It is almost time...just reflecting upon this past year with the many changes and losses of close family.  Yep, getting a bit older and maybe wiser?  I miss talking with my brothers...we spent our holidays catching up on family news.  I miss them so much.  The good to come of this, is that they are no longer suffering from cancer.  Cancer is such a debilitating disease.

About my teaching, I've changed things up a bit in the classroom and hopefully have made an impact with my students.  One does not know until they locate you or you bump into them.  I enjoy being in the classroom, but the records and teacher accountability paperwork we need to use and keep seems to grow.  Oh well, the life of a teacher...

I didn't start working on clue 6 until this afternoon.  We spent time with our daughter and her family and made it back before the New Year highway traffic.  Living in Vegas does have its perks, but holidays can be testy.  We plan to watch the festivities from our TV; the lure of walking and experiencing the "strip" is great, but the crowds are enormous!  I can't say that it rivals Time Square in New York, but it is colorful and eventful.

I sewed strips of background and found an old phone book and used its pages.  This is so much easier than using recycled magazine pages.  I have more to finish with the smaller sizes, but it does sew fairly quickly.  You do not realize how big your stash is until you start cutting and sewing.  It is fun to shop in my studio store.  Now for the revealing party...that remains to be seen.  I can hardly contain my excitement!  I love Bonnie's quilt designs.

I need to remove the paper backing and I have crumbs....I guess I could make an animal bed pad.  Some of the ladies in the quilt group use their bits and pieces.  They save the trimmings, too!  I've got a small 13 gallon size about 1/4th full.

I've been reading and viewing the many colorways of what others are creating.  It is just amazing!
If you would like to get started on your own quilt, here's the link to Bonnie Hunter's 2018 Good Fortune mystery quilt...Good Fortune mystery, clue 6

Have a happy and prosperous New Year everyone!  

Whew!  Another semester finished...grades are completed, lesson plans in the works, and it's me time.  A whole two weeks of me time!  We finally decorated the tree and are just about ready for our Christmas dinner with family.  We hadn't hosted any family get-together dinners for several years since our return back to Nevada, so this will be fun to share our home.

Friday evening, I opened Quiltville's Quips and Snips blog to download and print my copy for this week's set of clues.  The colors are amazing and now to find the colors I need to cut and sew.  I finished a set to ready for picture time.  Hmmm, my blues are showing as black, interesting....

Here's how to get your copy of this quilt mystery....Good fortune quilt mystery

I've spent time perusing other blogs and viewing pictures of others' progress.  The various colorways and block interpretations are mind boggling.  A few twists and turns and block match ups results in beautiful possibilities.  With Bonnie's patterns, the variations are amazing!

While sewing my pieces together, I spent time reflecting and remembering the happy and joyful Christmas' times of past with family.  I lost two brothers this year and it has been rough accepting the loss, but it makes it easier to share with close family all the little tidbits and joyous times of the impact they both had.  Its our faith that keeps us going and spending precious time with family an even more special time.

Merry Christmas to all and heartwarming love as we celebrate His birthday!!!!

More finished projects for Christmas....
Grocery bags...I have one pictured.  This is the large size and boy, they are quite handy and hold a lot of groceries.  I have several sets in my car and more in my husband's.  We use them all the time.

A sweater for Dad.  I made this using my "incredible sweater machine".  My Bond machine is in storage and so I bought the ISM on ebay about a month ago and reacquainted myself with machine knitting.  I like it, but I think I'll hand knit my ribbing.

I also used the rest of the left over yarn to make a knitted infinity scarf for my sister.  So quick and easy using the machine.  No designs or extra colors, just gray, but warm, so warm.  I need to make one for myself.  After Christmas, I say, after Christmas.

Microwave bowl cozies for family...I sewed this set yesterday using the directions found on the internet under https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/microwaveable-bowl-potholders-2977955
They are quick to make; I do need to go down and purchase more batting...you have to use 100% cotton batting since this will go inside a microwave oven. 

My sewing studio looks so organized from this perspective, but behind me is my creative hovel.  I have bits and pieces strewn about and believe or not, I have my quilting frame on the left of the ironing board.  I am still trying to find a way to extend the quilting poles on the Grace wooden quilt frame...since moving, I have lost the connecting aluminum pieces and I cannot quilt just yet.  I need 2 more connecting pieces.  I have been thinking about buying pipe and using them...hmmm.

Behind me, I have my Sweet Sixteen long arm and she is waiting for another to quilt.  Last week,  I purchased Patsy Thompson's suspension system #1 (https://www.patsythompsondesigns.com/) to use on my Sweet Sixteen to help as I quilt.  No more dragging quilt tops...it can be tiring to shift and lift heavy quilt parts.  I think I will move it to the other side of the table.  It's rather close to the thread tree...I could also raise it a bit.  I'm excited to use it. 

I spent my weekend finishing a machine knit sweater for my dad.  I love it, but I think, next time, I'm going to knit the ribbed sections.  I am using the "Incredible sweater machine"; the ribbed parts look okay, but I still prefer the look of hand knit ribbing.  Now for the last step, blocking and steaming and wrapping for Christmas. I'll have to post my picture on the Facebook machine knitting site.  I like the group and love their photos of their projects. 

Wow, we are moving through December....here is my 4th clue for the Bonnie Hunter's Good Fortune mystery.  I just finished this small set about 10 minutes ago.  This particular set sews fast!  I thought I didn't have enough oranges in my stash, but I do!  For the larger pieces, I am going to slice them into larger strings, but I do like how the skinnier strings play, too.

Not too bad for about 30 minutes of work.  I am going to switch papers...the slick magazine paper does just that...the fabric slips and slides.  It still works, but I don't want to spend my time adjusting and readjusting, tugging, and pulling to keep the fabric from slipping.

All trimmed and ready to go!  Join me for next week's clue at Quips and Snips with Bonnie Hunter...https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2018/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-4.html

Clue 3 and plugging away....
I tried 3 times drawing, measuring, sewing, and cutting before obtaining the bonus half square triangle to measure as Bonnie suggested.  I got it now, I just have to cut out a bit more to make up for the smaller pieces.  Just 3 sets, not too bad if I say so myself. 
I traded out my Singer 201 and brought out another Singer vintage machine out to play...she is lovely and just like the 201, she sews a beautiful straight stitch and also many built in decorative stitches and cams.  I purchased her from a local quilt shop in New Mexico along with her cabinet and chair for $125! What a bargain!  Inside, I found many bobbins, needles, oil, lamps, and extra pressure feet. I did make a change and removed the light and replaced her with the 'chipped' led light.

Here are my pieces of green, green, and green.  I am loving the color selection.

I am still working on this clue set.  I have about 1/3 of the way to go.  I do have to admit that I am still working on clue 1, but I did finish clue 2!

Come and join me here at Bonnie's Quiltville.  Here's where you can open and upload your set of clues.  https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2018/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-3.html

I am dividing my time between knitting a sweater on my 'incredible sweater machine' and the Good Fortune clues.  I am on the second sleeve of the sweater and should be finished this week, possibly another evening should do it.  Using the knitting machine makes it quicker.  I am struggling with using the knitting plate as it doesn't glide as fluid as the original Bond knitting machine (in storage in New Mexico), but I am learning to work with its quirkiness.

Week 2 of Good Fortune mystery!  I am deep into knitting a sweater for a Christmas gift and took some time away to work on some of the blocks for the 2nd clue.  I used my Singer 201 to sew through these.  She still is a looker and can she sew!  She purrs as she sews...I like how quiet she sews and what a powerhouse too.   I changed out her light bulb and inserted a new fancy led light.  She put up a good fight, but eventually the light bulb let loose. 

I purchased this little table surround about 10 years ago and I don't if Matt is still in business.  I found him while perusing through the internet looking for such a table.  It also fits my Singer Featherweight and my Singer 99.  I haven't tried my Singer 301.  I bet it fits that bed too.

Here's how you can join us as Bonnie Hunter shares her mystery quilt with the world..https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2018/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-2.html

I am finished piecing together "On Ringo Lake" mystery quilt.  This was Bonnie Hunter's 2017 mystery quilt.

Now, it's time to find a suitable backing fabric.  I set up my wooden Grace quilting frame and found that I am lacking 4 little pieces to correctly extend the quilting poles.  I will be calling and hopefully purchase them, otherwise, I will have to think deep and hard to make the poles work.

I used my older tablet to take pictures and it seems a bit blurry.  I'll have to use my newer IPAD or my phone to get a better picture.  I am excited to finish this part.  Pressing and pinning and lots of quilting to finish this quilt.  My husband really likes it and would like to have this on our bed.  I give a lot of my finished quilts away, so this will brighten up our decor.

I've been working on piecing several block of the month projects.  I like keeping busy but 4 going on at the same time?  I love it.  Talking about keeping busy, I am putting together my fabrics for this year's mystery quilt.
I love participating every year in Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilting project.  This year it's all about her trip to China.  The colors are amazing and bright.  Join me by going to her website to obtain the fabric requirements and suggestions and the first set of clues.  She will post every Friday until her revealing of the final quilt usually on the first of the year.  You can post your pieces and progress the following Monday through her link, as well as, viewing the progress of quilters across the world.  World?  Yes, quilters from the world join in on the fun and it's exciting to see the many colorways and variety of fabrics.  I love being a part of such a fun community of fellow quilters.

Clue 1 Bonnie Hunter and Good Fortune mystery


I have a new machine, Viking Ruby; I''m learning how to work with her and I do need a good cabinet.  For now, she is sitting on top of my 1950's Singer cabinet. 

I have been working and using my time to slowly heal from the shocking losses of my brothers.  I didn't do so much during this past summer and fall other than working and teaching.  I was numb with mourning and working brought some relief as I watched students learn and bloom.  I turned to my sewing and quilting and began to sew a stitch at a time while reliving my precious memories of our lives as children and young adults.
I began working on my unfinished blocks and made a sizable dent with the uncut fabrics.  I have two block of the month projects going, so cutting, sewing, and piecing brought solace to my soul.
I turned to quilting my grandson's baby quilt after hours of working with the small pieces.
It is finished!  I spent my Veteran's Holiday weekend watching epic military movies and quilting on my "Sweet Sixteen".   What a blessing to have a restful and creative hobby to bring a sense of calm to my sadness and mourning.
I created this quilt using Electric Quilt.  I love this program...it helps me create my own personal quilts with such ease and preciseness.  Star Wars is the inspiration and my daughter and her husband love the movies.

This weekend I found a Craftsy pattern and using scraps, I put together the first of my Christmas gifts.  I love it.  I plan to make several more for my sister, and sister-in-laws.  It has so many pockets and a zippered pocket in the inside to organize a purse.

 Here are my other blocks.  I have 3 more month's worth to finish.  These blocks are 6 X 6 finished.  Whew! They are many tiny pieces, but it is fun and rewarding to see how the colors work together.

I put aside my other projects to get started with the 2017 Flower Block of the Month with Leah Day.  A lot of quilters have finished their version and I'm getting started with mine.  I purchased the patterns each month, but I didn't get the chance to work and start piecing.  I like how the blocks are coming together. 
I have to work on quilting the sashing which are quilted blocks and also the quilted cornerstones. 

I've been trying to catch up with my quilting.   I joined the Christmas Goose block of the month and stitched and pieced together the first set.  These are 6".  I really like the colors.  I'm glad I selected this colorway. 

I've been sewing round the clock to catch up on Bonnie Hunter's latest mystery quilt, the 'On Ringo Lake' mystery.  I sure love the colors and worked alongside my sister-in-law while she sewed on her modified log cabin bag.  She finished it and just to see that look of satisfaction; it warms my heart that the quilting bug has struck again.  She did an awesome job.
For Christmas, we gave her the fabrics and pattern along with lessons.  The pattern is a great one from Lynn.  (The pattern can be found at Quilted Dragon in Pahrump, NV)

Here are my pictures of the pieces for 'on ringo lake' mystery.  I used my Singer 401a and boy, does she sew like a dream.  I also used my Viking Designer 1 and also my Singer 201.

 

I have two blocks finished!  Whoo hoo!  Aren't they so colorful?  I love this mystery.