Bonnie Hunter Mystery Class 2015 - Fabric Fanatics

Oh my gosh!  It's here.  This day has been long awaited by me for the fun I just know is in store.  I am off to Plano and Fabric Fanatics to enjoy a day with Bonnie Hunter, Ana, Marti (minus her voice), Irene, and a whole classroom of wonderful ladies.  Let's go.

(We have to pinky share not to show anything from this class until the pattern comes out in the spring so you will just have to wait until then for me to update this post with all that I worked on.)

The class starts out with hugs all around and it is like old home week as everyone comes together for our yearly gathering.  As soon as everyone has arrived, we are off to the cutting table for today's lesson.  Bonnie spots me with the camera catching her in an unusual position ---- YES, she does talk with her arms and hands a lot ---

Allietare Clue #5 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

Hello there.  I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday break and that you were able to relax just a wee bit.  It was very quiet here at the homestead and for the first time, I think I actually liked it.  That's not saying that I don't want family around for the holidays -- believe me, I do -- but I can survive it without tears now.  That is a good thing.

And . . .  fortunately, right away here comes another clue for us to work on.  Yay!  There is just one little problem with this plan.  Mister is home for four days.  We are on day 3 and he has absolutely no intention of just hanging around the house.  I get to peek at the clue before we are off and running.  NO CUTTING!!!!  Yay.  That just made my day.  We are off to find some after Christmas discounted decorations for the outside of the house next year.  Yep, cos we don't have enough you know what in our house already.  Oh my.  Shopping turns into brunch and by the time we get home, the only thing I have enough energy for is to hunt for a gray gel pen to draw lines on my squares.  Apparently I am out of them so obviously the very next chore is to order some online and THEN find a pencil instead.  Goodness but I am productive today -- lines are drawn.  Ta-Da.

Merry Christmas!

Here's hoping that this finds all of you enjoying this magical time of year.  Please take some time for yourself as well --- it's not selfish -- it's necessary.  I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for reading and commenting on my quilty life.  I treasure every bit of it.

An Easy Angle Lesson with Roberta

A "HELP"  went up in the group.  Roberta wanted someone to help her with the clues for Allietare.  Since I absolutely love having people at the house and I've been too lazy to clean up from last Friday, it seems an easy solution.  Come on over.

She arrives nice and early.  She has completed Clue 3 since she learned 4-patches with Ribbons of Love.  Now for the new rulers to be put into use.  First up is clue 1 and the Easy Angle ruler.  She already has her strips cut so we are off to a great start.

Time out for a coffee cake that I made this morning.  It is an OLD family recipe that is actually made with coffee as the liquid and is a gummy cake, making one think that it is underdone, but no.  Oh and so fun to squish in your hands as a kid.  Me??? No, I never did that.  It doesn't get frosted, just a nice snack cake.  I've been baking and prepping lunch off and on all morning.

A Day With Mister - Fun Stuff EVERYWHERE

Oh goodness.  My sweetheart actually is running away from work today.  And I do mean running.  We are out the door and away from computers.  Now what?  How about an estate sale or two?  There are a couple right near the house and we are off to see what treasures might be in need of a new home.  The first stop nets us a wonderful partially finished hand-stitched quilt top and the remaining pieced blocks.  All I have to do is figure out a white fabric to use with it.  We also locate a box of old thimbles and a beautiful scarf.  The second sale gives us two organizers filled with parts that Mister can use along with a TRAIN.  Total expenditure of these two stops is $34.49.  (The Spirograph came later)

Allietare Clue #4 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt - With Allison and Jennifer

Can you sleep?  I can't.  I check at 2 a.m., at 3 a.m., at 4 a.m. and then I fall asleep until almost 6 a.m.  Wouldn't you know it?  Of course it posted at 5 a.m.  Now I'm behind the 8 ball and doing the big rush before my gal pals arrive.

YEP!  It's another sew day here by the Christmas tree.  I was all set up and ready to go last night.  Want to see how it looked before the clue hit?

Christmas and sewing all in the same room.  Is there a happier place?  The decision has been made to use our card tables to sew on and Allison is bringing her 500 table that I found for her (thinking it was a longbed 301 table) and a shortbed 301 table to surprise Jennifer with.  I can't wait for them to get here.  We have a couple small ironing stations (who needs a big board with only little pieces?) and some cutting areas.  It will work.

Sharing the Mid-Arm

When Val gifted me with my beautiful mid-arm, she would not hardly let me do anything for her in return.  Mister fixed up her sweet Featherweight but that was it.  What she did do is ask me to pay it forward.  This weekend I am attempting to do that.  This mid-arm rookie is going to teach someone else  how to use it.  Now THIS should be interesting.  Come along and watch.

Debi arrives Friday night as I am cleaning up from my day with Allison.  The smell of the roast cooking has permeated the house and all I can say is -- let's eat dinner.  We spend some time visiting, enjoying a meal and a glass or wine or two and then she is ready to put a practice piece on the machine and see what happens.  I believe her statement to me is, "Are  you ready to do something even if it's wrong?"  Of course I am.  Out to the studio we go.

She learns, like everyone else, that the loading is the worst part.  Once it is ready to go, let the fun begin.