Quilts: Bonnie Hunter's En Provence is DONE!

This quilt took me two years to make.  It has over 2,000 pieces, I lost count somewhere before I put on the two rows of borders.  It was a Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt.  She  starts with a list of colors an yardage an gives 'clues' every week for several weeks.  Clues are the 'parts' of the quilt, such as making half square triangles in purple and yellow and how many to make.  She teaches tips on cutting and sewing along the way.  Her instructions were easy to follow.  We don't know until the last week how all the pieces are going to finish up in the design.

I started on about week 2 of the mystery, but I couldn't keep up with those fast ladies who got their quilt pieces completed each week.  I actually let mine sit for several months before picking it back up and getting it done.   It went to the quilter in the next town over for longarm quilting.  This finished up in queen size and it is shown on my guest bedroom.  I'm really pleased with how it turned out.  It's my first really big, intricate quilt.  I will make matching quilt shams as my next project.

Reference:  quiltville.blogspot.com  for the pattern.
Quilting by:  The Mad Quilters, Dublin, CA   http://themadquilters.com/
Material:  Scraps and a few purchases

Quilting: First quilt of 2018 - It's a Girl

I made a simple fleece quilt for a baby girl this past week.  My gifts were the only handmade items given at the shower, people just don't have the time or want to learn the skills to make things.  It really was an easy quilt.  Double layers, as a single layer is just too thin.  Her colors of the baby's room are pink and grey.  The theme is Bohemian, - dream catchers, arrows, nature, etc.  I'll post the album I made later this week.   Enjoy!

Quilts: Quiltville Mystery en Provence 2017

I have made lots of progress on my first mystery quilt.  Hundreds of people have completed wonderful versions of Bonnie Hunters Quiltville en Provence since the first of the year.  I work on it a couple hours here and there when I can. I am finally done with my taxes so I am going to restart my quilt assembly later today.  So far, I have all 2,800 pieces cut and the 3 1/2" units complete. I've assembled my sashing units and lots of units for the main square. This is going to be a big quilt.

Here are one of the squares and stacks of strips ready for assembly of my scrappy quilt.  I guarantee you need to see the "bigger picture" to see what it will look like when completed, completely different than what you see here.    Let's get sewing!

Linking up to Quiltville's linky event HERE.  Come see what all the excitement is about.

Quiltville Mystery 2016 - En Provence

I discovered Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville blog a few months back. I am just getting back to quilting after a long hiatus. (20 years).  The mystery quilt for the year had been announced but the clues not started. I was intrigued.  Then I was infatuated.   The colors were growing on me.  I vowed not to consider it until I finished the bear paw top I was working on.  I kept following the blog, comparing my stash to the colors of the mystery.  Oh no, I was getting hooked.  Then I brought the magenta (mine is more coral) fabric and committed. This will definitely be something significantly bigger, bolder, challenging, and spectacular than any quilt/baby quilt I have done before. The mystery is solved, the resulting quilt is amazing.  I am starting on my 2nd clue, I'll make it through some day.

Here is my picture for today's linkup.  I'll check in as I finish each clue and as I start assembly.   Linked up to Quiltville's blog, mystery-Monday Link Up - Click HERE.  

Quilting: Bear Paw in Rainbow Colors

Since I am not working at this time, I needed something to fill the hours - after all - one can only go out shopping and to lunch with the girls so often.  My sister has been quilting for a couple of years now and I caught the bug again because of her.   I have several quilt projects to work on already, have joined several quilting blogs and even have the material to start a mystery quilt.  I wanted to get this top done before starting another one.  I started this the 2nd weekend in November and finished the top last night.  This is my biggest quilt project to date and I am pretty happy with how it turned out.  I love rainbow colors, the fabric came in graded colors, all of which was so beautiful.  I don't know what color the backing will be, or how it will be quilted, those are the next steps.  I will send it out for quilting at a local shop.   Here it is, look for a finished version in a pretty setting hopefully soon.

My Quilts: A Table Runner in Log Cabin style

This table runner has been 3/4 complete for the last year.  I don't know why I couldn't bring out my sewing machine, batting and backing and get it done.  It just sadly looked at me until I was determined enough to get it done and brought it to our annual Crafty Girls Retreat.  And ya know what?  It took less than an hour to finish -- so mad at myself.   This quilt was to be a gift a year ago to my cousins in France.  And now I am determined to get it packaged and mailed off before the Christmas rush at the post office.

My cousin has their dining room all in the rust colors, so I think it will look nice on their table.  It is a kit from Jordan Fabrics, so it comes pre-cut, and is easy to sew together.   I got the kit at a Sewing Expo where they have a booth.  I wanted to visit their store in Oregon but they were closed on the day I passed by.  Enjoy - Maureen

Baby flannel quilt

Here is my first jelly roll quilt. It is flannel front and back.  The mother to be does not know the gender of the baby, so I made it in neutrals.  She really liked it.  I want to make another one since it was easy and turned out so nice.  I used a few decorative stitches in doing the quilting and edges.  Jelly roll from Joanns Fabrics.

First fleece rag style quilt

My mother had this kit and never started it.   When we cleaned out her house I took it, and it sat in my closet for 4 years.  I took it out and in 2 days it was done.   It came out great!   I had not tried this rag technique before, the con is that you have to be sure not to catch the fringe in your stitches.  My mom probably would have donated it to St. Anthony's in SF where she volunteered.   I decided to donate it also, my sister will give it to a women's and children's shelter in Northern CA for me that she knows could use it.  I've already started another quilt using smaller squares for a baby.  Stay tuned!