Monday, November 28, 2016

En Provence Week One

After trying very hard first to come up with an alternative color scheme this year - only because it is really fun to see how the different color combos play out - I started pulling purple and lavender fabrics from my stash and became hooked.  I was able to find a good variety of the other colors in my vast and freakishly eclectic stash to cover the yardage needed so I decided this was it.  All that was left was to wait for the first clue.


And then Friday morning we were off to the races!  A very simple first step, right?  I figured I would knock out 221 four patches easily and get back to my Magic of Christmas blocks before the long weekend ended.  Why don't these things ever work out the way I envision?  There was a lot of cooking, errand running, dog sitting and other distractions that really ate into my sewing time.  I didn't do my four patches as efficiently as Bonnie does... I am working with lots of odds and ends with very few of similar length so I cut them all into 2" pieces and paired them up.


I finished 93 four patches by Saturday evening and thought I might get the rest on Sunday.  There's no chance that really would have happened, but even less probability after I spent a good hour air sewing. See this pile of strips?  All fed through the machine with an empty bobbin....Sigh!


So at the end of the day I have 93 finished four patches and a bunch of two patches and strip sets. Now I'm just very thankful that Bonnie took it easy on us the first week so there's less catching up to do!


Part of the reason for my lack of progress today was time spent prepping hexies to take on my business trip this week.  I know I likely won't ever get a chance to take them out of my suitcase, but I wanted to be prepared just in case!  I figure gluing hexies is a good hotel activity that won't be hindered by crappy lighting.


I am already counting the days until I can get back to my machine to work on the mystery quilt! Check out Bonnie's blog to see how they kicked off the mystery in Arizona (I just couldn't commit to organizing something this year) and how others are progressing on their first step!

15 comments:

Frances Meredith said...

Air sewing - NOT GOOD! Enjoy the Mystery.

Eat Sleep Quilt said...

It's a mystery how life gets in the way sometimes! Great start :o)

Feathers in my Nest said...

Wonderful 4 patches!

Andee Neff said...

Awe we had fun in AZ! Hopefully next year you or someone in your area will organize a get together! I also did some air sewing yesterday, so air high five to you!

Monica said...

That empty bobbin is contagious -- there is another quilter in the link up who did the same thing! But, you're off to a great start, and there's still plenty of time before the next clue. :D

Shirey Totos said...

What you have so far looks terrific. Air sewing, what a disappointment. Hope the rest goes well for you.

Susie H said...

You're farther ahead than I am! (What else is new???!!!) Love your fabrics! Bet they turn into something beautiful! It's amazing that you got this much done. Seems to me you had company over Thanksgiving also! Hurry back to your machine!

Barbara said...

Love your fabric choices.

Barbara at Stash Overflow

gayle said...

Oh, that air sewing... *sigh* I thought it was just me. 8)
Your start looks great!

TheEclecticAbuela said...

Beautiful choices.

Jeanette said...

Love your fabrics, you're steaming along with this one.

Vireya said...

I think there has been an epidemic of air sewing, but yours sounds like the worst case. Still, what you have is beautiful.

DobrĂ½ kousky said...

Love your neutrals :)

grammajudyb said...

Good to know that others have "oops" moments too. I sewed two strip sets with the right side to a wrong side. Bummer! Sometimes those whites on white make me crazy.

Libby in TN said...

I've found bobbin thread to be very helpful. Glad you persevered.