Grand Illusion and Takin' Turkey

Revision to my early morning post. I DID IT! Grand Illusion top is finished and I love it. Might add one more plain border..we'll see.  The border sure does finish it nicely. I wanted to take it outside, in the snow, and take a picture...but it is -44 C or F( it is all the same at this temp)  with the windchill this morning. And I am staying in :)

My what a trip it has been with Bonnie, I love this mystery quilt! This is my fourth with Bonnie and none of her mysteries have disappointed me :) I still have to put the borders on, will hopefully get that done today. Too much company lately, don't they know I have sewing to do :)  My colors are basically the same as Bonnie's, I substitued purple for the black and white, and my colors are more muted. I used what I had in my stash.  Here is my Grand Illusion!

I managed to get this far with Talkin Turkey. It also just needs the borders. The flying geese units are made, now to do the string block border. I am loving the scrappy look.  Feeling good, two large quilt tops and we are only at Jan 5th. My year is off to a good start. 

 

I look forward to doing Bonnie's Blog Link Monday, and viewing how my other blogger friends have finished their Grand Illusion. Here is the link up http://quiltville.blogspot.ca/2015/01/mystery-monday-link-up-part-6.html#more  

Enjoy all the beauty of another Bonnie Hunter Mystery.  I also hear she is doing a mystery quilt for Quiltmaker magazine starting May/June Issue...some more fun to look forward too. 

Happy New Year 2015

Happy New Year to all my blogger friends from Canada.  I hope you have a healthy, happy year.
The New Year certainly started out with a bug suprise, I thought for sure we would have another clue or two before the finale. Bonnie gave us a wonderful gift, she is the best. I busily sewed seven blocks together, without the sashing...I am having a bit of a dilemma. I've laid out the blocks with the sashing, and I like them better without? What is a girl to do??? I have a couple of busy days ahead me, so lot's of time to ponder the issue. Here are the seven blocks.

Here is one block with sashing.

I am looking forward to viewing all my friends GI quilts.

Clue #5 and Talkin' Turkey progress.

We had such a lovely Christmas, family together...what else could one ask for. Yesterday and today have been quiet days for me and I relish these days. I finished Clue #5, such a nice easy clue.  It won't be long now and we will be putting things together. I think those four little four patches with pink/purple might me used for corners on the borders?

I have all the units made for Talkin' Turkey, and have two rows put together. I am really liking  the scrappy look, Bonnie did hers in reds. 

And I finished my socks, they are very comfy. My sewing room is in the basement, it is a daylight basement so lot'f of light. However, the floor can be cold, nothing like a pair of handknit socks to cure that :)

I made Queen sized quilts for my two sons and granddaughters, here they are! They were all very happy. 

Here are the quilts. 

I hope that you have all had a wonderful holiday and that you are doing what you love. For me that is creating, in some manner :) Take care.
Please visit Bonnie Hunter's Link up Monday to see what everyone else is doing with Grand Illusion
Bonnie Hunter Link up Monday

Grand Illusion part #4

Finished clue #4 this morning. I am questioning my yellows. they are more gold. Hoping when it all goes together they will all play nicely with each other.  As I was doing these units I was reflecting on my first mystery with Bonnie. It was Orca Bay  and with the first clue I nearly bailed out! I didn't have much experience under my belt, my 1/4 seam was very off most times, really didn't know how to cut fabric correctly..units too small etc. I carried on learning as I went, and now realize how much I have learned. Heck, some of my units are large enough I can trim them, and those pesky points...well most of them match up. What a difference practice and taking advice  makes. Here is Orca Bay.

Grand Illusion continues,  And here is part 1  and 2 of clue 4

Here are all the clues together, keeps my mind active wondering how they will all go together. 

 I have also been busy this year with Michelle May's Fellowship of the Flowers. http://theraspberryrabbits.blogspot.ca/2013/12/hoppy-friday-fellowship-of-flowers.html

I just finished these two pin cushions and scissor keeps for two dear friends.

Here are a few more I've made, I am way behind, but have all winter to stitch away happily. I love hand stitching in the evening. Do you? 

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This is one of the projects that I have completed.

Talkin' Turkey is coming along, just a few more flying geese units for the border, and I will start putting it all together.   I attacked this pattern like I would the MQ, each unit at a time. Lot's of units in this container.

I am linking with Bonnie's Link Up Monday http://quiltville.blogspot.ca/2014/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-4.html

Wishing you all a wonderful Holiday Season, may you have Peace and Joy throughout the New Year.

Grand Illusion part 3 and other goings on

Finally got to use some of the greens in Grand Illusion, Bonnie Hunter's new mystery quilt, Clue #3 is finished, eagerly awaiting clue #4.
Here are the two by fours for clue#3.

 Here are all the clues to date, sorry for the shadow.

Talkin' Turkey is coming along. I don't have all the units made, but just had to do enough to try out a couple of blocks. Bonnie's is all red, I decided to do mine scrappy. This quilt is from her book String Fling.  I think it will be quite lovely done scrappy. Love to bust some stash using her patterns. 

 And in the evenings, a bit of knitting. I find knitting so relaxing at the end of a long busy day. this is a sock, should be nice with 4x4 ribbing all the way to the heel .

 On the design wall Missouri Quilting Disappearing Hour Glass. I have had this bundle of Kaffe Fassette Fat quarters for so long, love his fabrics. I think they worked perfectly in this top. Must get this one sewed together soon.

My granddaughter helped me get the tree up and  decorated and the  house spiffed up a bit. We also took a morning and baked cookies. Love the smell of cookies baking, especially ginger cookies. I hope you have had a happy busy week too .
Here is Bonnie's Monday linkup, you can check out a plethora of blogs and see how others are coming along with Grand Illusion. Mystery Monday Link Up

Grand Illusion part#2 and Turkey Tracks

I am loving this mystery. Finished all my Step #2 diamond units, love the colors together. I don't usually do pink and purple.  I used Bonnie's #3 method, it worked for all those chevrons in Celtic Solstice , and worked well for this step. 100 little beauties. Now we just need to use our green, oh my what will she have in store for us next week.

How do you draw your lines on dark fabric?  I use a simple white charcoal pencil from the art store.  It shows up well and is easy to wipe off.

Here is step 1 and 2 together. 

Not a very good photo, the turquoise is much brighter.

And those bonus HST  triangles, how about a pinwheel  star block ? Measures 5 1/2". Need to adjust my seam for the next ones...some wonky points  in my first try. 

Not only am I working on this MQ, I have three of Bonnie's books. Both Shirt Tail books and  String Fling.  Told myself I must make at least one from each book, and I have a lot to choose from. I decided to use up some stash and make Turkey Tracks scrappy, rather than the red that Bonnie did.  Here is what I have  done so far. All of my flying geese, the  bricks are cut and am starting on the string blocks. Turkey Tracks is in Bonnie's Spring Fling book

Very cold up north and getting a fair bit of snow, That is ok I love our bright sun shiney days. the sun makes thlsnow sparkle like a million diamonds. Winter is my sewing time :) 

I am linking to Bonnie's Link Up Monday Blog

http://quiltville.blogspot.ca/2014/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-2.html

I encourage you to go and have a look at how my fellow bloggers are progressing with their Grand Illusion. 

Hope you are having a wonderful Sunday. 

Grand Illusion Step @1

So happy to be working on another Bonnie mystery quilt. It is a great way to spend a cold winter day. It is -35 here today and that is not with the windchill, sunny and bright though.
I have finished clue #1, very colorful.

I am using purples for the black and white. And a more gold tone for the yellow. I have two colors of a muted coral for the pink.   Here are all 100 of the broken dishes unit done.  Four of them  put together make a  lovely star, but is that how they will be placed??? It is a mystery.   This is going to be a very bright quilt.

I am using my new (to me )  1951 Singer Slant O Matic  503 ( doesn't that sound so cool)  to put this mq together. My son went right through it, greased, oiled and tightened here and there, and it just hums along.    I love it. The fins remind me so much of the cars in that error, lot's of fins...and the jukeboxes. And lot's of jivin'.  I love this machine, just about as much as my Featherweight. 

Eagerly awaiting link up Monday, on Bonnie's Blog , so I can see the wonderful color combinations that my fellow bloggers are using for this mystery. Happy sewing. 

Bonnie Hunter's Blog

Grand Illusion

And the day finally came, I have been waiting so patiently. It is 8:06am, on a blustery cold day. -32C with the windchill. Already I have 160 half square triangles ready for trimming...it is bliss to hear the machine humming away making another Bonnie mystery. I am using more of a taupe pallette for this mystery, all the others were done bright.

I have really had to discipline myself these past few weeks. I have many UFO's, don't we all?  However I have had this urge to start a new project, each day I drool over the three books I have of Bonnie's and want to start one..I had to walk away and continue with my promise to have 5 queen size quilts ready or close to it before the mystery. Here is what I finished yesterday (above), it is the top for the last one of the five. Gorgeous flannels and I know the recipient will love it.

 All others are bound and ready to go. This baby just needs quilted, backing is ready , just need to pin it on the quilter..but first I am going to have fun with step #1. I hope you are having a great quilty day. 

Bonnie Hunter scrappy bug

I am very addicted to Bonnie Hunter's scrappy quilts and anything scrappy. After doing three of her Mysteries:  Orca Bay, Easy Street and Celtic Solstice I have completed two more of her patterns, scrappy bargello and scrappy trip. Had to venture off on my own and this one is just off the frame. This is my own design still thinking of an appropriate name, perhaps Starry Path's? Would love your feedback.
Oh...and I am eagerly awaiting the new MQ, Grande Illusion:)

Starry Paths?

And this is another scrappy that I made in the early spring.  Bonnie's wonky stars made bigger. 

Bonnie's pattern Scrappy Bargello quilted and ready for giving as a Christmas gift. 

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend and are enjoying the Canada Blogathon. 

Have a look at my Pattern Page, I have some new patterns . 

http://artbyrhodaforbes.blogspot.ca/p/patterns.html

Grand Illusion and winter.

Well we have had about 12 inches of snow and it is cold, I think winter has arrived in the north.  This was last week on the front lawn.

And here is today! -23C with the windchill.

I have made so many changes to the fabric for Grand Illusion, I hope I can stick with this palette. I have purple as my black and whites and grey as my lights. The green is darker than it looks. I have one more of the rose color to add in, and I think the turquoise is brighter in person too.
 Eagerly awaiting our first clue .