Good Fortune Mystery Quilt Update Week 4

This post is actually two in one. I wrote the first half on Sunday morning and originally posted it in the Quiltville Facebook group. My hope is that it encourages you to keep trying.

I have been quilting for well over 25 years and HST’s have intimidated me until now. When Bonnie released clue two I groaned inwardly but sucked it up and started. They are all sewn but not squared up.

Then came Clue #3. I put it off all last week and tried not to hyperventilate. I spent a wonderful hour last night watching Home Alone with my little girl while I drew lines on my squares. I then fell asleep on the couch reading through the directions for Clue 3 yet again.

This morning I found the courage, yes courage, to sit at my machine to attempt my first half chevron. My anxiety levels were through the roof (too bad I don’t drink-some Bailey’s in coffee would have been in order) and my stomach was knotted up.

My internal cheerleader kept saying, “Come on, you CAN do this! It’s just fabric!”

And then there was that mental imp that reminded me of what I told a friend, Tracey, just last evening.

“If you mess up, whoops, you get the opportunity to try again.”

So with that I present to you my first try at half chevrons with the bonus buddy hst’s. After a couple of seam adjustments they are the perfect size, though one corner is a but wonky.

I said all of that to remind y’all that we are our own worst enemy. We tell our kids it’s ok to fail and that we learn through failure. Why does that premise not hold true for us?

Here’s to the next stack of half chevrons. 🍻🍺🍸🍹🍷☕

By comparison, Clue #4 is as simple as it gets. String or strip piecing orange fabrics. While reading through Bonnie’s directions, I snickered a bit at the “cop out method”.  Believe me, I considered it because I have so much going on right now.

Instead, I dug out an assortment of orange fabrics and cut tons of strings in varying widths. Too many I’m afraid. They’ll get used up somewhere else, though.

Paper piecing was the method I originally planned to use, but the thought of tearing papers made me turn up my nose. Strips sets were my choice. And I love, love, love how they turned out. So random and scrappy.

I’m extremely happy to actually have one clue done in a timely manner. Clue #1 is finished also, so I’m feeling pretty pleased right now.

  • Clue #1 – done!
  • Clue #2 – need to finish squaring them up
  • Clue #3 – three done, far from finished, intimidation squashed!
  • Clue #4 – done!

My furry little helper decided to watch me this week. She has been super clingy lately and apparently didn’t like the fact that the attention wasn’t on her. She kept walking between me and the machine.

Do you have a furry quilter’s helper? Tell me about them in the comments.

Linking up with Bonnie over at Quiltville. Until next week, may your sewing time be blessed with productivity.

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