It's almost time for the new year to begin and I finished my blocks for the new mystery quilt by Bonnie Hunter, En Provence!  I didn't think I would catch up, but I buckled down and got busy.  Of course, I put aside my other project, Leah Day's Block of the Month for 2016.  I have been busy with school and teaching, but I did it!

Here's a picture of all of my blocks.  Now, it's time to wait for the reveal.

I jumped between my treadle and my Singer 401a to sew up the blocks.  I have my grandmother's Pfaff 30 treadle machine, circa 1950's and sewed about half of the clues using it.  It sews great and I just love the soft ticky tack noise as she sews my pieces.
Now, it's back to working on quilting my blocks to finish the 2016 block of the month with Leah Day.  This is sure a fun project, but it is time consuming since I free-motion rather slowly.  I did have to rip out some of the quilting on block 6 because I didn't like how it looked after I finished.  I am redoing that block.  

I missed Quiltcam this past Sunday and I was sewing!  That's okay, I watched the archived video tonight as I worked on part 4 of the En Provence mystery quilt.
I am working on putting together a 'mountain majesties' quilt for a Christmas gift for my brother. This pattern can be found on the free pattern tab on the Quiltville blog.  It sews up quick.  I have it under my "Sweet Sixteen" machine and am meandering as my quilt stitch.

I love the fabrics...

I finished it just in time to take back to New Mexico.  I gave it to my brother as his gift and he loved it.  I pointed out the many mountains of which were made of potato fabric, pueblo turtle designs, Navajo jewelry, encouraging words for the veterans, chili fabric, grey mountains and so many rows to name a few.  I am so glad I finished it.

I am slowly making progress with this mystery...En Provence.
I am using my Singer 401a and am enjoying the process.  I have most of my pieces finished.

En Provence, part 4 link up

I don't know what happened to my link up through Bonnie's website, but she had to drop my picture....aahhh.  It's funny, but the link above my picture works!  Go figure when it comes to computer glitches.  

During my Thanksgiving break, I sat down and free motioned a design using a template to create two table runners.  I love the red ristras; these remind me of New Mexico and the smell of roasting green chili.

I made another small hand bag using Annie Unrein's pattern.  This turned great, but I think I need to still purchase the right hardware to properly hook and slide to make the adjustments on the strap.

It has inside pockets with a zippered compartment.  The only thing I didn't like was the small zippered compartment on the outside.  It is a bit small for me to use and place credit cards and money. My currency rolled around and it did get in the way when I was trying to get my debit card out to use.

I made this sewing bag known as the 'beatle bag'.  It has lots of pockets to store my sewing stuff.  I made it to match my many vintage Singer sewing machines.

I got ambitious about two weekends ago and made this purse.  The crafter is on Craftsy and she was giving out this pattern for free.  I love the design and made this using leatherette fabric from Jo Ann's. For a small bag, it holds a lot.  There are three separate compartments which are sewn together.  It's cute!

I saw this thread catcher pattern at one of the quilt shops here in Las Vegas and loved it, so I made it using vintage Singer fabrics to commemorate my vintage Singer sewing machines.

Here's clue 2 and 3.  I am behind at the moment...things like my job have been getting in the way.  No matter, I have saved and printed my copies and will get to them during my winter break.  I just downloaded clue #4 and I love the colors.  I'm glad I stayed with Bonnie's original color palette.

I thought I didn't sew much this quarter, but I have.  I have been working on bits and pieces anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes chunks of sewing time.  I have also been attending a local quilt group on Thursday evenings and have tried to work on some of my projects.  Here are some pictures of what I've completed thus far.

I made a few more blocks from Leah Day's block of the month project.  I have to pin quilt them and start free motion quilting.  I am a bit behind, I will catch up.

I also made 4 more pot holders.  They are cute and look just like pies!

I made a Lazy girl bag using the 'Acoma' turtle fabric.  I love it!  This is going to be a Christmas gift for Mom.

Bonnie Hunter's En Provence quilt mystery....
Well, I've started!  I've sewn together the 4 patch blocks and have spun the seams.  I need 190 more!  I have pinned them together in numbers of 10 for easier counting...just as Bonnie has suggested.  I need more neutrals (I really don't, but it's fun to shop).
En Provence...step 1

   

I love my new ironing board cover!  I made this about a month ago.  I also added another layer of cotton batting.

Whoohoooo!  Bonnie has our first clue up!  What beautiful colors!  I can hardly wait to start.  I bought some beautiful majenta fabric from a new quilt store here in town.  This store is so big and has many beautiful bolts of fabric and a wide variety at that.  I went back this past week and found more and left with a big smile and another bag project's worth to sew.

The link to her mystery is on the right top hand corner!  Have fun!

      I purchased Bonnie Hunter's newest book....Addicted to scraps.
This book is stock full of her patterns and her unique way of using scraps to create her designs.  I am working on a couple of her designs from her previous books and will soon start some tops from this book.  Can you imagine sewing and quilting everyday?  She does it and has the quilts and patterns to share.  I especially love her quilt cam times.  She makes time in between her traveling and her classes to tape herself sewing and showing what she is working with currently.  This past week she was sewing together orange pumpkins on grey background fabric.  Just click on her Quiltcam icon and watch!

It's been a while since I've posted anything.  I have been busy moving to Las Vegas, working at a new job as a high school teacher in culinary, and setting up house.  There has not been much time to sew and quilt.  I did find a group of quilters and try to spend as much time with them to quilt and socialize.  I needed this time to regroup as my teaching job is taking a large chunk of time.  I haven't been in the classroom for over 10 years and my, things have changed.  We use a lot more technology and the kids are permanently strapped to their phones.
We just finished with a whirlwind of evenings of tailgate cooking for the staff.  My students have performed very well and have shown me and others that they are the "bomb"! (Their words..)  No pictures are available and I wouldn't feel comfortable posting pictures of them without their permission.  Thank you for working so hard and definitely exhibiting some serious school spirit.

Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville has released the colors for the upcoming 2016 quilt mystery!  I am excited and am getting my colors together.  I love the majenta!  Come and join me in a few weeks as we follow her lead and create a colorful, scrappy quilt.

Come join us as we learn to quilt with Leah Day.

Here's my second block all finished.  I'm having trouble with my free motion drawing coming up at least 1/4" smaller than my block.  I've tried to mess with the settings on my printer, but I have not been able to get it to print a true 16" block size.  Oh well, it just means that I will have to free motion on my own.  Watching the video, once you purchase the block, makes it easier to just follow what Leah does.

I just love the colors.  My husband has claimed this 'quilt in the works', he will have to wait for the final quilt block and assemblage in December.

I love taking Craftsy classes!  This little quilt has been fun creating and sewing applique.  I'm not a big fan with hand work, so I decided to challenge myself with taking Mimi Dietrich's class, "Hand Applique' Made Easy".

Earlier, I did finish a small applique table runner with a local class.  This sparked my interest and I sought out this new learning venue.  I have now purchased another applique class with Beth Ferrier's "Machine Finished Hand Applique'".  Each instructor whether local or through this venue have taught me a variety of methods to make and create applique.

Handwork is not as tedious and is actually fun to create beautiful pieces.

This is such a cute and whimsical quilt with all of its bright colors.

This winter, I have been busy with either sewing up Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt, Allietare, or sewing the blocks for the making of "Rectangle Wrangle" from her book "Scraps and Shirttails II".  I like the colors as they remind me of the rainbow with its variety of colors.  The black is what ties the blocks together.  One has to remember to make the blocks with the black either going up or going down in order to create the dividing lines.

I need 4 more rows.  This is making a slight dent in my scraps.

Allietare update....

I ripped and ripped, but now it's done.  Now on to the quilting!

This month while cleaning and re-organizing my corner, I found the mystery quilt created by Bonnie Hunter with 2013 Quilt Maker magazine.  Every issue, we received clues to work and sew on "Lazy Sunday".
I believe the pattern is available in her book....           

Here's my quilt top....
I especially love the borders, Bonnie's trademark...

I think I'll quilt this with a pink variegated thread.

I knew I've been busy sewing since moving back to New Mexico in 2010; I just didn't realize how many tops I need to get busy quilting.

I took this class with a local quilt teacher and spent lots of time chatting and having fun with everyone in the class.  It's amazing to see how many color combinations come about.  I like my colors and tried to use what I had in my stash, but of course, I had to add a couple more colors.  The pattern we used is "Counterpoint" by Kari Nichols of Colorado.

I think I'll quilt this with black thread.

Using the scrap saver system, "Scrap Therapy" created by Joan Ford,  I used my scraps to make this cute little quilt with Joan's pattern, "Triple Dip".  I call my version "Chocolate Mint Ice cream."  I like using her scrap system, by cutting my scraps into usable and manageable sizes.  This was the first system I found that I can follow and use to make the best use of my fabrics.  I also like that she has patterns to use these sizes.

I've made at least 4 bags and 3 quilts using this system.

 

This month, I began the task of cleaning up and re-organizing my little quilt corner and I found this gem!  I had the pieces cut out, but had put it away since I started teaching beginning quilters at our local shop.  Gosh, I started this back in 2012!  I don't even know if she is still offering this pattern through her website.  I'll have to look.

I was trolling the internet one day looking for applique patterns and I stumbled on this spot....Claudia's Quilt Shoppe.  One can download for personal use and I thought it was such a cute quilt top.  Each row represents the months of the year. Now, as I begin with October, I could not find the background fabric in my stash!  I thought I had placed every bit in the plastic baggie; I had cut the pieces out back in 2012!  I have been looking on the internet for possible matches and I think I found one!  I'm waiting for the package!
I need just 3 more months worth to finish.

http://www.claudiasquiltshoppe.com/patterns.htm

I found her website and this pattern is up for sale!  It's such a darling quilt and a great website!

I opened my plastic tub of quilt tops I've finished since moving to New Mexico and found so many tops.  I have to get to work and finish them, now!  I have a great machine, the HG Sweet Sixteen to help me finish.

Here's one...the disappearing 9 patch in blues.  This was my first 'beginner's quilt class' quilt top I created for my first quilt class for the general public.  We had a total of 3 beginners' classes using this pattern.  The students ranging from ages 8-??? loved using their colors to make their versions.
I taught fashion in middle and high school for many years, but this was my first teaching experience with older 'kids.'

As I keep digging, I will post more of my patterns and quilt tops.

                                                             A disappearing 9 patch....

Another beginner quilt top...Jacob's Ladder

I finished my wall hanging!  I took this class with David Taylor, professional quilter of Colorado, this summer and I finally finished with sewing/appliqueing the apple leaves.  The quilting was fun!  I used three colors, brown, green, and light blue to quilt.  I even created a simulated wood frame.
My youngest grandson wanted to help with the display!

I love it!  I also purchased his hummingbird kit.  It is so beautiful!  I can hardly wait to start, but I have to put it aside on the back burner.  I've several quilt tops to pin baste and get to quilting.

I finished my quilting for block #1 with Leah Day's quilt along!  This is fun, I can't wait to start block #2.  I've been looking at others' postings and some of the participants have finishing piecing block 2!  It's been just 4 days since Leah opened for purchase the second block.

Here's the front and here's the back with the pretty gold thread on top and backing.

Allietare!
I have been working when I have a free moment on my flimsy.  I had to stop and found my self ripping the last row.  I sewed the end blocks going the opposite direction and it doesn't align.  At the moment, I have 3/4 sewn with the last corner waiting for the last row..then I can sew the borders.

 
I love the colors.  I've never been to Italy, but what I seen in pictures and Bonnie's blog, the colors represent well.  It reminds me of the tile floors.

I have enjoyed this mystery..this makes my 4th mystery with Bonnie.

Bonnie's link up for Allietare!

I finally finished my table runner!  I took the hand applique' class back a few years at our local quilt shop.  The class was very informative and fun, but I just didn't get to work on quilting it.  I used my Electric Quilt program and their applique' library.  I don't like to hand sew, so I challenged myself and took the class.  It was worth the time.  I found the top while moving to another room; I had forgotten how much quilting I had sewn.....why, it's done.  So last evening, I cut out some binding and sewed.   I'll add my label this evening.

I don't have a lot of pink items around the house, so this is certainly a welcomed addition.  I could have it on hand for a gift....hmmm.

I'm just glad I'm finished with it!

I also took a machine applique class with David Taylor this past summer and I love using my machine and still have the same results.   I also have another machine applique class on the Craftsy platform..Amanda Murphy's 20 Fresh Applique' Techniques. Do you think I'm hooked?  I love this technique.

I also started the Block of the Month with Leah Day.  I love the bright colors she selected, so I went with her color palette.

Here's the block marked and ready to free-motion.  She made this block of the month program easy.  She also provides free motion designs!

http://leahday.com/

I like using the Pinmoors.  I 'll have to buy enough for a much larger quilt...king?

Another fruitful weekend...
I watched the Craftsy class I recently ordered....Annie Unrein's class....'Home Organizers'.  I love her patterns and now she has a couple of classes on this platform. 

Here's a picture of my storage baskets.  I purchased the fabric while in Las Vegas.  The prints of treadle machines and other vintage sewing tools is so adorable.

I've stuffed them with a variety of sewing and quilting stuff.  They are fun to make and are proving to be quite handy!

I have been working on sewing the blocks together.  This isn't as easy....there are so many intersections, seams to align and meet.  I spent some time froggin'!  It sure is a pretty design once the blocks are sewn together. 
I had to step back and work on other stuff.  I'll get some pictures up to show what I've been sewing.

Whew!  My Christmas/New Year break is over....sigh.  We spent our Christmas with hubby in Las Vegas and had a great time visiting with our son and his family.  Mom and Dad Eisebraun are doing fine, too.
After all the fun and family visits, we are now safely back home.  I picked up from where I left off with Bonnie's quilt mystery and worked madly after New Year's.  Wow, what a pretty quilt this is...here are my completed blocks.  I used Grandma Plummer's Pfaff treadle to sew the blocks together.  I plan to work on sewing all the blocks together after school/work this week.

I'm excited to put everything together now that I have my "Sweet Sixteen" quilt machine to help me complete the quilt.

Back to Quiltville for the final reveal!  Here's the link to see what others have finished.