Design Wall Monday - 7/28/14

Given the weather when I was camping this year, I think I was pretty lazy. It was either raining or could be raining and who wants to go hiking or mountain climbing when it might start raining? That afforded me lots of time around the camp site, hiding from the rain under the new canopy Santa brought me early or sitting close to the fire after the cold front came through. I may not hex as fast as some people but I think I accomplished a lot for just 10 days :-)

 

The outer row/sashing of this Value Proposition block was partly completed when I left for vacation - I think I only had to finish 2 or 3 sides.

I may have mentioned that our local Hexie Group has a birthday club. At the beginning of the summer we pick a new size/shape and colors. For the next year, in the month of each participants birth, she will receive 6 basted 1.5" diamonds from each of the other girls. I think I have all but one set done now!

I think it was Chantal who encouraged me to work on my Rose Star/Owl project even tho I was going to try to catch up on some other projects. Typically, this project is only worked on while camping - some day I'll come up with an appropriate name for the project. I think this was the first project I used fussy cutting.

Unfortunately, I ran out of the kite papers to finish the block above or the second block below but I did as much as I could. Hopefully there are more papers at the LQS when I go for Hexie Group this Friday.

Next I worked on the flower block for The Hexie Blog's BOM - I think that was the June block. I had rearranged the layout a few times before I went on vacation and then just went with it. I really like the similar blues surrounded by purple. No idea what kind of flower this is but I'm sure it would be popular at the local nursery. LOL.

Next, I finished a POTC block. Two done...who knows how many more to do...

Over the course of the week, while I was hiking, I also worked on a twisted hexie. I had been asked for a tutorial on making these and I asked if she could wait until after vacation because I thought I could make a cool tute beside lakes and on mountain tops. Lets just hope the tute I hope to post on  Wednesday is a cool as I thought it would be.

And what am I working on now that I'm back home?

This is the BOM ice cream cone that should be done today. Most of it was done at the craft bazaar on Saturday. Can you guess my flavors? Mint ting-a-ling dripping over blackberry in a sugar cone. Yummo!!

And for some reason, I have just one more hex to finish on the sashing for this block. As soon as I hit publish I'll finish it :)

Don't forget a week from tomorrow is the next Bibliophile Files - I'll have a huge stack of books to share that I finished while camping!

hexie update

I don't think I showed you the third Value Proposition block after I finished it. You might recall that I didn't care for it much while I was making it but I've changed my mind and don't mind it at all!

Last night I also finished the fourth rosette. I'm going to have to use the teal & gold sparingly - It doesn't really read as a dark to me since the gold reflects light and I haven't used any other gold fabrics yet. Of course, I could solve the problem by using more golds. That would mean I need to buy more gold fabrics. Go on - twist my arm!

I also recently finished my May BOM butterfly. You may recall that I bought the purple shot cotton and the wild circle fabric at the Amherst quilt show back in April. I finally found the perfect project and had a ball working with the shot cotton. The picture just doesn't capture the magenta/blue color variations as you move the fabric back and forth. Can't wait to find some more shots!

Last but not least is a group project for Hexie Club. Every month we play a FQ game where we end up bringing a different FQ home for our stashes. Recently I have been trying to get the girls to do some fussy cutting and it was suggested that we could do a group project this fall. After some brain storming we decided to make a rosette (similar in shape and size to the Value Prop rosettes) with everyone using the same fabric plus what ever else we want to add. At our annual Christmas party we will play the game with our rosettes instead of a FQ. Then we have to make the rosette in to something and bring it back to our March meeting. I'm excited because there is a lot of fussy opportunity in the fabric they chose.

I didn't take a photo but I did work some more on my twisted hexies at lunch today.

The next big decisions will be what hexie projects to take camping this summer. I know I'll over pack but who wants to be hundreds of miles away with nothing to work on? And this year I am also over packing audio books since the library near the campground isn't camper friendly. I might even be able to get ahead on my reading challenges. woohoo!

Design Wall Monday - 5/5/14

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!! Sadly, I don't think my leftover 4 cheese lasagna hamburger helper will qualify but it's what's in the fridge...

I had a whole day at home yesterday to sew to my heart's content! I needed to iron some new FQs so I could put them away in the proper bins and I got that out of the way early. I was also determined to finish up two smaller hexie projects and those would be easy to do while I finished the DVD set for WhiteCollar Season 1 due at the library today.

The thing is...I never got motivated to machine sew anything other than the 2 steps needed to catch up with the Market Day SAL and some leaderender basket blocks which I'll share later in the week. I had plenty that needed doing but nothing that I could decide on. And that means all y'all are stuck looking at the hexies I worked on yesterday...

I think I had to baste another 6 or 7 hexies and then whipstitch the whole basket together for The Hexie Blog BOM. I had once thought of using another fabric or 2 to look like there were flowers in the basket but I finally decided that might not work well with the flowers on the fabric that was already cut so I just went with my original plan. I'm pleased with the balance of the flowers across the piece - I think I only planned 2 of them, pulling the rest out of a paper bag.

I caved and bought another set of jewel papers to use on my Salt & Pepper project. I was one paper short on this block but had put the rest of it together so all I had to do yesterday was baste 1 more jewel and whipstitch it in place.

I finally decided to join the Value Proposition QAL with Karen and picked fabrics for my first block. The QAL is already on their 2nd block but I am determined not to berate myself for being late on this project since I know I'll be late for all 22 blocks! LOL! I'll get them done when I'm done. 

And I finally added the last hexies to this table topper project. It's a bit on the small side so it might be better on a small side table instead of the dining table shown above but I do love the concept. This was fussy cut from a border fabric which made it a really simple project once the cutting was done. I'm going to try a slightly different/new-to-me way of doing the back but I'll take pictures and share with you when it's done. Please don't hold your breath!

Don't forget to check back in tomorrow for our monthly The Bibliphile Files linky party with our latest reading adventures. I hope you'll share the books, magazines or cereal boxes that you've read in the last month!

Hexie Updates

Did all y'all miss me while I was gone? Thought not...

I did get a lot of hexies done while I was in classes. I always maintain eye contact with the teacher so they know I am still paying attention...just in case you were worried. My roommate also brought her hexies and I saw another person crocheting. A lot of ladies were interested in learning to EPP - maybe at our next conference...

Hmmm ... thought I had finished 6. Maybe there is another one in my suitcase. I think I have papers for one more and then I will definitely be working on putting rosettes together to free up some papers.

I really only worked on these when I had a bit of thread to use up so I didn't make much progress. Of course, the new BOM Butterfly was posted today so I better get my butt in gear to finish this basket block.

I only pieced the white jewels at conference. I added the black hexie when I got home last night. I'll get the orange diamonds on this weekend.

This large rosette is about half together.
I really need to work on the RWB project tonight since I need it for Hexie Club tomorrow. Oops!

The same ole thing...

As much as I am having fun working on my hexies, I am getting bored posting about them. I hope all y'all aren't as bored reading about them! I hope to get inspired any day now to actually use my Bernina for something other than holding the table down!

I've been basting the hexies for my April BOM which is a basket. I think this fabric (tan/gold/maroon) will be stunning.

One of the items that finally came in at the LQS for Hexie Night was a 1" honeycomb acrylic template. Fussy cutting is soooooooo much easier with the templates! I've wanted to make a Patchwork of the Crosses quilt for quite some time but held off until the template came in. Now that it did I've started playing :)

These tone on tone pieces were pretty simple - you can see the gold was fussy cut but it's quite subtle.

If you don't have a mirror...run right out and get one, they make this project so much easier.

Next I'm going to fussy cut this awesome paisley fabric.My original plan was to make this quilt in scrappy, bright colors but I really like the red/green/gold/neutral combo so maybe I'll change my mind. Y'all are used to me changing my mind...

I was thinking this curved bit might be nice for the center of my block. Then again, this is the 4th section I thought would be nice and there is so much more to play with. I might need to get more of this fabric!

And just to change it up...these are the cookies I referenced in yesterday's post...they were fiddly and on the sweet side given all the brown sugar for the topping but they are also just as bad as hexies - can't have just one!!!

Design Wall Monday - 4/7/14

Brace yourself! This very well, could, might, actually, be the most exciting post you read today! LOL!

Friday night was hexie night at the LQS. We discussed out next birthday club project. Over the last year, each birthday girl was gifted (7) 3/4" hexies basted in her favorite color. This year we are switching to 1.5" 6-pt diamonds. Some of the ladies switched their colors to a different color or just "scrappy." I'm changing mine to scrappy batiks :) Not sure yet what I'll do with mine but I am sure I can come up with something after I finish the pillow with this year's birthday hexies...

Saturday I taught a class and then attended the annual fire(wo)men's dinner for our department. I went home over stuffed :)

Sunday morning was lazy - working on hexies, still in my PJs, and finishing an audio book. In the afternoon I went to see Twelve Years a Slave with Mom. Excellent movie but horrendous at the same time. Dinner was one of my favorites: coconut curry chicken with sweet 'taters. And best of all, I already had everything on hand. Tonight I'm making these cookies!

4 leaves done for my March hexie BOM.
 I really do need to pick a background fabric so I can stitch these down.

Is it sad to say that I was hoping for a boring day at work?

Design Wall Monday - 3/10/14

Saturday was the 2nd half of my latest Quilting 101 class and I needed a sample to demonstrate adding flanges and bindings. I had this sample block when from when I was prepping for my birthday party so I decided to quilt it up quick to use in class. Now I'll finish the binding my machine and I have a nice little table topper. Oh, who am I kidding, the cats will sit on it more than I'll ever use it on the table...

I also completed another twisted hexie and my February BOM heart. I was a little worried about the choco fabric being too busy but it was my only choice as I couldn't find a coordinating fabric in my stash. In the end, I think it looks fine. They will both be 'finer' when they get a good pressing :)

And last but not least for my weekend report...Tomorrow is the official Bicentennial Launch Party for the town where I work. The party is at the Arts Council across the street from my office. There will be Congressional proclamations, quick speeches, lots of memorabilia on display, local historians to answer questions and we'll be selling our bicentennial calendars. What else does one need for a party? Refreshments of course!  Several of us were asked to make cookies so I whipped up my fav Molasses Krinkles. Molasses Crack would probably be more accurate since you can't eat just one. LOL.

Now to decide how many to keep at home for me...1 for the party, 2 for me...

Thursday mish mash

Ever the one to put the cart before the horse...

I have finished the borders for my Celtic Solstice quilt when the blocks aren't even half way done. Any progress is good progress!

I finished the 32 hexies I need to make the February BOM. Tomorrow night is hexie night so maybe I can make some good headway on assembling the heart ... and then get on to the 4 leaf clover for March.

Seems it's time to recover the ironing board - my lime green cover is looking pretty dingy

I also had to baste more black hexies to be used in my twisted hexies. I generally only make enough at one time to use up the pile of 2" hexies - which means I'll be able to baste about 5 more tonight. I've also bundled up the rest of the half hexie batiks into about a dozen sets. Now I really need to lay out the large rosettes on the bed to see if I have enough pieces cut or I'll need more.

And last night's lesson? It's ok to stick a threaded needle in your loosely knit sweater while you binder clip the next piece to baste but it's NOT ok if you are getting up to check your cell in the studio, letting the cat in the dining room door and then switching the DVD back in the living room. I sat back down on the couch, covered up with the afghan and then noticed the needle was no longer stuck in my sweater. I found the thread stuck to the afghan but after patting down the afghan and crawling around on the floor in 3 (large) rooms last night and again this morning the needle is no where to be found. It's one thing if I get stuck but I would be horrified if something happens to the cats or to a guest who sits on the couch. I was/am soooooooo furious with myself...

Design Wall Monday

It was a hexie weekend!!
I spent Saturday teaching a quilting 101 class and half of Sunday rearranging boxes and stuff to fit in my brother's old bedroom set but he got called in to work because of the weather. Oh well. I spent the rest of Sunday watching Firefly on DVD and working on various hexie projects :)

I am finally working on my February hexie BOM (1") project and with just a few days to spare. Yikes. This pink fabric has chocolates on it. I will need twice as many hexies to finish the heart.

I was also gifted some of the purple fabric towards the denim pillow I am making with my birthday hexies (.75") from hexie club. I need to lay out the purple hexies I have so I can decide how many more to make.

I also finished these twisted hexies over the last week.

This morning I had some company to work on them as well!! Within touching distance and no growling. Whoo Hoo!  =^..^=

For all I've talked about not starting something new before the twisted hexies are done, class samples don't count. That's what this next bundle is - a project for hexie club. I'm thinking I'll use 1.5" hexies (can you see the clear template?) but haven't really decided just yet. I only know it will be a small project, just a table runner or topper.

Hexie BOM

Did any of my hexiologist friends go look up The Hexie Blog block of the month yet?? Did you start or finish your block yet?

I finished mine last night and since I have yet to decide on background fabric, thought I would photograph it out in the yard.

I suppose I should also tell you we are destined for 50F this weekend so all the snow will be gone (again!) shortly. Lets just hope the weather is nice next weekend for my birthday party!!!!

Sadly this is about the extent of my sewing time this week. I still have a few more things to work out in EQ for the LQS and then I can get back to sewing. Maybe my Bernina misses me? LOL. Janet would tell you so...

Thursday Mashup

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!

Because what "they" say you do on New Years Day is what you will do all year, I tried to do as much sewing as possible and as little housework as possible. LOL! I am not counting the 2 rescue calls as what I will be doing all year - we know I will but I am in denial, especially given the nature of these 2 particular calls.

I spent a good share of the day working on Celtic Solstice but I'll save that to share on linky Monday.

I did finish up one twisted hexie rosette...This freed up enough half hexie papers to make 3 more of the smaller units.

I think some of you enjoy the photo-bombed shots.

I also finished one Salt & Pepper hexagon. These travel to work easily in my new-to-me tin.

Remember how I just said Tuesday morning that I don't really set goals cuz I am not great at follow thru? And you probably know me well enough to know that I rarely follow thru on BOM projects either. Except when I found this one Tuesday evening I just knew I had to try it out. It's worth a shot, right??!! Basically, Julia is going to post a hexie BOM of the month on the first of each month. She posted a lacy star for January and I decided to do mine in 4 blue-gray fabrics - which I brought to work on during lunch. That means I best finish up this post so I can get to basting. Hopefully I'll have a picture for next week.

Oh and just because I haven't seen this temp in a long time...not sure what the wind chill is but it's supposed to be really low tomorrow. Hopefully Z had the smarts to snuggle into his kitty casa since it's also snowing like the dickens. It's gorgeous but I just can't keep the sidewalk at work cleared. Maybe we should all just go home early today =^..^=