Hexy and I know it.

Is it possible to write about hexies without making a hexy/sexy pun? I think not.

I admit it--I'm a hexy first-timer. September is AnneMarie's month in our Sew Beautiful bee, and she asked for improv-style blocks with hexies. I've been stalling on this because I've never made one before. I know, I know, they're really popular, but, before I got AnneMarie's nudge, I didn't feel compelled to make them myself.

Last night I finally sat down with the new Hexa Go-Go book and tried to figured it out, and my results are...okay!

Here's the block I made. So I can't say that I'm hooked. Don't get me wrong--I love the look of the little hexagons and I like the portability, but the making? Maybe not for me. Obviously, I need more practice, but it's just kind of fiddly. Am I alone here? Should I give them another try?
I will say that this is why I love participating in quilting bees--they push me out of my comfort zone and give me the incentive to try things I otherwise might not!

Katie and the Bean Stalks

Today is my stop on Sara's Tula Pink Sew-Along! Head over to her blog to see more of my Bean Stalks quilt. Here's a peek:




Every weekday through October 26th, you can find a show-and-tell of one of over 2 dozen Tula Pink quilts, along with a pattern review.

Here is the schedule of guest posts that will appear:

Sept 24 - Sara @ Sew Sweetness (Dream Weaver/book)
Sept 25 - Katie @ Katie's Korner (Beanstalks/book)
Sept 26 - Lisa @ That Crazy Quilty Girl (Cloudy Day/book)
Sept 27 - Becky @ My Fabric Obsession (Houndstooth/book)
Sept 28 - Caitlin at I Don't Do Dishes (Spiked Punch)

Oct 1 - Amanda @ A Crafty Fox (Alphabet)
Oct 2 - Michelle @ City House Studio (Fade to Pink)
Oct 3 - Marci @ Marci Girl Designs (Le Petite Salon)
Oct 4 - Katie @ There and Back (Field Study)
Oct 5 - Lorelei @ Mermaid Sews (Hushabye)

Oct 8 - Anorina @ Samelia's Mum (Pancakes)
Oct 9 - Jenna @ Sew Happy Geek (LOVE)
Oct 10 - Lindsey @ LR Stitched (Fairy Tale Lane/book)
Oct 11 - DeeDee @ mybricole (Any Which Way/book)
              Beth @ Plum and June (Cartwheels)
Oct 12 - Katy @ The Littlest Thistle (Crown Jewels)

Oct 15 - Colleen @ The Busy Bean (Shattered Glass/book)
Oct 16 - Kristen @ KD-Quilts (Stacks/book)
Oct 17 - Roseann @ Rosebud's Cottage (Shattered Glass/book)
Oct 18 - Emily @ Mommy's Naptime (Lollipops/book)
Oct 19 - Jeannette @ Gone Aussie Quilting (Honey Honey)

Oct 22 - Brenda @ Pink Castle Fabrics (Windswept)
Oct 23 - Bianca @ Sweet Diesel Designs (Stacks/book)
Oct 24 - Jessica @ Sew Crafty Jess (Snow Globes)
Oct 25 - Elizabeth @ Don't Call Me Betsy (Space Dust)

              Lindsay @ Lindsay Sews and Craft Buds (Cherry Pie)
Oct 26 - Kim @ My Go-Go Life (Kiss Kiss)
              Kim Munoz (Grand Salon/book)

<center> <a href="http://www.sewsweetness.com/2012/09/tula-pink-sew-along.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Tula Pink Sew Along" src="http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab257/bluemerleboutique/tulasewalongbutton.jpg"/></a></center>

Feathers!

October is my month in the Sew Beautiful bee, and I'm asking my bee mates to make me some feathers (using this pattern from Ms. Anna Maria Horner).

 

 I'm sending a selection of Indie fabric, combined with some Field Study, with Quilter's Linen in Natural.

 

 Getting this cut up and ready to mail is just one item on my extensive to-do list. My Sunday to-do list is always extensive, and I always finish half of it and go to bed feeling defeated. Just me? I'm determined to make good headway today. I suppose step 1 should be stepping away from the computer...

WIP Wednesday!

It was downright chilly when I went for my morning run today, so I think it's safe to say fall is here! It's definitely quilting weather, so I'm hoping to do some damage to my to-do list this week.


Sew Beautiful star for Megan

Bright and fun! Paper-piecing makes me feel fancy. Tutorial here.

Finished:
do. Good Stitches blocks for September

Lisa will be sewing these up into something awesome. Tutorial here.

In progress

Tula Pink Quilt!

Here's a peek at the back! I got it basted last night, and I'm excited to get this quilted! I'll have it finished up for a full reveal on Tuesday as a part of the Tula Pink Sew-along with Sara of Sew Sweetness.

Quilt for Wrapped in Hope
Starting on this with a little help from my friends!

Cut up AMH charms and gray charms for swap


Get ready to send out Sew Beautiful fabric for October

October is my month for the Sew Beautiful bee, and I'm sending my bee mates some Indie and Field Study so they can sew up some feathers for me.

Completed tops awaiting quilting:
Postage Stamp quilt
Arcadia Quilt


To do:
Half Moon Modern quilt borders
Swoon
Tracey's French Kisses
June block for do. Good Stitches
September Sew Beautiful block
Peace Circle swap
Christmas stockings

Head to Lee's to see what everyone else is working on!

Bespectacled bunny: A Craft Book Month project

I love craft books. I own 20+, and I'm always checking them out from the library. How often do I actually make projects from them? Not very often. For shame! This month, thanks to the folks at Craft Buds, it's time to liberate those books from their dusty prisons and actually make stuff! Later this month, you can show off your creations through a Craft Buds link-up (there will be prizes! shiny prizes!).


My project comes from Boo Davis' Dare to Be Square Quilting. I adore this book. I made the deer quilt from it last year, and it is one of my favorite quilts to date. Boo's instructions are clear and innovative, her designs are original, and the book is written with a sense of humor. There are at least five other quilts in the book that are on my "someday" list. The book includes smaller projects too, like pillows and a tote bag. For Craft Book Month, I sewed up Buddy Rabbit.



Luke's friend had to get glasses recently, and he's been feeling a little shy about them, so we picked this project just for him. Luke helped me choose the fabrics and got a great deal of enjoyment out of stuffing the little fellow.

 
The bunny sews up very quickly with Boo's simple instructions, and he can be easily customized for any kid's preferences. Plus, he's pretty darn cute.

What do you say, are you ready to put those books to use? Here are the details from Craft Buds.

This post is part of the Craft Book Month blog hop at Craft Buds.

Week One

Sunday 9/2: Hopeful Threads / The Jolly Jabber
Monday 9/3: Stitchery Dickory Dock / Me Sew Crazy
Tuesday 9/4: Olive & Ollie / Sew Sweetness
Wednesday 9/5: Fabric Seeds / The Busy Bean
Thursday 9/6: CraftFoxes / Stitched In Color
Friday 9/7: Katie's Korner / A Prairie Sunrise

Week Two
Sunday 9/9: Sweet Diesel Designs / missknitta's studio
Monday 9/10: Sew Tara / Clover and Violet
Tuesday 9/11: Sew Fantastic / amylouwho
Wednesday 9/12: Projektownia Jednoiglec / Two More Seconds
Thursday 9/13: Ellison Lane Quilts / Don't Call Me Betsy
Friday 9/14: Live a Colorful Life / LRstitched

Week Three
Sunday 9/16: Fairy Face Designs / Canoe Ridge Creations
Monday 9/17: Inspire Me Grey / Freshly Pieced
Tuesday 9/18: Lindsay Sews / The Cute Life
Wednesday 9/19: The Littlest Thistle / Sew Crafty Jess
Thursday 9/20: Urban Stitches / imagine gnats
Friday 9/21: Sew Bittersweet Designs / The Plaid Scottie

Week Four

Link up your craft book project at Craft Buds from Sept 23-30 from your blog or Flickr account, and enter to win prizes. Winners will be announced on Monday, October, 1!

To participate in the month-long contest, just link up any project you've made from a pattern in a craft book. That easy! One entry per person, and all craft book projects must have been completed in 2012. Just create a new blog post or Flickr photo (dated September 1, 2012 or later) and link back to Craft Buds in your post or photo description.

No time to create a project? This month, just follow Craft Buds and comment to win some new craft books and lots of giveaways!

WIP Wednesday

It's time I get back on the WIP Wednesday train. Emily is hosting today, so stop by and say hello!


Finished:
Sunshine quilt


Happy Drawing quilt
 

August do. Good Stitches blocks
Yes, August. I'm running behind on Bee blocks! Tutorial from Don't Call Me Betsy.

Project for Craft Book Month
Finished. Come back on Friday to see what I made!

In progress

Tula Pink Quilt!

So, so very purple!

Quilt for Wrapped in Hope
Starting on this asap.

Completed tops awaiting quilting:
Postage Stamp quilt
Arcadia Quilt


To do:
Half Moon Modern quilt borders
Swoon
Hand-stitched class homework
teddy bear sleeping bags
Tracey's French Kisses
June & September blocks for do. Good Stitches
Blocks for Sew Beautiful (August & September)
Peace Circle swap
Christmas stockings

Head to Lee's to see what everyone else is working on!

Sunshine on a cloudy day

I was waiting for the sun to make an appearance so I could take some pictures of this quilt, but that doesn't seem to be happening anytime soon, so dreary pictures it is! Luckily, the quilt itself is pretty sunny.
This quilt is for a baby who will be making his way into the world soon. I decided to put my 4x5 bee blocks to use, so the top came together really quickly. I just added some sashing (Kona Ash).


 For the quilting, I looked again to Angela Walters' book for inspiration. This is the woodgrain pattern. This one was tricky for me, and my results are a bit, shall we say, rustic. But once the quilt was washed and dried it just gives it a lot of texture.


 I love all of these blocks! The HOME one is definitely a favorite.


I was kind of stuck on the binding but ended up going with Kona Coal.


I put this together using materials I had on hand, which always makes me feel so thrifty!


I had the perfect backing fabrics in my stash--Taza by Dena Designs.