Bonnie Hunter 2024 Mystery Quilt - Old Town

 

It is that time of year again when Bonnie Hunter releases her 2024 Mystery quilt details.  This is a photo of Suzi contemplating the colours for the first ever Quiltville Mystery Quilt I completed, Easy Street, back in 2012. I have completed six in total - Easy Street, Celtic Solstice, En Provence, Allitare, Grassy Creek, and most recently, Chilhowie, in 2022. This year's FREE Quiltville Mystery Quilt is called 'Old Town' inspired by Bonnie's trip to Poland, starting slightly earlier than usual on Friday 22nd November 2024.

'Old Town' 2024 Quiltville Mystery Quilt

Here is 'my' interpretation of the colours - red, coral, aqua and a neutral.  The main aim of the project is to use your stash and luckily my stash is quite healthy with these deeper colours. Then Bonnie mentioned changing up the neutral, so I pulled a brown out.  What do you think?  I will weigh up what time I have over the next few months and double check I don't need to supplement any of the colours.  Let me know if you will be taking part!

'Old Town' 2024 Quiltville Mystery Quilt

Bonnie Hunter 2023 Mystery Quilt - Indigo Way - Colour alternatives

Most of the followers on this blog are keen Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt addicts and so I thought I had better touch base regarding the 2023 Mystery Quilt - Indigo Way.  You can find the details at Quiltville's Quips & Snips!!: Indigo Way Mystery Introduction!

'Indigo Way' Quiltville Mystery Quilt 2023

She has picked some pretty colours this year - how do I know, because I used them last year for my Chilhowie 2022 Mystery Quilt!

'Chilhowie' 2022 Quiltville Mystery Quilt

I hope this photo provides some inspiration for the 2023 Mystery Quilt 'Indigo Way'.  I chose the colours to celebrate the 2023 Coronation of King Charles II.  It is yet to be quilted but everything is ready to go.  So knowing that my navy, light blue and red fabrics were used up last year, what should I do?  In recent years, Bonnie has chosen just a few colours in her quilts which is much easier to chop and change when you don't know what the outcome will be.

'Indigo Way' Mystery Quilt - Colour alternative

Firstly, how about a dark green, light green and pink option?  This is one of my favourite colour combinations for most things and would make a lovely quilt.

'Indigo Way' Mystery Quilt - Colour alternative

Then I pulled this combination from my stash - black, dark brown and tan.  I think this would make a lovely quilt too. I am still not sure whether I am joining in this year as I am busy doing other things, but once the first clue comes out, it may be hard to resist!

Bonnie Hunter's Chilhowie 2022 Mystery Quilt Part 7 Reveal

Chilhowie 2022 Mystery Quilt Part 7 Reveal

I managed to get around to finishing my Bonnie Hunter 2022 Mystery Quilt top, Chilhowie this weekend and am pretty pleased with the result.  It is always a gamble when you go off on your own colours, but I liked them to start with, so I was onto a winner.  I was going to pop it onto my longarm quilting machine, but have decided to give myself some time to think more carefully about the quilting.  When it is done, I will let you know.

Chilhowie 2022 Mystery Quilt Part 7 Reveal

#chilhowiequilt #chilhowiemysteryquilt #quiltvillemystery #quiltvillemystery2022

Bonnie Hunter's Chilhowie 2022 Mystery Quilt Part 6

Bonnie Hunter's Chilhowie 2022 Mystery Quilt Part 6

No rapid finish for the Chilhowie 2022 Mystery quilt this year, but a regular drip feed of clues from Bonnie each Friday. For Part 6 we have seen the blocks grow in size.  I could have done with cutting the large navy squares earlier on in the project as I ran out of my navy fabric and had to start piecing bits together.  On the plus side, I have been having a tidy up and I found some more navy fabrics to add to the project. Just a couple of blocks to finish today and I am up-to-date.
 

Bonnie Hunter's Chilhowie 2022 Mystery Quilt Part 5

Bonnie Hunter's Chilhowie 2022 Mystery Quilt Part 5

It felt a bit early to be putting some blocks together, but realising how long this stage takes made me glad to get some of the quilt done.  Bonnie granted me my wish of more neutral and aqua / light blue and I am pleased how my colours are coming together.  

Bonnie Hunter's Chilhowie 2022 Mystery Quilt Part 5

Bonnie Hunter's Chilhowie 2022 Mystery Quilt Part 4

Bonnie Hunter's Chilhowie 2022 Mystery Quilt Part 4

I have had some special Mystery Quilt time and I have managed to complete both Part 3 and Part 4.  Part 4 is much quicker than Part 3, but as you can see from the photo the parts are starting to accumulate.  I am hoping the next Chilhowie Mystery quilt parts will have a lot more neutrals and light blue, but saying that, red is my favourite colour. 

#quiltvillemystery #chilhowiequilt 

Bonnie Hunter's Chilhowie 2022 Mystery Quilt Part 3

Bonnie Hunter's Chilhowie 2022 Mystery Quilt Part 2

Finally getting around to completing part 3 of Bonnie Hunter's Chilhowie 2022 Mystery Quilt.  I had a slight delay as I lost my ruler to cut the triangles correctly, but once found I was able to get cracking.  I also had a few strips from Part 1 that were waiting to get involved which is great.  So far I have done 9 sets, so just a few more to go.  

Kirstie Mcleod and The Red Dress

 

Kirstie Mcleod and The Red Dress

I recently had the pleasure of attending a talk by the textile artist, Kirstie Macleod. Kirstie is the creative mind behind the global collaborative project called 'The Red Dress'.  The dress has travelled the world, with embroidery added by many hands in many communities and is a phenomenon which started in 2009, but has grown and continues to be more relevant each day. For me, Kirstie is a fine example of why society needs artists, and how powerful art can be in carrying a message.  

You can find out more details at The Red Dress , where you can find out where in the world the Red Dress will be next and support the project through

The Red Dress

 

World Embroidery on the Red Dress

World Embroidery on the Red Dress

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