Bow Tie quilts in progress

Yes, you are ready the title correctly. Quilts...plural...three in fact.

 This Kona Snow Bow Tie quilt was made entirely from a charm pack that was gifted to me by Tazzie. She is a quilt designer from Australia. I won a Mug Rug from her blog and she also sent other goodies. I can see this put on point with Kona Snow large triangles. Then I picture beautiful hand quilting in those as yet attached triangles. I bought a very fine point lead pencil. I have such issues with marking quilting lines. That is why I mostly quilt straight line quilting on my DSM.

 Here is the basket that the Kona Snow Bow Tie was born from. These fabrics are more diverse. I can say probably anything goes for this one. The cutting is done. The little squares are sitting on top of the larger squares. The Kona Snow squares are simply stacked there too. This set up is more Leader Ender friendly than my Cheddar Bow Tie project.

 And here is the Cheddar Bow Tie quilt. It is not sewn together. It is still a work in progress.

 This was the basket that I said was dusty on top. Shamefully, I had not used it as a Leader/Ender.

 I have the little colored squares on top of the two cheddar squares. The larger colored squares are directly underneath each cheddar square.

 The biggest reason I do not Leader Ender the Cheddar Bow Tie quilt is this spool of thread that matches the cheddar so well. The OCD me insists on using this thread on nothing else. Thus it is not a Leader Ender. The Kona Snow one is. Go Figure!

 This is my TV setup. I am now joining my DH in his familyroom and can still keep my hands busy. I found this pink cutting mat in the scrapbook section of a Walmart. I liked the color. That was the only reason I bought it. But after trying it I really like the features it has. 2" square markings all over the mat. Easy to lay a bonus triangle unit on it after trimming the dogears off. If it needs any other trimming I lay it to one side until I get a few and then clean them up.

Macy watching TV. Nat Geo Wild of course!

Pinks found...well they were NOT lost...really!

I am a pink color lover. To me it is the most perfect color in the world. And I also wear a lot of pink. Pink looks good with my gray hair and blue eyes. I seem to sew with the colors I do wear.

How about you all?

 These HST were saved from two pink Smokey Mountain Star quilts I had made in 2009. I double sewed the corner triangles and saved them all. I dated the container...11-26-2009!!!!

I so enjoyed making those "Birds in the Air" border units from Our Bonnie Hunter's Orca Bay Mystery. I knew I had these lovely units and set about cutting HST to add to these pinks!

 I cannot believe how fast these units are made. I do not want to make too many because I have lots more fabric to cut. I want a good variety in these.

 I went through and straightened my drawers of strips into color groups as Our Bonnie did hers. I have lots of pink 2 1/2" strips....

 More found units. But these are not pressed and trimmed yet. But they are pinks and creams too! But I do not remember what quilt I made that these units were sewn from.

 I dragged all this from under the quilt frame. These have not seen the light of day for a very long time.

 I was in a pink 2 1/2" swap last year. I found them! They have not been rotated into my cut HST yet. They also need a good pressing before I cut. I plan on cutting a square from each one...then using the Easy Angle ruler I will cut HST in the 2 1/2" size...not needed right now but why not cut them now as opposed to later??
Then I will cut a pair of 2" HST from them too. I did a few to see if the system was workable...of course it is.
But DH gets lonely when I am in the cutting room. And the cats complain at the door. My cats do not like closed doors. They must think they are missing something.

Leftovers from GD's birthday quilt last year. All pinks...but nothing is precut in this container. I will set it aside and get in there later.

 I have been very lucky in ways I can store my fabrics. My dear departed father-in-law gifted me with these two LARGE metal pattern drawer units. They are the kind that hold patterns in stores.
Did I want them???
Of course...
I rearranged the whole room in order to get them in.
They take up a lot of room but they also hold so much.

So this is the pink drawer. Plus I have a set of Fossile Fern FQ's there in the center. I must use them for something soon. They keep calling to me "Use me!" everytime I open this drawer.

 Here are some grays and pink 2" HST cut. Yes, more containers. These hold this 2" size so nicely and they also then fit inside a larger plastic container.

 Lots more HST not pressed or trimmed. Looks like a good TV watching project.

 I also store pressed FQ's on hangers. This is so handy and easy to harvest fabric strips from them without removing the hanger at all.

 Pretty pinks!

 See? Hanger is still on. There are 25 fabrics on this hanger. I just cut 12 or 13 layers at a time.

 I know that sounds like a deep layer. But with a fresh blade and good control of the rulers I always do many layers at a time.

 Remember when Our Bonnie posted making all that red string Piano Key Border? I had to try it. So I did just a couple pages and look what I acheived in just sampling that technique! Only a sample...

I like these little hinged boxes. They are deep and hold 2" units. They also fit inside larger plastic containers with ease.
I know, containers in containers in containers in containers...remember?... OCD me!
I should really start buying stock in plastic containers!

Orca Bay is DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh My Goodness!!! I have surpassed myself! Every quilt I make from OUR BONNIE'S imagination makes me a better piecer.
Gives me discipline and freedom at the same time.
I cannot thank you enough Bonnie Hunter (http://www.quiltville.com).
My creative life is so much richer having found you.

Thank you... thank you... thank you!!!!

 And another reason to be incredulous, 54 degrees in January???

I simply had to take the chance and lay this on the driveway. It sure brought out the neighbors.

 Every single border fit PERFECTLY! There are no ripples or puddles in this whole quilt. I want to enter it in a contest. I have never entered a quilt in a contest before. That means it needs a good longarmer to do it justice.

I LOVE IT!



Orca Bay top assembled w/o borders

Whew! Done! A labor of love for sure. It is so beautiful!

 I began the morning with a clean machine, new needle and many bobbins wound. Though I only needed two to finish this assembly.

 Sections are all pressed and ready to be added together. I know they are still in rows but the rows are deeper and seemed to be very manageable. You HAVE to keep the strings on the underside when sewing. Let the feed dogs do their job of easing any fullness in. Pins are your friend with string blocks!

 Florabunda by Bonnie Hunter on my chair. I sit on it everyday!

A couple of sections added together. I moved my big board out to the livingroom. It does take up lots of room but it is perfect for row assembly. No stretching alowed!!!!!

A few more rows. It is getting heavier and I am so pleased to be this far already!

 I have a few leftovers. I will make a small quilt for my precious kitties.

 OR...for the back of the quilt??

 I am ready for the border assembly. But my back is aching and I need to feed the man who lives here. And the QST sitting there for the two sections in the border are too large. I just used 2 1/2" strips to cut the QST's. I can cut the units down easier than cutting 2" strips from blacks and neutrals.

 My KINDLE cover came today. It is exactly what I wanted.

Gray...hand hold strap...lightweight

And when folded shut there is an elastic strap to keep it closed. It is slim and will allow this to fit in my purse.
Now that I am looking at it I am concerned with the bottom edge of the Kindle. The button and cord access are totally exposed....it is such a struggle to be OCD.
Little things...little things...little things...
XOXOXOXOXOXO Subee

My worst enemy is ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I get ahead of myself...then I drag myself down.

I do not remember which clue the 3 1/2" string blocks were. And I love making string blocks.

So today I was up early planning on getting the entire Orca Bay quilt assembled. I was chugging along. Everything is fitting and I have the assembly clear in my brain. But for some reason I was short of the blue string blocks. Hummmmm...what is up???
I open the PENCIL BOX that has the gray string blocks and had originally housed the blue strings. And there I solved my problem. I had a post it note attached to the lid showing I had only made 48 blocks NOT the required 72. ( and only 36 of the gray are made )

OK...now I know why the blocks are short. But then I am wondering why I did not make the required amount. Thinking back to the early days of the Orca Bay Mystery were also the days of my DH's kidney surgery. I must have thought to make a much smaller quilt than the original size. Less pressure on me at the time I guess. I did have the papers already cut though! HA!

 So here they are...all done and trimmed. Just need to remove the papers.
But having to stop and make string blocks stopped my assembly buzzzzzzzzzzzz....

The basket still had all the blue strings and the cut papers. Oh well...my needle was getting dull anyway. I used it up making some more string blocks. I always clean the lint after every two bobbins. And using black thread makes a black "mist" in the machine. If you keep your machine clean it works so much better. I usually take the Janome 6600P in twice a year for some R&R. But it has been over a year since I have taken it to the shop. I am afraid if I go there I will come home with a new sewing machine. HA! They love me there!
XOXOXOOX Subee

Orca Bay-got it now!

I have it now! I have been able to wrap my head around this process now. But I want to break it down to more production type sewing. You know, making lots of the same units at the same time. But of course, there needs to be a final inspection before jumping in with both feet!

 I took everything down. Aren't these stars just so precious?

 I am using a tray to lay out the block unit assemblies. I am carefully watching the photos and the clue#7 instructions. One of the pictures is upside down as Bonnie explained to us.

 Started throwing those units up on the wall. I am 5'6" tall. Design wall is at the top of the wall against the ceiling. I need a two step small ladder to reach the uppermost rows.  I have two ladders. One at each end so all I have to do is walk over and up the second ladder. After a while I can reach the wall easily.

 I am loving the colors of this mystery. Our Bonnie sure knows what she is doing!

 All pressed and ready for assembly.

This is how I started my morning.

 This is the side table of my sewing area. Rolling drawers below.

And here is my set-up. I take up the entire livingroom.
Today is sunny but very cold. 19 and a light wind. BRRRRRRRRRRRR! Another perfect day for sewing.

Actually I prefer a more cloudy day as the sunlight sometimes flashes off cars driving by or the reflection from the neighbor's house. It hits me in the eyes when I don't expect it and I get blinded. So cloudy days are my favorite sewing days. A candle lit and something simmering on the stove. UMMMMMMMM!!!
XOXOXOXO Subee

Orca Bay Mystery SOLVED!

I see my error...I started with a dark star not a light star. DH pointed it out. Geezzz...he is so tall he can adjust my design wall with ease. But he tends to drop blocks behind the desk...not good!

Nothing is sewn together yet.
I just slapped some up onto the design wall to see if I get the same effect as Our Bonnie did.
I am not sure which way my tiny blue strings are supposed to be.

So they are every which way right now.

 It is a perfect day for sewing.
We are under a Winter Storm Watch but are only getting some light snow right now.

 I have 16 bean soup simmering.
This is another one of those "comfort" foods.
It feeds the sense of smell and taste!

 I can see that I am going to be climbing up and down the ladder for a good long while.

But that is OK. The finished quilt will be soooooo worth it!

 My small container of Dogears was so full that all the little ears were bouncing out yesterday.

 So I had to dump it into the larger container...

Starting over....New Year...new Dogears.