Paper Piecing and other things

This year is the year I am hoping to get the hand sewing projects that have been on the go for a while finished.
My main project this year is the paper pieced 36 ring circus. I feel it's one I will work on and occasionally work on the others.
This is where I'm up too. I'm joining the blocks together as I go, I'm finding it hard on my hands putting the blocks together so dont want to leave that to last.

Another paper pieced one is Patchwork of the crosses. I've almost finished all the blocks I'm only doing 30 blocks but still need to do the cream around each block which will take a while. I was warned early on to do the cream the same time as the block. Sadly it was advice that's been at the back of my mind but not actioned. And I'm finding it hard to find a 5 meter piece of the right cream.

La Passacaglia is almost done I'm going to sort out now how many more blocks I think I've made them and then onto looking for borders.

Looking at this it looks like I'm wrong thinking I only had 4 blocks to add then it's finished. I will work that out today.

Love Entwined an older Block of the month is another I'm hoping to get on with I'm thinking I'll simplify the last 2 borders but need to finish the border I'm working on then rethink where to next.

For Christmas my daughter bought me the quilt pattern Dancing Chickens & Flying pigs a pattern by Hatched and Patched. I'd admired the quilt in Quilters Lane and my daughter kindly got me the pattern so it's another to add to my list. It's not to complicated I think more prep work than anything else.

It's all rather a lot so we will see how I go.

I'm hoping also to finish the Good Fortune Mystery quilt top and make a back for it.

I'm linking to Wendy's Quilts and more Peacock party go and check out what everyone
 is up too.
http://wendysquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/2019/01/gingerbread-retreat-cottage-and-peacock.html?m=1

Slow progress on Good Fortune Mystery

Dont yo just hate it when you dont read the instructions and go on your merry way. This is what happened to me I was so busy checking the instructions on the outer border and merrily joined all the smaller triangles on pairs. All going the same way!
Anyway half of the border is correct so I have unpicked all the triangles going the wrong way just need to sew them together now. Hopefully that will be this weekend. And I can think of my next project I think I can start something new and not finish yet another UFO.

I was delighted to get this book in the mail

I must have been one of the last international to be send. Bonnie made the decision not to post international now as postage is too high. I'm just not going to look at the credit card transaction. 

And a bit of excitement for me today I have booked the flights to Quilt Festival in Houston. I'm looking forward to going this shows it has to be on every quilters bucket list. I'm doing a tour with a couple of friends  through Country Heritage Tours it starts in San Antonio.

 https://countryheritagetours.com/tour/texas-stars-3

I've done a couple of other tours with this company.  The first one was to Paducah and then New England Fall Colours, which I really enjoyed.

I'm linking up with Bonnie's blog go and have a look at all completed quilt tops.

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2019/01/mystery-monday-link-up-reveal-2.html?m=1

Good Fortune mystery starting putting it together

I love this mystery quilt it might be my favourite I can't decide.
A big thank you to Bonnie keeping us guessing to the end. I also feel there weren't so many pieces in the quilt as in past years I've done all the clues but never put the blocks together until later in the year.
So this is where I'm up to the blocks are together just need to do the borders. With any luck I'll be able to complete the quilt over the weekend as I'm back to work tomorrow. I've accomplished a lot while being on my break but still a bit more jobs I would have like to do around the house.

I'm very pleased I changed a couple of the colours .

And I discovered using the woollen pressing mat did make a difference to the flatness of the  blocks. I'm very impressed. So a big thank you to son no 3 who took up my hint of wanting one for christmas.

I still cant make up my mind do I prefer Good Fortune or Alietare the 2015/2016 mystery.

 I enjoy having Allietare on the bed in the winter. Good Fortune I think will go over the back of one of our couches time to do an update of them.

Go and check put the different fabrics now the quilts are coming together on Bonnie's blog.

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2019/01/mystery-monday-link-up-reveal.html?m=1

A sum up of what I've been up to these holidays

It's hard to believe I'm back to work next week I've had a busy time trying to finish a few projects.

I've emptied all these crates there were a few projects in there but the others had fabric in that I've managed to put in with other fabrics. The cupboard I keep my fabric in I'd looking a bit tidier but not tidy enough to take a photo.

Made 3 table runners from blocks I had part made in a class at Blenheim mini symposium a couple of years ago with Hazel Foote. Decided I didnt need a NZ themed wall hanging. The table runners I can give away as gifts.

I found I'd cut enough circles for another 3 baby quilts so I've made them up too. No idea what I was thinking doing that.

My lovely giraffe wall hanging I am now thinking of the best way to quilt it as there are lots of seams.

I decided on the best way to use my 4 patch leaders and enders so there's enough for 2 quilts one with blue hourglass blocks between and one with red. I'm saving putting them together until I go on retreat in March.

Amazingly enough I've finished my 

Forget me not paper pieced hexagon quilt which was a free pattern o  line by Sue Daley.

I am thrilled with it but for a while it will be sitting in my quilts waiting to be quilted pile.

I put together the easier blocks in Good Fortune Bonnie Hunter's mystery which is now revealed. I'm hoping to get this finished before going back to work but I think that's a bit ambitious.

I've also been working on a couple of shop samples for the quilt shop where I work. Need to get my act together and finish them before Wednesday.

And lots of gardening which is looking good. Pity the weeds will grow back quickly.

Pop over and check out what others are up to on these 2 blogs I'm linking up to.

Wendy's Peacock party
http://wendysquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/2019/01/an-early-or-late-christmas-table-runner.html?m=1


Myra at Busy Hands Quilts

http://busyhandsquilts.blogspot.com/2019/01/moda-love-layer-cake-lap-quilt-in-birch.html?m=1