Mystery Monday Link Up!! Allietare! Part 1

Today is the first LINK-UP of the 2015 Winter Mystery hosted by Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville.  I couldn't resist joining in the fun!  The first clue was released on Friday and subsequent clues will be released on Fridays until all clues have been released.

You've seen the fabric that I'm using (Fabric LINK), but HERE is what we were asked to do with the neutrals and grays from our collection of materials:

We Mystery Quilters were asked to make 200-something of these Half Square Triangle units (HSTs), but I plan to make a smaller quilt, so I'm only making HALF of the units.

However...

As you can see, I have just begun.  The good news is that I have until this coming Friday to finish my required number of HSTs.  Wish me luck!!

HERE is a LINK to the kick-off page... In case YOU decide that you would like to quilt along.

REMEMBER:  You can choose your own colors based on the values that Bonnie provided.  It is NEVER necessary to use the EXACT SAME colors as the designer!!!  Her choices are her own and are meant to be a guideline for your selections.

Until next time...
Be Mysterious!!!

ScrapHappy Saturday - RSC15 - Week 48

Welcome to Week 48 of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!!  This is the FINAL week of the FINAL color for this year's Quilt Along.  The FINAL month of the Challenge will begin in a few days.

MONDAY there were errands to do and bills to pay.  No time for quilting.  :o((

TUESDAY morning, I met one of my knitting friends for coffee.  After that, there was a trip to the grocery store and some cleaning to be done.  Unfortunately, that left very little energy for sewing.  I did, however, get a jump start on my holiday baking and 2 pumpkin pies came out of the oven (just before bedtime, but I wanted to get it DONE!!)

I did take a look at my Light/Bright GREEN collection, but didn't do any more than gather it up for a photo op:

... And debate about whether I should try to make some more blocks.  My limited scraps say NO!!!

WEDNESDAY afternoon, I made a trip to the local university to pick up DS1 for Thanksgiving Break.  When I returned, there was ANOTHER trip to the store, before I could bake a cake to take along to the family feast.

THURSDAY morning was for making last minute preparations for our trip to Grandma's house.


And then we were off...


To enjoy a day with family and friends!!!

It was FABULOUS!!!  (And I hope that YOU had a great day, too.)

On FRIDAY, quilters all over the world celebrated the release of the 1st clue in the 2015 Bonnie Hunter Quiltville Winter Mystery.  This year's quilt is called Allietare and these are the fabrics that I will be using:

Yes, I showed them when I chose them, but wanted to share them again for any new readers!!

Part 1 of the Mystery involved the neutral and the gray.  Watch for what hoops Bonnie had us jump through on Monday.  That's when the Mystery Monday Link Up will take place.

SATURDAY is Angela's LINK PARTY day!!!  Won't you pop over to see what the RSC Quilters have been working on?  Many of them might have posted their Month in Review accounts.  There are still a few days remaining in Light/Bright GREEN month, so I think I will wait until next week to reveal my final counts.  Sorry!

Even though I had a chance to be NUMBER ONE when I found that Angela had posted early... You'll find me at link number 15 this week.  I just couldn't bring myself to link up while it was still FRIDAY.

Until next time...
Get Scrappy!!!

Mail Call Monday - Rainbow Striped Project Bag

We haven't had a Mail Call Monday post in quite some time.  Today changes that!!

SAFF was several weeks ago.  It was a wonderful weekend of knitting fun!  I still haven't shared all of my purchases with you.  Sorry!!!

While there, I met a friend of a friend.  Rick at Whimzee Stitches makes project bags (and brought some to sell to knitting friends.)

Here is a glimpse of an item that I didn't buy (while at the event, but HAD to order afterwards!)

I was fascinated by the vinyl insert sock bags:

I somehow missed his Trunk Show.  :o((

So...

I had to order mine from Rick's Etsy Shop.  When I wrote to him on Ravelry, he kindly offered a $5 off coupon.

Time to start a pair of hand knit socks...  :o))

ScrappySaturday - RSC15 - Week 47

Welcome to Week 47 of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!!  We are nearing the end of Angela's final Color of the Month.  November's color is Light/Bright GREEN.  I thought that I might have more of it than I actually had left from my green sewing earlier in the year.


Hmm...  I wonder why that is?!?!


One of the RSC Quilters shared her theory last week.  Let me see if I can find what she said...


Wait, wait, wait.



Ah!  Here it is...

Nope!  Can't find it, but thanks for the insight (oh, unnamed RSC Quilter.)  The gist of the comment was that if you have very little of a color... it must be one of your favorites.  (With me and Lime Green that is ABSOLUTELY true!!!)

SUNDAY afternoon I photographed the collection of NINE Rainbow Crumb Blocks that I made on Saturday (after posting my weekly RSC account.)  Sorry for the time lapse, but HERE they are:

I attached a label to THIS quilt... FINALLY!!!

On MONDAY morning, I remembered that I didn't share how I spent my day yesterday.  I spent the day with 7 members of my Quilt Bee.  We had a lovely day of quilty fun!  I worked on my newest quilt commissions:

T-Shirt Quilts, of course!!

These will be different from my norm.  My client envisions a "puzzle" style layout for both of these memory quilts.  I expect that this might prove challenging for me.

That's OK... I'm up for a challenge!!!  :o))

In case you aren't familiar with what I mean by a "puzzle" style layout, check out THIS blog post from Deb Rowden.  HERE is another one from Molli Sparkles.  Katie Mae Quilts shared a calmer version in THIS post.  I believe it's closer to what my client has in mind.

My most recent T-Quilt, shared in this April POST, is more in line with the style that I normally use. It was proclaimed my BEST T-quilt EVER by DS1.  :o))

Wish me luck as I move into the design phase!!!

TUESDAY, I planned on staying home all day.  That's not what happened, but that WAS the plan!

Bright and early in the morning, I headed up to the studio (with the intention of getting right to work on my commission quilts.)  When I got up there I heard little voices.  250 little voices of the colored squares for the Alternate RSC Sampler Blocks.


What's a quilter to do???


Well...  THIS quilter set up the cutting space (it had been disassembled for Sunday's Sew Day) and got to work!!  However, after taking rotary cutter to fabric several times, I remembered that SOMEWHERE in the room was a drawer of previously cut squares... in JUST the size that I need:

Almost every square needed to complete the Alternate Blocks for the 2015 RSC Sampler was housed in that drawer.  Here they are, neatly lined up in rows for counting after being sorted:

Unfortunately, about half way through the sorting process, the phone rang.  See how long that row of purple squares is in the photo above?  Well, the drawer was balanced (precariously) on the corner of the table just out of your line of vision.

THIS photo...

... Shows what the drawer looked like after I bumped the table on my way to answer the phone!!!  :o((

On WEDNESDAY, my job for the day was house cleaning.  I know, right?  BORING!!!  Well, the quilters are coming on Saturday and the downstairs is a bit of a mess.  (OK!  Maybe that is an understatement.)  Anyway...

After a swish and a swipe, I decided that it was time for a sewing break.  I made TWO Rainbow Crumb Blocks for my ongoing project:

And dove into my 3" drawer looking for strips to make the star points for my RSC (Non)Sampler:

THURSDAY is the day for my weekly Quilt Group meeting.  I went and thoroughly enjoyed myself!

However, my shoulder was throbbing from the workout that I gave it yesterday.  :o((

I doubt this ONE Rainbow Crumb Block was the culprit:

NOTE:  Fabrics for the block came from my friend Candy's scrap pile.  Thanks, Candy!!

On FRIDAY morning, I was off to Knit Group.  I made progress on one of my scarves and admired the new piece of art behind the register:

It's SUCH a cheerful piece and my photo REALLY doesn't do it justice!!

Remember that pain in my shoulder???  Well... it's not gone and...

I'm pretty sure that it had more to do with THIS (and the fact that I added more pieces to the stack yesterday afternoon):

This SATURDAY was a LITTLE different than most.  I got up early to put on the chili for my Quilt Bee.  It was my turn to host the meeting and chili is comfort food on a cold day.  Although, yesterday the temp was near 60* and felt decidedly warmer than that in the bright sunshine (and today was more of the same, but thankfully the chili was well received.)

Next up, make the coffee and something to nibble on... too bad THAT part didn't get done!

Then... the quilters are coming.  The quilters are coming!!

We had a wonderful meeting, made complete with the arrival of our English bee member.  Welcome back, Lisa!!  We are SEW glad that you were able to fit us into your schedule of people to visit while you are here from England for the Thanksgiving holiday!

LONG after the meeting...

I was FINALLY able to join Angela's LINK PARTY.  I'm looking forward to taking a tour of the RSC projects that have kept the RSC Quilters busy this week.  Since I was late to the party, I'm link number 22 this week.  I hope you will join me, as I go visit all of the blogs.

Until next time...
Get Scrappy!!!

ScrapHappy Saturday - RSC15 - Week 46

Welcome to Week 46 of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!!  We are working in the final color of the year.  It's almost time to begin putting our RSC projects together.  That includes this year's Rainbow Scrap Sampler that our leader designed.  Many of the RSC quilters are working on it.  After posting last Saturday's Link Party, Angela posted the final sampler block tutorial:

November Block 2 - Swamp Angel Star

 On SUNDAY, I thought about what you might like to see in the Color of the Month and thought I would share the new earrings that were given to me last week by my friend Knittingsuek, along with a Thrift Store find in just the right shade of Light / Bright GREEN:

I made ONE Rainbow Crumb Block that looks quite Slab-like:

No sewing was done on MONDAY, but when evening came and I thought I'd share a bit of Light / Bright GREEN piecing (in order to psych myself up for tomorrow!):

Why weren't you sewing, Joyful???

Well, it was DS2's day at the NCMEA Conference.  He and the other members of the CRHS Jazz Ensemble played for the music educators from around the state.  It was an outstanding performance:

On TUESDAY morning, I realized that I didn't show you the bag that Knittingsuek made for my birthday... in a lovely shade of... you guessed it... Light / Bright GREEN:

When I sat down to sew, I made ONE Rainbow Crumb Block:

And then ANOTHER Rainbow Crumb Block (because I couldn't stop at just ONE!):

WEDNESDAY was Veterans Day in America.  Thank you to you and yours, if you have served (or are serving) in the military.  I sewed scraps in your honor... there's red, white, and blue in there:

On THURSDAY, I had a busy day.  Work in the early-morning, Quilt Group during the late morning, errands in the afternoon, and a Benefit Concert at school in the evening.   The Tri-M Honor Society members presented the event to raise money for the Spring Musical.  DS2 actually did a trombone solo... a very LOUD trombone solo.  Nice work, DS2!!!

FRIDAY was Knit Group... without me!!!  I had to stay at home with a sick child.  :o((

I did manage to post my intentions for Bonnie Hunter's 2015 Mystery Quilt in my favorite Ravelry group.  Bonnie chose red, gold, gray, and black this year.  HERE is her inspiration photo:





I hope it inspires you, too.  If not, maybe this selection of fabrics (that I intend to use) will help you decide to join in the mystery quilting fun:

Although, I may rethink those choices, as a friend on Ravelry thought that my reds were hot pink. When I read her thoughts, a light bulb went off in my head and I went right up to check that stash!  However, I'm going to leave you guessing for now.  Sorry!  I'm mysterious like that.  :P

SATURDAY morning I joined the LINK PARTY for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  If you haven't stopped by to check out all of the Light/Bright GREEN projects, you may want to head over to Angela's So Scrappy Blog now!  You will find me at link number 7 this week.

Until next time...
Get Scrappy!!!

ScrapHappy Saturday - RSC15 - Week 45

Welcome to Week 45 of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!  While I was away last weekend, Angela posted the Color of the Month for November's Rainbow Scrap Challenge on the first of the month (after "letting the cat out of the bag" in Saturday's RSC post wrapping up BROWN month.):

November Color Announcement

The color for November is light or bright green.  Green is second only to blue as far as volume for many of us, and it deserves another chance to come out and play.

Since I was busy with other sewing last week and went away for a long weekend, I owe you my
October's Month in Review... (which was prepared in advance, but posted after-the-fact.)  You can find that post HERE.

But first...  Back to Light / Bright GREEN...

Angela posted one of the two remaining Sampler Blocks:

November Block 1 - Ohio Star

This week got off to a SLOW start...  for me.

The bulk of SUNDAY was spent at SAFF (or driving home from SAFF.)  I really though that I would be able to complete my Month in Review for October, but found that I was exhausted from the trip and went straight to bed... after unloading the car.

I had BIG plans for MONDAY, but woke to find that I wouldn't be doing ANYTHING that happened outside of my bed!!  Apparently, I brought home some sort of stomach bug, along with all of my yarny purchases.  Every time I got out of bed, I felt sick.  Crawling back in bed helped me feel better, but who wants to stay in bed all day when there is quilting to be done?!  :o((

The verdict was still out for TUESDAY.  In the end, I went back to bed after waking DS2, got up to make some breakfast several hours later, and returned to bed.  I was REALLY hoping to get moving by around midday.

Well, I got in my shower before my stomach went crazy, again.  It was back to bed, for me.  :o((

On WEDNESDAY morning, I got out of bed to wake DS2 and make lunches.  That's a FIRST for this week!  However, that is as far as I got before heading back to bed.  I didn't crash as hard and was able to get up and have my own breakfast a couple of hours later.

Sick, Sick, Sick...  All better!  :o))

After breakfast, I went upstairs to check the status of my light and bright GREEN fabrics... finding that I had used most of them earlier in the year.  That's OK!  I'll work in a few more blocks and call it good.  (I've got PLENTY of other projects to work on, anyway!)  Here is my somewhat SHORT supply of light and bright GREEN:

I'm beginning to feel better.  I actually managed a trip to the grocery store AND was able to spend some time up in the sewing room!  I made ONE Maverick Star for Alycia's QOV Block Drive:

NOTE:  If you go make some blocks TODAY, you may have time to mail them off before the Veteran's Day (Nov. 11th) deadline!!!

Hopefully, your star points won't turn out like THIS:

OOPS!!!

I also put together ONE Maverick Star in Light/Bright GREEN:

THURSDAY morning, I was feeling quite a bit better, so off I went to my weekly Quilt Group.  After lunch, I came home to sew for a little while.  I made ONE Slab Block in Light/Bright GREEN:

On FRIDAY morning, I attended my weekly Knit Group.  When I got home, I had a few minutes before heading out to Senior Night for Marching Band.  I was able to make ONE String Block in Light/Bright GREEN:

Yes... I did have to feed those hungry children!!  This was the final night of Marching Band for the season.  Hooray!!  Only my own hungry mouths to feed on Friday nights from here on out!

This week ended up going by fairly quickly and SATURDAY got here before I knew what happened!  I joined Angela's LINK PARTY and cruised around BlogLand as the Rainbow Scrap Quilters added their own links.  Go have a look for yourself!  There are SEW MANY wonderful Light/Bright GREEN blocks being sewn...

Including my ONE Tiny Nine in Light/Bright GREEN...

... Which can be found at link number 17 this week.  Go have a look!

Until next time...
Get Scrappy!!!

Wonderful Wednesday - BROWN for October's RSC

Can you BELIEVE that it's November?!?!?  I added my weekly post HERE for last week, but wasn't able to upload any pictures while I was out of town.  I have since fixed that, if you'd like to have a look at what I was working on last week.  SEW...

Now, here begins the BROWN review...

ONE (1) Maverick Star Blocks:

FIVE (5) Slab Blocks:

FOUR (4) String Blocks:

THREE (3) Tiny Nines:

Totaling THIRTEEN (13) quilt blocks made during BROWN month (as shown in this composite photo):

Also to report...

TWO (2) Rainbow Crumb Blocks:

13 + 2 = 15

That brings my adjusted total to FIFTEEN (15) quilt blocks made during the month of October.

Sorry for the delay in providing my monthly stats!  I was TOO tired when I got home on Sunday night and was too sick on Monday and Tuesday to post.

Until next time...
Get Scrappy!!!
Hope you had a safe, treat-filled Halloween!  (Since that's when this was SUPPOSED to post!!)

October = BROWN = Productivity

Then sprinkle in a RAINBOW of Crumbs... and this month you can scarcely tell the difference!!

Mail Call Monday {A Composite Post}

I have good news and bad news.  The bad news is that I have neglected this feature for (more than) a couple of weeks.  The good news is that you get to see ALL of the wonderful arrivals at once!

The first arrival:

Hmm.. Interesting:

Ah!  Fairy Fabric for my new quilt commission:

Sorry, Austerity Challenge Quilters, you have no jurisdiction over my "business" quilting account!

The second arrival:

Hannah's Choice Yarn was a commissioned custom dye for my Sorority sisters.  Let hope they like it.

Hooray!!  They LOVE it!!  Now, we just have to figure out how to order it from the Indi Dyer.  (Sorry, ladies!  Mine was dropped off in person.)


This is arrival number three:

Paper Fabric:

It's SO pretty!  The colors are GREAT for my Custom CK Totes.  Unfortunately, it wasn't QUITE what I expected, but that sometimes happens when you place orders online.  :o((

Until next time...
POOF!!!  PayPal.