Giveaway 3 Winner - and more pre-cut fabric hexagons

I've been a bit quiet this past week, but I've been a little busy making new pre-cut fabric hexagons for my store, and busy making better pictures to give you a clearer idea of what's available.

I like the colours in this range, Etchings by 3 Sisters for Moda, but I have to admit that every time I get a new fabric range it automatically becomes my "new favourite". I'm sure you can relate.

Before I go any further, I need to stop for a minute and draw the winner of the giveaway.

Back in a minute ...

* * * * * * * * * *

OK I'm back. Sorry I took so long, I said that I'd have an international winner and an Australian winner, but I kept drawing international names.

The international winner is Henria O. from SazzyFrazz Says, and if elliek is an Aussie, then she's my Australian winner. Congratulations, you each win a pack of 50 fabric hexagons in 50 different colours, plus one pack containing 100 of my 1" paper or card hexagons. I'll email you shortly.

I've sold out of the packs of 50 different coloured hexagons but I have orderd Moda's Bella Solids in all sorts of colours so that I can make some new packs. There were quite a few suggestions to make some from Terrain, and I will ... as soon as I can get my hands on some!

Here's what's new in my store, packs of pre-cut fabric hexagons made from the Clermont Farm and Strawberry Fields ranges from Moda. I have also added Collection for a Cause - Hope, and I still have some Curio, Etchings and some other ranges available.

Clermont Farm

Strawberry Field

These are all in the 1 & 1/2" sides size, suitable for use with 1" templates. I hope you find that these specialist pre-cuts save you lots of time and effort.

Kaleidoscopes - Part 1

I think I have a new name for my current project - Candy Kaleidoscope. Because I really love the simply-pieced, fussily-cut hexagons I've been making lately, and the lovely Gayle said they reminded her of one.

One of my top favourite childhood memories is of my grandmother's kaleidoscope. An honest-to-goodness old-fashioned one (because it was such a long time ago LOL). If I close my eyes and imagine looking through the hole, I can still see the everchanging colours and movement. And hear the soft swish of the tiny glass pieces fall over each other like sand.

I was completely fascinated by it. When it popped into my mind a few months ago, I went online and found the most beautiful kaleidoscopes, glass paperweights and glass bottles I've ever seen, at the Light Opera Gallery. I can only imagine what these gorgeous objects look and feel like.

Anyway, back to reality. Here's a picture of my latest blocks, hot off the press. Notice anything different about the red/brown one on the right? It has an octagon in the centre instead of a hexagon.



I made it specially because I wanted to tell you that I just picked up some new custom-made dies yesterday for making die-cut octagons.

I like the octagons with 1" sides but the 2" ones are huge! They are 4 times the size of the 1" ones. I think I'm going to have to get a die made up for 1 1/2" octagons. So if you love hand-piecing but are a little tired of hexies, you might like to try octies for a change. You can find them here.

P.S. I am calling this post "Kaleidoscopes - Part 1" because I have a feeling there's going to be more parts to come. I have the feeling I'm going to be up very late tonight googling for kaleidy images ... bye for now ...

Giveaway 2 - Winners - Candy Packs

Hi Everyone, it's just a quick post tonight to tell you the winners of my Candy Packs giveaway.

The first name drawn was Linda Coleman from Ireland. Congratulations Linda! You've won a nice big pack of: 100 x die-cut 1" hexagons, 100 x 1" diamonds, 100 x 1" triangles, 100 x 1 1/2" hexagons, 100 x 1 1/2" diamonds and 100 x 1 1/2" triangles.

Will these suit one of your projects? Or would you prefer to receive something different? Let me know.

Now I did say that I was going to draw one international winner and one Australian winner. I've drawn the second name and I have a feeling that they are Aussie. Stay tuned while I wait for confirmation ...

Hi, I'm back again. Barb's Creations has just confirmed that she is Barb from Victoria. (I had a feeling but I wasn't sure.)

So there we have it. Our international winner is Linda and our Aussie winner is Barb. Congratulations to both!

Simple and easy is good too

I'm going to talk about the Hexalong again. I can't help it. Every time I look at the latest photos from this talented group, I am blown away. Again.

Up pops one amazing, how-did-they-do-it block, then another even more amazing how-in-the-WORLD-did-they-do-it block.

Like this masterpiece of curved piecing from Dan @ Piece and Press.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31012421@N08/6046476344/in/pool-1617207@N20/

Dan has kindly provided a template for his medallion, but I'm going to save it for a long rainy day when I can really concentrate. My brain is a little tired at the moment so I've gone back to basics with my latest batch of Candied Hexagons.

Six simple triangles per hexagon, with the fabric doing all the fancy work. I don't really plan what the blocks are going to look like, they just happen, and with this great fabric (Fandango by Kate Spain) I just can't go wrong.

Giveaway 2 - Candy Packs

If you've been following this new blog, you'll know that my favourite favourite project right now is my Candied Hexagons quilt. I mentioned it in a recent post but if you want to know more about this Hexalong, visit Lily's Quilts.

I am continually inspired by the creativity of everyone in this Hexalong. There's so much variety in the fabrics and colours used. You can see all the latest Hexalong photos (including mine) here.

The great thing about Candied Hexagons is that no two blocks are the same. You mix and match hexagons, half-hexagons, triangles, diamonds, basically any shapes that fit together.

Now I'm sure that the last thing you want to do when you're excited about a new project is spend your time cutting out your paper pieces. So I've put together a Candy Pack containing all the following:

100 x 1" hexagons
100 x 1" diamonds
100 x 1" triangles
100 x 1 1/2" hexagons
100 x 1 1/2" diamonds
100 x 1 1/2" triangles

Yes that's 600 pieces in the Candy Pack. All pieces are die-cut by me myself and I, so you get to choose from paper pieces or card pieces. I'm giving away two packs, one to the first Australian entry drawn and one to the first International entry drawn. Shipping included.

Leave a comment on this blog (about anything you like) before 9pm (Sydney time) Friday 19 August. Only one entry per person please. (If you want to stay private, you're welcome to email me an entry.)

If you're interested in maybe purchasing a Candy Pack, I've listed them here in my store at a 20% discount compared to buying each shape/size individually.

A quick hello ...

Hi everyone in Blogland. I haven't forgotten about you. It's just that now that my holidays have ended and I'm back at work, there just aren't enough hours in the day.

And sometimes all I want to do at the end of a long day is stitch. (Well actually, I want to stitch and eat chocolate while lying in a hot bath, but the steam makes the chocolate melt which makes my fabric messy.) I'm sure you all know the feeling. (Not the feeling of being in a hot chocolatey bath, but the end-of-a-long-day feeling.)

I know I promised another giveaway, but I'll have to keep you all waiting just one more night. Tonight I am determined to finish this sweet little block for my Candied Hexagon quilt.
Tomorrow night. Giveaway No. 2.

I promise.

Giveaway 1 - Winner 9

Tomorrow night is the last night of my first giveaway.

Don't stress - I already have my second giveaway planned! I just need to drag myself away from my Hexalong project long enough to make it. (Hint - it is Hexalong related.)

So far I've been making my Hexalong (Candied Hexagons) quilt from these aqua blues and sea greens from the Fandango range by Kate Spain for Moda. Plus a few reds from my stash.


Today I received a parcel containing these other colours from the Fandango range. I can't wait to use them!

I'm also excited about trying some challenging blocks posted by Lynne from Lily's Quilts here.

But before I go, I need to tell you tonight's winner of the giveaway.

It's one of my Forum friends, Liz from Canberra, Australia. Congratulations!

Giveaway 1 - Winner 8 - and my current project

Have you ever seen a quilt that you absolutely positively no-doubt-about-it have to make?

When I saw this quilt a couple of weeks ago, I was instantly smitten. I cut my papers immediately, opened my never-been-used fabric glue pen, and life has not been the same since.


The Candied Hexagon quilt has been around for a few years, but this one by Lizzie Broderie is just so yummy. Whenever I look at it, I see something new. Also check out the amazing circular blocks that she has pieced. Her use of colour, her fussy-cut fabrics and her amazing skill and neatness are a real inspiration.

Luckily, I wasn't the only one who fell in love with this quilt. Lynne from Lily's Quilts has been posting patterns, Gayle Brindley has been keeping us in the mood with the prettiest blocks, and they're both helping us out with tutorials covering everything from the basics of english paper piecing to how to design and sew blocks with curved pieces.

For more inspiration, visit the Lily's Quilts Flickr page. (Warning: you will NOT be able to resist joining in.)

But before you do, join me in congratulating tonight's winner of the giveaway, Paul from Ohio. Congratulations Paul!

PS There are still two more draws to go. To be in the running, go to http://pbpatch.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-first-blog-day-3-its-time-for.html.