Fast Hexies

 Hi I'm Cara from CaraQuilts and I really like hexies and mini charms.
 I've collected a lot of mini charm packs and wanted to be able to see some of my favorite lines so I created these hexie mini quilts.

Requirements

 1 mini charm pack
 2 sheets water soluble paper (I use C&T Publishing's Wash-Away Applique Sheets)
 1 water soluble glue stick
 12x12" fusible batting (I use Pellon)
 12x12" backing
 Coordinating thread for top stitching

To start

We need to cut out 42 1" hexies from the water soluble paper.

Use a dab of glue to place the hexagon paper in the middle of each mini charm square.
Another swipe of glue and fold down the fabric to the paper.

Repeat going all the way around the hexagon.

 Repeat for all 42 from the mini charms.

The original one I made I fused each individual hexie. The second time round I stitched them into rows first and I found it easier to fuse them with less risk to my fingers so I suggest first laying out your hexies so you know you like the colour placement etc. and stitching them into 7 rows of 6 using a small zig zag stitch in a coordinating thread.

Lay your first row near to touching the edge and follow the directions for the fusible batting (if using regular batting pin down).  Place the next row right up against the first and fuse. If you have tails from stitching the rows together just tuck them under the row about to be fused.
It's a bit like piecing a puzzle only here forcing the issue is just fine. Continue until you have fused each row.

 Lay the batting and top piece onto your backing and gently press. This normally keeps the quilt sandwich together without needing to pin on such a small piece.
 Using the same thread zig zag the rows together, stopping with the needle down and turning with each point.
 Once your rows are stitched down press the entire piece.

Lay a ruler across the edge of the quilt and trim to a straight edge.

Bind and enjoy!

Sailor Mini

I enjoy doing English Paper Piecing (EPP) but the time does add up so I love when I can figure out a small project to do with it and this time I was playing around with 1.5" tumblers, a mini charm pack of Barth-o-meow and this is what I ended up with!

I'm thinking of either embroidering or adding an applique with a name under the wheel since it wasn't 100% centered. One would think I'd know to check this better by now but oops.

What do you think? And what the heck should I call it?

A return

 I happened to find a ziploc with a layer cake of Lilac Hill from Blackbird Designs and the project I'd started as a test for the pattern I did for Stitchin' Heaven a few years ago now.

 I really loved the fabric then and still do now. It really reminds me of my mom so it's no surprise!

I'd already done a block as a test of the math and had done the square in a square (SIS) units so there was mostly trimming, making some more half square triangles (HST) and SIS so I could have 9 blocks instead of the 7 I must have originally planned on.

I'm going to have to add some kind of border but since it looks like I got these blocks out of the equivalent of a charm pack I'm not too worried!

Do you think I should try for more blocks or keep it a mini? Right now it measures 14"/

Sickie Sicks

So Little Bit got hit again on Thursday night/Friday morning with a bug. The fever didn't last long, and she had to go see bio dad, but this morning it was back so she is home sick from school.
I was hit some yesterday, and ended up sleeping til 4:30 in the afternoon, and went back to bed at midnight.
I'm still sleepy, and very fuzzy headed but of course what child actually sleeps when their sick? Not mine, I've just browbeaten her into taking a nap or quiet time, if she wants me to consider letting her go skating with Grandma tonight. But she's up again, so no nap for me...more tea lol.

I've not felt well enough to tackle anything large but I did make another small Tumbler quilt top, or mini top anyway. I cracked open one of the few unopened Moda tin samplers I had left, this one was Inspiration, which had 4 2.5 fabric packs. I used the Kansas Troubles and Barbra Brackman's line, to create this 16.5" x 12" mini top. I haven't decided if I will keep the edges or cut them off and just deal with a straight edge.


I really do prefer the smaller size tumblers. There are 72 tumbler patches.
I think I may buy a layer cake and see what I can't do with it, maybe make a set of matching place mats? I'll have to try to find one with out a lot of stripes, because they really stick out to me, though that could also be because they're from the lighter of the two lines. I really felt that the KT needed something to lighten it up, otherwise I find it kind of depressing, and the Seneca Falls line was still a reproduction line, but not with the same almost tea dyed look.

For my moment for the weekend, DH and Little Bit and the mass of things on the island in my kitchen that serves as general storage, file cabinet, lunch bag holders, etc etc etc.


I really feel uncomfortable showing the mess but hey that's what moments is about. Being real and not Photoshopping life to some unrealistic ideal of what life should look like, but what is. Not that I wouldn't love a magazine spread for a house, or maybe I would, but between my illnesses, Little Bit's needs, and DH's aversion to housework, well that's what it looks like til I get so fed up and reorganize, and that will last all of one week, maybe.

I'm rambling. I need more tea!