Hexies, hexies, hexies...

Today has been a quiet day. 

When I was out for a walk, I saw these beauties

 

Spring is coming!! 

I have been neglecting my hexies. But tonight is movies, wine and hexies

 

A lovely way to spend a Saturday evening ❤️

Pillows

I made these pillows for my nieces for Christmas 

 

I like the scrappiness. And circles are always nice 😉

 

They were well received, that makes me a happy quilter! 

Sarah Fielke BOM - update #2

 For some reason I have been focused on the appliqué blocks in this BOM - but there are plenty of pieces blocks as well. 

This is one of them, lots of hst's in this one

 

I do like how it turned out. 

I also finished the block that has little curved almost-hexies flowers in a vase. 

 

That one was really fun to sew! Now I have 3 appliqué blocks left to do, and a bunch of pieced blocks as well. I'll get there - it's a fun learning proces! 

Some Christmas sewing

My daughter loves unicorns. She has been looking at a unicorn quilt block pattern since forever, saying things like "ooooh look at this - but....that's too difficult for you to sew, isn't it?"

So naturally, I had to get the pattern. I did, and it sat around in my to-do list forever. Because it looked so intimidating. But I did finish this pillow for her in time for Christmas - and she loves it! 

Pattern by Robyniepatterns

so...life happened! ...and status of the hexies

I have been busier than usual these past weeks, so I haven't done a lot of blogging - or sewing!

I have been working on my hexies here and there, this is how far I am:

I am not really sure what I want to do with these. I am running out of paper, and really should find some more. But these are really old, and don't seem to be a standard size. Oh well. Maybe I'll just start sewing them together, and then re-using the paper. What do you usually do?

And...I will be starting a new job June1st. I am so excited about that!

The Splendid Sampler - Block 12 "Checkerboard"

This was a fast and fun block to sew. I didn't cut all the little sqaures, but cut 1.5'' strips and went from there. I considered choosing a different color for each strip, but I have made the decision to stay as close to the original patterns as possible. For me to learn as much as possible.

So here it is:

This block was designed by Pat Sloan. It was fast and fun to sew. Makes me want to finally sew that trip around the world quilt :)

New Potholders

I needed a quick and easy project - and new potholders! 

I decided to do HSTs, so they came together pretty quick. That made me think I could spend a little more time on the quilting...

I do love straight line quilting, but it takes such a long time....

I am happy with the result, though!

New potholders, a finished project, and it didn't take too long. What's not to love about that?!

Itty Bitty Pin Cushions...

Pin cushions! I have been meaning to make some for the longest time, but just never sat down and did it. I have looked at Amanda Jean's pin cushions, all the pretties under #thepincushionproject on Instagram, and today I finally pulled some scraps

The top for this is 3'' sq before sewing it to the backing, making the finished pin cushion app 2.5'' sq. So it really is just a small little thing. Perfect for a travel project. Or just because....

.......because it's impossible to just make one!

WIP: Scrappy Wonky Spiderwebs

....so, while I'm working on block 4 in The Splendid Sampler, and waiting for Month 2 of the Sarah Fielke BOM, I'll share something else I am working on - on and off in between the quilt-alongs!
I have so many scrappy strips in all different widths. I bet I can make several quilts just from these strips. I have not sorted them in any way, and one of the things I like about working with scraps is, that everything is more or less ready to use as is.

I love the spiderweb block, so I have been working on a quilt with that block - I made mine wonky, just because I like it that way

The top is almost done, but it's little small....so I am thinking about ideas for a border. I have a few ideas I have to audition :-)

For this, I bought the grey background fabric, the rest is all scraps. Oh my....

The never-ending hexie project

I have seen so many hexie project on instagram - and it always makes me think "hey! I can do that too..."

So, I have started a hexie project of my own. I had some paper on hand, so I cut the hexies

I don't have a lot of hexies basted at a time, I keep them in a small IKEA plastic container that I borrowed from Miss V

She also helps me by pairing up hexies for flowers. Once she is happy with one, she stacks the hexies and puts a rubberband around them

Once in a while, she'll lay the finished flowers out on the floor - for us to see that we are making progress

She and I are still going back and forth on the layout. Should we leave it like this, or make the more traditional Grandmas Flower Garden quilt. Oh well, there's still plenty of time to decide :-)

While we try to make a decision on the LO, we both enjoy seeing the stack of flowers grow taller

We'll get there. Slow and steady gets the job done, right?

Another Nintendo cozy

I bought a Nintendo DSi for Little A this past week. He is so happy with it, and he loves that he got a blue one :) So naturally I needed to make a cozy for his Nintendo as well - also we had to ride the train to my parents' house, and I really wanted him to be able to bring it :)

Miss V helped pick the fabrics

Again I can only encourage you all to set your strippy scraps aside, it makes it so much easier to make projects like this!

Scraps

I'm sick :(
And I missed blogging yesterday. I can't really sit up and sew, not being able to keep food down for 2 days is quite tiring ;)
But I am starting to feel better, and tonight I cut the pieces for another grocery bag. They are so fun to make, and this way I have it ready when I find a moment to sew it.

And another great thing about cutting is, that it generates more scraps!

French Press Cozy

Charles has wanted one of these for years! And I have been putting it off, until now. This was really easy to make, and now that I made it, I feel silly for putting it off for so long.

I have organized most of my scraps in 2 piles. One that is as unorganized as ever, and one with strips. It was so nice to be able to just look through useable strips and choose the ones I wanted!
It's a benefit from doing the circlequilt. While cutting scraps for that, I am also cutting 5'' squares - they then don't count as scraps anymore - and setting strips aside. It makes my scrap box(es) much easier to manage!

Edited to add:
These are my scrap boxes, I like this kind because they are stackable and they have lids. I got them from IKEA :)

The 2 larger boxes have all my unsorted scraps, and the smaller one has my strips. I have 4 of the smaller boxes. One has WIP (fast becoming a UFO) in it, one has my thread, one has the last bits of favorite prints and then there's the one with the strips.
The 2 larger boxes was once sorted in cool and warm colors - but that didn't last long!
So...this is how I have my scraps. I then have a small stack of 5'' charms in my fabric cupboard - but they are not really scraps, right?!

Circles WIP

I may be the last quilter in blogland to make a circle quilt - but better late than never, right?
Actually, I am not even sure the final layout will be circles, I like all the different options this block gives.

The block size I am working with is 7'' sq, that's the size of each quarter circle.
I haven't been able to sew today, but I have spent some time cutting scraps. This will be my 2nd scrapquilt this year -if I finish it in time- and I still have so many scraps! I love scraps, so I am quite happy about it ;)

I treated myself to a new blade for my rotary cutter, and OH MY!!! What a difference! It was easy to cut fabrics after that! LOL! I am going to get a couple of spare blades, so I can change it more often - having to go over every cut 3-4 times really doesn't make sense!
You may laugh - I did!

A week off ;)

The kids and I have just spent a week at my parents house :) Aaaah! It's been fun, and I have really appreciated seeing them enjoy spending time with their grandparents!

Also, it has given me some extra free time! I spent some of that getting some sewing done. I have had this box bag on my list for ages..
Little A is getting older, and it's really not neccessary to drag a diaper bag everywhere we go. So I made this little bag to hold a few diapers, wipes, and a small changing pad. I love the orange zipper!
I also managed to finish these blocks for Aneela in the Euro Bee. These were fun to make. Maybe I should consider making myself one of these quilts??
The scarf I started back in January is finished, just in time to give it to my Dad for his birthday :)
And I started a new knitting project! This hat for Charles is already finished - I'll have pictures soon - and I started another one like it for A!
It's cold and we have a lot of snow, so woollen hats are really useful :)
I'll make one for Miss V too, but I need some purple wool....yay, shopping!!!

Merry Christmas

I made an I SPY for A for Christmas. I used the "Turning Twenty" pattern and made the blocks 12" square. I like it :) And more importantly, so does A. I especially like the binding!

I tried to use as much dinosaur fabric as I could in this, it's hard to find dino prints here, but much to my liking A refers to this quilt as his Dinosaur-quilt :D I even put a label on it!!

Miss V also needed a quilt for her bed, and I have been promising her a princess quilt for a very long time.
Sometime in November this conversation took place:
Miss V: Mom, I am looking forward to Christmas sooooo much!
Me: Yes, I know
Miss V: Especially because at Christmas I'll get my princess quilt
Me: Really??!! (slight panic and disbelief)
Miss V: Yes, mom! That's why I can't wait!

So I started sewing!!

This is the front, the panel was giving me a hard time, I have never worked with one before. Miss V loves it, that's a success if you ask me :)

I tried some spiral quilting in the purple border - fun!

Both kids were happy with their quilts, and so am I!!

We had a very happy Christmas, I hope you all did too.
Little A and I have been sick for a little over a week, though, so that slowed everything down a bit.

Now I need to see if I met my sewing-expectations from last New Year, and decide on my goals for 2010!

I hope you and your loved ones had a very merry Christmas!

Lazy weekend

My 8two8 has been left for too long now. I am quite intimidated by it, but since I would hate for it to end up as a UFO, I need to get started... So today I basted it while A was napping... It's large, I am a little worried about quilting it, but we'll see how it goes :)

I have all my pins in use (thank you Diana) for this one :)

I am also working on a pillowcase for a 28" sq. pillowcase for a floor cushion for the kids. I have been sewing the hexagons for a while, not having a specific project in mind for them. So now they are ending up part of a pillowcase :)

I quilted them last night.Lots of stopping and turning. I am so glad it was just a smallish square and not a full size quilt!

Charles is attending a PhD course this week, so he is in Italy. Before he left, he gave me this book:

YAY! I love it, it has some wonderful projects in it. I may just have to start doing some more appliqué!
More pictures here.

8two8 March and April

These are blocks I made for Tia for the 8two8 group. Tia wanted liberated stars, 4 to a 15" block -which proved quite a challenge :) But we all managed, and Tia has already put the quilttop together. She's such a fast quilter!!

Next up was Lisa, and she asked for any pattern, in black and white.

I have nevet worked with black and white before, so it was fun to try :) I am very happy she likes these.

I have 7 days left to finish my paper, and it looks like it'll be fine. I am very impatient, and cannot wait to get back to my sewing machine. I wonder if I can remember how to use it??

Welcome 2009...and Kitty!

Introducing Hello Kitty. She is wearing a fairydress -with wings I might add- and clear glittery plastic heels. This is a picture Viola took this afternoon. She adores her Kitty-doll. My sister took Viola to Build-a-Bear right after Christmas, and this is who they brought home :) Viola loves her so much!

I have made some more stars for Ask's quilt, I still have 26 to go. But once I am sewing, these go together pretty fast. Most of these blue fabrics was given to me by my friend Lisa. Thank you so much Lisa!!! I love them :)

The star-points all come from my scrap-box :)

I have made some crafting-resolutions for 2009:

1: I need to slow down, I need to not make long lists and big plans, but just sew and see how much I get done.

...that being said....

2: I want to sew a quilt for each of the children to put on their new beds (we are planning to get them bunk-beds this year). The quilt I have started for Ask will be for his bed ;)

3: I want to make a block each month for a quilt for me. I want to make them using the fabric-calendar given to me by my very generous friend Anne. Thank you so much, Anne!

I have soooo much more I want to sew in 2009, but trying to honor my first resolution, I am going to end the list here. If I have time, I hope to make so much more!

Scrappy I SPY squares is done!!!

And I love it!! I am so happy this quilt is staying at my house :)
I just finished the binding, some of the scraps I chose are a little heavy, making it hard to handstitch, but it was okay.

Viola is not feeling well, so she is at home with me, which is nice. We have lots of projects, and I get to sew a little during the day. It is not good at all for my paper, I can't work when she is here, so I work at night.
That is seriously cutting into my sleep.... Not a good thing, but I'll manage, the sewing should be done by Dec. 24th (lets keep our fingers crossed. Lol), and the paper by Jan. 5th. And then I'll have some time to catch up!

I made labels for all of the 3 quilts I am giving as gifts this Christmas.. I used stamps, and I am not sure what I think of these, but finished labels are much better then imagined perfect phantom labels...so I am using these :)
Charles' is already on his quilt! YAY!
This quilt is completely done, ready to be wrapped!!
I am soooo happy!

Now onto the next project....I need to piece the backing for my sisters quilt.
And Viola and I are working on calendars for the family, she'll be giving one to Charles, my parents and my sister.

I printed and cut all the photos, one calendar has all the photos in place, and Viola is adding the finishing touches (drawings and stickers!). So only 2 more to go!
But why did I have to choose the kind where I have to write all the dates?!