Coffee Cup and a Hexie

That title kind of sounds like a book title...I suppose it could be "Coffee Cups and Hexies."  I'm tired, it is late, and I've had a really long day, can you tell? :)

I know, it looks weird, but once the seam allowance isn't showing anymore it will look like a normal coffee cup.  It is number 69 of 366 and is a 6 x 4-inch block.

Here is hexie number 135, only 5 to go.  Maybe tomorrow?  I'm not going to get too excited because I just never know what is going to come up during a day, but it sure would be nice to start working on the embroidered hexies and then actually putting blocks together.  The new Vignette magazine is out too...that means I really should get started on the embroidery for the mystery quilt.  There is just never enough time for everything...but it sure is fun to try.

We didn't get to see the Northern Lights tonight, it is just too cloudy.  I sure hope we get to see them this year, I'm not giving up yet.  Happy Stitching!!      --Kristen

Fall...

Fall is definitely here.  It is so cold out this morning it is shocking when you step out the door for the first time. I love fall, but the weather has been so odd this year I guess I'm not quite ready for it yet.  And where have I been?  Well, school has started, soccer has started, and I guess I wasn't quite ready yet for all the homework and running that goes with all of it.  We spent quite a happy summer at home this year and it takes a bit to get back into the routine of it all.

Here are my WiP for this Wednesday...

Here my Farmer's Wife blocks and fabrics sit.  I'm waiting for the sale on the rest of the templates from Marti Michell.  Once I receive those, I will be off and running again.  I have 8 of 111 blocks completed.

Ah yes, the Honeycomb quilt.  I haven't given up on this one yet.  I have all my 1/2 hexagons with an adjoining triangle on them, and I just need to sit and fight sew them into strips.  I think it all has to do with how you press them.  I'm hoping they go together much easier once I figure out the best way to press.

I have been working on my Vignette Mystery quilt.  I have most of the hanky linen cut, I just needed to find the right fabrics for the other embroidery blocks.  I think I have found them and hopefully will be stitching soon on them as the 4th issue of Vignette magazine should be here any day!

Still been working on the Vignette hexie quilt too.  I have 66 of 140 flowers done.  Over the weekend I cut more hexies out and am planning to baste Friday during my son's soccer game. :)

Yep, another pile of fabric.  This one should go together quickly (I hope).  It is an easy piece and should go together with lightening speed...HA!  I decided I needed a project that I could start and finish in a short period of time...as it seems I like quilts with hundreds of blocks (see above). 

This Friday is the September FNSI...join us...I have plenty to work on, it is cool cold outside, and its the perfect time to work on something warm and cozy.  I'm also linking with WiP Wednesday.  Happy Stitching!  --Kristen

Shoo Fly Saturday

Yesterday I was on a mission to finish these shoo fly blocks, mainly because I had set up my sewing machine on the kitchen table trying to make myself work on them whenever I had a second.  It did work, but after eating all of our meals outside for the last 4 days, my husband said it was time to eat inside again. :)

As I was laying these out on the patio today my husband and son came outside.  Now usually they will look at my quilts and say "oh that's nice, or yes Kristen (or mom)" and away they go...but they both said today they love the bright fabrics.  This is a major stretch for me, but for once I actually got them to notice what I'm working on (and it wasn't because they couldn't dine at the table).

I have finished 63 blocks so far.  At about 8 p.m. last night as I was ironing them all I came across this one...

Now I cannot figure out how in the world I did this.  I had to have looked at it a minimum of four times before having it all sewn together INCLUDING ironing it twice and it was never noticed.  I'm going to use it somewhere, although I cannot decide if it should go in the Vignette quilt or the quilt I use my extra 60 blocks for. 

I think I've had enough piecing for the weekend, so I'm going to find some hand work and enjoy the nice weather.  Have a wonderful weekend everyone and happy stitching!  --Kristen

Shoo Fly, Shoo Fly, Shoo

Do you remember that song Shoo Fly, Shoo Fly, Shoo....Everytime I sit down to sew some more Shoo Fly blocks that song goes through my head. The only problem is I cannot remember the last line of the song. So over and over I'm singing Shoo Fly, Shoo Fly, Shoo...

It is so much fun seeing what each set will look like.  I am also noticing that I have some very bright fabrics. Won't it be interesting to see how it all comes together the more blocks that are finished.

I am linking with http://freshlypieced.blogspot.com/ for WiP Wednesday.  Happy Stitching!  --Kristen

My Design Wall Monday

I think I'm finally back into the swing of things.  These last couple of weeks have been a little rough as far as accomplishing anything that even resembles a quilt, but tonight feels like we are back on the right track again.

Once again, here are my Vignette Mystery Quilt Shoo Fly squares and triangles...but this time they are all cut.  It just seemed like it was taking me forever, and to my surprise tonight after finally starting to sew, I realized I had cut double what was needed to for the whole quilt.  So, instead of 60 finished blocks, I will have 120.  Yes, isn't that wonderful to figure out after weeks of cutting?  Now to decide what to do with the other 60, but at least they are cut out already! :)

Here are my first two blocks.  I don't think I will have any trouble sewing all 120 of them together as they are quite fun to do.  Well, they were tonight anyway, ask me at block 105.  :)

I hope you have had a wonderful week.  I'm linking with http://www.patchworktimes.com/ for My Design Wall Monday.  There are always so many fun things to look at there.  Happy Stitching!  --Kristen

Squares, triangles, hexies, BOM...the list goes on and on

I've been here, it has just been a really busy week. My brother got married on Saturday, so of course it was one of those wild weeks and things happen that you can never plan for! :) We had a wonderful time and their wedding was beautiful.

There were flower arrangements to be made for the rehearsal dinner, dress clothes to be bought, and places to be. 

Weddings are always so fun to be a part of! (These pictures were taken at my home before they left for the dinner.)

Now back to my WiP!  There are stacks and stacks of squares and triangles all cut for my Vignette Mystery Quilt. 

And there is a stack of hexies all ready to be stitched together for the Vignette Hexagon Quilt.

This block from http://www.littlemissshabby.com/ BOM was actually finished on Friday night.  This is the May block.  The June block is all drawn out and ready to to be stitched. 

I'm linking with WiP Wednesday at http://freshlypieced.blogspot.com/.  Tomorrow we start the Kaleidoscope quilt along, which I actually think I am ready for.  You can join us at http://dontcallmebetsy.blogspot.com/.  Happy Stitching and congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Little Brother!  --Kristen

My Design Wall Monday

My design wall is so full you wouldn't believe it.  Too many great patterns, great fabric, and great weather.  I don't know, but I'm inspired this week.  I sure hope it continues!

I started the day out at my son's basketball camp.  I had packed my bag and was sure I had everything...everything that is except for a SCISSORS!  I know, I know, I usually have a scissors in my purse, bag, and car at all times.  But today there were no scissors anywhere..and I didn't even have my dental floss along that could snip threads in an emergency.  Thank goodness I had my trusty glue pen, cut fabric, and paper hexies.  I basted instead (the hexies), and I also spent time chatting with another mom.  It was an enjoyable morning to say the least.

When we returned home I started cutting (finally) my Vignette Mystery Quilt (the bright strips above).  I've added a few more fabrics in the last couple of weeks because I just felt like it was missing something.  Hopefully soon I will finish cutting and get some sewing started.  I can't wait to see how these Shoo Fly blocks turn out.

My This and That BOM has been a bit troublesome this month.  I ended up having a wrong fabric cut in my kit, so we had to go and pick that up today too.  We are very close to finishing this, and I refuse to give up now!

I'm still trying to add a few more fabrics to my Warm Cool Quilt Along at http://incolororder.blogspot.com/.  I also somehow found myself joining in The Farmer's Wife quilt along at http://msmcporkchopquilts.com/.  There are only 111 blocks in that quilt, UH HUM...but I only need to finish two blocks a week.  I'm still chosing fabrics from my stash for the Kaliedoscope quilt at http://dontcallmebetsy.blogspot.com/ (that doesn't start for another week). 

I'm linking with Design Wall Monday at http://www.patchworktimes.com/.  If you get a chance, go see what everyone has been working on.  Happy Stitching!  --Kristen

Another Saturday and a long weekend.

Thank goodness I have a three-day weekend, hopefully a lot of sewing will be going on.  I've got big plans, now hopefully they will come to fruition. 

Here are my April blocks for the This and That block of the month.  We received the finishing kits last month and this quilt is really going to be neat when it is finished. 

And of course I've been making more flowers.  I did find the yellow glue refills today and this afternoon was spent outside basting more hexagons.  I think I need to get started on my Vignette mystery quilt though as the June magazine should be out any day.  I certainly never seem to have a shortage of large projects to work on. I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend, and hopefully I will be back tomorrow with another update.  The sewing machine is all warmed up and ready for some serious sewing tonight.  Happy stitching--Kristen.

What's on my design wall Monday...

This is my This and That block of the month that I participate in.  We make two of the same blocks each month.  I just picked up the April blocks on Friday, which means I need to get them done and pick up the May blocks this next week.  Our monthly kits will end in June as we will have 12 done. The finished quilt will be 78 x 100.  What I really love about this BOM is that it is challenging me..and I've needed that this year.  You can go to www.patchworktimes.com  and see what other people have on their design wall today too.

Here are my fabrics for the Vignette hexagon quilt.  These Nancy Halvorsen fabrics were all collected with another quilt in mind, but this will be better.  I have loved her fabrics and designs for a long time and now finally have found the best use for them!  I am going to try the Accuquilt Go! die to cut the hexagons, hopefully speeding up the process up a lot.  Now for the Sewline glue pen to get here.  :)

The fabric for the Vignette mystery quilt has also been chosen. I am so excited to get working on this. It looks like it is going to be very bright and cheery...the bright part is a bit difficult for me to grasp, but I can go for the cheery...especially since the sun is finally shining today after a very long time. They are all Holly Holderman fabrics from Lake House Dry Goods.

Saturday I spent the day cutting out yet another quilt while celebrating Easter with my in-laws (there will be pictures to follow once there are blocks to show).  We had a great day visiting and actually had a large chunk of time to work on projects.  I've got a lot of energy and I'm ready to get to work.  :)  Happy Monday!

Kristen