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 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
