Second Easy Street completed.

I am totally in love with this color scheme of Bonnie Hunter's Easy Street pattern.
I had to remove one offending 31/2" square this morning. Somehow two of the same fabric made it all the way through final row assembly before I noticed that they were side by side. DH said to leave it...but I decided to replace it. If it would have been a more subtle fabric I might have left them together. But it was the hot pink leopard that simply just screamed at me!!!
So I fixed it and sewed the final seam this morning.

Right now it measures 65" square. I have a nice piece of pinky-brown batik that I will add as the 1 1/2"  outer border...then I may add a bunch of the extra 4-patches around it then add some of that marvelous striped border that I out on my Minkee backed quilt.

I use a piece of batting to lay out my blocks as a removable unit if I get interrupted from sewing. I can simply fold the batting over the pieces and put it away and they stay put.

I have LOTS of extra pieces. Someday they will become another pink/brown quilt!

I have so much help while sewing. Each of my four kitties has to try to claim the batting as a great resting area.

I have the best husband. He is a wheeler/dealer. He found a used bass amp that I can lift!!! It weighs only 35 pounds. We had to drive a little over an hour to go buy it. But it was quality alone time for us.

Macy (on the right) has the rewarding job of moving any kitty so she can steal their heated sleeping spot. For one of the other kitties to remain after she attempts the steal is nothing but amazing! So I had to photograph this episode as evidence that they all can share.
Macy and Pearl came from the same breeder. But different breeding lines of course. I really feel confident buying from this breeder. The cats are raised underfoot in their home and are people lovers.
Happy Sunday everyone.
Bonnie Hunter is doing a quiltcam in 15 minutes!!!
XOXOXOXO Subee

Second Easy Street progress

I was more confused working on the second Easy Street than I was on the first one!!
I figure it is cause I am only using three colors and Our Bonnie used five.
After much hair pulling I did get 9 of Block A made.
This quilt will be much smaller than the original quilt.

My long arm quilter came and picked up the big Easy Street last night.
I had a 90" wide piece of muslin for the back. And since I had made extra 4 patches I added a triple row to the backing. Should be very interesting. My quilter may use turquoise or purple to quilt with. She will do a great job. I trust her.

My little container is now full of papers using Bonnie's recommendation to use heavier papers. I even used the cover off a phone book!!

I should have taken a photo of the completed Girl Scout vest. But this was how I spent the entire Tuesday. Being OCD I also sewed around the iron on patches.

I found this great backing fabric in my stash. After I quilted this quilt I washed what was left and am going to include a good sized piece in each of my quiltvilleswapper's envelopes. A hostess gift in reverse.

Just did some in the ditch quilting and this puppy is all done, bound and labeled.
XOXOXO Subee

Easy Street- final assembly completed.

I totally loved the journey of sewing.

But it sure is GREEN!!!

I am going to make another quilt using brown and pink but it will not be this big!!!

What a journey!
Bonnie really hooked us!
SO MUCH INVESTED THAT IT WOULD BE TOO MUCH OF A WASTE TO not FINISH THE QUILT!
I had to really focus my energies as final assembly is not a favorite task in my quilting world. I do use L&E's and that helps the task. But long seams with pinning simply tries my patience.

I am not sure if I will even add any more borders to this monster!
It is already 84" square and beyond my own machine quilting margins.

I had to keep rewarding myself to get this assembled.
And also to deny myself a pleasure.

I bought a tiny little gizmo that is a bass amp that does not make any external noise. You plug in headphones and can practice in silence. I did not even open up that puppy until I got this completed. I know me...I go off on tangents...and this quilt would have remained un-assembled for a long time!!!
Finally, I can relax and pursue some music!!!!
XOOXXOXO Subee

More Easy Street progress.

Plugging away here in Indiana on Our Bonnie Hunter's Easy Street.

Bonnie was so clever this time...she had us do the border units first so we would not leave them out. Clever Bonnie...

I am doing this quilt in two color ways. Boy! This one really looks "limey green" to me. But this is still okay with me as one of my Grand daughters loves limey green. And since her birthday is coming in March I am thinking this quilt will be gifted to her.

I have 7 of the "A" blocks done today. Slow going but I am very OCD about fabrics being really scrappy in each block. I want them spread around equally.

XOXOXO Subee

One spoiled Siamese named Macy Gray

Poor Macy...she suffers so when the colder weather hits. She can tolerate summer when we have the air conditioning on...she goes to the warm garage. But now that winter is here she craves deep warmth.
So, out comes the old heating pad. If a cat can hug a flat object, she can!!! Here she is on my Hubby's computer desk. She will sit on the pad and scream for it to be turned on. We also move it around the room for her. No she is not too spoiled!!

I feel that the backside of your patchwork should be neat and straight too. And if it is the front side will be even better!!!

I have the 4 triangle #1's done. And eight (8) of the twelve (12) triangles #2 done.
I was surprised to see clue #7 posted today. No complaints here!!!

I lay a "master" plan on a piece of batting and use that as my guide. I have folded it away for tonight and will finish the last four (4) triangles tomorrow.

Perhaps three years ago when Bonnie Hunter's first book came out, I made my bed quilt. I called it Batik Virginia Stars. It is retired from the bed right now because I have my log cabin quilt on the bed.
I was going through a drawer where I have all of Kaye England's rulers and patterns. And I found 12 more blocks. In as little as an hour I have the above small lap quilt pieced into a lap size quilt!!! WHOOHOOO!!! I was watching the newer King Kong movie. Naomi Watts is so beautiful!!!

I am finally getting the hang of my bread machine. I have been making two loaves a week. It smells so good when it is baking!!! And makes the best french toast!!!

And here was another find while searching for greens. 24 star blocks with a Dan Morris kitty fussy cut as the centers. One of my swappers actually sent me more of this fabric so I cut one center block and voila' another lap size quilt to join the LONG line of quilts that need quilted!!!

Easy Street clue#5 complete

As with all of these clues, this clue was super easy. And Our Bonnie Hunter has still got me guessing as to the layout of this mystery quilt!!!
Many quilters are making this mystery quilt. Check them out on Bonnie's blog:

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2012/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-5.html

I do not usually buy fabric at Walmart. I do buy batting and yarn there. And then I spotted lots of the limey greens that Our Bonnie is using. I had to buy some as this is NOT a color I have in my stash. I was also very lucky and a clerk was close by and did a great job of cutting some off each bolt!!!

What a Christmas surprise from my wonderful husband, James Mohr. He bought me a drop dead gorgeous burgundy U-Bass. It is very small and light but packs the same punch as a full sized bass guitar. But the strings are kind to these old fingertips and the guitar fits my hand and fingers perfectly. How am I to sew and practice bass at the same time??? I still need to clone me!

I have a small amp to practice with. I am going to set this up real close to my sewing machine so I can sit in my sewing chair and still practice, practice, practice!

When I am too tired to sew at the machine I pick up a crochet hook and make some baby afghans. Dear Granddaughter #3 is expecting. We do not know the sex of the baby so I am using a multicolored yarn that will be okay no matter which sex it turns out to be. But with a plethora of great-grandsons, we are all hoping for a girl!!!

I finished my Subee's Stars quilt. Bess is inspecting my workmanship.

XOXOXOXOXO Subee

Easy Street Clue#4 completed

Warning: lots of photos in this post!!!
See Bonnie Hunter's Linky post here: http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2012/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-4.html

I am doing Easy Street in two colorways. But those Flying Geese units were just so cute I made them in five colorways.
I know. I am just a little bit obsessive.

I cannot decide which way is the one I prefer. And I had to stop myself or I would have made more in different colorways.

But then I had a plan....more below.

Here is Sissy. I pieced most of the actual colorway on her. She sews so well. But the chair in this room just kills my back. And my big sewing chair is too big for this room. It barely goes through the doorway.

Love this little sidewinder.  I use her all the time when sewing with Sissy or at retreats. Well...she is packed in the truck if I need her. But I usually have many bobbins already wound ahead of time.

Found...my lost container of thread. When I moved the sewing table in here I found this container underneath!!! Was not doing me any good not being used!!!

Here is my plan: I am going to make lots of Flying Geese, HST, Birds in the Air and/or more and keep them in these drawers. As I cut for a quilt I will feed these drawers. WHOOHOOOT! I am going to get so much more done!!

I tried and really liked the Grace Tru-cut blade sharpener. But there was just a tiny little container of oil. DH found this for me at a Hardware store. I am pretty sure it is what I need...any advice??

I bought and received one of those really big seam rippers from the seller on Etsy. Later in the evening he was sold out! Like that was a surprise with Our Bonnie tooting his horn! Mine is wood...beautifully turned.
I really do not need this items.  And it sure was not inexpensive. The leather sheath smells so good!!!
I am thinking of having a giveaway to celebrate the end of Easy Street.
Would any of you enter a give away for this item???

While waiting on the next clue I was making some pink string blocks(32). Then I made 24 more neutral string blocks. I have no idea what these will be used in. I just love making string blocks. These are 6 1/2" unfinished.

I did throw away the pile of trimmings. The food chain needs to end somewhere.

I really spread out when making string blocks. What you cannot see is the HUGE container of strings on the floor.  I keep them sorted by color now.

And another find. As I was searching for a box to ship out two cat beds I came across these blocks made eons ago. Michael Miller fabric. Each star is made from a different fabric. There are twenty-four 12 1/2" blocks....they just need a bit of sashing to be called a quilt top.

And a token kitty picture. This is my Pearl. Whole name is Pearly Piwacket.
XOXOXOXO Subee

Easy Street Clue#3 finished & Subee's Stars quilt

Both colorways are complete for Easy Street clue#3. I loved making these units. I used scrappy pinks and browns for my colorway#2. But turquoise is not in my stash in a great amount. But...I had an entire bolt of this RJR turquoise fabric. I have used it many times with my Laurel Burch collection (original fabrics from eons ago) and it worked. I love the purple and blue together!!! We have to give it up to Our Bonnie Hunter...she is a genius with colors!

I added this photo to this post today (Monday). I had to have DH hold it up for a picture. I am soooooo very pleased with how this turned out.
But what will I sew on now????

Now on to my own design...I was going to set them on point...didn't happen.
Then remembered my one big block that was an experiment that never made it to a big quilt. I was going to do a kitty size quilt but...the colors were all from the same scrap basket. Check them out...but they do not quite fit around the center block. But I did not discover this until I had sashed and sewn both sides on...reverse sewing was needed...
The center block was made from 2 1/2" HST. And my star blocks are made from 2" HST. But I made it work!!!

WHOHOOO!!!! Loving this...I have more blocks to add but needed to take a break. I sewed for 12 hours today. Hubby bought pizza so I did not have to cook. What a great man!!!

I love the stripe that I used as a spacer strip. It lends itself to so many projects. I do not know what I will do when it runs out!!! I reach for it so often.

I have four cats. And I take lots of pictures of them. But how often can I catch one with her tongue out??? Here is Bess's tongue!!!

XOXOXOXO Subee

Subee's Stars progress

I am totally loving this block. There are lots of little pieces but then that is right up my scrappy alley.
These 12 were done this last weekend while sewing on Easy Street's Clue#2.

Today was a very sunny day if a tad cool. But the sunshine coming in really blinds me. So the blinds are closed. Yet those little flashes of light that creep in still give me fits. Come on winter weather...I want some cloudy snowy days please!!

So after a night event of cutting I now have 250 more HST units sewn. Hopefully I now have enough variety to finish this project.

XOXOOXOX Subee