A few more hexagons

Daily Quiltspiration - Don't focus on the idea of perfection, that's the realm of the divine.  For many of us, a quilt is meant to provide warmth, to comfort, to express friendship, that in itself is enough.

Hello everyone!  I have a few more hexagons to show you.  I've managed to do a few more, but am not overextending myself as I don't want to hurt my wrist - (is there such a thing as quilter's wrist or elbow?  Just wondering).   I have 30 hexies made, I need 16 more and then I can start putting it together - yoohoo.

Enjoy!
Mary-Frances





Couldn't resist laying them out to get an idea of what the quilt will look like.  I still have to select a fabric for the setting triangles.  I'm thinking of a solid, something with a 1930's feel to it..perhaps sky blue or lilac?



Keeping it simple

Hello everyone!  I'd like to extend a great big welcome to Lisa, thank you for joining us!

My wrist is acting up again, so haven't been doing anything much on the quilting front but I did put up a few more of the Christmas decorations this weekend.  I'm keeping it simple this year as once the new year arrives we will be super busy with renovations, putting the house on the market and then moving into the new house, as well as moving DD from Montreal and then on to England - phew, I'm tired already just thinking about it!

Enjoy!
Mary-Frances



The mantel is done, like I said I'm keeping it simple this year.



I added two of my santa's and used two medium-sized glass vases filled with non-breakable ornaments then wound two strings of silk holly leaves around everything.



This rolly-polly Santa makes me laugh - he's so jolly you can't help but smile when you see him.  I purchased him at the Festival of Crafts two years ago and the woman who makes them had a booth full of santa's, snowmen, elves and mice, it was so cheerful!




A few of my snowmen, tucked away in a corner on the piano this year.




The tall santa on the left was hand carved by an artisan in Quebec, I keep him out all year in my sewing room with a few of my other favourite santas.  The santa on the right is a candle from Pottery Barn - love their candles, but sooo expensive.



A few little figurines from my childhood - does anyone else remember these?  My mother would take my little brother and I to Montreal to see the Christmas decorations and she always bought us a small figurine as a memento. 



Our mini tree is set up in the foyer.



Here are two beautiful candles I purchased at Pottery Barn two years ago, it was a splurge but were well worth it...

 

...here's another look without the flash from the camera, that gives a better idea of what they look like.



Another project done

Daily Quiltspiration - Your camera is a great tool to help you decide what fabrics work well together.  Place the fabrics you are thinking of using together and take a photo.  If any one fabric consistently pops out at you, remove it.
                                                                          
Hello everyone!  Well, we made it to Friday and I have another project ready to be quilted - yoohoo!  I think I need to stop piecing things together and get to the quilting, don't you?  We'll see, sometimes it's just easier to have it long-armed, especially at this time of year.  ;-)  I've also completed a few more hexies, so I have a few photos for you.

Enjoy!
Mary-Frances




Here it is, all done.  I'm quite pleased with the way this turned out.  The paisley fabric no longer overwhelms the rest of the fabric in the quilt.



Love the striped fabric in this.

 



Girl guide quilts

Daily Quiltspiration - Never underestimate the value of taking a class, even if you are an experienced quilter.
                                                                                
Hello everyone!  I spent last evening with my daughter's girl guide troupe.  I had two quilts ready for them to put together.  They spread out the backing fabric and the batting then added the quilt top and tied one using embroidery thread - it was chaos!  Some of the girls tried their hand at hand quilting...it was a bit of a challenge for them but they did seem to enjoy themselves.

One of the quilt tops, with the squares the girls made last week.



I made a few split-nine patches for this one.

 



Here's the quilt all done and ready to be put together.



Here are some more of the houses the girls made.  I was going to put them all together in one quilt, but that would have been too much, so I will end up making three more quilts using three or four of the houses in each.




Here's a better view of their handiwork.  Bear in mind they are 9 - 11 year old girls.



Too sweet - a thank you card and picture from the girls.

A little light reading...

Daily Quiltspiration - Make at least one quilt without ripping out any seams or worrying about corners that don't quite match.  Cut out your squares, pin the fabric together and sew!
                                                                        

Hello everyone!  Look what I picked up at the library earlier this week.  It's the American Folk Art Museum's book on quilts...and it's huge!!  They have 500 or so quilts in their collection and this book highlights approximately 200 of them.  Each and every one of the quilts in this book is awe inspiring - the history, the work, the creativity....love it.

Enjoy!
Mary-Frances

Baby quilt top finished

Hello Everyone!  Hope you're all staying warm.  I managed to finish the baby quilt top I started last Friday.  I made a few changes to the pattern, just to make it my own. I also try to do a few hexagon blocks every few days, just for a change of pace.  I keep noticing patterns with hexagons now that I've started making them...does that happen to you?  I'll show the hexies once I have a few more made up.  Tomorrow is girl guide night, so I better spend the day finishing their quilt top.

Enjoy!
Mary-Frances



Thought I'd add a little something to the quilt, so made these wonky blocks.




They turned out not too bad I think.


 

I began with a 5-sided piece of fabric, although you could begin with any piece of fabric for the center, a square, a triangle, whatever you choose. 

 

Made sure I had my fabric scraps handy.



Started adding strips around the center piece of fabric, log cabin style.  Here's one piece ready to go on, I'm checking to make sure it is long enough.



Ready to sew.  I finger press the fabric open once it's sewn on.



Another piece of the puzzle added.  Continue in this manner until you've reached the size you need.



For this block I needed to make sure it was at least 7.5 inches long and wide.

 

Getting ready to cut the fabric down to the needed size.

 

Here it is, ready to be added to the quilt top.  By the way, there are a number of tutorials on how to create these types of blocks.  Here is another one if you wish to check it out:
http://www.15minutesplay.com/2010/07/got-15-minutes.html



The finished quilt top.



One more shot of a corner block.

Almost done!

Hello everyone!  I'm almost done the civil war print lap quilt for my sister (who is gifting it to her husband).  I wanted a decidedly masculine look to this, and I think I've accomplished it.  The log cabins in the center with the pink centers are just the thing it needed to make it pop without making it overly feminine.

Enjoy!
Mary-Frances



Close-up of the log cabin block - that pink is perfect, not too overwhelming but adds a pop of colour



Here's the center all sewn up and a small light brown border added to it.  The next two borders are ready to be sewn on.

 

This is the first time I've done traditional log cabins.  I've made liberated log cabins before but really like how these turned out.  I think I see a log cabin quilt in my future!



Friday night sewing

Hello everyone!  Just want to show what I accomplished last night.  I was snug as could be in my little sewing room, the radio was on and DD and I picked up some hot chocolate at Tim Horton's (and maybe a donut or two...I'm not telling) before we both settled in for the night.  What a great way to kick off the weekend.

Enjoy!
Mary-Frances



I cut the blocks...



...then made four nine-patch.



Added a border to the panels.




Here they are, ready to be put together.  I hope to get this finished tomorrow (fingers crossed).



Yippee - Friday Night Sew In is here!

Hello everyone!  Well, we made it to Friday!  Yoohoo, sometimes that's reason enough to celebrate, isn't it!  Although I would love to spend the day in my jammies and sew, sew, sew, I have to get the house work, work, work done first.  But then, after the meals have been made, the dishes washed and put away and the dog fed and walked, it will be time for my Friday Night Sew In.

I'm not sure what project I'll work on...my Cool Blues perhaps?  Or maybe something new - like this fun little kit I bought a while back.

Enjoy!
Mary-Frances

This printed flannel has six different animals on it.  I choose five of them and make nine patches for the other four blocks.  It's so sweet and will be perfect for a little girl.



How cute is this?



This tiger is my fave.



The border and the rest of the fabric in the kit - love it!