Orca Bay Mystery Step Two ...

The QST units from step one are all trimmed and ready.  I've made most of my 3.5" string blocks - my monitor is making them look blue, but they are green when you see them for 'real'!  They are so cute and I'm delighted with the variety of fabrics I've managed to incorporate.  After reading Bonnie's suggestion for using up scrap paper I surveyed the recycling paper bin and decided the TV listing magazine would be ideal ... and it was!  I usually hate ripping paper on blocks, but by using a larger needle and a shorter stitch, it was a breeze.  Just a few more to make and I'll be ready for step three on Friday.

To see what progress others are making on the mystery, check out Bonnie's Linky :)

My First Quilt.

The first time I tried patchwork I made a Sawtooth star cushion cover from a pattern in a library book.  I traced the templates onto the fabric, cut with scissors and sewed it up.  I decided I quite liked patchwork.

This is the first quilt I made, started soon after the cushion cover in 2001.  The leaf blocks were supposed to be paper-pieced, but I didn't know how to do that, so I did sew and flip corners instead.  I used a variety of scraps from my sewing basket, some cotton, some polycotton, one brushed cotton.  The triangles that go into the border are appliqued on.  I went to my very first proper quilt shop to buy the fabric for the border of this quilt - unfortunately the shop has since closed.  It was backed with plain calico and hand quilted.  I still have this quilt and it now acts as a dust cover in my sewing room.

See other people's first quilts by following Bonnie's linky.

The Christmas Fayre.

The Christmas Fayre at the care home I support was yesterday.  What a busy day!!  Our stall was selling the cards and ornaments I've shown on my blog made with the help of the residents, together with some bric-a-brac and a guess the number of sweets in the jar and guess the name of the teddy.  We raised the princely sum of £180.  This goes towards extra entertainments for the residents.

Today feels like the day after Christmas!!  All the build up for the big day and now it is over.  At least I'll have more time for my quilting now :)

Orca Bay Mystery Step One ...

I decided to use the 3.5" squares and the "draw-sew-cut-press-draw-sew-cut-press" method to make my QSTs.  Much longer winded, but when squared up totally accurate.  Here they are all ready for squaring up, which I'll do at my leisure. 

It's so much fun seeing the excitement amoungst online quilters about this mystery.  Bonnie's blog is having a link page every Monday to those of us taking part to show our progress :)

Orca Bay Mystery Begins ...

I was excited to see the release of the instructions for the first part of the mystery yesterday.  I scanned them, seeing we were making quarter square triangles (QSTs), then I read closer and saw that they would be 2.5" square to finish at 2" in the quilt - GULP!!!!  That's pretty small!!  I've made a few test pilots this morning trying out a couple of different ways of making them. 

On the left I used 3.5" squares and used the "draw-sew-cut-press-draw-sew-cut-press" method referred to by Bonnie, but I also had to trim.  They are many steps involed, but no bias edges and they are accurate.

On the right I used 1.5" strips and Companion Angle ruler, as described in Bonnie's instructions.  They've come out pretty accurate, but I needed to seperately trim the dog ears.

At this point I've not decided which method to use for the rest.  I'll have to cut the fabric strips/squares which ever one I decide on as I don't have any black fabrics in my strip bins ... it's obviously not a colour I've used much in the past.

Pondering ... :)

Xmas robins ...

Aren't these cute?!  The care home activities organiser came across something similar in a xmas catalogue and we decided to have a go at making some.  A couple of prototypes later, with the help of some curtaining fabric and some felt, we have a flock of robins!!  The residents did a very good job of stuffing these with toy filling and lavender - very good hand mobility exercise!  I did the final finishing.  Hope they sell well at the fayre next week.

I'm looking forward to the first clue in Bonnie's new mystery which is due out later today :)

Orca Bay Mystery Fabrics.

Here are my choices for Bonnie Hunter's new mystery - Orca Bay.  I'm going with terracota/orange, green, black and neutrals.  There's everything in here from 30s repros to recycled shirts!  I'll also be raiding my precut strips bins as the mystery progresses and my string bin for added variety. 

I won't be making the full-size quilt (74" x 84"), I'll probably make half the blocks required and see where that takes me.  I did the Carolina Crossroad and Carolina Christmas mysteries this way and LOVED the outcomes.  Just need to wait for the first clue to be released on the 18th :)

Some stitching ...

I've actually been using the sewing machine this week!! I've been sewing up items to sell at the Care Home's xmas fayre later this month. I've been doing stocking ornaments, hearts to stuff and fill with fresh dried lavender and sheer bags for lavender too. My house has been smelling wonderful!! I'm finding turning little bits of fabrics and trims into fundraising items a lot of fun - feels like creating something from nothing.

I'm going to take part in Bonnie Hunter's new mystery quilt which starts on the 18th November. Currently hunting through the stash finding what fabrics to use - more of that next time :)