Comfort Quilts

Quilters are know for their generosity.  One of the ways that we show it is by making comfort quilts.  I have been involved with many comfort quilts over the years.  Most of the time I simply provided a block to be added into a quilt that someone else would be putting together and quilting.  Often, I wouldn't even personally know the person who would be receiving the quilt.  It doesn't matter. If I can spread love and comfort, and say a prayer for another human being, then it is always a good thing.
My most recent comfort quilt was for a dear friend of my hubby.  They have known each other since 1955!  They have stayed in contact through the years and the miles.  They met in high school.  Hubby grew up in Chicago and attended Loyola Academy. Recently, his friend was diagnosed with cancer.  The nurse in me wanted to know the details; the quilter in me wanted to make a quilt for him.
My friend Mickey Depre recently made a quilt for her brother-in-law using a Bonnie Hunter pattern in Chicago Bears colors (orange and blue, go Illini!). I went to Bonnie's free pattern tab to check out her offerings.  Scrappy Mountains Majesty struck my fancy, so I recreated it in EQ7 using navy blue and orange.  Funny thing, the orange pieces looked like fish to me.  Brain flash!  Our friend lives in Boca Raton, FL and is an avid boater and diver!
So I "dived" into my stash and pulled all my turquoises, teals, aquas, corals, yellows, and fabrics that reminded me of a coral reef.

I renamed it "Oceans Majesty". I quilted it on my friend's Gammill longarm in an allover swirly design.  They received it last week, and I certainly hope and pray it gives him comfort as he is fighting this horrible disease.

More Hexie Tips

I had a question from my Top Ten Hexie Tips that I would like to address today, and also some other tips that I failed to post!

The question was about the cross stich in the corner.  As you can see in the picture, it is a simple cross stitch.  It doesn't have to be pretty, because it will be taken out.  The purpose is to secure that corner until it can be sewn down!

My next tip is about using pins to secure the paper to your fabric.  I find that if I use small, applique pins where the seams are supposed to be, it helps keep it securely in place until I get it basted.

This is where I keep my hexie supplies.  I got the cabinet from a girlfriend's garage sale!  What? Doesn't everyone have a sombrero in their sunroom?

The top swings up to give me a place to store threads, needles, and other sewing notions.  In the drawers I keep my paper templates, books, and patterns.

Dang! Sorry the picture is sidewises!  These are the acrylic templates that you use to easily put your registration marks on your paper templates.

Of course, you can reuse the paper templates, so I had to find a way of organizing them so I could easily find them again.  I came up with placing the paper templates with its corresponding acrylic template in individual ziplock bags (the ones that the paper templates come in from Paper Pieces are perfect for this)!  If I were truly anal, I would make a label to put on the bag. 

Basting hexies makes a lot of little scraps.  I made this little thread catcher to hold the fabric scraps and thread scraps.  I don't throw the fabric scaps away.  I save them and put them into dog beds that our guild makes for our local humane society.

So I have piqued your interest in hexies? Mickey Depre would love to have you join her Craftsy class!  She has shared this link, http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.craftsy.com%2Fpiecedhexies&h=uAQGMAn3M, to get 33% off!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giving credit where credit is due

It dawned on me that I failed to give credit yesterday to the hexies that were pictured in my top ten tips.

This is a block of the month through Quilting on the Square!  The quilt is called Moxie Girl, and is designed by Mickey Depre and Mary Pfeiler!

Mea culpa!

Top Ten Tips for Hexies, or, Lessons learned from being a "Stunt" Quilter!

As you recall from my last blog, I have been a "ghost" or "stunt" quilter for Mickey Depre.  So you can imagine that I have learned a few tricks about working with hexies along the way!  This post does not contain many pictures, but I do have a few tips!

1. A Steady Betty  is a great tool to use when you are working with lots of pieces on your lap.

It holds your pieces and keeps them from sliding.  Acts as a mini design wall.  And it gives you a place to park your pins and needles!

2. When you are basting your hexies, use up your cheap thread.  You know the stuff...it was the bargain "3 spools for a buck" at the big box store.  The stuff you bought when you first started quilting.  When you are basting, you are just gonna remove those stitches any way, so why waste your good, quality thread.  A good contrast to your fabric is great, to make it easier to find those basting stitching when it is time to remove them.

3.  When basting pieced hexies, you will have seams in corners, and along edges, that you want to make sure remain in their places.  I like to do a cross stitch in those corners, and through those seam junctions to make sure they behave.  This is important if you want your final product to have seams that line up

4. And speaking of removing stitches (see #2), a good sharp seam ripper is always a good thing.  They can get dull, just like any other instrument.  Replace them when they start to give you fits.  My personal favorite is the Alex Anderson 4 in 1 tool.  It has a great seam ripper, along with a stilletto, a wooden press, and a point turner.

5.  Speaking of stillettos (great segues, eh!), I use that stilletto when I am removing the paper after I have removed the basting stitches.  I find that it gets into the corners without disturbing the seam.

6. Before you remove the papers from the edge hexies, you will want to prep those edges that have not been joined to a partner.  A light starch or Mary Ellen's Best Press will keep those edges crisp.  Rather than spray, I like to pour some into a little bowl and "paint" it on those edges with a small flat paint brush.  I then press till dry.  It gives a nice crisp edge that holds until you can applique or do your finishing.

7. When sewing your hexies together, Mickey has recommended 100# silk thread.  The other day I grabbed my travel box to piece some hexies, and failed to put my silk thread in.  I did have some  Aurifil 50wt Mako cotton with me.  In my opinion, it worked just as well as the finer silk, and was much easier to work with.

8. Replace your hand needles.  Hopefully, we all know to replace our sewing machine needles after 8 hours of use.  Our hand needles can become dull also.  I am so guilty of using the same needle for YEARS.  But a fresh, sharp needle just makes stitching much easier.  I don't have a personal favorite, although I do like the longer needles, as it is easier for me to grasp.

9. A needle threader is a true Godsend!  I have two that I like.  Clover's Desk Needle Threader and Bohin Desktop Needle threader.  They both work well.

10. Finally, I just learned this trick from another blog.  Instead of using a whip stitch to sew your hexies together, try a ladder stitch.  It makes an invisible seam, and is just as easy to do!  With what ever method you use to sew your hexies together, make sure that you securely stitch your corners and your end to make sure they don't come unraveled.

Well, that is all the tips that I can think of!  Everyone, have a great day!

I've been missing in action!

YIKES!  It has been 4 1/2 months since my last blog post!  Mea culpa!  My apologies to those who have come to read my post and keep finding the same old thing!

Yes, I have been busy.  In February, hubby and I went to North Carolina and visited with his family who live in the Raleigh area.  We had a super time, and yes, I did visit a quilt shop!

This was located in the town where Fort Bragg is located.  Sorry, I can't remember the name of the town.  But the shop was super, as well as the staff!  Worth looking for if you are in that part of the country!

We also were busy remodeling our sunporch into a sunroom!  We added a Fujitsu mini-split HVAC system, took the siding off the walls (which had been exterior) and had drywall and trim put up, and covered the painted concrete floor with vinyl!

My HQ SweetSixteen is very happy in her new home!

Our beloved Scooter became ill.  We were his parents since he was 6 weeks.  He was 11 1/2 years old when the vet felt he had a liver and possibly a pancreatic cancer. With not much hope for a successful treatment, we elected to put him to sleep.  I stayed with him until his last breath.  Hubby was absolutely devasted.

So in March we adopted a 5 1/2 year old dog named Kelvin!  He is a mixed breed, toy fox terrier and lots of other breeds!  But he is very a good dog.

We enrolled him in manners class with our local humane society.  He graduated top dog with 5 gold stars!  I think who ever was his first owners must have trained him, as he quickly knew all the commands.  It really was a class more for us!

So back to quilty things.  My local guild holds an auction every February.  It is an opportunity for members to clean out their quilting studios and raise money for the guild.  I hit the mother lode this year.  I got this Ott Lite, brand new in the box, for $45.

The major find was this Euro-Pro steam iron.  It was in the silent auction, unbid on.  I got it for $30.  It was brand new, never used.  It retails for $250!  It is fantastic for pressing quilt tops.  The steam is great!

I also found this pile of signature blocks.  What drew me to buy them was the top block, which was signed by a member who had passed away last year.  I had a mystery to unravel (literally) as the blocks looked like they had been sewn together, then deconstructed.  Where did they come from?  Most, if they were dated, had 1999, although one was dated 2000, and two were dated 2009!  But all were the same style!

Using piecing skills I learned at a Kaye England  workshop, and a design I worked up on EQ7, I made this quilt top!  I showed it to a couple of guild members who said it was from a signature block swap done in 1999-2000.  The person who donated them no longer belonged to the guild, and it wasn't outside of her norm to deconstruct something.  The two blocks dated 2009 are still a mystery.  I asked the two ladies, and they don't even remember making them!

Finally, I have agreed to be a "ghost" quilter for my friend Mickey Depre!  Well, maybe not ghost.  I guess I could be called a stunt double quilter!  Anyway, here is one of her designs that I have stitched for her!  Please check out her Craftsy class if you want to learn more about Pieced Hexies.  But, BEWARE!  Hexies are addicting!

This brings you up through March!  Stay tuned for further updates!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indiana Heritage Quilt Show

I just spent a fantastic long weekend in Bloomington, IN at the Indiana Heritage Quilt Show.  The only sad note is this weekend is also marked with deadly tornadoes through southern Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and on and on.  My heart and prayers go out to those affected by the storms.  Please remember that this tragedy will go on for these people long after we have put it out of our minds, so continue to keep good thoughts going their way.

I first was introduced to IHQS when Mickey Depre was teaching down here a few years ago.  We had been internet friends, and I wanted to take a class from her, so that was the perfect opportunity.  I passed up last year because of time constraints (well, I was going to Paris, and needed to save my shekels for that trip), but I couldn't pass up this year's show!  The instructors for this year's show were all people that I had either taken a class with, or had their books and was wanting to take classes from!  What to choose?  It was difficult!

Bloomington, IN is about 3 hours from my home, so we came on Thursday to travel leisurely.  After getting checked into our hotel, we went to Shiisa Quilts.  Being the smart woman that I am, I encouraged my hubby to go into the shop with me!  He saw lots of things that he thought I should do!  I did buy a batik for another project, and one kit for a cool wall hanging that he liked.  I only wish I had the time to do all the things he wants me to do, and all the things I want to do!

I got to meet Janet Meese, another internet friend, who is the owner of Shiisa Quilts!  What a delightful lady, and very welcoming!  I will be traveling down the end of the month to take a Hexie class from Mickey Depre, and staying over for an all day sew the next day!  What fun!

I was craving pizza, so asked Janet a recommendation for a good pizza place!  Without hesitation, she recommended Lennie's Pizza.  And why not!  Lennie is her brother!  It was so great, that we went Thursday night, and again on Saturday night!

Of course, I had to have a stein of the home brew from the Bloomington Brewing Company.  On Janet's recommendation, I tried the Java Porter.  Good choice, Janet!

My first class with Nancy Prince.  I was first introduced to Nancy from The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims.  I love the look of thread painting and was wanting to experience all I could!  Nancy is a delightful instructor, and helped all of us do our best with our class project!

Hubby was impressed!  It was lots of fun to do!  I am still amazed that I actually did this!

In keeping with the eccentricity, or eclectic, style that defines my quilting experience, the next day I took a class with Sally Collins.  Sally is known for her precision quilting, and her miniatures!  Another awesome instructor who took the time to explain how she gets her precision work done.  And spent time with all of us to make sure we would come away from the class with the tools to improve our quilting, whether on a minature level, or on a more "normal" sized level.

Yes, that is my class sample we are holding!  I was the over achiever and got two done in class!  I see a miniature quilt in my future!

Oh, Yes!  There was also a quilt show there!  This was the Best of Show quilt!  All the quilts were awesome, and I got lots of inspiration from them!  And a great group of vendors, too!

Karen Eckmeier workshops

I am so blessed to be a member of Illini Country Stitchers, our local quilt guild here in Champaign-Urbana!  One of the many benefits is that our program committee tries to bring in "big name" quilters for lectures and workshops at least 3 times a year.  I have taken workshops with Ami Simms, Carol Doak, Pat Speth, Becky Goldsmith, Toby Lischko, Jody Barrows, Kimberly Einmo, just to name a few!  This past week it was a joy to take workshops with Karen Eckmeier!

I already had her Accidental Landscapes book from my landscapes phase...who am I kidding, I still am in a landscapes phase!

I purchased her Layered Waves knowing she was coming, but didn't look at it until the day before!  Good grief!  I didn't know what I was missing!

One of Karen's mantra's is that she doesn't wish to contribute to the UFOs of the quilting world!  (Where have I heard this before, Mickey Depre!)  Everybody in the landscape class left with at least their landscape done.  I had my borders on and was ready for quilting by the time I left.  I did get it quilted at home that evening (after a nap and a little knitting).  One of the ladies had her's quilted AND bound by the end of class!  I had taken my little box of embelishments with me, and embroidered the sea grass in the lower right hand corner.

Karen is a fantastic teacher, and gave great explanations.  This is the second day when we were working on our layered waves.  She demonstrated on one of the students fabric choices.  We were told to bring 6 fat quarters.  We could choose a color family, or go wild.  The student here chose greens.  She also ended the day with a glorious tote bag!  She was also the one who had her landscape done!  And they call me an over achiever!  LOL!







Going through my stash to find fat quarters, I came across the fat quarters that I had purchased when I was in Tuscon, Fall of 2009.  Perfect!  I added the turquoise Moda Marbles.  I got inspired to add a flight of curving flying geese ala Caryl Bryer Fallert.  So I drafted my first set and made them.  One benefit of looking at things through a pictures is that I know see that I need to rearrange a few things!  Watch this post for further developments!

I am sure you were all wondering what I was going to be doing to fill my time now that Circle of Life was done!  Not to worry!  I am so inspired by this new technique in my tool box!