Design Wall Monday 12/18/2023

It's that "Bonnie Hunter mystery" time of year again. The latest version is called "Indigo Way." As usual, the mystery clues started appearing over Thanksgiving weekend and will continue until sometime in early January. You can find links for all the information at Bonnie's blog HERE.

I was very tempted to join this year's mystery, especially after seeing that Bonnie was using red, white and blue for hers. I generally try to come up with my own set of colors for a mystery just to make my quilt different than the others, but you can't go wrong with RW&B. I also considered switching out the blues to greens for a Christmas quilt.

Thinking about making the mystery in Christmas colors reminded me that I had used similar colors for Bonnie's 2022 mystery, Chilhowie (now available as a PDF pattern.)  I started late on that mystery, made a reduced number of the different parts, then decided I didn't really like how mine was turning out. Maybe it's time to give it another chance.

The photo above shows some of what was finished on Chilhowie earlier this year--one large block plus three smaller blocks waiting to be turned into large blocks. There were also many other units made, plus more pieces cut out. Last week I continued making blocks, ending up with a total of eight small plus the one large block.

The next step in Bonnie's version would be to turn all of those small blocks into large blocks, then add a pieced sashing. These blocks already have more gold in them than I would like. Instead, I removed the large block and played with a new layout using already-made red/light HSTs.

I'm still not sure where I'm going with this design. I wish there was more green in there, plus the diagonals don't really work for me. It feels like it's time to move away from the design wall and play with some ideas on the computer instead. Maybe I can come up with a better plan that way. Or maybe it's time to throw in the towel and give these blocks to someone else for finishing.

Check out what other quilters are working on this week at Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts and at Monday Musings at Songbird Designs. 

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA 

Design Wall Monday 1/2/2023

My first Design Wall Monday post of the new year features a new project that hasn't appeared here before. I made a late start on Bonnie Hunter's annual mystery quilt Chilhowie. She announced the fabric requirements on Halloween, then started giving weekly clues on the day after Thanksgiving. I was focused on another project at that time and didn't start on the mystery until a week before Christmas, and I decided to use Christmas colors for my version.

The first few weeks were all about making different units. Since I was so far behind, I started by making only a few of each. We made four-patches (and nine-patches too, but I've already used those up), half-square triangles, and quarter-square hourglass units. Then there are the ones across the bottom that look like a picket fence to me--I'm guessing that they will become a border.

The next step was to put units together into blocks. I like how the design is looking, although I'm not sure about the pale red points in the bottom block.

After that more units were added to make the blocks even bigger. I've only got one together so far.

Here's my one big block along with the three center blocks. Bonnie's pattern calls for a total of 16 of the big blocks. I'm shooting for 8-9 at this point. I'm looking forward to getting the next step on Friday.

Check out what other quilters are working on this week at Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts. 

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA 

Orphan Adoption--Grassy Creek

Update Wed. 3/24/21--This giveaway is closed. The winner is Erin and she has been contacted by email. Watch for new orphan giveaways in September.

It is time once again for one of my favorite events, the Spring 2021 Quilty Orphan Adoption Event, hosted by Cynthia at Quilting is more fun than Housework. This twice-yearly giveaway is the perfect opportunity to clear out some old projects that I am ready to admit I have lost interest in and pass them on to someone who will be happy to finish them. The recipient is happy to get a new project, and I get rid of the guilt of having another UFO hanging around, plus I empty out one of my project boxes.

One of the orphans I gave away last fall was a set of four Jacob's Ladder blocks, plus enough parts to make more. I was very happy to receive an email a couple months later with a photo of this finished quilt top made from those parts. It was going to be given to someone recovering from serious auto accident injuries. I am thrilled that my UFO was able to bring someone else some happiness and comfort.

I have participated in the Orphan Adoption several times before, and most of those times I have given away old UFOs that I knew I would never get around to finishing. This year is different--I am giving away leftover pieces from two different recent projects. The first group comes from Grassy Creek, the Bonnie Hunter 2020 mystery quilt. 

My Grassy Creek giveaway will include the six large blocks shown in the above photo, plus 34 of the little green and orange 9-patches (there are 21 of them in the photo.) The large blocks finish at 12" and the 9-patches at 3". The taupe with white dots fabric that you see between the blocks is not included--that is the flannel that covers my design wall.

Bonnie's clues for the mystery are not posted on her blog anymore, but you can purchase a PDF of the pattern. When I made my version of Grassy Creek, I changed my color palette partway through and decided to avoid the brighter oranges and greens that you see in these blocks. That is why I ended up with so many extras, and now they can be yours!

I have one other orphan available for adoption, the leftover pieces from my recent Blooming Onion quilt top. You can find that listing HERE.

Leave a comment to let me know if you would like to adopt this orphan project. Shipping in the U.S. only. Please be sure to include your email address so I can contact the winner. I will choose a random winner next Tuesday, March 23. Get your comment in by noon that day. Be sure to check out the rest of the quilty orphans over at Quilting is more fun than Housework. 

Julie in GA

Grassy Creek top done!

It has taken awhile, but I am finally ready to share photos of my completed Grassy Creek quilt top, the 2020 Bonnie Hunter mystery.

Grassy Creek, 64" x 79"

When I finished the top, we were going through a stretch of far too many grey, rainy days to get good outdoor photos. I tried taking some photos indoors first, and this was the best of the lot. The colors are more true in the previous photo.

This mystery was one of the extremely rare instances where I chose to use the same colors for the quilt as the designer. I liked Bonnie's fall inspiration and had been wanting to make a quilt with those colors. My biggest change was using a single grey fabric instead of scraps and strings for the grey areas.

There were some adjustments to my color palette that happened along the way. After Bonnie revealed the finished quilt in January, I put together some blocks and sashing units, then put them all together on the design wall. That's when I realized that my fall color scheme had wandered off track.

Bonnie's design used "parakeet" yellow-greens, which to my eye looked much too bright for fall colors. Of the blocks I had made, only the one at the top left of the previous photo seemed right. I ended up rejecting or remaking the rest of the blocks and most of the nine-patches. Here is my second attempt at the blocks, which made me much happier.

It is always a good feeling to finish the piecing on a Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt. Anyone who has done one of her mysteries knows from the outset that there will be many small pieces, and string piecing is frequently included. I skipped the string piecing on this one, using a single grey fabric instead, and that saved lots of time. Here is a closer look at the assembly of part of my quilt.

The size of Bonnie's finished quilt was 94" x 94", and it has 25 blocks in it. I considered making the whole quilt, but wasn't ready to commit to that at the beginning. I started out making about 2/3 of each of the units in Bonnie's instructions, but ended up using only 12 blocks in my version. The finished size of my top is 64" x 79".

After the center of the quilt was together, I searched my stash for an appropriate border fabric. I wasn't having much luck until I ran across this leafy sunprint that was leftover from backing an earlier quilt. These are the colors that say fall to me.

I have one last photo to share--the stained-glass look with the quilt top hanging over the deck railing.

For anyone interested in making Bonnie's Grassy Creek quilt, the mystery clues have been taken down from her blog. However, it is available as a pattern booklet from her Quiltville store HERE.

Linking up with:

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt
Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

Whoop Whoop Friday at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA  

To-Do Tuesday 2/9/2021

Happy To-Do Tuesday once again.  It's time to look back at my to-do list from last week, see how I did on accomplishing my goals, then post a new list for the week ahead. I'm linking up with the  To-Do Tuesday Weekly Progress Update and Link-up hosted by Roseanne and Sue at Home Sewn By Us. 

The weekly to-do list continues to help keep me focused on my current projects. It worked so well last week that I had my entire list done by Sunday, which made it possible for me to begin another new project, a Super Bowl Sunday mystery that I blogged about yesterday. Now I have yet one more item on next week's list.

To-Do List for 2/2 - 2/8:

1. Bowties 365--make one yellow bowtie block every day    ✔done 

I'm right on track with these blocks.

2. Stay-at-Home Round Robin (SAHRR)--add Flying Geese border   ✔done           

See it in THIS blog post.

3. Grassy Creek mystery--finish assembly, decide on borders  ✔done 

I have the quilt center all together and have chosen a multicolor batik for the border.

4. Sewcialites QAL--make block #18   ✔done 

This little 6" block has 40 pieces in it!

5. One Monthly Goal--choose a project & write blog post  ✔done 

Check out my OMG post HERE.

6. 30's Kaleidoscope--cut yellows and start piecing blocks  ✔done 

My yellow blocks are done, except for the outer corners on half the blocks (where you see the grey) because I haven't chosen the fabric yet.

To-Do List for 2/9 - 2/15:

1. Bowties 365--make one bowtie block every day    

2. Grassy Creek mystery--add borders

3. Stay-at-Home Round Robin (SAHRR)--add next round (checkerboard)              

4. Sewcialites QAL--make block #19   

5. Scrap Magnet--make 2 yellow blocks

6. Sister's Choice (OMG)--quilt 3 border sections

7. Super Bowl Mystery--finish making blocks

That should all be more than enough to keep me busy for the next week!  I'll report on my progress and post a new set of goals next Tuesday. I'm linking up with other To-Do Tuesday lists at Home Sewn by Us. 

Julie in GA

To-Do Tuesday 2/2/21

Happy Groundhog Day and Happy To-Do Tuesday too!  It's time once again to look back at my to-do list from last week, see how I did on accomplishing my goals, then post a new list for the week ahead. I'm linking up with the  To-Do Tuesday Weekly Progress Update and Link-up hosted by Roseanne and Sue at Home Sewn By Us. 

Last week's list was another long one, and having the list helped keep me focused on meeting those goals. I generally find that I might work on whichever project I'm most interested in early in the week, then concentrate on finishing off the rest of the list over the weekend. That has been working well for me lately.

To-Do List for 1/26 - 2/1:

1. Bowties 365--make one bowtie block every day  ✔done 

I ended up with 36 pink blocks for the month of January and have switched to yellow for February.

2. Stay-at-Home Round Robin (SAHRR)--add plus signs border  ✔done  

My plus signs are not a full border, but the corner blocks on the piano keys border.   

           

3. Glorified 9-Patch--make 2 blocks in pink     ✔done

I finished the last two blocks in pink plus two in black/grey.

4. Grassy Creek mystery--put together six blocks      ✔done

I finished making all the blocks needed for this quilt and have started joining them together. Here is what is done so far.

5. Sewcialites QAL--make block #17      ✔done        

This is one of my favorite 30's reproduction prints, and I have it in several colors.

                     

6. Sew Colorful Stars--make one pink block  ✔done

Lots of half-square triangles in this block! 16" finished size block.

Last week certainly was productive! The cold weather makes time in the quilting room my top choice of activity. Of course, it's also my top choice in any other weather too!

To-Do List for 2/2 - 2/8:

1. Bowties 365--make one yellow bowtie block every day  

2. Stay-at-Home Round Robin (SAHRR)--add Flying Geese border                

3. Grassy Creek mystery--finish assembly, decide on borders

4. Sewcialites QAL--make block #18   

5. One Monthly Goal--choose a project & write blog post

6. 30's Kaleidoscope--cut yellows and start piecing blocks

That should all be plenty to keep me busy for the next week!  I'll report on my progress and post a new set of goals next Tuesday. I'm linking up with other To-Do Tuesday lists at Home Sewn by Us. 

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 2/1/2021

One of my many quilting tasks last week was to finish up making the different units needed for my version of Bonnie Hunter's 2020 mystery quilt called Grassy Creek. After remaking some of the parts to adjust the colors, I was ready to begin joining units together.

This shows two segments out of six for my version of the quilt. I prefer to join parts together into medium sized sections, rather than having lots of long rows to join together. Bonnie's quilt has 25 of the star blocks and measures 94 x 94, but I am making a smaller quilt with only 12 blocks. Before any plain borders are added, the center of my quilt should measure 54" x 69". I will decide whether to add any borders once the pieced area is all assembled.

Linking up with:
Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA  

To-Do Tuesday 1/26/2021

It's Tuesday morning once again, which means it is time to look back at my to-do list from last week, see how I did on accomplishing my goals, then post a new list for the week ahead. I'm linking up with the  To-Do Tuesday Weekly Progress Update and Link-up hosted by Roseanne and Sue at Home Sewn By Us. 

My list for last week was long, but I managed to complete every goal on the list. I spent much more time than expected on #2, but the list helped me stay focused on finishing the rest of the items at the end of the week.

To-Do List for 1/19 - 1/25:

1. Bowties 365--make one bowtie block every day                     ✔done

I've gotten a little bit ahead and have 27 bowtie blocks made so far.

2. Blooming Onion--make six more blocks                                 ✔done       

Instead of making just six blocks, I made the remaining 18 blocks last week and then joined all the blocks together. You can see my finished quilt top in yesterday's post.

3. Glorified 9-Patch--make 1 block in pink                                 ✔done      

4. Grassy Creek mystery--put together two blocks                     ✔done   

5. Sewcialites QAL--make block #16                                         ✔done

Here are the blocks for goals #3-5. The two top blocks are for Grassy Creek, the white and lavender block on the right is for the Sewcialites QAL, and the pink and black block is the Glorified 9-Patch. At the bottom left is a block I made from four Double Bowtie blocks in Green Bay Packers colors. Unfortunately, they lost on Sunday, but maybe I will do something with the block before next season.

6. Stay-at-Home Round Robin (SAHRR)--add piano keys border  ✔done

I finished the piano keys border and included it in Sunday's blog post.

I had hoped that my list would be shorter for next week, but it has stayed at the same number of tasks. Most of them are continuations from previous weeks.

To-Do List for 1/26 - 2/1:

1. Bowties 365--make one bowtie block every day 

2. Stay-at-Home Round Robin (SAHRR)--add plus signs border                            

3. Glorified 9-Patch--make 2 blocks in pink                                    

4. Grassy Creek mystery--put together six blocks (working on this quilt will be my biggest project for the week)                     

5. Sewcialites QAL--make block #17                                        

6. Sew Colorful Stars--make one pink block for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge

That should all be plenty to keep me busy for the next week!  I'll report on my progress and post a new set of goals next Tuesday. I'm linking up with other To-Do Tuesday lists at Home Sewn by Us. 

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday--1/18/2021

The current project filling one of my design walls is Grassy Creek, the Bonnie Hunter 2020 mystery quilt. Bonnie's final reveal of the quilt happened about 10 days ago, and I spent part of the past weekend making up some blocks and sashing units.

The blocks, sashing units and 9-patches are not joined together yet, just laid out on the wall. I overlapped areas to complete the grey diagonals between the blocks and sashing, but that makes it look like the red triangle tips are cut off.

This mystery may be the first time I ever used the same color palette as the original design. Usually I prefer to go in a different direction and make my own unique version. This time I liked Bonnie's colors and used them for my quilt. The main change I made was to go with a single grey fabric instead of scrappy greys.

I've been making about 60% of all the different units each week. My plan was to make a smaller quilt than Bonnie's original 94" x 94", although I did buy enough of the grey fabric to make the full quilt in case I really loved it. I'm currently thinking about making a lap quilt with 12 of the star blocks (Bonnie's quilt has 25 stars.) If my math is correct, my quilt would measure 54" x 72" before borders. The photo above would be approximately half of that amount.

If you are interested in making your own version of Grassy Creek mystery, be sure to head to Bonnie's blog soon for all the clues. You can download them for free until Feb. 12th. After that, she will rewrite the pattern and sell it as a PDF. The main page for the Grassy Creek mystery is HERE.

Linking up with:
Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA  

To-Do Tuesday 12/22/2020

At this time of year, the to-do list is more important than ever, whether it is a list of Christmas gifts. groceries, or quilting projects. Today it's time to catch up with the To-Do Tuesday Weekly Progress Update and Link-up hosted by Roseanne and Sue at Home Sewn By Us. I did very well on last week's lengthy list, with progress on all of my projects except one.

To-Do List for 12/15 - 12/21/2020

1. Santa Ho Ho Ho--binding                                         ✔done

The Santa wallhanging is finished and hanging near the back door. Finished size is 10" x 19".

2. Another secret Christmas gift                                   ✔done

All secret Christmas projects are done (unless I decide to make something at the last minute--it has happened before!)

3. Thimbleberries wallhanging--continue quilting            not done

This project is not going to be completed for Christmas this year.

4. Grassy Creek mystery--work on Step 4                     ✔progress    

All of my units for Step 4 have been stitched; half still need to be trimmed.

        

5. Sewcialites QAL--make blocks #12 & 13                    ✔done     

I am caught up on this block-of-the-week project.

6. Glorified 9-Patch--stitch last brown block                   ✔done  

My yellow and brown blocks are finished, but some need the outer edges trimmed. I have also prepped the parts for four black/grey blocks.

        

7. RSC Square Dance--continue joining blocks together  ✔done

Half the blocks for this quilt have been stitched together.

My list for the next week will be less ambitious, allowing plenty of time to enjoy Christmas, but I still hope to do a little bit of quilting every day.

To-Do List for 12/22 - 12/28/2020

1. RSC Square Dance--finish joining all blocks together

2. Grassy Creek mystery--finish Step 4, begin Step 5

3. Sewcialites QAL--make block #14

4. Glorified 9-Patch--stitch one black/grey block 

That should be more than enough to keep me busy for the next week. I'll report on my progress and post a new set of goals next Tuesday. I'm linking up with other To-Do Tuesday lists at Home Sewn by Us. 

Merry Christmas to all! I hope you have checked everything off your Christmas to-do lists!

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 12/21/2020

Most of my recent quilting time has been split between making units for Step 4 of Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek mystery quilt and joining together blocks for my Rainbow Scrap Challenge project, the Stashbuster Square Dance quilt

Here are a few of the parts made for Bonnie's mystery, Step 4. I still have quite a few more to finish up.

The RSC Square Dance blocks are being stitched together into columns. This photo shows about 1/4 of the total quilt. Half of the quilt has already been assembled, and I hope to get the rest put together before Saturday, our final Rainbow Scrap Challenge day of 2020.

Linking up with:
Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Merry Christmas to all and happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA  

Design Wall Monday 12/14/2020

The main focus of my quilting time last week was making units for Grassy Creek, Bonnie Hunter's 2020 mystery quilt. Each unit shown has multiple matching units stacked up underneath it , and these are only a portion of the units I have made so far. The grey and gold half-square triangles are Step 1, the little green-gold-white hourglass units are Step 2, and the red-white-orange triangles are Step 3.

I have done a few others of Bonnie's mystery quilts in the past, and a couple things are different for me this year. The first thing is that I am making it in the same colors as Bonnie used. For all past mystery quilts, either by Bonnie Hunter or anyone else, I always try to use a different color combination so that my quilt will be different than all the rest. This year I was in the mood for the fall colors, so I am following her plan. I have gone scrappy with all the colors except the grey--I'm using a single fabric for that color.

The other change this year is that I'm actually considering making the same size as Bonnie's pattern. In the past I have made my versions smaller than her design. The finished size of this quilt is 94" square, which would be a good size for my bed. Right now I'm making about 2/3 of the total number of units called for in the pattern, but I might decide to go for it and make them all. I made sure to buy enough of the grey fabric (my only purchase for this quilt) in order to complete the quilt.

Linking up with:
Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA 

To-Do Tuesday 12/1/2020

Today it's time to catch up with the To-Do Tuesday Weekly Progress Update and Link-up hosted by Roseanne and Sue at Home Sewn By Us. I spent most of last week finishing up a small quilt, but I also completed most of the other tasks on my list.

To-Do List for 11/17 - 11/23:

1. Practice What I Preach--finish quilting + binding     ✔ FINISHED!

This quilt is finished and hanging on the wall. Read more and see photos HERE.

2. Glorified 9-Patch--stitch one brown block               ✔ done

Another block hand stitched, but needs to be trimmed.

3. Frolic (Bonnie Hunter 2019 mystery)--figure out plan for borders (unless I decide to go ahead and start her new mystery) 

I didn't touch Frolic, but I did start the new mystery, Grassy Creek. Our first step is making half-square triangles. I am using a single grey fabric with my scrappy golds.

4. Sewcialites QAL--make block #10                         ✔ done

I changed the layout of my block--the original pattern had the diagonal bars pointing out toward the corners.

I'm hoping that having a to-do list will help keep me focused next week. As we get closer to Christmas, life just seems to speed up more and more.

To-Do List for 12/1 - 12/7/2020

1. Grassy Creek (Bonnie Hunter 2020 mystery)--finish step 1, start step 2

2. Sewcialites QAL--make block #11

3. Glorified 9-Patch--stitch one brown block 

4. Thimbleberries wallhanging--fix border, begin quilting

I shared this little quilt top in yesterday's post. It is an oldie that I rediscovered and would like to finish before Christmas.

That should be more than enough to keep me busy for the next week. I'll report on my progress and post a new set of goals next Tuesday. I'm linking up with other To-Do Tuesday lists at Home Sewn by Us .

Julie in GA