Hexi Progress

Slowly but surely I'm gaining on the hexi quilt.  As of last night two of the four borders are complete (unless I decide to add another design element).   I'm hoping to have this at least finished by year end.  Any bets?

Checking In

It's hard to believe I've let almost an entire year go by without posting.  It's been a rewarding year emotionally,  a challenging year health wise and what has felt like a mostly non-productive year quilting wise.

One of the highlights of this year was traveling half way across the country to meet four half siblings that I only learned about a year ago.  I can't begin to describe the enormity of this event for me at age 68.  My life is forever changed .

A month later we traveled almost as far to celebrate  an astounding achievement for my oldest son, being inducted into the U.S. Army Military Intelligence Hall of Fame.  We were so happy to be able to share that special week with him and his wife.

 


   


   












Both trips were so important and I wouldn't have considered missing out on either of them, but they took a toll on my health and I'm not sure I've recovered yet.

On the quilting front I've only finished ONE quilt.  Yep, ONE.  Unheard of for me, right?  This string quilt, lap size, was made last February for a dear friend who is currently battling lung cancer for the third time.  Her courage and determination are an inspiration to me.

I also made a little table runner for a new coat rack purchased by oldest son and his wife.  They wanted it to coordinate with a print hanging nearby on the wall. I think it managed to do that pretty well considering I was going by an emailed photo.


Here I am comparing  it with their photo on my computer monitor

The finished project

I spent a few days cutting out and piecing half blocks for a Stack 'n Whack or One Block Wonder Quilt.  (I'm not sure which it will end up being )

This is the original fabric

And some of the half blocks.  

Stack 'n Whack variation would have coordiating triangles where the carpeting shows through in this picture.

The One Block Wonder version would have them set block to block like this

One of these days I'll get back to working on it. In either case I only sew half of the blocks together initially.  Then I can sew rows of blocks together and avoid set in seams.

By mid summer I returned to a hand project, working on my hexie quilt that I started in 2012 using English paper piecing and 3/4" hexagrams.

I took the center to this point and added plain cream borders :

Now I am adding appliquéd hexie flowers made with 1/2" hexagons (3/4" in the corners) and rick rack for the vine.  This won't be a quick project either, but maybe one day I will actually finish this quilt.

 That brings us up to date. Perhaps next year both my quilting and blogging mojo will return.  Until then, Happy Quilting  my friends.

2013 is Over

Hard to believe how quickly this year has come and gone.  I set my goal of making a quilt for each of my sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to be given at Christmas.  12 quilts in all and there were certainly times I didn't think it was going to happen.  I used one quilt that was made in 2011 and made the other 11.  Because my sons live in there different states and quite a distance apart, we only manage to get all of them home for Christmas every two years these days.  That happened this past weekend and the quilts were well received. 

So, since I have nothing new to show, here are some pics of the quilt distribution and the recipients.




                       I hope Miss Aly liked her quilt better than it appears in this picture.

 

Granddaughter Ashley and her husband Steven

 

Great-grand Bryce loved his Thomas the Train quilt

                                                                          Do you think?

 

Granddaughter Caitlin

                                                Great-grand Gabi had hers mailed . It was a hit

 

Son Jeff and his wife, Deb

Great-grand Jeramiah  said he "finally" has a quilt of his own. He actually has three others but Mom either has them put up or was using them as couch quilts. This one goes on his bed.

 

Brother Maison now has one for his bed too (and it's quilt #4 for him as well)

                      Granddaughter Kelley has a big one to take back to Massachusetts

Son Mark and wife Stephanie wanted a new pastel bed quilt.

 

 

Son Mike and wife Lindy wanted a sofa quilt

 

Grandson, Greg, is in Belgium and asked that I keep his until he returns to the states

                     .

                                                     My three guys.  Don't see them often enough!

 Happy New Year!

Goals Reached

I haven't been very good at blogging this year.  What an understatement, huh? 

The goal of 12 quilts for family Christmas presents has been met.   In total honesty one of them was already made in  a previous year.  So, 11 quilts have been made and quilted and bound. 

Another personal goal has been met and exceeded.  At the age of 67 I was stunned last month to discover 4 half siblings that I did not know existed.  I grew up knowing next to nothing about my father and presumed I never would.  I can't overstate what a huge blessing it has been and continues to be to have found 2 sisters and 2 brothers and to be so warmly embraced by them.  I was saddened to learn of my father's passing 3 years ago, but have to believe that God brought us to this point at this time for a reason.  All of my "new" siblings live on  the west coast, so we are planning a trip  after the first of the year.  In the meantime, technology is a wonderful thing and we communicate often.

This year all three sons and most of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren will be with us the weekend after Christmas and some for several days.  On Thanksgiving Day a new generation  (3 great-grands) helped set up and decorate the Christmas tree. 

We are blessed in so many ways and hope that you are too.


The Christmas quilts in order of completion.  This year I had to send some quilts out to be quilted as my breathing and stamina just aren't letting me manipulate the larger quilts through my Juki.

"Secret Garden", quilted on my Juki

 

"Garden of Love"  quilted by longarm

 

 

 

"Good Morning, Sunshine", quilted by longarm

I haven't got a good picture of the full quilt yet..it's big and need help holding it up.

This is the unquilted top

"Crackers and Beer"  quilted by longarm

"Blue Highways"  quilted by longarm

"Wild Thang" quilted on my Juki

"Bedknobs and Broomsticks" quilted by longarm

"Patriotic Pineapple" quilted on my Juki

"Black and Blue" quilted by longarm

"Follow Your Star"  quilted on my Juki

This picture is the unquilted top.  Still need to get a picture of the finished quilt

"Thomas the Train" quilted on my Juki

#4 & 5 Two Pineapples

The month of March came and went so quickly.  But I'm not complaining since I'm more than ready for spring. 

I finished two more quilt tops, both using Bonnie Hunter's Pineapple Blossom pattern.  These work up so quickly. 

The first one used up some patriotic fabrics

 

The second one used some African looking fabrics I've had forever.

 

Now on to something different.

Happy spring!