Grand Illusion Part 1 the Wheely way

 Each holiday season my favorite quilt designer/writer/instructor, Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville.com Here, gives her readers a mystery quilt. Over the course of a few weeks she tells us how to make a quilt she has designed. It is a "mystery" because although we know the colors and finished size, we have no idea what the quilt will look like. I live more than half time in a small RV - pick-up camper - so I have some different obstacles in doing Bonnie's mysteries. Bonnie publishes a new clue on Fridays through December and on Mondays she invites us to a "Linky" thing to link our own blog about our quilt progress to those of other quilters... Sorry, I am not explaining that too well hopefully I can DO it better than I can describe it. Actually, that explains why Bonnie is the teacher and I am the quilter! To see other quilter's blogs go Here

We were in the Great Smoky Mtns Nat'l Park when Bonnie revealed the quilt theme and required colors via paint chips from Lowes. 

 I was thrilled to learn this year's quilt Grand Illusion was inspired my the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island Michigan. We were there in September. See the yellow awnings and the aqua porch ceilings?- those are both incorporated into the quilt. I had to wait a few days to find a Lowes where I could get my paint chips and start collecting fabric. We were in SE Kentucky when I found a Lowes with all of the needed chips. Here are the towns where I purchased my Grand Illusion fabrics: Tazewell, Tennessee -- Corbin, Kentucky -- Murfreesboro, Tennessee --Lawton, Oklahoma -- Paris, Texas -- Lubbock, Texas -- Tuscon, Arizona -- Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Here are the colors and paint chips perched on my bedside clothes bin in the camper. 

This is my third Bonnie mystery quilt. Last year my holiday time was limited so I set the goal each week to cut the pieces for the clue and sew just a few then "kit" the rest for future sewing. 

When I left home in March all of Celtic Solstice (last year's mystery) was in this shoe box. (Those are HSTs for Smith Mountain Morning in there now) By the time I returned home in June all of the blocks were complete and ready to be assembled. We left home again before I could get to that so they are still waiting. During the two weeks I was home I busily cut more parts for other blocks. 

 So back to Grand Illusion-- here is my "studio" we are currently at Harris Beach Sate Park on the Southern Oregon Coast. 

Work space on camper table. 

Featherweight, stash & tools under table plus Dan's foot. He does feel a bit crowded out when I start sewing!

My aqua and pink half square triangles all 280+a couple are cut and bagged. I do use the Easy Angle ruler. The strips of blacks and yellow are cut, they will become squares soon. 

We will be home to Salem in a couple days where I can spread out into my sewing room. I will continue with this method of making a Grand Illusion "kit". I have blocks completed for several quilts waiting to be assembled and those will be my stitching priority. 

If any other Grand Illusion makers have read this whole post please let me know. My theory in quilting and in life -- Relish the journey and you will love the destination. Happy Trails