TaDa! Finished!

Yep, it's finished...well, almost..have to get it put in a frame but until then, I consider I'm finished!   For some reason the background fabric isn't as pretty/green/blue as it is in person.  I tried playing with white balance/etc. but this is best I can get.  The gold/rust color is throughout the hand dyed piece.  It looks good in person but you get the idea of the beading finished!  

Onward to another quilting project. Back in 2014, I created my 2nd reverse stained glass applique (technique by my bud, Susan!).  

You can see some of the process when I completed in 2015 here. 

I found the peacock in a Stained Glass coloring book.  For my newest reverse stained glass project I decided to do a 'companion'  peacock from that same book.

I had the pattern enlarged to 16" x 18".   Now the hard part begins.  Picking out fabrics...hardest part!! 

In the peacock above, I used Patricia Campbell's Fossil Fern fabrics!!  the colors were perfect but I don't even think they sell Fossil Fern any more!  Maybe I'll do a quick search.  At least I could match above.  Not that I'll have them side by side in my house but....you never know!  HA

Until then...onward and upward!  We hope!

 

Back at Beading for the time being!

 I ordered some black batik fabric from Hancock's of Paducah along with some batting and another piece of batik (yellowish).  I'm debating on what pattern to actually use for Susan's Stained Glass applique method.  Changed my mind on both pattern as well as, do I use hex pieces?  Or just fabric for the pattern.

Until I make those decisions, I'm still working on my beaded piece!  No idle hands in this house!  This was the start of my beading. 

I printed out the pattern on stitch 'n sew.  Then fused onto a piece of batting and started beading.  It makes the piece stable for all the handling you do sewing on beads.

I took this the other day using my batik as a background.  Yes, I like the black too but I don't want to hang a black piece on the wall.  Just me...

I cut out the finished beading section and painted around the edges where the batting showed through - I'll bead other areas after I sew onto a quilted background.

I found this mottled green hand dyed piece so quilted it quickly!  And I mean quickly!  HA  Then I sewed around the entire piece to attach to the quilted background.

I used my Frixion pen to draw lines on the outside of the beaded piece for adding more designs to use as patterns.  I have a long way to go but at least I'm now about 75% finished...well, maybe!

I'm happy with the piece, so far.  Besides, it's for me and I'm easily pleased!  HA  Plus, we're having great - or at least - beautiful weather, so I can sit out on the deck and bead!  

YOCTOSUN Magnifying Glass 

with Light, 1.0X–4.0X Headband Magnifier

Having issues with seeing to bead.   I talked with a  friend at the library and she mentioned  a friend  who purchased this magnifying  headgear for doing cross stitch!  I searched on the web and purchased through Amazon!  

I love, love this magnifier.  There are 4 or 5 different size lenses and 3 different light levels.  

They only 'issue' is the nosepiece gets a little heavy but I'm going to put some foam or soft nose pads on to help.  If I adjust them differently, it's not that bad.  

They are wonderful to see and sew those #11 & #15 seed beads!!!  And under $20!!  

If at first, you don't succeed....

It's not over until it's over, right!  In 'speaking' with my instructor (ha) and comments on my last blog post, I thought I'd give some insight and answer some questions on the hex stained glass piece.  

Susan and I both made one observation...my black sateen was fraying like crazy.  Susan suggested I use a batik.  Who knew!  Well, I should have known because both my finished stained glass pieces (Tiffany & Georgia see pics)  I used batik black fabric!  

A comment by Kathy wondered if the piece could be saved by replacing with a batik.  Nope, the black sateen is now covering the entire piece. 

I'm actually having quite a bit of fraying issue with my hex stained glass pieces too!  DUH    I used batik's for my Georgia piece for the stained glass fabrics!  And I used Patricia Campbell's Fossil Fern fabric in the Peacock piece.  Could be because my hex pieces have been handled so much??  Or?? I didn't cut them out correctly or  I didn't mark them correctly in my pattern or mark the 'leading' line correctly.  Note to self to watch this step more carefully. 

Patty A. actually suggested what Susan suggested....use this as a practice piece!  

So, that's what I'm going to do but for now it's hanging in my sewing room so I see it every day!  HA

I called our local quilt shop to see if they had any black batik but they only have some with gray/white throughout.  I just ordered some from Hancock's.  I haven't ordered from them in ages...but thank goodness they have in stock and on sale.  

So until I get another pattern/pieces made/cut out (back to hex making!), I'll keep working on my beaded piece.  Idle hands...you know!

Well, that was quick!

 We're off didn't last long from my last post!  Talk about frustration....whew!!!  It could be old age, not seeing well, or just "Robbie, pay attention to what you're doing!".  HA  

Looks like a good start, if you're looking from a 747 as they say!  Yikes

I've had more fraying with the black sateen I'm using..AND

I kept cutting away too much of the 'leading' for the stained glass effect!  DUH!  Do you know how many times I did that!

For some reason, my hex fabric pattern is short!  In so many places!!!!  Another good example that I may not have sewn the correct line for turning??  

Yes, the concept and colors are good but the workmanship stinks!  

And honestly, I won't be finishing this piece....boo hoo...I don't like have projects I haven't finished...but this one can't be salvaged...

Although, maybe I can reveal some of the other areas so I can use when I make my little totes...I can add borders and quilt...who knows...

Until then, it hangs in my sewing room to look at everyday and decide how I'm going to create a new stained glass piece using hex's...yep, I'm like a dog with a bone...can't let this get the best of me!

We're off - Hex Reverse Applique

 

Spring by Susan Ziel

First off, thanks to my Q Bud, Susan, who I have blogged about for years!  She's a wonderful quilter and has won many ribbons in national AQS and other shows!  You can read a blog post I did on one of her wins!  Susan's work is amazing and workmanship alone is unmatched.  She designs her own quilts and never uses a pattern!  If I remember correctly, she said she's never taken a quilting class.  She is my hero in the quilting world!

Look at the detail in her quilt...ALL hand reverse applique and hand quilted!!!!!  Also, the reverse applique method she uses is something that Susan came up with.  It's not your usual reverse applique method!!!!

I forgot that I have made two quilts using Susan's method!! She was so generous to write out her method for me back in 2011.  My work isn't up to the detail Susan has accomplised but I'm trying!  Here is one of the first I made using Susan's reverse applique method in 2011.  It's called Georgia on My Mind.

I actually made two of these.  I wasn't happy with t he workmanship on the first one so I redid the entire piece.  I still have the first one and use it as an example of how to do better at hand work!  

Tiffany 2013 - my 2nd reverse stained glass piece

I forgot I had a white background for this piece!  DUH!  Something I didn't think about for my latest piece I'm working on.  

So looking at all the hex pieces I have leftover from previous projects, I figured I'd use them up, right!  I posted about a week ago on a drawing I had enlarged.  Thought it would work well with the hex pieces....you can see that post  here.  

 I started to dig through hex pieces....and got out Susan's Reverse Applique method that she gave me years ago!  

I mentioned that this isn't your normal applique method.  I've suggested to Susan years ago she needs to document and send this method into AQS magazine or another quilting magazine.  She should copyright it as well!!!  

So I started working on my new hex piece.  

Actually, I'm using this as a test piece.  This is pattern is only 16"x20"...if successful, the next one would be 24"x34"...and I may change/add background color fabric (similar to my Tiffany piece above).  The Georgia piece is solid black.  

I've already been 'bugging' Susan with some questions/suggestions and I'm sure I'll be bugging her more when/if I start on the large piece!  HA  Thanks again, Susan!!!

So, as they say, "that's my story and I'm sticking to it!"...we'll see!!!

Some tools!

 When I was at our local quilt shop showing my completed hexagon quilt, one of the lady's was telling me about Tula Pink's YouTubes.  I used Tula Pink's fabric for the binding on my quilt but what I didn't know was Tula is a super star regarding EPP (English paper pieces for those who don't know).  

Off I went to check out what she had as far as education on paper piecing!  Here is a link to her youtubes and they are very informative!  I was most impressed with her video on 'tools' and the needle she uses for paper piecing.

They are called Tulip 6 Pack Size 10 Big Eye Applique Needle Hiroshima Needles!  It's a mouthful but they are terrific!!!  The whole idea of the 'big eye' is not a larger eye but more elongated eye, which makes for easier threading.  I'm even using this needle for my beading project!  It's sturdy but small enough to go through both 11 & 15 seed beads!

Of course, I played around with sewing together two hex pieces!  Wow...it really is very nice to sew with and easier to thread.  Not perfect but easier than my Milliners!   

AND Tula has some great tips for sewing hex pieces and other tools.  Yes, I bought the Minis - 5 Pack magnets!  They're for holding those small hex pieces while you sew them together!  Is it a necessary item, no, but they work!!! 

 And she shows how to sew your hex pieces together sewing 'away' from you vs 'sewing towards' yourself.  OMG..this is a game changer for those of us with arthritis, carpal tunnel, etc!  For hand sewers, beaders, check out her youtubes!  Links above in dark blue.

Another Hex Idea!

Several, several months ago, I had one of my drawings from Hilary's online class blown up. Back in December!!, I posted about this drawing (click here).  At that time, I thought it would make a great 'hex' project BUT I got sidetracked and started to work on the hexagon piece instead! 

I had this drawing enlarged to 24"x34" and  it  hangs behind the door in my sewing room....as I was cleaning up my hex pieces leftover, I got thinking about my original idea to use hex pieces in this design. There goes that little brain of my working overtime!  

So, I took some hex pieces already sewn together and laid them under a tracing (cut out) of two leaves from the drawing.  

Oh BOY!  did the old brain start working again!

Back in 2022, I made two horse hex quilts, which you can see post here if interested!  And I ended up making 3 of them!  HA I'm thinking I can use similar process to have the leaves or whatever in my design.?.  

OK, it sounds easy as my brain is speaking to me out loud....it's a good way to put myself to sleep at night.  I start thinking about how to go about this 'task' and before I know it, I'm asleep!  I sure hope one of these nights, I'll not go to sleep and say out loud "by golly, I think I've got it"!  Stay tuned!

Here I go again....

Guess my brain can't be still....what's the old saying "idle hands are the devil's workshop".  I can remember my great aunt, who helped raise me, say this over and over.  So no wonder I can't not have a project to keep me busy!  

I started this beading project in June while waiting for background fabric for the hex piece.  

I've  made some headway.  Once I finish the green beads in the leaves, I'll finish up the pink around them.  Next I'll work on the bottom pink/green area.  Then I'll carefully cut the piece out and place on a quilted background; add the outside design beading directly on the quilted piece.  It's busy work when I don't have anything else to do....

Last month I finished the bookmarks for our friends library book sale and a week ago I worked on making my Christmas cards!

I started off  stamping on two pieces of poster board.

Then I used some Robin Egg Blue dye I already had mixed up and painted over the entire piece.  I also added some rock salt as well as some sliver stamped paint (very light).  Hard to see in the pics but both salt and paint gave some shimmer to the cards.  A winter scene?  HA

I cut up 64, 3"x5", pieces that I placed in a photo card stock.  Just need to place the other 63 in the cards and write my Christmas note!  HA

I'll work on these after our book sale in October so they will be ready to mail mid November!  Another project, almost, out of the way!  

So back to beading AND another hex idea I have!  Be still my brain!!!!!

Presenting my Hex Color Wheel!!!

 

45" x 43"

Yes, it's finished!!!!  It's been a long journey but I'm glad I 'stuck' with it.  I really did enjoy all the hand work making the hex pieces.  Attaching it was a little difficult handling the quilt and trying to applique the hex entire piece to a quilted top.

I found this Tula Pink fabric at a local quilt shop, Q's Quilting, which I thought was perfect for the binding.  All my hex color wheel colors!  Nicole, the owner of Q's, was so nice helping me pick out the background fabric and reordering add'l yardage.  A really nice quilt shop in Ortonville!

The hard part was joining each bias strip so the color pattern was continuous!  Sounds easy but sure taxed my pea brain.  I am glad I took the time...it would have bugged me to see two pink stripes next to each  other!  HA

I had a small piece of hex fabric sewn together so I decided to use that piece for the label!  Worked out pretty good.  I almost forgot about a label!  I've been away from quilt making way too long!

I decided to use the leftover bias strips to make the sleeve for the back!  Well, that was a fun day long process or was it days?  HA  I sewed together different size strips then cut the the size I needed.  You get the idea in this picture.  BUT I did a really, really dumb thing when putting on the sleeve.  Not sure WHAT I was thinking...but apparently I wasn't thinking!  I always allow for a small gap so the sleeve doesn't pull on the quilt.  But I placed the sleeve about 1 1/4" from the top!!!!  Hmmmmmmm

It needs to be closer to the bottom of the binding on the top of the quilt.  Who knew!  I did! DUH!!!  Tells you how long ago I made a large quilt doesn't it!   So, guess I'll be removing the sleeve,  and reattaching!  Actually, we need to get a different rod/hanging unit because this quilt is larger than the previous one I have in the master bath. So I have time before we're ready to hang it.  Did I  mention no one will see this quilt again!  HA  We don't get many visitors and hardly no one goes in the master bath!  HA

I started this project around January this year which you can see the first post here.  I  have 864 hex pieces in this quilt and I have 3 triangles left over (108 hex)!  Lots of hex pieces.  Not sure what I'll do with the left over triangles..but a good reminder of what fun I had!  Think it's time to start another knitting project or work on a beading project I started about a month ago!?  Who knows!

Getting there!!

 

Yep, all those triangles/edges are sewn down to my quilted background...finally!  This was a challenge but I'm happy with how it turned out.  Next I need to decide what binding to add.  Keep with same fabric as the background or should I purchase or find some fabric in my stash!  Or buy fabric!  I'm going to head to the quilt shop and see what might work or I'll just keep with the background fabric.

So while waiting to get to the quilt shop, I decided to get my bookmarks made for our upcoming library book sale in October!  I have so many tissue/light weight papers that I've painted/stamped/printed over the years I thought I'd use them to collage to poster board for something different!  

I started off using acrylic matt Medium to adhere some pages from recycled books and some other news print and music pages on to poster board.

Then I tore pieces of my painted pages and stuck those down as well.  I collaged two large poster boards, which look similar.  This was one of the poster boards finished. You get the idea!

 I cut the poster board into 2"x7" strips.

Started a production line and finished sewing two pieces together with an embroidery stitch.  I've got over 40 made.

You can see some of the papers that show through as well as some papers/newsprint.  

So that project is finished and once I get the hex quilt binding finished, I can start back beading and thinking about what to make for my Christmas cards this year!  

Works for me...I don't like having to hurry to make cards or bookmarks...and I'm playing with ideas for my Christmas cards this year.  Until then.......

Today is Gigi's Gotcha Day!

Back in 2015, we adopted Gigi thanks to the caring hearts of Sandra & Glenn A. Veltman. From day one, she's brought so much love, laughter, and joy into our lives. And a few nibbles on ankles for loved ones to remember her by!

She's been a little under the weather this past week, so our biggest wish today is that she's feeling like her happy, spunky self again very soon.

Our little frogie! She's so sweet...she sits for anything you do to her. Just loves us - some folks not so much - she is protective, especially men or young boys are not her favorite!

I love her so much and so does Kalee...they used to play together but the past few years they'll only play from time to time.

Gigi has her favorite toy and she'll bring it to us when we come home from being out for an hour or two! She's SO happy when we do get home!

I love this little girl and hope she starts to feel better SOON! Happy Gotcha Day, sweet Gigi! We love you!