Kaleidoscope dolly quilt update

One of the projects I pulled out during lockdown was my kaleidoscope swap blocks from hexie club. I think this was from 2018 but I could be wrong. Anyway, during each member's birth month, the other members gifted you enough colored parts to make 2 kaleidoscope blocks in the giftee's favorite color. You then added your own neutral to make the quilt cohesive.

I finally got a bee in my bonnet to gitterdone and while this pic reflects that I just had one long seam left to go, it is now in one piece!!! You can also see the fan that kept me partially sane in this heat. Partial is the key word...

I ended up with 24 blocks and my design needed 25 so I made the center completely out of the neutral fabric so that the "lines" of the kaleidoscope continued. I can either leave it blank or write on it about the swap. I haven't decided yet as I still need to pull the papers, open the outer edges, find a backing, quilt and bind this. In other words -- It's going to be a while before that all happens. LOL.

Wednesday Weather Report #124 - 10/2/19

Yesterday's weather made it nearly impossible to tell that it was October already: 84F instead of last year's 54F!! Who would have expected October to start with a red??!??

September 25-30, 2019 : 76 - 63 - 70 - 75 - 58 - 64 F
October 1, 2019 : 84 F

Today's green temp is much more realistic. What I'm not quite prepared for is this while I'm camping:

I was planning to pack as light as possible (regarding food and gear) but I've made some revisions to that plan to pack lots of blankets and clothes to keep warm. We are still a few days out and we all know that forecasts change (often!) so I still need to be prepared even if they take snow off the table before I leave.

As you may have noticed from the first picture, I've finished the neutral quilt:

Chantal says my feet show the scale of the quilt. This is now laid out on my coffee table to await inspiration for the silhouette while I work on some other UFOs before my trunk show. Nothing is near completion so it's more about making progress on projects than finishing at this point. I was told to bring "everything" so progress is just as important.

The problem is...

...I have 7 doll quilts that need quilting but I'm not yet inspired to start quilting any of them. I've got the evening off from job#2 so I'm hoping something will inspire me tonight, if not tonight then maybe this weekend. Cross your fingers!

So - how's your weather? Is it typical October weather?

Wednesday Weather Report #123 - 9/25/19

Once again I chose to work on my newest doll quilt instead of hexies. Getting home late every night after job#2 is really cutting into my hexie time!!

September 18 - 24, 2019
70 - 70 - 74 - 80 - 84 - 72 - 63 F

Lemme tell you those 80s were killer days. I mowed the lawn on Saturday but it wasn't too bad as I waited until late in the day. Sunday we went up to Buffalo for a special mass at the cathedral and then lunch at Cheesecake Factory. The feels like temp was 87F. The next couple of weeks should be more fall like but I'll only believe it when I see it as Mother Nature likes to keep us on our toes...

And this is why I chose to continue working on my doll quilt:

Yesterday's chore was to finish stitching it into one piece!!

I need to add one more row to the left and fill out the top/botttom/left side corners and then it's "done" until I choose a silhouette and backing. One of my chores for this week is to take an inventory of projects that could or should be finished before my trunk show in 24 days. This doll quilt might stall after finishing the neutrals if I have some other closer-to-done quilts that would benefit from attention before the show. I've been meaning to do that quick inventory for a few days now so if I can catch a break with job#2 I'll get on that..

HeLP for Hexie-aholics - 9/17/19

Hello and welcome to HeLP for Hexie-aholics!!! Can you believe how fast the last month has flown by? I certainly can't. It doesn't feel like I've accomplished much on my hexies but I suppose I can only blame that on my fall job taking up my lunches and evenings. By the weekend I'm too pooped to clean house, mow or stitch much. It's pretty pathetic :(

I think I've doubled the width of this doll quilt since I last shared it with y'all. As you can see, the top/bottom edges are a little wonky due to the honeycomb shape and me working on this in halves to keep the fabric pairs separated. I have 2 and a half more columns to put on the left side to use up the fabric I've cut. I think I'll then need 1 or 2 more columns to get it the proper width and then I can clean up the top and bottom. Next step after that is to pick a silhouette. Several people felt a cat would still be appropriate despite having just finished Mr Serious but I've still got my eyes and ears open for anything that strikes my fancy.

And now it's your turn. Please comment below with a link to your hexie project or tell us about a project you are dreaming of starting. I look forward to seeing your projects!!

Wednesday Weather Report #120 - 9/4/19

I had a decision to make over the weekend - do I cut more orange Grunge fabric for my temperature quilt or do I continue to work on the new doll quilt? It was a tough decision. LOL.

August 28-31, 2019: 74 - 70 - 74 - 68 F
September 1-3, 2019: 72 - 67 - 73 F

You knew I would aim for the new quilt right? I can catch up on the temp quilt in no time so it was an easy decision.

The quilt uses 1" honeycomb shapes and it's all random neutral fabrics, 2 of each fabric that I currently have. When the honeycomb section is large enough to make a dolly quilt I'll decide on a silhouette to applique on the quilt.

The paw of approval!

 As usual, I am designing/flying by the seat of my pants and have no ideas yet for the silhouette...

Backing the dolly quilts

I didn't take pictures of the next 3 quilts after they were sandwiched but I did add them to the pile that needs quilting. Ugh. There are now 6 doll quilts that need quilting, which just seems like an overwhelming pile, and I hope to get the last two either sandwiched or close this weekend. I've got 51 days until my next trunk show. I can do it!

We won't mention the new doll quilt I started last week. Chantal said I deserved a new quilt since Mr Serious was finished so I ran with it and picked something from one of my hexie Pinterest boards. I should have a picture for you next week...

My math skills weren't quite up to par on this backing. I was trying to use as much of the horse fabric as possible, knowing that I would still need to add an orange strip to the middle. Didn't figure on then needing to add a prussian blue strip to get the math right, finally. The sides of this quilt will be cut straight and bound in the dark raspberry color. The top/bottom will have a hexie facing, allowing the hexie shape to remain. Any quilting ideas for this one?

This backing was a nice recovery as there was no math involved. LOL. I am using the teal for the "binding" but I'm not yet decided if it will be a true binding or a facing. I think I am going to quilt an outline of the "circles" the kaleidoscopes create.

The colors for this design started with a scrap pack from one of the LQSs.
It was pure luck that the Tula Pink fabric also matched perfectly.
And - woot! - the blue binding is already made!

This project started with 4 FQs and then I added in more of the purple to get it squared off. Not having much of any of the fabric left I was forced to go shopping to buy backing fabric. #Thestruggleisreal

I've finally decided to have the basket bottoms towards the center but the 4 blocks alone are not big enough for a doll quilt. Since I was forced to go buy the yellow backing for the previous quilt I also found some fabrics that should work with this. The blocks have 4 golds and 4 greens - I was able to get more of one of the greens but had to get a new gold. The burgundy isn't quite right but it had the same gold as the green so I ran with it.

Wednesday Weather Report #112 - 7/10/19

We might have been deluged with several rain storms over the weekend but now it's warmed up enough that the puddles I had to mow around last week are now deeply cracked and dried out clay. Ugghh. Mother Nature is off her meds again!

July 3 - 9, 2019
79 - 83 - 85 - 73 - 70 - 74 - 79 F

July 1 - 9, 2019

After finishing stitching the Mr Serious top together I kind of floundered around my curio cabinet of hexie UFO  projects for a week or so, testing the water with several projects. Then I was asked to give another trunk show and (doll) bed turning in October which got my juices flowing so I started a "new" project. I've had the pin saved for some time but I still had to pick fabrics. I had recently purchased 2 mini-charm packs of the 2019 new Grunge fabrics and it appeared there would be two of each fabric in the pack. It was the perfect option until I realized there really was only two of the first couple of fabrics. Never fear cuz I have a box of Grunges to pick from and so I did.

I even doodled the design up in EQ7
with similar colors to what I would be using.

 As I started to stitch at Hexie Club last Friday it appeared that this project was going to be wayyyyyyy too big for a doll quilt. In fact, when I got home and remeasured it, the quilt will be fine, it's just the papers are four times as big as the last papers I was using and my brain was playing tricks on me. These are 1" papers and I really do prefer the smaller ones. On the plus side, tho, this is coming together quite quickly as I've only worked on it since Friday night and maybe only for an hour or 2 each day. 

You'll notice that I haven't quite finished the right side the same as the EQ diagram. It's not that I still think it's too big, it's more like I am considering having the "center" of the design more to one side than in the current diagram. It will be easy enough to add the "missing" bits when the rest is finished than to wish I hadn't put them on and need to take them off.

Don't worry - I have several UFOs and another NewFOs packed for my pending vacation!!! Those UFOs will get tackled soon enough.

As I have mentioned recently, I chose not to re-up my linky party software so please feel free to add your link to the comments below or just tell us about your weather. Are you finally warming up in the northern hemisphere or finally cooling down in the southern hemisphere?

Design Wall Monday - 3/27/17

For several reasons, I was pretty much a couch potato last week and ignored the pending painting in my bedroom. It seemed like a good time to start a project I had kitted up for later in the month. Oh well, there's still time to kit something else for my conferences.

The project started with the last 2 fat quarters of this cardinal fabric from a LQS - cardinals being my fav bird. I scrounged my Hexieology Pinterest board for ideas and found this one.  I liked it because it used the hexie thirds I had just finished using in my owl quilt. This would be the third project using various papers from the owl quilt. I like getting my money's worth :)

I had spent an evening fussy cutting from the 3 coordinated fat quarters and set it aside for one of my upcoming trips. Well, I had to make a practice hexie. I am sure you can understand.

After things went south I spent most of the weekend on the couch and out came the new project. After that it has been strictly an obsession to see it progress.

I did have snoopervision. Z spent 88 minutes sitting next to me. You may think it's funny that I tracked it but I can count on one hand the number of times that Z has sat with or on me in the last 3 years. The boys may not have gotten along very well but Z spent a week being cuddly and not eating much. Don't worry tho, he's back to his old antics and wanting to eat more than his share.

I had intended to make the quilt with the red thirds on the bottom but after emailing with my highly paid (cough!) consultant, we decided it should be rotated. In the end, no one will ever think of the other layout options and I'm happy with the 3D effect.

I was able to cut out enough thirds from the three FQs to make 41 hexagons. I plan to add another row to the right and then I'll extend the length and need to fill in the top and bottom to get this to the "proper" doll quilt size. I *think* I'll have enough fabric.

Can you believe my mother thought I had enough doll quilts? I. Don't. Think. So.

BTW - Don't forget to check Denise's post today. My  consultation "'enabled" her to order papers and start her own project. I told her she has no excuses when it's time to link to the next HeLP ...

Design Wall Monday - 10/5/15

Yesterday started with a long agenda but even tho I stayed in bed an extra hour to read email/etc on my phone, much to the chagrin of a certain B&W cat who wanted OUT, I still accomplished quite a bit!!

First I frogged out the stitching on 4 of these black eyed susan rosettes since I couldn't think of 8 more/different designs and the effect wasn't spectacular. I finally decided to use the cat print for backing since the gold rosettes matched the gold cats. After spray basting the layers I did one round of SITD quilting. I made the binding with a fab dark green. I just saw a video yesterday on using a #71 Bernina flat fell foot to sew on bindings...if I can find the foot soon I would like to give it a try...

Next I top stitched the hexies to the side panels and then trimmed them to size. It turned out to be an easy decision to make the right hand side of the hexies as the exact center of the quilt - It's 10" to each side from the center. I was thrilled to see that I had enough of the dot, plum and floral fabrics to do the back the way I wanted. When the center is quilted, I'll be able to fold the back to the front and stitch it down so that the dot is over the floral, the floral is over the dot and the plum is over the hexies. Picking a quilting pattern on this one is gonna take me some time...

Last but not least I made lotsa progress on my plus quilt. I picked fabrics for the last of the 14 colored pluses and started stitching the top together. The colored pluses will definitly be done by week's end but I'm not sure about adding in the white.

Of course, while working at the LQS Saturday, I was showing off the pluses and that gave my boss an idea to do a red/pink/white Valentine's X and O quilt. So yeah, I started another doll quilt but it should be an easy finish. Luckily I am paid in fabric!! It's looking more and more like I am going to have lotsa holiday doll quilts for the dolly cat bed!

Discombobulated

As happens with everyone - everything is happening at once and I'm all discombobulated with what to work on next! There is no focus at my house....

---The last day to buy doe tags is tomorrow so my day job has been busy with hunters.
---September dog licenses are due today as well as all the people who are super late and got court tickets so my day job has been busy with dog owners.
---School taxes are due today so my 2nd job has been busy with an extra ~3 hours a day to keep up. Most people mail their taxes today, depending on the postmark to keep them "on time" so that big bundle will arrive on my desk Friday which could take 4 or 5 hours to process.
---Tonight I have to take down our hexie club quilt exhibit and tomorrow I need to make an apple crisp for the hexie club meeting on Friday - we are celebrating our third anniversary!!!!!!!!
---Saturday I'm working all day at the LQS for their 5 year anniversary party.

I don't mind each activity in itself but with all this in 6 days by the time I get home at night, I'm whooped and just need something simple to work on!

On Monday, I was trying to think about what I can finish before the 2 trunk shows (now just 8 and 20 days away). The doll quilt needs some sit down time at my Bernina so that is on schedule for Sunday. That brought me back to my plus quilt. I started pulling fabrics which created a mess while I decided on fabric combos.

That reminded me of a small project that was barely started but could make a good example for the second show. You can barely see the small plastic box on the near side of the mess...it's a stack of 2" squares of graduated hand dyes bought at a quilt show a year or so ago. Each graduation has 6 shades and there were no color repeats in the box. It's perfect for 3/4" rosettes! I had made the yellow one eons ago but decided to pull this out to work on piecemeal when I have short threads from other projects in the next few weeks. Well, that was the plan cuz here it is Wednesday morning and I have 2 done already.

Last night I cut out 4 sets of plus block and got the olive green set made...7 more to go...

This morning I pulled out my very first hexie project. I SWEAR it's the perfect doll quilt size by chance!!! It's still just a top because I had this grand idea of a fake trapunto effect under the center of each black eyed susan but ran out of ideas after just 4 of them. In the end it isn't a very exciting effect.

Today I'm going to decide if I should:  --come up with 8 more designs, --rip out the 4 designs and just leave them blank or --pick my fav design, rip out the other 3 and do them all the same. I'll add this project to Sunday's Bernina time.

I still need to stitch the facing on a topper and work on filling in the triangle edges for Value Proposition...any body know where I can purchase about 10 extra hours a day?

Design Wall Monday - 9/28/15

Today's post has it all...my *actual* design wall, some hexies and some machine sewing. LOL. That should pretty much please every one...

Yesterday I pulled out the fabrics for the side panels of my latest hexie doll quilt. Each was a half yard but I found it interesting that the fabric on the right, from a distant store and the fabric on the left from the LQS were different sizes. 18.5" from the LQS and 19.5" from the non-LQS. A big difference in my eyes...and so appreciated.

Any way, I cut a 23" long piece of the fabric and simply sewed them side by side. I felt that this would make it more stable with less puckering when appliqueing the hexies to the top.

I have a few more papers to remove and then I will spray baste the hexies so that it will look something like this next photo. I am still debating with myself if I should put a strip of batting behind the hexie part for a fake-trapunto effect.

Once the hexies are spray basted and machine appliqued in place, I will place the whole piece on the doll bed and determine how wide I want each side panel and them trim them off. I could have spent forever debating how far off center I want the hexie strip before assembly but finally decided that this might make my life simpler. We shall see...

I have 2 ideas for the backing and it all depends on how much of the fabrics are left after I size the side panels. I can replicate the front fabrics or have them opposites. I mean that the floral will be behind the floral and the cream behind the cream or the floral behind the cream and vice versa. I'll put the plum behind the hexie piece. After quilting it I will bring the backing fabrics to the front to replicate a binding. Is that what's called a facing? It will have the stitched binding look but I am really looking forward to the fact that it will appear to have the 3 fabrics in the binding.

And, you can see here that Squeaky (otherwise known as Honey Bear or Dolly) is just thrilled to pieces that her fall dolly bed quilt is getting closer to completion!

Design Wall Monday - 9/21/15

It feels like I spent "all" weekend stitching and I don't have much to show for it. In reality I spent a few hours stitching under an afghan and warm cat and these little 1/2" hexies take almost as much time as a bigger hexie to stitch but they add up to a smaller piece. They are so delicate & I can't wait to make something else with them!

about 3" x 18"

I have just one more gold rosette to add after I finish the brick colored rosette on the right. Then I need to add a plum strip to each side (or top/bottom in the photo above). I should be able to get this finished by the end of the week with some more time spent under a cat while watching Chicago Fire Season 2
=^..^=

I am excited to have a "quick" finish - if you leave out that I started this more than a year ago - and look at the fact that I really only worked on it the last 7 or 10 days! And as Denise says - these are fall colors. Me thinks the cats are getting seasonal quilts for their dolly bed...

Design Wall Monday - 9/14/15

As predicted, the weekend was a wet mess so there was no walking or hiking in the park after working the 5K. The race went off with out a hitch but I was already wet enough from working that I just wanted to get home into some dry clothes. In all, we got 2" of much needed rain. And let me tell you, I LOVE the sound of a gentle rain...especially when I am inside and dry ;-)

Once home I had to make the decision of what hexies to work on for the weekend since there are just 24 days until my first trunk show and then 12 more until the second. Ackckckckckckck!

I was aiming for what I thought would be an easy finish project. Boy was I misguided. I had already cut out some colored bits and some WOW bits for this project. I stitched all the colored bits together and then stitched the white bits. Then I decided I really need to finalize the layout I wanted before putting any more bits together. Out came EQ7 and oops...I think my fav design means I need more colored bits and less white bits.

But, Wait!, you say, Where are the pictures?! I'm withholding them until Thursday which is our next Hexie Linky Party. That gives me a little more time decide which is really my fav design and if I can come up with enough colored bits.

On Sunday, I needed a quick to-go project so I pulled out a UFO!

When I originally found a picture of this pillow on Manuela's website a couple of years ago I was much newer to hexies and was going to strictly copy the pillow idea for lack of any inventiveness on my part. Fast forward to Summer 2015 when I now have a dolly bed that needs a stack of dolly quilts!!

I really like that this is a strip of vertical hexies flanked by 2 different fabrics. I had found the floral fabric at a non-LQS and was just lucky enough to find the perfectly matching coordinates at my LQS back when I first started this project. I had even already cut a lot of little fabric pieces (I'm using .5"' hexie papers!) and already made 2 rosettes.

I finished a couple more rosettes and I've now brought the whole shebang to work for lunch hours and guild meeting tomorrow night. Wish me luck that I can get the strip done this week or early next week and then get the top done in time for my trunk shows!

Yeah, as much as I would like to bring only quilted and bound projects to my trunk shows, I am now aiming for finishing as many tops as possible and I'll use each top as a teaching experience for fussy cutting or construction or ???. I'll quilt and bind the quilts for future trunk shows.

PS - I would love some name suggestions for this dolly quilt so I can create a blog label. I'm never good at names and today I'm too chilly to think straight...