Last of the FAL projects round 2!

I stuck my hand up to complete 4 projects for this round of Rhonda's Finish-along!

I have completed three but think one doesn't really count as it is only a finished top and not a finished quilt but that will be sorted out in the next round I hope!


So I have less than a week and one project to finish!


I have been putting this one off a bit ....shall I tell you why?


I love this quilt and really didn't want to spoil it with awful quilting!   


I started quilting it a couple of days ago....




I am FMQing it - to death !  Or what some poeple might call custom quilting it...!


Now I looked in my gorgeous case of Aurifil threads and bravely  foolhardishly chose one that would show up - a lot!  Still it didn't seem too bad at the start on the dark coloured hexagons

But I don't like the look on these!

So a change of top thread colour gave me this

Which I am happy with ....pity I quilted seven hexies in the dark colour before I decided on the colour change!  Oh well my unpicker and I will become good friends soon but not till I quilt the rest of it!


Here is the back

Will I finish by Staurday?  Well that remains to be seen....


Wish me luck then!

Hexalong at last

Well just before the delightful Lynne of Lilysquilts tells us she is finished her hexie project I am starting mine.  Well that is not strictly true....let me explain.

If you look on my UFO page you will see this quilt top

And this is it now - just a bit more quilting and I'll be putting on some rather awkward binding. 

I started this Kaleidoscope Hexagon at a workshop with Carolyn Forster but wasn't too sure about all that black - I do like the drama of it now!  So I started some brighter blocks which you can see here...

So you see I have two hexie projects on the go - one I aim to finish this year is a 

and a spare...sort of?  Then along comes Lynne and Gayle Brindley with a Hexalong but I am sure you already know this...




I jumped in of course but got sidetracked by other things and have only now decided to merge Kaleidoscope hexies as taught by Carolyn with the Hexalong!

Yeah!  So instead of starting another new project (not allowed to do that, am I?) I am actually finishing an undeclared UFO.  Clever huh?!

This is as far as I have got in two quick evening sessions ....

......assisted by using Carolyn Forster's own hexie templates which I had already purchased.  

The ones on the left are for making the kaleidoscope hexagons and those on the right are for her bigger better hexagon granny's garden type of quilt.




They are lovely and large, and I already have 46 kaleidoscope hexies hand pieced except for the central circle which I can now fussy cut to tie in with my other fabrics.  Whoohoo!  Quick quilt or what!??


[Edit:  now looking at the photo of my bright hexies I realise I have to make that quilt too - make that three hexie quilts I am working on!]

I am booked on a couple of Carolyn's courses in October and I would so like to show her a finished quilt (the black one) and perhaps a finished top...?  Who knows...just watch this space!

Nicky

Size of block

7.5" unfinished

Fabrics

Dots from stash

plus some fabrics I bought at Ardingly Quilt Fair in February 2011

Hexagons Hexalong Hexathon?!"

Well Lynne from Lily's Quilts just had to say those magic words QAL and I was in before I knew it.  But it was not the sort of hexalong I was expecting it was even better!


Here is the information you need - go and check it out: 


Lynn's first post about it Hexalong starts here! 
Her co-hosts Gayle Brindley's first post Hexalong with Lynne which includes a photo of the quilt Kerry Dear's Candied Hexagons
The group Flickr site  Lilys quilts

I had earmarked some fabric but I do not think it will do - I will need a complete re-think.  Another ponder or musing session is in the offing...


In the meantime I offer you some eye-candy....


when this

became this....

More spool blocks - scrappy empty ones this time (thank you Shirley)  - and in soft pastel Lily and Will fabric with Kona Ash, some extra cream on cream from stash and some John Louden Pastel Polka Parade from my local fabric shop for the outer border!  This is so not my usual colour palette and I am still wondering whether I like it!!  It may need a further tweaking...




This may become a wall hanging for my craft/spare bed-room.


As a point of interest - ages ago I told you about a conversation I'd had with my local fabric shopkeeper.  (My previous post is here!) She has responded by buying in nicer fabric pre-cuts and bundles that actually go together - the John Louden fabric is from a jelly roll of polka dots.   Getting closer but maybe not quite there yet...!  Well I had to buy some didn't I....?

John Louden Pastel Polka Parade and Candy Co-ordinates

Don't forget the Hexalong! 


There are new posts now with tutorials on English Paper Piecing (EPP) and Point to point piecing and lots of things to come!  Should be an interesting journey  -  are you hexing in!??






Nicky


measurements 
block size 6" finished
quilt size 31.5 finished


fabrics
Lily and Will 
Kona Ash
John Louden pastel polka dot


Scrappy spools block taken from 
Great Scrap-bag Quilts by Jan Halgrimson