Bonnie Hunter – Page 4 – Louisa Enright's Blog

Turkey Tracks: Bonnie Hunter’s Quilts at Maine State Show

Turkey Tracks: July 27, 2015

Bonnie Hunter’s Quilts

At the Maine State Quilt Show

(Pine Tree Quilt Guild 2015)

It’s always fun to see Bonnie Hunter’s quilts at a quilt show.

Maine’s state quilt show, Pine Tree Quilt Guild Show 2015, is no exception. There were six that I saw.

(Bonnie’s web site is quiltville.com, and you can get to and sign up for her blog from this main site.)

There was one Grand Illusion, Bonnie’s 2014 Thanksgiving challenge quilt. It’s so interesting to me to see the color variations in quilts made with Bonnie’s patterns.

TWO “Celtic Solstice” quilts, Bonnie’s 2013 Thanksgiving mystery quilt.

First, one using Bonnie’s colors:

And one using red and green and creating an alternative block for some of the blocks in the center, by turning the green square pieces outward:

I love the use of wilder neutrals in this quilt. My version used fairly tame neutrals… I am slowly gaining courage.

You can see the two different blocks in this picture. Look inside the white diamond/star.

One Scrappy Trip Around the World:

Great use of the dark blocks to set off the edges. This quilt is much lighter than the one I made.

One Perkiomen Daydreams:

And one “Narrogansett Blues” with a fall colorway–which hung outside the show:

(Not a great picture here as this quilt is very vibrant.)

There is a Narragansett Blues in my future…

Turkey Tracks: Stash Obsessions

Turkey Tracks: July 17, 2015

Stash Obsessions

I have been obsessed with a quilting project for almost a month now…

…clearing out the 2-inch squares bin…

…it’s been about four years…at least.

And the whole purpose of cutting up all useable fabric after completing a quilt is that…one day…you need to use them.

Bonnie Hunter’s rule is that when the bin gets full, you have to slow down and USE THOSE SQUARES.

Well, here’s the project. (And I think I wrote about this before.)

This year is the American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine‘s four-patch challenge–which Bonnie Hunter is participating in as well.

So I’m going to turn the 2-inch squares into four-patch blocks.

When I got obsessed, I had already gotten this far with the block Bonnie is using:

But, right in the middle of putting the gorgeous magenta sashing on these blocks, I have lost my mind. I have not attempted to make the four-patches as a leader/ender project.

No, I thought I’d just sew them all up.

Do you have any idea how many squares there were in that bin?

I am now counting them just for fun. There are 600 in the quilt above.

So, I realized as I sewed a light square to a dark square, that I had a lot of blue and neutral and red and neutral possibilities.

(These are NOT all the two-inch squares by a long shot.)

Here’s a larger version of the block Lissa Alexander used in American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine–which I used to made “Happy Baby Quilt.” Put on point, one gets a long chain of the red squares.

And what about a Jacob’s Ladder block for the blue and white?

Here are two of these blocks stacked together. Wow! I really like this block.

I have spent many, many hours now sewing the light/dark squares together and that’s all done:

So the bin is now full of the two-square strips.

I’ll move on to making the four-patch blocks next.

But first, Bonnie Hunter’s method of pressing open strips of blocks BEFORE cutting them apart really works. Visit her web site (Quiltville.com) for tutorials on handling your stash and tips like how to press FAST.

I am still loving the four-patches inside a square–and especially as I am using the 3 1/2-inch blocks to make the outer square. (Cut them on the diagonal.) So I will make more of these as I go along.

Quilt count from this effort? A red/neutral quilt, a blue/neutral quilt, the almost finished Bonnie Hunter block quilt, more of those blocks, and lots and lots of four-patches.

Yep. It’s good to slow down and create some “assets” from time to time.

Turkey Tracks: “Scrappy Streak” Quilt

Turkey Tracks: April 20, 2015

“Scrappy Streak” Quilt

It occurs to me that I never put finished pics of this quilt up on the blog–though I finished it back in the winter–and am enjoying using it so much.

I apologize for the rug, but it would take two extra people to hold this quilt up for viewing…

I love the graphic nature of this very simple quilt–and it was made with the leftover (now small) pieces of the 2 1/2-inch strips that I used to make the big log cabin and the Bonnie Hunter “scrappy trip” pattern (free on her blog) this past winter. I am loving having these quilts downstairs. They are so colorful and welcoming and so much better than the old dog blanket that used to protect the couch. (The dogs do bring in a lot of mud, especially in mud season.)

I got the backing on sale at, I think, Marge Hallowell’s Mainely Sewing in Nobleboro. And I quilted with my clam shell groovy boards. (This traditional quilt pattern does not fare well with pantographs–at least not in my hands.)

The red border fabric is from a piece I’ve had for over 12 or more years. Ideas about quilts change over the years, and I no longer wanted to make the quilt for which this fabric had been purchased. So… It’s brilliant in this quilt.

Here’s a final view of the graphic nature of this quilt:

Quilts like these three quilts all made from my 2 1/2-inch fabric strips remind me over and over of other quilts I have made. Invariably, seeing a fabric from another quilt makes me smile.

This quilt is No 113 and was finished probably in February.

Turkey Tracks: April Update

Turkey Tracks: April 13, 2015

April Update

Where does the time fly to?

I am never sure, beyond the certain knowledge that it’s moving really fast…

As you can see from earlier posts, I’ve just returned from an exciting few days of classes and viewing at the April MQX show in Manchester, NH–with friend Gail Galloway-Nicholson.

Here’s our favorite quilt from this show–and I’m sorry that I did not get the quilter’s name.

I can appreciate the glorious work in this quilt, but for myself, I shy away from trying to make something with so, so much work in it. I prefer a quilt that can be used and loved and washed. Thus, I was much more drawn to this Bonnie Hunter quilt–Texas Tumbleweeds–done in a different colorway than what Bonnie did:

Bonnie Hunter is part of the American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine’s 2015 4-patch challenge. And as you know, I’ve been making these “Bonnie” blocks right along. About 10 days or so ago, Bonnie showed how she was going to set her blocks. Bonnie used aqua, and I’ve chosen a limey green:

I’m working on the Coastal Quilter’s UFO challenge–due in May–so I’m making these blocks as a kind of leader/ender project at the moment.

And waiting to see how Bonnie is going to set them…

Look what I found along the front walk way today…

Snow drops! Aptly named…

Turkey Tracks: Mid-March Project Update

Turkey Tracks: March 21, 2015

Mid-March Project Update

Ironically, today is the first day of spring.

And it is warmer, but it’s also snowing outside.

Though it’s wet and dreary, my heart has been warmed by Kathleen Nixon’s visit for my birthday.

She was to have come yesterday, but the storm grounded flights, so she arrived bright and cheerful at noon today. We had a sushi lunch at Mr. Wat’s, a coffee at Zoots, and will have what will be a wonderful dinner at the Hartstone Inn (thanks to Gina Caceci). Tomorrow we’re going to a special showing of the uncut version of LAWRENCE OF ARABIA at The Strand in Rockland, Maine (where we’ll have some POPCORN). Afterwards, we’ll have an early dinner at Mirandas in Rockland–a favorite place for both of us. I have to let her go on Monday, but will take her down to Portland and will do some errands on the way home.

I have been working on the big quilt this past week. It just needs one more border:

Which is almost done:

This is a VERY BIG quilt…

Here are some close-ups:

AND this one, which shows how much of my focus fabric I’ve been able to use:

It’s interesting and inspired by Kaffe Fasset’s low-contrast style of quilting. AND by the American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine’s low contrast “quilt along” of last year.

This year their challenge is to work with four patches–and the above quilt actually uses a lot of four patches. BUT, I am much more intrigued by the four-patches on point that Bonnie Hunter is making for her part in the magazine’s challenge. So, these patches have become my current leader/ender project.

I have no idea how Bonnie is going to set hers, and I’m hoping she will do a “reveal” on April 3rd, the end of the challenge. If not, I’ll open my EQ7 quilting design program and get to work.

Here’s a close-up.

I have 20 blocks done now, but truthfully, I could just disappear from the world and sew these fun blocks until I drop.

Remember that I have a whole box of two-inch squares that need using…

Maybe I’ll do a marathon session and sew these into light/dark four patches…

Meanwhile, the chickens are out every day now and hang out at my quilting room windows where they try to talk to me:

Barb Melchiskey challenged our group to complete one UFO for our May challenge meeting. I have a handful of planned quilt projects all folded up together. This one is at least nine years old:

And it’s pretty fabric that I still like:

It wants to be a quilt for a male person…

And I have one in mind…

So, I will start it when the big blue quilt is…quilted.

Happy spring everyone!

Turkey Tracks: Low Contrast Quilt

Turkey Tracks: March 9, 2015

Low Contrast Quilt

The scrappy low-contrast quilt is coming along.

This quilt is inspired by Kaffe Fasset, who often works low-contrast with lush fabrics, and by Bonnie Hunter’s scrap system.

The little blocks are from the 2 1/2-inch scraps. I am using a focus fabric I thought would blend with the many shades of the blue blocks.

The right border is almost finished and will go on today.

And, then what? It’s 76-inches square now, and I may call it a day. But I’d like it to be a bit bigger–say 10 inches. I may go out to one more 2-inch border and an outer border of the little squares. Don’t know yet…

Here’s a close-up of the outer border blocks:

I used the Companion Angle Ruler to cut these block pieces–as Bonnie Hunter recommends. And I LOVED how easy it was and how beautifully the pieces come together.

Turkey Tracks: Backing for Bonnie Huner’s Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt

Turkey Tracks: January 13, 2015

Backing for Bonnie Hunter’s “Grand Illusion” Mystery Quilt

On Saturday I went to two different quilt shops looking for a contemporary fabric for Bonnie Hunter’s 2014 mystery quilt, “Grand Illusion.”

I used Bonnie’s colors–and here, again, is her version of this quilt–which is based on the colors Bonnie found at the famous Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, MI:

Here’s the backing I got:

Light, contemporary, has the right colors…

And…FUN!

Turkey Tracks: “Grand Illusion” Quilt Revealed

Turkey Tracks: January 2, 2014

“Grand Illusion” Quilt Revealed

Well, I have my answer.

This

is going to turn into a version of THIS:

That’s Bonnie with her Dad at Thanksgiving.

And, here’s the computer version Bonnie Hunter posted:

Bonnie Hunter is ONE TALENTED WOMAN!!!

I can’t wait to sew my blocks together.

But I have to get THIS off the design wall first:

(Sorry, blurry photo, but you get the idea. This is a version of Bonnie Hunter’s Scrappy Trips…which is on her website.)

And THIS off the long arm so I can push it back against the wall:

Here’s a close-up:

Grandson Kelly fell in love with this backing fabric when we went to a sale at Alewives Quilt Shop in Nobleboro, Maine, last summer. Here’s a shot of it from the rear of the longarm:

I’m using the Bishop’s Fan Groovy Boards and an old gold colored thread that is puuuurfect.

Both of these quilts are being made from my 2 1/2-inch strips, a stash method taught by Bonnie Hunter. The bin is about halfway down now…Yeah!

I’m going to use them in my downstairs room rather than the blankets and dog-covers I have now. They’ll be loved and washed.

Turkey Tracks: Bonnie Hunter’s 2014 Mystery Quilt: Grand Illusion

Turkey Tracks: December 15, 2014

Bonnie Hunter’s 2014 Mystery Quilt

The mystery started on Black Friday.

I was in Charleston, SC, at a family retreat for Thanksgiving–more on this quality experience later.

I left my fabrics ironed and ready to go when I got home on Tuesday after Thanksgiving–FIVE days after the first clue.

I finished the first and second clues last night. Here’s what I have so far in terms of units made–which includes 400 bonus half-square 2-inch triangles made while making the pile of units on the left. This method of making bonus triangles was, I believe, pioneered by Bonnie:

Clue 3 came last Friday, and it’s got GREEN, which I had thought might happen:

I’m on the job as soon as I finish posting to the blog!!!

120 units to make…

Turkey Tracks: Sewing/Knitting Projects Update November 2014

Turkey Tracks: November 17, 2014

Sewing/Knitting Projects Update November 2014

Late October (that strange blizzard) and early November have brought a fair amount of inclement weather. It is snowing off and on today, as a matter of fact.

So, I have been snuggling into a whole array of winter projects.

This big quilt is quilted, and the binding is on. It is just waiting for me to sew down the binding. It’s 97 inches square, so it will take some nights of hand sewing.

BUT, I’ve been finishing knitting a white linen shawl at night. There’s a tale here. I started this shawl on the J&E Riggin in early September. I had it completely finished but did not like the tension, so I took it apart and went down a needle size. I’m much happier with it now, and it’s almost done. Just a few more nights.

After linen is knitted, one thoroughly wets it, dries it, and irons it. In the process, the linen turns soft as butter and very shiny.

Our Coastal Quilters and Georges Valley auction took place last weekend–and look what I bid on and won:

Gail Galloway Nicholson made this quilt, and Joan Herrick quilted it freehand on her long-arm.

Here’s a closeup:

It gives me such pleasure to have the work of friends and family in my home. Everytime I walk past one of these pieces I am reminded of the loved ones involved and of all the wonderful energy that they have put into their work.

You can see that this quilt is so, so happy to live on my coral chair!

I am in the process of making other quilts for this downstairs room. I need quilts that can be loved, used, and washed–in place of the dog-blanket strategies that live in this sitting room/tv room/den space. So, here’s a quilt top I’ve just finished that’s going to go on the back of the couch–where Rey Rey likes to hang out so she can see the back door comings and goings:

Fun, huh? It’s 85 inches square, and I think I’ll just bind it without adding any borders. I’ll quilt it when I return from Charleston December 2nd.

Here’s the backing–which is especially nostalgic as grandson Kelly Enright picked it out with me this summer. He’ll get such a kick out of seeing this quilt with it’s lively backing when he next comes to visit.

This quilt is made with the 2 1/2-inch strips that I cut up from my stash two summers ago. I had a HUGE bin filled to the top. Look now:

OK, I have a few of the darks and mediums out on the cutting board as I’m using them in another quilt top:

It’s Bonnie Hunter’s Scrappy Trip Around the World version, and I’m having so much fun putting together various sets of 6 strips for each block (at 16 inches). Here’s two of the blocks I made yesterday:

I’ve seen so many variants of this quilt now, and I can’t wait to see how mine develops. I’m sure the blocks will get moved over and over again until I’m happy with the results.

My leader/ender project now is a low-contrast quilt made with a focus fabric and 2 1/2-inch light and dark blue blocks. I’m mixing the focus fabric into the four-patch/eight-patch blocks.

Here’s what’s forming on the design wall–in a dark corner of the wall. I’m playing with creating a center of 8 pieced blocks surrounding one of the focus fabric squares. I don’t know how this will work out… I’m just playing. I may play with some single 4-patch blocks surrounded with sashings of the focus fabric as well. Or, use another fabric that co-ordinates. Who knows? That’s what play is all about…

I made a big soup yesterday so was able to quilt until I got hungry. AND, I’ll freeze some of it to have on the night I return. The meat is from the turkey I roasted earlier in the year–a turkey from last Thanksgiving that came from my neighbors: Susan McBride and Chris Richmond of Golden Brook Farm. Sometime last summer I defrosted the turkey, cut it up, and roasted it. I froze one-half of the turkey breast and am just now using it.

I used a chicken bone-broth base (of course), the turkey, and what I had on hand: frozen tomatoes from the summer, onions, carrots, celery, fresh parsley, rutabaga, some brown rice, and the Indian spices (cumin, coriander, a bit of cinnamon, tumeric). It’s super delicious!!

My fabrics for Bonnie Hunter’s Mystery Quilt 2014–Grand Illusion–are ironed and ready to go! I’ll get the first clue the day after Thanksgiving, but will not be able to start it until I get home. But, I’m ready!

I leave for Charleston, SC, this Thursday, for the Thanksgiving holidays with my family, and, as always, posting to the blog with the ipad is always chancy–but I’ll take lots of pictures and will post when I get home if all else fails!

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