Oh, my. Bonnie Hunter is a great motivator. I wanted to come home from our guild meeting last Friday and cut up my whole stash. But I quelched that wild idea with the reminder to myself that I had a deadline. And you know how I am with deadlines! We’ll talk about that later. But first:
Meet Bonnie Hunter! She is the Queen of Scraps, in my humble estimation. And boy, did she have some quilts to show us to prove her point. And great ideas for cutting up your stash to utilize it well.
Bonnie used the quilt behind her to show how she cuts her stash into various sizes of strips, squares and bricks to create numerous variations of blocks. And she had some beautiful quilts to show us how that technique works for her. And I wanted to go home and cut up my entire stash and start on some fabulous quilts of my own.
I love the log cabin-y look of this quilt. And it’s even better in person. I wish you all could have been there.
This one was amazing too. What a great way to use up all your fabrics. Bonnie encouraged us that if we still had some millenium fabric lying around, use it up! I didn’t confess to all of the milleniums fabrics I have. Shhhh….it’ll be our little secret.
The gals who were lucky enough to spend the day with Bonnie for the workshop got up and showed their blocks too. Nice.
This log cabin quilt was exquisite. I love log cabin quilts! And I liked this one so much I took multiple pics.
And you get to see them all…..
I had to put my hand in one pic. Just so you could see how small those strips in the log cabin blocks were. Tiny! Now you can scroll back up to see the whole quilt again. Remembering how tiny the strips are. Go ahead. I’ll wait. Scroll up. Actually, I’ll use this time to go cut my entire stash into .75″ strips so I can make one of these too. But if I cut up my whole stash, I think I’d be able to make about 457 of these quilts. Don’t tell Dear Hubby. He thinks I only have enough fabric for 217 quilts.
This one is pretty awesome too. Lots of squares! I think she might have used her leaders and enders to make this one. A great idea she gave us. Instead of using a little scrap of fabric over and over again at the end of chain piecing, actually sew two squares together. Then you essentially are making two quilts at the same time. That Bonnie is one clever girl.
These little four patches make a really nice quilt. Bonnie loves putting that pink and orange together. Very daring.
How about this one? I had to give you a closer look…..
Looks like four patches and connector corner blocks to me. Simple, yet very effective.
Then Bonnie showed us how to bargain shop for additions to our stash. Big old plaid shirts from a thrift store. And how about a hospital gown. Memories stitched into a quilt.
The center of this quilt was made entirely of recycled items. Shirts and such. Very cool. Now I not only have to cut up my entire stash, but I also have to raid Dear Hubby’s closet for old shirts. I’m going to be in such trouble.
Here’s an up-close look. Just because.
I love plaids too. Seems me and Bonnie could be great friends in the quilting world. We like the same things! Simple, traditional, pieced quilts and very scrappy. How about an up-close look at this one too?
Love the red check that makes up the corners. Simple blocks make up this quilt. And I love it.
This one is the same basic block. Only with sashing to change it up a bit. Have I mentioned what a smart girl Bonnie is?
See how cute? And such a simple block.
I love, love, love, love, love, love, love, LOVE this one. Love the brown and blue. Love the plaids and checks.
Isn’t it fabulous? Oh, Bonnie, where have you been all my life? Wait. She’s been right here! Bonnie’s website – you must check out her website. She has so much there to see. Free patterns too. And wonderful ideas for using up your stash. That is if you can get off the computer long enough to actually sew. You could spend some serious time at Bonnie’s website.
Even the backs are cute. Just throw some leftover blocks back there and piece a cute back.
What a great border. What a great quilt! Love how the red just pulls everything together.
Another fabulous one. Did I mention I love scrappy?
Look at all the different fabrics here. What a great way to use up a stash!
Bonnie has such a fun, motivating way of talking about them all too. Did I mention I’m fixin’ to cut up my whole stash?
Nice how she incorporates some fabric in the sashing that requires a shopping trip for something new too. Like the red in this one. That way we can feel good about using up our stash. And we get to feed our fabric addiction by shopping for new stuff for sashing and borders. Way to go, Bonnie.
You know me. I can’t stop with the close ups. Bet you thought that small red check was pink before you saw this close up, didn’t you?
Once again. She shopped for the cheddar fabric for this one. And the rest is just scrappy, scrappy!
Had to give you an up-close again. Just because you needed to see those fabrics.
And this is the hand piecing that Bonnie stitches in little 15 minute segments of “found” sewing time. Just whenever she has a bit of time to stitch. And it’s gorgeous.
See? Fabulous. Beautiful. Over-the-top gorgeous. I have plans to make a hexagon quilt one day. Plans. That’s the difference between me and Bonnie. We might like the same things, but she actually completes the quilts. I have plans. And without a deadline, I’m pretty dead in the water.
Maybe I need to hang around Bonnie more?
So if you hear of Bonnie Hunter doing a program near you, run, don’t walk, to see her. Her quilts are worth seeing. And she has a fun, lively program that will motivate you.
Just be ready to go home and cut up your whole stash. I’ll be starting on mine just as soon as I give myself a deadline.
Hugs,
Barb
Just Sayin' Sew 
Thanks for a gorgeous feast of inspiration! I will have the images of the cheddar and the red check that looks pink until you get up close, in my head for a long time. I know what to do with those baskets of leftover yardage that are looking full enough to topple over. Fixin’ to cut up my stash, too…
Loved the quilts and all the close-up pictures! I really loved the borders on her quilts! They’re like a whole additional quilt with all the piecing! Very inspirational!
Yes, Barb I agree. Bonnie was a fabulous speaker and I also came away from Guild very motivated to save every scrap I ever cut off a piece of fabric. I probably won’t do it, but she makes it very tempting.
Wow, I feel bad for ever throwing a scrap away! But now I don’t have to feel bad anymore, I will just save them all. Feels inspiring just to want to do the saving part! Bonnie is very creative…I checked out her webpage–great tips! Thanks for another entertaining and inspiring blog, Barb! 🙂
Motivated to use your scraps is an understatement……………….and love her quilts! All we need is LOTS MORE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!! Again, thanks for sharing wonderful photos for inspiration.
Thank you for taking the pics of Bonnie’s trunk show. She just does such fabulous work. Wish I could have been there! Inspires me to save even smaller scraps! :()
Thanks Barb, for bringing Bonnie to us. Very inspirational and fun!
Wow amazing quilts! Thanks for sharing all the pictures.
WOW!!!! AMAZING!!!! Am sitting here pondering………
Thanks for all of the pics. You KNEW what we’d want to see. Totally share your praise and enthusiasm for Bonnie.
Thanks for this wonderful treat. Can’t wait till I have opportunity to attend one of her shows. I’ve made a few of her wonderful quilts.
Thanks for ALL the wonderful pics…. not sure if I am motivated as I am still drooling….
I have plans. And without a deadline, I’m pretty dead in the water. I am with you gal… lets make a deadline….. Thursday…. deadline is Thursday…..
Actually I know I have millium fabrics but I don’t know where they are…. well, they are probably in storage area one…. in the back…… lets just use the scraps that are in the house….. Thursday…… now that is a plan……. Thursday
Thanks for all the great pics of ME too!! LOL!! I am in the blue and white striped shirt!
What a gloriously colorFULL review of Bonnie’s TVQG show ‘n tell! Thanks, Barb, I will revisit this again and again! Bonnie is such a motivator and inspirational quilter! Back to cutting those teeny tiney pieces!
Oh my Bonnie Hunter is on the loose in Texas. My dear quilting friend, Linda, is a Bonnie fanatic. She and I are doing a leader/ender challenge that has to be completed in May for Linda’s birthday. Well, guess what, she is doing 3, did I say three of them. I’ll be lucky if I finish one. We only have to have over 400 four patches and 250 or so half square triangles. On with the lender/ender process. Thanks Barb for sharing such awesome quilt pictures. Bonnie will be in Pigeon Forge, TN in March. Can’t wait.
thanks for showing the fabolous pictures. Actually I can’t wait to meet the Scrap Queen, I’ll meet her on Friday in GERMANY. Luckily I’m in 3 of her workshops! and of course I’m going to see the trunkshow – I’m really excited
Hugs Brigitte
How fun to get a comment all the way from GERMANY! Thanks, Brigitte! I know you will enjoy meeting Bonnie on Friday…..
You really captured her presentation!! Terrific photos.
What a great recap of Bonnie’s program. I love the picture of the hospital gown. I was seriously eyeing a couple of the hospital gowns my mom wore the last time she was in the hospital. Everyone looked at me like I was crazy.
Just LOVE your post on Bonnie Hunter’s visit. I am jealous!! Love your pictures on the blog! They are so nice. I’m bookmarking your site 🙂
Jacqui in Canada
Excellent job, Barb!
Oh, how I wanted to go to this when she was in the DFW area, but alas, I am not a member of any quilt guilds, so I missed it. Lovely post and photos, Thanks so much for the sneak peek of what have been a most wonderful time!!
You can come visit TVQG. You do not have to be a member if you want to visit sometime.
🙂
I love the quilt made from the shirt and gown can u tell me the name of it and point me to the pattern,.,. please thank you I have always wordered about the color scheme and now with these quilts I feel like u can be free and use what ever u grab so I am excited and ready to do it
I missed the meeting due to a migraine headache, so I’m glad you made pictures of Bonnie’s cool quilts to share with us. Scrappy is my thing, too. It’s messier because of all the fabric that’s pulled for each project, but I love the look.
Thanks for this! I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thank you for all the great pictures you post here! I thoroughly enjoy your little gatherings and big ones — I’d love to be member of your gang 🙂 ‘Course, I’m no longer in TX, so looking at the pics are the next best thing.
I love Quiltsville. I have a pattern in mind as soon as I get really good at my Accuquilt Go Baby. It is all 2 1/2 inch and 4 inch squares.
Thanks for sharing! Now when you have finished cutting up your stash will you come help me with mine?
All your work is ammazing Do u ever sleep? or going to the ………..lol
What is your advice 4 newbies? where to begin from?
Thanks for sharing your great photos. I’m a big fan of Bonnie’s too … have a modified version of her scrapusers system, have all her books, have done 2 of her mysteries and several of the patterns on her website. She sure has a talent for using scraps and multiple fabrics. I’m working on one of her scrappy bargello quilts right now. Glad you’ve become a ‘Bonnie convert’ 🙂
Thanks so much for making a video of Bonnie. I was blessed to be able to meet her and LEARN from her.
Your picture taking is so perfect!
I loved your 2 Bonnie Hunter blog posts. Very entertaining. I love the scrappy look too, but don’t get a lot accomplished. Don’t know how Bonnie does it all.
I really enjoyed your blog – and UNDERSTAND your excitement. I have been BONNIE FAN since I found her website just as she was sharing her first Mystery Quilt – Carolina Crossroads. She is AMAZING and PROLIFIC! Gald you got to see her and thanks for the great pictures!!!
sao in Midlothian, VA
Great pics – thanks for sharing! Read your ‘other’ Bonnie post as well and wished I had commented from Germany, but just yesterday I landed back in Michigan…
Yep, once you have met her, seen her quilts and heard her quilting stories, you are hooked. Forever. BFF – I hear ye 😉
Fabric Fanatics…when only batiks will do! 542 Haggard Street, Plano, Suite 510, Plano, Texas 75074 972-881-7750, will be hosting Bonnie Hunter New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and January 2, 2012. Bonnie will be doing a mystery on New Year’s Day, the other two workshops have not been decided. Check us out on Facebook at Fabric Fanatics to find out more.
Hi Barb –
Thanks so much for sharing your pics of Bonnie’s quilts. I recently became familiar with her sight and wonderful quilts.
I left the Trinity Guild five years ago when we moved to Missouri and I cannot tell you how much I miss the meetings, speakers, classes and inspiration of the guild. Keep up the great work and I look forward to future postings of guild speakers.
Donna Wells
Bolivar, MO
Hi, I love her quilts also. A special thanks for posting the pictures as I am working on one that is her nine patch split, it is like the one with the red triangles set on the diagnol. On her website she has that quilt with it done in a different design. My first quilt was a grandmother’s flower garden I did by hand after my mother died. I do not have it quilted but the top was done in about six months. It really went fast as it is all whip stitiching. So, I wish you luck on doing a hexagon one. My second was a paper pieced double wedding ring wich is almost all sewen together. And I work on a dresden plate one. I love to hand sew. Anyway, I keep coming back to Bonnie’s work because I like her traditional colors and designs and the way she tries new patterns with old blocks. Once again, thanks for posting the pictues.. Rita Hawes of Kasson Mn.
I am looking to buy “Scrap Happy & Loving It” but cannot find it.
Could someone advise me where I could order it.
Thanks, Donna
Just learning about the internet & quilt blogs. WOW, talk about a motivational tool. I love everyone’s site but this was WONDERFUL.
looking for vintage pictures, bonnie made a trip to ireland and gave us a tour of a quilt shop, infact her whole trip, she found a quilt called seven sisters made with hexagons, just wanted to find the pics of that trip.
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You did a great job writing this. I love me some Bonnie