Productive Four Quilt Top Day

     I added a wide large print fabric border to my Grand Illusion top so it now finishes at 58” square. 

It is very bright and will make a bright spring lap quilt.  I pieced a backing of leftover fabric and am ready to sandwich it for quilting.   However, before tackling that I chose to try a simple quick project.

     While piecing, I have been watching old videos of “Simply Quilts”.  One was of Anita Grossman Solomon showing a supersized nine-patch baby quilt.  I searched and found her blog with a link to the same video online  and a free downloadable pdf with directions.

  This evening I cut one yard each of 3 fabrics and about 1 hour and 45 minutes later, I had 3 complete baby quilt tops.

For the process you quarter fold each yard.  The next photo shows one folded and cut into sections.

Next I shuffled the fabric sections and sewed together like a nine-patch.  

One thing I do not like is the direction of the prints, but the width of the fabric and how the fabric was printed determined the direction of the center motif in the quilt top.  If I had cut pieces larger than a yard, I would have been able to control the direction of the center motif but there would be a little waste. This way about the only waste were the selvedges.

I decided this one needed something extra so I copied the seal in the large print, enlarged it more and cut out a fusible applique motif.  It is cuter.

Grand Illusion Progress

      This morning I am adding borders for my Grand Illusion top. When I started Bonnie’s Grand Illusion mystery I decided to make only a fraction of the pieces for each step because I did not want it to become another of my UFOs. I am pleased to say and show that I have 4 blocks complete and sashed.

They are the complete center for my Grand Illusion quilt. I plan to add Bonnie’s borders and also a simple additional border to finish mine at about 50” square. I have enjoyed participating in the mystery and link-ups. This small size will help me to finish it in a reasonable time. My word for 2015 is “FINISH”.
   
Update:  I have been sewing most of the day and have the inner borders on.  Since my top only 2 blocks wide and long, I had to make adjustments by adding another inner border so that Bonnie's border would fit.

I found this butterfly fabric at JoAnn Fabrics and the colors are perfect.  I am planning to use it for another outer border which will make my top finish larger.  

Grand Illusion Step 4 and More Fun

    With all the holiday prep taken care of, it felt good to spend a relaxing day working on various projects.  I sewed Step 4 of the Grand Illusion Mystery. 

Because I have SO many projects already in process, I am only making ¼ of the units for each step until Bonnie’s reveal and then I will decide what size I want to finish.

I'm linking up with Bonnie's site so you can check out what others are doing on the Grand Illusion Mystery.  You can still join in. 

    I practiced more FMQ on my new machine and used a continuous point-to-point design using the seam intersections as points.

Hope you can tell from my rough drawing what I stitched. The top was pieced by Joan for SQG.

Today I plan to take stock of my unfinished projects, see what might be done quickly and plan for 2015.

Hope you can find some time to relax and sew. 

Work on “Grand Illusion” part 2

      Bonnie posted step 2 for the “Grand Illusion” Mystery.  This step uses pink, black and a neutral.  My blacks are scrappy,  but I chose one white and black print for my neutral instead of being scrappy.

  

      Of the 3 methods Bonnie gave instructions for, I chose the last only I am not sewing and saving the bonus triangles.  

Instead, they go into my bag to fill pet beds.  So far I have finished and given away 5.  I think it is a great use for scraps of batting, thread and fabric bits. 

 I’m linking up with Bonnie Hunter’s Grand Illusion link-upparty.  Check out what others are doing. 

Beginning on “Grand Illusion”

     One of my quilting weaknesses is choosing color so I am using Bonnie’s suggested pallet for the "Grand Illusion" mystery.  I shopped my stash as much as I could.  I did not have anything in teal so I had to really shop.  I had trouble there also but I found one that I like.  It is more aqua.

     I am starting slow and think these first units will be great leader/ender units as I work on other projects. 

    I’m linking up with Bonnie Hunter’s Grand Illusion link-up party.  Check out what others are doing. 

                                             Baking gingerbread

 

     For years I have had sets of cutters for 2 sizes of gingerbread houses.   Saturday I was able to cut pieces for both sizes from one patch of dough.  I hope my granddaughters will work on one and the other will be good to decorate at the guild holiday party. 

Pincushion

     At the GCQ holiday party Tuesday, Dec. 9 we can bring a handmade pincushion to exchange.  Sat. I made this Cathedral Window type pincushion.  For our Nov. program Sharon Golden shared her collection of pincushions and Sandra shared several links for patterns.  I used directions at http://diaryofaquiltmaven.blogspot.com/2013/01/faux-cathedral-windows-pincushion.html

Sandra sold small bags of crushed walnut shells for stuffing.  I added a few scrap pieces of cotton batting to help fill.