So I came to a determination yesterday that although I could see how a project could work with solids and the wild circle print, I don't know yet how this project is going to work so I'm going to chicken out and use more standard prints on the top. I'm going to use the pink circle fabric for my back and to select my colors. I'm not going to use a lot of solid fabric, but I'll make a vertical stack of bars from the pink/purple solids I pulled to extend the back so I have plenty of room for quilting down. I'll also cut strips of the solids at the same time and make a pieced binding while I have some time before the actual project begins. Starting with a back is not my usual method of quilt construction but we have some time before the project fully begins.

Right now I'm trying to get another quilt quilted before the start of this project. Am hoping to get that quilting down today and tomorrow and be able to switch back to the standard piecing foot and tensions and such. I still need to make the binding for that top and put it on, then the goal is to finish the hand part of the binding and have it mailed before Thanksgiving.

I was able to quilt down both my Frolic and Grassy Creek tops, they were on my to-do list before starting with this project!

SusieQOH and to rely: Thanks for the complement on Grassy Creek. For those who didn’t participate in the Grassy Creek mystery, the colors suggested by BH were fall colors and grey. I made about half the blocks, set them on point, then modified the border a bit.

I’m thinking of doing the full number of blocks this year. The only fabric I really need is the aqua.

I am going to join this mystery this year for sure as long as I have no health issues or surgeries. The pass years I had shoulder surgery on both shoulders. I have the fabric that I need in my scrap bins and stash. However, I cannot quit figure out what "white to barely cream" means.

I am still sewing my Grassy Creek together.

I’m on the fence. I don’t have garnet in my stash.....zero. Contemplating buying the kit so I don’t use all my pinks and yellows as I actually have something else planned using them. I typically don’t buy yardage greater than two yards so no blue tone large enough so no blue. I really enjoyed doing Good Fortune in real time. Good Fortune was my only Bonnie Hunter quilt experience ever but I learned some techniques that I use all the time and just got the remainder of my extra blocks used up this year when assembling UFO baby quilts.....I finished a bit smaller as I got tired. My Good Fortune is bright and I stuck it in my gifting pile......my kids wanted a quilt to use for an outdoor activity their friends were having at the start of Covid and took that one to sit on....the backing is dark. They use it weekly. They wash it all the time (greater than 25 times) and it still looks great.

My one hesitation is I have many quilts in progress......five waiting to be layered and quilted, another 3 just needing the blocks assembled, and several more kitted out. That said I will probably buy the kit, just trying to decide if I want to drive to pick it up or not. My parents lived near one of the shops for a few years and it might be a fun day trip. I actually stopped by the board and this thread just to see who had the kits this year.

craft, I think it means avoid yellowish and darker neutrals because they won't contrast well with the yellow fabric.

Joe’s Mom: I think you are right. Usually BH call anything up the color of a paper bag a “neutral” but for this quilt suggests keeping the neutrals much lighter. I have some neutrals that read as light pink and I don’t expect to use them either.

Well I ordered a box kit from Quilted Twins and it appears to have already shipped. I certainly can’t complain about service speed!

I love Quilted Twins, Mumto2. They never disappoint.

Has anyone tried a mystery quilt with using multicolor scraps, not colorway scraps... if that makes sense? As long as lights and darks were the same as Bonnie's it might work. I don't know if I'm brave enough to try it though.

NZQuilter Thank you for the recommendation. I am really looking forward to having enough fabric all together and just sewing as the clues come out. No planning for this one. I dream of keeping up but know I will probably fall behind but am looking forward to seeing everyone’s blocks.

Just as Iceblossom…I need to get my Frolic top quilted and bound. I have had it finished for over a year but I kept thinking about adding an additional border to make it a bit larger. I pulled it out earlier this week and decided to skip the border and just get it loaded but now I am having trouble finding the right backing. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/hug.gif

Still pondering this year’s BH mystery but love this thread and reading what’s going on.

I really appreciate people helping with things like the paint chip line (Valspar, at Lowes)!

I agree with the comments about neutrals, unfortunately for me I've been using up most of my white on whites and cream on creams, as well as my palest or low contrast stuff. I used only white on white in the Grassy Creek quilt last time and I know I don't have much left. While I do have a lot of white/light backgrounds (especially with pink bits) this time it looks like I'm using white solid. I always have some in my stash and then when I was trying to stick to solids, I bought a few more yards. At least they were on sale! Now that they are bought, they need to be used.

Looking at Bonnie's color chips, one of them is Raspberry Sorbet. Which means my first song associated with this project is Prince's Raspberry Beret... but that's my problem :) Also in my front yard I have peonies -- one of which is Raspberry Sorbet! There's plenty of pictures of them out there, but since I bought mine from Spring Hill catalog and since I already mentioned the paint chips, here's a picture from Lowes:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Spring-Hill...ony/1002648092

NZ -- If I understand your question, I think you can divide this top into Dark (Garnet), Medium Dark (the Pinks), Medium Light (Yellow) and Light (Neutral) but the hard to prepare for would be the Aqua. She says though we can wait until the last to make up our mind, and maybe the answer is Accent fabric that has everything!!

I went more with value and used a wide range of colors on my Frolic top, but the fabrics were all of a type (hand dyes). For example we basically had two blue paint chips a dark and a light, and I had dark set of purple-blue-green and one light set of a similar color range but I kept the colors to the same side of the color wheel.

The last two quilts were made using sets of fabric, that is we would make XX units of the same combinations and combine them into a single block, with different blocks made of different combinations. If we have the same sort of combinations this time, I think you could have both dark maroon and dark green as well as other colors too -- but I think it would be challenging. If the design is more scattered, it could be lost going strictly on value and not color.

I decided to change the pink to orange, as I have a whole lot more of that. All the oranges are the same value as the yellows, so I don't know how that's going to work out. I guess I'll just have to wait and see. I am also considering changing the aqua to green, but again, that's a wait and see kind of thing.

I spent the past few days cleaning up after piecing a queen-sized top - not enough room to quilt the thing unless I cleared out some space. Turns out I have a ton of cream scraps, so I'm going to see how much of that I can use up. Not to worry, there are a whole lot more where they came from.

I'm trying to upload a photo - wish me luck. I'm not sure if it will work.

Jan
https://www.quiltingboard.com/member...485-623497.jpg

I always enjoy reading everyone’s comments. I do plan to stay up with this project this year. I may rearrange the layout out a bit at the reveal, but I will try to follow as much as I can.

Anyway, I have decided I’m going to change the pinks to lavender & purple; the yellow to a green, (to match a color in my floral); the burgundy color to dark, dark blue (one piece); And keep the tourques as tourques (2 colors that reads almost as 1 color, so it just may work. (Again I’m short 1/4 yard). I got my colors from a floral print I have been wanting to use for years (over 10 years). I really love the fabric. So a few months ago I began slowly looking through my stash and found several pieces that would go with this print. It will be a very controlled scrappy. I am missing 1/4 yard on having enough of my background fabric, so I’m look for 1-2 yards to coordinate if what I have is not enough. My game plan was to only use one fabric color here. I will post pics later this weekend. And ask for comments.

- have fun stash and shopping everyone.

well....I pulled out some old CD's today. And I am rocking now to ABBA! umm...got me thinking...why don't I put together a play list to rock to while doing this mystery! That should make those blocks fly. so ABBA is on my list, Neil Diamond, maybe even John Denver, Dixie Chicks, Anne Murry, some local folks. Sara Thompson, willow green. and Eva Cassidy (most of her albums were released after her death at a young age (33) from melanoma.) umm...I will have to dig some of those old CD's Been years since I have listened to some of them.

SuzSLO, your Grassy Creek is wonderful! I love the changes you made.

I've done many of Bonnie's mysteries - my first was Carolina Christmas. Some remain UFO's. One will probably never be finished, I really don't like the colors or the finale. Although I often change the colors, for that one, I really wanted to stretch myself to use bright colors Bonnie suggested. Blocks are all done, sashing is made, 3 rows together and there it stays. :(

This year, my challenge is to use only one fabric for each color! Since all of those years ago when I did my first BH quilt, I've never done only one fabric for any color in any quilt again. Now, using only one seems hard. The only thing I am not settled on is my dark. I have 2 blues that I am considering. I will be using a variety of neutrals - I have a lot of them after seeing how fun it is to really mix them up and find the unexpected.

Is anyone else thinking that we'll be string piecing neutrals? It's a huge amount of yardage. When I was first introduced to string piecing, I really didn't like it. Now that I realize how much depth it adds, I love it!

Oooh, those are gorgeous, peaceandjoy! Love, love, love the second blue (right hand photo). Single fabrics with scrappy neutrals sounds great.

I agree. The blue in the 2nd photo is gorgeous. More interesting than the other blue, which might be a little less safe. Peace and joy, is the blue going to be your aqua?

So would using whites, off whites, and a very light cream fall into this color line?
Craft

craft, that should be perfect.

I think you are right PeaceandJoy, the neutrals will probably be string pieced. It's a huge amount of yardage and looks like almost half the quilt will be neutrals. There has to be some seam allowance in those calculations. For that reason, I'm going to break away from my standard solid neutrals and go with some tone on tones for variety.

Hmmm.... string piecing, I hadn't considered that, I just figured that a top made of small pieces can be 10-12 yards of fabric and that it would be about half Neutral. I rather enjoyed the border last year, but not so much the sashing.

I've gotten the current project quilted and ended last night with the machine binding. Today I trim the edges and begin the hand binding. I am in the "I can't wait to get this project over and look at some different colors" phase :) It was always the goal though, to get this project done by the end of the year, preferably leaving me totally clear for the winter mystery. My machine had to go the shop (twice!) and I've had other delays but Aunt Debbie will get a surprise quilt.

Doesn't have to be from Lowe's, anywhere that carries Valspar will have them. I've gotten the Sherwin Williams ones from the SW store that is much closer than our Lowe's.

The blue will be my darkest color, so it will replace Bonnie's garnet. My aqua is on the bottom of the pile in the picutre.

Today, I agree with you and SuzSLO on the blue. Tomorrow - who knows?? I waiver between the two!

Yes, I also think you are on the right track. You want to be sure to have enough contrast with the yellows, in particular.

I have never cared for yellow. Part of the reason I like to do Bonnie's mystery is to use up what I have in my stash so I am going to use some sunflower fabric instead of a "yellow" Usually I stick to what she suggests but the more I participate in her mysteries the bolder I feel. I love to see what everyone is choosing and watch the beautiful process as we go along. So fun to see familiar names that do this every year!

Can’t wait! Will be my first

Last year was my first. it was so much fun. Glad you will be joining in.

thanks for the clarification. The only Valspar dealer near me is Lowe's.

Is so nice to see the interest this brings up, both from those that will watch and those that will dive in! Welcome to all :)

I'm still finishing up my current project but I have been pulling fabrics for Rhododendron Trail. I'm pretty happy with my pinks and purples. Need to refine yellow a bit. Need to dig out a few more Garnet or maybe just go with one. Sticking with white solid but it looks so stark next to the prints... Am going to wait for the Aqua but I have some contenders/thoughts in mind.

While the hubby was sleeping in yesterday I further committed to my backing, cut one of the pieces along the long length where I will insert the stack of solid blocks. I also cut some strips for the pieced binding I will be making from those solids I pulled. I'm not using a huge amount but I am bound and determined to use at least some solids and reduce that box so the lid fits better!

Here's a picture of the current selections. I am using the backing fabric for my colors instead of Bonnie's but I think they are actually pretty close -- other than the addition of pure purple instead of all pink.

I have enough of either of the Garnet selections to use on their own. Otherwise I need to find a few more, think I would want at least 4-6 if I am going to randomize.

Iceblossum: I love your colors! Even your white solid looks good. It may work to just use the 2 Garnet fabrics, if you have enough. You will just have to be a little careful as you put the units together so that they are spread evenly throughout the design.

Iceblossom: Your fabrics are awesome! Love the polka dots.

It is so interesting to see how many different fabrics there are in this world.

Iceblossom- Love your fabric choices and I really like your backing fabric, I am looking forward to seeing everyones progress and color choices. With so much neutral this year I am very curious and I am holding off on deciding my colors until the reveal.

I am thinking about using the full yardage amount for the yellow as a bright solid yellow in the whole quilt. Bright yellow reminds me of a bright sunny day. I am having an issue with the pink though. I don't know what shades to go with.

I just love all of the combination for fabric that each one of you are using in your quilt. I am looking forwards to seeing each one of your quilts when you're finish. Lets make a promise to make it to the finish line with our quilts.

Since I'm shopping my stash for this one, I'm mixing it up a little. I've chosen a blueish-green for the pinks, dark blue for the cranberry, a gold or camel color for the yellow and a mauve for the aqua. I need to starch and iron the fabrics so they'll be ready to go.

Craft, I think one yellow would work well. Probably better than my one garnet...

Stitches, love your changes, I'll want to see pictures if you can manage! Did you see Peaceandjoy's picture using a blue instead of garnet??

I am going to have issues if string piecing the neutrals is required, but I found my leftovers from the Grassy Creek project yesterday and put them where I can find them again just in case. I'm sort of hoping we start by making lots and lots of tiny little triangle combinations of neutral/color. Hooray, I also found a couple of yellows I was specifically wanting (which had been used in my current/just finished project), so my yellows are further refined and now I'm done looking for them.

I am hoping to find a specific piece of fabric but no luck so far, (garnet with sprays of lilacs) and I might have given it away. About a year or so ago I packed a box I named "The 80s called, they want their fabric back" that I sent to a board member for a group that makes various projects, primarily for hospice and nursing care. Think some of those ended in there... is ok, is best that they were sent out and used and not still waiting for me.

The pinks and purples in the picture shows about equal purple/pink -- the mix is actually closer to 2/3rds pink but some of of them you don't see. Starting with the dark fuchsia?? circle print next to the start of the purples, there are several 10" squares. I did a lot of fabric swapping back around Y2K and many of these 10" squares are still with me. The rule is "any project that can use them must use them" and I did indeed have some I could use.

Today I take the now finished quilt to the laundromat, I like to do that for the first washing of big stiff quilts. After that they can typically be stuffed into a large capacity home machine. I always pre-wash before giving the completed top to take away any accumulated animal hair or in case anything bad happens. In my last one, the Grassy Creek project there was a flaw in the backing fabric that I did not see until after washing, one little section where 3-4 threads broke, maybe the size of a pencil end. I appliqued a little heart shaped patch over the break point.

And between now and then, I'm going to start putting together the solids I'm using in the backing and binding. Yesterday at group I started making my "random" combinations. It's funny how we can get entirely different ideas from the same words, what I'm doing with the binding is not what most of the ladies thought, my way uses up more fabric :p