Monday, January 16, 2017

Scrappy Makes me Happy

Happy Monday quilting buds!  There's been a lot of design wall action going on in Podunk this past weekend. 


The Bonnie Hunter Mystery quilt "En Provence" has taken over the studio.  If your interested in making one you can find all the FREE quilt clues by clicking here.  Bonnie also has a Facebook page that anyone can join and post pictures of their quilts.  Not just the mystery quilt but any quilt.  Its a fun group with a lot of amazing quilting inspiration.  You can find the Facebook Quiltville Open Studio by clicking here.  Of course you need a Facebook account to join this group.  I highly recommend joining.


En Provence has been quite the new adventure for me.  It's my first and probably my last mystery.  Oh I'll still save the clues to new quilt mysteries I find on the internet, but I'll wait for the reveal before making the first fabric cut.  I found this to fun but stressful.  Bonnie is a wonderful designer so the issue isn't with her pattern but more with me and how I like to quilt.  I need to see the quilt in order to choose fabrics.  That's pretty obvious by the looks of my quilt.


 I'm not saying I don't love this quilt because I do.  Scrappy makes me happy! Below is the first block I've stitched together.  Only 15 more to go!  Should you make this quilt I suggest you press all seams open, I did not.  There's a lot of bulky seams if you follow the pressing instructions in the pattern.  Quilting it is going to be the next big challenge.  But that's what this quilt was all about for me, getting out of my comfort zone.  The best way to handle bulky seams is to avoid quilting over them.  So I'm already playing around with a few quilting designs.  


The quilt is huge 87 x 87 but I'm considering adding to the border.  Below shows the border as written in the pattern.  I may add a thin strip of border followed by more more round of 4 patches....we'll see.


My design wall is completely full and I've still not laid out the top and left border.  Can you see the one lonely pieced block near the middle?  As the block and rows go together it'll make more room for the last two borders to be added to the design wall.   Standing back and looking at a quilt helps you to see the real quilt.  Taking a picture does an even better job.  The yellow in the white circle may need to be replace.  What do you think?  I can also see I've clustered light yellows and dark yellows together.  The picture also shows that even though my blues didn't work out as well as would have liked they still show a flow in the pattern.  Well I wanted a challenge, and I got it....geesh!


While I seem to be complaining a lot about this quilt.  The journey has been interesting.  Getting out of my comfort zone is always a learning experience.  That's what I want to do, GROW as a quilter.  Maybe I will do the next Bonnie mystery quilt at the end of this year just to see what I've learned from this one.  The year is still young and there's plenty of time for more learning before the next one is started.  

~ Lea Anne ~

For those of you that have been following me for a long time the next section of this post is for you.  It's an update on my Mom.  As you know I've spent the last several years helping and taking care of both my parents during their health issues.  Mainly Mom.  Mom's fight with cancer ended last Saturday January 7th.  She died at home, with me and dad.  There were several family members who also helped us along the way. I can't thank them enough for their help and support. I also want to thank each and everyone of you for your support and prayers.  Mom often told the doctors the reason she was able to fight the hard fight was due to all of my bloggers from around the world praying for her.
If you would like to read her obituary click the link below.

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52 comments:

  1. I'm sad for your Loss of your Mother. Nice you could be with her. Mine has been gone a long time, I miss her. Your En Provence is looking fine. Maybe swap a few blocks around to spread out the yellow more. Put the one that sticks out the most in the center.

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  2. Lea Anne, first of all, I am so sorry to hear about your mom's death. I know her battle was long and you were by her side the entire way. May Light Perpetual shine upon her and may you find peace. Secondly, I love your quilt. Your colors are so fresh and happy. I think I would change the one yellow fabric... it looks orange... but otherwise, it's gorgeous! I'm with you... not sure I'll participate in another mystery, but this was fun and a great learning experience.

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  3. Many warm and gentle hugs for you and your family at this time.

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  4. Lea, I'm sorry for your loss. I'm sure you have many happy memories of your mother! (I am in awe of her 46 years as a hair stylist.)....As for En Provence: making Bonnie's mysteries one step at a time makes the tedious process much easier. Your colorway is bright and cheerful!

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  5. Sending lots of hugs. I understand what you are feeling.

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  6. Thank you for sharing.It's tough to lose Mom. Mine died in 1990. Your quilting will help you through the grief journey.

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  7. I'm so sorry to hear about your mom. I know you will miss her.
    I like your quilt. Mystery quilts are stressful for me too! I guess I like more control of the outcome on my quilts. I've never tried a Bonnie mystery - too many pieces and at the wrong time of the year for me to participate. That said, I really like your quilt.

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  8. Losing your Mom is like losing a piece of yourself, but her memory with always be with you.

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  9. Sorry to hear about your Mom. It's so hard to lose your Mom, I lost mine ten years ago and so often wish we could sit and discuss life together again or go on one of her marathon shopping trips. I'm liking your quilt and like the yellow blocks. You're braver than me, I have yet to attempt a Bonnie mystery.

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  10. So sorry about your mother, hopefully good memories will help you through this difficult time.

    I did the BH mystery for the first time and like you I have enjoyed it, but I don't know that I want to do another one. I do like your colours and think you have a very happy quilt.

    Helen

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  11. I am so sorry for your loss, I can't imagine how hard it must be for you!

    I can't do mystery quilts because I need to see the finished quilt before I start also. Your quilt turned out great!

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  12. Even as parents age and even when we know they are very ill, death is still difficult to handle. Emotions range all over the place. Those you love and those that loved your mom will help you though this time. Blessings.

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  13. Sending special prayers to you and your family! I would never or could never do a mystery quilt! I would go stark raving mad!!! I have to know what I'm in for before I start something!

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  14. *hugs* I'm so sorry about your mom.

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  15. My sympathy on the loss of your Mom. She was lucky to have you and your blogger friends and your family.
    Your take on Bonnie's colors worked out well, I think. I am not bothered by the yellows but obviously if it bugs you now, it always will :) I've also not done one of her mysteries because of the bazillion tiny pieces. Someday I might attempt it by making 1/2 the blocks, as I've seen others do.

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  16. So sorry to hear about the loss of your Mom. Prayers for you and your family as you grieve the loss.

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  17. I am very sorry to read about your Mom, Lea Anne. I am glad that the thought of all your blogging friends brought her comfort! Best wishes to you and all your family.

    En Provence, though, looks excellent just the way it is. I wouldn't change anything. The thing with all of Bonnie's quilts is to stand well back and let the overall pattern carry it. Bonnie quilts everything with a panto, so I am interested to see how you decide to handle it!

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  18. Sympathies to you with the loss of your mother. I actually like your quilt very much, perhaps the most of all I've seen who did not follow the given colors. I would not change the yellows either.

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  19. So sorry to hear of your loss. Prayers to you and your family.

    So happy to see your quilt, live your color selection.

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  20. Sorry to hear about the loss of your mom. May she be in peace. I think your mystery quilt is great - love the different colors, and I don't think you need to change out the yellow squares - they don't stand out in the picture at all. I did Easy Street a few years ago and haven't done another of Bonnie's mystery quilts since then - good experience, but I am good to try other things now 😀

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  21. I'm really sorry about your mom's passing. Sending you a big, big hug...

    I would not change the yellows, I like the colors you chose. Maybe darker greens would make more visible the stars in the center of the block, but I think it's beautiful as it is.

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  22. Heart felt prayers are headed your way. I have not read your blog for some time so I did not know. I can't imagine losing my mother.

    I did Bonnie Hunter's mystery last year and was not happy with it. I ended up rearranging the block units to a look I liked and finished the quilt, but was skeptical about doing another mystery with her this year. I honestly LOVE your quilt! As I have seen this winter's mystery pop up all over blogland I am encouraged to perhaps try her mystery next year. Your reds totally made it.

    I wouldn't change a thing.

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  23. So sorry to hear of the loss of your beloved mother. I know how hard it to loose your mother. Quilting and friends helped me through the tough times. Your mystery quilt is pretty and I like the fact that it does not look like all the similar ones that we see all over blogland. You made it your own and your colors are bright and fresh. I probably wouldn't change anything, but I do understand if that one is a bit too orange instead of yellow. Stand back and look at it across the room. If it still stands out, then change just that one.

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  24. so sorry Lea to read about your Mum she was so yung to be taken, I have kept ypu and Mum i my prayers and I know we bloggers kept her going longer than the Drs thought possible. What a lovely obituary too and married for so many years.

    En Provence looksin good, not even picked my fabric yet thanks for the info re pressing seams will remember that tip

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  25. I'm so sorry about your Momma. She fought a good fight. You and your dad will be in my prayers.

    I struggle to choose fabrics for mysteries. I did Bonnie's mystery in 2014 then passed until this one. I still have last years pattern but could not find a colorway that pleased me. I am making a small change or two to the En Provence block because of the fabrics I chose. I also want mine bigger to fit a queen or king sized bed so I am adding a purple and lavender twisted ribbon border, then more neutral 4 patches or just neutral strips. In a perfect world it will finish about 105 inches square. We will see :)

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  26. Sorry about the loss of your dear mother.

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  27. Healing hugs to you...so glad you were able to spend so much time with your Mama.
    Your quilt is fun! I wait for the reveal before starting a MQ when possible! I love Bonnie's designs, but total scrappy is way outta my comfort zone. I am doing En Provence in scrappy Christmas and I love it! I am also making only 6 of the 16 blocks! Planning on a double border of neutral 4patches so the stars float. Will be watching for quilting ideas!
    Take good care of yourself. Xo

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  28. So sorry to hear about your Mom's passisng. You were able to spend time with her and took such good care of her. May she rest in peace!
    Your quilt is beautiful.

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  29. My experience with mystery quilts-I like being able to place my fabric where I want them, so I don't like them much.
    Hugs to you and peace to your mom, so sweet she thought of your blog buddies helping her, glad to have been part of that.

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  30. My condolences to your family on the loss of your mother. Bless you for your care of her and your dad.

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  31. Lea Anne I am so sorry for your loss. Over these last few years your strength has always shown through your blog posts and has been inspiring. Sending hugs to you and your family.

    Fabric selection is the only reason I don't do mystery quilts. The one and only one I ever tried is still sitting in the project box, unfinished. Your scrappy version is very pretty and will look fabulous once it's quilted. I think you did a great job choosing your fabrics!

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  32. Your quilt looks wonderful, scrappy is fun! Sending sincere condolences on the loss of your mom, I know how devastating that is. Sending virtual hugs.

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  33. I am deeply sorry to hear about the loss of your sweet mom. It's hard to lose a parent. My thoughts are with you....

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  34. May God bless you and your family in your memories of your mother.

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  35. My deepest condolences on the passing of your mother. I will be praying for peace and comfort for you and your family. Keep the memories of happier times alive in your heart.

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  36. So sorry to hear of the passing of your Mom. How blessed was she to have had you look after her and your Dad. Sending prayers to you and your family.

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  37. visiting from Oh Scrap. I agree with you about mystery quilts. I find that my fabric choices dont work the way I would like the quilt to look. Yours is looking awesome though. My condolences.

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  38. So sorry for your loss. Cancer sucks!
    I'm with you on mysteries. I like to know how something is going to look before I make it.

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  39. Your mother is at peace now, my sympathies with you and your family.

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  40. Sending hugs and sympathy for you~

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  41. I am so sorry for your loss! I will keep you and your Dad in my prayers; I know that this is a difficult time for both of you!

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  42. Thank you for sharing. I'm sorry you have lost your loved Mother and send healing thoughts your way.
    Neame

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  43. You made her proud and held her close - what more could a mother ask for. She's now at peace. Remember the good times and your love xxx Brenda UK xxx

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  44. So sorry to hear about your mom! It's such a gift and a blessing to be able to provide home care, especially at the end of life. I'm sure your mother appreciated your work and sacrifices. You gave her peace and dignity and the chance to be in familiar/comfortable surroundings. Bless you!
    Andrea in St. Louis

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  45. I'm so sorry your mom has passed. You were a great comfort to her when she needed you most.

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  46. Lea Anne, so sorry to hear about your Mom. I know it was tough for you and for her for quite a while. Prayers for comfort for you and your family.

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  47. Sorry to hear of your mom's passing - I do hope her last years were enjoyable.
    As for the quilt, I vote to leave the yellow you have singled out. Adds character!
    Thanks for sharing it on Midweek Makers

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  48. So sorry to hear about your mother's passing. Hoping that you were able to make some good memories the last few months.

    Your En Provence looks great. Mystery quilts can be fun, I only do them if I have a good idea of how the fabrics are going to work together.

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  49. Very sorry to hear about your mum, but nice that you and your dad were there at the end, and also great to hear she felt so much love from the blogging community!
    Your quilt is beautiful, I wouldn't change anything, the yellows look fine to me.

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  50. I'm so sorry about the loss of your mother. It's heart-wrenching, Your quilt is lovely and I wouldn't change out the golden yellow. It adds a spark. If you don't mind a tip, when changing colors in Bonnie's quilts, pay close attention to the value she's chosen. In other words, her greens were dark. If you replace them, choose a similar value. I hope you'll try another of her mysteries. They're the best!

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  51. I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your mother, Lea Anne. I lost my mom almost 40 years ago, 3 days before her 52nd birthday. Your mother was lucky to have such a loving daughter and you were lucky to have such a wonderful mom. My heart goes out to you and your family.

    I'm also doing Bonnie's mystery quilt, the second one I've done. I love the scrappy look to it, but I adore your fabrics! I wish I had taken your advice to press the seams open. Your quilt is going to be gorgeous.

    Take care.
    Leslie

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