The Hexagon Quilt

I have designed a hexagon quilt for a long-term project.

It is going to be humongous (for a super-king sized bed) and will probably take 5 years or more to stitch because I'm using ¾" hexagons --- oh what was I thinking, mad, totally mad, hand stitched English Paper Piecing, oh dear.

Here it is so far, the humble beginnings...

I did not get any photos of my latest crochet block for my blanket, but I did do some stitching on my A Year of Stitches project (not managing to do stitching every day on it, but hey, I'm only human.

Last Thursday was a beautiful sunny day when Tony & I had a trip to Hawera.

We decided to relax a bit and take a leisurely stroll through the park.

It's a beautiful place, full of very well kept gardens, a great kiddies park area, duck ponds, Chinese garden, rose gardens, and lovely nooks, shady areas, and secret gardens. 

It always looks amazing there, and you never know what surprises you'll find as you follow winding paths or peep around the hedgerows.

Whoever created this space did an excellent job of keeping people and children entertained.

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This has been another Year of Projects Post

CQJP - The Green Block

The Green Block on my CQJP is now finished.

Seam treatments and embellishments close-up pics.

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End of green, now on to another colour for my next block.... what colour will it be?

Watch this space, lol.

Happy Stitching.

February Is Yellow - CQJP

I am LOVING working with yellow.

I think it's a colour that is underrated. 

It's soft.

It's elegant.

It's soothing,

mellow, pleasant, classy, captivating, and, well,

just downright delightful.

What do you think of YELLOW?

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CQ Sewing again.

Phew! Finally I have some stitching to show you. 

We've been so busy here on the farm lately that I've not had much time left over for sewing.

The grass is almost ready for cutting and bailing again and that will be another busy time here at 'Lewis Acres'.

But for now, here is what I've been up to.

Crazy Quilting with Kathy Shaw's seams plus a few 'personal flourishes' of my own.

Plenty of room left on these seams for the addition of beads and SRE.

I'm just waiting for the postman to bring my new supply of Silk Ribbons.

I had to order more because my original stash is packed away in sealed boxes in the shipping container, and no way am I going in there to start opening up already packed boxes, lol, assuming, of course, that I can find the 'correct' box.

And just in case you are wondering about the background fabric.... it is all my own hand dyed neutrals.

Happy Stitching

Cyra

Hearts Quilt week 7 - Dresden Plate block

 Straight From the Heart 

Week 7

The Dresden Plate block is progressing.

My monogram is centred on it and the French Knots surrounding the middle are now complete.

I have to admit, before I go any further, that I did not personally stitch this Dresden Plate block. My mother did.

It was one of the first "lessons" that I taught her when I was doing the 2 yr City & Guilds Patchwork & Quilting course.

As a professional seamstress she was always making clothing and garments, but had never ventured into quilting. When she saw the fun things I was creating on my course she was very eager to learn what she could about this new style of stitching.

The fabrics used on this piece are all recycled from dresses,skirts, and tops that were either my mothers, mine or my daughters. 

This quilt of many memories is for me.

The seams of the Dresden Plate will be embellished with stitches in the crazy patchwork style.

Straight from the Heart Quilt - week 6

 Straight from the Heart Quilt 

Week 6

I created a Dresden Plate block for the Monogram (from last week) to be placed in the centre.

When finished, the French Knots will be all the way around the Monogram, but at the moment I am about one third of the way around.

You can probably see that I am trying to blend the colours. It's a long job, but enjoyable.

I'm thinking I will go back with these colours again and stitch right up to the stem stitch circle around the motif, as I'm not sure I like the yellow fabric showing outside of the circle.

I'll continue with the French Knots like this for now though, and then make up my mind later whether or not I will be covering the yellow.

The Dresden Plate story will come next week, as I'm running out of time today.

 Tatting 

I haven't progressed any more with needle-tatting, but I have tried Shuttle Tatting now, and here is my first ring completed.

I think I like this technique, but I got in a right mess (just after this photo) trying to get another ring done. I just cannot get any subsequent rings to 'pull' into a ring.

I shall keep trying.

 Selling House and Packing 

Oh boy is this a horrible job. I have so much 'stuff'.

Tony has bought 'another' shipping container so that we can pack and store everything that we want to take to the new place, but do not necessarily need to use here. The thoughts behind this is that we empty the house of 'clutter' to make it easier to keep clean and tidy, and help make the rooms look larger, and stage it so that it is more appealing to prospective home buyers.

I have packed away all my blue & white pottery from the Welsh dresser, all my sewing stuff including tools, fabrics, wool, threads, art equipment etc., books are packed, office paperwork packed, surplus kitchen things are packed, precious items are safely packed, photos and mementos packed. All boxes and surplus furniture are now in the lounge and hallway awaiting 'someone' to carry it all into the container.

Now I have to start on the bedrooms and walk in wardrobe. How do I know what clothes I can pack away? It may be a year before I see them again.

Oh woe is me......

My Monogram for Crazy Quilt

Here are Step-by-Step photos of the monogram I created for my 

 Straight From The Heart 

Crazy Quilt.

I penciled a circle on my fabric then started the stitching with a whipped running stitch to outline the letters (my initials).

Next I filled the middle of the letters with herringbone stitch.

The herringbone stitch was then laced.

And then I added French Knots in the spaces with lavender thread. 

Close-up of the French Knots

Next I made a Stem Stitch circle in a pastel pink around the monogram

 And then added another circle of Stem Stitch

Close-up of the Stem Stitch circles

Then I filled in the middle with Back Stitch in a dusky rose

And the finished Monogram......... 

I know it it usually required to "sign" quilts when completed.

As usual, I am doing things back to front.

This Monogram of my initials is for the front of the crazy quilt.

With a bit of luck (and time), next week I can show you the setting for the Monogram.