ALWAYS fun and we have a brand new one near our retreat center.  That means our lunch trip to Babe's will have an extra stop.  Sew Much Love is just around the corner and an easy walk from the restaurant.  Let's go check it out.  The exterior is so fun!  I love this time of year and the decor is definitely pulling me in.  Racks of items are also outside and give a peek at the fun to come.