Wednesday Weather Report #179 - 10/21/20

After last weekend's frost and the voluminous rain this week, it appears it's time to bite the bullet and put my ADK chair away for the winter. I know, it's also time to rake leaves but we need to dry out first...

This week's hexies show that we have definitely moved on to fall. Yet we also have a few snow showers predicted for next week. The temps aren't really supposed to be that low so I won't hold my breath on the first snow of the year.

October 14 - 20, 2020
59 - 69 - 46 - 57 - 55 - 49 - 47 F

Eek! I bought myself a birthday gift! I've always stayed away from BOM programs as they seem expensive but when I saw how many different Tula fabrics were included in this kit (that I wouldn't have to buy individually) and the color placement was all planned out it was a no brainer for me. It'll be an easy project with little thinking on my part. Sounds like a good plan for what I'm sure my favorite (and only) brother will now call an "over the hill" quilter. LOL. 

And I'm wayyyyy behind on sharing but over the Columbus Day/Indigenous People's Weekend I finally pulled the papers and spray basted this doll quilt. The colored triangles were a swap from Hexie Club and then I added my own neutral to bring it all together.

So many papers to pull.
And now to press them all for reuse.
I have 2 more kaleidoscope projects planned.

It's always a bonus when you have the perfect
 sized batting chunk just waiting for a purpose.

I couldn't resist - it matches the colors on the front perfectly and it's cats.
I really could have just started and stopped with it being cats. Right?!

Kaleidoscope dolly quilt update

One of the projects I pulled out during lockdown was my kaleidoscope swap blocks from hexie club. I think this was from 2018 but I could be wrong. Anyway, during each member's birth month, the other members gifted you enough colored parts to make 2 kaleidoscope blocks in the giftee's favorite color. You then added your own neutral to make the quilt cohesive.

I finally got a bee in my bonnet to gitterdone and while this pic reflects that I just had one long seam left to go, it is now in one piece!!! You can also see the fan that kept me partially sane in this heat. Partial is the key word...

I ended up with 24 blocks and my design needed 25 so I made the center completely out of the neutral fabric so that the "lines" of the kaleidoscope continued. I can either leave it blank or write on it about the swap. I haven't decided yet as I still need to pull the papers, open the outer edges, find a backing, quilt and bind this. In other words -- It's going to be a while before that all happens. LOL.

Wednesday Weather Report #151 - 4/8/20

It hasn't been a bad start to April but it certainly negates what I previously said about not many days in the 40s (teal). I had meant to count the teal hexies from the last two years but forgot. Let's just say that we are already close to surpassing last year's teal day count. 

April 1 - 7, 2020
43 - 46 - 40 - 46 - 48 - 54 - 59 F

I finally finished a full block for the Swivel. Since the mystery quilt kind of stops at this point, I'll need to design something further to get this to doll quilt side.

Needing a break from all those long pointy triangles, I pulled out a UFO. These 4" kaleidoscope blocks were from an exchange we did in hexie club back in 2018. It's a nice easy change of pace.

And just because they seem to be my new favorite size, when I saw that Temecula Quilt Company was starting a new stitch along called #stayathomesampler for April's lockdown I just had to join in.  3 blocks down, 2 to catch up on.

I'm pulling my colors from the partial mini charm pack shown at the top.

Have you joined any stitch-a-longs during lockdown?

Is your state/country even on lockdown? I hear there are about 10 states that are not on lock down yet...

Backing the dolly quilts

I didn't take pictures of the next 3 quilts after they were sandwiched but I did add them to the pile that needs quilting. Ugh. There are now 6 doll quilts that need quilting, which just seems like an overwhelming pile, and I hope to get the last two either sandwiched or close this weekend. I've got 51 days until my next trunk show. I can do it!

We won't mention the new doll quilt I started last week. Chantal said I deserved a new quilt since Mr Serious was finished so I ran with it and picked something from one of my hexie Pinterest boards. I should have a picture for you next week...

My math skills weren't quite up to par on this backing. I was trying to use as much of the horse fabric as possible, knowing that I would still need to add an orange strip to the middle. Didn't figure on then needing to add a prussian blue strip to get the math right, finally. The sides of this quilt will be cut straight and bound in the dark raspberry color. The top/bottom will have a hexie facing, allowing the hexie shape to remain. Any quilting ideas for this one?

This backing was a nice recovery as there was no math involved. LOL. I am using the teal for the "binding" but I'm not yet decided if it will be a true binding or a facing. I think I am going to quilt an outline of the "circles" the kaleidoscopes create.

The colors for this design started with a scrap pack from one of the LQSs.
It was pure luck that the Tula Pink fabric also matched perfectly.
And - woot! - the blue binding is already made!

This project started with 4 FQs and then I added in more of the purple to get it squared off. Not having much of any of the fabric left I was forced to go shopping to buy backing fabric. #Thestruggleisreal

I've finally decided to have the basket bottoms towards the center but the 4 blocks alone are not big enough for a doll quilt. Since I was forced to go buy the yellow backing for the previous quilt I also found some fabrics that should work with this. The blocks have 4 golds and 4 greens - I was able to get more of one of the greens but had to get a new gold. The burgundy isn't quite right but it had the same gold as the green so I ran with it.

HeLP for Hexie-ologists - 8/17/19

Happy Hexie Saturday!

Just a quick update on a couple projects I’ve worked on during the fair.

Finishing 3 blocks doesn’t look like much but I also prepped a lot of the pieces for the remaining blocks.

It’s a good thing I posted this pic cuz it wasn’t until I typed the above sentence that it clicked that I need 5 blocks and not 6. Geesh that was close.

I also finished this quilt, pulled the papers, pressed them and put them away. Now to pick a backing. I’ve eliminated 1 of the 3 shown and was leaning towards one but Chantal is leaning towards the other. Which would u pick & why?

And now it’s your turn! Please link to your hexie project in the comments below. Any vintage project, paper shape or construction method counts.

Wednesday Weather Report #115 - 7/31/19

It's hard to believe that summer is half over tomorrow.  Boo!

We had a slow, wet creep into summer, then it got dreadfully hot several times and now we are finally getting comfortable. I would like to think it will stay comfy but that's not what generally happens in August...

July 24-30, 2019
75 - 76 - 80 - 82 - 82 - 84 - 76 F

And now to share the hexies I worked on during my vacations. That's right - 2 camping trips to 2 different parts of the Adirondack Mountains: 10 days by myself around Saranac Lake and Paul Smiths and then 4 days with the family near Inlet. It was a lot of driving (5 hours each way) but not such a struggle in the new car or with the mountains as my destination   :)

One of the first things I finished was sewing the bottom row of 4 blocks onto this kaleidoscope doll quilt. When I got home I measured it on the doll bed and it definitely needs another side row of 5 blocks so that's what I'll be working on during the fair in a couple weeks. The size won't be perfect for the bed but I have to work with the 4" block size and make the best of it.

Next I worked on these Salt & Pepper blocks. I haven't worked on them in quite a while so in case you don't remember the story: After my cat Pepper died I was quite upset and kept trolling Pinterest with no purpose in mind. This block kept coming up in many different forms so I felt it was a calling. My bloggy friends named the project.

The central 1" hexies are always white on black fabrics and the 1" jewels (my absolute fav hexie shape!) are always black on white fabrics. Not shown is the 2" diamonds made with burnt orange fabrics. Generally I only use the white fabrics once, unless it can be fussy cut several ways, but the blacks and oranges can be repeated. Considering that this is to be bed sized and I am only using the white fabrics once, I am kinda considering this a "lifetime" project since it'll take me that long to find so many white fabrics. With these blocks I now have 36 completed and 14 needing the diamonds for a total of 50 blocks. I think I have another dozen sets of white jewels already cut. I best lay out the blocks to see how many more I need. Or maybe I shouldn't find out just how many more I need just yet...

Last but not least I worked on this new doll quilt. Before my trips I only 1.25 sections of the colored hexies done. Adding the sashing after completing the first 2 sections was a PITA so now I'm adding it as I do the colored hexies. I measured the quilt today and I think it might be too long for the bed, this quilt might have to run across the bed and not down it. Oh well.

Why, do you ask, am I working on so many doll quilts again?? Well, I was asked to do another trunk show this October and I can finish a doll quilt much faster than a bed quilt. I was told to bring "everything," finished or UFO, but I would like to have as many things "finished" as I can so I'll hit up the UFO shelves as soon as these 2 doll quilts are done.

Don't forget to link up your weather post or tell us about your weather in the comments...

kaleidoscopes and bazaar items

Just a quickie post today as I didn't have the time for a proper post like I thought...

Last Friday was Hexie Club, where I stitched the bottom row to the doll quilt. 

Since this is my fall UFO project, I decided to dedicate this week to the kaleidoscope project.
That's right, no Mr Serious this week! I'm in serious withdrawal! LOL
I will have completed 3 blocks by the end of today 

I've made 9 candle mats. These last 5 just need simple quilting.

This is 5 of the 6 picture frames I've made. Next up is round frames
It's been fun to throw crazy fabrics together.
They were fiddly but oh so cute.

When I asked friends at work and Hexie Club for magazine insert cards,
I never expected them to find so many cards!
I've been punching away at the pile - it's especially nice to get any aggression out after a trying day (I may be doing a LOT of them tonight) 

Wednesday Weather Report #76 - 10/31/18

Happy Halloween!!!

October 24 - 30, 2018
38 - 39 - 44 - 37 - 41 - 41 - 49 F

You'll be surprised next week when you see what color has come out of hiding for Halloween!

October 1 - 30, 2018

And I finally took a photo of the Kaleidoscope doll quilt. When I bought the fabrics, I purchased these gold and turquoise fabrics as well as the coordinating chicken fabric. I didn't have a pattern in mind so I just bought "some" of each. In other words, I am now cutting and making 1 row at a time to see how many blocks I can get out of the fabric. I'll run out of the gold before the turquoise but I know I at least have enough for one more row.

And sew...how is your weather? We warmed up this morning until the rain started again this afternoon. I hear it's supposed to stop around trick or treating time but then start again. In fact, we have a flood warning through Friday as we are expecting up to a couple inches of rain. Don't shoot me but I'm ready for another kind of weather and it starts with an "S"...

An InLinkz Link-up

Wednesday Weather Report #36 - 1/24/18

I'm afraid I haven't accomplished much in the last week, sewing-wise. That is mostly thanks to the start of my EMT refresher course. This year I am "challenging" the class - that means I can take several tests and if I do well enough I can test out of portions (most?!!!) of the class. I did well on the practical/skill challenge but I am still waiting on the results of the written exam. We were told we would have the results by tomorrow...I'm trying to be patient...

I know - it's a horrible picture but I already had them bagged
when I remembered that I needed to photograph them.
Sorry!!!

When I wasn't studying or catching up on the much ignored housework, I was working on Kaleidoscope parts. As you may recall, my Hexie Club exchanges basted hexies for our birthdays. This year we are doing the Kaleidoscope block.

I am gifting each birthday girl 8 large and 4 small purple triangles. My goal is to have them all basted by the end of this week so that I'm not scrambling last minute to get them done.

And of course, I finished my hexie temperature rosette for the week. I apparently missed the 2/3 mark and I'm not quite to the 3/4 mark but I'm thrilled to say that I am now 69.2307692 % done. Woot! Woot!

17 - 19 - 32 - 43 - 41 - 41 - 36F

I am once again behind on sewing the rosettes to the background squares and I doubt I will have much time to catch up this weekend as I have an 8 hour CPR class on Saturday. Funny thing is, one of my challenge exams was on CPR/AED/etc and I passed it. Am I the only one who finds it ironic that I will be trained after I passed the exam?

Sew....how are your temperature rosettes coming? Are you thinking of joining in? It's never too late to jump in! If you're making a quilt this year have you thought of making another next year so you can compare the 2? I'm starting to think but in rather vague terms...

An InLinkz Link-up

HeLP for Hexieaholics & Wedesday Weather #35

It's my birthday! It's my birthday! It's my birthday!
Hopefully most of my regular readers will remember that this is why we hold our Hexie Linky Party for Hexie-aholics on the 17th of each month!

Nope! Wasn't driving for this one either.

The day started perfectly with a gorgeous sunrise and breakfast with "my" highway guys (coworkers). I have a dinner meeting tonight and I just know I'll squeeze some hexie time in somewhere today. But maybe I won't stay up way too late for the second night in a row watching Code Black Season 2. That show is positively addicting.

I've been plodding along on my birthday kaleidoscope blocks. If I recall, there are 12 or 13 of us playing so there are many more blocks to come. But first, I'll get on that orange there on the bottom right.

38 - 52 - 57 - 11 - 15 - 13 - 26F

And then there was last weeks weather. It WAS a doozy! From winter to summer to thawed and then back to freezing. Thing is, there is yet another thaw coming this weekend. It won't be nearly as warm but it will be in the 40s. I guess I'm ok with 40s.

OK - time for me to sew the rest of my lunch hour. That means it's time for you to link up to todays party. Feel free to link up any EPP project of any vintage or shape. And if you would like to start a temperature quilt with us please speak up!

An InLinkz Link-up

Wednesday Weather Report #34 - 1/10/18

The weather has been all over the place for the last week and it's not done yet...

22 . 13 . 1 . -1 . 12 . 35 . 30F

Yes, that was a negative 1F or -18.3C on Saturday!!!

Z's expression is one of surprise since I tricked him into being in my picture.

Today we are expecting 42F while tomorrow is 50F and Friday is 55F. Don't be too quick to say how wonderful that sounds because there is a lot of snow to melt so we also have flood warnings. Friday night will have a "sudden freeze" and a "snomagedden" resulting in a high of 13F for Saturday and 18-20 inches of snow. I have yet to decide if I'm really going to Guild Sit-n-Sew on Saturday since it's a good 30 minute drive in good weather.

In my spare time I have been working on these kaleidoscope blocks:

Each year in my Hexie Club we exchange basted hexies for our birthdays. This year each birthday girl is gifted 8 large and 4 small basted triangles from the other members, to which we add our own background fabric. That means 2 blocks from each member.

I'm storing the finished 4" blocks in my new M&M tin. Did you know M&Ms were first produced in 1941 as military rations during WWII? It think it's the perfect tin given the "candy" colors of these blocks.

An InLinkz Link-up

HeLP for Hexie-aholics - 8/17/17

Hello and welcome to a quicky Fair edition of Hexie Linky Party for Hexie-aholics!!!

I'm not quite finished with the last weather rosette so this is where we stand. I've pre-placed some of the background fabrics for future weeks - which means I have full authority to move them elsewhere.

I'm still working on ruler-quilting the owl quilt. I need just another 15 minutes to finish quilting the neutral bits. Next up is piano keys in the turquoise borders.

Hmmm..another project to work on. We are thinking of doing something with this for Hexie Club so I'm *obligated* to make a sample block or two. Now to pick fabrics...

What are you working on? Any paper shape or vintage project is fair game!!!

An InLinkz Link-up