"D" is for Double Friendship Star

Here is the "D" block for the Alphabet Mystery I am participating in.

If you are interested in participating in this mystery quilt check out the group...A Pocket Full of Mysteries

The Gettysburg Mystery

Yep...I got myself into another mystery quilt.  I couldn't decide on the fabric so I am doing two of them. You can find this mystery at MysteryQuilts4Military. These are weekly clues, so yes I am behind. However tax season is almost over and I will be able to spend more time sewing starting next week...Woo Hoo!!!!

Here are the fabric groups I am using:

This is the one that Scott really liked.  How could I say no to my husband :)  I have enough fabric that I should be able to make this one big enough for our bed. And if not our bed at least the full size bed in the guest room.

Here is the second group. I had my Facebook friends help me with this one (I had two that I really liked and was very indecisive). The blue in this group is awesome. This picture doesn't do it any justice!

For sake of posting several blog posts, I am going to include Clue 1 for this mystery here.  Clue 1 are the cuts needed for each of the clues going forward.

Group 1 Clue 1 fabric cuts

Group 2 Clue 1 fabric cuts

Thanks for sharing my adventures with me.

C The Contrary Wife

Well here she is...Block 'C' The Contrary Wife.

Yo Yo Quilt

Aunt Cathy bought me a yo yo quilt at an auction she went to. Looks like it would fit nicely on a full size bed. It is a very old quilt. It really needs to be handled delicately.  Every time I move it, it seems I hear a tear or rip.  There are a few spots I need to fix.

I need some advice on how to clean this without it falling apart. The smell isn't bad, so I know it will be easy to clean up.  I just need advice on what is the best way to do this.  The only thing I can think of is when it finally gets warm out to soak it in the bathtub then hang it outside to dry.

Please leave advice in the comments section. I know there are many experienced quilters out there who can help me with this.

Up close of some of the yo-yos

I tried to get a picture of it on a bed.

I found this interesting. One end of the quilt is angled on each side.  I think it is supposed to be finished that way because each side is the same.  However, what end of the bed does the angled end go on.  Should I put the angles at the top of the bed with the pillows?  Or I wonder if they are supposed to go at the bottom and maybe the angles help the top lay nicely on the corners. 

Alphabet Mystery

I stumbled across another quilting Yahoo! group over this past weekend.  I found this BOM (block of the month) mystery quilt intriguing. It looks like it is going to be fun.  It is called the Alphabet Block of the Month. It is going to be a long one considering there are 26 letters in the alphabet and we are doing one letter month. This BOM started in January, but looks like it will be easy to keep up.  I have my fabrics picked out and the first two blocks done.

For fabrics I chose Sunshine and Hampton Stripes by April Cornell for Moda. I found the charm packs for this fabric back in the beginning of 2008 before Scott and I made our first PCS move together from HHAF in Savannah GA to Ft. Lewis WA. While traveling to Ft. Lewis we made a point to stop at quilt stores as often as possible (yep, I got an enabler as a husband). Some quilt store stops were random, meaning we came across the store by accident. Others however, like Hancock's of Paducah were definitely an on purpose stop.  This is where I picked up a half yard of each of the different styles in the Sunshine and Hampton Stripes line.  Here are the fabrics I choose for this mystery quilt.

A is for Antique Tile

This is the first block.

B is for Basketweave.

This is the second block.

It will be a slow process...only one block a month for 24 more months.  But the end result I think is going to be awesome.  I'm really looking forward to see how it all turns out!

If you are interested in this you can find it in the Yahoo! Group A Pocket full of mysteries. 

Voices of the Past Blocks Part 3

Here are the last of the blocks, of course with one missing (it still has yet to be completed).

Mary Todd Lincoln (VOP-110)

Mary's 9 Patch

Priscilla Alden (VOP-111)

I finally completed this block on Monday, July 13, 2015. It was quite an accomplishment. I had never done the machine applique like this before.  I am very pleased how this turned out.

Christa McAuliffe (VOP-112)

This one has 3 blocks. 

Once all the blocks are completed, the next step will be to arrange them into a quilt top. I'm sure adding some sashing will be the best way to keep each block distinguished from the next. I'm not sure what kind of challenge I am in for because the blocks in this series range from 6 1/2" to 15" blocks.

This pattern series and designing it into a quilt top is a challenge for me. This is the first time that I am working on a project that I do not know what the final outcome is supposed to look like.

Voices of the Past Blocks Part 2

I have completed all the blocks for this pattern series except one. To look best it has to be done by hand applique. I'm not experienced enough in machine applique to complete it and have it look nice.  Just a technique I nee to wok on.

Harriet Tubman Block (VOP-106) She has 2 blocks

Frances Cleveland Block (VOP-107)

This my friends is also known as The Character Builder (per my husband)

I was in the sew, press, rip, sew, press, rip cycle for awhile.

Lucille Ball (VOP-108)

Lucy's Basket Block

Amelia Earhart (VOP-109) There were 2 blocks

Almost done...see Part 3 for the rest of the blocks