"Orca Bay"

     Yes, the Bonnie Hunter "Orca Bay".    I know I'm a little late to the party but back in 2011 I wasn't sure I really had it in me to do Orca Bay in the time frame Bonnie had laid out so I didn't join in but I did print off the instructions.    When "Easy Street" was announced in 2012 I was out of work for over a week because of Hurricane Sandy.  I live right smack dab in the middle of where she hit so with urging and a lot of encouragement from Robin and Michelle, I followed along each week, kept up to date (although laundry and the house suffered LOL)  but Easy Street was assembled and gifted not long afterwards to my niece Shannon when she moved into her first apartment.  To say that her and her BF fight over it is an understatement.  I think another quilt should be assembled for Pat so he can have his own!

     In 2013 Bonnie announced "Celtic Solstice" and I was ready!  I didn't need any urging.  I followed Bonnie's color way just as I did with Easy Street and in the end I was very happy with the result of that quilt too.  I haven't given this one away yet but I'm sure it's just a matter of time before it finds a new home.

After I finished these two I knew I could tackle "Orca Bay" and all it's little string blocks and small Ohio Star blocks.
I started setting aside blacks, blues, reds, neutrals etc. and before I left school I actually found a telephone book to use for the foundation of the blue strings.
This quilt will not be a "surprise" as I've seen both Robin's and Michelle's finished but i'm ok with that, I'm just excited to be starting it soon.    I'm actually going to kit up step 1 and step 2 and bring them to a retreat i'm attending in May.


See those pins on my shopping tote?   Those are from Zazzle and they are my present to myself for finishing the 2 above quilts.  I should have ordered an Orca Bay one too at the time but I figured I'd get that one when I started or finished.

Here are my blacks and neutrals....all pressed and waiting to be cut into strips.



And here are 2 blue string blocks and 2 Ohio Star blocks that Robin gave me since she had them left over after she finished her assembly.




I have a really nice backing fabric that I'm anxious to use for it so as they say "I'm Off!"

The rotary cutter has a fresh blade and I have the correct little rulers out......

Oh, and in case you wondered, I need 224   2-1/2 inch black/neutral hourglass units to assemble the stars and  72 blue 3-1/2 inch string blocks.....
piece of cake right?