Grand Illusion Progress

As you could see from my previous post, I am hooked on Bonnie Hunter Mysteries.  (Actually I like mystery quilts, period.)  I haven't had a lot of time to work on each step yet, but I have made some units each week so when the reveal comes, I'll be able to lay out what I have to see how it's going to look.  Here's a look at my journey so far...

My fabric choices

Of course, I've added several since this picture was taken.  Plus the gold.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

This last step is the only one complete.  Looking forward to Friday and the next clue.

While still on the subject of Bonnie Hunter quilts, I participated in the leaders/enders project a couple years ago when she was doing the 3 1/2" spool blocks.  I kitted up the units from scraps I had left over from all the quilts I had made since I began quilting in 2005.  I made 480 spool blocks over an 18 month to 2 year period.  Then put the blocks together in my Scrappy Spools quilt.  I had to use the cheddar as my sashing and border in true Bonnie style.

Isn't it great?!?!?  It was quilted by Betty Lewis, Louisville, MS.

Scrappy Spools

(Picture by Terry Turnage)

Bonnie Hunter Groupie!!

Those of you who know me know I'm a huge Bonnie Hunter Fan(atic).  The first Mystery I participated in was Roll Roll Cotton Boll.  The pattern is now available in her book, String Fling.  This was her 2010 Mystery.  I made it to give to my daughter for my 60th birthday.  See blog post here.

Roll Roll, Cotton Boll

Then in March 2011, Bonnie taught classes in Pigeon Forge at Mountain Quiltfest.  I took her class on Cathedral Stars.  That pattern is on her blog, Quiltville, as a free pattern.

I named mine "Bejeweled Stars" because of the jewel tone fabrics.

The 2011 Mystery was Orca Bay.  It is also found in her book, String Fling.

I used different colors from Bonnie's suggested one.  Her's was made with red and blue fabrics.  I used purple for her red and green for her blue.  I'm very please with how it turned out.  I call mine "My Orca Bay".

The 2012 Mystery was Easy Street.  This one is in her More Adventures with Leaders and Enders Book.  

Easy Street

In 2013, Quiltmaker Magazine offered a four part mystery by Bonnie Hunter entitled 'Lazy Sunday".  This began with the March/April issue.  I could not refuse, so...

Lazy Sunday

Bonnie's 2013 Mystery was entitled Celtic Solstice.  The pattern is not available now but will be one of these days.  She keeps the mystery patterns on her blog until June 1 of the following year.  They are then removed to be part of a new book later on.  Right now I don't think she has a release date for this yet.

I call mine, Irish Jubilee!!

2014 brought Bonnie back to Mountain Quiltfest in Pigeon Forge, TN.  I took another class, this one Jamestown Landing.  Also in her String Fling book.  I haven't made much progress on this one yet, but before you know it I'll have it finished too.

I don't quilt my big quilts myself.  So the above quilts were quilted by Colleen Eskridge, currently in Boone, NC (but she lived in Starkville, MS when she quilted Roll Roll Cotton Boll), Watana Cantrell, Vernon, AL (a sister "possum"), Betty Lewis of Louisville, Ms (Easy Street and Lazy Sunday) and Debbie Chanell of Sew Delightful in Tuscaloosa (Celtic Solstice).  

I am currently working on the latest Mystery, Grand Illusion...but that will be covered in my next post.  Good Day!!

Year in Review - Continued

This is "Spinning Pinwheels" by Barbara Cline.

I took this class from Barbara several years ago.

It was on my WIP list to finish in 2014.

I machine quilted it on my domestic machine,

And gifted it to my Sister-in-Law, Sherry.

2014...Year in Review

I've been gone a long time!  So I'm going to "catch-up" by trying to hit the high spots of 2014.

My hubby asked me awhile back (nearly 3 years ago!!) if I would make a quilt from his ties.  Before he retired, he wore a tie to work each day.  Being a salesman, he liked "conversation getter" ties so he had an awesome collection.  I did manage to get the quilt top together...

And now am in the process of hand quilting...

(see hubby holding up a corner)?

From the scraps of the ties, I made Christmas Ornaments for our

Grandchildren in a "crazy quilt" style.

These were given to them last year, 2013.

Then from still more scraps, I made five wall hangings for our

five children.  I only have a picture of one.

Can't believe I let them get away without making pictures!!

They all had different colored borders.  I let them choose which one they wanted.  No fights!!  Yea!