Bonnie Hunter's Chilhowie 2022 Mystery Quilt Part 2

Bonnie Hunter's Chilhowie 2022 Mystery Quilt Part 2

 All up to date with bonnie Hunter's second clue for the Chilhowie 2022 mystery Quilt.  In this photo you can see my colour scheme - red, white and blues.  I didn't have the ruler, but I really liked the technique for adding the triangles.

Trimmed half square triangles

Am I the only one who couldn't bear to throw those little half square triangles away?

#chilhowiequilt #quiltvillemystery

Bonnie Hunter's Chilhowie 2022 Mystery Quilt - Introduction

 

Bonnie Hunter's Chilhowie 2022 Mystery Quilt

There is no denying that the end of October each year is a special time - Bonnie Hunter releases her annual Mystery Quilt.  This year it is called Chilhowie, named after a town in Virginia USA.  I have spent some time looking at colour options.  Firstly, here is her colour choice, taken from a range of beautiful Iris flowers.  This is a bright option.

Bonnie Hunter's Chilhowie 2022 Mystery Quilt

Here is a softer option, with lighter tints of aqua, purple and orange.

Bonnie Hunter's Chilhowie 2022 Mystery Quilt

Or how about the same colours in more traditional fabrics?  These are remainders from my Dear Jane quilt, made up from Kim Diehl fabrics.

However, reading Bonnie's Introduction, it sounds like she has just chosen her favourite colours from a range of different Iris flowers.  So why not choose your favourite colours too?    There are only three colours and a neutral this year, which I think makes it much easier to improvise with your own colours.

Still deciding whether to take part, depending on my other workload. 

More information at Quiltville's Quips & Snips!!: Chilhowie - A Quiltville Mystery! (Introduction!)

#chilhowie #mysteryquilt #bonniehunter

Bonnie Hunter's Rhododendron 2021 Mystery Quilt - Introduction

 

Bonnie Hunter's Rhododendron
2021 Mystery Quilt - Introduction

Well, it is that time of year again.  Bonnie Hunter has just released the Introduction to her 2021 Mystery Quilt - Rhododendron.

I have pulled out the colours from my stash and this is what I have found.  I am already thinking of how I can mix it up. Last year it was lockdown and I will say that it was the perfect distraction to kill the hours we had to spend indoors in December and January. I am 50:50 on whether I am doing it this year, as it depends on how much work I have to do.  All I know is that I will be able to spell Rhododendron by the end of it!

If you have never done a Mystery Quilt, why not give it a go!

#bonniehunter #rhododendronmysteryquilt2021 #2021mysteryquilt

Wye Knots does Wacky Stars, supporting Wales Air Ambulance

 

This quilt is currently up for auction on Ebay with proceeds going to the Wales Air Ambulance Charitable Trust.  Spread the word and get your bids in now as the auction ends 13th September 2021, at 9.30am. 

Link : https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133866776565?hash=item1f2b14e7f5%3Ag%3Aq5sAAOSwP4phI7Rq&LH_Auction=1

I am a member of Wye Knots quilt group based in Monmouth, Wales, and over lockdown we managed to make several group quilts, which are all going to charitable causes.  This 'Wacky Stars' quilt was the first one we made and it has been donated to the Wales Air Ambulance for them to auction and raise funds. It is currently on Ebay (September 2021), waiting for your bids! It is such a fun quilt and I hope it raises plenty of money for such a great cause. 

Festival of Quilts 2021

If you are heading up to the Festival of Quilts, NEC, Birmingham, UK between 29th July and 1st August, don't forget to look out for my quilts.

CT34 (Contemporary Quilts) - Serenity I

TN40 (Traditional Quilts) - Grassy Creek

GR3 (Group Quilts)  - Bristol Quilters Ruby Celebration  (see if you can recognise the block I contributed!)

Naturally, this year there are some guidelines in place to keep everyone as safe as can be, which include bringing evidence of your current COVID status, which you can find here.

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - On the bed

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt -  On the bed

I had put my Grassy Creek away for a few weeks, but with a bright sunny day, I thought it was time to pull it out and put it on the bed.

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 7 Big Reveal - Finished

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Big Reveal

Here it is ladies and gentleman! My version of Bonnie Hunter Quiltville Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt. I have made it the full size, which is big and I am really pleased with the result.

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Big Reveal

From this more detailed photo, the vigilant of you will see that I have changed some colours around.  When I saw Bonnie's version of Grassy Creek, I thought it was a bit busy to have on a bed, so I auditioned some other colours, swapped the red for yellow and changed the outer border for yellow too. My stash is officially out of yellow now.  Also, I went for straight string borders, again, to calm it down a bit.

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Big Reveal

I put the quilt on my APQS longarm quilting machine last week and chose Nemesh Feathers for the quilting pattern.  This is one of my favourite quilting patterns. As we are in lockdown, I was stretched for backing fabric, so on this occasion I have used a Dorma King Size 300 thread count sheet, which I have used before on other projects.

'Nemesh Feathers' designed by Bethan Nemesh

Whilst it was on the longarm quilting machine I was able to apply the binding and over the past few days I have been busy hand sewing the binding, adding a quilt label and I have even added a hanging strip - it is officially DONE.

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Big Reveal

I have even cleared up my sewing room from the carnage which usually accompanies a big sewing project.  However, below you will see what I have left.  A large pile of red rectangles which were swapped to yellow, some spare half square triangles (?!?), flying geese, strip pieces and 'large' scraps in the box and 'small' scraps in the jar.  I can see three or four projects just from these scraps!

After a few years where I have had to forgo Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilt, I am pleased that I was able to join in this year.  A BIG thank you to Bonnie!  The parts will be on her website until mid-February 2021.

#quiltvillemsytery #grassycreekquilt

#fabadasheryquilting

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 7

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 7

I thought I would update you on my progress so far with Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 7.  I have made up the main block and with Bonnie's great instructions, which includes which way to iron the seams (I love that!), it has come together really easily.  Laid out together they make a nice little quilt, but this is just the start of the final leg.

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 7

#quiltvillemsytery #grassycreekquilt

#fabadasheryquilting

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 6

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 6

Here is my first batch of blocks for Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 6.   I had a hunch there was going to be some foundation paper piecing in the 2020 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt, so I have been saving suitable 'paper'.  As far as I know, in the UK, paper telephone directories are obsolete, so I have been keeping an eye out  for alternatives.  I have a couple of Christmas Radio Times saved, but on this occasion the Sunday Times Magazine was a winner.  I removed the centre staples and was able to fit five blocks down the double length.  With the smaller stitches, the paper has come out like a dream.  

Sunday Times Magazine Foundation Paper Quilting

I managed to get a few strips of grey from my scrap box, but otherwise I have been cutting strips from by grey fabric selection.  My grey stash has taken a hit with this Mystery quilt, so I can justify a few purchases at the next available opportunity - let's hope there is a quilt show sooner , rather than later in 2021!  There are usually more than six parts to these Mystery quilts, so I expect a few more parts before the BIG REVEAL - we have not used much green yet.

 #quiltvillemsytery #grassycreekquilt

#fabadasheryquilting

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 6

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 5

 

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 5

The week between Christmas and New Year is usually my most productive time for doing my own sewing. As you know I am following Bonnie Hunter's 2020 Mystery Quilt - Grassy Creek, so my priority has been keeping up with the parts as they are released. 

Part 5 has used up lots of the scraps that had built up over the past few weeks, so that was very satisfactory. I had a bit of a false start with the small 9-patch blocks, getting all my colours mixed up, which required some unpicking, but otherwise OK.  Flying Geese blocks are not my favourite, but I pushed through and have even trimmed them.

I am up-to-date, besides trimming the squares from Part 2, which I am about to do now.

How is everyone else doing?

#quiltvillemsytery #grassycreekquilt

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 4

 

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 4

This is my Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 4 effort.  Bonnie gave some great tricks on how to cut and chain piece them to save loads of time, but I chose to ignore all of them and cut each piece out separately, whilst I tried to use up scraps of fabric.  I think this was a great clue.  Adding onto last week's work has given us a substantial block of pieces which will be welcome once we are putting the whole thing together.  Also, with the instructions on pressing, this block went together like a dream as all the points were easy to match.

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 4

I also had help whilst I did the blocks. Help involves Popcorn sleeping and NOT eating pins, catching the machine needle and knocking blocks off the table.

#quiltvillemsytery #grassycreekquilt

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 3

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 3

I spent most of Sunday cutting fabric for both Part 2 and Part 3 of Bonnie Hunter's 2020 Mystery Quilt Grassy Creek.  I think this is the part I love the most as I get to play with fabrics which other projects don't normally reach.  My oranges have a lot of variation in them and I dithered over some of the selection, but now I see them all together, the red and orange fabrics are looking amazing.  I have a lot of confidence in the final result of this mystery quilt as the colours are so wonderful - great choice Bonnie.

#quiltvillemsytery #grassycreekquilt

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 2

 

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 2

There's nothing like the release of Part 3 to hurry you along to finish Part 2 of Bonnie Hunter's 2020 Mystery Quilt, Grassy Creek.  Here are my quarter square triangles.  It was a struggle to get them done and they still need a trim, but it is dark and Monday morning tomorrow, so maybe another day whilst I am twiddling my thumbs  ....

#quiltvillemsytery #grassycreekquilt

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 1

 

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 1

Well it is real now, I have stitched all my sets for the first part of  Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 1.  Thoroughly enjoyed pulling fabrics from my stash which have been waiting for their moment in the spotlight, and using up scrap bits.  You will see I have moved towards the grey rather than blue option.  When I looked out of my window on a lovely October day, I saw the golden colours of the leaves with bark of a silver birch tree, so that is what I am aiming at in my colour scheme for the Mystery Quilt. 

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 1

So I have used a combination of fat quarters and scraps to get this part done.  It never ceases to amaze me how scraps lead to more scraps - this is what I had left over.  It is not hard to believe the parable of the loaves and the fishes when the scraps keep regenerating.

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 1

#quiltvillemystery #grassycreekquilt

Preparation - Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - 1 day to go

 

New Rotary Cutting Blade

Happy Thanksgiving! What does this mean - it means that there is only one sleep until Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt kicks off tomorrow.  You will have seen my previous post with all my lovely fabrics set to go and today I making some further preparations for the next few weeks.  Firstly, I have put a new rotary blade into my cutter.  There is going to be a lot of cutting in the next few weeks, so lets make it a pleasure.

New Machine Needle

Secondly, I have put a new needle into my sewing machine.  Again, there is going to be a lot of sewing in the next few weeks, so let's start off on a good foot.

Sewing Machine Bobbins

Thirdly, clean out the bobbin case of your sewing machine. It will be interesting to see what it is like after the Grassy Creek Mystery Quilt, but at least I will know it was clean to start with.  Fourthly, wind some bobbins.  We are going to get through a load of these and according to Sod's Law it is usually at the most inconvenient time.  Because this is a scrap quilt, I will probably take the opportunity to empty some half filled bobbins too.

Leaders and Enders Projects

And finally, I am making an assumption that there will be a lot of chain piecing, so if you have a 'Leaders and Enders' project to hand, it might be worth pulling that out in readiness to see what can be achieved with an additional project.
 

Final Stash Pull - Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - 16 days to go

Just 16 days to go. I have been doing some final preparations for Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt by doing a thorough pull from my stash for her colours.  Luckily, I had quite a bit of fabric left over from my Dear Jane quilt in very similar colours, so that is filling the bulk of the stash pull.  However, with most of the sewing being done over the Christmas period, I do not want to go short, so for 'safety' I made an order to The Sewing Studio in Redruth for the colours below.  On the far left there is a grey Grunge -I think it will be a perfect addition.  The others include some Ruby Star fabrics - just because they have metallic shiny flecks on them!

Succulents by Rachel of Greenfields

'Succulents' by Rachel of Greenfields

If you have been following my Facebook page, you will know that I have been using 'Strictly Come Dancing' on a Saturday night to do some hand stitching on this little 'Succulents' kit from Rachel of Greenfields.  This is the second one I have done and it is now hanging on my wall. I love the bright colours and the quick finish!

Stash Pull - Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2020 - Grassy Creek

The anticipation has got the better of me and I had to reach into my stash and pull the colours for Grassy Creek.  I have done about four of Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilts and each time I have changed the colours. I looked out of my own window to admire the autumn trees and all the colours were there, so this year, I think I will stick with her colour scheme.

Grey - 5 yds - I have gone for a warm grey.  I have a lot of this as I seem to have been collecting it for something special - think this is it.
Cream - 3 yds -  I always have lots of this too.  Not sure how happy I will be cutting it up for strip piecing.
Green - 1.5 yds- love green, but you have to have the right one
Red - 1.5 yds - love red and have loads
Yellow - 1.5 yds - I have gone for a gold / mustard colour if possible
Orange - 1 yd  - probably have enough of this and wish there was more of it in the quilt.

Having done this audit I went online to buy more fabric - just in case.😁

Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2020 - Grassy Creek

 

Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2020 - Grassy Creek

I think I have been waiting for this day more than ever this year.  Today, Bonnie Hunter has released the details of this years 2020 Mystery Quilt, called Grassy Creek.  The colours are based on the autumn colours of her hometown and I couldn't resist rushing to my stash to see what colours I could find.  I am liking the deep red / orange / gold combination, but think I need to work on the green and greys.

I am really, really going to try and do this mystery quilt this year.  Anyone going to join me?

All the details are here https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2020/10/grassy-creek-quiltville-mystery.html

Welcome Popcorn

 

Popcorn

I have just realised that I have not introduced Popcorn formally on my Fabadashery blog.  He joined us in June and has just had his 6 month birthday.

Nearly Insane Quilt - resurrected

Red and White Scraps left over from my Nearly Insane quilt

These two jars of scraps have been looking at me since I finished my Nearly Insane quilt top back in July 2015. This holiday weekend I decided to sort them out and make them into their own fabric.

New fabric made from the white scraps

The white scraps made this pretty piece which measures about 15" x 15"

New fabric made from the red scraps

For some reason the red scraps were bigger and ended up making a piece which was 25" x 22".  No plans for them yet - I may combine them, I may leave the red one as it is.  This project has reminded me of other 'bags of treasure' I have squirrelled away, which I was going to do something with one day.  Maybe the one day is very near.

New fabric made from the red and white scraps

There are some pieces which are too small for even me to tackle, along with trimmings.  These bits are not thrown away.  I have a large bag of  small scraps which I fill up and take to the local charity shops where I believe they can recycle them into 'shoddy' felt.

Fabric trimmings for recycling

Weaver Fever quilt

Weaver Fever quilt with Be Mine quilt pattern

My Farmer's Wife quilt has been put on the back-burner for the time being whilst I ruminate how I want to put it together.  Also, over the past few years I have been working towards my City and Guilds Patchwork qualification with various assessments to complete.  I haven't shared any of them online as I was waiting for our 'final exhibition' which is due at the end of August - so don't hold your breath.  Luckily, the lockdown gave me the time I needed to finish all the work off and now I am free to sew what I like!

Weaver Fever quilt with Be Mine quilt pattern

First on my list was this Weaver Fever quilt which I started at a workshop with Judi Mendelssohn last summer.  My pink and green  quilt colour choice was guided by some amazing flamingo plush fleece which I picked up at the Fabric Guild in Leicester.  I have made several fleece quilts before and I have a healthy stash of it, mainly picked up when I am in fabric shops in France.  The pink and green fabric was purchased just over a year a go from Hannah's Room and Kaleidoscope Quilts at the Malvern Quilt Show in 2019.  There is also a debate whether to put anything in the middle of a fleece quilt. I like to put something, varying from a brushed cotton sheet to normal wadding.  On this occasion I have put 100% Hobbs Polydown.  I hope to use it in our campervan, so I want it to be warm and cosy.  It is certainly that.

Weaver Fever quilt with Be Mine quilt pattern

I quilted it on my APQS longarm machine using a pretty pattern called Be Mine, which if I am honest, I bought especially for this quilt.Really looking forward to using this quilt.

 'Be Mine' designed by Patricia Ritter and Leisha Farnsworth for Urban Elementz. 

Farmer's Wife Quilt - Easter 2020 update

Farmer's Wife Quilt - 111 blocks complete

As promised, here is the Easter 2020 update on my Farmer's Wife quilt blocks.  The news is that all 111 blocks of the 1920's Farmer's Wife blocks have been completed.  As you may remember I have reduced the size from the original 6" and brought them down to 4.5" square.

Farmer's Wife Quilt - 111 blocks complete

As usual I have enjoyed seeing these little blocks come together, but now they are all done I need to decide what layout I want them to be in. With the smaller blocks, obviously the overall quilt would be a lot smaller than the original, so I need to put a bit of time to think of the options.  Naturally, I have a bag of fabric left over, so the options are quite open.

Farmer's Wife Quilt - 111 blocks complete

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 68 Postage Stamp

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 35 Flower Basket

Believe it or not, this is the last block.  This is he Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 68 Postage Stamp.
This was the last block I cut out because I wanted to make it up from the scraps which I had left over.  I also saved it until last ans I knew it would be my favourite block to do,.  Each piece is 11/16th (18mm) square, a lovely size to work with.
Although the blocks are all done, I don't intend to join them in the prescribed layout and need a bit of time to decide what I want to do with them.  Look out for a full reveal in the next few days!