Emptying the Cupboard II

Back when I worked at the most amazing shop on earth, I ordered this fabric. Avignon by American Jane for Moda. I started this sample, the whole bolt of red focus fabric sold, and I lost momentum. I was using a pattern from this book and had even sewn most of the left over odd shaped triangles together for the edging. 

It went into the cupboard and never came out again  

Fast forward two years.....Out comes the project. I realize there is not enough of anything to finish this project, and I'm determined to finish it without spending any more money. After a panic, a cup of   coffee and messing a bit carefully planning, I found some blue kona in my stash, unpicked all those triangles and set them on their sides, then used the kona for the corner blocks and backing. What looks like a wide binding is actually the backing wrapped to the front and the corners mitered. 

Since it will be used as a tablecloth, I didn't use batting. After sewing it together I hand quilted some of the hexagons with a size 5 variegated pearl thread.

Whew! Done, just in time for a picnic before the weather changes!

Winner!

The winner of the hexagon pillow is...........
Number 13!
Theblackforrist
Who said,

Um, it shouts "Kara!!!" it's orange... hello...

February 19, 2011 2:36 PM

I hope you enjoy the pillow Kara! It will be on it's  way to you shortly!

Thanks everyone for the lovely comments!

~

I haven't had a photo of the boy in the last few posts. This is one of him on Friday when he, grampa and I were hanging out in the backyard. 

He kills me.

Something For You!

Well, only if you want it.....

I am over due for a giveaway. I'm sorry for neglecting you. Especially since you have always been so encouraging and kind. Really kind. Like all of your encouragement for me and my Etsy endeavor. Did I tell you it all sold? So thank you for everything.

Way back when I started indulging in my love for hexagons and before I decided that I was going to make a quilt and make it a charm quilt to boot, I made a lot of them. The other day I decided to make a pillow. I liked it and thought maybe you would too. You won't be hurting my feelings if you don't, but if you would like a chance to have this lovely, just leave me a comment.

The insert is included because it's an odd size so I had to make one. Comment up until Monday midnight EST.  This is open to anyone, anywhere. Now I'm off to try and restock my Etsy shop.

Another Farewell

We drove to Garmisch Saturday. It was an exercise in patience and endurance. Car trouble, traffic and 7 hours got us there. Our main purpose was to say good bye to a dear friend. We feel like we've known her forever and it's so hard to say tschuss even for a short time. We hope to see her in our new home next year. This is the view from her home. Her balcony is to die for.

She makes us laugh and we try and return the favor. She and I are standing in front of an avalanche that happened some years ago on the Garmisch side of town.

We stopped in for a bit of festivities in Garmisch. Next week the same thing is going on in Partenkirchen. Apparently there is a bit of a competition between the two parts of town. I love that they built the tent around an existing house that the dancers went in and out of. 

Our friend told us that some of these plumes go for as much as 10,000 euros. Some people take their traditional dress very seriously. 

There are so many views of these mountains and they change all the time. 

It didn't take us as long to get home but this is a storm we drove into. Let's just say for a little while it was a bit windy.

What's a little travel without a few hexies sewn?

Where did the last six days go?

I've been very busy, kinda sick, really tired and not great at keeping track of things, like days and where they go.

Thanks to a few really nice people, Jan, Kelly, Jennifer and Sara, I have 220 more hexagons sewn up.

Hexagon progress

A lot are a gift from Kelly. Some are from projects recently completed. 

This is what a hundred look like?

A swap from isisjem22. So I am + about 150 this week.

Newest reason not to do other things. Trying needlefelting again. Not sure what it will be.

A Full Weekend of Sewing

This is what three hundred and five 1" hexagons look like. I am out of scraps.

Sunday's additions.

Jennifer gave me some knit fabric a few months back. I made a shirt for Jessica out of some and this is what I did with the left over. I greatly modified an old pattern. It's comfy but not too frumpy....

I promised I'd try using the wonder tape to insert a zipper. I got around to that today. I pulled out some Japanese damask that I'd gotten peices of a couple of years ago. I've been wanting to make something with it. No one was here to tell me I shouldn't, so I did. First though, wonder tape works great!

Tape on the zipper.

Zipper taped to skirt.

Sewing zipper in on the right side of the skirt. Finished zipper. I will definitely do this again.

Photo session with myself. I crack myself up. Look at this hair.... tomorrow it's gone. Well not all gone but shorter.

Hope your Monday has been happy!

New Things

 My grandbaby is a grandson! Jess and Uber found out Friday that the little Uber IS in fact a little Uber! Now that I know of course I had to sew something. I chose an Oliver & S pattern, big surprise.... the sandbox pants. Why is everything teeny tiny so cute??? I used a Kaufman corduroy, it's very soft, and for fun, a bit of Amy Schimler for the pocket linings and the waistband.

Yes, the pants are surrounded by more animals. Since you know who doesn't sew, this is his contribution. I think he has contributed about 20 new animals. He thinks he may be done. I'm not so sure.

Next is another dress for the baby mamma. I'll get these in the mail soon Jess, promise! This is more of Joel Dewberry's fabric line. I love the way this looks when it's shirred.

One of Heather Bailey's new patterns, Saturday Market bag, made for the shop. This was an easy pattern and I used the same fabrics she chose for her pattern cover in a different colorway. I love this fabric. L.O.V.E.

Last but not least, we had some sunshine this weekend. You know who and I managed to make it outside a couple of times. I think the sunshine didn't set too well with me on Saturday. After sitting outside for a couple of hours, not in the direct sun, I got a migraine and my face was not so pretty this morning. Can you become allergic to the sun if you don't get to see it for awhile?? This evening we went out again and so far I've had better results. I still stayed under an umbrella...

28 new hexies.

A Fork in the Road

I've come to one. When I started making hexagons 6 months ago, it was just to see if I liked the process. I love hand sewing (sorry I do) and I was on board with the take along aspect of these things. I liked it. Then I got busy and they got buried. Literally. Fast forward to coming across Texas Freckles and her quilt along.

So here is my delimma. Do I go on as I started or do I allow myself to be completely taken in by her charms. You see, she is doing a hexagon charm quilt. That is where no two fabrics are alike. By her calculations I will need 1,173 to make a quilt approx 50 x 59. I really want to be commited to finishing this quilt. I just don't want to be commited, I've got a grandchild on the way for goodness sake. Poor child.... I had a gramma but she went crazy making hexagons.......

Of course this could be like my coffee addiction. I talk about intervention but when I comes down to it, if you tried, I might have to kill you. Maybe I've made my choice. Hmmm, crazy gramma it is.