Orca Bay upcycle!

This time last year I was loving the excitement of joining in on Bonnie Hunters yearly mystery ( my first ), Orca Bay.

Here is one of the photo's I took for the blog link up.
All was going well, until I started to put all these star blocks together with the string blocks....................

Blue string blocks

gold/orange string blocks, with our sweet Rosie

That's when I ended up with Ocean Waves, rather then Orca Bay. Talk about wavy!!!!!!
 This was the moment I threw the lot in the headache box! I had some advice to join in blocks, rather then in rows as Bonnie said. But by now my Mojo & excitement for the project was over!

Until a few months ago I had the idea to 'upcycle' the star blocks.

Tada!!.................................... Not bad aye? I have made this for one of my family members, fingers crossed it is liked.

The back has some lovely fabric with star blocks & I even used a star block in the label.

For the plain 6" blocks I used a new stencil, well part of the stencil, then I did orange peel on the background of the star blocks.

For the border I also used a new stencil, a celtic knot/ rope. I used a new thread too....'Glide' I also tried Miracle Chalk, which a friend lent me to try. I tested on a piece of the border fabric, it came out like a breeze. I quilted, went to iron off as instructed, it didn't come out of the needle holes!!! ARG.....slight panic ( note this stuff is very messy to work with ) I tried a damp cloth, I was reluctant to try again with the iron, as my thread is a polyester, I didn't want to melt it. I contacted Diana at Stitchworks who suggested I try a hair dryer or the brush attachment on my vacuum cleaner. YES!! that worked!!

A few more photo's.................

Artfully? rolled in the garden..........................................

I found a spot in the lounge to enjoy it until it goes to it's new owner.

I also finished another book......................

An eclectic bunch of people with a mixed up lot of problems come together at an Amish widows home to learn to quilt. Say that 10 times fast!!!!

Happy New Year to all, may all your hopes & dreams come true!