Celtic Soltice Mystery Revealed and My Design Wall

The Mystery wasn't to be revealed until last Friday, but Bonnie couldn't wait.  I had just finished up all my clues and was looking forward to no sewing until Friday.  Well the group on Facebook couldn't resist showing how some of their tops were going to look.  So I gave in and put a few up on my Design Wall to take a picture.  Here's mine:

Some of the quilters are turning every other Birds in the Air block.  I kinda like the look so I'm going to turn some of mine and see how I like the look on my quilt.

Only the chevrons in the block are turned to make the new block.  I'll have to put more blocks up and get a bigger effect in order to decide.

Check out the other Celtic Soltice Mystery Designs and what other have on their Design Wall

The Blue Heron and Celtic Soltice and Miscellany

Christmas is over and we are awaiting the New Year.  I've been slowly recovering from my foot surgery.  I'm not having to rely on crutches or my knee wheeler.  I still have some swelling and need to keep it elevated.  I'm seeing the doctor on the 5th and I want him to see some progress.  My boot hopefully will come off around the 17th, then I'll be able to drive.  I'm just not use to relying on others for help.  I guess this is a lesson on humility.  I'm learning.

Sunday the chickens were free ranging and making a ruckus in the front yard. I went out there and I think they were worried about this:

This picture is a little blurry because I blew it up to see it.

Here's one as it was flying off

Pretty aren't they?

Celtic Soltice.  What can I say.  We are on Clue 5 of possibly 6-8 clues.  We're not sure, Bonnie's not spilling the beans. After all, she says it's a mystery. I have all of Clues 1,3,4, and 5 completed. I'm still working on Clue 2.

I've been using my Scrappy Triple Irish Chain as my Leader and Ender.  I like the idea of a Leader and Ender and eventually that becomes your main project.  I am working on my sister's quilt and have to put the borders on and sew the appliques on. I should be able to get that done by July, when I see her.

Here's the border design.  I cut them out on day a few months ago when we had a power outage.   This one is from the Fons and Porter magazine.

 Last of all but definately not least.  I won this Japanese clone on ebay last night.  I just not sure which Singer model it is a clone of.  I need to find out so I can get a manual and learn some about it.  I'm excited to get it.  I did send the Seller a link on how to package a machine for shipping.  She's mailed a couple but I just wanted to make sure this arrives in one piece.

This post is being linked to Celtic Soltice Mystery and Judy's Design Wall.  Check out the links to see what others are doing.

Part 4 CS Mystery

This Mystery has been slow going for me.  I have to elevate my foot often and it seems that I only last about 30 minutes at a time standing or sitting.  I've finished step 1 and 2 and have about half of step 3 and 4 completed.  I'm enjoying the Mystery so far and surprised to hear that we will be putting some of it together soon.

Christmas Eve is tomorrow and my family celebrates the Eve.  We will have our traditional pound cake with a bean in it ( from my paternal grandmothers side), goulash and lefse from my maternal grandmother's side.  I enjoy the traditions, it makes me feel close to my family, those here, out of state and not here.

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a great New Year.

This post is being linked to CS Mystery and Judy's Design Wall.  Go check out what everyone is doing with their Mystery or on their Design Walls.

Celtic Soltice Step 3

It's been a week since my foot surgery and I am slowly getting around.  I have been having to use an rolling office chair and now a knee walker.  I am horrible on crutches.

Step 2 Chevrons are still in the making.  I have 20 completed.  I think they are turning out great.

Step 3 Pinwheels are coming along, although I have only finished 6.  This is an exciting mystery.  I can't
wait until I can stand on my own and get to cutting, ironing, and sewing.

I am using the pinwheels and my scrappy Irish Chain as my L&E.  I think I'm liking this method of quilting 2 quilts at once.

This post is being linked to Celtic Soltice Mystery and Judy's Design Wall. Go and check out what everyone else is doing!

Celtice Solstice Step 2

We received our instructions for Step 2 of our Mystery Quilt on Friday.  Thursday I spent having a bunion removed from my foot.  I was able to get a couple of my fat quarters in to my bedroom and since I didn't have access to my rotary cutter or sewing machine, I marked and cut a couple of my pieces.  I marked my quarter  and hand sewed a couple of blocks.  I see where one is flipped. I can fix that when I can stand and move a round a little.  I've  never done any hand sewing except for binding so this was an experience.  I'm not sure how to start or stop.  So I started in from the corner and backtracked.  Then in the end I retraced a couple of  stitches.  I didn't tied off.  I hope this is good.

I linked this post to Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt and to Judy's Design Wall.

Don't forget, I can start receiving your quilts in mid January. See my special on the left column of my blog.  Now let's see what everyone is doing.

Design Wall 10-21-2013

I have been working on a Leader and Ender project by Bonnie Hunter.  It will be a scrappy Irish Chain.  Right now I'm sewing the 2 in squares together to form the "chain" of the quilt.

                                                                  
I don't have a picture but I will in my next post.

My design wall has my sister's quilt on it.  I just finished putting a small border on it.  The final border will have appliques on a 6 in border.

The first border is hardly seen here.  It's 1 1/2 inches in a purple batik.  

I finished my son's Crown Royal Jean quilt and he's sleeping under it.  He really likes it. 

Now my children and grandchildren all have at least one quilt.  Time to start the cycle over.

My website is under construction.  I hope to have it up and running in the next two weeks.  I imagine that a couple of the pages will be "under construction" but it is a work in progress and I'm working with a gal who has a life also.  In the meantime, I am having a short Christmas Sale.  Any quilt (except king) that I received in this month will be quilted with a medium meander for 30% off.  See details on the left side of this blog.  I hope to be able to quilt your Christmas present for your special person.  

This post will be linked to Judy's Design wall in the morning.  Take a visit and see what others have been doing this week.

Design Wall 10-14-2013

My design wall has the same quilt top in progress on it that it did last week.  I received my additional fabric for the borders.  I have all my applique pieces cut out and ready to ramp up again.

I'm taking a break from it in order to finish my Get R Done project.  My Carpenter's Star.  Judy gave us the pattern and she also made a You Tube on quilting feathers.  Actually there are 8 or 9 videos.  I'll be working on that and then this will be the first month I've completed my list.

I attended MQX Quilt Festival in Portland last week.  What a fantastic show they put on.  I took classes with Jamie Wallen, Irena Bluhm, Claudia Pfeil, Linda Taylor, Lisa Sipes, and Angela Walters.  I barely had time to take a quick tour of the show quilts and merchandise.  I'm just sorry to hear that they the next time they will be back again is in 2015.

I'm trying to get some longarm work done today because I want to be able to join Bonnie's Quilt Cam tonight.  I'm not sure what I'll be working on during her cam but I'll get it figured out.  It's such a great way to get some work done with company.

This post is being linked to Judy's Design Wall.  Stop in and see what others are doing.

Arin's Quilt

The quilt that I have been enamored with from Fon's and Porter is going to my sis.  She's so excited to be receiving it.  She'll have to pick it up when she comes stateside next summer.

Today, I'm working on the border but without the border fabric.  It's on order.  But I am preparing my applique for the border.

This is an alternate border design in the magazine for the border.  I love it and my batiks will look great in the shapes.

I really need to be working on quilting my son's quilt.  I found the backing wasn't large enough for the top.  The fabric was ordered and received.  I have no excuses.  Today, I will add the extra to the back and I have decided, after watching Eleanor Burns that the quilting will be only a single embroidery design placed strategically around the quilt.  I've decided which design I want to use already.  701.  That's so I won't forget or in case my post it gets lost.

I was looking for a picture and couldn't find one.  So I took on of the top and back.

Back

Top

Today is GET 'R DONE

Have a great day everyone.

Design Wall 9-23-2013

I've been so excited about this quilt that I've had a hard time putting it down.  I had canning to do and I didn't want to take time away from this to do that.

The top is pieced except the borders.  I wasn't able to purchase enough of the background material and I guess I thought I would piece a border.  I've decided that I want to applique the border and for that I needed some ric rac and more background fabric.  I ordered it today.  The ric rac is already on its way.  I'm not very imaginative about it.  I've decided to make the borders like the alternate quilt in the Fons and Porter Love of Quilting magazine.  I like it.

Here's way I am.

I'm working on building up my longarm business and according to some experts, the first three years need to focus on getting my name out there.  I decided to make a tote for a longarm quilt show I'm attending in October.  MQX West.  

  I had an extra block from the quilt above.  The other block is a block from a string quilt.  I made them out of the same fabrics from the first block. I've SID'd on the tote and now I'm thinking of how to quilt it.  Next week I'll have some process to show.

This post is being linked to Patchwork Times.  Hop over and see what others have been doing.

My Design Wall 9-16-2013

My design wall last night.  I didn't have any more time to sew blocks into rows.  One row of blocks is on my sewing machine ready to go.  The top half are all sewn together.  Looks like I have three rows to go.  I did spend some time online purchasing some ric-rack for the vines.  I'm going to have a border with applique flowers, birds and butterflies.  Just like in the magazine.  No imagination.  Well, it will look great and I don't want to make the body any larger.

I thought I might work on my son's jean quilt and found out I didn't make the back large enough and I used the leftover of it on another quilt.  So I ordered more fabric for enlarging the back.  

This post is linked to Judy's Design Wall.  See what others have been doing.

I Can't Believe It's Sunday Already

I've been busy.  This morning I had my normal routine of reading my favorite blogs and of course new posts on Facebook.  I found a recipe for Cinnamon Twists by Recipe Girl.  I decided to make them.  Instead of using buttermilk, which I never have, I thought I would substitute with milk.  When I looked, I didn't have any of that either.  Ok, so I thought I had some dry milk but I didn't have the directions for making it.  It usually turns out to weak.  So I looked in my pantry and I had condensed milk. So into the condensed milk I added a tablespoon of lemon.  That's what my research said to do for buttermilk.  Is this what I've been making all along?  Buttermilk?  I thought I was just making sour milk.  Anyway.  I didn't take pictures of all the steps.  These are the twists just before putting them into the oven.

I misread the instructions and baked mine for 20 minutes.  Too long.  12-15 was the ideal and it would have been just right.

So they are a little brown, but I went ahead and glazed them.  My son came in just as I was finished and he and Doug ate one pan.  They must not have been too bad.  These were very easy to make.  The instructions call for using a pizza cutter for making the strips.  I love my pizza cutter.  I use it for a lot of things besides cutting pizza.

While the dough was rising, we hurried and gathered out onions that were already dug and drying.  The rain was suppose to come in around noon and we didn't want to ruin our crop.

This was all we got but that will be enough for us.  Last year we had tons.  We gave away lots and still ended up tossing some.

I've been in my sewing room most of the day in between chores.  I've been working on a quilt for a couple of weeks, not nonstop, I still have a day job.  All the blocks are done and I'm in the process of putting together the rows.  Yesterday, I printed out some applique which I will use in the border.  I ordered some ric-rack for the vines.  I hope it turns out.  

I hope to have a picture of the rows completed for my blog on Monday.  Check back to see it.  I am just loving the secondary pattern.  I sound redundant but I love it and am fascinated by it.

That's all for now.

My Design Wall- 9/9/2013

Wow.  I've been fascinated by this pattern.  I just kept making more and more blocks to see more of the secondary pattern.  I love it.  I think Liz Porter's quilt was out of repro 30's fabric.  This is batiks.  I've been trying to only use my stash and so far with the exception of larger yardages, I have been able to make quilts for the last couple of years with it.

Since this photo was taken, I only have two blocks to go and the top is done except sewing the rows together.

I'm going to have to take a break from this and finish one of my Get'rDone projects done.

This post is being linked to Judy's Design Wall

Design Wall 9/2/2013

This is my design wall as of Monday evening.  It is a quilt I saw Liz Porter demonstrate on Fon's and Porter Love of Quilting Saturday.  She names it Emily's Wedding Quilt.  It is made up of two blocks to create a secondary pattern.  TheShoFly block and the 54-50 or Fight block.  She used repro 30's fabric and I'm using my batiks.  After looking at the picture of these blocks, I find I need to replace a triangle square in the second secondary pattern block.  It is too light and looks like the block isn't finished.  I have since taken all that batik out of the mix.

I don't have a person in mind yet for this quilt.  It will most likely only be a double or queen.  It just depends on how long it takes and if I get bored and want to start something new.

This post is being linked to Judy's Design Wall 9-2-13

Design Wall June 10, 2013

I saw both these designs on two of the quilt shows I watch on television.  The first one is Elle's Quilt in a Day show.  I thought I'd try them both out maybe for tablerunners.  My sister is coming for her annual vacation from Singapore and I thought I may make one of these up for her.

The first one is called Twin Sisters.  I would be totally scrappy.  I experimented with a couple of sizes.  I really like the large blocks when piecing a large quilt and the small one for maybe a tablerunner or corner blocks.

I think this one is called Twirling Triangles.  This one I saw on Fons and Porter.  I just happen to have a 60 degree triangle and  thought I would try it out.  I like it.  I goes together great,.  No "y" seams, just straight line sewing.  I've made a couple of halves.  This picture was taken when I'd only had one done.   I like it.

This post is being linked to Judy's Patchwork Times.  Come have a look around and see what everyone is working on.

Design Wall Monday 3-11-2013

I haven't been posting lately for one reason or another, BUT I have been sewing.

I viewed a tutorial by Missouri Star Quilts a while back and decided to make the quilt. It's called Periwinkle. I used some leftover batiks.

I like it so far but cutting the triangle with their papers looked easy.  Putting the triangles together doesn't work so well.  I'm also looking at the squares and they didn't allow for  a quarter inch seam allowance on the points.  I think all my points will be cut off.

I haven't decided what I'm going to do at this point.

Still working on my Get It Done projects.  DW jean quilt is ready to tie.  I need to look up on Google how to tie a square knot.

Jana's Bears In the Farmhouse quilt is on the longarm.  I'm getting there but the weather has been so lovely the last few days, I been spending it outdoors....with the chickens.

This post is being posted to Judy's Design Wall Monday

Design Wall 1/21/2013

Not much going on on My Design Wall.  These are Crown Royal Bags that will be the quilt back of my son's Jean Quilt.  I have several of them taken apart but aren't ready for sewing into rows yet.  The pattern is laying by the side of the bags.  The white space will be made out of purple flannel.  I hope to get some of the blocks trimmed and sewed together.

What's on your design wall.  To see other design walls go to Judy's blog

My Design Wall December 31, 2012

Not on my design wall but a completion none the less.  This is my last finished quilt from my UFO list of 2012.  Judy called for Number 2 in May.  This is my grandson, Jessee's quilt.  When they were here this fall, he decided that he liked this one better.  So the original number 2 is not done, yet.  Jessee's new quilt wasn't a UFO, it was a Color Pallette Challenge.  She named hers Sweet Tart and I named my Skittles.  It was a project in conjunction with Vicki's May  Color Pallette Challenge.

I posted earlier about my tension problems.  I finished it but still had a lot of thread breakage.  Jessee choose the back and since I didn't have enough for the whole back, I pieced it.  I think it turned out good.

I think Jessee will love it.

This post is being linked to Judy's Design Wall

Design Wall 11-19-2012

I have a couple days off during Thanksgiving and plan of getting my grandson's quilt quilted.  It's on the longarm and I've picked my thread.  That's the trouble, my tension isn't right.  I keep breaking the top thread.    It was late enough in the day Sunday to just quit and start up fresh maybe tomorrow.

This is a Color Palette Challenge  I did with Judy in May.  She named her's Sweet Tart and I'm calling  my Skittles.  It's also a stashbuster.  I didn't purchase a single fat quarter, remant or yard.  

I hope to get it done my Monday next.  Then I can handsew the binding at night while watching tv.

This post is being linked to Patchwork Times Design Wall.

My Design Wall 11-12-2012

When my grandson was here this summer, I showed him his quilt.  

Then he saw this one "Skittles"

"Grandma, can I have this one instead?"  "Of course."   He picked the G.I.Joe material for the back and because I don't have enough, I am incorporating colors from the back to make the backing different.  Once the backing is pieced, it's going on the longarm.

This post is being linked to Judy's Design Wall.

My Design Wall 10-29-12

The only thing on my design wall was posted on September 9.  It's still there.  But I have been working on some projects.  I am making a couple more boy scout vests for my grandson's pak.  I attended MQX West and took some classes.  Here are some of the designs I have been practicing on my longarm.

Not all of them but a few.  I'm thinking some of these will become my favorites.

I also took some time on Sunday to put in a new zipper on a favorite jacket.  Then discovered that my new (month-old) purse had a hole in it.  I had to fix it becuase that was where I put my keys.  What a disaster that would be.

We had some homemade meals this weekend.  Chicken Pot Pie and Chili with cornbread.  Something about fall that makes me want comfort food. 

Thanks for visiting and please visit Judy's blog and Homestead Revival's Barn Hop this week.

This is being posted on Judy's Design Wall and Homestead Revival Barn Hop__