Sunday, February 15, 2015

The Winner and some reverse sewing is required


Thank you to everyone who took the time to leave a comment on my blog for the Grow Your Blog event. I read and replied to every single comment (except for those who are no-reply bloggers). All of the names went in a hat and one was pulled out.

The prize!

The winner is Wendy. She wrote "I have been following you for a couple of yrs now and I love your blog and all the inspiration on here. I am actually going to make my rendition of your 81 Giant Monstrosity quilt this coming year. I am gathering fabrics now."  I've emailed Wendy to let her know that she won the draw! I also would like to extend a very special thank you to Vicki of 2 Bags Full for organizing this terrific event!

I really appreciate the comments you leave on my blog post. A reader asked a question about my Birds in the Loft quilt that is in the works right now. She wanted to know if I planned on repeating the teal colour elsewhere in the medallion. This is the diagram of the medallion with the blue fabric at the top and bottom. The little black dots represent a fussy cut bee.


The fabric I used is actually an aqua colour with bees. This is the medallion with the aqua bees in place.


On the sides I fussy cut bees from an off white fabric and I was quite happy with the look until the question of the fabric colour was raised.


That got me thinking - what would happen if I replaced the off white bees on the side with aqua bees. I got up this morning, cut and basted two aqua bees and took before and after pictures.

Birds in the Loft medallion "before"

This is the after picture with the aqua bees pinned in place on the medallion and the medallion is much improved with this small change. I  have some reverse sewing to do today! I construct all of my hexagons in the same way; I create an "open donut" and then sew in the middle hexagon using a thread colour than matches the "donut". It makes for fast sewing and equally fast reverse sewing!

Birds in the Loft medallion "after"

I'm going to need 270 hexagon rosettes for this quilt so I've been cutting and sewing. Here's today's installment of what I've managed to create. Love, love, love the fabric in the middle. See how just one fussy cut combined with a tone-on-tone print can create a lovely effect?


This rosette is made from an old scrap of Christmas fabric. Although I'm not usually a fan of holiday prints I thought I would give this scrap a try to see what happens and I was pleased with the result. I will likely use it in the quilt but if not it will just go in a box of hexagons to be used at a later time!


Before I sign off I want to once again mention that I reply to every comment so if you don't hear back from me it means you are a no reply blogger and as such I have no way to contact you. Kathyinozarks published an explanation about how you can update your profile so that your email address is available. You will find it here.

It is time for me to get out the seam ripper so until I post again, happy sewing!
Karen H

11 comments:

  1. congrats to the winner-and I do love the aqua bees better

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  2. Wendy, gefeliciteerd (Dutch for congrets). I also like the aqua Bee fabric. IT makes the other colours stronger. I' ve to think and write more into English to express.
    Groet van Dientje

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  3. Sent my info to you Karen! Yay I won! Thank you for such a generous giveaway! I too like the aqua bees better. They add a great little pop of color there.

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  4. Amazing how such a little change can make a big difference. Even though it means extra work, the blue bees really do add something special.

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  5. Those aqua bees on the sides will definitely add some more pizazz! Have fun with your reverse sewing...

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  6. Karen, love 'Birds in the Loft' a winner from you again. Youn continue to amaze me and inspire me, speaking of which, I'm sewing the last rosettes on the center section of 81 Monstrosity. When I get them completed and add a few filler pieces I'll send a photo. It's been a fun project! Thanks again.

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  7. Congrats to Wendy : )
    fab fab looking centre now, the blue does lift the whole so much too!

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  8. Congratulations Wendy!
    I like the new aqua hexies, Karen; they bring the eye outwards, the effect is to broaden the whole and create more interest. Thanks for showing what such a small change can make.

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  9. Congratulations, Wendy! And good luck on your quilt.

    Happy sewing!
    SuZeQ

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  10. Congrats to Wendy. Lovely work as always Karen, so much attention to small details makes all the difference.

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  11. congrats to Wendy.
    I do like the new bees you are placing near the center.

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