Playing Catch-Up w/Grand Illusion...w/Updates!

With our Family Christmas celebration winding down, dinners cooked and dishes mostly done ;-), got to steal away for a few hours and feed my quilting soul:

Christmas present from my youngest son and his bride...Thank YOU Brandon & Emily!

Playing catch-up on Bonnie K. Hunter's Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt - just finished up Part II and almost finished w/Part V!

All Double Diamonds completed and ready for final pressing

Part V in the works:

Turquoise & yellow four patches completed

UPDATE 12/31/2014 - Finished up ALL the four patches, complete w/pressing:

Pink and aqua w/yellow/black four patches finished up!

Half-way through creating the HSTs of Part IV:

HSTs ready for their 'side dressing' pieces

And of course the 'left-overs' from Part I are now ready to come out of hiding and join the FUN:

Turquoise & pink HSTs from Part I

Haven't done a thing w/Part III yet, saving it for last.  Hoping to catch-up by tomorrow morning's link-up...looks like I'd better get back to it!

Later,
~Deb

PS...to see what EVERYONE else has been up to with this Grand Illusion, follow these direct weblinks for each Part of the Mystery:

Part I -   http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2014/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-1.html
Part II -  http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2014/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-2.html
Part III - http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2014/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-3.html
Part IV - http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2014/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-4.html
Part V  - http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2014/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-5.html

Big Reveal of the New Year - http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2015/01/grand-illusion-finale.html

Christmas Day FUN - just for You!

We like this one soooo much, brought back just for You:

Merry Christmas!
~Deb

The Miracle the World has NEVER Forgotten...

Over a thousand people spent 10,000+ hours making this very special Christmas video and song just for You:

Merry Christmas EVERYONE!
~Deb

Part II of Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt Underway...

Another late start w/Part II of Bonnie K. Hunter's Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt, but I'm gettin' there...just in time, too since Part III will be out bright and early tomorrow morning!

Chain piecing those diamonds

I chose Option #3 to construct my diamonds and I LOVE the tip Bonnie gave about sewing just a touch to the 'inside' of the drawn line, rather than right on that line - works great!

Set my needle just to the 'inside' of that stitching line - what a great Bonnie tip!

And here's one of my first finished diamonds:

First finished black/neutral/pink diamond - just a 'few' more to go!

There's no time to waste - time to get back to it...I'll post updates as they become available.

Later,
~Deb

PS...To see and enjoy what EVERYONE else is doing w/Grand Illusion Mystery quilt Part II, Please follow this direct link:  http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2014/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-2.html

Grand Illusion Quiltville Mystery Part I - Let the Mystery Begin! w/Updates

After a rather slooow start due to a fast-paced cold/flu over the past few days, got to gather my Grand Illusion Mystery fabrics for Bonnie K. Hunter's annual mystery quilt ALL us quilt-maniacs, myself certainly included, look forward to each year.  And I think these batiks will work well, don't you?:

Grand Illusion Mystery quilt fabrics

Once again, decided to use the SNS system to create my half-square triangles:

First two sides sewn to the center block

Sewing on the final 2 sides

All pressed and ready to be trimmed

Time to trim up those sides

4 half-square triangles ready to be sewn into blocks

Just 200+ to go!  Actually - I have all of the SNS units sewn and almost half of them cut.  I'll post an update when I get them all assembled w/black & yellow squares, which I do have all cut out ready to go.

UPDATE 12/2/2014:  Part I Finish...Yippee!

Got ALL the SNS HSTs trimmed and cut:

ALL Part I HSTs cut and ready to assemble

Whipped out the ol' Bernina 1090 to finish piecing - LOVE the sound of this quilting workhorse, and just look what we were able to finish up together:

Chain piecing the broken dish units

They look like pretty butterflies to me ;-)

Tah Dah!

Part I of Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt ALL finished up!

Like I always say...time to get back to it ;-)

Later,

~Deb

PS...To see and enjoy what EVERYONE else is doing w/Grand Illusion Mystery quilt Part I, Please follow this direct link: http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2014/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-1.html

This one's for 'My Jade' - Happy Thanksgiving ;-)

Just came across this one and immediately thought of 'my Jade', since we like to cruise and 'jam' to this song...at least yours truly does ;-)

Happy Thanksgiving, Jade!

And a BIG Happy Thanksgiving to Each and Everyone of You,
~Deb

Quilting Bernice's wonderful Quilt of Valor

Been wanting to post about this wonderful Quilt of Valor for quite awhile now, and here it is!

Patriotic Snowball Quilt of Valor

'Miss Betty' and I knew immediately that we would McTavish those nice, luscious borders, we'd outline those Red and Blue stars in the white sashing area then do 'something' to help make those stars Pop!  We weren't exactly sure what to do with the snowballs, sashings and cornerstones but we figured that out:

McTavished border w/Superior's So Fine Hot Chillies

McTavishing in borders, outline and stipple quilting to help those Stars POP

Again we turned to Dave Hudson's Random Stars Panto - I know, I know, but hey...we're 'exhausting' ourselves on the Random Stars, OK?! ;-)

Dave Hudson's Random Stars Panto w/McTavishing

Look who had to come and save the Quilting Day - Miss Betty I

Betcha haven't seen this too often - TWO quilting machines on the frame at the SAME Time:

HQ 16 in front, HQ Avante in back

Miss Betty II started breaking needles and just developed ALL kinds of attitude on the final stippling of this Quilt of Valor.  Since I had promised to have it all quilted by our East Central IL QOV Sew-IN last Thursday, I had to finish.  Can anyone say, "He-e-elp!"

Miss Betty I to the rescue - and she quilted like the 'champ' she's ALWAYS been - gotta love her ;-)

Miss Betty II/left and Miss Betty I/right

When I phoned Bernice to let her know her wonderful Quilt Of Valor was all finished, she generously offered to let it join some of the QOVs we will be awarding at our local VA in December...Thank YOU, Bernice!

And it's snowing outside - time to piece another top for 'one' of the Miss Betty's to quilt...

Later,
~Deb

Veteran's Day Tribute - I STILL Believe...Do You?

In Memory of Those Whom Have Fallen...

In Honor of Those Who Remain.

Thank YOU to those who have fought and died for our Freedoms,

~Deb

#3 Final Veteran Quilt coming off the frame!

This really neat Veteran quilt has been on my frame for almost 2 weeks waiting patiently, watching yours truly try to organize/shelf/put away tubs FULL of books, fabrics, quilting rulers, etc.  His turn finally came up a couple of days ago and just now finding time to blog about him.  Turned out he was a blast to quilt:

Veteran's Row Quilt coming off the frame

I have a standing reservation once per year to quilt SewFest quilts from those busy QFC ladies.  I get to quilt any ol' way I want, as long as it compliments and honors the quilt and the intended - I can even add a border or two for some of my favorite quilting treatments.  And the quilt tops they sent me this year have been a real pleasure to quilt.  Lately, I've been having lots of FUN quilting pantos in the main interior of these types of quilts, and then adding various border treatments:

Dave Hudson's Random Stars panto utilized in the interior

What can I say - I LOVE this panto.  It's got random, dancing stars, it's just dense enough to create a good quilting 'fill' for any patriotic quilt, it loves ALL kinds of threads, and most importantly...it's FUN to panto quilt...what's not to LOVE?!

Then, of course, my favorite quilting technique and stress buster - McTavishing!

McTavishing w/swirls

Once again, I'm using one of my favorite threads - King Tut Freedom, to quilt out this quilt.  The variegation gives these quilting motifs such texture and depth and w/Red/White/Blue coloring, it lets EVERYONE know what this quilt is ALL about.

And I know I've been using ALOT of 'swirling' in my patriotic quilts lately, too but...their fast & FUN to quilt, too!

Swirls land-locked w/McTavished borders ;-)

 I got the 'swirling' idea from Professional Quilt Artist/Teacher Jamie Wallen.  Here's a video where he demonstrates just how simple and FUN these swirls can be to implement:

For now, I need to get back to 'Miss Betty' and finish up a gorgeous Quilt of Valor...
~Deb

QFC SewFest Quilt #1

QFC SewFest Quilt #2

QFC SewFest Quilt #3

Betty Boop Quilting Studio Update and...Happy Halloween!

Finally starting to show some significant progress on the Betty Boop Quilting Studio:

ALL quilting books and magazines sorted and shelved...YES!

You may remember, it seems like I/we've been building these three 4' x 8' shelving units for a century - I referred to them in this blog posting: Around The World Blog Posting..., and I am happy to FINALLY be able to say they are ALL finished, assembled in place and up-righted w/help of my youngest daughter, Jaclyn, and her daughter, my DGD, Jade...Thank YOU, ladies!

ALL 3 shelving units in place...Yippee!

Civil War BOMs and accompanying fabrics are now happily organized
and in their rightful places waiting for construction

The third shelving unit is still awaiting ALL the fabrics it will eventually hold -
many of these black baskets will hold batiks, some of my very favorite fabrics to work with ;-)

I've started organizing the batiks but, in case you thought I might be getting finished up well...

There's still plenty to do - this will eventually be a kitchenette,
once ALL fabrics are sorted and shelved

We have 'some' of the kitchen stuff in place, but the main cabinetry and stove have to wait until I finish up the rest of the organization...hopefully by next week!

Embroidery station

Eventually, I need to put a cabinet and/or shelving in this area, for now this will work ;-)

Updated ruler/template area - it's much more organized w/bobbin winder cabinet...love it!

Media area for watching quilting videos.
See my cutting mat temporarily stored behind this media center ;-)

And for now, time to get back to the actual quilting - I have 4 quilts to finish by next week!

McTavishing the patriotic RED border w/King Tut Freedom

Veteran quilting getting finished up later today...

I still need to put together a brand-new cherry/walnut sewing cabinet I've had for months for my 'red' Janome sewing machine, which is on a temporary table for now, and also a cutting station - just got the 'other' wooden work bench delivered yesterday.  Came up w/'brilliant idea' to put two wooden work benches together back-to-back w/additional top for cutting surface.  IF I can get current quilt tops finished up I will begin construction...I'll keep you posted on how this goes...;-)

Happy Halloween from 'Miss Betty' and me!

Later,
~Deb

Friday Finishes...Yes! w/Updates...

Got in a few quilt finishes this week - including two Quilts of Valor and one Veteran quilt destined for a VA hospital:

Quilt of Valor just coming off the frame

A few close-ups of the stipple quilting on this QOV:

Stipple quilting on star and white sections

Back w/all-over stipple quilting

Freshly bound strip-pieced Quilt of Valor, finished earlier in the week

Side border quilting of this QFC SewFest Veteran quilt

I used LAVA Sunrise to quilt this quilt - and it quilted out beautifully!  This variegated gold thread has wisps of golden red streaks throughout, which makes it perfect for most red/gold/blue patriotic type quilting and quilts.  Always enjoy quilting those 'swirls', McTavished the Navy Blue borders and utilized, once again, Dave Hudson's Random Stars Panto - one of my very favorites!

Attaching bindings:

Sewing on the border w/pen stitch and LAVA Sunrise thread

All finished up ready for labeling and then to ship once the third one is finished

Embroidering a special quilt label

And the finished labeled QFC SewFest Veteran Quilt #2:

Labeled and ready to ship!

For now, time to get back to it - third Veteran quilt is ready to load,
~Deb

UPDATE 11/02/2014: 

QFC SewFest Quilt #1

QFC SewFest Quilt #2

QFC SewFest Quilt #3