Orca Bay - Ready for Quilting

My version of Orca Bay, Bonnie Hunter's 2011 Mystery Quilt is ready to be loaded on the quilting machine.  The teal blues and oranges/reds are brightly nestling the Ohio Stars  -- I love the black and white pieced border the best, which ties it all together.  With all of the talk about the upcoming 2012 Mystery hosted by Bonnie , I just had to get my rear in gear and "get-r done".
 

I am putting the back together, which is beautiful fabric of teals and reds.  I will need a close quilting design to hold the pieces together .... so ..... with the busy front, I just might practice a few new quilting designs (especially since they really won't show that much).  I have a notebook full of doodles that I can't wait to test.

ORCA Bay -- Units Done

Another holiday with Bonnie Hunter has come and gone. Orca Bay is coming to an end and I know that I will be happy with the finished quilt. I used aqua blues, orange reds and black/whites -- for the border units, used the same white print fabric -- there was no room on the wall to show the border units. As soon as the rows are labeled, everything comes down and will be stacked for sewing later. Whew!

Monday Design Wall - Orca Bay Progress

I am running late for the Monday Design Wall link with Judy at Patchwork Times and the Orca Bay link with Bonnie at Quiltville -- but not too late. I have several pieces done, but need to sew more components before putting them on the wall. I used aqua blues and orange/reds. Most of this has been done as leaders/enders to other projects ...... and in between quilting tops. I am very partial to scrappy and my favorite color is red - so naturally, I love this one.

For those following me on the "Dance of the Tiger", I will post the instructions to the triangle setting blocks and the four corners tomorrow. Tiger is no longer on the design wall and is ready for assembly later in the month. I have the inner borders all picked out -- a Tiger print of course, and a beautiful purple.

Monday Design Wall and ORCA Blocks

Oh how I wish for just one more week off. I am almost finished quilting a top and need a little time for binding. I am almost finished Step 5 of Bonnie's Orca Bay Mystery and have a good start on Step 6 -- a couple more days off would catch me up completely. But alas -- not gonna happen.

Not to mention, progress on my "Dance with the Tiger" below is coming along. The setting blocks are ALMOST done (a little peek of the 25-patch blocks below) ... I will share Step 2, Block 2 tomorrow for those who are interested. Step 1, Block 1 instructions are here. After all the blocks are done, I will label the rows and remove from the wall for assembly and quilting later-- this quilt is not due until the end of February.

Not to waste my last day off, I have left-overs for lunch and supper. No shopping, no housework, just sewing -- well maybe a little housework -- and a little blog surfing to see what others are up to.

Now to link up with Judy at Patchwork Times along with other Monday Design Walls, and Bonnie for the Orca Bay Mystery Quilt progress.

Monday Design Wall and ORCA Update

My Design Wall will soon be full of a new project. Above are 12 - 4 1/2" purple squares, which will be the center of the blocks. I designed this block a while back and no longer have the project - so it is time to make another and share.

I am also busy quilting a top on my Janome and turning to the left every so often and piecing on my little Singer. It is so much fun! I am on vacation until after Christmas, so it is SEW-SEW-SEW!
And -- here is the progress on the ORCA Bay Mystery Quilt hosted by Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville. Steps, 1, 2, 3 and 4 are done! Step 5 is half way done and almost ready for Step 6 this Friday.

Monday is a double linky -- visit Judy at Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday and Bonnie at Quiltville for the ORCA Progress.

Monday Design Wall - Orca Progress

It's Christmas, and some of my design wall will have to wait until after the Holidays, but I am taking pictures for later. As for my progress on the ORCA Mystery, Parts I, II, III and almost IV are done. I have used blues in the aqua family and my reds are orange-reds. AND, in keeping with Bonnie Hunter's methods, I have used more of my white "2000 fabric". Using the ORCA Mystery as my "leaders and enders" for my special projects has helped me stay focused with the finish line in site for holiday gifts.

Have you picked your Christmas Present Yet???? I have, and it is ordered. The new Judy Laquidara Quilt Book, "60-Pieced Quilt Borders" will be coming out very soon and I have pre-ordered mine.

For more Design Walls, visit Judy at Patchwork Times and for progress on the ORCA Mystery visit Bonnie at Quiltville.

Blk/White, Orca, Quilting

The above quilt has a very sentimental story .... made with the clothing of a loved one lost. A co-worker Barbara wanted to make quilts for her family from her mom's clothing, A TOTAL OF NINE! Barbara had never quilted - in fact - she did not own a sewing machine. With pure determination and the need to heal broken hearts, she bought a sewing machine, made all of the tops and the backings.

As of this weekend, she had already finished quilting the first top using her new walking foot. To help her, I offered to quilt the one she made for herself -- what an honor. After the holidays and after she has gifted each to her family, I will share more of this heart-warming story.

A few years ago, I designed this 18" sample block which was never used after I "tweaked" the final block. While looking for black and white scraps for the ORCA Mystery, I found it -- JUST IN TIME. I finished it as a little topper and will reveal later this week as part of the November Monochromatic Challenge at Patchwork Times. I had totally forgot about the final block and the lovely quilt it made -- one of which I will just have to re-make and share in 2012.

The above progress represents Steps 1 and 2 in the ORCA Mystery Challenge hosted by Bonnie Hunter. I have cut out step #3 and finished around 50. I truly believe a mystery quilt is one of my favorite projects -- I actually have a hard time sleeping on Thursday night waiting for the next clue. With everything going on -- how in the world could I fit this in -- what's a couple hours less sleep.

For more design walls, be sure to visit Judy at Patchwork Times and for progress on the ORCA Mystery quilts, visit Bonnie at Quiltville.

Monday Design Wall - Quilting Tops and Orca Bay

My Design Wall has 2 projects I can't share, but here is the first step for the 2011 Bonnie Hunter Mystery, Orca. As soon as I have 10 done, they are safety pinned. I now have 200 done and will start piecing again after I finish quilting the table topper below. My mystery is also my "Leader/Ender" for my Christmas Projects.

I return to work today after a week off -- a little disappointed that I did not finish the Table Topper. My plan now is to finish by tomorrow night and hand sew the binding Wednesday.

And .... because I have started the 2011 Mystery, I HAVE TO QUILT and finish 2010 RRCB. I have ironed out the creases (after it was folded for months) and have it ready for sandwiching. I have more vacation around the holidays and will finish this for my bed.

On the wall -- two projects I will reveal after the holidays -- my family watches my blog!

For more Design Walls, visit Judy at Patchwork Times.