My Life in Boxes

My studio is totally dismantled. My life is in boxes! The move to Nova Scotia is very real. Yes, we bought a house just minutes from Bridgewater in Pine Grove. Over an acre of beautiful, quiet country living, no busy traffic, no flight path of planes going to the airport . . .!

So my hands on creativity is on hold until the move.

However, I can still roam the net and find interesting sites to visit!

• Hexagon Inspiration 
• Interesting but not craft related but worthy of note
• Back to school projects
• Owl Pot Holder idea   

Enjoy!     

So Long May!!!

I have never been soooo glad to see the end of a month as this one. Weather wise - it was terrible! Today was 20C and sunny, so hopefully things are looking up.

These lilies are from my sister's garden in Tennessee. We don't even have the leaves out on the trees yet. Soon . . .

Here's a couple of links to check:

• Learn How to Create a Fabric Divider Basket.
• The Picnic Tote  
• Tote with Pockets 
• Mini Hexagon Pouch Tutorial   

Enjoy!       

Spring Has Sprung - in my Garden!

The sun is shining!!! Yes, that's a wonder as St. John's has had its fair share of RDF (Rain, Drizzle, Fog) this spring. And it's been cold so it's a wonder that any spring flowers / shrubs have survived.

 This old fella has survived another winter too. No, I didn't bring him in out of the weather!

Maybe things will begin to look up this week (weather wise).

• Flower Quilts / Blocks on Pinterest HERE, HERE  
• Applique HERE, HERE,
• Fabric Flower Patterns HERE, 
• Hexagon Flower Mug Rug   
• More Mug Rugs HERE,  HERE, 

Enjoy!

Valentine Links!

I met a friend and avid reader of my blog at the supermarket this morning. She misses my daily posts. Thanks for saying that. Well this one is for you, Paula! Happy reading.

Valentine's Day is less than two weeks away. While I'm not into decorating or doing anything special for this day, many of you out there are. If my granddaughter lived near me, then that would probably make a difference. In the meantime enjoy my links:

• Hex and Heart Coasters 
• Hearts Desire Table Runner from Husqvarna (free pattern for an embroidery machine)
• Quilted Hearts Wall Hanging  
• Hearts in a Row 
• Valentine Quilts on Pinterest   
• Hearts & Valentines (free patterns)
• Previous posts HERE, HERE & HERE

Enjoy!

Bits & Pieces

Today's post contains a few bits and pieces.

First thing, I would like to congratulate all the winners at Quilt Canada, especially Elaine Quehl for winning Teacher of the Year! I had the opportunity to take a class from Elaine, here in St. John's, a few years ago. She had a trunk show showing some of her amazing art quilts. Please click the link above to visit her web site.

Also check the Trend-Tex Quilters Challenge 2015, Quilt Canada, Blowing in the Wind. Such a variety of wall quilts!

Now for a few little sewing projects that caught my eye!

• Hexagon Fabric Tray  This is a freebie Sewing Tutorial that's simple and quick to do. They can be used in any room of the house or in a motor home: to hold jewelry, keys . . . you know what I mean
• Charm Square Fabric Tray
• Quilt As You Go Projects
• Charmed Message Board
• Apples To Oranges Sewing Kit

Enjoy!!

Hexagon Stuff!

I found a number of projects in my One Note files about hexagons! Have fun checking these out.

• Hexagon - Block Table Topper
• Hex Pincushions
• Folded Hexagon Yo-Yo
• Hexagon Graft Paper Generator PDF
• Hexagon Japanese Lanterns
• Hexie Coasters
• Hand Sewn Hexagon Tutorial
• Hexagon Basket
• Nesting Hexagons PDF
• Hexagon Holder Pouch
• The Hexie Blog

Previous post about Hexagons.

I Couldn't Resist!

Whenever I enter a shop with anything to do with textile art, I feel like an explorer! What will I discover this time is always on my mind. Sometimes the finds are rather plain but with potential. I was at the cutting counter at Joanne's the other day waiting to get some glittery tulle cut (stiff I can't get home). A young lady was getting yards and yards of a cheap medium weight cotton canvas cut. I found out she works with oils. She said a coat of gesso on the canvas and it is as good as the expensive stuff. The fabric was $5.00 yd. I did pick up a couple of yards. You never know how it will get used!

The yarn shop had lots of lovely yarns. I did buy one skein of blue glittery stuff.

My largest find so far, was at The Fabric Center. A few yards of batiks found their way into my shopping bag as well as a Christmas panel and some pre-cut hexagons.

Cabot Show & Tell

We had another wonderful Show & Tell at the Cabot Quilt Guild's April meeting. Take a look! A lot of batik fabrics were used in several of following quilted items. Can you tell which ones?

The appliqued birds are from fantasy fabric created in my March class.
The quilt with all the colourful hexagons and applique was entirely hand pieced and hand quilted. Beautiful work from everyone!
Enjoy!



 

 

Appliqué Patterns

Here's one of my machine appliqué Fantasy Fish. I love using batiks as the colours are so bright.






As promised in the previous post, I've made a list of a few sites that have free patterns for Appliqué. Have fun checking them out.
Make Baby Stuff is just that, stuff for baby!
The Stitching Cow has a simple house to do.
Lots of applique patterns at the Sacred Spiral.
Bella Online has some wonderful applique patterns that Judie Bellingham found on her web travels. Something like I'm doing.
A simple butterfly at About.com: DIY Fashion
Wee Folk Art has applique done in felt but that doesn't mean you can't use cotton. In fact, check out the whole web site as there are lots of other patterns too.
Have fun with these!
If you like cats, there is a pattern on Craftown.
Block Crazy has free patchwork and applique patterns.
Teddlywinks has a couple of bear patterns to put on a small wall hanging or mini-quilt.
Applique pitchers in a log cabin quilt.
Welcome spring with this flower applique. More flowers here!
Using geometric shape templates in applique.
Stain Glass Spring Tulip

If you have any questions or comments, please contact me.

Table Toppers

The Eastern Edge Quilters are making table toppers for Quilt Canada 2010 in Calgary. As a result, I searched for some free patterns for quilters to use.

Fat Cat Patterns
Hexagon Table Topper or Wall Hanging
Wool Flower Table Topper
Hot Cross Buns Table Topper
Free patterns.com has lots of table topper patterns

As a rule, I don't do piecing. My hexagonal table topper consisted of a basic quilt sandwich. The back fabric was about 3 - 4 inches larger than the front because it is brought to the front and used as a binding. I did free motion stitching over the hexagon shape using a variegated thread. The binding was machine stitched. This particular type of topper is reversible. I thought for sure I had taken a picture of it but I can't find one!

Several quilters used leftover blocks from quilts they had made.