An Idea For Leftover Hexagons

After completing my Rose Hexagon quilt

I had quite a few leftover hexagons...

I thought to maybe do 'Grandmother's Flower Garden'...

 ...but that's not really my style

and I didn't have enough of the same pieces for the centres...

So I wondered how to sew my hexagons together

without them being just sewn together.

By dividing the hexagon shape into triangles,

using the triangles as my paper templates 

 And cutting white fabric triangles

to sew between the leftover hexagons

I found a new use for the 'leftovers'...

I sewed lots of pieces together

leaving lots of gaps to be sewn closed at a later stage

so that I could take it in my handbag

to sew at the hospital

(that way I didn't risk dropping pins all over the place!)

Another Wordless one... - Pennants Collage

Wordless Wednesday - Purple Pennants

Celtc Solstice Going Home

My lovely friend came to collect her quilt yesterday.

She shared this photo that her husband took of us 

and wrote this:

"This incredibly beautiful quilt (measuring 118" x 118") was made for us by our wonderful friend Karol-Ann, who lives in the village where Euan was born. It is a Celtic design and the colours represent purple for the thistle of Scotland, gold for California, red for the roof of the converted Methodist chapel we lived in (in North Yorkshire, England) when Euan was born and green for the Evergreen State of Washington - all the places we have lived since Euan was born. It is a total treasure - a unique representation of such a special part of our lives. Thank you for this labour of love Karol-Ann! Can't wait to take it back to our bedroom in Brentwood."

The best gift a quilter you can ever give a quilter

is a love of your labour.

Thanks Evelyn!!

Safe travels back home.

Wordless Wednesday - Find the Fairy ;o)

Resting my leg, but not my fingers!

A long long time ago!

I fancied making Kaffe Fassett's Pennants quilt,

but obviously being me,

I had to do it differently 

and so I decided to English-Paper-Piece it!

I managed 22 blocks before I gave up and it became a UFO.

A very old UFO now!

Today I got it out

and with a little help from Miss Kalico

I laid it out with some orphan heart blocks.

I had made the heart blocks 

when I was doing a monthly heart block swap -

also many many years ago now (at least 10 or so I think!!)

The hearts were a hit ;o)

And my old scrap of paper with a potential layout

was good for colouring in too apparently!!

*****

The reason I could tackle another 'Unfinished Object'

is because the binding is now sewn down on the baby quilt.

This went amazingly quickly.

Either that or I am not used to having this much time to sew!

I plan to get a proper picture of this quilt

when I am walking without crutches again...

Time to Sew

Time to rest,

means time to sew!!

So I have managed to get all the borders

hand stitched to my rose star hexagon quilt.

But sitting around resting

means you might get decorated

with flower petals :o)

I told Miss Kalico that I was making this quilt for her room

and I think she is pleased about that because

 she wanted to touch the quilt while eating an ice lolly

and so I said 'Don't touch' and she said: 'But it's mine!' ;o)

*****

I have taken all the papers out

of this quilt and hope that as soon as possible,

I can iron this top

and get it on my Longarm.

*****

I took this photo

to show my tiny hand stitches.

I love handwork!

*****

Now I am on to the next thing!

Hand stitching the binding down on this baby quilt...

I feel the need to sew as much as possible at the moment

as I'm sure this 'enforced' resting won't last long!!!

Sewing Bee

I'm home!

I'm having a few little issues

with my wound,

but generally feeling good to be home

and glad that it's over.

Before I went in for my operation,

and one of the reasons,

I was such a bad blogger

was because I was dabbling

 with a bit of garment sewing.

I used patterns from 

The Great British Sewing Bee

and made myself 3 tunics

(one long enough to be worn as a dress)

and a tunic for Miss Kalico.

I also made my friend's husband

and Mr Kalico some shorts

from a pattern I cut myself.

It was lovely to look out the window one day

and see them wearing stuff I'd made.

I have bought the second book

and hope to make a few more things 

when I can drive my machine again.

In the meantime I am handsewing the borders on 

my rose star hexagon quilt for Miss Kalico.

Recovery Plans

Thanks for all the well wishes!

As of the night before, 

I am still on for my op tomorrow. 

My plan while I recover...

From tomorrow's plate removal surgery...

Is to get the borders on my 

rose star hexagon quilt.

One side is already sewn on,

another pinned.

In the past when I added borders to

English Paper Piecing,

I put the borders over papers too.

This time, I've just turned over

 a quarter inch seam allowance

and pinned it straight on,

to be sewn on as I go.

Wish me luck with that LOL

Levens Quilt Show 2014

Lovely day at Levens Quilt show.
I didn't take many photos,
but I did buy a few magazines
to read in hospital on Tuesday.
Yes, a new date for surgery
assuming they don't cancel again...

I ♥ living where we live...

Nearby we have great walks and cycle rides...

And friends with beautiful country gardens 

and sweet little dogs...

(A few near misses of falling into ponds, but never mind!)