madebymaisie

what about the hexagons?

Maybe I have neglected my hexagon project.

Maybe I just get a little bit bored of doing the same thing.

Maybe I am waiting for the next box set of 90210 to hit the stores, so that I can stitch and reminisce.

Maybe I know that there is no way I will get this project finished for the Queensland Quilters Quilt Show in October.

Maybe I need some inspiration.

Grace by Robyn Mallett. Best of Show at Quilts Across Queensland at the Ekka 2009. Foundation pieced, hand applique and hand quilted over nine months. 1930s reproduction fabrics only used from an extensive stash, which I only dream of. Exquisite.

Maybe I need some new fabric.

American Jane purchased recently at Patches.

So, I have decided to revisit my hexagon quilt. I have made it smaller. I have increased the number of hexagon flowers. I need to make another 13 flowers. Therefore, I need 13 new fabrics if I am to have 61 individual flowers with no repeat of fabric. Must be all reproduction 1930s fabric.

Not to worry, the Maisies will be happy with new dress fabric to choose from!

Hexagons find a perfect backing

My little hexagon flowers are in need of some backing fabric. Nothing too plain, nothing too pretty. Just something with the right colour contrast and a little bit of a detailed print to give it some interest.

Thanks to Robyn at Patches Indooroopilly for your help in finding just the right fabric. Robyn taught me to quilt about 11 years ago. Her quilts are simply beautiful.

 

One rainy Easter Sunday, I cut the 49 x 7" squares required for my project.

 

I ironed, folded the fabric, lined it up square, rotary cut ... all so precisely.

 

Well, I thought that I cut it precisely. (Note the detail in the above photo. You can see the fine print on the fabric). Very sweet and delicate.

 

I finger pressed the squares to accurately place the hexagons.

 

I remove the tacking and hexagon templates, only as I am ready to pin the flower to the backing for the hand applique.

 

I have been lost on the bus and during lunch breaks with no hand sewing to do.

 

Let's see how long it takes to hand applique the 49 flowers.

Hexagon update

My little hexagon flowers have been coming along nicely.

 

I have now completed the 49 flowers which will form the main panel of my quilt.

   

It felt a little strange travelling to work on the bus last Friday, with no hexagon flowers to stitch.

 

I had to be contented just listening to ABC classic fm through my mp3 player.

 

I have been to my local quilt store to browse fabrics suitable for the background.

 

Then I need to hand applique each hexagon flower onto a background fabric square.

 

This will be another stitching task which I will be able to do on the bus and on my lunch break at work.

 

A mother is not supposed to have a favourite child. Believe me, being one of four female girls in my family (no boys), I know all about favourites - but that is a story for another time.

 

But I could not resist picking a favourite flower amongst all these pretties.

   

Which flower do you like?

Hexagons - week 3

19 hexagon flowers completed.

 

Only 30 more hexagon flowers to go...

Hexagons - week two

Stitching on the bus.

 

Stitching on my lunch break.

 

Stitching at home.

What has Maisie been up to?

A little while ago I decided to take the plunge and make a hexagon quilt using the English paper piecing method. Nothing too large, just a simple lap sized quilt. It would be the perfect opportunity to use some of the scraps from all the Maisie doll dress fabrics. I have accumulated an amazing stash of 1930s reproduction fabrics, featuring a lot of very pretty Aunt Grace fabrics. Thanks Nell for getting me started on this obsession.

Then, along came the Queensland Quilters journal which advertised a special hexagon category in this years Queensland Quilters Quilt Show in October 2009. This is a great goal to aim for. Hmmm, the finer detail says that ... quilts entered in this category must be a minimum of 600cm diameter. So, there goes my plan for a dainty little quilt.

 

I have been cutting, pinning and basting hexagons for a few weeks now. Season 4 and 5 of 90210 has come in handy while I do my handiwork. I even work on basting hexagons while on the bus to and from work, and even on my lunch breaks.

 

I am not working from any particular pattern. I am just using some traditional methods and traditional piecing patterns.

 

In my mind, I have an overall pattern that I hope to achieve.

I have basted approximately 450 individual hexagons to date. Now, I need to attach (whip stitch) the hexagons together to make individual flowers. I have organised all the hexagons into their appropriate flower colours. They now wait to be whip stitched together.

 

Little Maisies do not mind that I am using their dress fabric offcuts to make something pretty.

 

Oh, did I mention that I am committing myself to hand quilt the hand appliqued hexagon quilt too? By October...

Little blankies

My sister asked me to make little Miss Annie some little muslin blankies. Not a quilt, but a little bittie blankie (around the size of a handkerchief) for her to sleep with.

I made these two blankies during the heat of the day. It is very hot and humid in Brisbane during the summer. I got frustrated with the muslin. I got frustrated with the tiny binding I used. I got frustrated with my machine. I burnt my thumb on the steam of the iron while ironing on the applique hearts.

 

The lil blankies aren't perfect, but not that the Maisies noticed...

Ellie and Miss Nadia thought that these were the perfect size for a summer weight quilt for themselves.

Queensland Quilt Show 2008

Yesterday I went with some friends to the Craft and Quilt fair in Brisbane. I had entered a quilt in the Queensland Quilt Show presented by Queensland Quilters Inc. As mentioned in a previous post, this is the first time that I have entered a quilt for judging at a show. What a buzz to see my quilt hanging. What a bigger buzz, to watch other quilters comment and photograph it.

   

I am not a big fan of crowds, so we decided to start with the quilt show and then work our way back against the flow of craft frenzied women through the merchant hall.

My favourite stall was Be Be Bold Japanese Textiles. I have been coveting Kokka fabric for some time now. Finally, I gave in to temptation and bought a piece of Kokka fabric.

 

I also bought a cute bag pattern which I will make up with my Kokka fabric. I also got some charm squares to make a doll quilt.

 

I couldn't resist this piece of Alexander Henry fabric - for obvious reasons.

 

After a couple of hours snaking our way through the stalls, buying bits and pieces along the way (cheap ric rac and ribbon), stopping and watching a couple of demos at some stalls - we decided to call it a day...

...That is until we rushed back to where we started and bought some more at Be Be Bold Japanese Textiles. I purchased a 'quilt as you go' baby quilt kit. It was full of Kokka and coordinating fabrics. I generally don't buy kits, but this one is beautiful - in a minimalist Japanese style. Stay tuned to see how it turns out.

My scrappy quilt

I have finally been persuaded to enter a quilt in a judged quilt show. After being involved in quilt show administration for the past 7 years at another major show, I have decided to be an entrant.

The quilt that I have entered was made to be used, not to be hung for display purposes. Most of my quilts are made and then folded up and put in the cupboard - only to come out for a bit of 'show and tell'. I used all my favourite scraps (and just had to buy a couple more fat quarters) in this quilt. It is a soft and pretty quilt. It will be used in my spare room - folded nicely at the end of the single bed.

I would like to acknowledge Lynne Done who professionally quilted my quilt. Lynne teaches at Patches Indooroopilly.

 

This quilt has been in the making for the last couple of years. I cut and machine pieced the squares in the rows in 2006. I joined the rows in 2007. The quilt top sat in my sewing room until late 2007. It took a turn for the worst in September 2007, when a drunk homestay student mistook my sewing room for his room and trashed my whole room in the dead of the night. The quilt top lay crumpled and wet in the corner. I think the student tried to use it as a blanket.

 

Note - I found out that the student had spilled his water bottle in my sewing room. I was so scared that it was ...

So to enter the quilt show, I had to add a hanging sleeve and make a bag for it. As I said, it wasn't made to be judged. The binding is a bit skew, the points of the squares don't exactly meet precisely, there is even a bit of selvedge showing on one of the squares. But, I don't mind. I like it!

So, if you are in Brissie during October and happen to be visiting the Craft Fair. Check out the Queensland Quilters Quilt Show ... and my quilt.