The Reveal - Grand Illusion

So the final clue has been given, the mystery has been revealed.  One of the risks you run when you participate in a mystery quilt is that you might not like it.  And that's kind of a big deal as you have invested a lot of time and fabric.  Well, I'm really on the fence with this one.  While the colors have grown on me, I'm not a big fan of "twirly" blocks so I'm not sure where that leaves me.

One of the things I had to fix was to rip out all the center 4-patch blocks.  I was very intrigued by where and how these blocks would fit in.  Since we had to do 25 I kind of figured they would be the centers of the blocks.  But they should have been 2 aqua and 2 yellow blocks - no black.  No wonder I was intrigued, the blocks were wrong!!  So I had to rip these apart, cut more aqua squares and re-do the blocks.  Didn't take too long.

So this is what the center of the block looks like - I do like these colors.

In the picture below it's interesing to me to see the difference the green makes.  The blocks on the left look much more pink and black and not nearly as blended as the others.  I like the blocks better with the green sashings.

So I made enough units to make 16 blocks which will be plenty big for me. Bonnie's quilts are always so big I never make the total number of units for each clue.

 I'm still not sure about the border, it just doesn't do anything for me.  I've had to put this away for now, but I will play aournd with the border blocks when I get back to this.  As I've said before, this is my 5th mystery.  For the first few years I waited until the reveal to see if I wanted to make it.  But the last 2 years I've jumped in and played along not knowing if I would like the quilt or not.  

I'm glad I played along even if I'm kind of under-whelmed at this point.  I know a lot of people really love the way this quilt turned out.  It is a happy quilt and I promise I will finish it - the blocks are all done and pressed.  Thanks Bonnie for another fun project.

Happy Stitching,

Karen

A Fun Surprise

Five weeks have passed since I started this post but part of starting a new year is not procrastinating on certain things so I'm finishing it. (I've also got a few more in Draft that I'll get to shortly).  Back in November I got an email from a blogger friend  Teresa Marler letting me know that she has seen Organic Pink Pickles in this magazine and wondered if I'd seen it  yet.

Needless to say I had not and I was sooo excited.  I managed to get a peek at the magazine when I was in JoAnn's before Christmas.  Always a thrill..... it never.gets.old.

I'm off to plan a new baby quilt - pure joy!  Hope I can find the perfect fabrics.  And to start off this new year - it's going to be a modern quilt!!  Eeek, I hope I'm not going to the 'Bright Side" LOL!!

Happy stitching,

Karen

I'm Definitely Intrigued - Clues 4 and 5

I'm a little behind with the clues.  We spent a week in NC for Christmas and then I came home with either the flu or with some yucky virus.  I've finally felt well enough to be vertical, do some laundry, unpack and spend some time at the machine.  So all my clues are not finished, but at least I've done some of each.

Clue 4 has been kind of awkward for me.  The pieces have to be in exactly the right position and it's not easy to get into a rhythm.

Clue 5 was super easy, just squares.

So this is where things are right now.  With grey, cloudy skies in Pensacola, working with these colors has been so enjoyable.  My friend Linda at FlourishingPalms thinks maybe I've gone over to the "Bright Side" LOL.  Not so sure about that, but I have enjoyed these colors and I am so anxious to see where this is going.

My DGD had a show and share for me when we got to Charlotte.  She had displayed both of the quilts we've worked on together.

She was so excited to show me.

The best part of my Christmas this year was spending the day with these people, my family.  It was the first time in about 7 or 8 years we have all been together.  My brother, sister and I are so blessed to have been raised by these Godly and precious people.  I do not take it for granted to still have them in my life.

I wish you all a Happy New Year and maybe some stitching time.

Karen

Grand Illusion Clue 3

This step has been so easy and so much fun.  It was a little rough at first, I didn't quite read all the directions, so I had to spend a little time with the frogs - ripit, ripit.  But once I got in the groove, can I just say that working with these limey greens puts you in a great mood.  This is a happy color! And I felt so "modern" LOL.  I really cannot wait to see how this block fits in the quilt. I had my reservations at first about these colors, but I think this is going to be a great quilt.

Here are two possibilities for the double diamond units (it probably won't be either).  Adding the green has changed the whole balance of the quilt.  I bet the next step has a bunch of yellow, we've still got a lot to use.

I realized I didn't have any kitty fabric in the quilt, so I found 2 different prints that will work as neutrals.

I love mixing all these fabrics together!! And I can't wait for the reveal.  

I had to work today so hopefully will find a little time to stitch tonight.

'Tis the season to be merry :).

Karen

A QAYG Chevron Finish

I have finally finished this fun QAYG Chevron quilt and will turn it in tonight at our Guild meeting.  

I got the idea for this quilt from Maureen's blog tutorial here

We always seem to be short on boy's quilts for our charity projects.

This was a fun method that used a lot of stash fabrics.  I started this last spring and I'm glad to have a finish!

It almost looks like an I Spy quilt with all the novelty fabrics.

I didn't make it as big as the original, but it will be perfect for a small boy.

And here's a picture from Thanksgiving of me and my DH with our 4 precious babies.  

Life is good.  

Hope you get some stitching in at the busy time.

Karen

I Just Couldn't Help Myself

Several years ago I watched with interest Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt, "Roll, Roll Cotton Boll".  I didn't participate until the quilt was revealed and I was hooked.  This is my 5th BH mystery - I've done RRCB, Orca Bay, Easy Street and Celtic Solstice.  Mysteries are hard for me and I'm always so uncertain at this point.  Will I love it enough to justify spending so much time?  But I've found that I do enjoy making the blocks and guessing what it will look like.  So, I've taken the plunge again and started.

The newest mystery is called Grand Illusion and I'm using the colors that Bonnie suggested. These broken dishes blocks were clue one.

These pink and black blocks are Clue #2.

I didn't have to work today and this is where I started this morning.

After a fun sewing day, this is where I am now.  I'm probably done until the next clue comes out Friday.  I must admit, I don't love these colors, but the last color in the group is green.  I'm going to reserve judgment for a few more clues.  Bonnie has a way of making these random blocks look amazing.

 I have tons more units to make even though I usually make mine smaller.  I do need to make a few more broken dishes - I don't have nearly enough even if I make my quilt smaller.

Stay tuned, it's going to be a happy quilt.

Karen

A Little Christmas Wallhanging

On Friday afternoon, my DGD decided we should go to Nana Girl's studio and make a quilt!!  I guess the fact that she was leaving at 5:30 AM the next morning was not a factor.  So, upstairs we went.  She looked thru my books and picked a pattern.  Then she picked fabric after telling me that she didn't really like scrappy, she liked things to match.  She decided on the green and the swirly red (which was her favorite).  Not finding anything suitable for a border, her mom ran her up to JoAnn's while I kept cutting and sewing.  By Friday night, we had this finished top.

My all-time favorite go to books for great, easy ideas are Kim Brackett's Scrap Basket series.  I gave Cameron all 3 books and she picked this quilt.  

She desperately wanted to finish it but there just wasn't time.  I promised her I would finish it quickly.  Saturday I basted and started quilting.

Picking the overall swirl design was easy as she kept saying the red swirly fabric was her favorite.

I decided on stars and loops in the border. 

A bright green was perfect for the binding.  It got mailed off by Tuesday

and should arrive today.  I'm hoping for a phone call to see how she likes it in person.

My youngest DGD was also in my studio working on a "quilt".  As she is only 3, we had to get a little creative.  She picked scraps of fabric she liked and using a stapler declared she was "making a quilt".  No picture was taken, but here she is enjoying an ice cream cone. :)  Can I just say that Nana Girl had  a precious, memory filled afternoon.

These are the best times in life. 

Have a happy stitching day,

Karen