RRCB class ready to go!

Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll class at Marriner's quilt Shop in Bath, Maine

Easy Street  Step 6
 

I am so excited to be doing a class on another one of Bonnie Hunter's quilts.  This time at Marriner's Compass Quilt Shop in Bath, Maine.
That will make two of her quilts I will be teaching in January/February.
As you can see,  I have finished step 6 of Easy Street.   I am anxious to see what all these pieces will turn into.   On the other hand,  I like looking forward to those clues coming each week.
I have so enjoyed doing this quilt.  I have only done one other mystery and was pleased with the outcome.http://www.marinerscompass.com/

Dreams come true at Christmas!!!

My dreams came true.  This is a gift from my sons!

easy street step 5, done on time

Heart quilt for a class at JoAnn's (more pics to follow)
 

This has truly been a busy week.   With all the finishing up of Christmas things, wrapping, putting up the tree, making pies, etc, etc,  I still managed to get step 5 completed and make 30 heart blocks for a quilt for a class at JoAnn's.   I guess that was the only way to keep my sanity with a newly retired Hubby.
Was sharing about this White machine I spotted at an antique shop with my youngest son.  He and his brother got it for me for Christmas, yeah, totally unexpected.    It is well worn but I cleaned it up and oiled it last night,  tested the motor, but it was toooooo late to actually sew on it.  Today, I will thread the beast and check it out properly.   It is real heavy duty, says canvas and leather too, wow!!!!    The fabric on it had a very nice stitch, so am sure it will work well.  I just love it.  I know, after the Bonnie tradition, it needs a name..  ????? A real workhorse and a beast.    Maybe Fiona, after shrek!!!!  
CAN'T WAIT!!!    I also signed up for Bonnie's Alaska cruise!!!!!  Boy, oh, Boy,  so excited!!!!! I am really nervous, too.   Haven't flown since 1966, never cruised or been further west than East Tennessee.   Will really be losts of firsts for me at my age.  But,  I am still so looking forward to it.
Still need a cabinmate, if anyone is interested!!!  Love to have you join me!!!

Busy, Busy, plus step 4

Easy Street Mystery  Step 4
 

I can't beleive I am actually keeping up!!!  Was so afraid I could not do it at this time of year.
But, here it is!!!  Yeah and Hallelujah!!!!!!
I was able to get this done between making and wrapping Christmas presents.  I still have lots to do and have a couple days to do Christmas before  YEAH, step 5!!!!   I am just loving it. I only had to fix one goose wing, undo 3 sets because I put the same color geese on the same set and one I had to undo a diamond- hahaha, messed that one up!!!
I am working on a baby quilt, ready to quilt at home.   I need to do a quilt for JoAnn's class which I am sure will not happen, BOOOOOO!  This is one that I like, at least a little, definitely not a Bonnie Hunter design, but cute and quick.  It is all cut, just need to put 24 blocks together.
It is snowing again, or should I say still, since Sunday.  We got about 4 inches, then rain to wash it all away and now back to snow flurries.  
Went to a delightful concert with my Granddaughter singing in her high school choir.   It was very special.  Love her concerts.   A great variety of music from Welcome Christmas from the Grinch to Ave Maria which was done beautifully. They also did several foreign Christmas songs.   Just loved it.

EASY STREET step 3 DONE!!!

FRONT

BACK

STEP 3 DONE!

Well, What do you think??   Front or back of the turquios fabric.
The finished block sets show the true color of the fabric.   As you can see, I liked the back of the fabric better.
I got this on the freebie table at our guild meeting.   I have picked up lots of fabric that others don't want or don't like.  For example, the front of this one.  I did not like it at all, but I have put some of it to good use.   This is the second quilt I have used it in.    Have plenty more to find something to use it on.  Hummmmmm, maybe the back of this quilt???

Anyway,   Easy Street Mystery step 3 is done.   I really enjoyed making this unit.   Went together real well using the easy angle ruler.  Very little trimming.  I have always had trouble making detailed quilts, always went for the big block UNTIL  Bonnie Hunter.   I love doing the intricate work now.  String piecing,   half-square triangles,  flying geese are all units I struggled with. Now, they are fun.   LOVE IT!!!!!!

Easy Street step 2 done, YEAH!!!

Easy Street Mystery 2  with rectangles

This is pretty impressive for me.   I am finished with step 2, even the rectangles, YEAH!!!!!  Can't believe that I have been able to keep up.   Also have my RRCB ready for quilter tomorrow and binding almost sewn down on my Purple Mountain Majesties.    I can't believe I have done all this.
Had a Quilting 101 class at JoAnn's tonight.  Two people signed up and neither one showed up.  I put alot of work into these classes.   Had one Hole in the Barn Door quilt block  stolen while on display.  UGH, my favorite one with kitties in the hole in the barn door.  No more classes til after Christmas.

6 block RRCB flimsy for class

Roll Roll Cotton Boll (flimsy)

No,  I haven't even started step 2 of Easy Street Mystery!!!   Have been finishing my RRCB flimsy to get ready for quilter.  These are not my colors, but I love it.  Did not like the color of the string blocks until I had them trimmed and cut.  Then they looked really good.  Happy with the borders, too.
NOW, to start putting those flying geese in the air.   Had a hard time waiting!!!

What I have accomplished this week!!!

Wow, actually finished step 1 of Easy Street

6 blocks of RRCB done for a wall hanging class

I think I have been very busy this week.   I did not think I could get all those 4 patch blocks done.   I was impressed with myself.   I did a lot of them as Leaders & Enders  while working on the blocks for RRCB.   I wasn't sure of my fabric choices but I love both sets of blocks.   Had fun doing the RRCB blocks.   I really like how they turned out.   I still need to finish the string blocks, but sure I can finish those soon.  
Now for step 2 of EASY STREET.     Hope I can keep up, with getting ready for Christmas and all.

Purple Mountain Majesties
made from a free pattern
by Bonnie Hunter
called Scrappy Mountain Majesties

another view of the flimsy

Just finished this flimsy up tonight while watching Bonnie Hunter on Quiltcam.  I am going to teach this pattern in a class in January with Merrymeeting Adult Ed.
I still have not decided if I want to add borders or not.  It is quite big as it is.
Not sure if I am going to quilt it on my home machine or take the class on the longarm and quilt it on that at the local quilt shop.

Choices for the Bonnie Hunter Mystery quilt  "Easy Street"
 

I sure hope these colors work well with this mystery quilt.  I had no whites or greens,  so DARN  I had to go shopping.   The purples are leftover from my scrappy purple mountains majesty that I am working on for a class.   Got to get going on that today.  The turquoise is the back side of an ugly print that I picked up on the freebee table at our guild.  This is the second time that I have used it!! Back side only.  It does show a bit of pattern but not a butt-ugly pattern.  The grey (gray)  I had I think another freebee table item.  Anyways, it is a go!  Whatever happens with it happens.   May end up a charity quilt, someone will love it.   I just bet it will be me.

Small fabric challenge

back of grey block to show quilting
 

from of block (can't see quilting)

one of my favorite marking templates (leaves galore ruler)

design I chose
 

this is the back and front flap of the bag with simple curved line quilting
 

handy book for quilting patterns

This is a small block that is part of a small bag that I am creating for a fabric challenge.  I needed to quilt it a little since I put batting in the middle instead of fleece.   Looked in my book to find a pattern.  Harriet Hargrave has a lot of designs in this book.  I found one I liked and figured by using the Leaves galore ruler I could duplicate it (somewhat).  It was very easy to do using the ruler.  I have used it to mark several projects, but have not used it to make leaves with yet.
Now that the quilting is done, I need to put it together.

How does this look for a finished fabric challenge?  It was fun.  Not too big, but just right for my phone, and small essentials.  Came out a lot better than I had hoped.  Love it!

BrendasBreezyBitz: ONE HOUR OF NEEDLE & THREAD ROUNDUP!

BrendasBreezyBitz: ONE HOUR OF NEEDLE & THREAD ROUNDUP!

Hand quilting and applique for September

upside down pic of rays behind blue flowered mountains, with moose

fishscape (in progress) from class with Jo Diggs

Acton Fair contes block, with both machine and hand applique.



Thanks again, Bonnie for giving me a little shove to get going again on my hand quilting.
Was not able to do one hour a day everyday because of sickness and being away, but I did manage 40 1/2 hours
in September.   These are just some of the pieces I worked on.  My fishscape was done at Cumberland fair while I watched oxen pulling with my Hubby.  I have completed 28 moose and the sky blocks on 2 1/2 sides of the outer row of blocks.
Was so glad for the shove and hope to continue one hour a day to try and get this quilt done.
Thanks, Bonnie!!!

Acton Fair block contest 2013

Acton Fair Block Contest 2013 "Christmas"

     This is what I did yesterday,  along with my one hour of hand quilting.   I was feeling poorly
from a cold and managed to accomplish something. Didn't want to sit idle all day.

Acton fair 2010 5th place   "A day at the Beach"



2nd place 2012 "the 60"s"
 

     Two years ago, I got 5th place.  This year I got 2nd place.  I enjoy doing this.  Acton fair takes the blocks and makes a quilt out of them.  They raffle the quilt among all who make a block.   Have not won yet, but maybe next year!!!

One day of needle work challenge

rays of sun in the sky (upside down)
one hours worth

 five hours of hand applique yesterday, while at the Cumberland fair watching ox pulling.

     Okay, so Monday I goofed off.   Well, I was at the fair and did my oxen powderpuff pull (got 5th out of 11 teams) at Cumberland fair.  When I got home, I was just toooooo tired to do any quilting.  
      So, yesterday, I took my hand applique fish scene to the fair to work on while I watched the pulling with my hubby.  I sat there for more than 5 hours and worked on my fish scene.  This is a class that I took with Jo Diggs from Portland, Maine.   Loved her work for years and finally got to take a class.   Have finished a couple of pieces already.
  Tonight I did my hour on my quilt.   I have completed one side of the outer row of mountains, only the sky portion. You can see the moose parading around the outside border.  It is looking better all the time.  I love it.

My old sewing buddy

Bummy, my helper?
 

     Bonnie, you said you liked kitties and sewing machines,  well. here he is. Lost him last year, but he was my helper for many years.  That is where he liked to sit while I was sewing.  I always had to move his tail out of the way!!!!!,  Either that or he was the other way arround, trying to catch the thread take up lever.
     Started on my sky blocks last night.  Decided to continue the sunrise theme in them.   So far so good.   It is a lot eaiser to do staight lines, than those stupid antlers.   This quilt has led me all the way, even to the Katahdin batting, a Maine-made batting named for the highest mountain in Maine.  Went to the LQS to get a wool batt for it and was asked if I had tried the Katahdin batting.  I said "oh no, with my theme that had to be the batting for the quilt."   My Josh just loves Mt. Katahdin in Baxter State Park.

28 moose parading around my quilt

9 1/4 hours this week!!!

     Finally finished my 28 moose.  When I started I thought it might be a mistake, but they are all done.  All from the same stencil,  ALL a little different??????    For the most part (antlers excluded), my quilt stitch has improved.  Those antlers, oh my, what a job.   Glad they are done.
     Now, what to do next.   I have quilted this as I was led, Not from the center out.  Yes, I did the center first, then the corners of each round, then the corners of the  border. Next the 28 moose, now I have all the blocks in the center to do.    I think I will carry my sun rising over the mountains on all the sky parts of the block, then who knows about the mountains.  It sure has been fun to quilt one hour MOST  days.  I am so grateful to Bonnie for encouraging me to do this.  THANKS, BONNIE.

Center of wedding delectible mountains quilt

July 7, o7,  why isn't this finished yet?????

hand quilting for an hour a day (hopefully)

New pattern for my Accuquilt

free handout from Moda

uses 1/2 square triangles, 4 patches and 4 1/2 squares,  all components of the one die that comes with Accuquilt

I spotted this pattern at the LQS this AM.  can't wait to try it out.  Should be lots of fun to do with any scraps.
My suggestion is get that machine out, cut scraps and PLAY, PLAY, PLAY!!!!!!  Keep arranging the shapes into different blocks
I also keep my eyes open for any quilt block that can utilize these shapes, even if the pieces in the quilt block are made of different shapes----it works just the same.   Anyway, I love it and am having fun discovering the possibilities of this one die.  Also purchased the hexagon die so I would have hexies cut to sew for handwork.

5 more moose to go

 

only 5 more moose to go



As I watched "South Pacific" last night,

was able to get 2 1/2 moose done.

Had a class tonight, but no one showed up.

Only one student, must have forgotten.

so while I waited I finished the last 1/2 moose.

 

I am still having fun with my Accuquilt.   Looked at

the wedding bouquet quilt block today, think I will do

this one on my one set of dies.

Accuquilt playtime

Wahoo, only 10 more moose to go on my hand quilting.  I have done 8 1/2 hours this week.
 Thanks ever so much Bonnie.
Have been having fun with my Accuquilt.  Looking for blocks that I
can work out just using the accuquilt die that came with it.  It is not as contrasted as I would
have liked, but I started using scraps and just kept going.   It is fun.
I would never have made all those 1/2 square triangles without the fun machine.

My "Bali" UFO that Bonnie encouraged us to finish

Flannel block
 

This is a flannel quilt top with each block has the month printed on the flannel. At our store, 6 of us took two months each and created a block for ourselves and one for everyone else. I took July and September. You can see my school house  block.

. This was done about 9-10 years ago. The blocks sat and sat. Finally decided how I wanted to display them using a wonky setting. Then added the sashing and cornerstones. The green border was to set it apart from the piano key border. Just love how it turned out. Next is put it together as a quilt.   

Oh,  by the way,  this is definitely mine,  a keeper.

 

I only did one moose tonight.  As you can see I had too much help!!!

my Christmas ornaments
 

Since we started last week, I have completed 9 moose.  That completes one side of the border and starting in on the second.   7 moose per border.  I have 19 left to go.
I did 8 1/2 hours of hand quilting and one hour of buttonhole stitch applique on my ornaments.
I think I have done pretty well for myself,  Thanks Bonnie for the shove to get going again.

Appalachian Trail Marker

Central wreat of flowers
with Names and
Date of Wedding!



Sun rising out of the corners of the
Delectable Mountains.



Yes, of course,  a Moose
hard to see, harder to quilt.
Looks good on the quilt.

     I am still learning this Blog thingy, but hope to improve soon.
Thanks Bonnie, for encouraging me to get back to quilting this queen size quilt.  It will have 28 moose around the border, with the "AT" markers in the outside border corners.
     This is a special quilt for my son and his bride.   They are both hikers and climbed mountains.  When my son proposed on top of Cadillac Mt. in Acadia National Park, I knew I had to make Delectable Mountains.   They both love Moose and the Appalachian trail so that is why these are quilted in.  It may take me years to finish, but Bonnie has challenged me to JUST GET BUSY AND SO IT.  So I am.
I have done the center, the sun rises, the AT markers and ONE moose.  Actually I did 3 moose, but the first 2 were traveling aroung the quilt on their antlers--- so it took me 20 minutes to rip them out and start over.   Now, this moose is at least walking in the right direction.   It takes about 45 minutes to quilt the moose (stupid antlers). Having trouble with marking staying on, or able to show up on this color.  Purple marker shows up, but disappears before I can quilt it all.   White marker does not show up enough.   Will experiment more tonight in my hour of quilting.  Ramona of Maine

this is the Moose I have been trying to quilt on  the Delectable Mountains wedding quilt!

This is the first of my fabric landscapes that I did from the Jo Diggs class.