Sneaky Peaky of the Next Issue of Hexie Love!

Are you ready? The next issue of Hexie Love comes out TOMORROW!!!! Here are just a few things you find inside.

The instructions for a FABULOUS hexie sewing caddy. I provides storage, a built in pin cushion, and a small design surface on the top. I use mine every single day!

And we're also putting hexies on a denim quilt, complete with pockets to store your stuff! Note that bottle cap - I love bottle caps!

And you can make your own hexie scissor fob. Another quick pattern!

But wait! There's more!

A detailed article about Inklingo, a scrappy hexie pattern, a small pattern "Just For Fun!," and more!  Don't miss it!

Down to the Wire

I love deadlines. They force me to work extra hard and fast to get things done. I do well under pressure. So yes, I had a busy weekend!

Today I hope to put the finishing touches on both the July BOM and the next issue of Hexie Love.

WHEW!

Tomorrow I'll share some sneak peeks into the next issue - it's full of fun projects!

When all this is done, will I take a break? NO! I still need to put a label on my 'Eye 1' quilt so I can ship it off next week for the AQS Grand Rapids show. And I need to put the finishing touches on the Odyssey quilt (which I've been quietly working on here and there). AND I have to get ready for a lecture and workshop in the Atlanta area next week. It's a good thing that I love to be busy! I should slow down a bit after that.

I have recently made a bit of a shift in my quilting career. I have decided to stay closer to home - no more travel teaching for now. I will teach in Alabama and Georgia. And maybe an occasional quilt show gig. But the magazine keeps me very busy and I have some exciting plans for Hexie Love in the upcoming year. I am only one person and I realize that I can't spread myself too thin. I do love to teach and lecture, BUT I just don't have the time to do it all. 

I'm toying with the idea of making a video to substitute for taking a class from me. We'll see...

Make it a great HEXIE Monday!

Last Minute Hexies!

I'm down to the wire with this issue of Hexie Love AND the July BOM! Whew!

Here's the front over of the issue, coming out in just a few days. Thats a denim storage quilt on the cover. LOVE IT!

I finished stitching the hexies together for the BOM last night - today I'll appliqué them to a background square. Tomorrow I'll do the Perle Cotton Stitching. 

Another busy day...

But I think I'll have time for a grocery run and we're going out to dinner with friends later. All good!

Pile of Hexies!

I have a busy day planned! I need to finish stitching these hexies together (July BOM)!

I need to put the finishing touches on the July/August issue of Hexie Love.

I need to work on Odyssey!

I need to reply to some important e-mails!

Think I can get it all done? I hope so!

Do you notice something different about the hexies in the photo? I'm trying something new. Leave a comment if you figure it out...

Basting Day!

I have a pile of precut hexies, a pile of hexie papers, and my needle and thread ready to go. It's basting day!

I'll also be working in my studio some today. I do love a sewing day!

I have a couple of errands to run (before the heat becomes sweltering). It's too hot to cook. It's too hot to sit on the patio. It's too hot to do anything outside!

And that's fine. I'm more of an "inside girl" anyway, unless we're at the lake.

What are you working on today?

Quilt Sightings! And Sandwich Spread!

AQS is having a Facebook Scavenger Hunt. I just discovered this yesterday. Look at their banner! That's my quilt! Yay! Pattern is in MORE Quick and Easy Hexie Quilts.

And then there's this. The cover for the Season 16 Quilting Arts TV DVD. Do you see those hexies? Yes, they are mine!!!! 

And now here's the recipe for that sandwich spread I was telling you about. It requires a bit of chopping, but is well worth it. This stuff is a childhood memory for me - Mom and I made it every summer. Spread it between two slices of bread - yum. Put it on crackers - yum. Eat it by the spoonful - yum!

Vegetable Sandwich Spread

2 tomatoes
1 cup celery
1 small onion
1 bell pepper
1 cucumber
1 envelope plain (unflavored) gelatin
1/4 cup cold water
1/4 cup boiling water
2 cups mayonaise (I use low fat)
1 teaspoon salt

Chop all vegetables; drain on paper towels. Soften gelatin in cold water. Add boiling water and stir well. Cool. Fold in mayonnaise and salt. Add vegetables.

Finishing

Today I'll be finishing this project. And bottle caps are involved! I have this thing for bottle caps...

Meanwhile, someone is quite at home in hubby's recliner. What a dog!

Yesterday I attacked 3 loads of laundry, one quilt sleeve, made a yummy batch of lemon bars, and some DELICIOUS sandwich spread - maybe I'll share that recipe tomorrow?

Back to Hexies!

I'm getting back into the swing of things in my world of hexies. Today I'll be stitching this sleeve in place. And doing some photography for Hexie Love.

It's going to be HOT this week. The heat index could go up to 108 degrees F for the next 3 days. So I'll stay in as much as possible!!!

And....I need to start making hexies for the July BOM block.

Lots of Hexie Love from here!

Back!

We came home yesterday from the lake. Daughter 2 and her boyfriend came for the last day.

The lake is the most relaxing place in the world for us. Morning coffee on the deck. Boat rides. Sea Doo rides. Kayaking. Naps. Ahhhh...

Before we left, the cable guy came to fix the lightening fried cable/internet box. 

I was able to get lots of magazine work done while there. I did a bit of sewing (and a bit of un-sewing). But mostly we just relaxed.

Ahhhh....

Gratuitous Hexie Photo

I felt the need this morning to post some hexies. This is The Hexie Blog, after all! Okay. Done.

The lake is like glass this morning, smooth and glistening. We're getting out this morning to go boating. This afternoon will be very hot - almost too hot to go jump in a lake. We'll stay in during the hot hours, napping and watching TV. In general we are relaxing, which hubby and I both need.

Meanwhile, I can keep an eye out on my house (and house sitters) at home: the Auburn house has camera all around both inside and out. We can access the camera feed live on our devices. Kind of cool! I can see the sitters's cars out front. I can see that they turned off some lights.

Cooper is currently resting up for his morning of fun. Hubby and I are drinking coffee and watching the news. I have some Hexie Love work to accomplish before we go outside. I hope you have a relaxing day as well!

Cooper's at the Lake!

Look at my sweet boy! He's visiting the lake this week, riding on the boat, swimming, sunning himself, and barking at...

the goats on Goat Island!

I take time out for work every single day, but there is still plenty of time for play. I adore floating in the water in the late afternoon. Ahhhh....

We have house sitters back at home, taking care of things in Auburn.

The July/August issue of Hexie Love is coming together nicely. I love working on it here at the lake. I brought a few things to photograph with the water in the background. It makes for a perfect backdrop, though sometimes Cooper tries to photo bomb.

Cooper, Cantaloupes, and Binding

Here was Cooper yesterday afternoon, relaxing on the porch. He had a good day!

Are you a fan of cantaloupes? I like them, but rarely buy them. I hate to go to the trouble of cutting one up only to find I didn't pick a ripe one. BUT, I discovered Sugar Kiss cantaloupes at Sam's Club last week. YUM! These are the sweetest melons!

And here's the back of my project. Yes, it's a hexie quilt. I'm making my way around, stitching the binding. This is a really fun quilt and would make a fabulous gift for almost anyone. You'll see the front in an upcoming issue of Hexie Love!

Speaking of Hexie Love, I'm working hard on the next issue - another great one!

I'm also un-sewing the center medallion of Odyssey. I don't have enough fabric to fix it, but I've ordered it - I'll have it fixed in no time!

The weather is gorgeous here this week, though HOT. Going up to 100 today! But I'm finding many ways to stay cool. I do love to sit on the back porch with two fans aimed at me. I can sew, read, or just relax with the dogs.

Thank You, Mary Huey!!!

Mary Huey, you are a genius!!! Mary emailed me over the weekend with an idea for fixing the center of my Odyssey quilt without having to redo all that appliqué! She sent me drawings and everything! Why didn't I think of this? I'm just glad Mary did!!!!

The basic idea is to chop off the corners and add new triangles to the top, bottom, and sides. Brilliant!!!

I will have to un-sew the center medallion from the quilt and then put it back in place later. But this will be far easier and quicker than having to do all that appliqué again.

I am beyond thrilled!

You can visit Mary at maryhueyquilts.blogspot.com.

Today's list includes un-sewing the center medallion, hand sewing some binding, and maybe even some hexie making!

Happy Hexie Monday!!!

A New, Happy Day!

Here's a throw back photo. This was taken exactly two years ago today, on the way home from Cooper's first trip to the vet and a trip to the local farmer's market. Tired little sweetie...

Thanks for all your condolences and sympathy over my Odyssey quilt. A few of you were confused about my explanation. I got the following comment which describes the situation very well:

"Do you mean you want to rotate the medallion like 10-20 degrees so spokes are going exactly diagonally to 2 of the 4 corners of the quilt? Oh, honey, that really is a lot of undoing and redoing! I know what you mean about wanting to make it perfect and how much a mistake only you can see can haunt you. I have at least one of those in every project I make! IMHO you should leave it because it is truly stunning either way. But I know it will haunt you if you do. So, good luck and Godspeed! My heart breaks for you!"

Yes. She definitely understands my pain...

Have I started the undoing? NO. I decided to wait a couple of days to make sure I was calm and not freaking out any longer. Today is a new day. I'm calm. I'm okay. I'm ready.

Let the fixing begin!

The Good, The Bad, and The Cute

First, here's the CUTE. Scout came over to play yesterday - Cooper was so happy and ready to share his big stick! Boy, did they have fun!

Next, the BAD...
The friend who is going to be quilting Odyssey for me came over yesterday to pick it up. We spread it out to discuss what I wanted. Suddenly I saw something I didn't like.
Me: "Oh no. I see something I think I want to change."
Quilter: "What is it?"
Me: I told her.
Quilter: "I see it, too."

We both looked and talked and looked and talked.

Me: "I want to fix it. I've worked too hard on the quilt for it not to be perfect."
Quilter: "Go ahead. Take your time. I'll still make your deadline."
Me: Heart sinking. Thought I was done. Frustrated.
Quilter: "Take a deep breath. It will be okay. Don't rush. It will be worth it."

So that's where I am. I have a LOT of un-sewing to do. And then I have a LOT of sewing to do. It will be worth it. Nothing like making this quilt TWICE!

For those of you making Odyssey, I'm going to share what it is, so you won't make the same mistake.

It pertains to the center medallion. It looks perfect, no? But it is not.  (Spoiler Alert!) In the final quilt I'm setting this on point. I want the gradated blue hexies coming from the center to be rotated so that one of them points to the top and bottom corners. In other words, I would love to rotate the background without rotating the hexies. I hope this makes sense to you. 

The quilt will look beautiful either way. I could have left it alone and named it "A Little Bit Tipsy," and  no one would probable notice. BUT, being an engineer and being a person who loves symmetry, and being a person who is a bit OCD, I feel I must change mine. 

Enough of that.

And now for the GOOD. (Thank goodness there is some GOOD!)

I found out yesterday that my "Eye 1" quilt has been juried into the AQS Grand Rapids show! Woohoo!

Colors and Kindness

Our backyard is blooming with beautiful colors.

Lovely flowers.

My favorite colors.

Is it only Thursday? It seems like this week has been going on FOREVER! Hubby and I are trying to figure out why many people are so mean. Last night we were on our way to dinner, turning left at an intersection, with the blinker on. The car behind us honked repeated and then made an obscene gesture as he sped past. What was the point? We were doing nothing wrong.

I went to a flower/gift shop yesterday afternoon. At various times I saw four different employees, but could not get anyone's attention to help me. So after 10 minutes I left.

Come on people. Let's be kind and helpful and NICE to each other. Put a smile on your face. Slow down. Love your neighbor. Turn the other cheek.

Off my soapbox now, I promise!

Yesterday was MOMENTOUS! I put the VERY LAST STITCH in the Odyssey quilt top. I can's even begin to tell you how gorgeous it is! It is BY FAR my favorite quilt I have ever designed and made.

So today I will be working on the magazine, which I've been neglecting because I couldn't stop working on Odyssey. What a feeling!

I hope you have a great day! Go smile at someone!

Hi to Lybia - loved finally meeting you in person last night!!!!!

Sharing...

This morning I decided to finally working on hand stitching some binding. I had the quilt carefully folded in this bag beside my chair. I looked down and found that Cooper had carefully placed his toy on top. He does love to share his toys. 

Here's the backing on the quilt - a bit wild, huh? Using my stash!

Yesterday I made more hexies, stitched them together, and prepared them for appliqué. Said appliqué will happen today, I hope!

I have a quilty lunch - Birthday Block group. Yay! And dinner out with some new friends I've never met! Can't wait!

And in between all that...I got sample of a product in the mail with which I'll be experimenting...

Doesn't that sound like a fun day????

Hexie Love!

I think it's supposed to rain today - a great day for SEWING!!!! Some hexie making, a bit of applique, a bit of binding - all on the list! WooHoo!!!!

I may put Netflix on the TV and stream something while I stitch. So what are your Netflix favorites? I loved Prion Break, 24, and Breaking Bad. Just started Pretty Little Liars last week. Any recommendations for me? I love to stream movies, too, so your movie picks are also welcome!!!

Sometimes when I'm having to concentrate intensely on my project, I turn off the TV and turn on the music. What's your favorite hexie making music? Particular song? Or artist?

Three years ago when I was back in Birmingham trying to sell our house, meet a book deadline, and nurse our dachshund Mickey back to health after major back surgery, my song of choice was Kelly Clarkson's "What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger." It was my mantra. These days I'm loving Mumford and Sons' "Believe", James Bay's "Hold Back the River", and Elle King's "Ex's and Oh's".

Have a happy hexie day!

What I Did This Weekend...

I sewed binding on a quilt - I was lucky enough to find some leftover binding in a drawer - enough for the entire quilt! My lucky day! I may do the hand stitching tomorrow during an appointment to have my car serviced.

I did LOTS of machine sewing this weekend. Love finishing a spool of thread!

I played with this striped fabric - one of my FAVORITES!  I used it as sashing in one of the quilts in my last book. I bought a few more yards last year (in Chicago, I think?) and I'm using it again. One of the reasons I like it so much is the vivid colors. Another reason (and the most important!) is that the stripes are exactly 1 inch wide. This makes is so easy to line up with seams.

Hubby and I watch two movies - The Imitation Game and Still Alice - loved them both! What did you do this weekend?

Nearing the End...

I'm sure you know the feeling. Working on a special project for a LONG time. Loving every second of the journey. Slowly getting it done.

And then. You get close to the end. And you can't wait to see it finished. And you can't put it down. And you want to work on it all the time. And you put aside the other items on your To Do list. And you stop cooking. And the laundry piles up. But you'll get this quilt finished!

That's me this week. Especially today.

Cooper ate an envelope this morning - luckily it was empty. I'm not surprised because he went ALL DAY yesterday without stealing/eating something he shouldn't. He was due.

Hexies and Cooper

I had such a productive day yesterday!!!! The only problem was that the things I did were not on my list for the day. Oh well, at least I accomplished something...

You guessed it...I sewed instead of doing computer work. Maybe today I'll stick with the computer.

I realize I haven't tacked anther UFO in a few months. I haven't forgotten my list, but I'm focusing on the Odyssey quilt now (the progressive quilt in Hexie Love). In the magazine world, you have to plan months ahead. And that means that I'm trying to finish Odyssey so I can have it quilted well in advance of the Nov/Dec issue.

Cooper update: no hexies were chewed yesterday! Yay, Cooper. However, I did spot him stealing something off the kitchen counter and diving under the big ottoman with it. I quickly retrieved it - it was an envelope containing Daughter 2's brand new drivers license (which took her two trips to the DMV and hours of time to get). No damage done. At the moment he is sound asleep in hubby's recliner looking very cute and innocent.

The First BLT of Summer...

Yesterday I had my first BLT of the year - my favorite sandwich! Tomato came from the Auburn Ag Farmer's Market. Yum!

I basted and stitched together DOZENS of hexies! These were two of my favorites. Yes, my hands are tired. I really need to rest them, but I am so very close to finishing! Hate to stop now!

But I do have so many other things that need my attention, so maybe today I will take a break from them. I need to hide the hexies - when I see them on my table I just want to pick them up and pet them and sew them together...

Oh. Dear. One of my hexies had a hole chewed in it. Cooper! Actually, it might have been Prince because I caught him with a few hexie papers in his mouth today... Luckily I found the same fabric and made a replacement.

Later I found Cooper outside with pine cones in his mouth. Good boy, Cooper. He still keeps checking out the garbage cabinet to no avail. Poor baby.

So what will I do today if I don't stitch hexies? Maybe work on the next issue of Hexie Love. Maybe work on Quick Books. Definitely going to lunch with a friend.

Why My Thimble is Dented..

Cooper. He's been at it again. He's mad at me and this is how he gets his revenge. And why is he mad?

He's been a real thief his entire life. He steals socks from the dirty clothes. He steals toilet paper from the bathrooms. He steals magazines from the big ottoman.

But the worst of the worst....he steals from the kitchen garbage. The garbage can is built into the cabinets - it's like a pull out door. And Cooper learned quickly how to use his nose to open the cabinet so he can "shop" in the garbage. And it's gotten worse lately.

Saturday he went shopping in the garbage and came out with the previous day's coffee filter. Yes, coffee grounds all over the floor. That was the final straw.

Hubby and I went off to Home Depot and bought a nice magnetic clasp and installed it. No more stealing from the garbage! He's so frustrated!

And so...now he's stealing from my side table. Yup. He stole my thimble yesterday afternoon from the table and put this huge dent in it. (Glad he didn't swallow it.) Yes, it's my favorite thimble...the perfect thimble.

He did apologize, though he doesn't look very sincere, does he?

Back to work now. I have hexies to make! And hexies to appliqué!

2015 Hexie BOM: JUNE!

And with this pattern we are halfway through the year! This block is a bit different because all the hexies are not connected to one another. And (for what it's worth) hubby says its his favorite so far.

I turned it 90 degrees when I took the picture, but either way it's the same pattern.

If you remember from last years, it's here at the halfway point that I start thinking about sashing and layout. So if I have time this week (and tha's a BIG IF!) I'll start playing around with options.

Have fun with your fabric selections! Can't wait to see what all of you do with it. Don't forget to share over on the Facebook page: Hexie Love Open Studio!