Grand Illusion Mystery Steps 1 - 4

Step 4 complete.

Steps 1 - 4, getting closer to the reveal. 

Iron Tote and Pad

Oh my goodness!  I thought this was going to be a piece of cake, but in it's way, I think it was more difficult than my Bionic Gear Bag.  I tried to do some investigating before I started, and one lady suggested using old towels instead of batting.  I wonder if she ever tried it herself.  I didn't have any 100% cotton batting, and I thought to myself, I have old towels, and that will save a little money, and a trip to the fabric store.  First since it called for 2 layers of batting, I used 2 layers of towel, and I couldn't hardly even get it under the presser foot.  Before I had even gone 4 inches, I broke a needle.  I took it apart, and used 1 layer of towel.  Alas, even that was a major stretch for my Bernina presser foot, and every stitch was a fight.  Breaking of thread was routine.  Never again, if I make another one, I'll make sure that I have the batting. 

Here it is with my little travel iron inside, still in the box.  I feel sure that a full sized iron would fit in here just fine, and I'm thinking, I'll make myself a little hemmed piece of flannel to use on top of it when I iron to keep it looking nice.  That will fit in here just fine, also.  I used 4 inches of elastic, as the pattern called for, but I think that was too much.  I need to investigate what would be good to make sure that the buttons don't pop out and dump my goodies.

Not perfect, but I wasn't kidding when I said every stitch was a challenge. 

All in all, I'm happy with it, and I think that if I hadn't used the towel it would have been as easy as I expected it to be.  It might be that the firmness of the towel is more to my liking than the batting would have been.  I know, pink buttons?  They were all I had, and my Bionic Gear Bag is pink and brown, so they'll fit right in.   Oh, it is a free pattern and I got it here: http://thepaintedquilt.blogspot.com/2013/07/easy-peasy-travel-iron-caddy.html       or                        
http://tricountyquilters.weebly.com/uploads/3/0/2/4/3024945/iron_caddytote.pdf

Grand Illusion Clue 3 and Sea World Skating Show

Oops, good thing I decided to double check after I did one.  It was a lot easier to rip only one.

120 plus done.  Now, I have a couple of small projects to work on while I wait for clue 4 on Friday. 

Sea World's annual ice-skating show, it's like a fairyland this time of year.

Pre-show entertainment, a very good Christmas music show.

A very nimble gymnist. 

And the show begins.

Bionic Bag II

Here it is loaded, and I'm sure I could fit a bit more in, too.

Here is what was in it:  Counter-clockwise   Full sized 45mm rotary cutter, small wallpaper tool for flattening seams, a magnifying glass, pencils, embroidery scissors, pre wound bobbins, more pens and pencil, point turning stick, thread with bobbins, walking foot, seam ripper, 8 inch shears, back scratcher ( I don't know anyone there well enough to ask them to scratch my back), needles, 2 1/2 by 6 1/2 inch ruler (one of my favorite sizes), and a screwdriver (you can see the blue handle).  And, of course, in the tray, a full sized magnetic pin holder, and a box of 50 wonder clips.

Bionic Gear Bag

I worked a few hours on this one yesterday and today.  There are a myriad of things that could be better, but it is good enough to serve the purpose.  Tomorrow, I hope to load it and take another picture.   Even better, I have two days left to clean, maybe do a little Christmas decorating, and straighten up and be ready for clue 3 of Grand Illusion. 

Grand Illusion Step 2 - Finished

Step2, was a challenge, but it is finished.  Anxious to work on my Bionic Bag and hopefully have it done before Friday, when Step 3 will be out.  So far, so good keeping up, but not doing scrappy is a mental challenge.

Grand Illusion Step 1 - Done

Cut out and ready for sewing.

First 6 finished and measured - pretty close.

Step 1 finished.  Step 2 I will work on on Saturday at a local quilt shop, with several other mystery quilt quilters.  It should make it more fun.  This Saturday I went, but didn't bring my machine, so just watched.  Not next time.

Holiday Placemats

I made my daughter a set of 8 reversible placemats.  My house used to be holiday central, but it seems to have shifted to her house.  I hope that they are used and enjoyed. 

Oops!

Oops!  I got a new iphone, and even though it has a case, I decided to protect the screen even further than the screen protector, I needed a soft case.  Yesterday, I made the one on the left, but decided that it needed to be a little less snug, and a pocket on the front would be nice.  Today, with Thanksgiving on my mind, I made another case.  Too big, and I forgot the pocket.  It does fit my 7 inch tablet in it's case though.  I guess I'll be making a third, hopefully the third time will be the charm, as has previously been alleged.  Right not, I'm not in the mood.

Not Much Sewing Going On

Just small projects going on here this past week.  Litter bags from Life with Lou blog, and a do it myself iphone 6 case. The iPhone case needs to be a bit bigger though.