This N That

Nothing in and nothing out, so numbers stay the same.  That's my stash report for this week.

Before I forget, my giveaway for celebrating 1000 posts is still on.  You could win a quilt! Closes Tuesday, midnight. Also on is the Hexie Weekend linky party - that closes Monday, midnight. We'd love to see your eye candy of any kind - new or old. Go here to enter either or both. Links in the post will get you where you want, and see the quilt.

On my design wall are two rows of the commission quilt.

Five rows to go.  I discovered as I made these that I really need a map for the disappearing nine-patch blocks before assembling because otherwise the symbols can look like something else.

Do you see an unhappy face?
So I made a map:

I oriented the symbols so they would be going one way and spread out the three large prints in a pattern.  Then I cut a duplicate map into strips of two rows at a time and cut the foursomes in those rows into four blocks and rearranged each set of four to be a nine patch giving me the orientation and which large print to use.  Here's a part of the page - the scanner was not cooperating and I couldn't get the whole page - just a part of the nine patch layouts.

Hope you see what a help this was to me or else I'd have been ripping out stitches for each nine-patch.

I'm linking over to Judy's Design Wall Monday and Lyn's BOMs Away.  She's still working on her thesis, but she had a little time to post last week.  Blessings to you all.

Hexie Weekend

Okay - My hand stitched hexies are on hold as I quilt that Hexie flower garden I've shown you before. Actually started on it. I'm being daring and quilting the flowers with pink 50 wt thread on top and silver on the bottom as I practiced on a piece and got the tension just right.  I read and reread Karen H's posts on how she quilts her hexagons and am using her experience to guide me.

And I'm happy with the response so far for my ongoing Giveaway.  Did you read the previous post.  I'm giving away a quilt. So if you didn't read it, go back and enter to see if you win this lap quilt.  There are six ways to enter!

On Wednesday I was at the California Science Center in LA for their Pompeii Exhibit.  It was great - a little noisy with all that volcanic action, but it was very interesting to see all they had from Italy from Pompeii that has not been seen in US before.  They have a great simulation of the eruption, a thorough explanation of the city and how people lived there.  Loved the atriums.

And - I do have a finish!  Here's my completed hexagon charity quilt I made with my new Hex N More ruler.

Here's #2 holding it.  It's almost as big as he is!  I made a comment to myself about how Grandpa wasn't available to hold it so I could take a picture. He immediately said, "I can hold it for you, Grandma." He's such a helper.

I decided to quilt a strip of loops around the edge for the border.  This measures 34 by 36.
I spent quite a bit of time making all those skating rabbits going one way where I could.  It was only when I had quilted half the motifs did I notice I had quilted them upside down to the bunnies. From now on, it's check twice, quilt once -LOL.  I hope baby won't mind.

Here you can see some of the motifs in the squares. I found a cat, dog, bear, cherries, apple, tree, whale, sandman, seashell and airplane to quilt - all Mary Covey motifs.  I used freezer paper to mark them in the full hexagons.

It was very hard to see the quilting on the backing - thus the contrasty photo.  I used silver 50 wt Aurifil thread and silver Superior Bottom line for the back with a 90/14 titanium needle.

So what have you been up to?  Would love to see your eye candy! Linky below; ends Monday, midnight.  Because I love eye candy, I'm linking to Amanda Jean's Finish it Up Friday and Richard's Link a Finish Friday .

Do enter the giveaway!  I'd love to send you my quilt to celebrate my 1001 posts.

An InLinkz Link-up

Applique Tuesday Not & Giveaway

Yesterday was a tad difficult.  Not only did I have the fun of having both boys here, but my TMJ and allergies were acting up, it got to 112 on the patio, and I had a guild meeting to go to. Sunday and Monday were at 110 too so by Tuesday I felt fried every time I stepped out of the house.  I meant to mention that my last DWM post was my 1,000 post for this blog, but my cooked brain couldn't remember much.

So this is the 1001 post for A Quilting Reader's Garden.  I can't believe I am there.  So most people do a giveaway or something - think I'll do one, too.  Did I get to any applique since last Tuesday? No, other than making more musical symbols and thinking about LE.  Every time I see one, I want to start on mine again.  And today I went off on a scouting trip for our next Seniors Field Trip at our church.  We took the train to Downtown LA, caught a subway and another train to Exposition Park and had a great time.  This one is doable!  Lots of things to see and do. We went specifically for the Pompeii exhibition, but people can do anything they want in the 4 hours they will have to explore before getting back on the trains.  Took all day.

Back to the Giveaway - I've decided to giveaway a quilt (one in photo, about 48" x 60").  This will run from today til next Tuesday, September 23rd, midnight.  There are several ways you can enter:

1. comment on this post answering:  Can you work in the heat? 
2. follow this blog and let me know you did, 
3. mention this giveaway on your blog and let me know you did,
4. Visit Rhonda, check out her BOMs and BOWs and tell me in a comment on this post which is your favorite;
5. visit Karen here and leave a comment on her blog and let me know you did.
6. Visit Mercy here and leave a comment  on her blog and let me know you did.

Be sure you are not a no-reply blogger because if you are your chances will be nil.  Good Luck!