Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt Part IV

I know I am not the only one cleaning, wrapping presents, baking, cooking, shopping and in general running around like a chicken with my head cut off.  I love it though.  I love every minute of it and am grateful for it all.

But a few stolen moments, mostly because I am too exhausted to do anything else, I find a little time to work on the next part.  I may not have all the parts done but I am getting there.

Felt Reindeer

My daughters reindeer.

Reindeer.

Again, I saw it on Pinterest.  Why do I love Pinterest so?  My addiction of choice. Do I choose to get sucked into the Pinterest vortex every morning while I have my coffee, getting little else done, like blog posts or emails or whatever... The hours whittle away.  Yesterday, I skipped out of my morning Pinterest ritual early.  Sitting only for about 20 minutes.  Jumped up and cleaned out my sewing room, cleaned some cabinets, made some stuff in the kitchen, put a load of laundry in the washing machine and realized only an hour had passed but yet I got so much done. 

Grand Illusion Part III

I am getting excited about seeing what the final product will be.  It feels like such a gift.  For me its the perfect time of year for this Mystery Quilt that Bonnie does.  I know its busy.  But who says you have to do the whole thing.  Do a few at each step and then when you have time resume.

I love doing it side by side the people in my Guild and also all the people out there in the Blogosphere.  And it is so fun waiting for Friday for the next Part to be revealed.

Since I am not doing mine totally scrappy this Part was quite a bit easier for me because I was sewing strips together.  Pieing a bunch of 2 inch squares is definitely admirable.  I am quite sure that at least one of the ladies in my guild is doing just that.

If you want to join in on the fun, visit Bonnie Hunter's page, Quiltville's Quips and Snips. The pattern is available until June.

I realized this morning that I never posted my colors before this all began. 

Coasters

Last Sunday, I had a Mother/Daughter Craft day.  We made two things- these coasters and a reindeer made of felt.  I will show you that next post.

I found them on Pinterest.  Many tutorials there.  It's pretty simple.

1.  Get tile biscuit.  (It's a simple tile in white, measuring about 4 by 4 inches).
2.  Lay a thin coat of Mod Podge.
3.  Lay a piece of paper on the Mod Podge that was cut to fit.  You could use     scrap book paper or a photo that has been copied onto paper.
4.  Slather another coat of Mod Podge over top, easing out bubbles as you to.
5.  Let dry.

6.  Outside, where there is a lot of ventilation, spray coat with Polycrylic.  Let dry in between layers.  I did three coats.

P.S.  You can make your own Mod Podge 1 part glue: 1/2 of that part water.
in other words- 1 cup glue: 1/2 cup water.  Mix and use. Store in air tight container.

Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt Grand Illusion- Step 2

I know its not scrappy.  As I mentioned before I have yardage that feels neglected.  I am worried about it lacking some interest but I bet, knowing the way Bonnie's quilts look in the end, it will have plenty of interest. I love the colors.  I am excited for the next step.  Pooh pooh all the people complaining on the blog or Facebook.  I am having a blast.

So only two steps have been completed.  If you want to jump in on the fun, head over to Quiltville's Quips and Snips.  Tomorrow is Step #3.  Woot woot.

My piles have grown since this was taken on Saturday.

Mystery Quilt Grand Illusion Begins

Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt is on.  Here is my pile so far.  Only 75 more to go!  Yikes.  Not much of that is happening this week.  Too dang busy.  We have had 101 appointments this week.  Well, it is a bit of an exageration but not too much.  It felt like it anyway.

If you want to check out the Mystery and join in, its not too late.  Go to Quiltville's Quips and Snips- Grand Illusion.

Jenny Doan Lecture Notes

Source: Morguefile

I know this has all been so Jenny Doan centric but, I can't help myself.  She was very inspirational.  She is a great speaker and her enthusiasm and charm is undeniable.

I did not take any notes but my friend Sandy of Quilting For The Rest Of Us did.  A few little things that are helpful to keep tucked under your hat.

Measurements and Precuts

1 charm pack makes a baby blanket
2 makes a crib quilt
3 makes a lap quilt
4 makes a twin with some fabric for a border

1 layer cake makes a twin
2 a Queen with some fabric for border

1 jelly roll a twin
2 a Queen

1 jelly roll is 2 3/4 yards
1 layer cake is 2 3/4 yards

It takes about 3 yards to make a twin size quilt.

Now, isn't that helpful if you are a precut buyer?!?!

And, yes, her tutorials are mostly precuts but you can make your own!

For the Disappearing Nine Patch, which Sandy calls- D9P (love it- sounds like some new chemical, when in fact it is all natural quilt terminology).

-Experiment with different placement of blocks to make different variations. 
-Line up blocks to make corner stone sashing without the fuss of tiny squares.
-Put sashing between the blocks for another variation.

Missouri Star Quilt Company posts Jenny's video tuts every Friday.  Do you know how many tuts there are? More than I thought that is for sure.  I have subscribed to them for a while from You Tube.

Missouri Star Quilt Company's templates are made to fit precuts.  Very convenient!

Interesting tidbit, 70% of quilters begin quilting after a loss.  For me- so true.  From social worker to homemaker/stay at home Mom. It gives me job satisfaction.  I thought it was cooking and baking for so long but my efforts are gobbled up in ten minutes.  My quilts will live on for a while.

X's and O's Quilt

Here is the X's and O's quilt.  Another one to make real soon since I have lots of 2 1/2 squares to use up.

Then again, Bonnie's Quilt is coming soon and I think I am going to do it!  Click here to Quiltville's Quips and Snips to see the Mystery Quilt.  The first set of instructions will be the day after Thanksgiving. 

The Thanksgiving Turkey

Okay- you have one week to make this.  If you want the pattern go to Missouri Star Quilt Company.

Here is the Tut:

Sail Boat Quilt

I think this is totally next on my to do list...  I just love this boat quilt.  I already have some nautical fabrics that I want to use (ahem, in my stash).

Chevron Quilt

Did you know there are like a 1000 Quilt tutorials by Jenny Doan?  Maybe not quite that much.  So, I looked through and found the ones I want to do.  Then I thought I might share with you.

If you want to make the Chevron one....

Guess Who I Saw Last Night?

Source: Quilt Beginnings

Jenny Doan- that's who.  Though I don't think I took even one good picture.  I will still share the ones I did take.  If you dont know who Jenny Doan is, she is the star of the You Tube Tutorial on many quilts.  Two of her children own Missouri Star Quilt Company and she and her husband work for them, along with some of her other children.

I went with a few of my peeps: Sandy of Quilting For The Rest Of Us, Joanne, Kathy and their friend Mary.  A totally enjoyable night!

Of course, the quilts that I thought were so dang cute are pictured below as well.  I am totally convinced I will make this one.

And this one.

And probably this one.

I have already made this one and have been thinking about making another since it was so fun!

This would be a great project for like.. today!

He's so cute!

You can find all of these tutorials on You Tube.  Missouri Star Quilt Company also has a magazine now. "Block". 

The Ghastlies

My friend Sandy from Quilting For The Rest Of Us gave me this fabric.  She made some pillow cases for her daughter then handed the leftovers to our group.  I gladly accepted them.  I have been wanting the Ghastlies, actually but had not bought them yet.  My goal was to post this on Halloween but I didn't quite make it.  I gave them to the kids to use for their trick or treat bag.  Lots of fun!

I love In Color Order's tutorial on how to make drawstring bags.

Retreat Reflection

I went to retreat this past weekend.  I love retreat.  I love hanging out with the girls, being silly, having my meals made for me, people cleaning up my messy dishes, eating their good food, making projects, seeing other peoples projects, getting inspiration and ideas.  Its a blast!

My leaves are coming along.  Not sure what I am going to do with them all.  I love the words.  It will be a whimsical type quilt.

 This was on my drive home.  There a few more that I need to get pics of.

 A beautiful sunset Saturday evening.

 You can sit and watch the sunset on rockers, looking out over the lake!

These are the favors that were made by a wonderful woman in our group; cucumber melon soap, almond lotion bar, lavender bath salts and a bag of "spa" tea.

I had to try my friends jelly.  I had it on a sun dried tomato bagel.  I did not expect it to taste so good.  Nor did I expect to be able to spread cream cheese with a stirrer.

 Aren't these mason jars cute!

What is fall without mums.  It looks like fireworks.

Autumn Leaves

Autumn leaves are falling. Outside and in my sewing room.  I love these leaves.  I am note sure what I will do with them all.  I have considered something similar to the ones below but I am not sure yet.  I will keep you posted.


These leaves are pretty easy to make.  Each square in the 9 patches is 3 inches.  For the stems I start with a 3.5 square and slice it diagonally.  Then for the HST's (half square triangles, I sew two 3.5's together, back ground and leaf color- sewn diagonally on either side of a center seam.  Cut and square up to 3 inches. The stem size is 1 3/4 by 4.5 inches.

TA wall hanging.


 From McCalls- Fluttering Leaves by Bonnie Spencer.

And from Sentimental Quilter-

Crumb Piecing and Improv Piecing

I won these yummie fat quarters at the Bonnie Hunter class day!  Lucky me!  Color me happy.  Phillip Jacobs, Kaffe Fasset- beautiful vibrant colors!

After taking the class I have been doing a lot of crumb piecing.  Having so much fun with it.  I need to take some pics and show you all.

The following was an improv piece that I did.

Who met Bonnie Hunter?

Me- thats who. I took a class, Crumb Piecing, from her in Tonawanda with my friend Jan.  Had a blast.  Very much enjoyed the class and enjoyed Bonnie's style and personality.

 These pics are all of Bonnie's work. Her quilts, her blocks.

This quilt above is my friend Jan's.  Its called Lantana, after the flower.  It was Jan's choice of colors for Easy Street.  Beautiful, right?