Double Delight Clue One..Almost Done

85 of these babies are done, though not squared up. Only 35 left to go. Then 120 of another colorway. Sigh. These small blocks are one/nineth of a bigger block....I would like to join those who say Bonnie is insane for inventing this block, but then you would find me in a white coat right beside her since I am making it! I wish it was going a bit faster, but I am being sure to get up and stretch, iron, etc. so that I don't get stiff. I also did the dishes, stripped the bed and started the laundry, wiped down the bathroom and the washer and dryer and made sugar free jello for work's lunch tomorrow. Also have some tea brewing. It is drizzling a little here in AZ and I have opened up windows and doors and am enjoying the birds chirping happily outside. I plan to square up the blocks during a good movie (or two or three) later. Oh while I am sewing I am listening to Jodi Picoult's "Change of Heart" I am on disc six now so that is how long it has taken me to sew what I have so far! I can measure it in audiobooks...smile.

Hopefully there will be another post later with more progress...otherwise it is back to work tomorrow and I may not really be sewing until the weekend!

Apparently this first post didn't post so I will add to it...

The stack got taller, and taller!

We watched the old version of "Moulin Rouge" while I squared these up...that is how long it took! I have 107 DONE! And those you see on the cutter (not in stacks) are too wonky and need some ripping...plus I am short a few. So tomorrow I shall try to get 13 more so I can say clue one is done....I am so far behind I think I'm first. HAHA. Back to work in the morning--vacation always goes so fast!

Double Delight in Progress!

Randy was up early this morning (while I was snoozing) and took this picture of some hot air balloons up over our neighborhood! Gotta love January in AZ!

I had to talk myself into even starting the Double Delight mystery because clue four came out before I had even started. I decided to put together the pieces for one block and then decide if I was going to go for it....I am though I am nearly insane from the thought of it! Kathy came in after work and helped me cut, cut, cut! So everything is cut through clue four...which is the part I usually don't like a ton so I am a happy gal!

I sewed up a few of the nine patch blocks but was having trouble getting them the right size do to using this other machine and the seam allowance, etc. So set that aside and worked hard on clue number one (which is after all the beginning!) and got this stack done, though none are trimmed yet. No idea how many are done, but as you can see from the previous picture I have plenty more to go.

Here is one complete set on the wall--not sewn together yet so you can get the idea of what it is supposed to look like. Tomorrow I plan to sew, sew, sew as much of the day as I can. I am sure another clue will be popping up and I don't even want to look!

Off to bed and to read my Sarah's Quilt book!

Gift Certificate Shopping!

This morning I decided to do some lesson planning for work since I go back on Monday and had NO PLAN for my ASL 1 class! It is a new book so absolutely everything is done from scratch by me! I have found a few people to share ideas with (which is great) but so far nothing has come in on Unit 6...lol. So after about four or five hours I have a powerpoint, packet, quizzes, homework and a specific plan for teaching them about sports and activities. It is pretty good if I do say so myself, lol. Glad to have most of the work behind me I ran to the LQS to spend some of my gift certificate!

Here were some clearance Christmas fabrics I could not resist. Thought they would be great on the back of a tablerunner or two. Also pictured is two teeny tiny blade refils for my small blade. I like trimming blocks with this size blade and the one I have is D-U-L-L dull!

All of these beauties are to add to my pile for Double Delight. The shirtings are all different but kind of hard to see in here. Not sure if the indigo dimples will be used, but I just had to have it when I saw it...I love Dimples fabric. If you recognize those cheddars it is because some of them were in my block kit from the same store. I really like all these fabrics and now anytime I can get started on the Double Delight quiltville mystery quilt. Bonnie posted clue three today...I need to get going on clue one, but so far the momentum isn't with me!

I also got this book for Christmas from Randy and am about half way through out. So far not a ton about quilting, but good Arizona history and information about life and times way back when. I am enjoying it. Also reading J.K. Rowlings "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" which I bought for CJ for Christmas but didn't mail. It is a good read aloud book. And just so you know what I have been listening to as well...WICKED! It is fun to listen to. I found an awesome interpreter signing one of the songs (which I had never heard) "Popular" it is very catchy and so I asked for the CD for Christmas. Now I want tickets to ASU Gammage to see it in March! I know the request list goes on and on!

NYE Mystery Quilt Top is Together!

I am very happy with the way this mystery quilt turned out. The colors look good together and like the slightly scrappy look. This top doesn't have a home yet but it will find one eventually. I had some trouble with getting the rows together...not sure if this was due to using a different machine (I didn't realize how much I was in tune with my Janome) or if it was just all the seam matching I had to do. There was some pulling and pushing, rocking and rolling but it is all together and I am happy. I would have done it sooner but I woke up with a migraine and have been fairly worthless all day long. Just taking it easy willing it to go away.
Kathy's still needs put together but she doesn't seem to want to get back to it. She did some wood sawing tonight for an order...if I get time I might put hers together while she is working. Bonnie put out the second clue on her Double Delight Quiltville mystery...I am feeling behind and with my head as it is I am not even thinking about starting it today...if another clue comes out tomorrow I may cry. LOL, usually I am in a big hurry for the next clue...not this time!
Happy New Year to everyone too! I forgot to say that last night. I enjoyed reading lots of blogs today in which everyone took stock of 2008 and set goals and such for 2009. WOW. I went back through my pictures just to see how many quilts I had made and wished I knew how to make one of those picture collages that people put in their blogs....maybe that should be my goal for next year...learn how to use blogger better! Tonight I don't feel up to much reflection, but I love the idea of it--so maybe tomorrow.

NYE Mystery Steps 8-10 Done and 11 Started!

Well we were going strong for a long time there and then suddenly my machine broke a needle and I spent an hour trying to coax it back to work! I finally gave up and packed it up to go in for a cleaning and to have the timing worked on...it was due after these projects anyway. Meanwhile I had my heart set on getting these done so Kathy ran out and got me another machine so I could finish them up. She was putting in phone calls looking for one before I even asked. One gal from my online group emailed me and said I could come get her old one too! Sweet people quilters are!
So we took a break for dinner and I had a margarita along with my steak dinner...and Randy made his fabulous Strawberry Spinach Salad which I love too! We played several games of Dutch Blitz which is my new FAVORITE game. Randy hates it. Then we played Smartass and I actually won! That is the one I usually hate. Lastly, we played Don't Forget the Lyrics which is kind of fun and silly though I am not too great at that one...Randy won!
Then I decided to wander up and finish the last of Kathy's blocks (she did most of this quilt, but I was helping her and she was ready to be done!) and laid them out and took this pic just to see what they would look like. I like it! She does too, thinks she will do two crib size quilts instead of one lap size so we will be two ahead on baby gifts.


Then I HAD to sew at least some of my blocks together...so I got two rows done and took this picture so you could get the idea. I LOVE it. Not sure where this one is going or who it will go to but I like how it turned out! Ann Smith always outdoes herself with these mysteries! So tomorrow you should get to see two or three completed quilt tops!

NYE Mystery 8-10 Mostly Done!

The dogs got tired of following me up the stairs to sew and down the stairs to print the next clue..so they waited in the middle! Aren't Joe and Rosey adorable?

Part of Kathy's...

Same part of mine...

With the edges on (gotta get to that on Kathy's--she ran to the store to pick up the steaks and I promised to finish mine then start hers....hehe and here I am posting..shhh!)

My blocks side by side...I AM LOVING THEM! YAY!
Should have a top picture for you soon!

NYE Mystery Steps 4-7 Done!

Check it out---steps four through seven of mine!

And of Kathy's!

Looking good so far we think!