Sunday, November 30, 2014

"OPA!" Grand Illusion Clue #1.............

"I have handled more "broken dishes" than the clean up crew for a Greek wedding!"  Kevin the Quilter


The quilt block kind!
100 "Broken Dishes" units.


Alas dear friends.........Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville Mystery, FINALLY arrived on Black Friday!


"GRAND ILLUSION"
Linking up with Bonnie's "MYSTERY MONDAY LINK UP!"

Truth be told, I stared at the countdown clock on my blog for countless hours awaiting the first clue's arrival.  I was almost able to complete my version of Bonnie's "Blue Ridge Beauty."  But, had trouble with one of the borders, so that will be fixed this week with photos to follow.  With the protests in the metro St. Louis area, staying in on Black Friday was a no brainer.  After a wonderful Thanksgiving with family, I drove back home on Thanksgiving night.

We had a really great Thanksgiving meal together and a really nice visit.
I hope you all did the same with your family and friends!



I was able to get this week's clue finished and am VERY excited to see where Bonnie takes us next! It took me a little longer for clue #1 this year, and I think that is because I am challenging myself to only use the same scrap fabrics 10 times or less for each color in each unit in this scrappy quilt with the exceptions of gold (constant) and navy(simply because I am more limited with this color).  I have to say, I am REALLY enjoying my color scheme.  Perhaps more so than in previous years?  Maybe it is the placement and possibilities in this first clue????? I don't know what it is.........it is THE SAME color scheme I have used for:



"Easy Street"

and

  
"Celtic Solstice"

For those of you who may not know, I choose a patriotic color scheme for Bonnie's mystery quilts, and donate them to Quilts of Valor.  My colors are:

Yellow for Yellow
Neutral for Neutral
Navy for Black
Red for Pink
Blue for Turquoise
Silver for Green

Shall we take a look at Clue #1 in photos?









Hmmmmmmm....... I really love this last layout!  That could be the basis for a whole other quilt for me to make!  I really love working on Bonnie's mystery every year.  It affords me the opportunity to meet quilters from around the globe that share the same passion I have.  I love seeing everyone's work as well.  Cutting all of the strips and squares for this clue on my new AccuQuilt Studio sure did help the process!

Oh, and.............I have the 80 additional half square triangle units completed as well!


760 PIECES THUS FAR!!!!!



Thanks for all of the encouragement!
Press on Quiltvillians!
Kevin the Quilter

31 comments:

  1. Great job Kevin! You are amazing my friend :) I'm still deciding whether I can even start the Mystery right now LOL!!! There will be a very happy veteran out there when this quilt is done! Great looking family- so glad you were able to spend quality time together :)

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  2. Well, crap. Now I feel like a slacker. Great job with your color scheme. I have 2/3 of the HSTs done and 2 of the broken dishes blocks. I am intentionally working slow to improve my accuracy. It was less than stellar last time. I made just two of the broken dishes blocks specifically to double check my accuracy. I am envious of your die cutter, too.

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  3. I'm trying to alter the color scheme, but not happy so far. Just got back from Arkansas; doubt I'll get anything done before tomorrow. Glad you had a great time with family. We did too! (mine, not yours)

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  4. Kevin, I love your family pictures. My family used to do that each holiday growing up but we don't seem to do it anymore. As for the mystery quilt, lets just say that puppy tending is more time consuming than I remember from last time. Of course the last time was 13 years ago! AND....on Friday puppy #2 comes home!?!?!

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  5. Great family photo. Super start to the new mystery! If a color theme works well, stay with it. I will sit this one out and watch others - I have my OMG quilt to please my small piecing itch.

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  6. You're too funny. I hope you didn't step on any of those broken dishes with bare feet. Congratulations on completing clue #1 and Happy Thanksgiving. I will start working on Clue #1 Tuesday evening or Wednesday after I recover from our little tequila celebration after after after our capstone presentation Tuesday. In less than 48 hours I WILL BE DONE with my school work!!

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  7. Glad you were able to spend time with the family before you got started on Grand Illusion. I have cut mine out with my dies, but am waiting for 12 of my friends to come over tomorrow so we can all work on it together. Love your color combo!!

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  8. Your quilt will be amazing!! I save the steps for Bonnie's mysteries...but I can't relinquish control enough to just dive into one!! I'll be watching your progress!! You are lucky to have the AccuQuilt Studio!!! It would make this much easier! Glad you had such a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family!

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  9. Over achiever!! just kidding - you so rock at these mysteries!! And they turn out so great in the colors you choose!!! Go you!

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  10. Wow, you work really fast! Your color choices worked out really well. It will be fun to see where Bonnie takes us this year.

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  11. Wow Kevin - LOVE that you convert the colors to 'patriotic' for a Quilt of Valor, now that just Rocks! And having to stay in and sew on Black Friday certainly paid off...Awesome! Family photo...Priceless.

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  12. I really like you color choices. I may have to copy this when I finally get around to making this quilt. I've chosen to not do the mystery right now as I'm trying to finish some of my other BH ufo's. Besides, I'm about to take delivery of a new Innova Long Arm so my studio needs a little bit of cleaning and I need to disassemble the HQ16 and find a new home for it.

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  13. Kevin, I love the fact that you make this a QoV. and the colour choices I see run consistently from one to the next. You have set a great pace and example. Best of quilting to you my friend.

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  14. Oh, gosh, 760 pieces? will be relying on you to keep track of how many pieces there are in this one!

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  15. I love that you are counting the pieces! Your color choices are once again amazing and what a wonderful quilt to donate.

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  16. Glad someone is keeping a count for me, lol! LOVE that you donate to QOV. Someone is going to hit the jackpot with this one--seriously a labor of love! Love your colors...I varied from the Packer theme this year, but maybe I have time to start another? HAHAHAHAAH!

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  17. Thanks for stopping by my blog, this is going to be fun. Love your color choices and they look great. I have more to sew but being retired I am darn busy, even though I want to sew. That care and happy holidays.

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  18. Thank you so much, from a retired military wife, for all the quilts you donate. You're off to a great start on what I know will be another beauty.

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  19. I am simply shocked by your color choices..naw, I am just kidding! I am so proud of the work you are doing and all that you have done before is just stunning. I have come to expect that from you though, just when I think you can't top previous work, you outshine again and again, way to go!!!!

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  20. Your post simply makes me smile.
    OPA!....

    Lovin your RWB scheme once again; it IS fun watching your own personal color/fabric choices come together on a Bonnie quilt :D

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  21. Boy, you got busy and got 'er done! It'll be fun to see how yours comes together in your color scheme. I'm glad no fingers were harmed in handling all those broken dishes!

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  22. What a grand idea Kevin, those Wounded Warriors are fortunate people. I too donate to WW, in fact I have 3 from other quilters awaiting the longarm then they will be off to some heroes.
    They turn out great in patriotic colors.
    BTW, is the gal in the back row of Thanksgiving pic an "Outlander" fan?? I have a shirt that says "Stay calm and dinna fash sassenach"

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  23. Awesome! I didn't realize you were doing Bonnie's quilts in the patriotic colors too. It's going to be gorgeous.

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  24. Beautiful Family Kevin...Have fun sewing the Mystery Dear...keep on..

    Debra in Ma.

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  25. I still think it's amazing that you donate these. :) The Bonnie quilts come out so nice in the patriotic colors. I'm sure life in St. Louis gets "interesting" these days. Heather's former roommate took work there in the city after graduation and lives on the edge of Ferguson. Plenty of stories from her. Stay safe!

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  26. You are off to a Grand start! Love the colors!

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  27. How long did it take to cut out the pieces with the accuquilt? I rotary cut mine, and I'm not a super fast cutter, so it took about 2 hours for half the pieces.

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  28. You're off to a fabulous start Kevin! I expect you will be one of the first to complete their mystery quilt.

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  29. Your Easy Street and Solstice are amazing... I'm sure this one will be too!

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  30. I missed your blog the first link up, gorgeous colors for grand illusion. Love your easy street and Celtic Solstice, your colors are so vibrant and alive!

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