Where Is My Hoop Now?

I've received messages over the past week of  "MORE!" "Broader view please!" in regards to my current hexagon hand quilting project.

For anyone who has taken on the long term challenge of hand quilting a queen sized quilt, you know as well as I do that though the process is slow, it is also meditative and quite soul centering in the simple repetitive motion of needle pulling thread. 

"I can't make out how you are quilting it." says another.

So hopefully these broader photos will clue you in a bit.

There's the hoop!  I finished the last four diamond motifs last night and am now working on the 4 borders that surround the center - hexie flowers in brown followed by single rounds of neutral, red, and blue.  The star points break through just a bit (as shown by what is in my hoop) and then all that will be left are the outer neutral corners that take it from hexagonal shaped back to rectangular.

And finally, the last hexie flower border will finish it off.

The WHOLE of it all.

I enhanced this photo so you could see the stich dimples better - 

Hexie flowers start with a 3 line starburst in the center hex - Then the center hex is outlined 1/4'' to the inside of the flower around the middle.  From there, the outline of the hexie flower is outlined 1/4'' in from the outside edge.  I'm not hand quilting around each hexie all the way, just following outlines and pathways.

The blue striped hexies in 3 of the flower corners are quilted with a V shape because I thought it made them look more like leaves.

The neutral hexies are quilted with an X or a starburst, depending if it is a place where the path turns a corner or not.

Red pathways are just outlined on either side.

I have not marked anything, I'm just eyeballing it and yes, there are wobbly lines (usually caused by bent needles!) and all imperfections will be lost in the texture of the whole when done.

Quilting texture on the back side.

Even here it's hard to see any distinct design but you can see how closely quilted this is.

My hexies are only 3/4'' so there is a lot of quilting going on, quite close together.

THANK YOU!!

I received this lovely bouquet of flowers from a neighbor - in fact, it was her great grandparents and beyond who owned Quiltville Inn and much of the factory town of Mouth of Wilson, VA.

She came by a few weeks ago and we got acquainted when they were putting new fencing for the cattle behind the inn.

Evidently our septic tank is on the OTHER side of the fence down toward the creek.  So happy to know that because NO ONE KNEW when we bought the house.

At any rate, they came through to mark where the septic lines for the QPO and the house ran so as not to put fence posts through them.

It turns out that she herself lived in the house for 10 years at one point during her growing up years and I asked when the last time she had been inside was - LONG LONG ago was the answer.

So I gave her a tour!

It was so much fun sharing what we had done with the house, and hearing from her what she remembers from way back when - for instance - there once was a big fireplace in the kitchen and the chimney ran up through bedroom 4.  Who knew! (She did!)

I asked if there was ever a player piano in the house as we had found piano player rolls (quite dilapidated and not play-able) and she said YES - and not only that, the piano now lived at her place a couple miles up the road.  

To make a long story short - she had heard about my accident and sent these flowers. I'm really touched by this gesture!

Yesterday's job - step out photos!

It was a mostly-desk-day with some short intermissions to stitch up some block parts in progress for the new pattern release happening on MONDAY!

Are you ready for Crazie Mazie??

It's been a few months since this one was finished and it has been waiting in the queue for August to arrive.

I am always up for string piecing - ALWAYS!

And yes, there will be a pattern and fabric roll gift-away, introductory pricing and more.

New in the shop!

Patchwork Cats Eco Pouch Set!

Aren't these just the cat's meow?

Stow your stuff in these colorful zippered Eco Pouches and stay organized everywhere you go. Pouches are made of recycled plastic that is tough enough to handle even sharp quilting, sewing, and art tools. (They are also great for pens, jewelry, cosmetics, coins ... the list is endless!) Each pouch features two pawsitively adorable designs from Pamela Jane Morgan’s Purr-fect Patchwork.

Small pouch 8.5 x 5, large pouch 9.5 x 7

I have a limited number on hand, but if they sell out, I'll get more in.  And yes, I kept a set for myself!

Yesterday's storm incoming!

The TaDa Quilters are in the house - arriving around 6pm last night.  I was on hand for most of the arrivals, welcoming folks from the rocking chair by the back door.  I'm not much help with the hauling of the wagons right now.

MOST were unloaded by the time this sky let loose.  

I will head over in a bit and  welcome those I missed seeing last night.

Let's get those design walls full up with quilty goodies!

So here we are at Thursday - what plans do you have for making the most of today?

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

This may be said with tongue in cheek, but I find it amazingly true!

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Have a terrific Thursday, everyone!