En Provence, 2016 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt, Clue 1

Triple Irish Chain for one son

 Are you participating in Bonnie Hunter's 2016 Mystery Quilt, En Provence? There is still time to join in on the fun if you are so inclined. I am behind due to wrapping up 2 king sized quilts for my sons, as well as Thanksgiving but I will catch up.

Ripple Effect of Wolves for my other son

This year Bonnie took inspiration from her visit to Aix en Provence, France. Her pictures are beautiful showing lavender fields, quaint towns and lovely buildings. I love her colors! Light lavender, dark purple, green, yellow, magenta plus neutrals.

I was able to pick up the corresponding paint chip samples at Lowe's the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. However it was Friday before I could sift thru my stash to see what fabrics I might have that would work. Clue 1 was already released! I was late! But it turns out I am almost set for fabrics!

Bonnie likes scrappy quilts and I am limited for fabrics. I only found 2 of the green and pale lavender but I'm ok with that. One bright yellow. I can always pick up more later (Clue 1 just used the neutrals). Magenta is the constant with Bonnie planning it for only one color - check, I got that. The darkish purples .... I had 2 possibilities but they don't work well together. My opinion. The butterfly fabric on the left I love but it barely clashes with the lavenders. The darker on the right would be great for balance but not enough yardage. So, sadly (bwahahahahaha) I need to shop for fabric.

My neutrals are boring but they will work. The patterned tan may not make the final cut. Or maybe I am just being too sensitive. Now to get busy cutting and stitching to complete Clue 1. What are you stitching this week?

** Updated**
What do you this of these neutrals? Will the white with colors work?

Do they contrast enough with my yellow?

Irish Chain square blocks

I've been stitching strip sets. Cutting strip sets. Stitching blocks. Press. Do it again.

I love the 40 square blocks. Lots of blues. Lots of movement. And thankfully I managed to keep all my strip sets in the right order to make the block production go smoothly. Amen,

My quilt will be 11 x 11 rows, a total of 121 blocks. 61 blocks of the 49 squares. 60 or the background squares.

I admit I worked hard to stay focused to get the right rows in the right order. I had my thinking cap on :)

And a good start to lots of blocks.

Irish Chain anyone?

I have started on my first Irish Chain quilt. Have you done one? I think they look awesome and supposedly they are fairly quick and easy to assemble. Which is good because I want to give this to my youngest son as a Christmas present. This year! LOL

I chose to do a Triple Irish Chain. Because I never do anything the easy way. I'm using some Kona cottons in blues that I bought thinking I would use them in a mystery quilt along. Then I didn't participate, LOL. I feel so blessed to find myself with 3 or so yards of each blue. I was pondering what colors and patterns or fabric lines to use when I remembered these cottons tucked in a bag, in a box, under some stuff. And they will be perfect.

Who else loses fabric under 'stuff '? I know I'm not alone. Anyone? Sighsss just me.

I spent a few hours cutting strips. Can we talk about an adventure with a dull rotary blade? Not today? OK, we will move on. Anyway if my loose math was correct, I have enough strips to piece the blocks with a zillion squares. We will see.

Aren't the strip sets pretty?

Wolf Quilt Finale

Remember the wolf quilt I started last January? It is done! I'm so happy and relieved. I had taken it in to be quilted and started a triple Irish chain quilt for my younger son while I was waiting. Well I got it into my head that I absolutely HAD to finish the new quilt before I put the label and binding on the wolf quilt. I do not know where my brain goes off track because you know I had life challenges come up while piecing the Irish chain quilt. Thankfully though I did complete it and got back to the wolf quilt. Amen!

 I trimmed off the extra batting. I often use these strips when I make burp cloths or potholders. Though I have several of this years Row by Row patterns which might work too.

I trimmed off the extra backing. I was able to cut a lot of my backing into binding strips. Bonus!

Now for the label. Which font? How big? What do I say!?!

I settled on a name for the quilt, Ripple Effect of Wolves. It pays homage to the reintroduction of grey wolves to Yellowstone Park. It had an amazing effect which you can read about here. I designed the block layout to show a natural green to blue ripple. It just fits for me.

This is laid across my king size bed.

Did I mention this quilt ended up big? It draped well over my king size bed.

Really big?
118" x 118" which is just short of 10 FEET! Eek.

I just love the running wolves :)

Edited to add a pic in the sunshine!