Perusing the thread for all these finishes! Some amazing work here. Iceblossom if you didn't mention it, I'd never have noticed that duckie! Every one of them is astounding, and far beyond my current skills. I'm *so* very glad I didn't give this one a try - it would have been my first BH mystery. Feel like I dodged a bullet there, lol. I'm sure I'll be tempted next year!

Wow! Great progress pictures and great quilt finishes! Congratulations!

Iceblossom, your finished Frolic didn't disappoint those of us waiting to see it. It is stunningly bright and cheerful. Congrats on finishing it and in good humor too:). I've thoroughly enjoyed your ongoing commentary and progress report and will miss your posts.
My blocks are all done though I am still considering how to mellow it down a bit with changes in the sashings.

I noticed today on Quiltville Studio some are toning down the busy with 2" and 2.5" finished sashing, not pieced. I think with the larger sashing the leftover (if you have any) little four patches could be used for the cornerstones.

Love seeing the finishes come through, well done everyone!

Origami, SusieQ and Iceblossom, your tops are fantastic! Iceblossom, I'm wild about that backing!

Bonnie's quilts are best viewed from a distance. Up close, you see the individual pieces rather than the overall pattern. I remember when I brought my Grand Illusion to my LQS (now closed) I asked the ladies go to the back of the shop while I stood near the front door to show them the quilt, LOL.

I worked some more on putting the rows together. Half of the top is pieced. Not sure I’m liking it as much as some of the others I have done. I get bored with the piecing of rows. Has not happened with any others. But I will plug along and get it finished. LOL. I am joining the blocks “on point”. But I have a question...if you pieced it in horizontal rows, did you need extra half-block units? I might change my mind about the layout and take it all apart.

wall hanging
 

Here is a picture of the wallhanging. It is a panel I bought a year or two ago.
I ended up using a walking foot to quilt lines on the two borders, two horizontal lines on the navy and sort or a wide piano key following the print.

Wow, I’m loving everyone’s progress and finished quilts, they are all beautiful! I’ve still only got 3 blocks done and I’m going to make it a much smaller size and perhaps make a few additional blocks to get 2 quilts out of it, perhaps a couple of twin sizes and I’ll change up he borders on one of them as I do have sufficient left overs to use.

I’m just really burned out on making Queen and King size quilts right now 😳and I’m in the last stages of redoing my sewing room, so I’m not really motivated to sew until the painting is done this coming Friday, as I do have to take down my design wall so he can paint the crown molding.

I am also enjoying everyone's projects. Yes it's busy but that blue/red Lemoyne type star is so classic. I think the people that used yardage really had it good for this project. I have my backing fabric washed and cut into three lengths: two matching and "perfect" length, one a little short -- as a hint to myself I marked the slightly short one with safety pins in But I still have to figure out how I'm going to be putting in my 9 extra blocks made from the setting triangle leftovers. I really liked the different design that comes from slicing it down the middle diagonal but since the blocks are whole, maybe I'll make a diagonal step of like 5 blocks and then fill it in with half blocks, I've attached an idea sketch from my notebook (you'll also see my notes on those corner units).

Alva, if you put it horizontal you can always finish off those half blocks into whole ones if you want the top bigger. I'd probably make the quilt rectangular if I did lay it horizontal.

I had my XFL football game yesterday, a day of zero sewing but a lot of fun. I was the one who wanted to go but the hubby sure enjoyed himself, it was our first football game together and his "live" version is much more animated than his "house bound" version.

Today is our usual bowling date and thrift store runs. He's still in bed but I'm doing some more clean-up from the Project (found some of my light parakeet greens that had fallen behind some boxes that I wish I had been able to use). Oh, speaking of boxes, last week the City inspector came in and said "yes, that is a water heater and yes that is earthquake strapping, where's your paperwork?" and that was the last chapter of the new water heater and the boxes can be moved back into the family room until we go through them and get rid of what is inside. Of course they got covered with fabric in the six weeks or so they've been in the living room...

I went ahead and cut one block. If I decide to back out at this point (which I don't think I will do) and make a lap quilt out of my blocks, well -- I still have enough in that huge pile of scraps to make another block.

First shot is my initial thought and would have been better if I had just kept them at half blocks, but I wanted the chance to change out some blocks on the top, so here they are sliced.

Second shot is the stepped approach, whole blocks edged with sliced blocks. Again, both of these concepts would be a diagonal bar across the back of the quilt. I had 9 and still have 8 blocks which I could just butt next to each other and place down the center of the back, that would give enough extra width for quilting.

Edit: In the slice shot, that bottom is one of the light green/yellow combinations that gave me fits. The next shot has a really visible Funky Monkey goose unit in the first whole block. Unfortunately there is no diagonal for me to slice it away... Such are the reasons the blocks ended up on the back. Actually, there are only 3 what I considered bad, 3 were acceptable, and 3 were perfectly fine. And I did still end up with some of those Monkeys on the top...

Claire, thank you for the pic. It's so lovely!!

I'm in a funk. After all that work I really don't like the end result! Not sure what I'm going to do with it.
I started a new quilt for my baby granddaughter and am happy again! :)
It's called All You Need is Love and a Cat. Darling pattern!

I don't think so, as you can't stagger the blocks, you know 4 blocks one row, 2 blocks and 2 1/2 blocks on the next, the sashing wouldn't work out. At least that's my thought without looking at my blocks.

I Really didn't like one, it had 3" blocks in it and by that time that was Way Huge to me :) But it made a fine back.

edited to add photo

This top is done. Need to decide whether to add a “calm down “ border. May layer today; may be all done by next weekend. Or I may pull out 2 UFO’s and do those instead.

Krisb, I love your pinwheel border!

Thank you. The sawtooth borders just didn’t go with the body of the quilt, in my mind.

Iceblossom, I agree. Those that made this quilt of yardage and perhaps solids would have a more pleasing result. I love scrappy, and make almost all of my quilts with scraps but for me this one does not fit my taste. The overall busy look of this quilt has turned me away. I understand the joy of the challenge but I fear I would be like SuzieQOH, frustrated by the amount of work for a piece that I did not take pleasure in. The fabrics that I had set aside from my stash will return to their bins and show up in other efforts. I will continue to lurk and post but I am bowing out on starting this mystery. I have so many other quilts on my "To Do" list that I won't miss this one.

Iceblossom: I am glad both of you enjoyed your game. I watched part of it and thought about both of you.

KalamaQuilts and Krisb: Lovely!

Depends on if you intend to hang the quilt, or use it on a bed. On a bed, mostly all you notice is the center.
A not-too-wide white strip would tie in the inner border though, and bring attention to the pieced border.

I saw what I think is my favorite arrangement of the HST border this morning on Quiltville. The red HSTs are arranged to form triangles with their base against the first border, with the blue HSTs arranged to form triangles with their base forming the outer edge. This leaves the neutrals to form a zig zag between the two colors.

I admire you all who have so much accomplished with Frolic. I feel like a hamster in a wheel. I’m only making 15 blocks with sashing with horizontal rows and it seems as if I will never finish. I have all the subunits sewn and trimmed. I have 8 blocks sewn with two rows put together. Then I will have to decide what to do with a border. The sawtooth is not for me. Sigh.

I’m dismayed by how much fabric I cut that I don’t need. I know some of that’s on me because I chose not to make the pieced setting triangles for the on point layout. However those pieces notwithstanding , there’s an awful lot of fabric cut up into pieces that I have to figure out what I will make with them. Lesson learned.

I’m stubborn so will finish this but I’m with Susie QOH.. it’s an awful lot of work.

JanieW- I wouldn't have minded if I liked the end result but I don't lol
I also have tons of scraps left and I don't like scraps!! Oh well............ :)

I am not enamored with this quilt design either. It might be the colors though. I couldn’t sleep last night so I got back up around midnight and worked for two hours on getting rows put together. I have 3 more to do. Sashing on between the blocks but not between the rows on the remaining rows. Should be able to get the top together, minus the outside borders this morning. I haven’t decided how I want to do the borders. I have all those half-square triangles to use though. Ugh!

I'm not using all those HST's on mine. It's busy enough!!!
I'll save them for something else, or a lot of somethings haha

Finished Frolic top
 

Just finished my Frolic flimsy. It measures 105” square. So good to be back to the Board. Years ago I was victim to a scam that restricted by access.

Emma S, that's gorgeous! Your border is very effective. I've been considering using setting triangles rather than the half blocks, so seeing yours will be a big help in deciding that.

I'm sorry we have some in the group who are disappointed with the outcome. There are at least two things you can count on with a Bonnie mystery -- it will be a very busy quilt and it will be a lot of work to put together. I guess we should point this out to first-timers (but on the other hand, I wouldn't want to scare anyone away from trying the mystery).

Emma S- yours came out beautifully! I wish I hadn't used so many fabrics. Yours really looks good.
joe'smom- I'm glad I did this even though.........
If I hadn't I would have missed out. At least I gave it a shot.

One of the reasons I started using just one fabric for each color a couple of years ago was to simplify the appearance and the process. It is true that her quilts are very detailed and take twice the time, if not more. I am kind of hooked. This was my seventh and after awhile it becomes hard to break the tradition. I read where one person increased the size of the units by a certain amount. I wasn’t sure that would work but thought it was a good idea. Normally I refuse to make any unit smaller than 2.5”, Bonnie is my one exception.

welcome home Emma!!! Your quilt is stunning, well done.
I have 9 blocks with sashing all combined, I'm pretty chuffed, it is so cute.

I'm a bit of a smarty pants about scams, but I got caught last week, I hope it doesn't come back to bite us.
We've sold on Craigslist many times, the things I put up last week, a text came in right away,
someone seemingly a little leery of online sales...and would Rob text him back a "code" so he would know if he was a Real Person. I didn't catch it in time and he did. Apparently with that code and your phone number they can set up a craigslist account and fake sell stuff.
Since the norm is cash, in person, for the handoff I hope no one will be scammed that way. Apparently it is pretty common, to me it seems like it would be a lot easier to just get a job.

Welcome back, Emma! That is a beautiful flimsy. Congratulations on finishing it.

Absolutely Lovely! I like the soothing colors. It is astounding how much difference the color choices make in a quilt.

My guild has about 8 or 9 who are making the BHMQ this year and all have "tons" of unused pieces. They are considering making another quilt using their scraps. That plan leaves no one with orphan blocks or orphan pieces. :D

Good idea. I will either use mine or donate them to someone who will. I don't want to waste all that fabric.
Maybe I can make some sort of a top with all the pieces and use the HST's for the border.

Double check
 

Emma, I yout finish but unfortunately one of the blocks is not quite right. It's the center one on the top. If you haven't quilted it yet you may decide to fix it......or it can be a design decision! Mine is still on my floor as I assemble row by row! (Sorry but I would want someone to let me know if it were mine).

I too use yardage most years. If I include scraps, then it's only for one or two colors. BH's quilts are too busy for me to compound with too many fabrics. I haven't touched Frolic in weeks because of travel and work, but hope to get back to it this weekend. I've got about 15 of the blocks put together so far, so need to get focused and finish.

I've done 7 of Bonnie's MQ's and I thought Frolic was the most fussy, with more little pieces and extra instructions than usual. And none of the previous MQs had so many left over pieces. Usually I have to make a few more sections when putting it together rather than having lots extra. That said, I like the pattern and will like the finished product, although I will simplify the sashing and not put it on point so it's a bit less busy.

Ah, Frolic. Just another UFO. I admire all of you who completed your quilts. There is always next year. I regret not using yardage this year. Last year I did and loved it, it seems to control the tiny pieces and gives some sort of order.

For all my complaining I really did enjoy doing this with all of you!!!
Next time I'm just going to use fewer fabrics. Bonnie's designs are so busy but I didn't realize how it would
turn out until it was too late.
I love scrappy quilts but hers are too much so (for me) :)

Every year I tell myself I will wait until the reveal so I can make choices with understanding, but I always get carried away and have to join the fun. Maybe next year. If I could make any changes to this year's quilt after the fact, it would be to use a single interesting neutral for that faux second block. I really like the quilts I've seen that have a distinctive constant neutral.

I did not find the mystery as much fun the year I used constant fabrics, but my fabrics weren't all that interesting. However, I could definitely appreciate the less busy appearance of the top. Some year I hope to find some really interesting constant fabrics to use.

I have been following on instagram and my favorite variations are those that used yardage or a high percentage of solids. I really enjoyed following along with the mystery this year, but it is done during one of the craziest parts of my work year and I really struggled to keep up. I rushed a few steps out of impatience and inexperience that I am paying for now....and I refuse to rip all those flying geese and resew them. Next year I think I will wait until after the reveal before starting.

I am still plugging along with my frolic, I am managing a block about every two days. 10 more to go, then the setting half blocks and corners.

Wow i got caught up on all the posts this evening and I really admire all the finishes and appreciate all of the advice. Work got a little crazy so I haven’t finished clue 5 yet but I’ll get there eventually! Of course now I’ve decided that I have to finish either En Provence or Good Fortune first since I’m so far behind on Frolic!

I'm following along with those still reporting in! I haven't completed my back or binding yet but I have decided that I am definitely going with the 5 blocks stepped in a diagonal with the remaining blocks sliced in half and pieced in as well.

I've taken the week off quilting to do some costuming/stuff for the football game. We had such a good time last weekend we are going this week too. We went thrift store shopping for the sales on President's day and came home with all sorts of stuff. Colors are basically safety orange, dark primary green, and a bit of primary blue. Hubby said that if I made him a dragon onesie he would wear it... I'll post pictures after Saturday! I found a large adult green onesie (non-dragon version) at Value Village for $3. I've put on a dragon belly and scales down the back and tomorrow have to finish the dragon hat. (edit: He said no tail but might just change his mind if we go again)

My outfit is "Granny Dragon" and is mostly bought, bright metallic scale leggings under a demure black skirt, green or orange long sleeved shirt with grey official team t-shirt over the long sleeves. Plus a dragon hat thing we bought my son some 20 years ago... But I still want to make a little banner thing tomorrow, I've been working on the hubby's outfit most of the day. We also found a safety orange fleece blanket for less than $5 along with some green sparkly trim which was the first project of the day.

I used to do a lot of garment construction/costuming. This is probably the first thing in 20 years that I've done, certainly this is the first non-quilting (other than a repair here or there) I've done in the 15 years hubby and I have shared our wedded bliss :)