Monday, March 11, 2013

Nancy Drew is a Clue Blog Hop

Welcome to my blog! I'm so glad you stopped by. I'm delighted to participate in the Nancy Drew is a Clue Blog Hop. Be sure to check the end of the post for giveaways.

The Mystery of the Missing Library by Debbie Allred

Someone has stolen a beloved set of Nancy Drew books. Mrs. Brown, the prime suspect, has a new piece of artwork on display in her home.

Mrs. Brown's new artwork

Take away the painting...

Aha! There are the missing books, hidden in a secret room behind the painting! Mystery solved.

I came up with the idea of building a mystery into my quilt. I decided to hide Nancy Drew books behind a painting, in a secret room. I didn't know what painting I would use, but as I was finishing Rosa's Travel Quilt, I got the idea to use one of the small leftover panels for the painting.

Four smaller pictures were left over from Rosa's Travel Quilt. I chose the bottom right (Central Park) for this project.

I added a burgundy frame, then quilted. This is a finished quilt.

Back of the "painting"

Backing fabric is left over from Larry, a quilt I made last year

On to the second quilt. Using the framed painting as a guide for size, I cut out a section of Nancy Drew books fabric, then made an Attic Windows block, to give the illusion of the books being in a hidden room.

I spray basted the books piece to background fabric - chosen because it reminded me of wallpaper. I did an escape hatch finish, turned the quilt right side out, then zigzagged in black around the books piece. I did a little bit of quilting in the books piece. Like the painting piece, this is also a finished quilt.

I needed a way to attach the painting to the books quilt, that would make it easy to remove and easy to replace. I spent a lot of time thinking about it - snaps, skirt hooks, magnets, etc. Then just last night I found out about clear Velcro, so I tried it out on this project.

The bottom strips are transparent.

I stuck a transparent square in each of the corners just above the books. Sorry about the blurriness.

After trying to guess how to line up the back side of the painting quilt, I finally stuck both Velcro pieces together, then pressed the back side of the painting to the sticky back of the Velcro.

Ta-da! The squares are lined up just right. By the way, after I finished, I saw on the package that the product shouldn't be used with fabric. I'm not worried, because I don't plan to wash the quilt.

Once again...
The Mystery of the Missing Library
For Nancy Drew is a Clue Blog Hop
21" square
Original design
Partly from stash
Completed 3/10/2013


Back of the books piece


Now for the giveaways. You could win one of the two fat quarters below. 

Yellow with tiny white dots     Pink stars

For a chance to win one of the fat quarters, simply leave a comment by the last day of the Blog Hop (end of Friday, March 15). Be sure to mention whether you prefer Yellow or Pink. For an extra chance to win one of the fabrics, leave another comment mentioning that you are a new or existing follower OR that you have Liked my Facebook Page. Two winners will be drawn on Saturday, March 16.

Be sure to stop by and see today's other Blog Hop participants:
Monday, March 11, 2013 

Full Schedule

Debbie
Like my Facebook page Traveling Quilter and get more updates on my quilting and my travels.

109 comments:

  1. What an amazing and inspirational piece, your imagination is just , wow, if you don't get in the top 3 for the day, well your in my top 3!

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  2. What a great idea, how clever and such fun.

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  3. A great idea, very interesting and fun. Thanks for sharing

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  4. What a fun idea! I love the attic window. I'd enjoy yellow.

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  5. What a great idea....I like how you put it together as a story...

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  6. You have a great blog and I am a new follower. If I were chosen either would be appreciated but pink is a favorite

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  7. Great mystery quilt for this blog hop. If I win either color is fine. It will be a mystery solved when I open the envelope ;~}

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  8. Very clever to incorporate a hidden set of ND books! We sleuths love hidden compartments :)

    Jenn:)

    www.nancydrewsleuth.com

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  9. This is great! You are so clever!

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  10. What a clever idea!! Thank you for sharing!
    I prefer yellow!

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  11. What a fun project..now my brain is racing..how cool would this be to make a quiet book like this? Thanks for sharing and inspiring me on this Monday morning!

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  12. What a clever idea, I'm sure it could be adapted to other uses. I have been looking for yellow fabric, I don't have much choice in my small stash.

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  13. You are so clever! Love the mystery in your quilt.

    Trying to add more yellow to my stash. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  14. Thanks for he opportunity! I live pink but either is fine :)

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  15. Very neat trick.Thanks for having a give away.

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  16. that's is SEW clever!! great job

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  17. Very cdreative and ingenious, nicely finished. Jane

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  18. How creative you are. Great idea. yellow fabric If I'm the winner please.HAve next to nil of this color.

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  19. Now that is the most ingenious thing I have ever seen! Fabulous idea!

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  20. This is such a unique idea!!! I love the secret room behind your painting. I choose yellow,please

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  21. Fun idea to "hide" the books! Thanks for sharing :)

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  22. What a great idea to hide a picture within a quilt...very nice! It would make a fun game for children, too. Thanks for sharing!

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  23. Aha! That is very clever!!! Thanks for sharing a great idea... perfect for a child's quilt. I would choose the pink - thanks!!

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  24. great project thank,s for sharing. have a nice day

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  25. Wow! Super clever idea! I think I 'need to' make another book quilt! Great job. Thanks for sharing and the opportunity to win the pretty yellow fabric.

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  26. Very creative. I like the yellow.

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  27. Beautiful work! What a genius idea :) I think pink

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  28. How creative!! Would love to win the yellow fat quarter. Thanks for the chance.

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  29. Ohhh I love mysteries...this was clever my dear....

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  30. What a great idea. And I like yellow, thanks.

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  31. What a great idea! Kids would love looking for the mystery. Great work! :)

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  32. Love the yellow. Thanks for sharing and for the opportunity on the draw. bonnielarson58@gmail.com

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  33. How clever, Debbie! Great idea!

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  34. I am a follower. Love the pink. Thanks for sharing . bonnielarson58@gmail.com

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  35. I'm a follower! (I prefer the yellow!)

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  36. Oh my what a clever wall hanging! I love it as reminds me of the safe behind the art like shown on TV. Very Very Clever. I would pick the yellow fq if I was lucky to win. Thank you for sharing your great wall hanging with us.

    Sincerely,
    Tricia

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  37. Very creative idea and I love the clear Velcro.

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  38. Great job! Thanks for sharing! I'd choose yellow.

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  39. Very clever and great way to use up your existing stash to make another fun piece

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  40. new follower and I love both colors but if I were lucky enough to win, the yellow would be nice

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  41. Your blog is very clever and inventive. I enjoyed the read ! Have a great day !

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  42. That was a most claver idea to hide the books behind a frame. Thank you for sharing and the giveaway.

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  43. I am already a follower and I love yellow.

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  44. What a super imagination you have! Love the yellow:)
    Thank you for the chance.

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  45. Either one would be lovely but I must go with pink this time. I absolutely love your idea of the missing books. What a unique idea.

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  46. Me again. I 'liked' you on Facebook.

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  47. Love how you have hidden your Nancy Drew book's! very clever. Thank you for sharing.

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  48. I am a follower! Love both colors, so you pick. Thanks for the giveaway

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  49. What a beautiful painting. I think I would pick the yellow, even though I like them both.

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  50. Absolutely adorable and so clever! Thanks for sharing! pbstrand@msn.com

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  51. Awesome project... and very creative! (I didn't realize that clear velcro existed either.)
    ...would love to win the pink fat quarter
    thanks!

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  52. nice blog how love to win the fabric.

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  53. oops love the pink fabric.

    GFC follower

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  54. Very cute idea, it would be great for a little kids quilt. They love those books with the flaps that have another picture underneath. I would pick the pink.

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  55. Way too Clever! what a great idea! I love it!

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  56. Oh, my gosh, what a great idea. I just LOVE it! You win today in my opinion. I am going to be a new follower.
    Beckie in Brentwood, TN

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  57. Really cute to have the mystery book hidden behind the picture! Love it!

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  58. I love your mystery! I love art that is meant to be touched.

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  59. I love the hidden book! I like the yellow thank you,

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  60. What a clever mystery--I think this was very creative. Thanks for sharing and for the giveaway. I love the yellow but would be happy with either!

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  61. AHH!!! This is the most clever project yet! (and there are many good projects in this hop :))

    I love the quilt! It's SO perfect for Nancy Drew. I never knew about clear Velcro either, so I'm glad I found out about that today. Thank you so much for making and sharing your project. It made my day! If I won the prize, I would pick yellow, because I don't have a lot of yellow in my stash. Thank you very much for sharing and for the chance to win.

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  62. I'm a new follower, and I look forward to reading your blog!

    -karrie

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  63. That is a VERY creative quilt! Love it! Great job!!

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  64. What a fun idea. I can't remember if Nancy solved any mysteries with secret rooms, but she sure should have!

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  65. Clever use of the fabric! I always choose Pink!! You would make Nancy Drew proud
    Blessings
    Gmama Jane

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  66. Love the idea of the hidden bookcase. Very clever. I prefer the yellow. Thanks for sharing your creation and for the giveaway.

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  67. Now if this isn't the cutest and most creative idea, yet! Loved it! Thanks for sharing your fab project. I love pink.

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  68. Love your hidden bookcase. Wonderful idea. Love the pink stars.

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  69. How very Creative you are!!! Love your lil Quilt!!

    Love the pink Stars too! :)

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  70. I'm already a Follower too, thru GFC

    Do loooove the Pink Stars! :)

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  71. I'm already a follower, thanks. PINK

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  72. fun blog, fun project, fun hop. Thanks
    PINK

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  73. That is very clever. You did a great job on it too.

    I'm a yellow person.

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  74. I am a follower. Thank you for the chance to win this lovely prize. I prefer yellow.

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  75. Nancy: rangerer@sbcglobal.netMarch 12, 2013 at 8:13 AM

    That is such a cute idea:) Thanks for the give away. I like the yellow.

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  76. Nancy: rangerer@sbcglobal.netMarch 12, 2013 at 8:13 AM

    I am a follower.

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  77. How clever! I love your mystery and your quilt. Thanks for sharing.

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  78. Very clever! I like your idea. Thanks for sharing.

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  79. Wow, very cute quilt! I love how you created it! Pink would be nice if I am the lucky one :)

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  80. I love that you got into character for this project - I just love Nancy Drew! I would love to enter in to the giveaway as well - the yellow is calling to me!

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  81. Very mysterious & interesting quilt! Great idea.
    nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  82. gfc follower: nicolesender
    nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  83. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  84. What a super fun idea! I love it! And speaking of love, my favorite of your fabric offerings is the pink!

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  85. What a cute quilt!
    I'd choose yellow if I won.
    :o)
    pippirose59 at gmail dot com

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