Some Firsts

First, you still have time to link to Hexie Weekend (ends Tuesday, Midnight) and get in on the giveaways.  Just go to the previous post.

Another first is I finally have some numbers over a part of a yard to add to my stash report.  There was 2.13 yards for one backing and another 1.13 for a VA quilt backing.  Figured I can't FMQ if I don't have a top ready, so yesterday I started to sandwich two UFOs to get them under the needle.  See my totals on right sidebar.

Then here is a photo of our first tomato for the year:

My DH is not happy with the state of the plant - says it's not as hardy as the one before, but we do have a bumper crop coming along.

Then there is the first yellow cactus flowers:

They're even more beautiful in actual life as I noticed them at high noon which is not a good time to take photos and the pot is too heavy to move.

Lastly, on my design wall is my Soupçon where I have added the first border and starting to add the second one of part 6 of this wonderful project by Karen.

What's on your design wall?  I'm linking to Judy's Design Wall Monday,  Lyn's BOMs Away, Anything Goes Monday, and Something Old, Something New 

Hexie Weekend and 2 Giveaways

Hi, there!  It's another weekend already, and I have some hexie progress for you, or should I say hexie problem.  I also have two giveaways.  Going through a shelf in my computer room (how'd all that quilting stuff get in there?), I found a duplicate of this:

It even has a hexagon block!  This is volume 5.

And the library staff has been saving the blow in cards from all the magazines they get, so I have another 100 3/4" hexagon paper pieces easily punched with my Fiskar hexagon punch.   I used 7 to make another flower block:

 I'm not sure about this hexie flower. I may change the center to something that reads more white. Then again, maybe not. What do you think?

And I forgot that the first one had a flower oriented differently. And on closer look at the fabric, it looks more like a Liberty of London print than 30s. Ay de mí!  I just spent an hour on a dud. Well live and learn. I may just make a mug rug or something out of this second one.

For the two giveaways, tell me which you'd like as the caption to your thumbnail when you link.  You can use a flickr link or any photo site you use besides a blog. Ends Tuesday, Midnight - and please be sure there is a way for me to contact you.  The last winner of 100 pieces had no way for me to contact her, and the same for the second name I picked. Sigh.  Good luck!
Linky below:

An InLinkz Link-up

I'm linking to Richard's Link a Finish Friday,  TGIFF , Can I get a Whoop, Whoop and One Flower Wednesday (I actually had it ready Wed) since I did finish a block - lol. Go see all the goodies there.

Applique Tuesday

While I haven't had a chance to get back to my applique projects, I did go to a workshop last Saturday and did some applique a different way. The teacher had us fuse it to a piece of muslin, then thread paint it. Once that is done, we cut it out of the muslin and attach it to a already quilted background. The last step is to embellish the piece.

Here's my flower ready to cut out.  I have to make the background first. I bought some beads to embellish the black center of my poppy. I was going to make a wall hanging, but now I think I"ll use it in a medallion quilt. I have an idea for one.

The teacher, Marguerite Tate, couldn't have made this easier for us. She had kits for every step of the process. They contained fabric already fused to Steam a Seam 2, beads, you name it as to embellishing. We all brought foam boards to place the pattern and muslin on so we could place the pieces. Here's a few done by my fellow students:

She was an excellent teacher! Explained all the steps and was so helpful. Alas, she doesn't have a blog or website, but if you'd like to learn more go here to see a guild post about her visit.  Marguerite's email is there if you want to contact her.

Would love to see your applique or any other eye candy! Leave me a comment and I'll come and visit. In the meantime, I'm linking to Connie's Linky Tuesday and Esther's WOW.