Linda, we did a brown bag challenge in my guild several years ago. Participants brought in lunch bags with four or five fabrics representing their favorite sandwich. The leader swapped the bags and we all designed a quilt from the "sandwich makings" we got. Mine was a BLT and I made a small trip around the world quilt. Is your mystery the same concept?

I've really been suffering from inertia since my shoulder surgery last month. This weekend I'm going to try to break the habit and get busy doing...something! Anything! The house needs cleaning, the flower bed needs weeding, projects need sewing... DH has choir rehearsal tomorrow morning so I'll try to get motivated while he's out of the house.

Donna

Using the bin of 2 1/2" squares to make a ton of two patches, then half a ton of four patches. No plan in mind, just sew.

Theresa

Donna, we are using a different concept for our mystery. The quilt for the Brown Bag Mystery has been designed by Karen Montgomery and several shops are participating. We purchased brown bags with 5 one yard cuts of fabric. Five paint chips were attached to the outside of the sealed bag along with cutting instructions for fabric A-E. It did not matter which fabric was assigned to which letter. We started on March 18 and go to the shop every 2 weeks to pick up the next clue. There are some online shops participating too. They mail out their clues. There is also a private Facebook page for the participants.

I have written about my quilt on my blog. Quilting Linda

I have wrapped up several things and continue on my applique project that I hope will keep me busy for awhile. My local thrift stores had a quilt sale of all the donated quilts, books and fabrics all at once starting today so that stirs up the creativity. Then a local guild has their big show and that is always a treat. I need to get a piecing project going.

I'm going to gather up some items for exhibiting in the Hernando County Fair. The LQS is offering to take in items and handle it this year. They will do all the displaying work. I think this is very nice of them. But they always have a display of their wares there every year so they were going to be there anyway. They are trying to make the exhibit better. I had looked into it once a few years ago and they would only take stuff in one day before the fair and I'm pretty sure they were asking for an entrance fee although when I mentioned it to the LQS they said no but I think different.

Maybe I'll work on the April lotto block, but I really need to concentrate on 'thinking'. My next big project is a bed cover for my youngest granddaughter - age 8, but I'd really like to make it 'timeless', if that makes any sense. Her 95 year old great grandmother made a crocheted square that I'll turn into a pillow. I'd like to make the bed cover (quilt) in something that will work with this pillow - BRIGHT colors, as Olivia says! I'm typically a 'shabby chic' type, or old fashioned, but Olivia's mother is a thoroughly modern Millie! soooo, I have to come up with something that doesn't look like an old-time quilt. A 'thinking' weekend.

I think I'll start putting a few of the Random Rail Blocks together. We're being treated at Red Lobster tomorrow to celebrate our 58th wedding anniversary which was the 28th, so any sewing will be in the morning and possibly on Sunday. Like Theresa, sometimes I just sew........and figure out what to do with what I sewed later on. :-)

Congratulations Sharon! What a wonderful accomplishment!

It's rainy and cold here today, also! I cleaned house and am getting everything ready to start babysitting our granddaughter full time starting on Monday. Charlotte is 3 months, so lots of cuddle time! DIL gave me a huge bag of toys she got at a garage sale, so got them wall washed. Pulled out a huge box of books to read to her.

Tomorrow I am doing a rescue dog transport in the afternoon from Cheyenne, WY to Loveland, CO so that will take a few hours, but I am hoping to make progress on the fox baby quilt I am working on. I also got some fabric to make a couple of sun dresses - I have sewn clothes in so long, I hope I remember how!

Sue

Beth - I saw this on Facebook today and thought of your quandry for your granddaughter's BRIGHT modern quilt. Sue

Breath of Fresh Air quilt.

Love those colours!

Theresa

Wow!! That's a beauty, pd!!! Thanks! and I think that a bright turquoise or jade will be one of the colors, too!!

Working on the April lotto blocks.

We have a few short Girl Scout activities for a few of the girls this afternoon, then I hope to get borders on the bird quilt. Was planning on doing it last night, but had a major allergy attack and couldn't stop sneezing. Welcome to Spring in Va!

After borders go on, the next BIG hurdle is figuring out quilting on this thing. I have some ideas, but not sure if I can pull it all off on my own.

Just had a disappointing call from the sewing machine techie. It seems that the tension on the pfaff is really "screwed up" and he is having difficulty finding a service manual. So " be patient". I did recently think about upgrading but there is a fair bit of money invested in this. Only two years old. I do have two other machines I can piece on but neither one is the best for quilting. What to do? What to do?

Theresa

Gonna work on the pieced backing I need for my patriotic quilt and maybe I can get it sandwiched before tomorrow is over.

Oh, no, Theresa! I hope "be patient" doesn't mean the price is increasing the longer he has it. :(

Donna

No. Donna, he is a very good service person. And the tension problem has him stymied. I think he is as Anxious to solve it as I am.

meanwhile I am using my older pfaff to piece two patches.

Theresa

Congratulations to Sharon on sticking it out for 58 years. Such a major accomplishment in today's world.

Congrats, Sharon. I guess will are just younguns with only 43 yrs for us. I did a lot of sewing this past weekend on my daughter's quilt. I really like how it is coming and can't wait to share.