Allietare Clue 5

How can it be that we've finished up 5 clues already?  The next clue could be our last... or not.  That's part of the mystery, we don't even know how many clues are left.  What fun!  :)

Do you want to play along with the Mystery?  Go to Bonnie's blog to get all the clues.
Allietare Mystery

Check out all the progress being made by those who are participating!  There is some fantastic work being done.
Mystery Monday Link-Up, Part 5

So, what have I managed to complete?  I worked slowly but surely on getting Clue 5 finished.  I was moving a bit slowly because I ended up growing a very nice sinus infection.  I went to Urgent Care on December 26th and have some good medicine, so I'm feeling much better now.

Here are all my units from Clue 5!

My units are not perfect, but they're close enough for me.  I'm sure they will work out just fine.  :)

I have also been working on making the sashing for the second Grand Illusion charity quilt.  This time I'm using blue in the sashing and the setting squares.  I am curious to see how this color change affects the overall look of the quilt.

Isn't that blue fabric fun?  Batik bubbles.  :)

I hope all of you had a great Christmas and will have a fantastic New Year.  Can you believe that the new year is only a day away?  Wow, time flies!

Allietare Clue 4

Whew, just barely getting this post written in time.  Better late than never, right?  :)

For whatever reason, this clue seemed to take a long time.  Maybe that's because of all the units we had to make, maybe that's because we're also in the midst of Christmas obligations, maybe both.  I finished up late last night (Christmas Eve), so now I can share my progress.

Want to participate in this mystery too?  You can find all of Bonnie's clues on her blog:
Allietare Mystery

Want to see how everyone else is doing on their clues?  Check out the Monday Mystery Link-up!
Monday Mystery Link-Up, Part 4!

Here are my pieces all cut out and ready to go.  I'm loving my variety of neutrals!

Now it's time to assemble!  I laid my units out assembly line style, sewing all the pieces for each set together, leaving them chained together until it was time to press.  You can see the ones farthest to the right (next to Bonnie, my Featherweight) are waiting to have the first black triangle sewn on.  The next ones to the left are waiting to have the second black triangle sewn on.  Lastly I have the pairs ready to be sewn together into finished units.

Doing the sewing this way helped to keep boredom at bay.  I was able to switch up what I was doing every four sets.

And here we are, all my units finished!  Finally!  LOL.  I am now ready for Clue #5.

I also have progress to report on the Grand Illusion reboot.  All the blocks are finished, so I started putting them together into tops.  My goal was always to turn the blocks into smaller charity quilts, and I used a setting that I had seen someone share on Facebook.  I wish I knew who it was so I could give proper credit.  She had used yellow and white to create sashing and setting squares, and I liked how it calmed down the blocks so I did the same thing.  I like how it turned out!

This used up some of the blocks.  I want to make another one of these, using blue in place of the yellow.  After that I will have one lone block left over, perhaps I can make a medallion style quilt using the other units that I haven't touched yet.  I'll share photos when I get it done.

Merry Christmas, and Happy Quilting!

Allietare Clue 3

This week, the group of ladies I've been working with at the quilt shop couldn't meet, as there is another group that meets on the first Sunday of the month at the quilt shop.  It's a big group and would have left us with no room at all LOL.  So I worked at home to finish Clue 3.

Want to play along?  You can get all the clues from Bonnie's blog here:
Allietare Mystery

You should also check out the blogs of all the other quilters who are participating in this mystery.  Their work is beautiful!
Mystery Monday Link-Up, Part 3

I dug into my stash of neutrals, I dug into my stash of strips for golds, and I cut from gold yardage bought for this mystery, and I came up with enough variety to make my strip sets for the 4-patches we need to make for this clue.

Here they are, my 4-patches all finished!  I'm pleased with how they turned out.  There's definitely enough contrast between the gold fabrics and the neutrals.

I got the extra pieces cut out too, so they are ready to go whenever Bonnie says they are needed.

I'm still working on the units from Grand Illusion as my Leaders and Enders.

And here you go, all my Grand Illusion blocks are finished!

It was always my goal to use these blocks, and the other Grand Illusion units, to make 2-3 charity quilts.  I've been collecting images of various settings that others have created for their quilts, these will help me decide how to proceed with my charity quilts.

As you may know, I've been using my 1947 Featherweight to sew these clues and the GI blocks.  I got it from a local lady who buys and restores these machines, so it doesn't have any history with my family.  I hadn't named her, but lately I've been feeling the need to name her.  I Googled popular names from 1947, and with the help of my children we've decided that her name should be Bonnie.  I think it's fitting, don't you?  :)

I hope you're making progress on your Allietare units!

Allietare Clue 2

Sunday is my day to work on the mystery, so I headed off to the quilt shop to work on Clue #2.  Want to play along?  You can get all the information for this mystery at Bonnie's blog:

Allietare Mystery

Want to see all the wonderful variety of all the other people who are participating?  Be sure to check out this week's Link-Up on Bonnie's blog.

Mystery Monday Link-Up, Part 2

I got to the quilt shop, only to find that I was the only one of our quilt group who could make it.  One other stopped by while out doing other things, unfortunately she was feeling  under the weather.  I hope she feels better soon!

The quilt shop is open for 5 hours on Sundays, and I put that time to good use!  While sewing together the units for this week's clue, I also continued using the pieces from last year's mystery, Grand Illusion, as leaders and enders.

Here is some of my work in progress, with my Featherweight getting a good workout.

In the time I had at the quilt shop, I got all the units for this clue sewn and pressed, hooray!

I also managed to make excellent progress on assembling the Grand Illusion units.  Next week the block will be taking shape!

I also have ready the extra pieces that Bonnie said to cut.

I'm so thankful for the time at the quilt shop.  It was distraction free time, which allowed me to get these units finished so I can focus on other projects the rest of the week.

How are all of you doing?  Do you have Christmas gifts to finish up?  I have some commissions to finish and other quilt tops to get quilted, but I should be able to get them all done in time for their deadlines.  I just have to focus until Clue #3 is released LOL.