Quick Hexie Update

I haven't posted much about my hexies lately, so thought I'd better have a count up and post some new piccies.  I have now made a total of 314 hexagons, of which 126 are sewn together into 18 "flowers".  I'm still not sure what I am going to do with the flowers...strips of colour, or random placement, or dark/light value strips..?  Or shall I applique them onto squares to sew together?  Or give in and make into a traditional grandmother's flower garden pattern?  No matter, I'll keep sewing them for now :-)

I have been working on a few other things but can't post pics cos they are TOP SECRET :-).  Which is to say that I have been making fabric postcards for a swap on the Lib-Quilters yahoo group.   I am not sure whether I have quite cracked it yet, but hopefully other liberated quilters won't mind receiving my experiments (!).  Will post pics when swap is done.  Meanwhile, here's a pic of Waif enjoying some of the embellishments used :-).  Oh how we love ric-rac!!



I have been to several exhibitions in the last few weeks, which have all been inspiring in their own different ways.  Firstly, to the King's Lynn Embroider's Guild show at Lynn Museum (well worth a look, I think it runs for another week or two), the Samphire Quilters exhibition at True's Yard Museum and the very wonderful textile art exhibition held at Blickling Hall by a group from Norwich.  I am also feeling very inspired by a book from the library about the Quilters of Gee's Bend.  If you haven't seen their work, check it out.  These quilters are the foremothers of liberated quiltmakers everywhere and I just love their bold, improvisational style.  Several of the quilts were made from corduroy and I love 'em, so have started rummaging round charity shops (like I needed an excuse!) looking for lovely soft, old corduroy to make my own Tribute to Gee's Bend quilt.  Watch this space :-)

Talking of inspiration, it was fab to meet up with fellow liberated quilter, Clare of Dordogne Quilter fame this week...although we did nearly come to blows when I managed to steal this bargain from a charity shop for £1.50 - the Rowan book "A Colourful Journey".  Sorry Clare - all's fair in love and patchwork!!

A Brief Foray into the World of Polyester

Well, one of my sewing goals for 2010 was to attempt to make something I could wear and I have achieved that!  Well, sort of...I suppose technically I could wear it but M would probably file for divorce if I didn't dehydrate from sweating so much in the night first.  Yes, it's a nightie made from some ahem..."vintage" polyester sheets!!



It hasn't been a total waste of time because I have learned a few things:

(a) polyester is not nice to sew.  and even not nicer to wear.

(b) I may have erred on the side of caution a little too far with the hemline...

(c) my gathering stitches will be seen so it might be an idea to use a coordinating thread :-P

I may give it another go using cotton...

...or I may just stick to patchwork!

The Village is Growing



In the meantime, I have put together a few more blocks on Waif's houses quilt.  I am enjoying this process.  Take the house, add a tree, or a star, or some flying geese until it's the right width to fit together with the others.  Fun!