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Sunday, December 28, 2014

My mystery quilt blocks


Last year I participated for the first time in Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt Celtic Solstice.  It became a quilt for Don.  What a wonderful way for me to stretch my abilities, REALLY know how important that seam the perfect size is, and although I probably wouldn't have worked with those colors....I love the finished product.

Now it's the end of another year, time for a NEW Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt, Grand Illusion.  This one honors her visit this year to the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, on Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  She shared MANY photos of the Hotel while she was there and was mesmerized at the beauty of the hotel and it's surroundings.

I know I'd be in for doing this year's mystery quilt as I so enjoyed, and learned from, last years.  Well, here are my completed squares for Parts 1-5 - all finished, in the box, waiting for the next instruction.  Last year I did the Bonnie Hunter "thing" - scrappy!  This year I wanted the laying out easier so I simply used one fabric of each color - no scrappy.  I'm now hoping this quilt top won't be too boring!!

 Some of the link up photos I've seen have the quilters guessing just what the pattern will be and what the quilt will look like.  For me, that just ruins the entire process.  I want to let Bonnie TELL me what it will look like!  I do love the colors for this year:  yellow, turquoise, pink, and green, with white and black accents.
Last year we received our final "put it together" email just before New Year's Eve.  I'm hoping that happens this year, too.  That way, you'll know what I'll be doing on New Years DAY!!

Curtains for Mindy and Kyle's restaurant are finished - hoodies cut out and ready to sew.  Then the curtains for Carin's living room (started way back in the summer sometime) HAVE PRIORITY!!!

At that point, my JOBS should be finished and I can get back to just doing WHAT I WANT TO DO!  Actually, as you can see by my timeline, I pretty much probably do that anyway.

Mom is getting slower now.  Doesn't like to converse much, and seems to need to rest more and more.  That gives me more time to sew as long as I'm close enough I can keep an eye on her.  I hate that she's spending so much time down but Stefani assures me it's normal.  These life normals aren't my friends!!!  I don't like them.  But then, they are what they are.

Mike and Peggy leave Maine tomorrow for their trip West and South for the winter.  We are lucky enough they will be visiting sometime in February.  I SAY I'm going to leave for a few days (like a week) to go visit Mindy and Kyle and see that restaurant....but we'll see.  I'd love the time off as we haven't been away from Mom for over 2 years now, but then I'm not so sure I can leave her.  In any case, safe travels you two!  Enjoy the trip!!!

Off to sew those hoodies now.  Back to enjoying my day.  Can you believe it's already the END of 2014?  I remember when I was young, doing the calculations to see how old I would be in 2000!  Now I'm 14 years older than THAT OLD NUMBER!  Amazing!!


Saturday, December 27, 2014

More Christmas photos

We had planned to have left-overs in the way of French Dip sandwiches yesterday.  Pat was even here with his new doggie, Lucky.   (Beau was pretty well-mannered - I'd give him a "B".)  HOWEVER, like all good plans, we had our kitchen drain back up and so...Pat bought In & Out burgers and fries for everyone and they took the left-overs from Christmas  home to enjoy!


Here are some photos of the group.  Nan enjoyed her day with all the busy-ness and then we had a quiet evening. 

Today I finished up Part 4 and Part 5 of Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt, Grand Illusion.  It's in honor of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan.  There are NO motorized vehicles allowed on the island, so everything (including people) are delivered by horse-drawn carts.  I must add this to my bucket list.  I've been close.  Anyway, I'm looking forward to the reveal - when the top is finished I'll let you see it.  Colors are turquoise, yellow, pink and green with white and black accents.  I think I'm going to like it!  I decided NOT to make this one scrappy, instead using one fabric of each color.  I hope it's not tooooo boring!

Actually, I have about 5 or 6 quilt tops waiting to be quilted so after curtains are finished for Carin's living room and Mindy's restaurant, I plan to get started on nothing but finishing up quilts!  Wish me luck!!

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Merry Christmas everyone!

I hope this finds you all well and enjoying Christ's birthday.  We had 10 for dinner last night - Carin's friend Tom and his boys Jackson and Connor joined us plus Carin, Zach, Amanda and Josh.  It was a full house and since Josh arrived to help with dinner, all went well.  I think even Nan enjoyed the evening!!
Amanda and Josh brought crab and sourdough bread from San Francisco to add to our prime rib.  It was wonderful!!  I think Carin, Zach, Amanda and Josh will be coming back tomorrow for french dip sandwiches  - so we'll enjoy the left-overs, too.

Stefani (Nan's caregiver) brought over a suitcase a few weeks ago.  It contained squares and pieces her great grandmother had sewn.  She asked me to make a quilt for her Mom from some of them.  There was a large, completed top too.  I quilted it and bound it for a completed quilt for her Aunt and then the real work began.  There was a top started - only a couple rows.  There were lots of started and completed squares also in the suitcase.  She helped me completed enough squares (lots of seam ripping here) and I finished up a quilt for her Mom.

Aunt Kelly's completed quilt

And one for Stefani's Mom!






It was a pleasure making these quilts and I know her Mom and Aunt will cherish the work started by their grandmother and finished by Stefani and me!