Summer Picnic

There, my January binding challenge is done.  Yeah me!

This was a LOT of hand stitching, but, so worth it in the end.  Whenever this quilt is shown, everyone remarks at all the embroidery that I did.  Nooooo ...... those images that you see are all from a pre-printed panel.  All I did was fussy cut them down to size and appliqued them onto a hexagon frame.

A mix of white, cream and off-white fabrics have been used throughout.  Below, it looks more beige on the right hand side, but it is just a shadow.

Then, I've also been asked about the hexie border.  Was that a printed panel also?  Nope, that is all hand pieced.  It was remarked that I have a lot of red fabrics.  Oh yes, I do!  LOL   The hexie border was a lot of work, but so worth it in the end!

I do like how the vertical diamonds in the the centre gets carried onto the top and bottom border.  Had to do a bit of thinking on how to bring everything together.  That happens when I come up with my own design.  Sometimes, that is the reason for a project to sit on the shelf for a long time until a light bulb moment happens.

Every time I look at the quilt and the images, it reminds me of summer and a picnic blanket .... thus the name.

Quilt Details:

Hexie size:  1-1/8" on the edge

Started:  July 2020

Top Finished:  August 2023

Quilt Finished:  January 2024

Quilt Size:  55-1/2" x 62-1/2" (top size before quilting, washing & drying:  57" x 64")

Batting:  Hobbs 80/20 

Machine Quilted by:  Kathy Wareham using Gothic Vine by Willow Leaf Stufios

This quilt is now hanging along with all my other red/neutral quilts for February and then it will hang again in June.

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Cheating hexies

Now that all the white hexies are complete and pinned in place, it is time now for the sewing together of those hexies.

After about a week of working here and there, the panel on the left is now complete.  Yippee!

This was the start of the harvest moon at the cottage this past weekend.  I went out later to try and catch a better photo, but the mosquitoes were so bad, that I quickly ran back inside the cottage.  So, this photo will just have to do, but take it from me, the red moon in the night sky and shining onto the lake below was stunning.

For my July binding challenge, this quilt will be it.  I need something to take with me for babysitting this Saturday and since there will be no pins to lose in the carpet for two little babies (they are Irish twins)  to find later, this is perfect.  Safer for all and it still gives me something to work on.

We did have a number of days of very hot and humid weather, but it has since cooled down a bit and we have had more rain.  A breather for now until the next heat wave comes around.

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Hexie a go-go Again

I do think that is what this quilt should be called ..... Hexie a-go-go!  Has a nice ring to it!  It is off the design wall and ready for taking along with me to the cottage for sewing together or along to babysitting (rest of June is going to be a busy month with babies).

The bottom four rows are now a finished section.  The next three rows up are attached into individual strips.  These strips just need to be sewn together and then sewn to the bottom section.

It is the middle of the month and this quilt is at the half-way mark.  I will plug away at this quilt and see if it can be finished by the end of June.

Here are the rest of the strips pinned together and marked so that they don't get mixed up.

This project was taken off the design wall to make way for this UFO.   It has stewed on the shelf for many, many years and the light bulb clicked on with an idea to finish it.  More on this project later!

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Hexie is a top

I know, I know ..... I've been missing from my blog.

I've been busy helping my sister, who is going through cancer treatments right now and I have been too busy to do much posting.

Handwork has been coming with me when I do go out and a few stitches here and there have been done.

My hexie panel project is finally a top.   A backing is in the works so this beauty can go to my lovely LAer.

A new hexie project did get started ..... Lordy, but I just couldn't resist.

Here is a closeup of some of the blocks.  The redwork pieces were from a cheater panel that got cut into squares.  They look like they are embroidered but are printed and that is how they will stay.

My sister and I did enjoy a few days out at the cottage last week.  It was hot, but a nice constant breeze from the lake kept us comfortable.

We were enjoying a pleasant evening on the porch.  The lake was calm and silent.  The moon was just starting to shine.  Suddenly .... on the other side of the lake came howling.  A pack of wolves!  Oooooh ..... too close!

Cherish your day ..... cherish your life!

Aren't I clever?

Just look at this quilt!  Beautiful, don't you think!

How many hours did it take me to do all those blocks .... the applique?  Why haven't you seen them before on my blog?  Because .... I didn't .... make .... them.

This is a cheater panel that I bought from someone's stash (thank you, Kelly), cut the blocks up, added sashing and borders and viola, a completed top.

For a while now, I've been wanting to have my lovely LAer (Kat's Quilts) try something different and she was willing to give it a go.

Look closely at the machine quilting.  Five different edge-to-edge (E2E) panto quilting designs instead of just the one E2E panto design.  This was a learning quilt and a sacrificial quilt in case it didn't turn out well.  We both learned what works well and what doesn't and the next few quilts will be better.

Now, this is not my idea.  Nope.  The clever person that showed a quilt done like this on her blog is none other than Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts.  I don't have that link to show you, but you can browse through her blog and find that quilt.  It is from a blue/white sew-along that she had from her book "Patches of Blue".  I now have that book and it is on my 'to do' list.

Both hubby and I love this quilt and it is currently hanging in our dining room.

So there, a quilt but not really my quilt!

To my American neighbours, Happy Thanksgiving! 

Have a great day!