more hexie work

I have spent the year trying to finish a long term hexie quilt. The main part has been done for awhile and I am finishing the edges to a stopping point. It is a great big puzzle. I need to hand piece bigger sections together before I can add it to the mother ship. I am working on the last side. I have no idea on how I will actually finish the edges. But I have to get there first. Now that I can get outside, it may slow me down on the work.

I am linking:

design wall monday 

oh scrap

sew and tell

monday musings

hexie quilt goal

As an extra quilting goal, I have decided to take my longtime hexie quilt, and, leave it out, until, it is done. Over the years, I have worked on it from time to time, and, then, it gets set aside for more pressing projects and life. I have 1 1 /2 sides to go, and, I think it is time to stick to it, until, it is finished. At this point, it needs to be spread out to work on the bits and pieces to even out the sides. It is big enough that it is cumbersome, and, I don't want to move it every time I add to the mother ship. I have been laying out pieces as I make them and adding them to each other as I can. It has been hard not to add each section right away to the quilt, but I don't want to move it every time.

It has been so long since I started this quilt, that, I can't perfectly match the fabrics. But, that was normal so long ago. And those quilters made do with whatever they had and so am I. 

It is a puzzle. I Can't just blissfully make stars and rosettes. I need to make odd shaped sections that will fill in what is missing.

This corner is done. and the right side and bottom is done. I have one side left to go. But there are big sections that will need work.

I am linking:

design wall monday 

oh scrap

sew and tell

monday musings

wednesday wait loss

stash report July 7, 2019

I haven't done a stash report in a while. I have been moving and sorting and folding fabric in an attempt to organize my space. I have come to realize I have been blessed with really great fabric. I have received some great scraps from other quilters. However, if I don't stay on top of it, I will be overrun with chaos. But, what a wonderful chaos it is.

These pieces were gifted to me when the quilter was done with her quilt. I think they are lovely together.



I think this vintage doily that I found in the box would make a great label for the back of a quilt.

Stash report 

Fabric Used this Week 26 yards

Fabric Used year to Date: 162.25 yards

Fabric Added this Week: 2 yards

Fabric Added Year to Date: 117.25 yards
net fabric: 45 yards used more than bought

I have been at the sewing machine at least 15 minutes each day. The day is not complete without it.

I have moved most of my quilting books to the new cabinets. And I am slowly filling the cabinets with fabric.

Today I have a binding to do for slow Sunday stitching.

I am linking to:

Slow Sunday Stitching

Oh scrap

sunday stash at quiltpaintcreate

15 min to stitch at life in pieces

stash report May 5, 2019

I have been sorting through my studio and finding many - what was I thinking -bags and bins. I don't know why I dropped the ball on some of them. I must have felt deadlines, and delayed decisions in favor of accomplishing what I felt needed done. Something about Spring fever makes it very soothing to slowly sort and cull the important from the mess. I wonder if it's much like our Mother's mothers felt when they would open the cabins doors and windows and shake the winter from their homes. I have found fabric that I didn't unpack and put away.

Stash report 

Fabric Used this Week 34.75 yards

Fabric Used year to Date: 135.25 yards

Fabric Added this Week: 3.75 yards

Fabric Added Year to Date: 105.25 yards
net fabric: 30 yards used more than bought

I found a buried jar full of empty thread spools. I had seen a quilter post somewhere that she kept the empty spool bobbins for a year and then had that as a record of how much she had sewn. I thought it was a great idea and started doing the same. But, I didn't take a picture and blog about it.
This is 2017 empty spools.

And this is part of 2018 empty spools before I forgot I was collecting spools. It looks unimpressive in a pile. It should be mounds and mounds for the amount of thread I think I have put through the sewing machine. haha

I stitched 15 min everyday, mostly treadle last week as I am rearranging the "studio" and the sewing machine has been unplugged.

I am working on hexies to fill in my big hexie quilt for slow sunday stitching.

I have been cutting bags of scraps from leftover projects.

I am linking to:

Monday Making

Moving it Forward Monday 

design wall monday   

boms away 

I am linking to:

Slow Sunday Stitching

Oh scrap

sunday stash at quiltpaintcreate

15 min to stitch at life in pieces

stash report April 14, 2019

We have started birthday season in our family. My hubby's is the 4th, Youngest son is the 6th, Son number 3 is the 18th, and many more in our extended family.

I am looking for mustard, cheddar color fabric. This was supreme cotton from Missouri star quilt company. It is a beautiful color. I have some more ordered, before I choose. And, while I was there, I added a few 'deals" to my cart.

I am looking forward to slow Sunday stitching today. It is a cold and rainy Spring day. After church, I am cuddling up with some hand stitching. My goal is to finish this hexie and get it set into the mothership part of the quilt.

I finished grand illusion this week, so my report looks better.

Stash report 

Fabric Used this Week 27 yards

Fabric Used year to Date: 100.5 yards

Fabric Added this Week: 2.25 yards

Fabric Added Year to Date: 101.5 yards
net fabric: 1 yard bought more than used


I stitched 15 minutes every day this week just on clean up duty. As I was tidying from projects, I'd find little bits, that I just had to sew a few minutes before I put it away. I am easily distracted from cleaning.

I am linking to:

Slow Sunday Stitching

Oh scrap

sunday stash at quiltpaintcreate

15 min to stitch at life in pieces

stash report March 31, 2019

We are caught in a time warp...

Another sale at bluprint, and I had just seen podunk pretties talk about her favorite type of fabric, and I love her quilts, so I bought these.

Stash report

Fabric Used this Week 0 yard

Fabric Used year to Date: 73.5 yards

Fabric Added this Week: 3.5 yards

Fabric Added Year to Date: 99 yards
net fabric: 25.5 yards bought more than used

My Christmas snowflake workshop was yesterday, and I was really impressed with the turnout and diligence of the talented quilters who spent their Saturday with me. There were 12 making the quilt and 4 observing.

Some were sitters...

and some were standers.. I am mostly a sitter, which are you?

We had 2 really new quilters and a machine sharing.

Halloween is a cute idea.

Everyone was able to make each of the paper piecing foundations before they went home.

 I was on my feet more than usual at the workshop, so this will be a slow feet up kind of day with a little hexagon piecing and a little bit of binding to do.

I stitched 15 minutes every day this week just on clean up duty. As I was tidying from projects, I'd find little bits, that I just had to sew a few minutes before I put it away. I am easily distracted from cleaning.

I am linking to:

Slow Sunday Stitching

Oh scrap

sunday stash at quiltpaintcreate

15 min to stitch at life in pieces

Stash report March 24, 2019

It's a miracle, but, there was no new fabric making a home here with me last week. I did buy some shirts at the rescue mission for .25 each. But, I walked away from thrift store fabric and giveaways and other peoples's scraps....at least last week. I make no promises.

I am still sorting through the green scraps, and used the shortish strips to make 4 patches in 2 1/2 inch size. I used the 2 1/2 inch die to subcut into twosies.

And then there were more 4 patches for the irish chain quilt. Right now, this is my favorite part of the green color family.

Stash report

Fabric Used this Week 0 yard

Fabric Used year to Date: 73.5 yards

Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards

Fabric Added Year to Date: 95.5 yards
net fabric: 22 yards bought more than used

I have a binding to hand sew today. I love that part and look forward to feet up and working on this.

I sewed more than 15 minutes every day. The best time for me is first thing in the morning, before I feel obligated to do anything else.

I am linking to:

Slow Sunday Stitching

Oh scrap

sunday stash at quiltpaintcreate

15 min to stitch at life in pieces

stash report March 17, 2019

My Christmas cactus is blooming. With the weird winter we have had, I am not surprised it is confused. What does surprise me is that the blooms look almost pink, and they are supposed to be red. hmmm

Craftsy sent a coupon to me for an additional amount off, and I found 2 fat quarter bundles I thought were great.

Stash report

Fabric Used this Week 1 yard cozies

Fabric Used year to Date: 73.5 yards

Fabric Added this Week: 9.5 yards

Fabric Added Year to Date: 95.5 yards
net fabric: 22 yards bought more than used

I have one corner completed on my hexagon quilt, which makes it portable again. I wasn't sure, until I finished a corner how to finish it. But I did know that, if I just made rosettes, I could go forever without finishing it. And the work on that corner, convinced me it isn't big enough. I can start making at least a few more rosettes during waiting times, and in the car.

I sewed more than 15 minutes every day - it was a good sewing week.

I am linking to:

Slow Sunday Stitching

Oh scrap

sunday stash at quiltpaintcreate

15 min to stitch at life in pieces

stash report March 10, 2019

I had a flannel day at goodwill. Most of these pieces are at least 5 yards. They will make great backs. I am even wondering if the bottom piece would work as the back for my double wedding ring quilt. They are washed and dried and folded.

Stash report

Fabric Used this Week 1.5 yards cozies

Fabric Used year to Date: 72.5 yards

Fabric Added this Week: 15 yards

Fabric Added Year to Date: 86  yards
net fabric: 13.5 yards bought more than used

I have made great progress on either the bottom or the top of my hexagon quilt. Everything to the right and below the medallions is squaring the bottom ( or top). Looks like I have a few too many far right. sigh...

I sewed more than 15 minutes every day.

I am linking to:

Slow Sunday Stitching

Oh scrap

sunday stash at quiltpaintcreate

15 min to stitch at life in pieces

stash report March 3, 2019

Stages of grief of a fabricholic

1. denial - sure I have a lot of fabric, but not that much and I need everything for projects I plan on doing. I just need a better organization system and spend a little more time focused on my projects. And I will just focus on finishing and then everything will be sunshine and happy sewing.

2.  anger - I can't find anything, it's a mess. Why can't I keep up and finish everything. It's not fair that quilter's keep enticing me with new inspiration. finishing takes longer than cutting and piecing combined and stupid mundane stuff still needs to get done which is seriously cramping my quilting time.

3. bargaining - ok, I just won't buy any more fabric or start any more projects. I won't worry about the whole mess just a little at a time, accomplish what I need, and then move on. I can make lists, set goals, stay focused. But, if I do buy or find more at the thrift store, I will find a nice home for it. One at a time and stay on top of it. I will share with others. Maybe use the one in, one out idea. when I am even older I won't be able to buy any at all, so, I am going to need all of this one day.

4. depression - well, that didn't work, nothing works, it is still out of control - all the fabric is still so pretty and every piece is still so lovely. My children will hate me when they have to go through it. Oh wait, who cares. No one else has this problem and my stash is bigger than all the other quilter pictures I see. Oh no - I am doomed - Maybe I will just quit quilting. I will just buy what I need when I need it rather than look for it here in the mess.

5. Acceptance. - I like quilting and I like fabric and I like bargains and the thrill of the hunt. I can't purge that from myself and why would I want to ignore it. I need to quit stressing over the quantity and mess and enjoy and be grateful I have such a blessing in my life. creativity is rarely tidy

so, obviously, I will not show what has come in the house this week, but concentrate on what left in the form of a finished quilt.

Stash report

Fabric Used this Week 25 yards -celtic solstice

Fabric Used year to Date: 71 yards

Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards

Fabric Added Year to Date: 71  yards
net fabric: 0 yards bought more than used

last year 2018, I had already used 115 1/2 yards of fabric

and added 33 yards to the stash

Most of the hand stitching I am doing for my long term hexagon project is done with the big part of the quilt. I am adding filler blocks to 2 of the edges. But, while Hubby was in the hospital, I was able to work on individual rosettes that I can add at home. It was a bit more portable.

I sewed more than 15 minutes every day but 1.

I am linking to:

Slow Sunday Stitching

Oh scrap

sunday stash at quiltpaintcreate

15 min to stitch at life in pieces

stash report February 24, 2019

My hubby brought this flower to me yesterday, in the dead of winter. What a welcome surprise. He had brought one of our planters in from the deck and has it wintering over in our basement under a grow light. The marigold has made it so far.

It was time to do something with this stack of fabric from goodwill. I really like the 2 solid pieces on the left. They are grunge fabrics from before there were grunge fabrics. I am guessing the 80s.
I decided I would weigh it to get the yardage, and there was 5 pounds. There are usually 3 yards in a pound.

Stash report

Fabric Used this Week 13 yards - bargain basement

Fabric Used year to Date: 46 yards

Fabric Added this Week: 15 yards

Fabric Added Year to Date: 71  yards
net fabric: 25 yards bought more than used

Last week, I started creating edges on my long term hexagon quilt. I've made some progress. One night, I was really absorbed in the project, and, then, realized I had added too much. haha. I need to check the whole side and not just one section. Or not watch a really good movie.

I sewed more than 15 minutes every day. 

I am linking to:

Slow Sunday Stitching

Oh scrap

sunday stash at quiltpaintcreate

15 min to stitch at life in pieces