UFO

Here is my Hexagon Star as a finished flimsy. I had less than one short edge left to appliqué.....at least now it's finished. I first posted about this quilt here in January 2012, but it goes back longer than that (2008 I think). It was my first hexagon project and something of an ugly duckling for a long while. I started it mainly to practice hexagons and use up scraps. But of course then I had to buy a big enough background piece........so much for being thrifty.

I have enough batting but need to get something for the back. I had thought about a pieced back like this........

........but I just don't think it will look right. Since it's a scrap project I'm trying to avoid spending too much on the backing. What sort of backing would you look for.......striped, floral, what colour? All suggestions much appreciated.

Here is my little pincushion from last week looking a bit flat.

School holidays have started here - yippee! We are off to Bathurst tomorrow to see Man of Steel (no chick flicks with 3 boys) and visit my parents.

Happy stitching.
Susan x

Works in progress

I was inspired by May Britt'spost about what projects she is working on this year. I'm sure there will be new projects and fabrics to catch my eye, but these projects are what I'm working on for now.

Finish quilting In Full Bloom before GDITC in March.

Make a start on The Simple Life fabric pack I got for Christmas.

Finish sewing down hexie border and quilt my Hexagon Star......by the end of the year.

Make a quilt for my nephew's 18th in August. Best get a move on with this one.

Floral Beauty. Loving it, and scared of all the needleturn, at the same time.

New Day stitchery.....finish by Mothers Day.

Make two runners for my new coffee table and buffet......soon.
Finish my little hexie bag before GDITC.
Stay up to date with the Traditional Nine Patch Swap.
I'm thinking about starting a clamshell quilt, but might wait until GDITC with Sue Daley.

I'll stop now, or this will become a very long list of all the projects I'd like to do.

I'm off to find a cool spot to stitch the day away.......now what should I work on first?

Susan x

What I've been working on.....

The problem with working on a big quilt, or hand quilting, is that there isn't really much to show. My giant quilt is getting close to finished, if you call having 69 more stars to go being close. I'm slowly working my way around the hexagon border......

....... it's a long way around. 130 inches.

I'm feeling really pleased with myself because I didn't buy a fabric pack for Anni's project bag. Last weekend I went through my stash and found everything I needed - all chosen by me. I don't have many bright fabrics in my stash, but I think what I have chosen will turn out ok.

So, apart from a little bit of stitching here and there that's about it. Mostly loving being at home with the kids for the holidays, although I'm sure they eat more when they're home all day.

Susan x

Turtle finish

There is some unusual wildlife in my garden today. I have finished my turtle pincushion from The Simple Life. Unfortunately, I think he is too cute to stick pins in. Apart from turning and stuffing the small pieces it was quite a fun project, and excellent for using up small scraps of a favourite fabric.

I have almost finished positioning the border on the Hexagon Star quilt, so that might be tonight's job. Then it just needs to be appliquéd on, fingers crossed that it doesn't move too much.

Hope you're having a great weekend.

Susan x

Turtle progress

What a treat. Hubby has taken the boys to school so here it is, 9am and I'm still in my pj's drinking coffee in the morning sun. It's the simple pleasures in life.

I have been working on my turtle pincushion. You know, the sweet, cute, innocent looking one in Anni's new book. Why am I drawn to these projects with fiddly bits? I think it will be ok, but I know why people use pre-cut papers. It's because even the smallest difference makes them really HARD to piece together.

Don't even ask me about turning and stuffing the teeny tiny limbs.

I have also been piecing my long strings of hexies together. It took me ages last night to work out the border measurements so the sides all meet nicely in the corners. I am afraid that they won't meet when it comes time to sew them on. I like appliqué but not when it's a long, narrow border piece.

Happy Birthday to the Queen and thank you for a long weekend. Our neighbours are moving into town this weekend, so we are having our final farewell drinks tonight. No more stumbling across the paddock in the dark. We will miss them being so close.

Have a great weekend.

Susan x

Weekend Sewing

After a late night on Friday, and a cold morning at soccer yesterday, it has been a perfect weekend for hand quilting. I have finally passed the half way mark on my Stars Quilt. Only 116 more stars to go.

I tried it out on my bed the other day and I love it, I hope I can finish it before winter is over.
I have also been sewing hexies together for the borders of my other star quilt. It has gone from a project that I hated to one that I think will turn out ok. I really like gluing the papers in, so there may be more EPP in my future.

Hope you have a happy week, and keep warm as we roll into winter.

Susan x

In Full Bloom

It is hard to beat being tucked up at home in front of the fire when it's cold and wet outside. Lots of lovely rain yesterday, and lots of mucking around with gutters and pipes to catch it all - the joys of living on tank water.

I have finished my latest In Full Bloom block, Flower Pots.

My Hexagon Star has been appliqued to the background with surprisingly few bumps. I'm amazed that I was able to keep it flat.  That means I should hurry up making these long hexie borders.

Out for Italian for a girls night tonight - you know the ones you see at school, or the supermarket, or racing by at kids sport - and you finally get together once or twice a year. None of them are stitchers, but I won't hold that against them, it should be a fun night.

Enjoy your weekend, and keep warm. It's so cold that maybe you should start a new quilt!

Susan x

Sunday afternoon

We love making honeycomb. So easy and yummy.

I have been making more hexie scraps for the border of my big star quilt. It's very relaxing once the rhythm gets going, and Sue Daleys turning cutting mat makes it easier.

Hope you're having a happy weekend.

Susan x

Not very much going on here in the sewing department - nothing new anyway. I am determined to finish my hexagon star. I bought some background fabric at Bathurst Fabric and Trims. The photo doesn't really show the pattern, and it will have a single row of hexagons added around the edge. I originally thought a dark background would suit, but I like this one. Very traditional looking.

I bought this magazine today....... a little something to drool over on a soccer-free Mothers Day weekend.

Other than going to the hairdresser I haven't achieved anything that I had planned to do today. Out for a farewell dinner at a great local winery tonight, and a weekend of making the most of the glorious Autumn weather.

I hope you enjoy your weekend.

Susan x

A late weekend finish

Amidst the comings and goings of family life, I finally found time to finish my SKOW bag tonight. It only needed the button and loop (yucky simple little job) and ta-da, it's finished.

The back is quite plain, but I think two sides of stitchery would be too much.

It's quite a nice sized bag, so I may make it again, but in a feature fabric.

I went to Bathurst on Friday to see Dad, and again today with the whole family. He is doing okay, but it is an exhausting and emotional experience for us all. After our visit today we went to see Avengers in 3D - it was pretty good (especially for hubby and three boys).

I am working on my Hexagon Star quilt again. I figure if I get the big star done it will be easier to choose a background. I'm just sick of it hanging around. And now that it's getting colder, I want to get back to hand quilting my Stars Quilt. Look at the poor thing shoved under my desk in a washing basket - I'm aiming to finish it before the end of winter.

Hope you find a quiet moment to stitch this week.

Susan x

UFO

I saw this quilt at Darling Harbour in 2008 at the Somerset Patchwork stand, and thought it looked like a good project for using up scraps and trying some hexagons, although I didn't go much on the yellow background.

I try not to have too many UFO's floating around - so what will I do with this almost complete star??? See that one little row not done at the top.

I can't decide what background colour to use, and all the scrappy colours aren't really inspiring me. Any suggestions? I did enjoy doing the hexies - just maybe in different colours next time.

This little cutie was a Christmas gift to myself. I bought it online from a Queensland business By Sage Design .

Summer has finally arrived so I will be hiding in the cool today.

Susan x