There is a place I want to be right now, that I can't get to! (Straits of Mackinac quilt from my book String Frenzy front and center!)
The Iowa Quilt Museum is presenting an exhibit of string quilts, past and present - and I am honored to have 3 quilts on display.
The exhibit is called String Theory. And because MOST of us can't be there, they are holding ZOOM TOURS!
The virtual tours happen on Tuesdays at noon Iowa time (central USA) - (I really should have posted it this way, but you can do it next week too) and all of the zoom information for log in, etc. is found on the String Theory exhibit page.
It feels so grand to be amongst such stringy greatness!
I've said many times - that if I were limited to one "quilting genre" I would choose string piecing, because the options are truly limitless. And the whole construction process is so freeing!
I see HALF of Serpentine Web!
(Also from String Frenzy)
I want to see ALL the beauties!
Emerald City Under Glass!
(Yep, from String Frenzy also!)
I hope those close enough will go see the exhibit in person.
Contact the museum for hours and protocols. And wear your mask! Ask them how many people can be in your group - these are things I don't have the answers to, but they will.
The exhibit runs through March 21st - so start making some plans!
Who knows, you just might find that string piecing is your absolute favorite quilting genre too!
Once bitten by the string bug, there is no turning back!
Lola can't resist the string quilts, either!
Best laid plans for yesterday - and the Universe laughs. Out loud!
I was chauffeured to the QPO where my van spent the night - I wasn't able to get my van up our ice and snow covered drive last evening, so we drove back to drop it back off. Which meant I hitched a ride with The Hubster.
He left as I unlocked the door - and I discovered it was dreadfully cold inside - checking the thermostat on the wall showed me the panel was completely blank - no digital read out. Just COLD.
We don't have cell service for most of the 7 mile drive between here and there, so when he got home, he retrieved my messages and came screaming back.
It was 56 degrees in the QPO, so who knows how long the heat had been off? Not long. It was a brisk 28 outside. It would have been colder inside if it had been off for very long.
A call to the heating folks was replied with a "we'll get back to you." message so I did the mail order stuff wearing my coat and hat!
I dropped that off at USPS, returned to the cabin to park the van at the bottom of the drive, was met by Dave with the RZR to ATV me up to the top.
Whoohoo! That hat was a godsend!
A couple of hours later we received a message that the heating folks were on their way. Another drive back to the QPO.
A short in the unit was located, and within a chilly 2 hours heat was restored.
If you are worried about Lola during our snowy challenges of me being snowed in on top, she is fine and dandy. She has more quilts than she can count and I found her tucked in and cozy in a basket - on top of my next sneak preview!
Do you see strings?!
Wait for it - just a bit longer - the reveal is coming soon!
So - it has come to my attention that we made 36 flying geese for Grassy Creek part 5 when we only needed 24.
If you wish to whip me with a wet noodle, you'll have to stand in line 6' apart, and wear your mask.
What are some things you can do with 12 extra flying geese?
First of all, use only your best ones in the quilt, culling out the wonky ones. There are always some wonky ones.
Use the remaining geese as a frame for your label on the back.
Save them for another project.
When in doubt, make a pot holder!
No matter how hard I try to do the best I can, I seem to screw up more than most. I have come to accept it, so far it hasn't ended my world. Or anyone else's.
The typo has been fixed on the part 5 blog post, and on the PDF copy. You will need to re-download the new copy for the changes to show.
In our reveal post, Part Seven - the single goose sewn to the red rectangle actually measures 3 1/2'' square - not 6 1/2'' square. It has been fixed on the blog post, but not on the PDF yet because it is a large "merged" PDF to have the full page graphic of the quilt on the back page of the PDF, combined with the rest which is 2 columned. I'll see if I can get to redoing that PDF today.
Thank you. Now on to the next screw up in progress....
Did you see we have a Winter Blues fat quarter bundle gift-away from Mary Koval & Mary’s Quilt Shop on YESTERDAY'S POST?
The winner will also receive a free PDF copy of my Winter Blues quilt! Hurry and get your entry in. We'll be drawing for our winner on Saturday, January 16th.
Today I'm planning on getting done all that did NOT get done with the back and forth and back and forth from yesterday.
The sun is shining brightly outside - there is not much snow left. I'm hoping the remainder will be gone off the driveway by this evening when I will attempt to get the van back up to the top.
It's another chauffeuring morning, and my driver is getting antsy so I best hit send on this and get a move on.
Quiltville Quote of the Day!
And isn't that just how quickly life goes? LOL!
Have a great Wednesday, everyone!
Have a great Wednesday, everyone!
Happy Wednesday! Virtual tours are a real thing here at the Mormon Trail Center. I hoped to be able to go and find your Emerald City Quilt in Iowa. But I didn't go there yet. Glad to know it's under glass. Sorry bout the heater at QPO. Gotta have heat.
ReplyDeleteooo la la... Bonnie Hunter "On Display" -- ooo la la! and congratulations... My Emerald City is languishing in the PHD pile somewhere while I concentrate on Clue 3 for Grassy Creek...I'm spreading the 'joy' -- a new friend is bringing here sewing machine today and we're going to start quilting!!! Happy to hear heat is restored, Lola will find the BEST quilts... hugs and prayers & blessings, Cats in Carlsbad CA
ReplyDeleteBeing cold with no heat is no fun! Glad it's fixed. thank goodness you are close to the cabin. Just think if you had to come from Walburg!. Oh, Lola knows a good thing when she sees it. I'm so excited to see the red strings. Ya know, you are so right once you string, you can't go back. Love the string quilt exhibit. Sure wish I could go & covertly touch them. Lol. I'll be virtually looking, but still be really petting my screen. Have a truly beautiful day.
ReplyDeleteOh & no worries on the geese. Math isn't my strong suit anyways. I alwasys have to many or not enough. That's what the odd blocks box is for. I'm up to number 8 of odd blocks box quilts. And I love them all
ReplyDeleteWe are planning to visit the museum. Congratulations on your part of the exhibit!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Bonnie, you are the String Queen. Your quilts look great especially under glass. Because of you I am hooked on strings! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteLovely display of strings! Being a Michigander, Straits of Mackinac has been on my list from the beginning. Maybe this year... I've been saving aquas! So funny about the iron- there was a FB discussion yesterday, the same day I demoted my iron to no-steam status! So tired of the leaking.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to have 3 quilts in the Iowa Quilt Museum!! They are beautiful! I wish you could be there in person! Thankfully there are still ways to see them on display!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you WERE able to eventually reach your hubby, rather than spend the whole day in a very cold QPO🥶 You might have had to crawl into all those quilts with Lola!!
In between other household duties, I hope to make more progress on finishing my 2019 L/E project! I added yellow stars in between and around EVERY block. Lots. Of. Stars.
Have a blessed day!
Marci H
My favorite part of this post is the admission that there are always a few wonky flying geese. ;) It makes me feel so much better that even experienced quilters end up with a few imperfect geese, because they always seem a bit off to me no matter how hard I work on accuracy.
ReplyDeleteReally hoping to see that string quilt exhibit in person.
Thanks for the mistakes update, it came just as I was about to work on cutting that step, LOL. There will be no extra geese around to poop on my lawn. Thanks for all you share (mysteries, giveaways, and knowledge). Have a wonderful Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteBonnie you work at a running pace and do so much more than most of us. Mistakes happen and if everybody that has six extra flying geese send the to a person willing to stitch them together a great goosey donation quilt will be created. Maybe more than one! Have fun with the concept and fix it on the pattern. BTW I see a lot errata sheets out there.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing a peek at the String Theory exhibit, Bonnie. Such beautiful quilts! Looking forward to your next quilt reveal. Lucky thing your went to check on Lola at the QPO and could get the heat repaired quickly!
ReplyDeleteI have a bag of blocks labelled "Bonnie Hunter Oops blocks" - all MY fault in sewing, nothing Bonnie did in directions. Most of them are from the various challenges in the past few years. I didn't sew them together right, they didn't measure correctly, something got wonky. I pull them out to remind me what I learned making them.
ReplyDeleteBut in the bag they go for me to use for something fun, I am not going to waste them.
I made 3 mug rugs before Christmas for a friend with those blocks. If I knew someone with a little girl, I could make a doll's quilt. I could use them as a start to crumb blocks.
Thanks for the lessons learned on these blocks, even extra geese.
Thank you for all you do for us! I always thought we mystery quilters were your pattern testers and proof readers before you released your patterns to the general public for sale on your website or in your books... sort of like clinical trials for quilts (and not vaccines)!
ReplyDeleteThank you for all you do for us! I always thought we mystery quilters were your pattern testers and proof readers before you released your patterns to the general public for sale on your website or in your books... sort of like clinical trials for quilts (and not vaccines)!
ReplyDeletehahaHA, are people seriously whining to you that your pattern math was off, for the FREE pattern you give to the world along with your gifts of community and passion for quilting? Some people have a lot of damn nerve, then. Maybe you just feel like it happens a lot to you because your OUTPUT is so consistently high? You are a machine!! But machines have feelings too, so I suggest you disregard the a**holes among us and keep on keepin' on.... <3
ReplyDeleteLola is beautiful! I had my Tiki who passed away at the age of 15 who looked exactly like Lola! I sure miss her. Have a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Bonnie. You truly belong among the greats! Your quote made me laugh out loud 😂
ReplyDeleteHave a great Wednesday,
Congrats on being in String theory. I'm looking forward to seeing the exhibit. Another good thing with Covid is all of the virtual opportunities to experience (see) exhibits, places, and people that i wouldn't be seeing without the Covid. I don't get to travel often, so these virtual visits are wonderful. thanks for sharing. And no worries about the Ooops in the instructions - love the idea of using the extra geese for the label on the back.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bonnie, for the gift of Grassy Creek! It's an amazing feeling to wake up to a new clue and, finally, the reveal. I am loving mine so far. As for the extra flying geese, I challenge myself to make a quilt from leftovers so I will add them to the pile. Your generosity and talents are much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteNo, Bonnie, you do not make more mistakes than most! You turn out such a large amount of intricately pieces quilts that an occasional booboo will happen. NO WORRIES! You are loved here!!
ReplyDeleteSusan
Bonnie the reason you have more screwups than other is because you DO more than others. All of us appreciate that. Just keep doing what you do for as long as you can do it.
ReplyDeleteThank you.👍👏
I'm sticking with the idea that people let you know about the math concerns so the pattern will be PERFECT when you release it for sale or put it in the next book. I am choosing to believe their motives are pure and not snarky. Life is better that way!
ReplyDeleteLove the daily comment. Hey it's all relevant. :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your string theory entries. Thank you for the Grassy Creek mystery. Loved it! Your quote for today made me laugh. So true!!
ReplyDeleteYou’ve shown true grace this year with your generosity in the face of significant covid impact to your business. A few extra geese is no biggie.
ReplyDeleteYou don't screw up any more than the rest of us do, you just get your screw ups published more often. At least you didn't short the number of flying geese. Glad you will be warm again.
ReplyDeleteBonnie, we love you just the way you are! You don't make any more boo boos than anyone else ... trust me! Or ask me how I know :) Those who mentioned the small gaggle of geese who came along for the migration, hopefully were doing it with a kind heart. Thank you for such a beautiful Mystery this year and also for the Unity Quilt. It is also beautiful. These quilts have meant more than you can know. Bless You.
DeleteCongratulations ! What a honor to have your wonderful quilts in the exhibit!,,,
ReplyDeletePlease don’t beat yourself up with anything but a wet noodle! Your patterns are amazingly accurate and detailed, and we can always find something to do with the little extras. Keep on trucking Bonnie - we love you and all your extraordinary talents
ReplyDeleteThank you for the beautiful pictures!
ReplyDeleteI live 1 hour from Winterset and would love to see your quilts on exhibit. My mother is 93 years old and I am her caregiver so I have to be very careful about traveling. Hopefully I can visit the museum before the exhibit ends. I would love to visit the quilt shop too!
ReplyDeleteCongratulation,Bonnie. Thank you for the pictures. I am so thankfull for everything you have learned me about string piecing and quilting.
ReplyDeleteCongratulation,Bonnie. Thank you for the pictures. I am so thankfull for everything you have learned me about string piecing and quilting.
ReplyDeleteThe emerald isle quilt looks to be displayed in a glass case. Is that yours? or the museum's? I am running out of places to put quilts and a BIG credenza would be perfect.
ReplyDeleteThe string quilt bug must be contagious as it has bitten me also. I love doing them and as you said so many possibilities. CONGRATULATIONS on the display you deserve the recognition of your hard work.
ReplyDeleteYour picture of Lola is so sharp and clear a person just wants to reach out and pet her. Beautiful! I love Emerald City, that's the one I have picked out to make for one daughter, and then Talking Turkey for the other daughter. And in those colors, too, one daughter likes green and the other likes red. I had purchased both those books some time ago and have been gathering scraps, etc. Thank you for all you do, and also for your blog and posting pictures of your sweet pets!
ReplyDeleteBetter to have too many flying geese than not enough! And I have been quilting for 22 years and have yet to make a project where I did not have to use my seam ripper!
ReplyDeleteBonnie--I received the rulers--"Simple Folded Corners" and your "Essential Triangle Tool" and I Love, Love, Love them!! They are easy to use and cut out several steps. I also like saving fabric--my Hubby wonders why I want to save fabric when my goal is to use up my stash!! Thanks for making my days more fun!!
ReplyDeletesigh. i ask myself that question too, as i cut out 1 1/2" squares so as not to waste anything
DeleteLordie. Of all the problems we got these days, too many geese is probably the least of them! I am still in the picking-out-colors stage (Grassy Creek is in the queue but not in process yet) and made the corrections on my printouts. When the mass reorg of my sewing room and fabric is complete I will hopefully get to the cutting-out-patches stage. Thinking I should just go ahead and make too many geese for a label as you suggest Bonnie, in honor of the project!
ReplyDeleteBonnie, your directions are THE BEST of any pattern i have followed lo, these 30 years !!...i go back to your instructions for other quilts when it comes to making standard bits, like geese, HSTs, square in a square. The rest is only numbers. Carry on being magnificent !!! Hugs
ReplyDeleteReally??! Extra blocks??!! People need to look up the definition of FREE again! Participation in a free mystery doesn’t guarantee you won’t have extra blocks... some of us make extra because we are not perfect! Participation is voluntary..... if you are going to complain, don’t participate!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many mistakes we can make in this world. Mistakenly asking people to make some extra flying geese really does not qualify as a biggie. Who knows when those flying geese may come in handy? No matter how closely you examine the Ten Commandments, I don't think you will find instructing people to make extra flying geese as one of them. I seriously doubt it would even make the top 1000. I read the directions wrong for a nine-patch quilt once (three-inch finished) and accidentally made an extra 200. I survived. Plus, I got four pillow shams.
ReplyDeleteThis will be my first mystery quilt. Yes, I have not started yet. I have been printing the clues and watching the progress and choosing fabrics. Waiting for the reveal and love the pattern. Decided I needed more grays so those are on order. I have made the corrections on my print outs. Now to see if I pay attention to my notes. I will look forward to another mystery quilt. Oh and love seeing and hearing about Lola.
ReplyDeleteNOW in her 40s, my daughter asked me a while ago "Mom, how does a wet noodle feel?". I'm glad to see that someone else uses that threat. It's such a gentle one.
ReplyDeleteMarie, Portland OR
How exciting for you. A real tribute to your talent.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to a cold world. I got my power back this afternoon after almost 2 days without due to a widespread windstorm in our area. Being sick with the crud made it very difficult to have anyone WITH power wanting me at their home. I didn't hold it against them one bit. I was in Heaven this afternoon with heat blowing from the registers and getting to take a HOT shower! Never take those things for granted. my friends! I got to binge on your posts, Bonnie, this evening when I was able to get online again. I am one thankful gal for the linemen who worked so quickly to have our neighborhood warm & in the light again.
ReplyDeleteEvery quilt you post is more beautiful than the last. I just don't see how I can do them all. My leader and ender projects end up being my main projects once I get going on them. I have tons of fabric I have accumulated through the years and these tiny scrap pieces don't make a dent. I love love love Winter Blues and Grassy Creek. You are a genius. Don't worry about mistakes in the pattern. You can never have too many extra flying geese.
ReplyDeleteBonnie I always enjoy reading your daily blog. Thank you for the happy spark in my days. I love the quilt show and really feel enthusiastic about trying and get addicted too
ReplyDelete