Hexie Fever

Despite the incredible heat wave we are having here on the East Coast, I have been sewing on projects...starting new ones (I shouldn't do that) and working on an endless pile of UFO's and flimsies. 


And so continues my love of everything Hexie.   This is my latest creation based on the Half-Hexie quilt tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt Company.  I used about 100 different Aboriginal prints.  There are a couple of repeats, but I only repeated a fabric when I needed a punch of color.  The Aboriginal prints tend to be rather dark some times.  I love the large prints and this pattern allowed me to showcase the beauty of the Aboriginal patterned prints. It almost looks like a stain-glass window. It is going to the quilter soon, as it is a gift for one of my grand-daughters.  I love this pattern, so I will probably experiment with another version soon...maybe holiday fabrics or give it a modern look with lots of lime green, tangerine and turquoise.


I think this one turned out really well.  What do you think?  More to come soon...

I Left my Heart in Alaska

Yes, I am still here.  Life stuff took hold of my mind and body for a while, but I have recalibrated some things and I am slowly working my way back.  I have been quite busy.  Most of it to do with the quilting world.  Most recently, I traveled to Alaska via cruise ship.  It was one of the most breathtaking adventures of my life time.  It was a quilter's dream come true.  While at sea, we took classes with Gyleen Fitzgerald, Jeanette Walton, Sue Nickels and Laura Wasilowski.  We visited the ports of Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan and Victoria, British Columbia.   We sailed into Glacier Bay, visited the Raptor Center and saw bald eagles, totem poles (amazing)  endless mountains (no bears, but that was fine with me) and quilt shops.  Yes, there were quilt shops in every port and we had plenty to choose from and to buy if we were so inclined.  I met up with friends that I had made through my limited knowledge of social media and we didn't know we were going to be traveling together.  So, it was a delight to meet up with Jeanette Walton and Dee Huffman,  Donna Swinborne from Australia and so many more.   I am sharing a few pictures.  But, you know me and picture taking.  I had a camera around my neck and my I-phone in my pocket, but I was so awestruck with the breathtaking beauty of this place, that I only snapped 7 pictures.  Dee Huffman helped me out, with a few photos.  However, this trip was the best thing I could have done for myself. Good friends and camaraderie, awesome food, more entertainment than you could ever experience in 7 days and did I say quilt shops in every port.  Did I buy something in every port?  Yes, yes I did.  Abby's Reflections in Sitka and Satin Moon on Victoria Island were my favorites and held onto my credit card a little longer than the others.  We also visited Changing Tides quilt shop in Juneau and the Whale's Tail in Ketchikan.  All wonderful and well stocked shops.  The Janome dealer who supplied the sewing machines on board the ship for our classes did pretty well too.  I bought a couple of goodies from them as well. 

Here are few photos to share...



Port of Seattle




Port of Seattle

 

Downtown Juneau




Downtown Ketchikan

 

Sitka the Bald Eagle



Oldest Church in Sitka




Best table in the House. Overlooking the Wake of the Ship











Buy one - get one free! So I did!

Glacier Bay!