GROW YOUR BLOG

Flora and Fauna, Parts of the Garden close-up

Welcome! It is time for the Grow Your Blog Party! This event is organized by Vicki at 2 Bags Full. I'm looking forward to exploring and finding new and interesting blogs.

For those of you who are new to my blog my name is Karen H and I am a quilter. I love all sorts of quilting styles and techniques. I've made traditional, applique and improv quilts. To get an idea of what I do you can visit my Quilt Gallery to see some of my quilts.

There's a Snail in Grandma's Flower Garden close-up

I think my favourite shape to work with is a hexagon. If you love hexagons you've come to the right place! I've developed my own fast easy techniques for making great hexagon blocks. Earlier this week I posted two part tutorial on making stars like this one! Part 1 is here and Part 2 is here.

And then on January 23, 2014 I published instructions for making yet another hexagon block which is a variation of the block above.

I've got another fun hexagon block ready and I'll publish the instructions on Sunday or Monday!

I started blogging ten months ago because I wanted to be able to share with others what I do and how I do it. On January 3rd I launched my first ever free quilt pattern, Soupcon Hexagon Quilt Along (QAL). Soupcon is a French word that means a little bit. This QAL includes a little bit of things I designed this quilt so allow others to experiment with methods I love to use in my quilts including hexagons, embroidery, applique and piecing! There are beginners and experienced quilters participating so it is suitable for all skill levels!

This is a six part pattern and every two weeks I release another installment. Each installment includes a number of design options so that you can make the quilt uniquely your own. In addition at the end I'll be providing some ideas for turning the wall hanging into a quilt. If you are interested in participating in my QAL Step 1 is here and Step 2 is here. Step 3 will be available on February 1. I'm making two versions of the quilt and this is how mine look after step 2 is completed! Those making the quilt are posting pictures on my Soupcon FLICKR Group. You will be amazed at how different they look and each one is gorgeous!

I've got loads of quilt tops waiting to be quilted. Here are the three that I think will be the next in line!

81 The Giant Monstrosity

Piccadilly to the Nines

Lazy Girl

And now for the give away! I made hardcover needle books for my friends as Christmas gifts. The free pattern comes from The Studiolo. I've made another hardcover needle book as a give away for Grow Your Blog Day. If you would like a chance to win this needle book simply leave me a comment telling me which needle book you would like to win, the pink leaf or the teal leaf!

I will reply to every comment so if you don't hear back from me it is because you are a No-Reply Blogger. I have no way to contact No-Reply Bloggers so you won't be entered in the draw unless you leave your email address in the comment. Be sure to use the following format: name(at)emailserver(dot)com. Vicky the Grow Your Blog Party organizer has asked that all participating blogs announce prize winner on the same day, February 15. THE GIVE AWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

I hope you enjoy my blog; there are lots of free tips, tutorials, patterns and my Soupcon Quilt Along!I hope you'll take a few moments to look around and if you like what you've seen I hope you'll consider following me on Bloglovin or by email. Until I post again, happy sewing!

Karen H

Procrastination is about to end, sewing treasures and more crazies

I procrastinated all day yesterday and there was neither basting nor quilting. But I wasn't wasting time because I did manage to install a new printer however it took all afternoon. There was lots of frustration and I was close to tears more than once but in the end it was connected and I can now print to my heart's content. When faced with this type of challenge I often recall an old Star Trek episode when Dr. McCoy (aka Bones) was asked by Capt. Kirk to treat a silicon-based alien (it looked like a big heaving rock to me). His response was "Dammit Jim I'm a doctor not a bricklayer". When faced with IT problems I often think "I'm a quilter, not an IT specialist"!

Since there is no quilting to show how about a few sewing treasures that I've collected over the years?

 

 

So what are all of these things? The following item was picked up at a garage sale by a friend. He knew it was for sewing but wasn't sure what you do with it. It is a wooden sock darner. You can tell from all the nicks that it has been well used to mend may socks.

 

 

This next little item was found it a shop that sold tchotchkes. It is a little wooden needle case that would have been turned on a lathe.

 

 

The top come off and inside are some pins. Looked at the lovely threaded top and rim! Beautiful work.

  

The third treasure was picked up in the same shop and it is a French ivory button hook. French ivory is celluloid and it is a manmade material that was made to resemble ivory.

 

 The last treasure is a wooden stiletto that my brother turned for me on his lathe. In addition to being functional it is beautiful. It is made of curly maple (also called fiddle back) and it is loaded with beautiful iridescent figuring. It is a handy little tool with loads of uses from feeding points under a sewing machine needle to poking out corners!

 

I'll leave you with two more close-ups of some of my hand embroideries on my miniature crazy quilt. These little blocks are 3" square.

 

A tiny little frog

A pansy and a bumble bee

 

Right - time to get back to Lazy Punk.....let the basting begin!

 

Until I post again, happy sewing!