Clue 2 Mystery Quilt: Made by Me

Hmm. Some Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilt, Clue 2 fever going on here. Can't get enough HSTs. Never. But here I am thinking I've completed the clue--other than trimming and it's back to the scraps. It'll be a great visit. How often do you check out your stash? Memory lane for sure.

I tried all methods to make HSTs and found Bonnie Hunter's Essential Triangle ruler to be the most accurate. Once you get the rhythm of the flipping down pat, it's just stitch, stitch and stitch. I was a bit reluctant because of bias edges. However, no problem.

A break from stitching for some fresh air. The HSTs fly well outside--just like flags.

This was lunch, Funny!! 

Now on to trimming. But with the ruler it won't be much. Really.

Marcy

Sunflower Quilt

I think I mentioned in my previous post that when we were visiting my daughter a few weeks ago, she had several of my quilts out. Some that I had forgotten about and was happy to reconnect with them.

This is the very first quilt I made during a workshop with Teri Christoperson through my guild. She also spoke to the entire guild the night before which brought emotions of laughter and tears. She's an amazing person. Sitting with her at the workshop made you feel as if you've known her all your life.

It was so much fun gathering up pieces of yellows, gold and oranges to make up the petals. Some fabrics came from my friends. The background for each block has four different dark blues. This was a great class for a beginner. This may have been my first attempt at FMQ.

Teri's sister Barbara Brandeburg is also a designer. When I bought Teri's book, Sunflower Patch, I also got a copy of Company's Coming of Barbara's. Great summer ideas--placemats to quilts. Not to worry, both books are keepers. I've worked on several patterns from both books. Now if I could remember where those quilts are I could share them with you.

Happy Fall

Marcy

Acornator

We were visiting my family in Chicago last weekend. My daughter had some of my fall quilts out--some I had forgotten about.

When they lived in the burbs there lot had a ton of trees--most of them dropped acorns. So every fall my daughter had to get those picked up. I called her the Acornator and made her this quilt. I believe it may be a Bunny Hills design but not sure.

This was a fun quilt made entirely from my stash. It's a delight to work on quilt blocks that incorporate applique and embroidery. The date on the label says 2011--no wonder I forgot about it.

Sorry for the unclear pictures. There was not the best lighting.

Happy Fall to Y’all

Marcy

Hooking up with Freemotion by the River as always. One of my favs for inspiration.

Her Name is Dot

We have a relative who has just moved to assisted living. She is such a sweet lady and I always envied her skills with a needle--machine or hand. She could tackle any craft project and make it look professional. No longer.

So here's where a quilt comes in. Her nickname is Dot and I've made her a I Spy quilt with some personal touches plus lots of fabric with dots.

She once owned a craft store name Raggedy Ann Shop.

Fruit ladies just for fun and a giggle.

 

And I always thought she'd enjoy Road to California that appears every January.

These are Bonnie Hunter's tile blocks from Quiltmaker Magazine last spring. See my blocks in progress HERE. Every time I find an interesting novelty fabric in my stash, I cut a center square. These blocks are so much fun to make.

Fond memories.

Marcy 

Not Idle

See. I am not in the reading chair--it is empty. Even though it's been the hottest summer on record, the sewing machine has still been humming.

 

This is the start of a round robin quilt my small group is working on for the hospital gift shop. We started with just a flower--a simple flower was the order. Nope, some people can't just do simple. The blocks were passed around adding stems, leaves and at the end fauna. Anything could be added in that category and what showed up the most was bugs, bees and butterflies. Each person in this group has a special talent and they came out shining. Somehow I am assembling again and may get it finished this year yet. :)

Then my friend and I completed 14 quilts that will go to the naval hospital. That's our fun.



But I had to share this with you. We have several cacti of this variety and they only bloomed in the late spring. This year, probably because of the heat, one or the other is in bloom. The problem with this type is the blooms are only here for a day. It's the anticipation of that day that keeps them around.

Fall can't come soon enough!

Marcy

Fun on the Farm Block One Pig

Just what I needed--another block of the month. Oh, but it is so cute you'd do the same, I know it. Eleanor Burns is doing an On The Farm Quilt BOM and the patterns are free HERE.

Looky this pig. Pieced pink blocks and then with Eleanor's method of applique it is ready to stitch to the background by machine or hand, if you so choose. Her directions are real basic and so is the block when you think about it. She uses pink rick rack for the pig's tail and rather than use her pattern for the sun's rays, yellow rick rack did the trick. Now pardon my threads, but it's still in the making.

A friend loves the pig and intends to make a quilt of just the pig and in a rainbow of colors. How cute can that be?

Marcy

Flaminos Everywhere

Last year I made a few tea towels  using Carol's (from Just Let Me Quilt) flamingo pattern and this year found it necessary to spread  those birds--and like colors--all over the house. What will next year bring? Maybe I'll buy Elizabeth's pattern Florence Flamingo. Lots of great summer colors.

The orange and turquoise quilt is Bonnie's (Quiltville) mystery quilt. Who would have thought I'd be mixing bright summer colors into my living room.



How about those pillows? They make a statement! "Let's Flamingo." Too the far right is a machine trapunto quilt--the panel was a gift from a friend when she was at the Sisters Quilt Show several years ago.



A 50% off sale provided me with a basic pink and white tote. Using the "no sew" fusible for flamingo fun, finished it off well. It even has a zipper. Such a deal for $5.00.

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 Then I found these placemats at Kohl's. And, of course, they were on sale. What else can I find?

Fun with flamingos. What better to do in these hot summer days.

Marcy

Strawberry Coasters

Cute? I saw this pattern and tutorial at Diary of a Quilter and started digging through my bins for possible fabrics. Since I couldn't decide, I made five actually in no time at all. These were made with in house supplies. Next time I'll find better ribbon for the stems.

It's basically the same method as the famous and everyone has tried hexie coasters. No hand stitching anything closed. Total machine work. Once turned right side out, they are top stitched around the edge and quilted before the green top is added to coverup the turning slit.

Friends, these are quick and would make a nice hostess or get well gift or bridge prize.

But, don't get in such a hurry to get them completed that you make mistakes like I do. I left that as a slow down reminder.

Have a "berry" good day!

Marcy

For the Princess

Have I mentioned a hundred times that this writer became a great-grandmother? Me, a great grandmother. She's the first on our side, but the first girl on her dad's side. She will be a princess. Well, she already is.

Carol from https://www.justletmequilt.com/2018/06/a-princess-is-sleeping-door-hanger.html was on the Therm O Web (scroll down) site showing how to make this very appropriate door notice. It was so much fun to make and Carol's directions are on task. Her samples always make me want to jump in my stash and get started.

Here's the front page of the pattern, which is free at Carol's Craftsy Shop.

No, that's not a quilt she is laying on but it's giving her sweet dreams. We call her "V". Her name is the same as my mother's middle name and also my grandmother's first name  (who would be her great great grandmother). All this was unknown when the name was selected.

Edited to add:

Head over to Val's Quilting Studio for a giveaway. On Tuesday's Val hosts a Blog Archive linky party. Inspiration galore.

Marcy

Philanthropy Quilts

In between my personal stitching, my focus changes to baby and children size quilts that go to the naval hospital. It's a nice size to work with and the are quick. My friend and I turned in 14 quilts we had made over a two month period. She prefers just piecing. However, all stages of quilting appeal to me.

There used to be a lady in our group who did perfect machine binding. However she can no longer do it. Our leader changed the format and we now pillowcase (birth) them. One of these days I'll be able to stitch the closing so it looks perfect.

Looking forward to some summer hand stitching.

Marcy

On Ringo Lake

Other than a few minor things, On Ringo Lake is a finish. If you are familiar with the pattern, it's Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville mystery quilt. Even though the colors weren't my first choice, I must admit I like the combination. And all the magazines are showing turquoise/aqua and corals in much of their decorating. It's just refreshing.



I have to admit, my quilt isn't the recommended size. No longer does this household need another big quilt. It happened suddenly: enough is enough. Time to put these blocks together. I had my fun and quit when the satisfied feeling kicked in. It's not a quilting sin.

There were many people who chose totally different colors and did not make it scrappy. Good for them. It was important, on this my first venture with her mystery quilts, to stay within the color scheme.

Now I'll return to the back burner and finish some long overlooked UFOs.

Marcy

Tile Block

Did you see Bonnie Hunter's tile block the recent issue of Quiltmaker magazine? It's gone off the wall and has stirred up so many quilters causing a sell out of the magazine at some shops. It's an easy pattern and great for all those scraps you have saved from other projects. Do one and you are hooked like potato chips. One won't be enough.

Do you recognize some of this old fabric?

Having camera problems again and the phone pictures don't transfer well for me. Aged hands.

Time to revisit some of the other fabric bins and square these blocks.

Marcy   **** Who became a great grandmother yesterday!

Vacay Tote

A person can never have enough tote bags. Whether they are in constant use or hanging from the sewing room door knobs as organizers. But then I found this tote bag kit at Connecting Threads and discovered another use. If Mr. Made By Me doesn't get the hint, I'll make the plans.

It's a simple pieced and lined tote bag plus the kit includes enough fabric for two pouches. Their kits always contain plenty of fabric if you need a third or more pouches. I'm thinking make up in one and sewing supplies in the other.

This is the front.

And here's the back.

Two pouches.

All the fun fabric was cut from one panel and there are still a few cuties left.

Perhaps it's the flamingo that sold me. They just  scream of warmer days ahead. Winter is gone. Spring is here. But spring and summer can be off in the tropics somewhere, right?

Marcy

Dr. Suess Quilt

Edited to correct spelling. Dr. Seuss Quilt

Whatever happened to the old fashioned baby shower? Do you remember being thrilled with all the goodies your friends and family selected? It seemed back then, everything was pastel green and yellow. That's because we didn't know what to expect.

Then time went by and the baby's gender was found by ultrasound--or back then known as a sonogram. That's when we might see pink or blue accessories. Keep in mind, I go back to the time of cloth diapers.

Fast forward to today. Now the new parents-to-be have a theme. Yes, a theme.

My granddaughter is expecting a girl and she has decided on a nautical theme. The family has always been in to boating and water sports. This only granddaughter is also a bookaholic.

Luck was with my. I found a Dr. Seuss panel and ordered some companion fabric. The panel may have been meant to be a fabric book, so all I had to do was cut the pages and frame them. Not to quilt over the pages, stitch in the ditch was my method of quilting. However, I did FM the waves.

And to add to the package, what else but the book itself.

I guess the challenge was met. The nautical idea of the fabric and then the added book for story telling times.

Marcy

I used to be a bag lady

I used to cut my quilt pieces, put them in bags and label. A change has come and for me it is a more visible, easier change.

First the cut pieces using the boxes.



Then the sub units.

When making it scrappy, it's nice to have the parts in full view. Yes, I tried the paper plate system, but often found pieces or parts on the floor. Using these sided cracker cardboard boxes keeps the pieces rounded up. No sneaking out.

I posted my completed ON RINGO LAKE top here.

We all have our systems. What's yours?

Marcy

On Ringo Lake Top

Never have I worked on a quilt top so long and patiently. Never would these colors be in my top ten. But never have I found piecing such a delightful adventure. Yes, it pulled me out of my box and I'm glad. We all need to visit other lands and colors to get the fullness of quilting.

Thank you Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville for leading us through a most wonderful mystery/challenge of On Ringo Lake. I'm a believer!

Marcy

Baby Shower Gift

Since we will be great grandparents this summer, I had to find some cute shower gifts to make for that "ahh" effect. There's already a quilt in the works but couldn't pass this project.

Doesn't the doll look like Betsy Wetsy? Does anyone remember Betsy?

The pattern is for a doll sleeping bag. There are several sizes you can make with the pattern.

The one I made is for a 15" doll. However, she's a bit tight in there and I'm running out of time for the first shower. It'll go as is (ship to Illinois) and we'll find a doll that better fits the bag later.

The quilting is mainly to keep the inside, outside and batting together. The pattern suggests a back and forth at an angle type of quilting. It was fast and easy.

Then there was the clipping and washing.

I thought this would be great for a baby. No worry about kicking the blanket off at night. The pattern was easily enlarged  and  simple to make. It's the basic rag quilt idea using flannel. I'm sure the doll would have fit if it wasn't necessary to launder many times to fray the fringe. Flannel just loves to shrink and shrink and shrink.



Now that this project is complete I can move on to the quilt. My On Ringo Lake, Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt is coming together and the top may be done this week. The philanthropy quilts have taken a back seat and I'm anxious to get back to them. I need a helper. I'm always so impressed with some of the bloggers who are employed and produce quilt after quilt in no time at all.

Marcy