Patience is a virtue...

.. that I don't possess but thankfully Sarah does. About 6 months ago I held a giveaway over on Instagram and Sarah was the winner. The prize was a custom cushion made by yours truly. Sarah highlighted some of my designs that she liked and then left me to get on with it. Sarah was particularly fond of two of my quilts, Never Forgotten and Kaleidoscopic, so I figured I'd make something that included elements of both of them. What I forgot was that improv is not a speedy process for me, hence this cushion being 6 months in the making.

I started by making a Hexiestars block with fabrics left over from my Kaleidoscopic quilt and built random blocks out from there. I had to walk away from it at my first attempt as I just didn't know how I wanted it to develop. Yesterday I picked it back up after a long absence and once I got into my stride it didn't take long at all to finish it up. I crazy straight line quilted with a variegated green Aurifil thread which melted into the background beautifully.

I love the way it turned out and I'm hoping that once Sarah receives it she will think it was worth the wait. Catch you soon x

Hexiestar tamed

Before I launch into the latest month of the Nellie's Niceties Mystery BOM  I thought I'd update you on the continuing saga of the trapped nerve. It turns out that I have 4 bulging discs in my neck and degeneration in 5 of the bones in the same area of the neck. Just in case that wasn't enough I've also got 3 partially torn tendons in my shoulder, nerve impingement, tendinitis and bursitis. According to the physio the shoulder injuries were probably caused by sewing related tasks. Who knew that quilting is an extreme sport?! Needless to say I feel justified in the amount of moaning I've been doing about the pain I've been experiencing ;) I'm now awaiting an appointment with the specialist but I have been warned not to expect them to be able to help. To top it all off Jess is having a rough time too and is currently awaiting an MRI. Such fun! If things are quiet around here you'll know why. I'm still very active over on Instagram though as that doesn't involve as much time or planning.
Right, now on with the BOM.

This month I've re-visited an old favourite, the Hexiestar and given it a bit of a face-lift to make a 12" square block.

As usual it produces a secondary pattern when combined in multiples.

You'll find the free PDF templates, info sheet, block layout and colouring sheet on our website. I like to layout my paper pieces in advance so I fiddle around with placement if I'm using prints. 

Thankfully I'm using solids this time. I glue baste all my pieces because I like the speed and precision it gives. One of the most common questions I've been asked about piecing the Hexiestar is how I baste the narrow triangles, so here's a pic to show you. 

I generally start by piecing all of the narrow triangles to the hexagon, then filling in the gaps as I go but in order to get some daylight progress shots I skipped that plan this time. I do recommend referring to the block layout sheet as the pieces are not equal sizes in the Hexiestar Tamed block. 

When filling in the gaps I start at the base of the narrow triangle and work my way out to the  point.

When it comes to capturing the point of the narrow triangle you can start at the point and work your way back down to the base of triangle if you are nervous about it.

I'm usually gung-ho about it though and just catch the two in-fill triangles together when I get to the point.

Continue until the hexiestar is complete, then "tame" it by adding the corner triangles.

Ta-da. One Hexiestar Tamed block.

If you decide to join in I'd love to see your versions and it would be great to be able to share some more of your work here along with our Flickr group and of course on Instagram #nelliesnicetiesmysterybom #hexiestartamed. Tell your friends, the more the merrier :) 

Catch you soon x

 

Edited to add: You can now find bonus 6" Hexiestar Tamed templates on the Mystery BOM page of our website. You're welcome, enjoy! x

Yvonne's Finish Along List 2014 Q3

Gasp.....  Just realised today is the cut off for Katy's FAL 2014 Q3!!!!  

It's been a really busy week as it was Ralph's 65th Birthday on Thursday.  He took a couple of days off for us to go out a couple of times .... and then we had a BBQ on Saturday for the family.  It was a lovely time but I am Soooo tired now and, clearly, forgot pretty much all else in the busyness!!

Fortunately I had already decided what to choose for Q3 and it's a short list ..  again .. so I can quickly let you know my goals before I dash (!!!) off to do tea...... at least .... to prete look as if I have spent ages preparing it.   Shocking I know.  :-)

So here they are... my goals for Q3

1.  Sandwich and baste my Fresh Modern Bee 2 Secret Garden Quilt. You can see where I am on this quilt 
here on my previous post. 

2.  Complete the top and sandwich and baste my Hexistars Quilt.  Here's where I've got to so far.

Just needs squaring up now

I'm planning to use large hexies for the squaring up ....  oh here's a question.... can you square up an oblong? 

Anyway, hopefully you can see what I mean.  I haven't decided yet whether to leave the sides as they are or make them straight.  What do you think?

3.  Spring/Summer Table Runner.  The top is already done and the border added.  Now I have to sandwich baste and quilt it.  I'd like to have it completed before the next quarter!  Really... as it's title suggests it was started for Spring use and now it's Summer and still sitting there!  

 Such sunny pretty fabrics

The fabrics are by Quilt Gate I think it's called the Princess Rose collection and I got them from Kerri's etsy shop.  They are really soft and almost lawn like, they remind me of girly summer dresses.  

4.  30's Spring Carnival Quilt/Runner.  I started this back in 2012 I think, when the first collection of 30's Playtime fabrics were released by Chloes Closet for Moda.  I did quite a bit and then got sidetracked.... I know it sounds like a stuck record doesn't it?  I love the pattern, it's EPP (English paper pieced) and the design is by the lovely Katy of  imagingermonkey fame.  The templates are free on her website and she has examples of what she has made with them.  Wonderful inspiration.  

This is it so far

I made the cushion in reds, pinks and blues first from the same fabric collection.  Love it.... had to start something bigger with all the colours so it would be really scrappy.  I know it will be fab when it's done so I need to just get on with it.  It will be my next hand sewing for the evenings ... when I'm 'watching' TV and trying not to fall asleep or snore so loudly that Ralph realises I'm asleep!! I know I won't finish it in a quarter but I would like to have made progress with it.  

And last but by no means least

5.  Sevenberry Swoon Quilt.  I must carry on piecing blocks for this one.  Again it won't be finished but I want to have added more blocks to the three I've done so far.  You can see where I got to in my previous post here.

So that's it 5 goals this time and I really hope I manage more than my 50% from last quarter, although Helen has convinced me that there is nothing wrong with 50%.  And I know myself that it's much better than having all of them sat in my UFO/WIP pile making me feel guilty! :-) 

Thank you for visiting and encouraging me in my quilting endeavours.  I hope you realise how grateful I am to you.  I'm off now to look busy in the kitchen.  Take good care of yourselves and happy sewing.  

Yvonne Xxx    

FAL -Hexiestars cushion

My day started with the return of my quilts from Quilt and Stitch Village, which also meant the judges comments! I was braver than I thought I would be taking a peek at them and thankfully they were better than I expected :) Here are the comments for the Brit Print Girls Medallion Quilt...

and the comments for the Never Forgotten improv quilt. I wondered how the judges would react to the improv quilt as it was a very traditional show, so I was delighted that they liked my "refreshingly different interpretation of the theme" :) Also delighted that there were no ticks in the "needs attention" box!

After such positive comments I will be brave enough to enter another quilt competition in the future :) This afternoon I managed to squeeze in some much needed sewing time and finished up my Hexiestars cushion! I'm so pleased to able to cross this one off my FAL list :)

It was really difficult to get a decent picture today as it was so grey outside but I was too impatient to take finished pictures, sorry. I didn't want to compete with the colours of the stars so used a grey variegated Aurifil thread to echo quilt the hexagons...

and create a wonky asterisk through the stars.

I'm thrilled with how it has turned out and I've been overwhelmed with the response to it over on Instagram :) Don't forget the templates are available here if you fancy having a go yourself! I'd love to see your version if you do, so please use #hexiestars over on Instagram or add a picture to our Flickr group :)

Catch you soon x

Spring Giveaway

As I promised last week I'm back today with a rather lovely giveaway.  At least, I think so and I hope you do too. In celebration of  Spring and it's promise of regrowth and beauty. Regular readers may have guessed ... ok ... I've told you lots of times .... that one of my most favourite designers is Atsuko Matsuyama.  A designer for Lecien.  I've been collecting her fabrics whenever I've seen them and have got quite a pretty selection of them.

Pretty eh?

So, I thought, and Reene agreed, that it would be nice to share a little of it with one of our readers.  I pulled my pile of fabrics, grabbed my cutter and ruler and set to work.  They are mostly half a charm square in size, 5" x 21/2" and there's a nice selection, one of almost every one I have. 

Aren't they lovely? Quite retro and all my favourite colours, lots of dots and flowers too.

Of course, once I had them all out and the cutter in my hands I had to have a play didn't I?  :-)

The front

So just for you, or at least for one of you, I made a cushion/pillow.

I used Reene's Hexiestar pattern templates (you can find the free PDF for them in the side bar on the right), a small selection from the Lecien fabrics and Kona white for the background. To finish it off I machine embroidered it using a couple of fancy stitches on my Pfaff machine and a pastel pink Aurifil thread.

You can just about read the Nellie's Niceties label I think 

The back

Well, there you are, I hope you like this little offering just for you.  To make it easier and cheaper to post I will take the cushion/pillow form out.

If you'd like to be in with a chance to win our giveaway just leave a comment.  And if you are a follower, leave another comment telling us that you are a follower. We'll do the draw for it the weekend after the holiday weekend. I say we but I mean Reene, I've no idea how the random generator thingy works!  No surprise there is there? :-)

It's Reene here. I'll close the draw on Friday 25th April at around 10pm (BST). The draw will take place as soon as I get a free minute on Saturday 26th April and I'll announce the winner then too.  

Until the next time hope you all have a good holiday, however you celebrate it.  Take good care of yourselves. If you have the chance to sew, happy sewing.

 Yvonne Xxx

Unrealistic - Reene's FAL list Q2

Oh look, I'm just scraping in under the wire again! Joining the fun with Katy and pals at the Finish Along 2014. I have a tonne of secret sewing to do this quarter so my time for finishing projects just for fun will be limited. Even so I would love to see the following projects finished very soon!
1. Hexiestars cushion - I haven't got a whole lot to do for this to be a finish so I should be able to knock this one out of the park quickly :)

2. Cardigan for Jess -  After many years as a non-knitter I have finally mastered the basics, more or less! In my infinite wisdom I decided to knit Jess a cardigan with cables and a fancy pattern, yep, I have lost my marbles. Jess is very keen for me to finish this one so I ought to get on with it. I have the back and left front completed. Still to do is the right front and the sleeves. I'm hoping this will be doable this quarter! I am currently contending with reverse shaping. There are no instructions in the pattern for that so it's a bit hit and miss...

3.HipBees village quilt - My fabulous bee mates have been waiting too long for this to be a finish! This was started way back in August 2012 and I'm fairly ashamed that it's not done yet.

4. HipBees Denyse Schmidt string quilt - Another HipBee quilt to finish. This one only needs 1 more block to finish it!

5. New York Beauty project - I started this one in March 2012 so it's really about time I finished it! I think it will have to become cushions as they will go perfectly with my new footstool ;)

6. Amish with a twist BOM - This BOM started last year and I've got a shed load of Log Cabin blocks to complete before I can piece this monster quilt together.

Well, that's more than enough to be going on with! I'm linking up with FAL Q2. Off to do some sewing now, catch you soon x

Hexiestars

After finishing my last hand sewing project I was keen to get cracking on another one :) So, I had an idea that I'd like some sort of star. A bit of fiddling around, on TouchDraw on the iPad, later I had this plan.

 With my new found love of gluebasting it wasn't long before I had it ready to sew together in fabric form.

I sew all the thin triangle pieces to the central hexie then fill in with the larger grey triangles. They are quick, fun and addictive :)

I've been showing my progress on Instagram and quite a few people had asked where I got the pattern from so I thought I'd share the templates here for anyone that might fancy a go at there own :) If you do have a go I'd love to see! #hexiestars

You'll find the EPP template pdf here

Catch you soon x