New FREE BOM And FREE Mystery Quilt

 Happy Halloween Quilty Friends!  Today post will be as short and and sweet as candy corn, one of my favorite seasonal treats.  If you've never had candy corn and cashews together, you need to give it a try.  It was my momma's favorite fall treat.  I was leery about the combination at first but it's wickedly addictive!

Now onto some sweet treats with no calories.  Free quilt patterns!  The first one is Bona Lisa's Sweater Emporium.

You can get all the details for this quilt FREE BOM at the following blogs.  Be sure to visit each blog so you can see their take on this quilt.

MooseStash Quilting

Just Let Me Quilt

Creating in the Sticks

Here's a little snippet of my favorite of the three.

Now onto the FREE 

Quiltville Scrappy Mystery Quilt

This is a huge yearly event in the Quiltville Open Studio on Facebook.  Thousands of quilters are up early today waiting anxiously for the launch this years quilt.  

You don't need to be a member of the group to participate in the Mystery Quilt.

Every year on Halloween, sometime around 8 or 9 A.M. Bonnie will post on her blog the basic plan for the mystery quilt.  You know...color pallet, fabric yardage and any tools you may need.  

On Black Friday the first clue will be released on her blog.  This gives you a month to find the perfect fabrics for your quilt.

The Facebook group goes wild!  So many pictures of quilts being made.  I don't always participate but I always watch the Facebook groups progress.

Today and for the next month the group will be full of quilters posting pictures of their fabric pulls.  I really do enjoy the all the excitement around this mystery quilt.

Well that's the basics on this mystery quilt.  If you want to check it out for yourself here's a link to Bonnie's Blog  Hop over, sign up for her newsletter or emails so you never miss a mystery clue.  Don't worry Bonnie doesn't send out a lot of  emails or newsletters.  Maybe one or two a month.

UPDATE

You can find the mystery introduction here

https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2023/10/indigo-way-mystery-introduction.html

Until next time...

I hope you find time to stitch up something sweet!

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~ Happy Christmas Sew Along by Primrose Cottage ~

I just had to pop in and share a quick quilt along that is starting tomorrow.   Nettie and Lindsey over at Primrose Cottage Quilts always make the cutest quilts.  This is a fast paced quilt along, just how I like them.  Hop over to their blog, sign up for the emails so you don't miss the mystery quilt clues as the come out over the next few days.  Click here or the image below.

To be honest I was pulling fabric or another quilt when the email reminder for this quilt along came in to my mailbox.  Since I pulled WAAAY too much fabric for the other project I'll just use the same fabrics for both quilts.  I may need to pull a few darker greens as it progresses.

Hope to see ya'll joining in the fun!  #HappyChristmasSewAlong

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~ Good Fortune, Clue 6 ~

Hello Quilting Friends!  Can you believe it's been almost a week since I last stepped foot in the Studio?  So now it's time to play catch up with my Good Fortune Clues 5 and 6.  Thank goodness Clue 6 is fairly small.   I should be able to make all of the units without cutting into my yardage.

Some of the creamy scraps are about 20 years old while others are a little more recent.  But they all play nicely together.  The cherry fabric on the left side of the picture below is one of favorite prints.  You all know me and my love of cherries! 

The instructions for this clue called for stitching the strips onto paper.   I really can't find one good reason to do that.  If this were a complex paper piecing design or if we needed the strips to line up in a certain order to make design I could see using paper.  But this is simple straight string piecing, nothing needs to line up.  So I'm living life on the wild side without paper.  To be honest I very much dislike removing the papers.  That's why I almost never do paper piecing.  And when I do on a rare occasion use that method of piecing I do it paperless.  Have you ever seen paperless paper piecing?  If not, you really must give it a try.  Here's a tutorial, click here.  

This improv style of sewing is so fast.  Within minutes I had several scrappy units.

Not bad for about an hours worth of work.  I should be able to finish these up in no time at all.  And the best part is there's no paper to remove!  Yeah!  

So how many of you are with me living life on the wild side and sewing paperless?

This post is being linked with 

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2018/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-6.html

#quiltvillemystery #goodfortunequilt #podunkpretties #stringquilt 

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~ My Goodness Clue 5! ~

 Well we are moving along at lightening speed!  The Good Fortune Mystery by Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville is one of the best quilt along's of the year.  I like it because it moves fast.  No messing around for a year like most BOM's, mystery or quilt along's.  So this week I may get a tad behind due to the holiday festivities.  No worries there's plenty of time next week to catch up.  I'll be making most of my units using a technique not mentioned by Bonnie.  This weeks clue/unit has several different names.  Bonnie calls it Triangles in a square, which I've never heard it called.  Then there's the more common names

Split Quarter Square

Shaded Quarter Square

Shaded Double Triangles

Shaded Half Square Triangles 

and

Three patch Triangles

Whatever you call them they are a fun little units to make. As long as you( I ) remember to reset your sewing machine to the proper seam allowance.  I'm so glad I made a test block before cutting and sewing all of them.  This first little batch had to be trimmed down.  UGGG...Luckily I still have my homemade square up ruler from the En Provence Quiltville mystery.  It had all the right markings.

If you are interested in  making your own plexi/acrylic rulers you can read more about making them here and here.. 

The method I used also can be made using the no marking method I've been talking about lately.  The reason why I've been talking about it so much is because I'm making two Bonnie Mystery quilts at once.  Lots of flying geese, half square triangles and triangles and TRIANGLES!  Bonnie has a preferred technique of making units from strips.  Since my scraps are not always cut into strips I can use different techniques to get to the same result, and I don't need to cut so many pieces.  My 4 units started out as 4 squares.  And then the magic happened!  You want some magic too, don't you?  Okay, I did a little leg work for you because I love ya'll so much.   Here's the best tutorial I could find for making the Split Quarter Square Triangles and you will need to do some math.  But ya'll are smart, you have calculators that can add!  Ain't no shame, there's a calculator on my desk all the time.  It's part of the golden rule of quilting "measure twice, cut once".  In order to measure I need the right size, so math it is!

I found this quicky technique in the book Quick Quilt Tricks by Billie Lauder.  I've had these books for years and they come in handy when designing quilts.  For those of you who would like Billie books of your own, they are hard to find but I found a couple of the books I have at Soft Expressions.   Billie also has a few Youtube videos that are worth watching.  But she has been MIA for a long time.  That happens with actors, rock stars and yes quilters.  They run their course in about 10 yrs and then they'll pop up when you least expect it for one last YeeHaw!  

The shaded double triangles are right there on the front cover.  Inside the book is the quilty math for making several different units along with cutting charts for several different sizes of each unit.

Billie and many other quilters of that era rarely get the credit they deserve for doing the math and finding new and creative ways to make our hobby a little less painful.  In the 1990's quilting was on it's way back after a long lull.  Women like Billie Lauder, Eleanor Burns, Pam Bono, and lets not forget Georgia Bonesteel were  are just a few of the pioneers in the modern quilting movement you see today.  And I would almost bet money(if I wasn't so broke from Christmas) that most of you have a book or two from one of these amazing quilters hiding in your quilt library.

This post is being added to a linky party!  Who doesn't love a party? So hop on over and have some fun!  Click below.

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2018/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-5.html

#goodfortunequilt #quiltvillemystery #bonniehunter #mysteryquilt #billielauderquiltbooks #quiltingtricks #quiltingtips #podunkpretties #splitquartersquaretriangles

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~ A Gaggle of Geese ~

There's not been much time for sewing in the past few days but I've managed to get a few flying geese completed for my On Podunk Pond quilt.  I'm using the 4 at a time no waste flying geese method to make these as quickly as possible.  This method requires drawing a line on all the background fabrics and stitching 1/4" away from both sides of the line.  Sounds like a lot of unnecessary work.  So instead of drawing lines I'm using the same no mark method that I used when making my chevrons and HST's.  

To use this method you will need one of the following or something similar.  Or you could make your own like the one I made here.  You will also need to know what size squares to cut for the flying geese.  Click here for a printable chart for the No waste 4 at a time flying geese.  These geese will not need to be trimmed when finished.  In my opinion it's a lot easier to stitch a little slower for better accuracy than it is to trim down the units after they are finished.  But if you prefer trimming down click here for a chart with larger measurements.  

I've set up my machine with a quarter inch foot and adjusted my needle to make a scant 1/4" seam.  This is the best set up for my fabric and thread.  I suggest you make one set of 4 flying geese to make sure your geese are finishing at the correct size.   Then make adjustments to your sewing machine if needed.  You may notice I've used no pins.  If you are more comfortable with pins, use them.  

The first stitch line is complete and I've flipped my unit around and lined up the edge of the presser foot with the corner.  Stitching another line 1/4" from the center of the unit.

Your unit should look like this. Wasn't that easy?!

Now cut in between the two stitched lines.  Trim off the little dog ears.

Press as suggested in your pattern.  Add a square to each new heart shaped unit. 

Line up the edge of foot with the corner as we did earlier.  Be careful, remember after making that first stitch or two we need to keep our eyes on the line and the tip of the square.

Flip it around, line up the edge of the foot with the corner and you guessed it.....Stitch that second line.

Cut in between the stitched lines, press and trim the dog ears.

 That's it, super easy and quick!  Now it's time to chain piece for the quickest way to fly through these units before Christmas.  Happy Stitching!

#onpodunkpondquilt #onringolakequilt #quiltvillemysteryquilt #flyinggeesequilt #quiltingtricks #podunkpretties

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~ Road Trips ~

So there I was in my jammies drinking my morning coffee waiting confidently for Clue 4 of the Good Fortune Mystery by Bonnie Hunter.  I was ready.  Fabrics pressed, rotary cutter sharp, sewing machine threaded, extra bobbins wound and the iron hot and ready.  This will be an epic sewing day.  Sewing all day to complete this weeks clue in record time.  And then it happened, the moment we've all been waiting for....THE CLUE IS POSTED!!  Whoohoo!  Scroll past the opening statements of the blog post to see what fun is in store for me today.  BAM!  I was rear-ended.  My plans spun out of control and came to a screeching halt as I sat there looking at orange string pieced block units.  UGGG! It's not the color that bothers me(well it is, that's why I changed it to gold).  The strings blocks I was expecting but in background fabrics.  My bundle of golds is not going to work for strings. String piecing requires LOTS of different prints to look right.  I could go the cop out route by not doing the strings and using one piece of fabric for the units.  By doing that I would lose the visual interest and movement the strings give a quilt.  So what's a gal to do but go shopping.  I know what your thinking, YIPEE!  a fabric shopping trip.  No, that's not what I was thinking.  My thoughts are it's too close to Christmas to be anywhere near a store after 10 AM.  Why 10 AM?  Because every procrastinating soccer mom that has been to busy car pooling and baking cookies to do any shopping is going to be out there.   And it's Friday.  The worst shopping day of the week to shop after 10 AM anytime of the year.   But if I brush my hair, throw on some cloths I might be able to get in and out of town before the crazy shoppers.  I was on the road by 8:45.  Joann's was empty, when I arrived.  By the time I checked out the wide eyed, coupon holding procrastinators were stumbling about.

Joann's didn't have much.  I purchased 3 gold prints and 2 really cute 2 yd cuts of red to add to my cute stash.   Total bill $12.45.   BARGIN!  It's now 10:15 AM, the parking lot is full.  3 Gold fabrics is still not enough to pull off the strings for clue 4.

Traffic was getting horrible but I managed to make it Hobby Lobby without being cut off by the frantic soccer moms all hyped up on Starbucks coffee and leftover cookies.  As I walk the parking lot I go over the plan in my mind...Go in the store, don't look around, keep your head down, turn right and head straight to the fabric, get what you need, keep your eyes low, and check out.   Taking a deep breath as the doors opened,  the pungent smell of cinnamon drench pine cones set my nose on fire and my nose begins to drip like a leaky faucet.  My mistake....bringing my head up to sniffle....   Inside the store was all a buzz with shoppers, babies crying and a few dads wondering around trying to find their wives.  The hustle and bustle faded into the background as a warm glow came over the store.  I quickly snapped back into a woman on a mission mode.  Head down, don't look, briskly dodging in and out of shoppers until I made it to the fabric department.  And much to my surprise not one gold fabric.  What a waste of time. Not one fabric tempts me.  As I turn to leave, stepping out into the isle I raise my eyes.  I"m not sure how much time had passed  but the next thing I remember is holding a beautiful shabby chic shelf.   The price of this temptress brought me out of my Hobby Lobby drunken stupor.   $129!!!!  I gotta get out of here!  And just like that I was out of there.  Never looking back....shew that was a close one.

Well as much as I hated to do it, to the quilt shop I must go.  It's noon, the traffic is horrible, and I'm hungry.  I put a new plan in place.  Go straight to the quilt shop get what I need and get out quick.  I've about an hour before my blood sugar will bottom out.  I'm hypoglycemic which means when I get hungry I have to eat or I can pass out.  Normally I get super grouchy before that happens.  Don't worry, I've candy in my purse, soda and peanuts in the car at all times.  The plan works I'm in and out in 30 minutes, get a burger in the drive through and I'm home playing with my fabric by 2 PM.  What a morning.  The day continued just as it started, being side tracked at every turn.  So around 10 PM I had only made half of the required string units.  

All in all it was a good day.  It didn't go off as planned but it didn't turn into a disaster.  That in my book is a good day.  I'm grateful I found what was needed to bring this clue to it's full potential.  Today I'll finish the golden string units...well as Granny used to say...Good Lord willin'.  

Who knows what this day will bring, but I'm ready!

Linking up at the following

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2018/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-4.html

#goodfortunequilt #quiltvillemystery #bonniehunter #podunkpretties #scrapquilt #scrappymakesmehappy 

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~ In the Studio all Weekend ~

Happy Monday Quilty Friends!   This weekend started out as a no quilting weekend.  We planned to install the new floor in my office.  As you can see that didn't happen.  Instead I spent the entire weekend happily playing in the Studio.  With my weekend wide open I was able to finish Clue 3 of the Good Fortune Mystery by Bonnie Hunter that was released on Friday.

I was surprised how quick these were to make. Not drawing all those lines really helped cut down on the time.  It's a little different than any of Bonnie's suggestions.  If you missed my post about how I made clue 3 you can see it by CLICKING HERE.

I did a few test blocks and adjusted my stitch path just ever so slightly to get the almost perfect Chevron units.  A few of them were not this pretty but for the most part they all turned out great.  The ones that were not so great were my fault.  You know how it is....you get comfortable and put the peddle to the metal!  And then before you know it your all over the place!  So I would slow down but then the wild side would tap me on the shoulder saying...FASTER! FASTER!  I should never listen inner child Lea Anne.

I'm also glad I starched all my fabrics.  Finger pressing as I went also cut down the time spent working on these.  Not having to press after each step is wonderful.

As I was cleaning up and putting my Chevrons in their box, I couldn't help but think about the design of the mystery quilt.  How would these be used?  Yes they could be used alone but in my matchy matchy mind I see another group of chevrons angled in the other direction.  It's possible, she has done it before with flying geese.  Having us make them in two different clues.  

Well it'll be fun to see what this weeks clue will be.  Oh who am I kidding!  This is hard for me!  I'm not good at waiting for surprises.  I'm that kid that carefully opens and re-wraps Christmas presents, or jumps to the end of the book to read he last 10 pages.  I just want to scream ...SHOW ME THE QUILT!   It 's the inner child screaming, I'm pretty sure it's the same one that tells me to sew faster,  and to refresh Bonnie blog page every minute on Friday mornings.  She's a spoiled brat sometimes.  But we'll keep her around because she is really great at picking out colors for most of my quilts.  She wasn't allowed to pull fabrics for this quilt but the one I'm going to show you tomorrow is all her! 

This post is being link to the following

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2018/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-3.html

#goodfortunequilt #goodfortunemysteryquilt #quiltvillemystery #bonniehunter #podunkpretties #freemysteryquilt 

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