Hexie Heavy {WIP Wednesday}

Keeping it simple today.  

Finish:

Cat in the Hat

I finished the quilt right before the holidays.  

But this the only photo I have edited. 

Stayed tuned for Finish it Friday!

In Progress:

Hex on the Beach

Basted all 1008 hexies.  

They are almost too pretty to stitch.  But I have started the first two rows.

Stars and Stripes

I am absolutely IN love with this quilt.  

I finally finished appliqueing the hexies and piecing the stripes onto the star section.   I still have to cut the border pieces, so it is still not close to being finished. 

New Project:

Argyle Quilt

Since Stars and Stripes is in machine stage and Hex on the Beach is NOT going on our family vacation.  

I need a new EPP project. 

I think it is perfect for our teenage son.  I am really excited to start on it.  I have all the fabrics pulled from my stash.  The only fabric I had to purchase was the gray/black dot for the cross sections and borders.

Am I crazy to take on another long term EPP project from the Hexa-Go-Go book?  Would you think I am REALLY crazy to already be thinking about other quilts in the book?

Feedly...Feedly...Feedly

In the spring, I was super excited here about moving my Google Reader to Feedly.

Until yesterday.

My Feedly was empty.  Sheer panic!  

And yes! I did transfer to Bloglovin, just in case, like I promised and all of my subscriptions are there.  However, I have to admit, I am a Feedly girl.  

The layout and styling and organization just "fit" better.

I decided to hunt around. IF you did not transfer your google reader by July 1st?  Do not fear!   You can still download your google reader information until July 15th, 2013 via Google Takeout.

I downloaded the files to my computer. It is a large zip drive.

Then I went to My Feedly.

I chose Import OPML.

Browsed for my subscription files on my computer. 

(your google takeout zip drive under subscriptions.xml)

 and imported the files.

I timed it.  It took about 2 minutes.

I almost cried and kissed the computer when the all arrived!

(I do have more than the screenshot shows up above, that is just a taste)

Hope this helps out anyone who might have ran into the same problem!

Spirograph

One of the major culprits of my piecing addiction.

This is my version of Julie Pickle's Spirograph quilt.  

I used Moda's Winter's Lane by Kate & Birdie.  I love this fabric.  

Better yet?  Mr. Boss loves it too and said how much he loved it and the pattern.  He does not always love all my quilts as much as I do!

I cannot stress enough how fun this quilt was.  It is an intermediate level pattern, but if I had a day where my boys weren't distracting me, I am positive it can be done in a day.  It only took two short afternoons.

She is debuting it on her blog at Distant Pickles TODAY!  All of the links are there for you to go purchase the pattern so you can make your very own.

I highly recommend you check out her blog to see the other versions also!  Some of us used yardage, a few of us used fat quarters with yardage, and Bree, her blogmate, made one entirely scrappy with a fat quarter bundle!!

Now to decide on my backing and quilting!!!

Piece Out

I have a piecing problem.

I can't stop piecing lately. 

I am trying to blame the clear bins.

They mock me with their cut blocks and cut pieces.

Today?

This fabric (Winter's Lane by Kate & Birdie for Moda) is the latest pieced top.  I am patterning testing and can't wait to share the final qulit!

With this addition, I officially have eight pieced quilt tops.

 And two pieced tops for friends.

TEN.  TEN QUILT TOPS

And I apologize for all the Instagram photos. I've been too busy piecing to take nice photos.

I have never, in my quilting life, ever had this many pieced tops.  I am not sure other than that all the cut blocks mock me.  I have to admit. The heat in the garage right now IS intimidating. But as the Army ROTC cadre used to say when we were training?   Suck it up and drive on.  

At least that is what I am going to try.

I am chaining myself to Ole Betsy this week.  

Anyone else have the problem of being stuck in a piecing rut?

WIP: Windsor Lane Style

Bunny Hill Designs came to my studio.

And threw up on it!

I am in the midst of piecing three quilts.  

Two blue for two boys.

One pink for one girl.

TWO babies plus ONE baby equal?

TRIPLETS!!!!!  

These fabrics are utterly scrumptious for their nursery.  The photos that I received were of very nuetral gray/beige and very soft pinks and blues.  The cribs? The softest of shades of pink and blue.  Almost a beige/white with just a touch of color.

I think this Windsor Lane line fits the bill!

They decided to arrive earlier than their due date in July.  Very much like triplets do. I had originally thought I would be starting this week.  Instead, I am trying to get these tops done for quilting as soon as possible.

  The boys are off their NG tube feedings and are due home, possibly next week!

Mini Sewing Studio Quilt {Modern Mini Quilt Challenge}

True story.

About three weeks ago, I spotted the mini rug I made my husband last year for the Modern Mini Challenge.  I wondered if I had missed it and went to investigate and see if Jennifer from Ellison Lane had it. I couldn't find anything and was a bit sad.

I almost squealed when I saw someone link this years on Facebook!

Crazy, right?  I swear.  I'm not making this up.  I really, really was thinking about it!

Right in time for me to get some creative juices flowing!
This time, I really wanted to challenge myself.

I looked around on my Pinterest Quilt Inspiration board to see what I had on my bucket list.

This sewing studio block By Charise Creates glared me in the eye.

I adore this block.  I do not necessarily adore my execution!
 I am, however, really happy with my fabric choices.

I chose my fabrics all around the lace fabric from Serenata by Riley Blake.  

I saw the lace in the original block on the dress and knew I had to use my hoarded bundle!

I was really happy with the basic solids that were included in the Serenata FQ bundle I purchased from Knotted Thread!  The gray was perfect for the dressform and the nice stippled color of the beige made for a great background.

This is where I keep it real.  You know me.  I always have to keep it real!

I didn't stay closely to the pattern on the sewing machine and spool.  The original design is actually for freezer paper piecing not foundation, so I had to improv a few things.  

I say it just gives it more character.

The only fabrics that are not from Seranata are the quilt on the machine, binding, and backing.  

The binding (and dress belt) is the Orange Tic Tac from Life in the Jungle.

 The backing is a Joann's special that I had no plans for in any near future.  The colors seemed to compliment well enough.

I just loved the notions and tried to get it to look like the tape measure was hanging out of the jar.

The hexagon quilt is a nod to my obsession with English Paper Piecing right now.
  I grabbed the Jungle Hexie Blue!

I started out with just wanting to outline the sewing items, but ended up outlining, and echoing, and echoing, and echoing some more.

Quilt Stats:
Measures: 14" x 14"
Pattern: Sewing Studio Block by Charise Creates
Fabric: Serenata and Life is a Jungle by Riley Blake
Backing: Sewing notion from Joann Fabrics
Binding: Life is a Jungle Orange Tic Tac
Quilting: Machine quilted on domestic machine by myself.

I'm not quite sure where this happy little mini is going to live, but for now, it is going on my giant clipboard behind my machine!

It already has sent good sewing vibes in my studio.
Two quilts cut and I have started to layout another since I finished the binding this afternoon!

WIP Wednesday: Flashback

Remember last week when I was Off the Grid?

Not much is that different.  I did finish a set of burp rags that a friend asked me to make.

I have been tinkering with this block again.

Almost done!!!

Maybe I will even have it done by this afternoon?

Or maybe not??!?!?

 I have a million things I need and want to do!!