Summer dazey days

I've been enjoying a busy social fun summer here in Perth.  Getting out and about and seeing movies, Fringe Festival shows and now a couple of PIAF shows too.  '

Also going for lots of lovely morning and weekend walks, around our beautiful river and at the beach occasionally too.  I spent lots of hours finishing my hexie quilt - or at least finishing the TOP.  The grand total is 1243 one-and-a-half inch hand pieced hexagons!!  I can't really remember when I started, but I've been working on it (and off it for long periods of time) for about 5 years.  I have truly loved the hand stitching process.  Call me crazy, but I've bought a packet of little 1 inch hexie papers for my next one!!  I am going to make it all out of my Liberty stash, BUT, I am not starting it until I finish a few more unfinished projects, in particular, 3 crochet rugs that are near completion. Not to mention 4 quilt tops in progress and the 4 finished tops that need sandwiching.

I am christening my hexie quilt Twelve Forty-Three in honour of the grand total.  Here it is gracing my bed.

And here it is outside over the rail in the garden....

There's been a little bit of cake time too...this one made by our resident chef at work.....Banana cake with cinnamon cream frosting with honeyed pecans...he is the reason I stay in my job.....insert happy face here.....

Perth puts on the Perth International Arts Festival every year and as part of that said festival there is one huge free event held in the city each year.  This year was truly incredible.  The Giants came to town:  a little girl and a man. Here are pictures of the girl taken as she danced above the crowd. The atmosphere over the 3 day event was electric in the city. The crowds were formidable and quite overwhelming at times, but it was worth it to be a part of the fun.

Hexie Heaven

Count so far....drum roll.....1088 hexies! It now fits across the top of my king size bed, but doesn't go down the sides far enough for my liking.  I would like it to cover the top mattress of the ensemble.  I have this ''thing'' about doonahs, that sit on the top and still show the sheets.  I want this to hide that, so it's more like an old fashioned bedspread...or should the word be retro or vintage these days? I much prefer the drape over the sides look.  Which means... I need to keep going, making my hexies and sewing them together and watching them grow.  It's lovely to step back and take photos.  I call it my daughter's inheritance, as they have watched me work on it for years.  The investment of my time and love...won't they have lovely memories in about 50 years time!!  Trouble is I have 2 daughters and this one quilt, and it's not even finished.  Guess I'll have to make another one.....

I don't know about you, but I can't wait for Easter.  Apart from plans on Friday, I have nothing, absolutely nothing, planned yet for the other 3 days of the holiday. I'm thinking of devoting hours to my hexie quilt, sitting on my bed, watching dvd's in my pj's.  I am so excited at the prospect, I can't tell you.  Perhaps I'll mix it up a bit with some baking and the odd walk or 2 or 3 - oh and definitely some reading, some hand quilting and some knitting and crochet, although I am thinking of concentrating on one project - hexies!! My girls are working quite a lot, so it will be me and Tilly hanging out.

Back to my hexies.....I have a way to go yet before the quilt top fits my king size bed....so I hope to get it done this weekend!  I can't wait to sit and stitch and stitch and stitch....

 

 

 

Here's a few zoom in's....................aren't they beeee--ute-eeeee-full!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

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And yes this little witchy-poo will be very much in all long weekend.  Stop by for a cuppa if you're around and game - there may be a slice of something delicious on offer to boot :)



Snippets from my little corner of the world

 

So a little itty bit of sewing has been going on in my little corner.  A few more blocks sewn for my scrappy 9 patch above.

 

A quilt top pinned and ready to be hand quilted...exciting ...it will be my first attempt.  I'm a bit nervous and not sure how to begin, so I'll watch a few online tutorials first I think, but I have cotton, needles and hoop at the ready.

In the space on the mezzanine where I work I have my knick knacks collected during my childhood and my travels.  Each one of them is a very special memory.  Here's foxy.  A little ceramic red fox.  I just love his attitude! He was given to me by one of my English Great Aunts, arriving in an oh-so-exciting-Christmas package one year.  We were so lucky with the generosity of our English rellies.  Packages would arrive via sea mail every year and be placed under the tree tantalising us in the lead up to Christmas.

 

 



 

 

 

And so I digress from my progress report.  Another 2 blocks for my Scrappy Trip Around the World...below.

 

And here's where I sit and hexie away.  Pamela one of my childhood dolls keeps me company in her rocking chair.

 

Whistle stop blog post

The only crafting I did this weekend was admiration!  I spent a whole 5 minutes throwing my growing hexie quilt over my king sized bed to see how much more I needed to do.  A bit yet, but I am getting closer and closer all the time... The side view here shows you another row of flowers is needed.  It was oh so exciting to see ma beauty spread across it's future home.  Hugs to all :)

Bits and bobs

 

My weekend was busy with bits and bobs.  I had minimal time for my crafty pursuits and spent time dreaming of an extra day at home, just to be and sew.  Anyhoo, not to be...so here's a quick reflection of what I did have time for.

 

New cushion covers for the day bed seat in the lounge room.  The colour scheme is aqua/blue/red to match the kitchen colours so I went on the hunt for some cushion covers, even though I am making some.  I've bought half a dozen inserts from Ikea, along with the red sheet that covers the mattresses.  I do plan to make an aqua/red quilt, but a $9 sheet will do in the meantime.  You know me, it could be years before the quilt is ready for action!  I found these great Union Jack covers on special at Bed, Bath and Table, my all time favourite store in the universe of the world...and thought 'YES'.  After my fantastic holiday in Scotland and England, I am honouring my heritage and love of the country!  Don't they look great?  I am happy, happy with them and love looking at them.

 

 

The smaller Hare-y cushion came from Kelso, Scotland as a gift from family when I celebrated my birthday with them while I was there.  I have a very soft spot for bunnies, rabbits and hares.

 

Now here's a pic of the first of the cushions I'm making to add to the Union Jacks.

 

 

They are going to be so fun...I'm going to quilt around the large flowers...eeek it will be my first attempt...wish me luck :)

 

And all I managed of the hexies was about 4 this weekend, but I did spread it over the bed to guage the size....still a lot to go really!  Lucky I LOVE making it.  Yep totally addicted to hexies....

 

 

 

Looking good, don't you think?

 

 

My current addiction (again)

I am trying to spend an hour a night stitching away.  Last night as so fun, the rain was lashing the house and the wind howling and Tilly and I were on a sofa each, blissfully warm and snug. I've got these long tendrils on one side and I'm fitting random group of hexies in where I like.  Quite unorthodox I'm sure, but it works for me.

Luckily it's an addiction that won't end in rehab.....

Hand Piecing Hexagons

 I realise I was a bit of tease yesterday talking about my hexie progress, but not sharing any photos!  Naughty for those readers interested....!  So here, just in case you're in suspense here are a few photos. 

My quilt is a completely random scrap quilt.  Most fabric is scraps from quilts I've made or in progress.  My English grandmother spent lots of time hand piecing and there are several hexies she made but never included in a quilt.  They are stitched on scraps of paper from the church bulletin.  They are absolutely precious.  So much so that I hope to somehow frame a few.

This quilt has been a work-in-progress for 2 years now!  I work in bursts on it.  I am really inspired to finish it this year though. 

Lately I've felt a bit of falsetto craft blogger with my lack of real craft posts.  But I'm over that...musings about life and things that inspire and happen on our own journeys are all part of me and my creative"ness".

The benefit of being ill...

is that I've snuck in a bit of crafty time for the first time this year - my hexies are starting to turn into a quilt!

I have been sick for the last 3 weeks, no energy, constant coughing.  All sorts of tests, something suspect going on, more tests...but the worst has been the coughing and trouble breathing at night - just means I'm exhausted.  I have to sleep upright.. feeling a bit like Gypsy in this photo after one of her fits...just need some TLC and comfort that everything will be alright again soon.

Sitting quietly, recuperating doing hand piecing.  What a luxury! It has kept me sane over the last few weeks.

Scrappy Hexie Patchwork Quilt Progress Report

Recently I took all my hexies over to a friend's house and put them up on her design wall to have a look at my progress.  It was very exciting stepping back and seeing it all - it's so different than spreading them over the bed or floor. It's now been 21 months in the making (probably at least that to go!!)  I haven't stitched a stich in months, but am keen to make a bit more headway over summer. I'd like it to be big enough for a queen bed.  The pattern is completely random.  I toy with the idea of a second one with a pattern to it, or one made from my Liberty Tana Lawn stash, but that's a way in the future (possible) project.

I started using scrap fabric from all the quilts I've made to date, then I visited my mum who gave my hexies my grandmother had made in the 80s and 90s that hadn't made it into any of the quilts she made before she passed away, so I've added those in too.  Mum also gave me some old pieces of fabric from dresses we had as children so I've put those in as well. It's fast becoming a nostalgia quilt! Typical of me.  I'm very sentimental in many ways.