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!!!!!