Friday, November 25, 2011

Another Orca Bay step completed

Bonnie Hunter must program her mystery steps on a timer to appear automatically early on Friday.  I never expected step 2 to be up and ready at 7 this morning.  I was up at 7 only because a hungry cat had camped out on my chest, and it's really hard to breathe with a 12 lb weight pressing down on your lungs.  So since I was up to feed Molly, I decided to go ahead and check for step 2 of the mystery quilt.  Lo and behold, there it was.  A quick trip to the printer and I had the instructions in my hot little hands.  Then I started reading.
Oh.  Oh. String blocks.  Not my favorite but I decided that I WOULD make them and WOULD use them this time, unlike the last mystery where I spent all that time assembling them and then designed an alternate block instead.  Those string blocks are still sitting in a stack in my sewing room, waiting for a home. 

But these were only 3.5" square, and just 72 of them, and they were so cute,  I decided to jump on it.  I've got a busy week coming up.  Tomorrow and Sunday I have to put up the Christmas decorations, then finish shopping and wrap gifts Monday and Tuesday, make sure there are groceries and such laid in for my husband for the rest of the week, and go out of town Wednesday through Friday to see my Mom.  The best thing to do would be to knock out these blocks this morning. 

So that's what I did.  I grabbed a little breakfast, dressed in my comfy knit pants and started sewing.  I don't have a string bin like many of Bonnie's fans because I don't use string blocks, so I had to first cut strips.  Then, foundation papers from the leftover doodle pads from the last mystery.  Finally I was ready to go. 

I was amazed how quickly they went together.  Even pulling the papers off the backs wasn't much of a job on the small blocks.  And here they are:
So who's afraid of string blocks?  Not me. 

But.......there are more red string blocks coming.  How many, I wonder?

10 comments:

Me and My Stitches said...

I have to laugh at the reason you got up this morning...I have an 18 lb. cat who feels the need to lay on my chest every morning. He about kills me! Between him literally weighing me down, and my DH snoring his fool head off - I'm up early every day! Congrats on getting your blocks for step two finished so quickly!

pcflamingo said...

I have a cat like that, except that he HAS to walk on my head, couldn't possibly go around, to climb through the mini blinds to look out the window at invisible things that only cats can see at 4 a.m. You are a sewing maniac if you have your step 2 string blocks done already! I would hate you if they weren't so pretty! I have 30 blocks done and will probably finish the rest today, if Real Life doesn't intrude too much.

Elaine Adair said...

I've fallen behind in reading your blog - my word, YOU are getting a LOT done, even with a cat on your chest! LOL

I started Orca Bay, but am buried in wonderful ideas and half started projects, but your dear little string blocks might just pull me back into the fray! Pretty.

Julie Kaye from KS said...

You got those done that fast. Wow! I've worked two days and only have 51 done. You are fast.

Ellen said...

You got those string blocks done very quickly and they do look cute!

Aileen said...

Love your colors! I am only half way there. Hoping to finish them today!

marcella said...

Good for you for zipping through those string blocks! I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one without a string bin and love of sewing on paper :-) Off to follow your good example.

Unknown said...

Nice blocks, so spring fresh looking. I'm still struggling with mine. Only 48 so far.

Candace said...

You sound like me, string blocks aren't my favorite to make. I just have to grit my teeth and think about how pretty Bonnie's patterns turn out. Your blocks look great, love the colors.

Helen in the UK said...

I rather like string blocks, but this is the smallest I've every made! They are cute - congrats on getting them done :)