Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Bonnie Hunter Grand Illusion Clue 1 and Clue 2 Finally Complete

I really love Bonnie Hunter; her scrap users system is awesome, and her leaders and enders concept has totally changed the way I quilt.  I love watching quilt cam and I even visited the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in the 1960s, so I could not resist jumping into her 2014 Grand Illusion mystery quilt.  It has been so much more work than I expected!  You know it is bad when the hand piecers finish a clue before you, but I am glad to say I finally got clues one and two done.  It only took me about three months longer than most everyone else, but I will get there eventually.

Clue 1

I had not gotten around to blogging about getting clue one done yet because I had not finished ironing all <<insert VERY large number>> of the pieces.  At least they are all complete.  The first two clues were SO much work.  As I recall, the next two clues are fairly time consuming, but the final two are not so bad.  

Clue 2

I got caught up in the hype.  I will definitely finish this quilt, but I don't think I'll ever do another mystery again.  I really fell in love with last year's Celtic Solstice, though sadly, not until long after the pattern was removed from Bonnie's website prior to being published.  

I had high hopes for this year's quilt and I really, really liked the colors, but I am just not in love with the final design.  I guess I am not alone, because probably one in four or five quilters in Quiltville on Facebook has drastically changed the design, either with sashing or some other significant alteration.  In comparison, I cannot ever remember seeing a single Celtic Solstice that was altered in any way but color.  Do not get me wrong, Grand Illusion is an interesting, unique pattern, with what I think is a more sophisticated modern spirit than any of Bonnie's other designs.  I just find myself yearning for something more like Celtic Solstice. Oh well, live and learn.  I am sure my Grand Illusion will be beautiful when it is done, just like all the ones I am seeing on Quiltville, and Bonnie is still my hero!

Happy quilting

2 comments:

My Life In Quilts said...

Hi Susan. I caught your blog from your recent trip to the 2015 quilter's festival. Beautiful Dear Jane quilts. Anyway, I am making the GIMQ as well and find that I agree with you. I think it is too busy and I wish now I had not done it scrappy. But everyone who sees my progress lives it and I have soldiered on. I am in the final gate now and was ready to finish when I discovered that had not made enough checkered smashing. Only a few more an it will be finished. Good luck with your quilt.
P. S. I downloaded the Celtic Soltice clues last year but am waiting to make it. Someday!

My Life In Quilts said...

Darned smart iPad changed love to live and sashing to smashing.