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For this block, I thought I would share the process that I use when I piece blocks like these.  After cutting all of my units on my Accuquilt cutter, I laid them out on a flannel board to verify placement.  You can make your own with a piece of cardboard foam board.  I simply wrapped it with white flannel and taped it to the back. I’ve used this for a number of years and it really helps to keep your block pieces in order, especially if you need to move them around at all.

What a fun, busy week I’ve had….kids home from college, last minute shoppers at the store and the early arrival of my parents had me scratching my head and wondering if I could sneak off for some sewing.  Most people could probably just get up early ahead of their family but most people don’t have early rising parents like mine ( I inherited the trait).  Fortunately for me, my mom is always willing to play in the sewing studio with me.

Of all the fabrics, I love this beige shirting fabric with it’s sweet little navy dots and khaki miniature quilt squares.  Truly it was love at first sight!

Tucked in the back of my ruler drawer was a phone book just waiting to become something amazing. The phone book was over a decade old and came from my mother-in-laws house. The drawer was overflowing with rulers and was a mini packing puzzle each time a ruler came out and went back in.

On a whim and a sigh of frustration I decided to recycle the phone book…..Little did I know that Bonnie would suggest string piecing this week and that phone book was the key to my success.

For this post, I want to show you my process as I determine how to convert the blocks so that I can cut them with my Accuquilt Go! Cutter.  The first thing I do is color my block with colored pencils so I have a better visual of which color goes where and how many of each I need.  Besides, I enjoy coloring!

By now you know I am up early, coffee is ready and even a later than usual clue post will not deter my adventuresome quilting spirit.  Bonnie had a delay this week no wi-fi…..that will trip more than a few of us up.

Greens, Neutrals and Chevrons and my favorite….half square triangles!  Life couldn’t get any better than this.  My original intent was to cut the strips with my AccuQuilt strip cutter for the greens and to then cross cut them using the Stripology Ruler.  I did for the first batch but I found it was just faster to stack my fabrics and cut them all using the Stripology Ruler.

Twas the night before Friday and all through the studio there is a flurry of activity as I clear my table in anticipation of the second clue.  I wonder what it might be this week. The cheery red and white four patches remind me of peppermints and Christmas.  The coffee is set and my clothes laid out.  I am an early riser by nature and I wake early to begin checking my phone for the next clue.

 

It seems the world over is urging Bonnie to wake and to post the next clue…this is a testament to the positive power she has near and far...even across the water to Australia.

It’s Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt time and the theme is Good Fortune!  What a lovely sentiment….good fortune. I have had the Good Fortune to be surrounded by friends and family both far and near and although the mystery is a special blessing for those whose families are scattered or gone for me it is a Blessing and a time for renewal and reflection.

This is the fourth mystery quilt I have chosen to create in the last 5 years. I took one year off and there are parts of me that still regret that decision.  However, my design wall clearly called my name and asked that I finish a few of my own projects…..I completed 4 between Thanksgiving and Christmas...how, it’s a bit of a mystery.

Sunday afternoons mean lazy naps for some, football for others and for me it means cutting time.  

I am usually rested and ready to set up my weeks sewing projects. At the end of a work day it’s easy peasy to sew a few seams here and there and by the end of the week I am ready for another Sunday afternoon cutting session.

I am drawn to bright colors so when I saw the Riley Blake fabric for this Quilt Along, I asked Marcia if I could play with it!  The pattern from This & That was just as appealing so I was eager to get started.  

After reading through the directions for the first block, I decided to cut it out using my Accuquilt Cutter.  With my cutter and Qubes, I find that it is easy to convert many traditionally cut and pieced patterns to be cut more quickly and accurately with Accuquilt.   

New Project, new choices…..there is nothing I love more than sitting down with a hot cup of coffee, a new pattern, under a cozy blanket in the early morning quiet. 

When you crack the seal all the possibilities are let out in to the open to be discovered like a treasure. My Secret Garden was no exception to the rule….I started with a predetermined color palette that soothed my soul and called my name.

Do you use an awl when sewing?

I was presented with this wonderful tool years and years ago when I attended a Pine Needles Quilt Shop VIP event as a customer!  I remember back then I was shown...