Grand Illusion (Springtime Sky) and Organizing

Ok, time to baste.  I usually use Sharon Schamber's board method, but this one is much too big for that.  Going by Bonnie's finish at 88 x 88 inches, this one should finish at 94 1/2 x 94 1/2. 

It took a few hours, but it's heavy and basted.  I also have a smaller quilt top, that I made this week, to baste and quilt. 

You see these around the web, and I've been wanting one.  I hope to use it in my sewing room, and without too much trouble, also be able to empty it out quickly, and use it for serving when we have company.  As you see, I haven't really loaded it up yet. It's an Ikea Raskog, rolling cart with an Aptitlig Butcher block on top.  The Aptitlig is not a perfect fit, but it's pretty good.

This is a small Origami bookcase, from HSN.   It's sitting on the table behind my Juki, and I'll find out soon if I can leave it there and still quilt large quilts. 

And here is the other quilt top that I have to baste.  It's smaller, about 64 x 80 and for a lap quilt for a friend.  Hope she likes it.  Haven't been around her much for years, so not sure about her colors.  One thing about scrappy, mostly they have lots of colors, and can go many places.

Back to organizing, wouldn't it be nice, if I could find my scissors when I need them.  It will also be seen, if this is going to help.  I was hoping to hang my rotary cutters on it too, but the holes were too small.   My sewing room looks extra messy today, I have stuff moved around to allow the delivery men to bring in my new washer and dryer.  With the ones I have now, it's an all day thing to wash and dry 2 loads.  They are old and very inefficient, kind of like me.

Grand Illusion is a Flimsy and Pictures of a Gift in Use

Not too bad since I didn't have access to the chair. 

They said she likes it.

I decided mine was bright, but blah, so I added the print and hoped.  Guess, I just craved scrappy, and I decided on yardage this year.

Ready to start the borders.  The pink and green stripe is my binding.

It's a flimsy now, bigger even than Bonnie's started.  I decided that since I had never even heard of the Grand Hotel, and probably will never go there, mine is "Springtime Sky". 

The corner, with my extra border.  And, I  linked up to Bonnie's blog this morning.  If you'd like to see lots of progress on Grand Illusion, go here.  Thank you Bonnie, for another great mystery.

2014 Wrap-up

Quilts finished 2014.  From top Everlee, Aurora, Joey, Emmalee, Danika Lee, Tristan and brother, Naomi, Hayley, Cameron and Sister, Kerri, Donna, Son, Daughter, Lynn, Hank.

Afghans 2014.  Tabitha, Brook, Vanna, Caleb, Danika Lee, Aurora.

Misc. 2014.  Everlee, Ironing Pad, Bionic Gear Bag, 8 placemats Sandra, Litter bags and iphone holder, 12 placemats for Barbara and Judy, Bag for me, Bags for kids, Gator bags for me, etc., Initial A for Aurora, Throw for Vince, another Litter Bag, Messenger bags, Kerri and Sandra.  I missed a couple of things, some bags and a throw, but that's most of it.

Plodding along on The Reveal on Grand Illusion

I apologize for the overload of pink, aqua, white, yellow, green and black.  It's Bonnie's mystery colors, so it's everywhere.  These are my 25 blocks stacked up ready to start sewing.  Last step and reveal time.

First step sewn together on my large fancy 9 patches.

Yay, They are 9 patches now.  (What's the correct spelling of Yay?)

Time to add sashing and cornerstones.  I deviated here, I like to do it the Gourmet Quilter's way from you tube.  She has a video about sashing 5 inch squares, but it works for anything.  First side on.

I guess since I really love scrappy best, my blocks looked kind of blah to me, even though they are bright.  I decided they needed something else, so I went to Hobby Lobby today and this black floral was the closest I could find to my vision. My print is where turquoise 3 1/2 inch squares were supposed to be.

Both sides of sashing sewn on.

Just 5 sashings to sew on here, and 5 at the top, and sashings will be complete. I really like the video from Gourmet Quilter, "How to Simply Sash 5" squares - Quilting Tips and Techniques 054".

This picture doesn't show the cornerstones as well as I'd hoped.  I'm hoping that when it's done it'll be pleasing, and give it a little less boring look.  I'm also going to put another small border on using the print.  Two reasons, to tie in the print a little more, and to make the quilt a little larger. 

Christmas Past

I made a couple of these a few years ago.  This wasn't the prettiest. 

I used to have Christmas for the family at my house, but my daughter has had it the last few years.

I loved this quilt and gave it away this summer.  It's on my to-do list to make another.

This Christmas quilt was given to one of my grandsons and his wife.

This one is on my bed until the first of the year.  I really like it.

These little mini stockings were a fun project that I made several years ago.  I made lots of them.

I have made lots of table-toppers.  Pillow covers, too.

Wall hangings too, and almost always reversible.  I figured why not a tree for fall and Thanksgiving.

A dresser cover from some blocks I got at a shop hop.

Table-toppers and wall hangings, it's a sickness.

And, one more wall hanging that almost got left out.  The scare crow is from Hobby Lobby.

I have also made countless Christmas bags.  I made this Christmas post to link up to Bonnie at Quiltville's Very Merry Happy Holiday linkup here.

Great-Granddaughter Rocker Ensemble

A couple of years ago, my daughter and I got this chair, made the cushion and a little matching blanket, for Dominic.  He has a little sister now, and since he has outgrown his chair, and she seems to like it a lot, my grandson asked if I could make a more girlie rocking chair ensemble.

I, of course, said yes and here is the front of the little rush job quilt.  I am not thrilled at all with the looks of it, but it is mostly purple, like her room.

He also asked that it have a fleece back, as she loves soft, and so it has a fleece back. 

And here are the replacement chair pads.  Again, I wish I'd taken more care to straighten things up, but in my defense, I was hurrying.  I wanted to get them done in time for a free ride to their new home a couple hundred miles from us.  I have a feeling these are my last finish for the year.  I just hope that they fit, I got dimensions from my grandson, but I was on my own with the curved top. 

Grand Illusion Step 5 Finished

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Grand Illusion Mystery Steps 1 - 4

Step 4 complete.

Steps 1 - 4, getting closer to the reveal.