Bonnie Hunter's New Mystery

Carolina Christmas!

~ A Quiltville Mystery ~

~ from Bonnie Hunter ~

Check out Bonnie's site! I found Bonnie's site when a friend of mine at work told me she was pregnat and I was looking on line for something new to make the baby. You see I have worked on computers for over 25 years and up until about 6 months ago did not really think about quilts on the web. Duh.... and what does she do on computer you ask - program websites..... I did not say I was the sharpest needle in the house!

I have always liked scrap quilts but never thought I had the "right" scraps for a quilt. Silly me!! I started by printing out a couple of possible patterns. Then I found the link to her "Scrap User System". It seams I do have scraps - I just need to cut them up!!!!

This adventure ended up with me in a Christmas Block Swap (my 1st ever swap). ~see my earlier posts~ And to make matters worse, I decided to design a block - ok another first. I will get back to that after the holiday! Thank Goodness I had the forsite to realize I could not Commit to a swap that ended before New Years!

Now before I get started, let me set the record stright. I have never really Quilted by machine. I took a few classes in the mid '80s and have hand pieced and hand quilted a few quilts. From the small sampler we made in my first class to my last quilt a bedspread for our king size bed. I do NOT worry if a quilt gets stain, ripped or just plan worn out. I think quilts are to be used. If I wanted to spend that much time on something to hang - I would take up painting.

My Mystery is not going to be green/red/gold I decided on brown/blue/gold. I just wanted something other than chrismas so that it will be used all year round.

And I would like to add, doing this mystery may just get me a quilt space. My husband may get tired of the kitchen/dining room a mess - I pick up most evenings. I can't work in constant clutter. But for days (most weekends) when I'm cutting and now machine pieces I have the dining table with my machine, our breakfast bar is my cutting station and a section of the counter is my pressing station.

So here goes my attempt at Bonnie's Carolina Christmas....

Cule 1: I started the quilt and on the first "clue" Bonnie had us creating hst (thats half square tringles for you non-web-quilter, like me up till about a month ago) So I had to make 104 of these little guys, and there were many WONKY squares created. So I watched the chat and they made many suggestions. Most of the problems were solved with a wire note holder to feed the little guy. (now I know starch and a new foot for my machine will help - going to quilt shop for one at lunch tomorrow!)

The results of clue 1 -> 104 hst and 192 "two-sies", don't ask me I did not name them....

Clue 2: This involved using those nasty hst by adding more little hst and a big 4.5inch hst to form a 4.5 inch block.

Bonnie also showed us how to "chain iron" after "chain piecing". Especially with these bias hst, you set up the chain on your pressing station, then with one hand flip the piece and press with the tip of the iron. This helps to not pull these nasty hst. ( have I told you I'm not found of these little guys....) See the results below. Snip apart and stack AFTER pressing.

Next I cut larger hst and on the first scrap look! This NEVER happens to me! no real waste or added scraps.... wow!!! not to worry, the next strip had over 3 inch of scraps.

So this is the results of Clue 2, ready to snip and stack!

And because I can never leave thing alone. Something unexpected. PINK! wonder what I am going to do with this. I have an idea, but more later....

End of the Weekend

Looking over Saturday Morning Post - boy I had high hopes!!

I did get some things done. As you can see the tree is up with help from daughter & son-in-law. And while my son is not into decorating - he did do chores and start supper (OK, he got the menu and made a list for me to call take out. But.... I got to sew instead of cook and that is ALWAYS good thing.)

I think we will have Browns' Turkey Pot Pie for supper tomorrow. That should use up the leftovers, then we will get back to real meals on Tuesday.

And the first 3 sets of window quilts are done and in MN. (Only 2 panels to go! yahhh!!!)

Now hopefully Bonnie Hunter will slow done on the mystery quilt clues - don't tell the other quilters that are playing along. I would love the next clue too but the the complusive nature in me will NOT let this sit, and nothing else gets done ....

Oh, and Bonnie has troduced me to the idea of quilting with shirts - recycled shirts I now know where all the thrift stores are in Woodstock and Crystal Lake. And this mystery I am working on needed a few more neutrals - so I bought 3 and some pink - and under Morgan is a pretty blue too.

Getting Ready for Christmas!

It is now 5:30 and I will be caught up by 6:30 - at least with this blogging thing.... this is were I am sitting - think I need to clean up around the fire - will add wood when this post is done!

Yesterday I just wanted to sew and have fun. But this was Tim's first Black Friday that he did not have to work so he really wanted to shop, and I think my husband and daughter did to. So the plan was Jacki and I would shop together and the guys would go there way.

And with John goofy sleep schedule, its nothing for him to set the alarm for 3:30 AM! and get going. Which is what they did, they got up, took showers, had a snack and left by a little after 4. Just enough ruckus to wake up all but my son. Weather he sleeps thru this or just refuses to get up and join in is anyones guess.

I can't throw these away until we have shopped online, but they have to move - my Tree goes on this old trunk.

Shopping was pretty successful - Jacki and I will organize and determine what is left later this evening. Her and I were back by 8, we only went to Wal-Mart. Joanns andMcDonalds for breakfast. (yah! I had something to do with the agenda, but we both had other things to do - and this year the guys shopped - it was GREAT!)

Back home, Jacki took a nap while I did some cleaning, laundry (bought FQ's that needed washing don't you know) and got down to picking fabric for a mystery! Can some one tell me why I want to start this now! It's less than 30 day before christmas and I like things organized. My counter is a mess and will be for as long as I'm piecing this quilt. Then the mess moves to the family room when I start quilting......

Things did work out - the guys got ALOT of the gifts purchased and Jacki got down to that research presentation that is due MONDAY! I picked colors and started cutting by the time she was up from her nap. Then she worked on the presentation while I sewed. I would have loved christmas music - any music, but without it she was able to get the thing done in 6 hours.

Today we will be putting up the tree, wraping and inventoring the gifts, then shopping online. WITH Christmas music on! Bet my huband and son-in-law are in the basement as soon as the totes are in the family room! I want most of this done before I go to be tonight. (Thats my goal anyway - will let you know if it works out!)

Oh and in some spare time - I want to remake some of my half triangles that are wonky. And put on the hanging sleeve to panel #6 so that 3 of the 4 windows can be dressed Monday. I will post a pic when I get it.

I need to get to picking up - and the dogs are hungry too. Look at the mess!

Quilting Pen & Choosing Fabric

On to something fun! I went to Joann's the weekend before Tday with my mom to get some ideas for a Christmas and supplies. I will be starting this mystery, who was I kidding. So first shopping. I had to practice some restraint at Joanns! I really wanted to buy out the quilting notions section! I did get a pen thou! $7 and I know it will be 1/2 off next week. But I need to get these quilts out of my house! And Jacki says she need them for her back porch.

Here is the pen. It is a white marking pen by Clover and it works really good - NO MORE Chalk pencils that break for me! I am going to stock up on these when they go on sale. I use 1/2 of it to mark the quilting on 2 panels - but oh so easy and I can see them!! Happy dance, in my head - I'm not getting up are you crazy, I'm finally getting these post done.


Then I did a little more dreaming - still dont know what I'm going to do about Mystery Quilt colors - how do you pick when you dont know the outcome?? I know, thats the MYSTERY. Here is my small collection of cut shirts that I will be starting with. The greens and blues were calling. And look at the reds, I have never been a red person? How did this happen?

catching up / Thanksgiving '09

So how do bloggers do this? There's Jobs, Family, Housework, you know LIFE! And they usually have a Hobby or Projecta and take PICS for the blog tooooo! Well, I am going to attact this as a diary, and try my best. We'll see.

So the last time I wrote, I was getting ready for my daughter and so-in-law to come down from school, finsh some window quilts for her, get a Thanksgiving meal together and wanted to start a "quilt mystry" from Bonnie Hunters site http://www.quiltville.com/

So lets try to get to Thanksgiving (its 4:30am on Saturday, but one day at a time.

Worked at my computer job this week thru Wednesday, and I did get the last 2 panels done - see below. I have the first on pretty much quilted, but havent started the second one.

Husband worked crazy this week - had Dr appt in Chgo Monday then worked till 4am Tuesday am. Tony left MO for home early Tues morning. Called me at 6:30 and I know he had been on the road for at least an hour. I finished all items on my work "goals list" except a report on going green with the 1100+ computers there. (Well thats started, and I may be able to finish it by Monday afternoon if nothing breaks.) Jacki & Tim came down from MN Tuesday evening (husband at work again...) We did some catching up and went to bed!

Wednesday, John does not have to work, so the kids and him put down the new carpet in the family room! YAH, no more triping on carpet rolls when I go thru the livingroom. They did a really good job. We had pizza I brought home as I finished getting things together for TDay and the rest of the family put the family room back together.

Jacki & Tim were up till 3am - and I was back up at 5am. It snowed! everything looked so pretty, but it was gone by 9 - a mess by 10 with 5 dogs in the house, but I saved the carpet by the dog door with a runner and a large bath towel.

I made pie, put together stuffing and started the bird! Then John and I watched the parade in NY while I worked on these window quilts again. (oh, forgot to tell you I had to bind and add a hanging sleeve on one that ended up in MN not done! Dont ask.....)

The kids went to Tim's family about 11 and we settled down for a lazy Thanksgiving. John got the paper and some coffee cake then when the bird was done about 2 Tony and us at a mini meal with potatos gravy, olives, crandberry and the bird & stuffing. I had things cleaned up by 4 with J&T came in and made plates, something about bbq and a trip to see a house renovation.....

We all went and visited my mom about 10 miles away for pie (mine will wait...) then came home and we decided how we were going to shop in the morning..... Bonnie's mystrey quilt will be a mystery a little while longer. I havent decided on colors for the quilt yet anyway! Christmas, my goto brown and green, patriotic red, white and blue, or something different blue and brown???

window quilts again

OK, so here they are again. My daughter moved from northern IL to south east MN next to the Mississippi River. And while it is cold here in IL, she informs me it is Cold AND Snowy in MN. Well, they made it through the first winter in their 100+ year old house, but the added "porch" is REALLY Cold!!!

Who puts up a non-insulated porch in MN!

Anyway I made the mistake of telling her I had saw an artical about "window quilts" in a mag. THEN, I OFFERED to make them - for 4 window. So, I did not even come close to finishing these last year, and this last spring and summer was spent helping her plan a wedding. (I'm not sure what kept me busy - she did do most of it)

I would have 3 window complete if my new son-in-law had not taken ONE home the last time they were here. The good news is that it only needs binding and a hanging pocket. I will be doing that Wednesday before Thanksgiving. The 3 windows WILL be done when they go home after the holiday. and now I have hope that maybe I can get the 4th window done... see.....

The last window quilts are ready to quilt. (can someone tell me why I am HAND quilting window quilts that will no doubt be sold with the house in a year and a half!)

As my husband says "You do it to yourself" He is right, oh bother....

Scrapbox Furniture - I want one!

My new obsession - I will be starting a saving account for this!
(see link at the left)

The Workbox - $1295 (Nov'09)

The Craftbox - $795 (Nov '09)

The Minibox - $795 (Nov '09)

Scrappy Christmas Ornaments

Really just scrappy hexagons with top and hook

So the swap was for themed 12.5 inch unfinished blocks. After looking at scrappy paper piecing I was itching for something to do, so why not jump in with both feet.

I have never designed a block before – I can follow directions fairly well. But design? Who me?? Then I realized that is what I do all the time. I cook without a recipe, I just created window quilts for my daughters drafty MN porch (boring as they may be – they should work), and when it comes to borders – I have no problem piecing at will -- so why not.

The idea was 2 ornaments on a scrappy background to create an unfinished 12.5 inch block. (From the beginning I had deceided that I was not going to try to do curves my first time out of the shoot – so it will have to be a hexagon. But for that rounded look, lets try to keep it small. )

Some searching on Bonnie Hunter’s website http://www.quiltville.com/ showed paper piecing and suggested phone book pages. Hum,,, there are 14 phonebooks on the counter at work waiting for someone to throw them out. Took one home and dove in.

A 5inch hexagon looks good – and I have a 5 inch wide ruler with a “turn table” cutting mat. That should make things easier. The hexagon sides are NOT even, but this is a scrappy block. I will NOT obsess, it will be fine.


So this is my setup. No sewing room in IL. We keep the house cool all day when everyone is at work, and I am not turning it up for an hour sewing. The dining room is next to the family room with the wood burner . My cutting “station” is the kitchen counter island behide. And a small tv tray covered with a hand towel is to the left as an iron station. See the pile of strips dumped next to my machine and paper patterns to work off of in the front. Lets get started!


First, choose 2 strips. With right sides together, place them in the center of a paper pattern, trim the strip ends and sew one edge. Press seam open. I work on 6 to 10 pieces at a time so that I can change sewing. Using leader and enders between steps I reduce thread clipping later…



After each added strip, press open the seam. Then lay the another strip next to one raw edge and continue sewing and pressing till the paper patter is no longer visable.


Once the paper pattern is covered. Take to the cutting and trim all excess fabric. Next sew cream tringles to form hexagon into a square. I’m using 2 inch triangles. Trim triangle tabs and don’t worry that things are not perfect. This is a scrappy block….

I add 1.5 inch strips to all for edges to create a block that is just over 6.5 inch square. Square unit to 6.5 inch. At this point remove the paper pattern. This is where the phone book idea shines! The paper comes off so easy. Messy but easy….


Now for Step 2
Scrappy units to finish the block or solid cream??? Check back to see which way I go. Not really sure yet.

A Saturday to Play - New to Blogging

I have worked on the web for over 15 years and never paid attention to blogging, social networks or websites for anything other than work or buying books and movies. Life was simpler when I ignored these things. But now I have something to do when I can't sleep!

Lets start with me: Computer programmer for over 25 years, happily married to my husband for over 25 years, mother of 2 (son 22 & daughter 21), and looking forward to this new internet adventure.

So why did I start this blog??? I wanted to start documenting some quilting projects and sharing ideas like those I have been enjoying for the past few months. so here goes....

This morning started with me and the animals at home. Daughter in MN at college, Son in MO helping a family friend and Husband at work driving to Indiana. My goals today: snack, wood to the barn before the rain comes, binding for the 5 window quilts destine for our daughters house in MN, and by the end of the weekend finish ordiments pieces for christmas block swap.

1) Window Quilts - 6 of 8 are quilted needing only binding and/or hanging sleeves.

I sew in the dining room, no sewing room here in IL, may in the new house in MO. I could set up in the den but I dont like to be at one end of the house when the rest of the family is in at the other. The dining room is right next to the family room with its wood burning stove and comfy chairs. Then when I have had enough, my chair and laptop are waiting for me!

2) Snack - This was decided when I found 2 package of cocoa in the cupboard. Another small decluttering project! Why is it that I always end up with 5 project at once - in the '60 they did not call it ADD - but I think I would have been a prime canidate if it had existed....lol



I may not have human company - but I always have help!


Snack....





The receipe is on the back of the cocoa container but here it is, I did not try to "healthy" it up.

Hershey's Perfectly ChocolateChocolate Cake yum yum!

2 cups sugar
1 3/4 c flour
3/4 c H Cocoa
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp soda
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup veg oil
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup boiling water

• Heat oven to 350 degrees
• mix dry ing, then add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla - beat for 2 min
• add boiling water (batter will be thin)
• bake in greased and floured 9in round pans or cupcake for 22-25 min

3) When husband got home we did get a load of wood into the barn - I think the goal is 1 more skid in the barn before snow. It really isn't that bad when you have company - and the dogs are alwasy willing to help.

4) I did get some work on my christmas block swap -- will add that tomorrow when they are done?? Ok, I can dream - husband is home tomorrow, so there will probably be something outside to do.... maybe it will rain