Busy this Hexie Weekend

Super busy this hexie weekend with a yard sale and a booksale, so Billie at Billiebee's is handling the linky.  Thank you, Billie for agreeing to gather eye candy for us.  We love eye candy of any kind.

I did finish a quilt this week.  Go here to see it.  Also I was sorting and found this flimsie again.

I've finally decided to deconstruct these hexie blocks and machine applique them onto a new background.  The muslin is the weakest part of this top and hope to salvage the top that way.  I may put the little green diamonds also.  What would you do?

A friend asked how I use freezer paper to quilt around a motif.  Here are a few photos to illustrate what I do:

First I trace the pattern onto a piece of freezer paper.  I then cut between the feathers of the circle almost to the center circle.

Once I have cut it all out, I iron the shiny side to the top of my quilt where I am going to place that element.

Then I machine quilt the motif by starting at the circle, traveling up a feather and then down the spine of the next feather to the circle again. Repeat all the way around.  Since I have already cut the paper for the feathers, it's easy peasy removing the paper.

And here's what it looks like once it's done.
Go on over to Billie's  and share a link.  I'll pick one of those who link to get 100 one inch hexagon templates to try your hand at hexies.  Wish me luck in the next two days.

I'm linking to Amanda Jean's Finish it Friday and Sarah's Can I have a Whoop, Whoop?  Do stop by.

Applique Tuesday

Again, no applique progress on my projects, but finding applique everywhere.  Here is some I found on a panel gifted to St. Anne's:

Cutest little panel in flannel.  I made it using the envelope method of putting the three layers together.

I just outlined the larger elements in this as the quilting for this batting can be 10" apart.  I used Superior Bottom Line in Silver for the bobbin work and you can hardly see it on the back:

The color is off because it was the only way some of the quilting would show up in the photo.
I'll be turning it in at Thursday's St. Anne's meeting.

What are you up to?  Leave me a comment and I'll come over to see your eye candy.  Are you staying up for the solar eclipse?  I'm off to bed after I link this post to Esther's WOW, Connie's Linky Tuesday, and publish.

Some of This, Some of That

The destashing:  Used a fat 16th's worth of scrap pieces for a Block Lotto block; a FQ for a 12" scrap block. And 1/2 yard for the four blocks I talk about below. I donated a yard to the Thrifty Corner and used a yard to back my latest charity quilt.  Numbers on the right sidebar.

Coming off my design wall is my block lotto block and four log cabinish blocks for a special project.

The Block Lotto block - woven bars

Made 4 of these. Why is the ruler on them?  I wanted to share with you how I try to do all my swap blocks.  These were to be 12" finished blocks.  What with cutting, piecing and pressing, they don't always come out the size I started to make them.  Usually if they are up to a 1/4" off I can join them to be correct.  But for swap blocks I want them to be the size they are suppose to be so the recipient won't go crazy dealing with all these blocks that are a tad off.  So if I can,  I add a 1/4" to the last piece that makes up the block.

For instance this sorta log cabin has strips 3" wide with the outer border 1 1/2" to make a 12 1/2" unfinished block.  So I made the last strips 1 3/4" wide by the required lengths.  Then I assemble my block and give it a good pressing.  I then lay each block on the cutting mat and center my 12 1/2" ruler on top so that the diagonal marks on the ruler go through the opposite corners of the block and the extra outer border is the same all around (or close to).  I then trim the block on the right and top sides, turn the block 180 degrees and center my ruler again to be right on the edge on the left and bottom sides.  Now I trim the last two sides. Result:  an exact 12 1/2" unfinished block to send off for the swap.

I'm linking to Judy's Stash Report and Design Wall Monday.  Also Lyn's BOMs Away. Blessings.
Make time to do a little sewing.  It's therapeutic and soothing.