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.