Tartan suitcase collection.... and not a hexagon in sight

Absolutely superb meeting of our quilting group on Monday when we had the pleasure of viewing and handling the quilts from Region 16's Tartan Holdall Collection . Fifty six A3 sized quilts to wonder at. some well-known makers are represented such as Sheena Norquay , Frieda Oxenham and Linzi Upton. Available for hire at a reasonable cost to any quilt group.

All very inspirational and a selection, with permission from the coordinator, is shown below.

Figures

Townscapes

Landscapes

One hundredth post, and ...... it's about hexagons

Still blogging at 100 posts, so better than 85% of starter bloggers apparently.
Hexagons from the Jen Jones Quilt Collection. a velvet and silk quilt made for a friend by another who was emigrating. These hexagons are about 1 inch in diameter ( can a hexagon have a diameter?), so this was a true labour of love.

Stitched over papers, and then hand appliqued to the velvet with feather stitch . The long contrasting stitches around the inner edges of the hexagons are a lovely touch.

Hexagons on location

Last days of the summer holidays, and a superb day out at the Pride of the Valley Sculpture Park. This is such a great place, easily accessible by road, and yet there seem to be very few people who have heard of it. Niece and nephew were well entertained by elder son, so I could sew hexagons, sitting on impressive wooden chairs, imagining I was in Narnia.

West Wales, stitching and inspiration

Superb , if wet, visit to Penbryn in Wales. Highlights were:

loads of beaches within walking distance or a short drive

great big communal campfires and amazing sunsets at night

activities if you want them, nothing if you don't.... AND, ....

• the Jen Jones Quilt Welsh Quilt Centre about 30 minutes drive away. This will have a separate post, as it was so inspiring


• a visit to Melin Tregwynt, with a little retail treat

• more hexagons

• inspiration from beach stones and structures

Hexagon hints - how to help your stripes hit the spot

Still on my hexagon kick, and I've been trying a few ways too ensure more accurate placement of the stripes:

1. A dab of water soluble glue in the centre of the hexagon to hold it to the fabric - good but the far corners still tend to move about and go askew


2. A strip of glue along the side edges of the paper - not so good as the glue catches on the needle and makes it very hard to stitch


3. Swiss iris lace pins pinned parallel to the stripes through the middle of the hexagon, and then with another pin at right angles - perfect.

Off to west Wales this week, with my hexagons, and hoping to visit the Jen Jones Quilt Centre and the National Wool Museum, in between canoeing, climbing and beach activities here.

Holiday Hexagons

A week without a sewing machine has to mean lots of hand sewing. Thankfully, I managed to get a fair bit of preparation in before we left for the Isle of Wight, and so got to a lot more hexagons. Not many photographed as the camera was in use for beach photos of the boys and the inflatable boat.

Stripey hexagons are an interesting exercise in how much precision is needed when cutting and stitching stripes.

Recommendations in Ventnor: Rainbows haberdashery, on Pier Street, a great organised muddle of wool, fabric and sewing items; El Toro Contento, family-owned Spanish restaurant with eccentric decor and genuine Spanish food; Minghella's ice-cream; Botanic Gardens.

Hexagons have got a hold of my heart

Thanks to pre-cut papers from Jackie Wills, and some decent drama on the telly, I've been stitching away at hexagons.

Strangely relaxing in a mindless sort of way, only decision is what to put in the middle. These are 1.5 inches on the side and take about a 4 inch square of fabric for each hexagon.