A Year of Hexagons!

It's hard to believe that this year is almost over.  Where has the time gone?

One of my favourite projects this year has been my Hexagons.  Katja designed 52 as a Hex-a-thon for the shop.  I added a few of my own designs and made a few duplicates.  This is the result.  The top is done, now I have to decide how to quilt it.  Any ideas?

This is block number 52.  For those of you that have joined in the fun, Katja is planning a sharing day sometime during the summer of 2013. I hope to see your Hexies there.

Skate with Santa

Those that know me know that I wasn't the one skating.  Who were the stars of the show?  Laylah and Hallie of course!

Laylah is learning to skate this year much to Doug's delight.  When Santa came on the ice she said "that's not Santa, that's Poppa."  No fooling her!

I am tagging this weeks hexagon in here as I just don't have time right now to compose a quilting post.  Like most of you out there, I still have a lot to do before supper goes on the table Christmas day.  Have a wonderful Christmas everyone!  My hope is that you get to spend it with the ones you love.

And The Winner Is........

Amy's Craft Shenanigans is the winner of my Blog Hop prize.  Congratulations!

Tonight is my last post for the Farmer's Wife Blocks.  This concludes a year of wonderful adventure for my blocks.  They have been travelled the world, all made possible by my fabulous friends who are willing to go the extra mile to get pictures for me.  Thanks to everyone who helped out.

I wanted the last pictures to be about something special right here in Kamloops.

Block 89 Steps to the Altar and Block 90 Storm Signal went to the local Honda Dealership.  I found a customer in the waiting room that was willing to help out so that I could get a picture.

Here the blocks are below a beautifully framed quilt that hangs with pride on a feature wall.

This quilt isn't just your average quilt.  This quilt is the Can Go Grannie Great Canadian Quilt.  It was made in 2007 with the concept of "six degrees of seperation.  The Grannies were tenacious in tracking famous Canadians down through relatives, neighbours and whomever else they could.  The result is this quilt.

I was felt honoured, and a little overwhelmed, when I was asked to quilt this treasure.  I dug through my pictures from 2007 to come up with these fresh off the machine pics.

The Grannies sent this quilt all over Canada to help raise funds for the Stephen Lewis Foundation.  This was one of the first groups to raise funds and awareness of the HIV/AIDs epidemic in Africa.

This quilt holds a special place in my heart.  If you have never seen the quilt, stop in at the Honda Dealership on Halston and check it out.

Have a great week everyone!

Cherry Christmas

Recently the Moda Bake Shop had a tutorial on making hot pads from charm packs.  I had to try this so I picked up a charm pack of "Cherry Christmas" and some coordinating fabric for the back.  I fell in love with these little hot pads, so I had to dig through some of my scraps to make a few more.

Some leftover "Cuzco" was on top of the pile so I made these three.  I wasn't happy with the way the edge looked by pulling the backing fabric to the front, so I had to try again.

I grabbed a left over block of "Comma" and turned it into a hot pad.  I bound this one the way I bind quilts and I was happier with the results.  I think I might be making a few more of these. Great idea for last minute gifts.  Click here for the link to the Moda pattern.

This is number 50 of this years Hex-a-thon.  Only two more to go.  Woohoo.

Farmer's Wife Blocks 87 & 88

Star Gardener and Star of Hope are getting into the mood for the upcoming festive season.

Surely you can all guess who they are visiting with.

It's the man of the season!  Since there wasn't enough snow here for his sled, he was riding his Harley.  Thanks to Noeline and Dale for taking these great pics for us.

Have a great week everyone and don't forget to enter the draw in the previous post.

Blog Hop Party with Giveaways!

Yes, it is time once again for a Blog Hop.  Starting on Dec.10, click on the picture below to check out all the wonderful blogs and their great giveaways!

My giveaway will be two charm packs of Over the Rainbow Batiks by Moda.

One is the colour pack and the other is the neutral pack.

To enter my draw leave a comment.  I will use a random number generator to pick a winner on December 16.  Good luck in the draw and have fun checking out all the great blogs and their giveaways!

A Little Inspiration from Angela Walters

I needed a new idea for an all over pattern for a masculine quilt.  I recently purchased Angela's new book "In the Studio with Angela Walters.  Wow, what a fabulous book.  Armed with the new book and Angela's Free-Motion Quilting book I was ready to go.

I spent a delightful few minutes going through both books before I decided on the all over leaves in the first book.  I wanted texture and I wanted it to be done quickly.

This is my version of the leaves.  It was fun to quilt, and by the end of the quilt I had the pattern under control.

Terry pieced this quilt to give as a retirement quilt.  We have quite a few friends retiring in the next few months so we have to get busy.

Apparently I have been a week behind with my Hexies for quite some time.  So this week you get two. Have a fabulous weekend everyone!

Farmer's Wife Blocks 85 & 86

Square Dance and Squash Blossom once again were taken on a little holiday by Lorraine.

Here they are in a familiar pose, pinned to Lorraine's arm.  Sometimes that is the only way to get them in the picture.

This Landmark might give it away.  Lorraine included the blocks on her adventure to a NFL game.  Lucky blocks!

And the fish hawker at Pike Place co-operated and displayed the blocks fabulously.  What fun. In case you haven't guessed by now,  the blocks are in Seattle.  Thanks Lorraine for showing them a really good time.

A Little of This, A Little of That

This week I have been working on a few different projects.  First up was quilting my Cuzco quilt.

I had marked lines every 1 1/2 inches so that I could quilt this funky orange peel pattern on the background.  The quilt is now in the washer, removing the lines.

I just completed my blocks for this months civil war reproduction challenge.  These are the blocks that finish 4 1/2 inches.  And yes, they are a challenge!

And not to be forgotten, this weeks hexagon.  Katja has a new challenge for hexagons for next year.  I need to get this years finished up, and get started on next years.  Never a dull moment!

Farmer'sWife Blocks 83 & 84

Spider Web and Spool also made the trip out east with Deanna.

Here they are hanging out with a couple of locals!

They are at Shediac, New Brunswick, home of the world's largest Lobster.

A Little Cuzco

I am currently playing with a little "Cuzco" by Kate Spain.  I have the quilt top finished and have spent most of this evening marking some reference lines with my water erasable pen.  On a darker fabric I would use chalk however with white I don't have a lot of choices but to use the pen.  Let's keep our fingers crossed that it washes out okay!

It is Thursday, so here is my latest hexagon.

Have a great weekend everyone and a special "Happy Thanksgiving" to my American friends!

A Double Slice of Cake

My double slice of cake quilt is made using "Simply Color" by V and Co. for Moda.

I was inspired to make this very easy quilt by a quilt my friend Noeline who was making a quilt out of "Little Black Dress" fabric.

She was using a pattern from Benartex that included a sashing.  I decided I didn't want sashing because I wanted something quick.

I started with 42 10" squares.  This is the size Layer Cakes by Moda come in.  If your Layer Cake doesn't have 42 pieces add in a couple of solids or downsize to 35 squares.  Cut each of the squares at the 3 1/2" line.

Shuffle your fabrics and sew the two pieces together.

Take your newly pieced square and cut in half at the 5" line.

Shuffle your fabrics one more time, flip one half top to bottom and sew the two halves together.

This is what your finished block should look like.  Lay out the blocks alternating one horizontal block and then one vertical block.  I set my blocks 6 x 7.  Refer to the picture at the top of the page if you need a little help.  Of course if you are an over achiever you can add sashing and a border.

I was short on time so I quilted the quilt with an all over ribbon.  The design is really a large meander with an echo line that crosses over now and then.  I used grey thread so as to blend in.

This pattern is a great way to show off your favourite fabrics.  Or in my case, get a quilt finished very quickly.  Hope you have a wonderful day!

Farmer's Wife Blocks 81 & 82

Snowball and Spider Legs also went with Deanna on her holiday.

Now how cool is this.  The Farmer's Wife blocks are at the Farmer's Daughter Country Market!  And where might you ask is this?  It is in Whycocomagh, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

Curved Four Patch Class

Recently I taught a class on making a Curved Four Patch.  We used the uneven nine patch ruler from EZ Quilting.  The ruler calls for a 10 1/2" nine patch but since I seldom follow rules I decided a 10 1/2" four patch would be way more fun.

The women in the class used a variety of fabrics.  Batiks, brights, soft pastels and even a little Blitzen.  We all had a great time and I'm hoping they bring their finished quilts into the shop to show me.  They did ask for a close up of the quilting so here it is.

The Kate Spain fabric combined with bright solids and white make such a cheerful little quilt.

You know I wouldn't let the week go by without a hexagon.  Have a wonderful weekend everyone!