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Friday, February 17, 2012

Midnight Flight & Morning Birds!

Spring is here!

Am I calling it too soon?

I hope not!

The daffodils survived the cold snap last weekend. Today it is supposed to be in the 60’s --- those are all good signs. It’s lighter earlier in the morning. ((This I love!))

But the happiest thing of all….is waking to the chirping of bird chatter in my trees. Winter months are silent ones ---no crickets, peepers, frogs, bird sounds – at least not much. But with warmer temps, the southeast corner of the USA starts revving up the nature sounds much like a symphony in their cacophony of noise during the “warm up” time before the real music starts. It’s going to get noisy out there, folks!

Luckily this morning it was “just” birds…..and then the sounds of Sadie jumping off the bed and wandering over to her doggy door to go explore the bird sounds and the beautiful morning.

Then DH & Son were up getting ready for a day of motorcycle dirt bike riding ---making good use of this beautiful early spring day.

I was the last to rise ---snuggling in with the sheets and quilts up around my chin, hanging on to that last edge of cozy comfort and trying to ignore the bright light streaming in through the filter of the bedroom window curtains -- until it was my turn, too --- to get up and embrace this day.

I needed just that much extra sleep this morning! I was so tired from yesterday's escapades with the seam ripper. :c/

Did you ever have one of those days? Yesterday was THE DAY to get the borders on Midnight Flight. I had planned on a 2” finished inner border….4 patches in the corners carrying on the theme of 4 patches IN the quilt center. My measurements were going to work fine…..only. OH. NO.

My outer border, though it fit to perfection ---would NOT turn the corners right --- because it is an Up/Down/Up/Down kind of unit, and it started as an up, and ended as an up, when I needed it to end as a down! ((You get my drift, I know you do – this is QUILT SPEAK after all, right?!))

OFF came the whole inner border. I needed to adjust it to give me an ODD number of outer border units. That’s all 4 sides of inner border coming off, because I am just not good at trimming down the outer edge of a whole quilt to give me the measurement that I want --- I want to be SURE those strips are the right size ---

AND. The inner border goes back on. So far so good!

I start putting on the pieced border, and all goes swimmingly until ----- UHOH. The last border section I added….to the very last side of the quilt….had units in the wrong order, and it effected the whole thing! OFF CAME THAT BORDER. Boy, I was sure tired of my seam ripper by the end of this day!

midnightflight 021

This morning I took the top out to my back deck ---quick, hurry --- before the sun gets too bright! Photo ops are short out there when there is no tree shade to block the sunshine. But here she is --- corners turning right, borders that turned out to be just what the quilt needed.

And look:

midnightflight 016

No WONDER it felt like I was piecing forever! I have all of this left over ---WHAT was I thinking? It’s enough to go around maybe 3 sides of another quilt..LOL! I am SO not making this quilt again ----so ---it’s going to play somewhere on the back until it’s gone!

QM21211

So many have asked where to find the pattern for Midnight Flight. Currently the block is featured in 100 blocks by 100 designers volume 4 by Quiltmaker Magazine. You can order the magazine HERE. You’ll see the Midnight Flight block there on the cover, upper right hand corner!

There is no pattern available for the full quilt. Not yet anyway! I am teaching this class in Williamsburg, VA for Quiltmaker’s Quilt Along in August! Plans are under way for another Quilt Along in March of 2013 in Portland Oregon, so be watching for more info on that, you Pacific-Northwesters! I’m planning on teaching it there too. After that, it will be reserved for my next-after-the-next book, scheduled for release in 2014. I know it’s a while to wait, but it takes me a while to make enough big quilts to fill a book! ((Another reason it would be so much easier to do placemat sized quilts :c/ ))

I just ask that you be patient with me and know that while I do offer a lot of “free” things here on the blog, that I do need to reserve some stuff for future books ---or there won’t BE future books :c)

Volume 5 of 100 blocks will be out in May --- and I’m really looking forward to that issue as well! I’m sure we’ll be participating in the blog party for that release, so you’ll want to be watching for that to come.

And oh, I’m sad to say ---that I did NOT win the vase full of Hershey’s Kisses at the chiropractor! That’s okay ---I really didn’t need that to wind up on my hips anyway. Thanks for playing along with me!

54 comments:

  1. that is a beautiful quilt! do you machine quilt most of your quilts? do you press your seams open or closed when you have so many little pieces in it?
    Karen

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  2. Anonymous9:04 AM EST

    You should take more time to stay at home, then you can write more fantastic books for us :o) It´s a wonderful Quilt!
    Martina from Germany

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  3. Anonymous9:05 AM EST

    Love, love, love the quilt Bonnie. And the borders are fabuloso!
    The cheddar/tangerine does soooooo much.
    Looking forward to this pattern, by the time it is published, I may have time to do it.LOLOL
    Faye in Maine

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  4. It is absolutely gorgeous, Bonnie! I am so jealous of all your quilting time. I have to head to wor in about 10 minutes-parent conference day.Oh, to be free...Enjoy!

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  5. It is a lovely quilt and I could never do it, but I think if I were capable, I would be willing to wait for the pattern. You do so much for the quilting community it should return the favor.

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  6. Even though those borders were painful, it was worth it (easy for me to say!) - it's a beautiful quilt and the borders add so much! Love it!

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  7. You are amazing my friend. Keep making beautiful things like this and I will continue to buy ALL of your books!
    You have given us SO much....and I'll say it again, you are truly amazing and you deserve to curl up in those covers for a few extra winks!

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  8. What a gorgeous quilt! Love, love, love the outer border. I have never made a pieced border, but I see it is worth the extra work! Thanks for sharing!

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  9. I love the quilt! But I've had the bad border experience too, and it is not fun. Glad you got things worked out.

    I think you've given away more free patterns than just about anyone, so I bought all 3 of your books as a 'thank you'. My five year goal is to make at least one quilt out of each book.

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  10. Absolutely stunning quilt and that border is perfect!! Well worth the effort imo.

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  11. can you spell SpecTacular? omg... what a gift you have.

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  12. Stunning quilt Bonnie. I love the cheddar in the border - it really ties it all together quite beautifully.

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  13. Anonymous9:50 AM EST

    STRIKING Bonnie. I love this quilt and the borders are fantastic.
    Now go and enjoy your day.
    Maryella

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  14. That quilt is another awesome work of art.
    I had a seam ripper kind of day yesterday too.
    Hopefully today will be easier.

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  15. Awesome quilt, Bonnie! It just sparkles! That cheddar in the border sets it off beautifully. Thanks for sharing your creativity!

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  16. I love the birdsong, too. There's something nice even about waking in the night and hearing birds singing. Your quilt is awesome!

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  17. It is a lovely quilt! Will wait for your book...sigh

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  18. such a gorgeous finish....despite the adventures with seam rippers!! Rest, Bonnie.....

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  19. Anonymous10:25 AM EST

    Fabulous quilt!

    Darlis

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  20. I cannot think of anyone but you who can make that cheddar such a fabulous addition to a quilt. You are an inspiration. Your energy shines though every piece.

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  21. Anonymous10:37 AM EST

    Oh, the colors; oh, the motion. Another great quilt Bonnie.
    Stephani in TX (Tomazec@aol.com)

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  22. I LOVE the border (and the whole quilt!) Yes, lots and lots of work, but defnitely worthwhile. That's one thing I've learned from you, Bonnie. Don't just slap a chunk of fabric 6" wide border on the quilt...take the time to do something more. It's hard to motivate myself to do it, but I KNOW it is worthwhile (and this time, I pieced the border before I did the top so that I wouldn't run out of steam! LOL).

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  23. The borders do look like Birds flying around the quilt. It was worth all the ripping, I hope. Waiting anxiously for Vol 5, I've been busy Testing Blocks for it. MAY, huh? I thought it was June.

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  24. That quilt is gorgeous! Worth all the effort and ripping for that fantastic border!!
    Portland 2013?! You can't get much closer to me, so I hope I'll be seeing you then!

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  25. The border came out great! No wonder you wanted to work at it!!! I've already put March 2013 on my calendar for a little retreat time! YEAH!! Be sure to plan extra days at the end!!!

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  26. Bonnie, that piece is stunning! I confess to being orange-shy, but you use it so your quilts sing!

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  27. Absolutely GORGEOUS! Look at all those pieces! Lovin' the cheddar and purple combo! Congrats! :o)

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  28. Midnight Flight looks like another winner...congratulations! All that hard work definitely paid off.

    My quilting buddies and I always look forward to another "Bonnie Book"...and we really appreciate you sharing your talent with us.

    Have a great day!

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  29. Okay, so don't take this the wrong way.... but is it so mean to think....even Bonnie Hunter has bad days and fights with some of her quilts too. Now ,I don't feel so bad for my scrapes with sewing.

    I know that is why you shared it so we all realize we are not the only ones that don't have a perfect sewing day :0)

    Happy Sewing

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  30. Wow, that is one beautiful quilt, Bonnie! Can't wait for Portland 2013 -- I will be there. And I've already committed to buying all your books; they are always worth the wait. Enjoy today!

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  31. Anonymous11:25 AM EST

    Hi Bonnie,
    Your midnight flight quilt is gorgeous. When I saw the block in the Quiltmaker magazine last year, I knew I wanted to make a quilt using that block. Now I really want to make it. Your border is fantastic!!! sandi in NY

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  32. Another wonderful quilt Bonnie! Thank you so much for all the free patterns on your website... and like others I buy your books to support you and what you give to all of us in the quilt world. I'm waiting patiently for your next book and now am looking forward to this one coming in book form. Those extra borders would look great on a black/white quilt with maybe some ladybugs on it for a child. Just a thought.

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  33. Have you ever noticed borders either go on right the first time or they become opportunities for expressing colorful vocabulary....

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  34. Bonnie, your Midnight Flight quilt is just GORGEOUS! I LOVE the colour combination - it is absolutely JUICY! The border turned out terrific - so worth all the extra effort to unpick and make it right. Another one on my 'to do' list! And it doesn't matter if the pattern doesn't come out for two years, it will take me that long to get through what's on my 'to do' list already!

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  35. Bonnie, I love this quilt - and the border is just perfect! I am amazed at the number of quilts you make in a year.

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  36. The quilt is absolutely beautiful and it was worth redoing the border as it really looks great.

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  37. Those. Borders. ROCK!! I knew when you gave us a glimpse of them last week that they were going to be special, and they take that gorgeous quilt to a whole other level. Stunning!

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  38. Anonymous3:15 PM EST

    Love the quilt. More in love with: you coming to Portland!

    Anon = Cindy B. (posting from work ... lunch time.)

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  39. Gorgeous quilt, Bonnie!! You save all the quilts you need for books! You have given us so many patterns we could be busy for a long time--and I plan on buying the books when they are available!

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  40. Absolutely beautiful!! I love the colors you picked and the placement of them! Gotta do one!

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  41. Wow! Another terrific quilt! I can't wait for your new book!!!

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  42. The number of pieces that go into each of your quilts always amaze me - along with the QUANTITY that you manage to make! All while traveling the world and writing books and your blog and being a wife, mom and friend! You've got yourself another winner here, Bonnie!

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  43. Wow - this one takes my breath away... and you say we have to wait?! :-) Congratulations on another beautiful quilt! Here's a topic idea for you - please tell those of us who have never had a massage what to expect the first time. Think of it as Getting a Massage 101. I'm not afraid to go, but am just curious...For example, are we supposed to tip? I remember you mentioned going to Massage Envy, and we have lots of those locally. Would love to see your comments.

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  44. OMG this quilt is GOrgeous!!!!!!

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  45. Bonnie, I can't wait to make this latest quilt. It is beautiful. I will definitely be there when you come to Portland.

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  46. It probably felt like you'd never get the borders right, but they are beautiful! I love the way they seem to wrap the corners.

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  47. I'm convinced! I will not put another boring border on a quilt! This is simply beautiful.

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  48. You are coming to Portland, OR!!! Oh, happy day!! Midnight Flight is wonderful-- great job! Love the block and the border. Enjoy the spring weather....

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  49. it's beautiful! It's scrappy enough for a quilter to notice the blocks are not all the same, but not scrappy enough to look "scrappy"..........am I making sense? lol

    You have managed to tie the scrappiness together to make it look unified and thoroughly planned out.

    I love it :) I especially like the border! Did you paper piece it?

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  50. Anonymous8:22 AM EST

    Beautiful quilt Bonnie!! I love the border combination especially. It was worth all that ripping to get such a lovely result.

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  51. In a newer post you mentioned that you were worried that the border would be too "in your face" because of the red, violet and orange. It is not! It is just beautiful and just what that already-gorgeous quilt needed! Keep up the good work! You are an inspiration, time and again.

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  52. Oh, boy....another gotta-make-it pattern!

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  53. How many kisses were there? I am very competitive and NEED to know these things! LOL!

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  54. I enjoyed the video.

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