Be a Hexie Queen -- Day Seven

Well this is the last day of the Be a Hexie Queen Blog Hop and it has been amazing.  Many thanks to blog hop hostess Debby Kratovil for coordinating this wonderful blog hop.  And many thanks to Madame Samm of Sew We Quilt for allowing us the opportunity to have this much fun.   I got a late start do to family illness and thought that I couldn't complete the blog hop.  But I persevered and  was able to start 2 projects from the many projects that I tagged.  Both of my projects were made using tools by Debby Kratovil, our blog hostess.  I used the half hexagon template and the spider web template.  Both templates were beneficial in getting my projects out of my head and put together.

Half Hexagon Template

 

Spider Web Template

Twisted Hexagon blocks

I am making this quilt for my youngest grand-daughter who does not have a quilt yet.  She loves the cartoon "The Dinosaur Train" so I thought I would make her first quilt with some whimsical dinosaurs.  I will add 3 more blocks with the black center.  They were a breeze to put together with the spider web template ruler.

My next project pays homage to the modern quilt movement.  Hexagons are not just for traditional quilts.  The quilt was based on a pattern from Missouri Star Quilt Company.  It was made with 2-1/2 inch strips and the hexagons were pieced with Debby's Half Hexagon template ruler.  The original pattern called for a piano key border, but I like the clean modern look without the borders.



So starts my love affair with hexies.  I have more ideas than I have time.  Here are today's participants.  Enjoy visiting each blog and remember to leave a comment.  Thanks for joining in the fun!!

Wednesday, August 28

  

Adventurous Quilter 

Scraps of Life 

Sew and Sow Farm

Creatin' in the Sticks

Kwilty Pleasures

Just Sew Quilter 

   

Marjorie's Busy Corner   

NitaDances

Pig Tales and Quilts 

Quiltscapes

Livinbluequilter   (you are here)

Sew We Quilt

Be a Hexie Queen -- Day Six

There is so much more  to see.  Enjoy Day Six.

Tuesday, August 27

We Shall Sew  

 

Life@RuffHaven

Pieced Brain  

  

Den Syende Himmel 

  

Creatin’ in the Sticks 

  

Meadowbrook 

  

Sandra Kaye Designs  

  

Let’s Patch it Up 

  

Sew Many Yarns  

  

Around the Homestead 

Sew Mollie Sue, Quilt Much?
 

Be a Hexie Queen -- Day Five

There have been some absolutely beautiful projects made with hexagons.  I have a lot of catching up to do.  Enjoy Day Five of the amazing blog hop.

 

 

 

Monday, August 26 

Scrapbook-ChickaDoodle

   

Kathys Quilts 

   

A Quilt and a Prayer  

 

I Piece 2 - Mary 

   

Life, Quilts and a Cat, too   

 

Quarter Incher 

  

Sew Much 2 Luv  

 

Kwilt Krazy 

 

Selina Quilts 

  

Espritpatch 

 

Nunu’s Quilt World

Be a Hexie Queen -- Day Four



Welcome to Day Four of the "Be a Hexie Queen" Blog Hop.  Enjoy!!!

Friday, August 23

 

Sew Peace to Peace

 

 Quilt Crossing
 

    sarah did it!

  

Jane’s Quilting 

   

Life in the Scrapatch

  

Lixie Makes It 

  

Creative Notions 

   

Modern Handcraft 

   

Feathered Nest Studio 

  

Moneik Quilts

Be a Hexie Queen -- Day Three

The fun continues...please remember to leave your comments.  Enjoy!

Thursday, August 22

   
Negligent Style 

   
Sue Mac Seeds   

The Tilted Quilt

   
Julia Plunket

Just Let Me Quilt 

   

More Stars in Comanche 

  

Be a Quilter 

   

Sew Me Something Good 

   
Cherrys Prairie Primitives 

   

Words and Stitches

Be a Hexie Queen -- Day Two

I hope you are having as much fun as I am looking at all of the hexie projects.  They are amazing.  Below are the Day 2 participants.  Enjoy!!!

Wednesday, August 21
  

Sunshine Girl Nicola 

Cheryl James

   

Fish Kopp   

Grizz 'n' Dove   

Secretly Stitching  

In the Boon Docks  

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs 

   

Quilt Doodle Designs 

   

Ridge Top Quilts 

  

KaHolly 

   

Why-Knot-Kwilt

Be a Hexie Queen Blog Hop

Join us over the next week and a half for a wonderful journey into the world of Hexies.  It is quite the phenomenon and I am looking forward to all of the creativity.  You are in for a real treat!   Thanks to our cheerleader Debby Kratovil of  Debby Kratovil Quilts for all she has done to make this blog hop come to life.  She has been wonderful coordinating the schedule, making changes, making more changes and keeping us informed.  Also many thanks to Madam Samm at Sew We Quilt for providing us with the opportunity to strut our stuff.   The "Be a Hexie Queen Blog Hop" will run from August 20th through August 28th.  I am scheduled for August 28th.  I will post the list of blogs participating on a daily basis through August 28th, so please stop by each day and cheer everyone on.  They all look forward to your comments.  It's addictive.  Enjoy!!!

Day 1, August 20

Debby Kratovil Quilts   

Linda’s Quilt Mania   

Thimblemouse and Spouse   

BumbleberryStitches   

Sew Incredibly Crazy    

Sunshine Quilting    

Geta’s Quilting Studio 

    

How Art You?  

  

I Like to Quilt Blog

    

UFOs and UBIs 

   

Hillvalley  Quilter 

My Hiatus is over...

I am back at it!! I have been feeling a wee bit overwhelmed with all of the activity surrounding me the past few weeks.  Lots of graduations and "rising up" ceremonies, upcoming renovations at work (ugh!!),  family outings, etc., etc.  And the heat and humidity is just plain awful.   I also entered a quilt in my guild's annual show.  I am a member of  Quilters Unlimited of Northern Virginia - Burke Chapter.  Remember this one...I tried to maneuver away from that overhead light, but I couldn't get it right.  This was a first time entry for me.  I think I can do it again next year.  I already have something in the works.

We celebrated 40 years by showcasing an exhibit of red and white quilts.  They were all beautiful, but here are a couple of my favs..

I signed up for a blog hop sponsored by Madam Samm at Sew we Quilt and hosted by Debby Kratovil. 

I have been doing some sewing and will post pictures as soon as I can get them done.  Thanks to all of my followers for not dropping out on me.  Stay cool!

Let's Talk about Scraps

I love scraps...well some of them.   I mean, I still don't understand how folks can save the little dog ears cut from triangle squares or the real tiny pieces that are sized an inch or less.  I like scraps that are functional and that are big enough to cut into.  I enjoy making scrappy quilts. Putting one together stretches my imagination.   I am a huge Bonnie Hunter devotee.  I don't always complete her quilts, but I love them all anyway.  I don't really have a scrap stash.  I usually cut from yardage or use the fqs, jelly rolls and charm squares.  So when someone says use your scrap stash, I can't because I don't have one.   And, however much I enjoy scrappy quilts, I am not the dig in the bag and sew together whatever comes out type of scrappy quilter.  I have purchased bags of scraps.  Many of them have nice-sized pieces of fabric in them.  And my generous friends usually gift me with fabric scraps, but most are at least 5 inches or bigger.   So, the little pieces are not for me. They make me crazy!  I catch myself sometimes holding onto them because I feel guilty throwing them away.   But I am not going to do that any more.  On the other hand,  I am a very "controlled-scrappy" quilter.  What does that mean?  Well I like using lots of different fabrics in my quilts.  But I kinda control the color combinations, the placement, and types of fabrics used.  Does that still qualify me as a scrappy quilter?   I hope so...I have used as many as 100 different fabrics in one quilt.  I think that is pretty scrappy.  I like a lot of variation and texture and using multiple fabrics helps me to accomplish that quality and look.  I purchased this of bag scraps at the Mid-Atlantic Quilt show this past February.  Aren't the colors wonderful and the pieces are pretty sizable?

So for the last 3 weeks, I have been piecing a quilt made with four patches.  The four patches are made with African fabrics, batiks and some coordinating fabrics, many of them made with scraps.  It is very scrappy and colourful, but I also made sure the blocks were placed in a recognizable pattern throughout the quilt top. I have 2 more rows to add.  I love how it is coming together and I think I have enough four patch blocks as a result of this block swap, to make another top. This one is not destined to be a flimsy for long.

By the way, I found some scraps in a few bins that are going to a good and loving home.  Linda, they will be on their way soon.  I have photos of a few more "modern" quilt top flimsies to share with you.  I am still trying to work my way through this phenomenon :0). 

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Checking in....

Time really flies when you have so much to do.  I have had a full plate at work since February and the arrival of our new CEO.  And things are changing...a lot of which I have been tasked to be involved in.  We even had a week long staff retreat in Monterey, California at Asilomar.   But, I have been sewing and trying new techniques.   I have always considered myself a traditional quilter with a slant toward using non-traditional fabrics. I like reproduction fabrics and the 1930s fabrics, but I enjoy using batiks, Aboriginal and African fabrics more. I also love the Japanese taupe fabrics. But lately I have become fascinated with the modern quilt craze. I can't even remember where it started... Most of the colors are so basic, grays, whites, blacks, lots of solids and bright color patterns - all of which I love and use a lot. I am not sure I want to be categorized as a modern quilter, but I have to admit that I am kinda liking some of their stuff. I have been flipping through a few books (I know I shouldn't be doing that, but hang in there with me) and I have noticed that a lot of their patterns use big blocks. Big blocks are great for fabrics with large prints and for those fabrics that you just hate to cut. So, I am thinking that maybe I could convert the fabrics that I love over to the more modern genre to see how they will look. Well, I have been experimenting a little to see what I could come up with. Here are a few photos of a series of quilt tops (soon to be flimsies) that I have completed over the last couple of months. The first one is a flimsy from several years ago and the other 2 are my interpretation of modern quilts.   I am not in a rush to quilt them. I just wanted to see how they would turn out and to experience the "modern quilt-making craze" a little. I did enjoy the almost instant gratification and fun of making them so quickly (3 in one week -- that is a record for me) but I am definitely going back to what I love with some modifications.

This one is called Tropical Vacation.  Started it about 3 years ago.  Made with batiks and I
free-hand cut the curvy blocks.  It is now a flimsy.

 

I made this top with a variety of Aborignal prints. Lots of bold color. After taking the picture,
I realized that I need to add another border on the left side.  I don't know how I missed that.  It will be a flimsy too.

Is it obvious that I am a lover of all things lime green?  I named this one "Everything Looks Better with Lime Green."
 It too will become a flimsy until I find the right backing and time to get it quilted.



I took the last 2 pictures at Asilomar in Monterey, CA.  I wanted to pitch a tent with a sign saying I will work for food.  The first photo was taken at Point Lobos Natural Reserve in Monterey.

The 2nd photo was snapped at Asilomar Beach.   This is why I Live Blue...

Traveling Stash Box #2 -- We Have A Winner!!

After being on the west coast for the last week, I am back and trying to play catch up.  The first thing I did was to have the random generator selection thing pick the next recipient of the Traveling Stash box.  Shauna is the lucky winner of the box.  I have contacted her via email for her mailing address and will mail the box as soon as she checks in.  Thanks to everyone who left comments and for those who did not win the box this time...keep your fingers crossed!  Again, here is what will be in the box that Shauna receives:

ENJOY!!!

Traveling Stash #2

  

Last week, I received a second traveling stash box.  The box was sent to me by Barb at  stitchxstitch.  Barb added some really nice items and thanks to her for doing that.  This box is loaded with really nice fabrics, notions, patterns and a magazine or two.  The lucky recipient will be quite pleased and hopefully find something that they would love to trade for.  If you are interested in trying for the box, please leave me a comment by Friday, March 22nd. at 9pm (eastern)  I will randomly select the lucky winner on Saturday, March 23rd at 10am (eastern).  Please make sure that I have your email so that I can contact you.




Lots of patterns and some magazines...

 

Some notions...



 



Tons of Fabrics...



These are my fabric selections...




And this is what I added to the Traveling Stash.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I add a couple of patterns, a wall hanging quilt kit with the pattern and 5 fat quarters in luscious tropical color, a heart shaped yo-yo maker and some additional fat quarters and yardage.

 

If you are interested in trying for the traveling stash,  there are few simple rules:

RULES

 

1. Be an active blogger. Post about receiving and the box and the giveaway on your blog in a timely manner.
2. There is a note in the box that logs where the box has been. Please add you info and place the note back in the box.
3. There is a list of Rules and Guidelines in the box. Please read and follow these and return the list to the box.
4. You may take anything you like from the box. Just replace every item with comparable quilt shop quality items equal to the amount taken.
5. Ship the box to the next person in a reasonable amount of time.
6. Due to the amount of postage, shipping is only within the USA.

 Remember, leave a comment by 9pm on Friday, March 22nd.  I will contact the winner via email on Saturday, March 23rd and mail the box to you on Monday, March 25th.  Good luck!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST CALL: The Traveling Stash has Landed!

If you want to be the next winner of the traveling stash box, please leave me a comment by 7pm (eastern) today.  I will notify the winner by email on Friday morning. 


I have been trying with no success to become the recipient of one of the Traveling Stash boxes making their way around the country.  Well, over the weekend, I became the selected stash receiver of not one but two boxes from different locations.  The boxes are loaded with all kinds of goodies, quilt shop quality fabric, notions, magazines, books, etc.  The rule is that you can help yourself to any of the items in the box and then you replace the items with stuff from your stash.  So, yesterday, I received the box from Katie over at Snuggle Up with a Dish from Karma.  The box was loaded with fabric, fabric panels, notions, like buttons, pre-packaged quilt binding, a small embroidery hoop with floss, a really cute pincushion, and lots of patterns, etc.  There is even a pair of chop sticks???? 

Here is the box and its contents!

I looked through and found a few pieces of novelty fabric (I don't have much in my stash) and will make pillowcases for a challenge.  There was also a little light for a rotary cutter.  I could always use that.  As much as I would love to have them, I don't need another pattern and I definitely don't need any gadgets or notions.

Here is what I chose from the box.

 

...and here is what I added for the next lucky recipient!!

Some Asian-inspired blender fabrics with a couple of focus pieces,  a couple of patterns, 2 skeins of boa yarn (I had a project in mind when I bought this but you know what happens) needles, bias binding and some Thangles.

If you would like the traveling stash to visit you, please leave me a comment by Thursday at 7:00pm (eastern).  I will select a winner on about 9;m on Thursday night and contact you via email.  The box will be mailed by Friday afternoon.  I will be traveling next week, and do not want to hold things up.

Of course as with every challenge, there are rules...a few really simple rules.   Please check them out and if want to participate, then leave a comment for me. 

RULES

1. Be an active blogger.  Post about receiving and the box and the giveaway on your blog in a timely manner.
2. There is a note in the box that logs where the box has been.  Please add you info and place the note back in the box.
3. There is a list of Rules and Guidelines in the box.  Please read and follow these and return the list to the box.
4. You may take anything you like from the box.  Just replace every item with comparable quilt shop quality items equal to the amount taken.
5. Ship the box to the next person in a reasonable amount of time.
6. Due to the amount of postage, shipping is only within the USA.

Remember, that I expect another box today or tomorrow and will post it about when I receive it.  So everyone has 2 chances!  Good luck!

Dare to Dresden Blog Hop

I signed up for this blog hop because I love the Dresden block...It is a first time for me and it was a little bit of a challenge but it was fun.  If you have had the opportunity to stop by the other blogs to see their Dresden entries, they are all absolutely stunning.  Thanks to our cheerleader Christine of Quilt Monster in My Closet for all she has done to make this blog hop a success.  And thanks to Madam Samm at Sew We Quilt for providing us with the opportunity to strut our stuff.  Today, I am debuting my Dresden blocks along with the blogs listed below.  I decided to make a traditional Dresden and I used fabrics from my stash of African fabrics and batiks.  Why lime green...just love it as a background and it really brightens up the black and white.   Grab a cup of tea or whatever is your pleasure and sit back and enjoy!

January 30^th, 2013

Charlotte H @ “that Other Blog”

It Seams to be Sew

Merry Gay in Stitches

Water Penny

Granny Good Stuff

Under the Presser Foot

More Stars in Comanche

Sew Me Something Good

The Day Before This Day

Farm Road

Livin' Blue Quilter

I Piece 2 Mary
Kwilty Pleasures
Espritpatch
Nutz4Redwork

Serious Gadget Love…

Is it too late to still say “Happy New Year?” Oh well, too bad…I just did. I have almost completely recovered from the holidays with family and friends and I am trying to get my quilt life back on track.

But before I update you later about what I have been up to, I have a confession to make…I have a serious gadget love thing going on…all of my friends know that I am sucker for a good reliable gadget because not only do I buy them for myself, I buy for them too. It's crazy...you know, you can only have so many rotary cutters (I have way too many, because I am in search of the perfect rotary cutter) and I haven’t found it yet, seam rippers, snippers, and Ginghers (all types and sizes), rulers, specialized templates, marking pencils, automatic pin dispensers, etc. If you need it, then I probably have it. To make my love affair with gadgets even sweeter, I love hand crafted items, which led me to my new indulgence. While searching Etsy shops for gifts, I came across the Psychedelic Frog Etsy shop. The shop owner, John Fawcett creates beautiful hand-turned wooden seam rippers, stilettos, writing instruments and other items from wonderful exotic woods. He also makes wooden irons for quilters. Paper-piecers will love this gadget. It feels good in the hand; the flat end of the iron is wider than most hand pressers so you don’t have to press as hard to get a good flat seam.   And of course they are also made from beautiful woods.

I purchased the large seam ripper in the Ocean Mist. It has detachable seam rippers at both ends (large and small) and comes with an attachable stiletto. It also came with a beautiful leather case. I absolutely love it!

So my motto is “You can never have too many.” Gadgets…that is!

For the new year I decided to challenge myself and sign up for a blog hop.  I joined the Dare to Dresden Blog Hop posting January 24-31.  I post my Dresden on January 30.  This is a first-time block for me.   It should be fun!




Thanks for stopping by!