Country Holiday Traditions

I can say one thing about this Mystery quilt....it truly is just that, a mystery that unfolds and leads down different paths with each new rule and technique. I have been playing catch up, but I can tell you that this project hasn't turned out like anything I had envisioned in the beginning.

Here are my rules #9 and #10. Number 9 was to add something 3D, if you look close the wings on my chickens are 3D. Number 10 is a disappearing nine patch and a folded insert. My sunflower garden is the nine patch and the leaves are my folded inserts. The leaves are beginning of my fall holiday traditions.

I knew at the start of the quilt, I wanted to have the holiday traditions surrounding a home, but I didn't anticipate all that I've added around the home. This project has really stretched me. I'm loving all I'm learning. It is a simple, but the disappearing nine patch was fun to do. I like the possibilities that can be done with it.

Caught up finally!

Well, I am finally all caught up and ready to start on rule #9. I had to re-think my quilt plans so that took me the most time. I think I'm now on track again with where I plan to go with it. I think my most challenging was the curved piecing. As you can see my river isn't very curvey.

Late...Rule #5

I wanted to create a starry winter night with Santa, so the moon is my circle obviously. Then I machine embroideried a santa with his sleigh flying through the night. The words say, "He's making a list and checking it twice." I used a tutorial youtube from hgtv to make my circle. I found it to be simple and turned out nice. In the future, I will be more likely to play with cirlces now that it's not as challenging as I anticipated.

Here is all the rules so far together and my interpretation of winter country traditions. Now on to another season.

A day late...but finished!

First off, I want to thank the one that submitted the needle point applique technique and also the positive/negative rule. I really enjoyed both of these methods. I joined this mystery project so I could learn new quilting methods so this is stretching me. Having said that, I really had to think hard to get my creative brain working. I sympathize with anyone still trying to come up with a plan.

I was going to make a sled, but I'm not quite confident with making my own paper piecing patterns just yet. I found these cute mittens and got excited about them. They are not side by side, but they are the positive/negative idea.

I used the top freezer paper method for applique for the mittens. I was surprised and pleased with how easily it is to follow the shape to exactness.

So here it is together. The fun thing about the positive/negative is I decided to create the snowflake to be opposite of the one below it. I didn't plan it in the beginning so it caught me by surprise.

From the beginning of this rule, I knew I wanted to add hearts for Valentines day. I really like this holiday and so I try to do something for my boys each year to celebrate it. I wasn't sure what I would do, until a quilt magazine came in the mail. It has these paper pieced scrappy hearts and pinwheels.

At first, I made a frame around the big hearts, but due to the size requirements, I thought it was too crowded so I took the border off on the left side and will have to wait for another time to see how the block is finished.

I enjoy hand work so the embroidery technique is great. I accented the hearts in black to match the embroidery work on the snowman.

Putting it together

Red is my least favorite color so I didn't expect to put it on this quilt. However, I coming to learn that adding a different color can add "pop" that the quilt might need. The red suits me now to highlight the little Valentine traditions our family has.

#2 rule finally posted

I had finished my #2 block a week before the deadline, but since I'm having computer problems, it was impossible for me to post. You can see that I used 2 hexagons to make my snowman. I applicade the scarf and embroidered the face. The part I enjoyed the most is making the snowflake. Though my knowledge in designing quilts is simple. I did enjoy working my brain to create this snowman and see it come together. This project is teaching me so very much.

Here is my rule #1 and #2 together. In my quilt I hope to recreate some of the fun things my family do throughout the year,traditions that we have. Together we enjoy making snowman and going to the mountains to find the perfect Christmas tree. Both of these blocks represent these memories.

Just finished. My theme is country so it must have some pine trees in it. I thought the variety of trees makes the block more appealing.

It was suggested I post a picture of the fabrics I picked out. Here goes...

Tracy....I'm up for a good mystery!

Hi, I'm Tracy a sister and daughter to the Dorinda group. I did not participate in the Dorinda project, but I was a closer follower. I have seen some of the quilts first hand and I'm amazed with the work and dedication each quilt took. What a great way to link the past to the present!

I am from Idaho. I'm happily married to my high school sweetheart and we have 4 boys. Like many families, our boys are very involved in school activities and talent building arts. I will spend the next few months following wrestling matches and piano lessons. I'm glad to be a stay at home mom.

I have been quilting off and on for 4 years. I feel I'm a beginner, but Deana is a great motivater that has made me feel as if I'm more than qualified to meet the mystery quilt challenge. Deana is an amazing quilter and instructor. This will be quite enjoyable. I look forward to seeing everyones quilts develop. My theme is country, "Holiday traditions." My stashes are still growing so I get to go shopping!