December Quilt Update

I have moved the previous posts to the end of the entry.  I hope that you make it that far.

Goals:  The mystery quilt is going and I am trying to get Christmas finished.  Please let me stay focused.

Wanderlust (W) sandwiched, quilted, labeled, and bound - sandwiched only 
Mark, sandwich, quilt, label, and bind Sew Squared (SS) quilt  - yes
Grand Illusion (GI) Mystery Quilt worked on - clues 1-5 complete
Making Waves pieced, sandwiched, quilted, labeled, and bound - yes
Finish sewing mats - no
A couple of hats - yes
Messenger bag for Bekah - yes

Prepare for classes:

Mystery Quilt (GP) - Batiks (Take advantage of the sale - purchase some neutrals) - All Colors - ONE accent color (purple) - yes

Weed Whacker (WW) - 2" strips 9.5" long in browns and teals, 3 1/2" neutral squares  -- additional 2" strips for border yes - not border

Bow-Dacious (BD) - poorly prepared but grabbed some 1 1/2" strips, 2" neutral squares, and 1 1/2" squares

Scrap Crystals (SC) - 2" strips red/black/white, 1 1/2" strips red/black -- red/black sashings, outer border black, binding red - yes cut all squares and some triangles (lots more to cut still)

1st - Again -- somehow I lost this entire post and had to start from scratch.  This may not be such a fun post to read as my memory doesn't hold things well from a month ago.  Dang -- Here goes anyway.  The house is empty today so guess what that means?  I get to work on GI clue 1 and I am thrilled.  I have a bit of fun decorating the office while I chain stitch my HST's.  How fun is this?  To see more of my fun decorations and read about this clue click here.  My units are finished and I even make the Monday link-up.  Woohoo.  Now back to Christmas gifts.

2014 Finished Non-Quilty Craft Items

February:

Ashton Baby Girl - afghan in pink and white.  Several new stitches for me.

Bonnie Hunter Weed Whacker Class - Fabric Fanatics

It is New Years Eve and I am in heaven.  After a trip to Denton this morning to drop off my granddaughter with Jen for a few days, I am about to immerse myself in lots of tiny pieces of fabric.  I have four days of classes with Bonnie Hunter and today is day one.  Woohoo.  I feel as though I have been waiting forever for this week to get here.  This has become an annual event for me and I am now on year three of spending New Years in this fashion.  I do hope that it lasts for at least a few more too.

Today's class is Weed Whacker and I arrive about 45 minutes before class begins.  As I walk in the door, Bonnie recognizes me and welcomes me with a big old bear hug and points me to the "fun" table to sit at.  Obviously, I obey and settle in.  Allison is just across the aisle from me and Irene and Melissa are at my table -- it is great.  All alumni from last year.  I feel honored just to be included with them and am so amazed by their talent.  I hope to draw knowledge from all while here.

While I am setting up, Allison comes and steals my camera to take a picture of me at my machine for the blog.  Isn't she just oh so sweet.  Oh --- while I was driving here from Denton this morning, I kept licking my lips and was so bummed that I had forgotten chapstick.  As I settled into my area, what do you suppose my wonderful friend brings me?  I didn't even let her know I needed it yet.  She told me a funny story about how it had fallen from a closet as she was packing and she thought "I'll take this to Deb."  Allison is one inspired lady and I am so glad to have her in my life.

2014 Finished Quilts

This year Mister and I have decided that we want to make a quilt for each of the grandchildren for their birthday in addition to sewing some for fun for ourselves.  Here is a brief glimpse into what we accomplished.  If you want further information on any of these, just check the monthly quilt update posts for the month listed and you will see the details.  (Then somewhere along the way I went totally nuts and determined to make one for each child/spouse AND for each of our mothers for Christmas - insane!)

January:

Raef's 9th birthday (1/17) - Scrappy Mountain Majesties by Bonnie Hunter set in burst pattern with browns and greens.  Pieced border. Camo back. First time ever machine quilting.

Grand Illusion Clue #5 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

Ugh.  This is the second time I am writing this post.  My wonderful witty remarks were vanquished with the mere click of a button.  Somehow I managed to create two entries and deleted the completed one instead of the empty post.  Double Ugh.  I will try to somehow recreate.

I know you may find this hard to believe, but I have not thought about the mystery at all since last Friday.  I have been so busy working on gifts and spending time with my sweetie that it just didn't cross my mind.  I did wake this morning around 6:00 and realize that the clue was likely up.  Did I want to get up?  Nope.  Back to sleep for awhile.  At 7:30 I climb out of bed and go to check on the clue.  Twenty-nine four patches!  Yes.  I could not be happier.  I grab some leftover squares and strips and start cutting.  In no time -- seriously, by 8:00 I am starting to sew.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to All!

I hope that we are all able to take some of the wonder of this season into each of our lives and keep it throughout the new year.  Enjoy and love each other.

Grand Illusion Clue #4 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

It's 3:30 in the morning, not a soul in sight . . . I am about to break into song here.  Oh where, oh where can my little clue be, oh where oh where can it be?  I am sick.  Truly.  Who does this?  Now the big question arises:  Do I stay up and keep peeking or do I be an intelligent human and go back to bed for some much needed sleep?  Well, duh --- obviously I'll just work on the blog and kill some time.

3: 56 --  nope - back to the post I am working on.
4:07 -- yep!  Posted 3 minutes ago.  What is it?  More broken dishes.  Well alrighty then.  Let's get breaking.  I guess it will be another cutting day.  Not quite as many though and half of the HST's are already made.  Now . . . back to bed.

Okay - it's 7:30 and time to get to work.  I quickly get the house in order, get my poor old body dressed, make some cocoa and settle in to work.  I am on my own today so I think it will keep me focused.  Can I knock this clue out today.  I'm gonna give it a valiant effort.

Fortunately -- I have yellow and black strips left from previous clues so it takes me all of about 15 minutes to get the squares cut.  Yes!  Now for the triangles.  Out comes the trusty Easy Angle ruler and I kid you not -- within an hour, I have all my pieces ready to go.  Awesome.  I only had to cut the aqua strips -- all the neutrals were standing by to be used.