First day of fall and a progress report

Red Maples and Berries by Karen H 2012

It is the first day of Fall and it feels like it. The sky is grey and there is a haze. It would be a good day for sewing if I didn't feel so rotten. I'm not sure if it is hay fever/seasonal allergies or a cold but I just want to curl up on the couch with two cats and watch TV. Before I do that I thought I would share my progress on my hexagon quilt The Meadery and also Road 66.

The latest shape I have created for my hexagon quilt The Meadery is intended to represent Lanyon Quoit in Cornwall, England. It is a dolmen (a megalithic tomb) dating from the Neolithic period (3500-2500 BC). The original was knocked down in a storm and was subsequently re-erected at right-angles to its original position around 1815. Originally there were four upright stones but one was too badly damaged to be used. I have visited this site and it is a little unnerving to walk under the monument.

Lanyon Quoit

So here is my interpretation of Lanyon Quoit. The rosette/flower in the centre represents the cap stone and the three spokes radiating outward represent the uprights that support it. I used an old fabric from my stash to make the quoit; it looks like lichen covered stone so it was perfect for this block. The yellow and green rings represents gorse which grows in the area. This block will be appliqued to the background fabric which is a very pale grey so the colours swill really shine.

The second piece I want to share is a block for my Road 66 quilt. The original quilt is in a book Primarily Quilts by Di Ford. These blocks are so much fun to make. The hexagons measure 1 1/4" which I find to be a little large. The 1" and 3/4" fit more comfortably in my hands.

It is a short post today. The cats are beckoning me to come cuddle so I'm off to do just that. Until I post again, happy sewing!

Karen H

Hexagons.....a disease

I've been working on so many hexagon projects and want to start even more. It is a disease - I can't help myself! In addition to working on projects I'm dreaming up ideas for the next ones and already have a good idea of what I am going to do! So now that I know I am itching to get started but really need to focus on two or three works that are already in progress!

First off I've added another round to the third diamond for my hexagon quilt The Meadery. There will be three diamonds, two of which will be upright and will flank the centre medallion and a third diamond will be on its side below the medallion. These component will represent a Cornish ruin, Men-An-Tol. What you can't see in this picture is that there are two large stones on either side of the donut and there is a third stone which was once upright but is now laying flat in the ground.

I've almost finished the diamonds that will flank the medallion and I've just added a round to the diamond that will represent the stone on the ground. There is one more round to go and I'm considering a pea soup green to represent the grass.

Once I've finished the Men-An-Tol units I'll be on to the next Cornish landmark, Lanyon Quoit at near Madron! Originally there were four upright stones on which was placed a huge cap stone. The uprights are about 1.5 meters tall. In the early 1800s the quoit was damaged in a storm and it was subsequently re-erected with only three of the upright stones because the fourth was damaged. So my plan is to represent this megalith with hexagons and I already know how I am going to do it! In the distance you can see the engine house of a tin mine. I hope to incorporate this element in the quilt. Will have to ponder it a little more.

So the second project I've also been working on a class sample for my English Paper Piecing Workshops. I will be teaching all of the techniques, tricks and tips I used to make this medallion. I am also going to use these same techniques to border this block which can be used as a wall hanging or as the centre of a quilt.

The third project I've been working on are blocks for a Road 66 hexagon quilt. I had already shared this block back in January. The rosettes are made with 1 1/4" hexagons.

When I see a fabric I like I will cut either 6 hexagons for the first round or 12 for the second round. I put them together in a little bag and when I have a few minutes I'll baste a few or sew a few. So those few minutes here and there have added up and here is another block.

Time to get cracking. Until I post again I hope you can find the time to take a stitch or two. Happy sewing!
Karen H