Step 5 - December 29, 2014

This week was quick and easy compared to previous weeks, and I got them all done before eating lunch on the Friday the step was posted.

To see the progress of other mystery participants, click here.

Step 4 - December 22, 2014

Thanks to having sewn some of the half-square triangle units for Step 4 while we were doing Step 1, this week's units went a bit faster.  These are two more sets of Broken Dishes units, in addition to the set that was made in Step 1.  The color arrangements are a little different in each set.

The left column is one set of 40, and on the right is the other set of 40.

To see the progress of other mystery participants, click here.

Step 3 - December 15, 2014

During the past week, I have made more progress than I made during the first two weeks. 

First, I finished Step 1.

Next, I completed Step 2.  I used Bonnie Hunter's second method, with a template taped to the Easy Angle ruler to cut the parallelograms.  Next time, I think I would use method 3. I had a hard time keeping these consistent and I think it was a combination of poor cutting and poor sewing.  However, they're done, and they should work!  (Maybe some of those center points don't QUITE match!   Sigh.....)

I have all the strips cut that I will need to finish 120 of the units for Step 3.  So far, 60 units are complete.  I hope to have them all done before next Friday when Step 4 is published.

....and later during the week, on Tuesday, I finished step 3 and have all the steps neatly corralled in their own plastic bags.  I'm ready for step 4!

Click here to see the progress of other Grand Illusion Mystery participants.

Step 2 - December 8, 2014

I've had time to do a bit more work on Step 1, although I still have a long way to go on it.

For step two, I've cut all the pieces, using Bonnie's Method 2.  I made a couple of completed units.  I need to work a bit more on accuracy, but I think they will be okay!

To see the progress of other participants, click here.

Making Bonnie Hunter's 2014 Mystery Quilt - Grand Illusion

Bonnie Hunter's 2014 Mystery Quilt

Grand Illusion

The color guides and yardage have been given.  The quilt is based on the color scheme of the Grand Hotel in Mackinac, Michigan.  Here are Bonnie's instructions:  

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2014/10/surprise-quiltville-winter-mystery.html

These are the fabrics I have chosen so far.  Based on the paint cards Bonnie suggested, my turquoises are a little more towards blue than the colors on the card, but I'm okay with them.

On November 28, the first step came out.  I will be making 100 "Broken Dishes" units, from pink and aqua half square triangles, and black and yellow squares.  It's going to be a busy week.  There will be a lot of cutting to do before I take the first stitch!

.......later......

It's December 1 and my company has gone home.  I've cut my aqua and pink strips for step one, and I've cut some of my black and gold squares.  I need to iron the strips together before I start cutting triangles, because they've gotten a bit rumpled.

As you can see above, I've made ONE practice block of the Broken Dishes pattern.  So now there are just 199 half square triangle sets to cut and sew, and 199 completed blocks to make to be finished with this step.  At least I've started!

To see the current progress of other participants in this quilt mystery, click here.