A Mystery Quilt -- Allietare

I'm ready again to join in the fun of Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt. This year her inspiration came from her trip to Italy. She is calling the quilt Allietare which means "to gladden, to rejoice, to become cheerful."

I have chosen these fabrics that closely resemble her colors; although my reds and golds are more bright.

I tried to keep my neutrals with a creamy background although some are lighter than others. 

And my blacks are mostly prints that have golds, greens and other colors in them.

I have finished the clue for this week; 294 of these half square triangle units all done. We won't get our next clue until Friday. I have no idea what this quilt is going to look like other than it will be scrappy.

A few years ago I did Bonnie's mystery quilt called Orca Bay. It's still needing the borders on it.


To see what others are doing in this mystery you can click on the link below. I think it is fun to see different color combinations that others are using.

Part 1 Link up Party

Patchwork Times

Orca Bay & Sewing Retreat

The mystery quilt, Orca Bay that Bonnie Hunter has designed has been a lot of fun for me. I followed along, lagging behind with each step and it seemed I just couldn't catch up. And I'm still not caught up. I need to finish cutting, piecing, and adding the borders yet. Hopefully it won't be long until I get it finished.

My sister Polly the Patchworker and I got to see each other's quilts in real life this past week during our annual Heatwole Sewing Retreat. It was so special to be together and compare our quilts side by side.

And now I want to share with you some of the quilts and highlights of the week.

Our dear Mother worked on 6 doll comfort tops made from velvet.

My name sake, Julia, came and visited and cut out quilt blocks. We enjoyed her dry sense of humor and cracked up laughing.

Her daughter Queena sat across the table from me. We have many fond childhood memories of being with their family. Queena made this traditional top using 1930's reproduction prints.

My niece, Rebecca started this Jan Krentz star last year. She wants to add Hunter's Stars around it and make it bed size.

Another project of my sister Coleen's was to make 2 reversible denim/flannel rag comforts in size large!

My sister Sheila was glad to get the borders on her red and green quilt.

Cheryl, my brother Oren's wife, sewed on this heart quilt ...

... and this string quilt.

Some of my projects included this crib quilt for our son Craig & Ang's baby, Tina Sue.

I also worked on making a quilt from Father's shirts sewing them into boxes, and a small printed picture, and then I sewed some of my Possum Town, Delta Mystery quilt blocks together.

My sister Emily made this buggy wall hanging for her mother in law.

She also created this improvisational quilt using a bandana with cows as a spring board.

My sister, June, worked on her velvet clam shell quilt.

All too soon the week was over and it was time to go home. Paul and I gave Coleen & Claire a lift to Georgia where Glen picked them up. They were so grateful for the ride, but waiting for 1 1/2 hours for Glen wasn't their cup of tea. They were asked "When will the garage sale start?" and then other people wondered if they could help them. I'm sure they were glad when Glen finally came.

Orca Bay, Georgi's Birthday, & Concrete

My Orca Bay mystery quilt is still in the assembly stage. Bonnie has done a fantastic job in giving us step by step instructions for making this beautiful quilt.
To see more "Monday Design Walls" visit Judy.

I decided to swap around the light and dark Ohio Stars and also to replace the white stars with the black background with a blue center. Then I think it's important to make sure the blue strings are running diagonally toward the blue centered Ohio Stars. Does that make any sence?

Paul wanted to add on a lean-to to the shop to get some of the farming equipment in out of the weather. Last week they poured concrete with the "Three Muskateers" looking on.

Last evening we had in all the children and their families for a pizza supper. This little tiny Tina likes to be held.

Then we celebrated Georgi's 2nd birthday.

Flinging the wrapping to get to the present!

The boys just have to help out.

What a cute little sleeping bag stuffed inside a weiner dog for a pillow.

Family Christmas & Orca Bay Mystery

Yesterday we had our family in for lunch. All our our grands were here.

We opened our gifts in the afternoon.

McDonalds was a great hit!

Even the adults enjoyed the children's play toys!

Aunt Evie holds teeny, tiny, Tina for the first time.

Here's Paul showing my wonderfully whimsical quilt from Laura Wasiloski. If you haven't read the story behind this quilt you may do so here.

We fixed pizza for supper and had Angie's family, the Greg Martins join us.

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Orca Bay

I got a few more stringed triangles done on my Orca Bay Mystery Quilt. After trying out 2 different techniques of sewing the strings I resorted back to Bonnie's telephone book pages for foundations. It's working great for me. I also got my 56 red squares cut out for the centers of the Ohio Stars. Maybe this week I'll have more time to sew!

Housing Department #20 and Orca Bay

Just look at this wonderful little quilt made by Laura Wasilowski. It is her Housing Department #20 which now belongs to me. How did this all happen? You see, last evening I was rummaging through the mud room trying to find some cardbord and padding for a Christmas gift I was wrapping. There, among the used envelopes and boxes I found this flat padded bag with Paul's name on it. It was stapled shut and I wondered what could this be? So I opened it. (Whatever belongs to me belongs to Paul and whatever belongs to Paul belongs to me. So you see, I had every right to open that bag!) And, oh my, I was so startled and delighted and happy. I couldn't figure out how such a lovely little quilt would have gotten into my piles of discarded envelopes and bubble wrap. And here it was signed by Laura especially to me.

I ask Paul about it but he didn't know anything and thought it was some sort of poster I was so excited about. He couldn't figure out why I was so happy. So I thought I need to blog about this and see if anyone knows what it's all about. Then Paul thought maybe it was some sort of mistake and I should wait a while. So I ended up calling my sister, Polly. She couldn't talk long and at first she tried to fake innocense, but then she finally said that she and Barbara had made arrangements with Paul way back in July while we were at the AQS Quilt Show in Knoxville to purchase the quilt for me as a gift for Christmas from Paul. They somehow got the quilt to Paul and he stuck it in the mud room where I'd never find it and then he promptly forgot about it.

Then when I told him all that Polly said, he kinda stared and jumped and caught his breath. It all came back to him. We laughed and laughed and now I smile and smile that I have a lovely little quilt from him from Laura.

My Orca Bay mystery quilt is getting pushed aside way too much. I'm still lagging behind and haven't even finished step 4 and we already have the directions for step 5. I decided to try sewing strips together and then cut out a 3.5" strip horozontal from those strips. Then I'll cut my triangles from that strip.

Guests, Quilts, "Christmas Comes Alive"

My nephew Julian and his wife Jodie are here for a week.

He is helping with concrete work for a local farmer. We are also keeping Tony, another fellow that is helping with the job.

While the men are off working during the day, I have been helping Jodie make a quilt.

We used the "Disappearing Nine Patch" pattern which is turning out marvelous. She is doing a great job!

My Orca Bay Mystery Quilt is coming along very slow. I've only made 14 of the 128 triangles.

But now that I have found  Solvi's way to make the units I think I'll be able to tackle it much faster. So, you see, there is a benefit in not trying to be the first one finished.

The other evening our whole family with Paul's folks went to Gordo, AL to see "Christmas Comes Alive." We waited in the church's auditorium until it was our turn to get on the wagons.

It was a chilly evening and we were glad to be bundled up warm.

The first scene was Isaiah giving the prophesy of Jesus birth.

Then there were the shepherds, the inn, the angles, the wise men, and then we were ushered to the barn where we found Mary, Joseph, & baby Jesus. We sat on hay bales and listened to the Christmas Story read from the New Testament and heard a few carols and ...

... enjoyed the Nativity Scene.

They didn't stop with Jesus birth but went on to tell about his ministry, ascension, and His coming return with emphasis on salvation through Jesus. "Come unto me all ye that labour and are are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." --Matthew 11:27

Then we were served hot chocolate and cookies in the church basement. It was a lovely evening.