I Heart Hex's

I Heart Hex's
Originally uploaded by Confessions of a Quiltaholic

It's official. I am addicted to English Paper Piecing. I LOVE making these hexagons!

Hex Love seems to be in the air because I've run across a fair number of other quilt-blogs where hexagons are the current rage. Perhaps it's because of how easy and versatile the hand-piecing can be? Especially with the warmer weather. Who wants to think about sitting inside quilting on a gorgeous, sunny day? Not me.

My plan for these hexagons is pretty ambitious. In my dream world, I want to make 270 of these 2" babies for a double-size quilt for my bedroom. If I get on a roll, I'll more so I can have a true queen-size quilt. About twenty down and only 250 to go!



Now I have something to do on the many baseball-centered road trips The Man is threatening to take me on. ;-)

-k

Hexagons In The Making

more stash!
Originally uploaded by Confessions of a Quiltaholic

I am super psyched for the English Paper Piecing class I signed up for. Is it silly that I can't wait for tomorrow to arrive already??

In preparation, I pulled some fabric from my stash. I've been zipping around some of my favorite blogs for inspiration, and naturally ended up taking a lot of cues from Ashley at Film In The Fridge.

I love how fresh and modern her hexagon quilts look! (Well, and all of her quilts in general!) In particular, I love how a scatter of hexagons takes away the pain (or obligation) of making a thousand hexagons the way I'd have to for the traditional Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt.

Do any of you also find it helpful to evaluate if your fabrics work together by taking a photo beforehand? Taking a photo helps give my eye the distance or objectivity needed to see that in this instance, I'm missing a cool light blue or violet that's in more of a cornflower hue than the aqua prints I pulled.

Sadly, I don't have that shade in my stash and this means only thing. I'm going to end up buying more fabric. Good for my collection, bad for my pocketbook.

Note to self: Find a stash swap STAT!!!

- k

Hit The Ball Right Outta The Park!

The "Spring Training" quilt was a homerun with the man! He loves it. We packed it with us and took it to Phoenix to use as our blanket on the berm at the ball parks while watching spring training.

One baseball-themed quilt + spring training = one VERY happy birthday boy.

Voila the front:
And here is the back:



I used a double sheet from Ikea and it worked out great. I know there's a school of thought that frowns on using sheets for backings but in a pinch (and short on time, not to mention on a budget), they can be a quilter's best friend. All things considered, this quilt came together quickly. There's a lot to be said for over-sized fence rails (I'm used to smaller pieces) and simple quilting.

Next up -- finish some of my WIPs and yes, start some new quilts.

- k

"Spring Training"

"Spring Training" lap-size quilt
Originally uploaded by Confessions of a Quiltaholic

Whew! Got this done just under the wire! I finished the binding and washed this quilt last night. Now it's neatly folded, boxed, wrapped and ready to give to my guy for his birthday tomorrow.

The quilt (approx 62x75") is a fence rail -- which seemed to be the best pattern to keep it fresh, modern, masculine AND highlight the baseball themed fabric. My guy loves baseball, so I'm hoping this gift is a homerun. ;-)

-k

Spring Jump Start

Karen's Double Wedding Ring quilt top
Originally uploaded by the workroom

Ack! Can you believe it's coming up on a year since I finished this quilt top and I still have to finish it nevermind quilt it?!! With spring around the corner, I'm feeling motivated again to git 'er done. The fabric in this quilt is mainly Denyse Schmidt's Katie Jump Rope against Kona Snow.

My year has been off to a busy start. Feels like every time I glance at a calendar, a new month is coming to an end. In mid-December, I moved into my long-awaited loft (LOVE IT!!!) and since then have been settling in, taking my time to feel out the new space and sizing up where and how I want to arrange my things. I forgot how long the process of settling into a new space can take and I'm still waging a battle against the boxes. However, this week I saw the light on the horizon and how I'll conquer the last frontier (read: the den). Now that I have my plan in place, my goal is to have all the boxes fully unpacked and everything in its place by Easter (which sounds far away but isn't given my various work and travel commitments in the meantime).

On the quilt front, I finished basting a quilt for a very special man. Now I need to sew like the wind to finish quilting and binding before his birthday this weekend.

Hope 2010 is being good to you and yours.

-k

Hope Valley

Busy days here! I'm behind in posting some Christmas swap photos. I really want to show off the gorgeous pillow BJ Mama made! It is so adorable and just perfect for my home!

Things are hectic as I'm moving this week and my place is a jumble of boxes. I can't wait to just get on with it, get the move done and get on with unpacking everything into my new home. Setting up the kitchen should be my priority, but between us - I really just can't wait to set up a nook for my sewing machine and get some shelves so I can organize my stash once and for all.

I have it on good authority from the birthday fairy that I can look forward to receiving a bundle of Denyse Schmidt's Hope Valley collection!

*happy sigh*

I LOVE the colour-wave of DS's new line! So soft, feminine and pretty!

The best prices I've seen for a 1/2 yard of each fabric is over at fabricworm. Cynthia is selling 1/2 yard bundles for $102 USD. I've been looking around the net, and that's a sweet deal! If you've found the collection priced lower, please leave me a note!

-k

Sunday Stash #4

Grey Stash
Originally uploaded by Confessions of a Quiltaholic

This is an older photo of some of my stash. I went through a black & white & grey phase last summer. I had big ambitions to do a Denyse Schmidt "Single Girl" quilt using this palette. I'd still like to, as well. Once I can wrap my head around cutting out all those templates and squares.



The fabrics are a mix of Anna Griffin, unknowns and a Heather Ross print. I do love Heather Ross! I love her sense of whimsy that comes through in all her designs.

-k

String Quilt for my Dad

String Quilt for my Dad
Originally uploaded by Confessions of a Quiltaholic

This is the first (and only) string quilt I've made. But I'm looking forward to making many more! Especially after being inspired by Penny at sewtakeahike. Love, love, LOVE her gorgeous rainbow-hued "With a Little Help From My Friends" scrappy string quilt!

The fabric in this quilt is predominantly Amy Butler Midwestern Mod range with an Anna Griffin and a couple of unknown others thrown in. The backing is also from Amy Butler 's Midwestern Mod collection.


I made it for my father for Christmas last year, mostly as a Christmas gift but also as a HUGE thank you for the awesome Pfaff sewing machine he and my mom bought me the year before.

After making this quilt, my eye grew very tired of muted shades and now I am addicted to working with brighter colours against a white background.



-k