Fourth Annual Quiltville Mystery Kickoff Party--En Provence!

 Kathy and I hosted the fourth annual Quiltville Mystery Kickoff Party last Friday to celebrate the start of Bonnie Hunter's En Provence Mystery!  This is something we look forward to every year.  We invite anyone and everyone who is into Quiltville.  Every year we make a few new friends and get to know others more.  This year our newbie attendees were Susan, Heather, Jill, Fran and Evelyn I believe. 

 We always order a cake and this year I tasted it--delicious.  We send home the leftovers so that is all I get!

Kathy, Marguerite, Laura, BJ, Barb, Kathy, Celeste, Jill, Heather, Susan, Evelyn, Jen, Ann, Bonnie, Terri, Fran and me (Andee)

 We take pictures after lunch.  This year we did not have a handy hubby to take pictures so after we did some missing me or missing Kathy we decided to do a selfie shot so we could get everyone in!  Later on Becky stopped by but she was not in the pictures.  We had a nice turnout this year despite the fact that a few of our regulars were out of town and unable to be there. 

 Nine of us brought completed Allietare's to show off. Another gal had hers done but had already gifted it--Celeste I think.  I know a few of those who could not attend also had them done (Ros and ???)...not bad ladies!

 Of course I had to show off my copper mug/ocean inspired Allietare!  This is my first scallop and I LOVE the look of it.

Ann was in charge of organizing donations and drawings  for door prizes this year.  It was really fun to draw a person or two every hour.  We had about eight winners and we got rid of a few kits, books and rulers that we did not need in the process.  I did not win, but Kathy did so she is sharing her kit with me.  WHOOT.  THANK YOU ANN!  I made paint chip party favor Christmas ornaments.  All the mystery colors on one chip. 

Kathy, Kathy, Marguerite, Andee (me), Laura, Barb, Evelyn, Bonnie and Fran

 Kelli could not make it, but we did duck lips in her honor as it is now a tradition!  So proud of all the gals that get this mystery done in time for our party.  I think it comes off the back burner and gets done for some folks at the last minute, but hey it gets it done! 

 Ros also could not make it and she usually helps share the cost and the hard work of making the labels.  She was willing to do them for us and we could mail them but Barb offered to teach me on her Canon printer.  SO EASY!  I learned something new, everyone got a label (and I have a few leftover if a few of my regulars who were there in spirit want one) and I bought myself a new printer so now I can make them for every quilt I do if I like.  So this was party favor number two.  THANKS BARB!

Five years ago Kathy, Kathy, Becky, Barb and I got together on black Friday to sew at Kathy's house.  We gabbed of our love of Bonnie as we all started the Easy Street Mystery (Becky just bought her border fabric to finish that one up yesterday!)  It was that small group sewing day that led to our actually throwing the first Quiltville Mystery Kickoff Party the following year.  We kicked off Celtic Solstice at a fun shop Jan owned.  Later the shop closed and Jan and hubby moved to Minnesota.  We had our party in the community room of our police station for the next two years.  This year due to a last minute conflict (and a long story) we wound up at the police substation.  When we arrived it was locked with a note it was closed due to the holiday (despite our last minute reservation--thanks Barb).  After ten crazy minutes the police chief said we could use the room anyway but we had to figure out letting people in the locked door.  THANKS to Dr. KATHY for volunteering to put her text number on the door and for running out every time someone needed to come in! 

Our group has grown every year and we now have forty two people who want to be invited each year!  Of course because it is right at the Thanksgiving Holiday not everyone can always make it, but the group keeps growing.  I guess when we have too many for our room there will need to be two locations, lol.  I love these ladies and enjoy meeting new friends and seeing everyone's fabrics and completed quilts.  A big shout out and thank you to the generous Bonnie Hunter for doing this for us every year!

 Kathy insisted we do a cutters up picture for Bonnie too!  I did not get pictures of anyone's four patches and barely put three together myself.  I do have lots of twosies.  I spent most of my time enjoying the people and plan to sew like a made woman this afternoon so I don't feel behind!

So here are the parades from the past three years (we did not do a parade the first year) and I look forward to clue two and the next parade!
Thank you to everyone who attended, who brought food and donation prizes and especially to those who helped with set up or clean up.  It really makes it a great day for all of us.  Fellow Quiltvillians, you are all dear to my heart!
**Edit** Well I managed to get clue one done today.  It has been a whirlwind of a weekend and quilting did not get the priority I wanted it to, but I got it done!  I spent some time learning how to spin the seams for the first time and I finally get it!  That Bonnie teaches me at least one new thing each mystery!  I almost think I enjoyed slowing down and spinning the seams, almost. 

I am looking forward to linking up with Quiltville in the morning before work!  If you are new to my blog and are interested in seeing my Quiltville obsession please check out my Quiltville Parade! I have made every mystery and plenty more. 

Allietare is Done!

 I  learned alot on this scalloped border for Allietare!  I did not do the binding on the bias (despite really trying to follow the directions!) and so that led to some issues.  I wound up attaching the second half of the binding by hand.  It has more gathers in it than it is supposed to, but I am happy with how it came out.  I am now ready for Bonnie to tell us what the next mystery is!

 Love our colors inspired by the beach and copper mugs!  I also love that mine is different from the zillion other Allietare's out there!

Since I seem to have become an early to bed early to rise girl I am making the most of that by doing some sewing in the mornings where I can.  Here is today's work.  More blocks for Garden Party!  I have 66 done and 34 to go on this block and then to make more of the other block!

Hold on to Your Hat, I Sewed Again!

 Last weekend I whipped up two pillowcases for Coleman.  He took his with him and when he returned a week ago (he left his wife--long story but for the best) he brought almost nothing back with him.  I had some twin sheets and we got him a new twin bed, but the pillowcases mysteriously disappeared so made him some fun ones. 

 I had kitted up a few cats a long time ago for Christmas gifts for my daughter and my son Mac's fiance.  Pattern is from Lori Holt.  So I finally worked on them last weekend and then finished them up today.

 Kathy finally finished up Grand Illusion which was Coleman's wedding quilt...it never was sent to Wisconsin since it was not done.  Kathy put the last of the binding on it right after Coleman got back here so now he has a new divorce quilt.

 Last weekend I spent a few hours tracing out and attaching the scalloped binding for Allietare.  I had to do quite a bit of easing since I neglected to do the binding out of the bias.  Oops.  It may be the last scalloped binding I attempt!  Today I tried to machine bind the top half but had to rip out the two short sections I tried.  I then decided to hand bind it though on the front.  I did one long side today and have made a goal of doing one side per week so this will be done long before the next mystery starts!

Bonnie announced the next leader/ender challenge--Hourglasses.  I was not sure that I really wanted to jump onboard with a new project because I have plenty of wips to work on, however I saw these cute placemats and thought I should at least make a set of four or six.  So I will be prepping for the leaders and enders soon!
Packers won today (and so did the Patriots) so we are happy here. 

Two Allietares Coming Right Up!

 Lots of power sewing this weekend led to my Allietare (Rocky Point) becoming a flimsy!  If you read my blog regularly, you know that last fourth of July I got to go to Rocky Point.  We stayed on a private beach with almost no people.  I have never experienced such a thing and it was seriously the best vacation ever!  It was so relaxing and on my tough migraine days I try to recall what it was like sitting watching the waves roll in  and the sun set while drinking a Moscow Mule.  Kathy and I bought our own copper mugs and plan to relive that moment as much as life will allow!

So my color scheme was born of that memory. I wanted copper for the mugs, turquoise for the ocean and a certain kind of yellow for the sun.  I am super happy with how it all came out!

 I know my outer border is a bit wavy but I tend to get too excited and since I do not have the space to lay the quilt out and follow Bonnie's spectacular directions, it is what it is.  The copper looks almost red here, but is really a copper.  If I had not screwed up in step one, the copper would have been the star points and the outer border but since I did I switched the brown (Bonnie's black) with the copper (her grey constant) but I elected to keep the copper for the border anyways.

 I did put a total of four string blocks in this quilt too.  I really wish that had been a step or even a if you want to do some extra work you may string these blocks earlier in the clues.  It is time consuming but worth the look.  I just did not want to be working on this for several more weeks  and I did not have hardly any strings in the correct yellow color.  I did pick up three more yellows yesterday to brighten things up and overall I am thrilled with this new quilt!  If for some reason you have not made this and want the free pattern (for January only) head on over to Quiltville and download it til Feb. 1st, then you have to buy it.  I am super excited to go through each of the posts on Bonnie's linky tomorrow and will be linking up with her on that page as soon as it goes live and I have a minute.  (I work 7 AM to 7 PM tomorrow, ugh!).

 

*edit* whipped up my binding too!

Now here is how far Kathy has made it on her Allitare which is in Bonnie's colors--except she used a light bluish color for the grey because we had plenty of it.  This is one of her stars, not yet sewn.  

 And here are all her parts.  She just made it to clue 6 and it SO happy to be so caught up.  Last year her finish was a week before the start of this mystery.  She has Wanderlust in progress and cannot wait to get back to it, so she has to get through this one!

My quilt made it on the Quiltville blog and was regrammed from her instagram, made my week!  If you want to see it there and check out the other colorways in the linky head on over to QUILTVILLE!

Relinking up to the last Quiltville Linky for Allietare!

NYE with a Different Mystery!

Every year for the past ten years (except last year) Kathy and I reserve the day for sewing a mystery.  Last year there was no new one on EVE day and I usually work on New Year's Day so I don't usually do that one.  So Kathy worked on Allietare all day--she is over half way through the longest clue--4.  I started by sewing some boy bag gifts that I did not have time to do before Christmas.  I am now ahead of birthdays or whatever.  Shark bag for Koi and the other three are randomly are for Ollie, Colton and Leon.  

 I wanted to make a homemade gift for a few of my sewing friends that gave me cool gifts this year.  So made a few sets of these selvage potholders (Ros has made me several and I love them so I copied hers!).  I have been saving selvages for awhile but have never really used them. I discovered that some were WAY TOO small to use and I had to toss them and I found my missing bag of elastic shoved in there too. I knew I had more of that stuff.

 Kathy made us some Weight Watchers Cherry Cocktails.  Pretty tasty and since I rarely drink and have lost weight I should have backed away from the rotary cutter.  Instead I switched to coffee and kept on sewing!

 

 Every year we make Burgundy Beef in the crockpot.  I always add carrots and we smash them into the gravy before we eat.  Like my new crockpot courteousy of mom and dad?  Me too!

 Right about the time I was mid potholder sewing, I saw that Miss Bonnie had released the final clue of Allietare!  So a mystery was worked on after all.  Seems like last year we worked on the mystery too when Bonnie surprised us with the clue.  So I put the first block of each together and could not figure out why mine looked so different.  I thought my color choices must have ruined the effect or something.  I continued working on the yellow center blocks awhile and then...

 I realized that I had used the wrong unit (and turned it the wrong way to boot) so I redid the second block and was MUCH HAPPIER with the look of it!

I also had suspected the Bonnie would have us make string blocks for the centers of the blocks since her next book is strings again.  I decided not to make them since it would take me much longer and then I saw Briony on Quiltville Open Studio had added strings and posted a picture.  Well that did it, I had to try it!

 I think I will add some string blocks to it but just a few.  I made a few corner triangles and added them so here is what it is shaping up to look like so far!

I had to see what Kathy's will look like too:

We had a great day!  We binge watched "Making of a Murderer" on Netflix and caught up on "Alone" and watched an "Orange is the New Black".  Ball is dropping so this will be it for this year!

Merry Christmas from Arizona--and Linky # 5!

 Spent a nice Christmas with my family in New River.  We did white elephant gifts and games for gift cards in addition to "downsizing" gifts for each other.  Kathy got me this fabric for "Modern Maples" if I want to use it for that..I am not sure yet.

 She also got me this cute ornament by Jim Shore that I had to have!

 We finally hung a few more mini quilts above our design wall.

 Got these two sewing themed pictures that light up too, left from Mom and Dad and right from Kathy (I picked it out).  Already have them hung.  It was a productive day today (after 5 days of horrendous migraines) we paid bills and organized stuff for taxes, did some cleaning and then I declared I was showering, putting on fresh jammies and sewing all day!  And I did!

 I completed clue 5 of Allietare!  Here is what all the parts look like so far!  Linking up with Bonnie at Quiltville!

 I Skyped some with Barb today and she explained to me how to make a ten minute tablerunner for Margie.  I did not send her a box yet and all I had for her is a little flamingo so this will be good for her, she has the same fabric in a quilt I made her years ago.

 When I posted the picture of my completed step 5, my online blogging buddy Kevin the Quilter sweetly told me to take a look at one of the blocks...yep, sewed it wrong!  So I took it apart and promptly redid it--WRONG AGAIN!  So the two is my take two!

 Third time was the charm, I got it right...HAHA!  I only had to unsew two other ones but who knows there might be more hiding deeper in the stacks!

 I then did some cleaning in here and finally put the binding on the quilt I use as a mat under my machine.  Not sure why I never did it before now.

 I also quilted and bound herringbone. Again waited its turn far too long!  So nice to have some finishes!

 My brother's ex wife gave me this sweet little quilty angel for Christmas.  Really surprised me and I hung her up in the quilting studio.  I just love this space, makes me happy just to sit in here and look around!

I also started sewing the RSC from last year into rows..I have four rows to go until I have a flimsy!  My shoulders are killing me and it is 1 AM so I think I can finish that tomorrow and I sure I can find some other stuff to work on too!