That Hexagon Medallion Journey!

Long-Term Projects:
My Hexagon Medallion Quilt in English Paper Piecing.

((Note--- as far back as I can remember, this project was started in the spring of 1999, when my Grandmother's health was failing. I started it as a carry-along to take on my visit to Arizona from where I lived in Idaho ---and it has been a take along project ever since, spanning more than 12 years to date. My thoughts below were written before blogging and do not include specific dates on each bit of progress....))~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I love take-along projects! I love being able to make a good use out of otherwise wasted time. Time spent sitting in doctor's and dentist's offices, kids practices and ball games, long car trips, waiting in airports and sitting on planes can all be put to good use! I keep an on-going project in a tote bag always ready to grab when I head out the door for anything that might have even 10 minutes of waiting time.

I have been working on this current project for more than two years now, and it is coming along slowly, but it is coming along none the less! I have previously made a traditional grandmother's flower garden quilt, pieced in the regular way without foundation papers, but I wanted this one to be different.

I was inspired by an antique hexagon quilt in a medallion style, and being the scrap quilter that I am, decided to stick with a color scheme, but use lots of fabrics within the color scheme to achieve the look of unity that I wanted without boring me to tears by using only 3 fabrics. Why use only 3 when you can use hundreds?? *grin*

I started with hexagon graph paper and colored pencils and just began filling in with colors where I thought they would look good. I began in the middle with a traditional flower motif, and expanded it into a star..and from there farther on out repeating the star points with other motifs in them, the flowers, the diamonds, and etc.

Here is a pic of the center. It measures 32" across.

I worked in small units and then added the units to the center once I had the center star done...I am now working on the larger star points that will echo the first. They are made up of triangles with a flower motif in them, stitched on either side of a diamond.

Here is a pic of the center with one star point laid out against it:

Only 5 more points to go! Then I will start on the larger diamond motifs that will go between these larger star points.

I really love the look of these antique greens, reds, and shirtings...I have also monkeyed with some different borders that will frame the whole thing, but I honestly don't know how large it will be when done because I am just winging it as I go along.

More progress! 1/2 of the star points are done....I'm still working on it now and then!

For now, I will just keep my little "busy bag" hanging on the doorknob in my quilting room, ready to be grabbed when I head out the door for anything that might turn into more "found time!"

Update 2010!

After a long hiatus, I've started back on this project again! Hexagons really DO travel well, and here is what I've accomplished over the past few months:

It's a bit blurry, but it is coming along! I'm now working on the flowers that go in the next round:

It's "STILL" a fun journey, even if it doesn't have a destination or date of arrival!

Feb 5, 2011 -- Still Growing!~ I've got half of the floral border around the star sewn on! It's been traveling with me on all my trips across country and back to teach for guilds and quilt shows. It will be traveling to Germany and back with me in a few weeks to teach there too -- It's an international project!

August 1st, 2011 ---And growing some more! I'm adding the border units that will square off the quilt...the two sides are now added: