One Big Accomplishment

     I enjoyed several days with family and granddaughters but came home with a mild stomach bug.  I don’t feel 100% yet so I’ve not tackled much.  I did manage to finish the binding on my Celtic Solstice quilt from Bonnie Hunter’s Mystery last fall,

… just in time for her new one to start Friday, Nov. 28^th.  I added a row to her small size to make this queen size quilt and made a different border. 

   This Saturday, Nov. 15^th from 2 to 3.  I’ll be teaching a JoAnn Fabrics Try Me class on machine applique.  This Christmas stocking is the sample. 

Today I made a quick mug rug sample for a JoAnn Fabrics Try Me class which is offered in January and February.   

     Wednesday is the SQG meeting.  Thursday I will be teaching a Free-Motion Quilting (FMQ) class at Creative Sewing, West Columbia, so most of the week I will be busy.

       Thank You, Veterans !

Update on Projects in Progress

  I thought I would share where the work is on several projects.  I have finished 2 star pads and plan to make more.

You can check out check out this post with more details about where to find the directions.  I did quilt the largest star outline.  

The Seminole top is together and waiting for the next meeting of SQG.

   The Friday after Thanksgiving Bonnie Hunter will post the first step of her new mystery quilt.  I finally got busy quilting my Celtic Solstice quilt from the last mystery.  All except the borders are quilted. 

When I was trying to decide how to quilt it, I looked at some online.  I did not like the look of ones with an overall quilting design so I planned FM point-to-point designs.  I hope you can see a little in the next 2 photos but the thread does not contrast greatly.  

I had a few problems with thick seams so my quilting will not win any awards but I like it better than an overall pattern.

Celtic Solstice Top Together

     The weather outside is nasty so I have spent the day sewing on my Celtic Solstice adding the last borders and finally the top is altogether. 

 

I prefer my green squares border instead of Bonnie’s orange dogtooth blocks.  The only problem is that I do have a stack of the orange and blue dogtooth blocks made.  They will just have to go into my orphan block box for another project.   I wanted to use a blue fabric for the outer border that I used in the quilt.  I needed ALL except an 1 ½” WOF strip.  Just did make it. 

Weather Watch Piecing / CS Linkup Finale

      I have the center of my Celtic Solstice sewn together and the first border but have not gone any further yet so instead of writing a new post I decided to revise this one for Bonnie's Linkup Finale. It has been a fun mystery quilt and I look forward to finishing before too long.
     
      While “waiting” for the predicted winter storm to start, I worked on piecing my Celtic Solstice. I finished sewing all the rows together for the center and added the first border.  I laid it out for the picture and noticed a mistake.  Do you see it?  One block is rotated so that the green and orange squares are in the wrong place.

 

I could NOT leave it.  I un-sewed the 4 seams for the offending block, rotated it and re-sewed.

Much better!

Instead of the orange triangles that Bonnie designed, I want to use a different second border.  I plan to machine quilt another quilt before working more on the Celtic Solstice border.

For a change of pace I spent the next couple of hours piecing a charity quilt.  

Keep Warm and Keep Sewing!

Blocks on Design Wall (Floor)

     I have 56 "Celtic Solstice" blocks made that should finish as queen size with borders added.  My design wall is not large enough for all the blocks so I laid them out on my kitchen floor.  Then I could see how they look and stack the rows in order for sewing.  

I am working on sewing together the 4^th of 8 rows. I have only pieced a dozen of the orange triangle units that Bonnie planned for the 2^nd border.  I am considering a different ( more simple) border design.  

     Back to sewing.

More Celtic Solstice Piecing

     Bonnie offered 2 sizes for the Celtic Solstice Mystery quilt.  I worked on the smaller size that would finish at 75” square.  I read about a couple of quilters who made theirs queen size.   If I added one row of blocks (8 rows of 7 each), my Celtic Solstice would finish at 75” by 84”.   I needed 7 additional blocks so the past few days, I have worked on components such as the orange and yellow HSTs.  This time I used a different HSTpaper but it was just as accurate and easy.  I printed free pages from http://www.quiltingandwhatnot.ca/Half-Square-Triangle.html . 

All my subunits are pieced; I just need to get busy sewing.  I can’t believe how quickly a few ladies finished their quilts.  I am taking a good bit of time to pin most of the intersections to match.  All 28 of my “54-40 or Fight” blocks are finished.   I’m working on my 28 “Birthday Girl” blocks but  12 of the 28 will have the chevrons rotated.  I like how the occasional star adds a little more interest.

Hopefully, soon I will be ready to add the borders. 

I did take a break to make a 9” by 12” quilted pouch that is for a JoAnn Fabrics class.

 

Break is over.  Back to sewing.

More Celtic Solstice Progress

     After spending most of the day on the road and visiting a sister and cousin who have both had surgery recently, I returned home safely in a terrible rainstorm and settled down to piecing on my Celtic Solstice “54 - 40 or fight” blocks.

I worked on them yesterday also and I stopped this evening with only have 5 more to piece. 

     Next I have to finish the “Birthday Girl” blocks.  When checking out photos from Bonnie’s Link Up Party this week, I saw that several quilters have made the small change of rotating the chevron pieces so that a star is formed.  I like it.  

Kari has played with both options and color choice.  The combination adds a special look.  You can check out her options here.   I think I will make both types of blocks with the chevrons.

Celtic Solstice Progress

   Since Bonnie surprised me New Year's Day by posting the final step for the Celtic Solstice Mystery, I have sewn a few blocks together ( no rows yet) and am taking my time to match seams as well as I can.

I love the kaleidoscopic look for the final quilt.  I planned to make the small version but am considering extending it to fit a Queen size.  Last night I read about a lady who already is.
I've got a lot more sewing to do so I better get busy.

You can check out more about the Celtic Solstice Mystery and see the variety of color pallets others are using.  I am amazed at how much so many have accomplished.

Sewing on Celtic Solstice

   This is the week for Celtic Solstice Mystery Step 5 and a more challenging unit.  I used the Easy Angle ruler so cutting was not difficult.   My sewing was slower and more careful because of bias edges.  As Bonnie suggests, I have only finger pressed and the triangles fit together great. 

Even though only part of my step 5 units are finished, I am excited by the possibilities with these units.  This is my first mystery with Bonnie and I am loving it.  While anxious to see what new unit Bonnie has planned and how they will be used, like others I could not help playing with the units. 

While I have used several fabrics in each color family, my choices are much more tone-on-tone than Bonnie usually chooses so I hope that will not detract from my result.

Check out what others are doing at Bonnie’s CelticSolstice Mystery Link-Up Party.

      When I needed a break from chain sewing the triangle units, I worked on another potholder.

This cute bird on a branch is a free pattern online from“Quilters Newsletter” magazine.

I enlarged the pattern and used fusible web so my picture is reversed. 

Celtic Solstice Step 4

Bonnie planned well for the holiday activity.  With all the busyness, this week was the easiest step so far -sewing 4 patches.  

Even though I sew with a quarter-inch foot, I did some sliver trimming so my blocks will finish a perfect 3”.  I would rather sliver trim than have them too small. 

Step 4 is ALL finished.

I even had time to work more on step 2: 80 chevrons finished - 40 more to piece.

  

I have followed Bonnie’s advice so I stopped working on one step to start the new step.  My step 1 needs some work also; but when Bonnie is ready for us to start putting units together, I should have enough to see how this mystery will turn out. 

I’m linking up so you can check out how others are working on Bonnie’s Celtic Solstice Mystery quilt.  I enjoy seeing how some have chosen different colors .  You can also download the directions for later if you don't want to work on this now.  

Finished Celtic Solstice Step 3

     Wow ! I feel great that I actually have step 3 finished.  This was the easiest step so far.  Bonnie always gives several great suggestions for techniques to accomplish the step.   I happened to have printed paper sheets from Quiltime  (www.Quiltime.com ).  I used them last year on a project that needed hundreds of 1 ½” finished HSTs.  I found them easy to use and accurate so I pulled out my left over papers and got to work.

It made for a fast easy process so my 25 pinwheels are pieced and I have all the rest of the HSTs waiting for more directions.  Loving the parts and can't wait to see how they all come together.

You can see more of what others are doing with Bonnie's Celtic Solstice mystery and/or join in. 

Step 2 Bonnie’s Celtic Solstice Mystery

     After a few days with family out of town, Sunday I finally got around to tackling step 2 of Bonnie’s Celtic Solstice Mystery.  I am a faithful Bonnie follower; however, this is my first mystery with her and 2” units are not in my stash so I had a lot of cutting to do with still more to go.  This step was pretty time consuming for me with the additional time to mark the diagonal line on each of 400  2” squares ( 200 neutral and 200 yellow) and I need the line.  I have only completed a couple of dozen so far but I’ve got the rest of the week before the next clue.

If you have not started, it is not too late.  Check out  the progress of others here. 

Quiltville’s Celtic Solstice Mystery

    I recently finished quilting 2 UFO projects and even though I have several more on my UFO list, I felt the need to spend some time on a piecing project.   Friday when Bonnie posted the first clue, I decided to join in her Celtic Solstice Mystery.  I have followed Bonnie Hunter for years; however, this is my first mystery quilt with her.  I don’t want it to become another UFO.  My success rate with mystery quilts and round robins is pretty good so I have hope.  I don’t have 92 orange or 96 neutral units pieced yet but I have made a good start. I have cut several blues and neutrals but I need more oranges.

This is also my first time linking up. Check it out at quiltville.blogspot.com/2013/12/celtic-solstice-mystery-monday-link-up-1.html

I hope some more of my guild members will also participate in Bonnie’s newest mystery. It would be fun to share as we work and see them together when finished.