Hexagon Play

So last night J Man took out all my 'flowers' put them on the floor, and started laying them out.  He had fun playing with them, and coming out with his own layout.  This is what he came up with.  It is what I would have done, no, but I like what he did.

Interesting to see them all my 'flower's laid out.  I do like how they all look.  Right now I still plan on doing a colour wash type layout, and I think it will look good.  Undecided about size at this point.  I think if I ever get this done...lol... I think I would then start a monochromatic hexagon quilt.  I would probably do all red as it is J Mans favourite colour. 

Then last night while I watched the Canucks lose I basted some hexagons using the vintage fabric I got in the mail last night.  

I was reading on the Vignette Hexagon Quilt blog that one of the team members there uses the sewline glue pen for basting her hexagons.  I'm intrigued.  I can see how that would make the basting process so much faster, but is it safe for the fabric?  Does it completely wash out?  How about taking the papers out later is that an issue?  So I'm asking the quilters out there have you used this product?  Does it work well?  Have any issues with it?

More Hexagons Flowers

Well it is Saturday, and Jeremy is at his Dad's for part of the weekend he comes home tomorrow.  Chris is at his place in the city as he worked all last night, and he has to work tonight.  So I got to get up early, and just have some me time, and enjoying some coffee.

Here are the Hexagon Flowers I got sewn together this past week.  Not that many, but progress.  Hope everyone else has a creative, and productive week, and I can wait to go see what you have been working on.

My pretty hexagon flowers

Idle Free Please ~ Fabric Pass Along

I was some what productive this morning, and was able to get a quick load of wash done just mostly stuff I wear for work, and dance practice.  So when my load was done I brought it back to my apartment, and hung it all up to dry.  I have a nice little folding clothes drying rack that fits perfectly on my balcony. 

As I was hanging my laundry I noticed one of my neighbours exit the building, and go to his car.  I expteced him to do what I would do start his car, and head off to begin his day.  However that is NOT what happened.  He got in his car started his car, then lite a cigarette, then sat there.  YES sat there, and sat there, and sat there & sat there.  Took me a good 10 mins to hang my clothes.  The entire time this car was sitting there idling.  I'm sorry, but that is totally not necessary.  Maybe he didn't get the memo that it is no longer winter?  That I could understand as our winter lasted longer than normal, but that 80 Km winds the past few days was WIND not SNOW!!!!!!!!!!  Yes in winter when it gets down to - 30 C I will idle my car, but no longer than 5 mins.  It does need to warm up when it is that cold as I've tried not warming it up, and WOW almost drove into a pole the steering wheel just doesn't want to turn.  However to see this car sitting there this morning on a sunny warm morning idling just made my blood boil.

FABRIC PASS ALONG

Rocket Girl over at Nuclear Knits has taken up the call to do a hexagon quilt as well.  We've been exchanging a few emails, and we are toying with the idea of doing a fabric pass along.  So I'm thinking once you are done with your fabric you pass it along to someone else, and so on.  Right now it is just Rocket Girl, and myself, and we are putting the details together, but I'm wondering if anyone else out there might be interested in doing this?

Some Hexagons Sewn Together ~ woo hoo

Well after looking a piles of hexagons last week I took my piles and decided I wanted to have some sort of idea what they would look like all laid out.  So I tried to lay out all my hexagons and I gave up...lol.  All those little hexagons I just got overwhelmed.  I then took a BOLD step for me and decided that I was just going to start sewing them together randomly by colour.  I took all my blue hexies and put them into my brown wicker basket I keep them in, and then in no order, did you just hear what I said NO ORDER...lol...I randomly pulled a hexie, and would sew them into a flower.  At first it was very liberating I'm one that usually likes to have the perfect plan all set out when it comes to crafts.  The only rule I gave myself is that the same fabric couldn't be repeated in a single flower.  Then it happened.  One of the flowers I sewed together just happened to all be paler value fabrics I pulled out, and I had a few flowers sewn together, and laid them out, and though I liked how they looked they looked a little to random for me ~blah~, but not all is lost.  I'm not going to frog them...(frogging get it rip it rip it....I kill myself).  Nope I'm going to keep them exactly as they are, and just change my system.  From now on each flower will have a value light, medium or dark I will still just pull fabric out randomly, but if it doesn't fit into the 'value' of that flower back it goes.

Here are the flowers done up to now.  

Showing the back side of my flower, and that the paper are sill in them.

Here is my work basket.  I have thread, needles, pins, scissors, and also keep hexagons in here that I'm currently working with.

I also got invited to join The Vignette Hexagon Quilt which is a group blog about yup you guessed it hexagon quilts.  It was the other day when I learned there was a term for what I want my quilt to look like I'll be doing a colour wash....ah gees that makes total sense to me.  If you are working on hexagons check out The Vignette Hexagon Quilt, and you can ask to join just send an email.  You'll see lots of lovely hexagons, progress, and of course inspiration and motivation.

Look What I Bought

I was doing some shopping on ETSY today & bought some fabric.  I'm interested to see how this turns out.  I do buy stuff from ETSY & have some posts I need to write about shops I've bought from....anyways I wanted to buy cotton scraps & vintage scraps today.  I found two different sellers. 

I bought this.  The set is of vintage fabrics has 60 squares..no repeats..in wonderful condition! They all measure approx. 3" square.  When making my hexies these 3" squares will make it easier.  I can't wait until they show up.  I bought it from In The Old Schoolhouse  This looks like a really nice shop LOTS of vintage fabric.  They also carry Fat 1/4's, 1/8's & 1/16's.  Prices & shipping seem really good to me.

I also bought a PIF (pay it forward) Grab Bag.  I'm really looking forward to see what scraps will be in there...lol.  Call me strange.  This one will be like Christmas Morning.  I found this grab bag from Sandi's Stash  Sandi carries fabric, notions, books/kits & has her PIF scraps. 

Has anyone else bought fabric off ETSY?  I soooo can't wait for the fabric to get here.

Hexagon Quilt Update

I've mentioned a few times on my blog that I'm working on a hexagon quilt so I thought I would show how much I've gotten done.

Here are my hexagons before they are cut out.  I they are about 2" hexagons.

I then cut them out carefully & pin them to the wrong side of the fabric.

Then comes the fun part of basting them.  I don't baste through the paper as I don't want to have the extra step of taking out the basting later.  I like the basting part except my thimble is to small.  So I need to get a new thimble.

So now I have piles of hexagons basted on the fabric.

So there that is all my hexagons at the moment.  They are from reclaimed fabric, donated scraps, and stuff I had on hand.  My goal in doing this is to not buy any fabric new.  I find that reclaiming fabric from pillow cases picked up at thrift stores great resource.  I also discovered that you can buy scraps on ETSY reasonably priced so I'm going to check that out.

Now I need ideas.  I don't want to do a flower quilt.  I want to do more of a colour blocking idea.  So all the blues together, red, green etc.  More like a rainbow.  However I'd like to start sewing some of the hexagons together, but should I wait until I have more?  Should I get OCD about it & have a plan.  Or should I just start grabbing blues & sewing them together?  Keep all dark together?  Mediums together?  Lights together?

HELP!!!!!  What would you do?

Hey!!!!

Wow I can't believe I didn't blog yesterday.  We had a good weekend.  It was very low key & just us, but we had fun.  We spent a lot of time cooking on the weekend.  Which was great.  Saturday I cooked a whole chicken in the crockpot sooo easy.  Chris then turned it into home made chicken soup that turned out soooo yummy we ate it Sunday before taking jeremy out trick or treating.  Sunday we did go swimming, had the chicken soup Chris made along with home made dumplings, then it was out to with the others for trick-or -treating.  It was a fun time. 

 

On the crafty end of things I'm still trying to finish Jeremy's scarf...lol.  Every time I think I have it long enough he's like Mommy can it be just a little longer...lol.  I sort of worked on some hexies last night.  I mean I cut out the paper, got the pined onto fabric so tonight I can just baste them on.  Still waiting on more 'scraps' to come in the mail.  I have dish cloths to swap & the dish cloths are totally wanting to get in the mail & on there way...lol.

Soooo Excited Dish Cloths For Fabric Seems To Be Working

So excited this morning when I was checking out the blogs that I follow to see this post at The Vegetarian Hunter first off it was lovely to see the beautiful quilt top she has finished, but then she also showed a pic of the fabric she's going to send me woo hoo.  Yes that's she's going to send ME!!!!!!!!!!!  I'm soooo excited.  I have the dish cloths that I knitted all ready to go with me so here's what I'm sending Carolyn. 

I can't wait to get that fabric & start making them into hexies for my 'I Have a Dream Quilt.'  I'll have to start stalking my mail box until the package arrives!!!

Thanks again Carolyn.  Anyone else interested in getting involved in the swap please check out this post on my blog & either leave me a comment or just email me.

People In The Blogosphere Are Great ~ Mothers Always Worry

In my pathetic plea for fabric to add to my what I'm going to call 'I Have a Dream' hexagon quilt so far I have two wonderful fellow crafters & qulters offer their scraps.  How lucky am I?  I'm so excited (yes I'm a geek).  Please check out the blogs of these very generous ladies Karen at Bare Feet and a Free Spirit & Camille at Camille Creates.  I can't wait for these packages to come in the mail.  It's going to feel like Christmas morning getting these fantastic scraps.  I have some knitted dish cloths that I'll be sending each of these lovely ladies as a thank you. 

 

I'm a little worried my little man seems to be well not himself.  Last night he was saying he was tired, REALLY tired.  Then this morning he has a Pro-D Day & again was complaining about being really, REALLY tired saying all he wants to do is sleep.  I wonder what this is about growth spurt, coming down with something, something bothering him, just feeling lazy or could it be about his Dad.  He's been asking when he gets to see his Dad & miracles happened Mr. Special actually texted me yesterday that he'll be able to see Jeremy this weekend.  I told Jeremy & he seemed happy.  However lately Mr. Special seems to have a habit of seeing Jeremy for one night & then 'work calls.'  I'm not always convinced it's work.  So I'm wondering if Jeremy is feeling anxious possibly anticipating disappointment of only spending one night with his Dad.  I'm going to have to have a good talk with him about that.  If he's still this tired next week I'll have to get him into the Dr.  The worry about being a mother never ends...lol.

Natural Cleaners ~ Fabric For Dish Cloths

Ever since I was a little girl I've been sensitive to harsh cleaners.  I remember being at my Grandma's after she had shampooed her carpets & not being able to go into the living room as I wouldn't be able to stop coughing.  At home it was different due to cost my Mom made most of her cleaners so she used more natural ingredients.  As an adult when I started working cleaning Hotel rooms I developed very bad allergic reaction to cleaners on my hands, this was very bad eczema that would weep, ooze & cause me a lot of pain.  It was in dealing with this very bad eczema I cut out as many commercial cleaners as I could.  I'm lucky in that my eczema on my hands has cleared totally right up, but I'm not going back.  I love my natural cleaners.  Yeah sure they cost less, but that's not the reason I use them, though it is a benefit.  I use them, because natural cleaners means fewer chemicals in my house.  I feel better using my natural cleaners due to Chris' asthma & allergies.  I have no problem asking Jeremy to spray down the kitchen counter, because what he's going to use isn't toxic or harmful.  Not to mention I believe they work just as well if not better than any commercial cleaner out there.  I also get a certain 'stick it to the man feeling' knowing that's something I don't HAVE to buy...lol.  I keep my cleaners very simple & easy to mix up, because who am I kidding for me it has to be simple or I won't do it...lol.  Here are my very simple yet effective cleaners:

~ kitchen/general purpose cleaner ~ mixture of 50/50 water & white vinegar, two squirts of dish soap & about 10 drops of tea tree oil then put into spray bottle.

~ bath tub ~ just baking soda sprinkled onto a cloth & scrub works GREAT!

~ floors ~ very hot water, cup of vinegar & a squirt of dish soap

~ I also have norwex microfiber cloths that I love & work great on mirrors, but so does 50/50 water & vinegar

Let's Swap Your Scraps For Knitted Dish Cloths

I posted this yesterday Fabric for Dish Cloths please check it out. 

My Quilt Project Needs Your Help ~ Fabric, Scraps Recycled Fabric for Dish Cloths!!!

I'm in the process of making hexagons to put together a quilt top.  It's my dream to put together a quilt top something like this Water Colour Quilt that I'm in love with.  So to get the effect I want will require a lot of different fabrics.  I'm talking A LOT of fabric...lol.  I also don't want to buy new fabric for this quilt.  I want to challenge myself, my brain & the creative process to re-use & re-purpose fabric.  So in keeping with that challenge I want to use fabric that I have on hand as well as upcycle sheets, pillow cases, clothes, that are the right fabric.  So I've been wondering how I can get a variety of fabric into my quilt top?  I'm going to frequent Thrift Stores of course & look for pillow cases, sheets & fabric. 

But then I had another idea, & I have to admit I think it's a brilliant idea.  I'll put the request out there to other crafters, quilters, recyclers, fabric artists etc.  So here is your mission of you chose to accept it...lol.  I need fabric & for your fabric you will get hand knitted dish cloths.  This is my idea:

~ For about a Fat Quarter Size 18"x22" I'll send you two hand knitted dish cloths

~ If you think it's less than 18"x22" I'll send you one hand knitted dish cloth

~ Fabic Accepted:

   ~ any 100% cotton, or flannel

   ~ sheeting or pillow cases (washed please...lol).  In the case of sheets I don't need the whole sheet...lol...just a hunk....lol

~ Condition:

   ~ scraps will work but please, nothing smaller than 2" x 2"

   ~ used is fine as long as it's been washed & as long as it's not to worn

~ Colours:

   ~ any colour & all colours needed

Please help me with my quilt & I'll send you great hand knitted dish cloths!!!!!!!!

If interested please email me via the email link in my profile & I'll get back to you.  Thanks everyone!!!!

Decisions, Decisions

Here are the hexies I've made up to now using the english paper piecing method which is basting paper onto the wrong side of fabric.  These are made out of recycled pj's, sheets & pillow cases.  It is my goal for this quilt to be made out of all re-purposed fabric.  I have more that I've made, but I didn't include hexies made out of t-shirt jersey.  I'll save those for another project.  I'm anxious to start sewing some of the hexies together.  I know I don't want to do Grandma's Garden pattern.  I would like to do something like this water colour quilt   I think now after looking at that quilt again that I need to make more hexies before I start sewing them together.  Then I think the game plan will be to group them into colour groups then randomly sew the groups of colours together. 

 

What do you guys think?

All Crafty People HELLLPPPP!!!!!!!!

I'm working away on a hexagon quilt.  Well working away on making the hexies anyways.  I'm wanting this quilt to be a true reflection of a scrap quilt in keeping with the history of these quilts I'm using stuff I have on hand.  Right now I've used old flannel pajamas, old sheets, old pillow cases & fabric left over from making my belly dance bra.  I've also used an old t-shirt that is to big for me.  I have quilted before & when I was taught to quilt I was taught to use 100%, but in keeping with the history of these English Paper Piecing these would be made by whatever the quilter had on hand.  I'm wondering before I get to far into the project will adding cotton jersey type fabric affect the over all end result of the quilt?  I've been trying to find the answer online, but can't seem to.  Please all you crafty, artistic & handy people anyone have an answer for me?