On Ringo Lake Fun!

Excited to be doing Bonnie's Ringo Lake.

Those are the words I typed several weeks ago.  Now. I am surprised to say that it's nearly a year since my last post on this blog.  I am working on Bonnie Hunters latest, On Ringo Lake.  I love the quilt.  It was much fun, as always.

It's my fifth one.  I guess I must really like doing her quilts.  Its not like I havent got ten million of my own quilts to finish.  It must be that community thing.  Lots of my other friends have been more obsesses with out local sensation, Charlotte Hawkes quilts.  She starts her Mystery Quilt very soon.  You can see her mystery, here.

Bonnie Hunter Mystery En Provence, Week 5

By some miracle, I have been able to keep up with this weekly mystery.  I almost feel as if I am missing something because I have been able to keep up.  Ha!  I haven't made it to the link every week, mostly due to some issues with my computer.  Hopefully it will be resolved soon.  Isn't it funny how your whole self can be in a pinch when you dont have your internet/computer.  25 years ago that would be hard to conceive of.  Computers were a small part of my life, mostly wrestling with Microsoft Word to get my company newspaper together.  No internet, just that.

 Some purple flowers to share on this grey winter day.

The time for the reveal is almost here.  I can't wait!  But then I will be sad, no more mystery...

Bonnie Hunter Mystery

Step #2 Done

Step #3 Done

So far, I have definitely been able to keep up with the steps since I gave up Holiday cookies this year. I gain a lot of weight over the Holidays every year as most people do.  This year I decided to skip the cookies. I will make a cake for Christmas instead.  This will help narrow down the caloric consumption to a one time deal.

The kids are asking me when we are doing cut outs though.  I will have to do that...

Instead of baking I have been sewing.  I have got a lot done.  Totally excited!

My purple four patches are nearly done.  I am anxiously awaiting step #4.

To join in on the Holiday fun sewing mystery quilt, En Provence, click the button below.

Grand Illusion Finale

The last clue was revealed on Bonnie Hunters blog Quiltville's Quips and Snips.  I am spending the day putting it together today.  Woot woot!

So, enough computer- time to sit down at the sewing machine.

 

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.

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. 

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.

Scrapitude Part III

I am oh, so late posting this.  My food blog, Lori's Lipsmacking Goodness has been getting all of my attention, as well as my kids and the many projects that need to get finished around here. I beg your pardon if you have been following this and wondered what happened.



Scrapitude Part III

1. Remember those 64 - 4 7/8" squares you cut way back when? Cut each of them diagonally once, to make 128 half-square triangles.

2. Next, remember the 128 triangle patches you made in step 2? You'll sew one of the half-square triangles from #1 above to each of the 128 triangle patches from step 2 as shown in the diagram below.


Press the seams towards the larger triangle (the single-fabric) side.
Square up units to 4 1/2".

Note here: You may recall in the cutting instructions that Charlotte had mentioned you could choose to have 50 of the 4-7/8" squares as pairs if you wanted--she addresses that in this video (link below) again as it relates to sewing this step.

To watch a video (done by my dear friend Sandy of Quilting For The Rest Of Us) instructional by our dear Charlotte, giver of the Scrapitude Mystery Quilt, click here.

Scrapitude Part II- triangulations

The next step in Scrapitude was announced.  Here is what you need:

1. Take your 5 1/4" squares, and cut them on BOTH diagonals (in an X from corner to corner). You'll consequently have four triangles from each of the 5 1/4" squares.

2.   Using the triangles you've just cut in the step above, sew 128 triangle patches using one background fabric and one scrap fabric.

Be sure you lay the background fabric triangle on top of the scrap fabric triangle (right sides facing), and place the 90-degree angle corner under your sewing machine needle to sew the 1/4" seam. This will ensure you're sewing the correct sides together.

3. Next, take your 2 7/8" squares and cut on ONE diagonal.

Using the pieces you cut in step #3 above, as well as some of your 2 1/2" scrap squares, you'll now sew 12 units together that use three different scrap fabrics for each piece. (Sew one triangle each to two sides of the 2 1/2" square.) Also, don't use the same fabrics in the same corners for multiple units as you'll be sewing some of these units together in the future. In other words, keep these 12 units as scrappy as possible. 

5. Next, sew 32 units that use two different scrap fabrics in the opposite corners, with a 2 1/2" square of background fabric in the center. Trim all your dog-ears. 

Note: You will have 8 smaller triangles left after sewing your 12 and 32 units--make sure they're all different fabrics. So you may want to plan ahead before doing all your sewing.
For an excellent tutorial/step by step instructions and a video from the Queen of Scrap- Charlotte, visit my fabulous friend- Sandy's blog- Quilting For The Rest Of Us.

Scrapitude- Month One

Don't you want to pick the thread off that one on the bottom. Ugh! Call me obsessive.

For those of you who do not know, one of the members in our guild is hosting a mystery block of the month.  Charlotte is an amazing quilter who pulls scraps together to make awesome quilts.  Sometimes she follows patterns and sometimes she makes her own quilt designs in EQ (whatever version she has).  This one is all a mystery to us.  We have had cutting instructions which you can see here and now we have our first step.  Follow along with us.  You can visit my blog or my friend Sandy to see where we currently are at. You can also post to the Flickr Group here.

Our assignment for this month was

With the two and a half sized squares, sew:

112 four square blocks (two background fabric, sewn in opposing places.
25 four square blocks of four different blocks.