Hexy Quilt - WIP!!!

I've been having such fun going through the list of Angels on this blog. And in my travels I came across another quilter mad enough to take on a hexy quilt here. Maybe we should all get together ... I like the idea of that as I have a HUGE head start LOL!!!!!
I've been stitching this quilt by hand for about 2 years now ... probably more!! I've hand-sewn hundreds and hundreds of 1" hexys together and one day it's going to be on my queen size bed - I mean it ;o)!!!I can't remember what it was that possessed me to take on such a project in the first place but I'm so glad I did, I really love it and I can't wait til it's finished. Only trouble is, I can really only work on it in the cooler months cos it gets waaaay too hot to do in the summer-time. It's made mostly from scraps with just the ivory background being all in the same fabrics. The plan is to do a blue border with ivory daisies ... then it should be done!!!

The Quilt Buddy was wondering how I filled in the giraffes in my free BOM block from Lynette Anderson so here's a closer piccy. Hopefully you can see it better now, it's just a satin stitch but I think it looks quite pretty. Lynette's stitcheries are soooo cute, you really must pop over and have a look :o).That's all from me for now ... might go and check out some more Angel blogs ;o).
Cheers,
Joy :o)

One Chrissy pressie finished … :o)

Ooooh I’ve been having a lovely time with my “Go Baby”!!!
As promised – here’s how I made the cute little hexy table mat…
I used these dies, the 2 1/2” strips, the hexagons and the triangles for hexagons…

View Full Album

I made 10 hexagons and 18 triangles (oops, I probably could have pressed these before I took a pic!!!), and I sewed them together in sets and then rows, as shown below…The little dog ears are already removed so you just have to line them up evenly - one on top of the other …. love it!!!!!! So then I stitched the rows together (Pressed this time … much nicer lol) … Popped on a border and sandwiched it … quilted it up…… and voila … one Chrissy Pressie done and dusted in just a morning :o). Hmmm, now I’m thinking that there are 3 different sizes on the hexy and triangle dies … might have to make some smaller and bigger ones too :o).
You can sign up for the Accuquilt emails if you like and they'll send you 22 free patterns - click here for the link :o).
So how’s your Chrissy stitching coming along??? As usual I’ve left mine til the last minute lol. Must get back to it though, I’ve got some secret santa pressies to finish :o)!!!

Hexy Project and New Books!!!!

You know how it is when you go to these fabulous craft shows, there's so often someone doing a demonstration and making it look soooo easy!??! Well, that's what happened to me a year or so ago. I was hooked and I just had to give this new thing a try :o). So I bought everything I needed and came home delighted with my spoils and ready to have a play.I even got the Clover Iron cos it made the job soooo much easier :o) ... I studied the book which was very well illustrated, even if the text was in Japanese, no problem, the pictures pretty much told the story (I really love this book)!!! You weave strips of fabric and end up with wonderful patterns - beautiful stuff :o)!!Now I bet you're thinking I'm gonna tell you I wasted my money and it was impossible to replicate what the demonstrator was showing me .... well you're wrong. I laid it all out and I studied the book and I actually made something with this fabulous bundle. Not a waste of money after all.

Oh no, not at all LOL ......... I made THIS :o) ..................He he he ..... aren't you proud of me LOL??? I have my very own drink coaster ... and I use it all the time!!!!! It's not a new finish, I made it ages ago so it's not going on my "finished projects" list on the sidebar ;o), I just thought you might like to see it. It's a massive 3 1/2" wide and pretty much the only thing I've made so far from all this loverly stuff. But I love it - I just wish I could find the time to make more, it really is fun once you get the hang of it :o).

I got 2 more books in the mail from the Book depository today, I'd been watching for the parcel lady everyday last week and today was my lucky day!!! Look what I got!!!! and my very bestest favourite .........I love this Tilda book A LOT!!! There's loads of things I want to make in it .... aren't these ladies just adorable??!!!? ........ in the book they're called 'witches', but I think they're much too pretty!!! ... And knowing how I love chickens, these are DEFINITELY on the "to do" list!!!! They are so cute :o)!!!!

Take care .....

Should I knock on wood???

Well I whinged about my "Murphy" day ... then everything seemed to go so right. Now I'm not sure whether I should just be happy that things are still going remarkably well ... or... and here's the cynical side of me showing through ...... should I be preparing myself to come back down to earth with an almight BUMP he he he????

Nope ... I'm going to enjoy it all while the going's good :o) - But I'm knocking on a LOT of wood LOL.

I couldn't believe my luck when I won one of Kris's gorgeous patterns in her latest giveaway of Wonderful Weekend Kits!!! And the one I received couldn't be more perfect for me ......... Lavender Tea - isn't it just so pretty!!?! Oh how I love lavender ....And isn't it just like Kris to add a little extra something ... not just the pattern but a cute little bookmark and a gift card too!! Thanks so much Kris, I love it :o)!!!!

Also in the mail last week were my Aviary fabrics that I was waiting on so that I can make another "Diamonds and Braids" sample. I already had the jelly roll but was waiting on the charm squares and yardage. Aren't they delicious!!!!!?? The original is done in warm country colours and this one I think will have a completely different look. Here it is so far ... I think it reminds me of raspberries and cream!!!

Another example of things going so well ... my points came out 'pointy', and ....... (you're not going to believe this ...) my bobbin thread ran out at the END of the seam!!!

!!!Yes it did!!!

I know, I just couldn't believe it either, there was even a little tail!!! Now there just had to be a stitching Angel watching over me that day :o)!!!

Here's another little project I made last week .... I've been SUCH a busy stitcher LOL. It's a little zippy pouch and I used a stitchery I got from the lovely Cath at Willow Valley Store, thanks Cath :o). She's having a giveaway at the moment too so check out her blog!!

My Hexy tabletopper is all basted and ready to be hand quilted ... this is my practice piece to teach myself how to do it, before I tackle the big Queen size one (that's not even finished yet LOL).

I've been doing a bit in the evenings and I've done a lot of unpicking while trying out different needles and thimbles etc. I've tried it with and without a hoop and although on this small item I'm finding it easier to do without the hoop - I can't imagine it would be too easy to do that way on a larger quilt. I might have to invest in a hoop that stands on the floor. We'll see.

It's Anzac day today, a day of remembrance for us all. Please check out Julie's blog for a really lovely poem - it's sure to touch your heart and bring a tear to your eye.

Lest we forget.

A day out and More hexy fun!!!

I love the days when I get to go out and about to different patchwork shops. Yesterday I went to the new "Quilter's and Embroiderers Store" that used to be at Auchenflower, but now it's at Salisbury and it's HUGE!!! I really wished I'd had more time to explore!! Next I went out to Jimboomba to see Tereasa at "Homespun and Beautiful" - a gorgeous shop with so much to see. I had seen this pattern ... on their blog and I knew I had to have it!!! Think I might use these ... and maybe some of these after I dye them ........I can't wait to get started :o)!!! I also visited Chris at "Buttons and Bows" at Beenleigh, I always love to pop in there, such a friendly store. Both "Homespun and Beautiful" and "Buttons and Bows" are stocking my patterns now, I'm so pleased they do :o).
I've also made good progress with my Rebel pattern from Angels In Disguise, I need to decide what background fabric I want to use then I can start putting it together, at the moment it's just carefully placed so that you can see how busy I've been ;o) ...I'm really enjoying making this one, but that's no surprise cos you know I love hexys!!!!
I'd better be off ... I have a lot of orders to fill.............

Take care ...

Hugs,

Joy :o)

Fun day out :o)

My freind Lynn and I went to the Craft Expo yesterday … Great fun!!!

This just amazed me, it’s the ‘world’s biggest hexy quilt’ … well if it’s not already then it’s well on the way to becoming that!!!

I had to take two shots to get it all in!!! Isn’t it a fabulous effort – so many hexagon ‘flowers’ donated by so many wonderful quilters :o)!!!

Of course, there was shopping to be done, I found some wonderful stores that I couldn’t walk away from empty handed! This is Jane from Be Be Bold, she had a fantastic array of Japanese fabrics … this one I simply HAD to have. Don’t you love how the one side is spots and the other side is gingham??!! Yep, your eyes don’t deceive you, that’s just one fabric, with TWO different looks. GAWJUS!!!!!!!

I bought the terrific canvas tape there too, to make the handles, cos of course this just HAS to (eventually) become my new shopping bag :o) … and also a few things more from some other stores – the beautiful dragonfly fabric was from Indigo Niche and will be used to make another of my “night flight” tablerunners!! …. and how about these adorable little scissors… These are a little over an inch and a half (4.5cm) from top to bottom, and they’re spring loaded. Perfect for plane travel. HAD to have ‘em ;o)!!! HAD to have these cute little charms too ~ if you click on the pic you’ll probably be able to see them better. I just fell in love with the sweet little owls on the bottom right …See … I didn’t buy too much ;o). You should see what I DIDN’T buy he he ~ aaaah, such will power :o).

I’ve got some good news about my Mum too … I get to bring her home from hospital tomorrow!!! She’s going to stay here with us while she’s (literally) getting back on her feet. Thank you all so much for your good wishes, I passed them all on to Mum and she was chuffed to bits :o)!!

WARNING -High calorie post ... proceed with caution!!!

He he ... looks good enough to eat doncha think!!??!

I've been baking all morning because my in-laws are coming over this afternoon for Jess' Birthday and I've made afternoon tea for us all. I'm sure you've spotted my favourite "Lemon Fudge Cake" there on the right ... and the cup cakes are actually the birthday cake, I've got some cute candles to put on them later ... and the other plate has "Raspberry and Almond Muffins" ....... YUMMM. For all of you lovely bloggy ladies doing Sharon's diet challenge ... don't linger on this blog too long cos, I'm not absolutely sure, but I think the calories might be downloading as you read. Nothing here is safe or even remotely weight watcher friendly ....... sorry!!!!

Onto stitchy things ...... Very pleased to have finished the first border for my hexy quilt ..... YAY ... (insert Kris' happy dance here he he!!). Phew ... one down, three to go :o). It's actually not taking as long as I thought it would so maybe I'll meet my deadline after all :o)!!!!!