Mystery Complete

WOW, it has been a fast few weeks here. I have been very busy fielding questions and giving tutorials on the mystery quilt "Hot Air Balloons". It was a huge success and we all had a lot of fun. Here is a pic of my quilt top before I added the two outside borders.... border #1 was a 4" grey, #2 I am still trying to decide whether to add red or black. I love the contrast and beauty of the design. It was fun to see so many quilters make it. I broke it down into six pretty equal parts. The steps were really easy and I feel we accomplished a beautiful quilt with minimal effort. The hardest part were the flying geese. The entire quilt is made of half square triangles, solid blocks, and flying geese. I'll post the pattern on here when I have it ready to publish.

 Well, it is Thanksgiving Day here in America, so I thought I would just document a few things I am thankful for. First and foremost, I am so thankful for my husband. Having had the past two years of our married life as some of the hardest...facing death from cancer, I cannot express my deep love and admiration for my man. And, for our children (in-laws included!!) who were there to support and love through everything. It amazes me how they show love and are my strength. The grandchildren, wow, what more can I say. With ten in our brood, we are a very blessed couple. For my home, my church, and my family...I am truly thankful. Thank you God for making all this possible, for without You, where would we be. Thank you for those who protect our freedoms everyday, you are deeply appreciated.

With the food all taken care of, the children relaxing, and a bit of laundry in the machine, I think I will go sew for a while. Have a fantastic day! I am thankful for you!

Happy Thanksgiving,

Debi

Let's Get Rollin...

So I finally have the quilt for Quilt Market nearly finished. I think that is record time for piecing, quilting and binding a quilt! I finished the quilting (stitching in the ditch) on Thursday afternoon. I made and sewed the binding on the front. I am now in the process of folding around to the back for the final hand stitched finishing. It is so huge, it is really heavy. It measures 110inches square.

I also wrote the first of the clues for the mystery quilt for the Quilters Club of America, which went live this morning. I will be busy all day with questions concerning fabric choices and yardages, I am sure. That's what makes it fun. I try not to give too much away in my clues and do all the little stuff first to keep you guessing!! I am so looking forward to this. Hope you can join in the fun! quiltersclubofamerica.com

I will be working on the border for the mystery today. It will be pieced to finish off the quilt and give me a few extra inches for our big bed. I will also finish the binding on the International Quilt Market quilt. My fingers were just too sore to finish last night. I also have a teddy bear here with no face yet. Poor thing is nearly a month old and still can't see, smell, or growl! I also am testing for the December Mystery at the Quilt and Needle. You should check her mysteries out, she's brilliant... thequiltandneedle.com

Hope you have a fantastic weekend. I hope you have some time to do the things you love. I know I will be busy quilting and teddy bear making (hopefully I will have time for the teddy bears!). Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate you. Hope you join the fun with the mystery on the Quilters Club of America. Its free and FUN!!

happy crafting,

Debi 

Ticking Away

Yesterday I stitched the back of the quilt together, got it all pinned, and began quilting it. Here it is laid out on the floor. I worked until my shoulders and arms were hurting so bad I had to stop for the night. I reckon I will be sore till it's finished. I only have a few more days before I have to send it back, I need to keep pluggin away. I have to finish stitching in the ditch, then I will put the binding on, then ship it to the Market.

I also finished the center of the mystery. I used the measurements I had worked out to make a test quilt. It is looking very nice. I had a friend look at a picture of it and she loves it. I am so glad others like it as well, that's exciting. We will starting this Friday. I need to write the clues, sort out the pictures, and get it all to the Quilters Club of America before then so they can post them on the appropriate Friday. I am really looking forward to starting. There is still so much to do before Friday though! 

What are you working on? I hope you are enjoying yourself and you aren't too stressed with your workload at the moment. I am a bit overwhelmed at this present second, but I know if I just work through it, everything is going to be just fine! Besides, I have a lot of help, for which I am truly grateful.

Thanks for stopping by,

Debi

 

Priortizing...

I have been so busy over the past couple of weeks that some things that I want to do, aren't getting done. I have learned to prioritize my time. With the children here for a while, we are homeschooling, I am working on the quilt for the Market, and another for the Quilters Club of America's mystery. There just isn't enough time in a given day to get everything I WANT to do done! I guess as long as I am having fun, that's all that matters, RIGHT?????????

Here is a classic example of how my days have been going recently. I was sewing along yesterday, after tidying my table a bit for the large quilts I am working on when....BOOM....my teddy bear shelf fell EEK! My sewing machine is right under this as is a window. We are all fine and survived without a scratch. The teddy bears were all safely caught and laid aside while the engineer comes and replaces molly bolt or whatever they are called to put their resting place back where it belongs! Yesterday..shelves, the day before..my husband ran out of gas in the four-wheeler in the desert and I had to go tow him and the quad out after dark, Saturday..sick children, NEVER a dull moment!

The mystery quilt is all together now, just working on the border. The quilt for Market is in the quilting process. Since time is so short, I chose to stitch in the ditch. The designer says this is a wonderful idea as we are trying to show off the pattern of the quilt and the fabric as it will be hanging at a fabric manufacturer's booth. Stitching in the ditch is much easier and quicker. Just need to get this honkin big thing pinned and ready to go!

Well, I need to get back to it. Thanks for stopping by. Head over to Patchwork Posse and pick up the pattern for the rabbit and watch this space, more patterns coming up soon. Thinking of putting the mystery quilt on here too so all my friends can join in the fun!! Let me know if you want to make the mystery (lap size to king size) and I'll make sure you get an email with instructions.

I appreciate you,

Debi

Done at Last!

Well, amidst working on the mystery, I have been able to finish the huge quilt top for Jessica at The Quilt and Needle for the International Quilt Market. I will be sewing the backing together next and cutting binding so I can get it finished for Market. Here is a pic of it on my king bed. I just threw it over the pillows at the top and didn't smooth out the wrinkles, sorry! It is so big, the drop is long...I love it! It is called "Outside the Box". It will be hanging at the Fabri-Quilt booth at Market. If you go, have a look!! My next job will be to quilt this very large thing. I think since time is short, I will just stitch in the ditch and add other things when it returns to me after market.

The mystery is coming along nicely. I have the "prototype" on my design wall and it is looking beautiful as well. It is a king also, but I have done the math for the other bed sizes and crib or baby quilt. It looks like we may start next Friday, that gives everyone a chance to sew over the weekend before heading back to work. Looking forward to the challenge of moderating this.  We are going to have a lot of fun. Join us if you can: quiltersclubofamerica.com and it is "Mystery Quilt 11". 

Other than that, I got a bit of sleep and food along the way! Hope your week has been not so busy and you had some time to do the things you love! I may have been busy, but I loved every minute of it! Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate you.

enjoy your day!

Debi

Never Dull!

I think this has been one of the busiest weeks I have had in a very long time! I am making the rabbit pattern available today on Patchwork Posse's Blog. I am a guest contributor and Becky asked me to make it available. She's adorable and I'm sure you'll love making her. I am also working on a quilt for the Quilt Market. The designer is re-writing the pattern because the fabric producer wants a king size quilt. I am making it as she sends me the directions. In between the parts, I am working on the mystery quilt for the Quilters Club of America. We are nearly ready to get it out there...the site admin is a new hire and we are working out some details.  As soon as they are ready, I'll let you know. I hope you join me. We already have 20 quilters in our group! I'm excited :-D

Here is the quilt I'm working on for Market. I have it folded here, it's huge. This is only a quarter of the quilt and it is too big for a picture! I am hoping to get a better pic with a different camera. It's called "Outside the Box" by Jessica Smith of The Quilt and Needle. She's an amazing designer. I am making it with some lovely Fabri-Quilt fabrics.

Why don't you hop on over to Patchwork Posse and get the rabbit pattern, then go to Quilters Club of America and join the mystery quilt. Even a beginner can make this one, I have made the directions quite simple. And of course, watch this space for a final pic of Outside the Box before it heads off to The International Quilt Market. Thanks for visiting me today. I appreciate you. Please share your current projects. I saw Alecia is making costumes for her children (my grandchildren!!) for Halloween, how fun! What are you working on??

Don't forget to take time to breathe!!

Debi

It Works!!

I have been madly cutting and sewing on the mystery for two days. I did the calculations and had my husband (the engineer) check them, they are all correct. Everything is coming together beautifully. I love the pattern Mackenzie and I came up with. I wish I could share it with you, I have taken tons of pics, but some who follow my blog are making it and I don't want to spoil the fun! I am just waiting for the Quilters Club of America to give the official go ahead. If you love to sew and make a quilt, please join the fun. I promise I have made this pattern as easy as possible and even a beginner can accomplish it. Be looking for the first clue soon.  I'll keep you posted.

The fabric didn't come for the quilt I am making for the International Quilt Market. I also need to finish the quilt on the quilting frame so it is ready for the Market quilt when I get it completed. This has given me time to work on the mystery. I am loving the quiet time to just plow forward. Today I hope to finish the mystery or at least get the center finished so I can work on the border. I have to take measurements and work out angles as it is a pieced border. Maybe I will even post the clues on the blog to save some followers time joining another "club" although it is free. The site (quiltersclubofamerica.com) has lots of good tips and a large quilting community. You wouldn't regret joining if you love to make quilts...or even sew.

My family will be home tomorrow, part at the crack of dawn and the rest at the crack of dusk. I will be heading to the airport twice! It will be nice to have them home. They have had an awesome time at Grandma Montgomery's 100th birthday. It has been so quiet around here.

Have a fantastic day. Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate you. Please share on one of our Facebook pages...The Crafter's Thread or Pieces Squared. I love to see what you're doing and hear what going on in your life.

happy day,

Debi