Nearly finished? I spoke too soon

I spoke too soon. I thought I had nearly finished this quilt. I just had to finish quilting around half-a-dozen flowers, put the border on and voila.

I finished the flowers but it just didn't look complete. Maybe I stitched too close to the flowers? Maybe I should have used a dark purple all over to match the borders, instead of using coordinating colours to match the flowers?

(Why are my photos fuzzy? Click to enlarge to make them look clearer.)

Maybe I needed some more hand-quilting to fill in the white spaces a bit?

I tried out one idea - a large hexagon around each flower - but luckily I had the good sense to baste it first in large temporary stitches instead of actually quilting it, because it turned out that I really did not like the honeycomb design.

Here is the next idea I tried out. Again, just in large temporary stitches.

I liked it! So far I have filled in the white bits around five flowers, using a mid-purple thread. I wasn't sure about the design when I started, but the more I do the better it looks.

I think you may be a little bored looking at this project by now, so I promise you that the next photo I show will be of the completed quilt.

Lots of hexie flowers done

I have caught up on my hexie flower swaps: Bek (Feb Inchy Swap), Maggie (Mar Inchy Swap), Suzzie (Feb/Mar Forum Swap) and Jeanette (Mar/Apr Forum Swap).

Coincidentally, everyone wanted either red, aqua or lime green so I opened one of my few remaining packs of pre-cut Ruby hexagons. Such a gorgeous fabric range! I should have hoarded some more.

Sorry I didn't take any photos before I sealed the envelopes.

Stock update - More die-cut fabric hexagons in store

Hello! Yes I'm still here. I'm sorry I haven't been blogging lately. Something's been on my mind and I've been tossing back and forth about what to do. I guess the best thing is just to tell you about it.

It's about my fabric hexagon packs, you know the packs containing the inchy-sized fabric hexagons.  Surprisingly, when I started making them from Moda's ranges last year, it's turned out to be more economical to make them from Layer Cakes than from yardage.

An added advantage is that my customers know exactly what they're getting in these packs, i.e. enough hexagons to make a standard inchy-sized flower out of each of layer of the Layer Cake. I've been putting 7 hexagons from each layer in each pack. That's enough for 6 petals for each flower (42 flowers per pack) plus a spare from each layer. 

However, I've found that if the Moda Layer Cake is even just a millimetre too small, there's not enough fabric to die-cut the spares. Even though the spare ones end up just a millimetre short on one side - which doesn't really matter if you're hand-stitching them - it really bothers me that they are not absolutely perfect!

So from now on, each inchy-sized Hexagon Multi Pack will have 6 hexagons from each layer. That's 252 hexagons per pack and exactly enough petals for 42 flowers, but not the spares.

I've been busy die-cutting more of these packs for you and have just restocked these 2011 favourites:

Circa 1934, Curio, Etchings, Giddy, Good Fortune, Hometown, Reunion, Rounneries Deux, Strawberry Fields and Terrain.

2011 Favourite - Hometown

And here's a sneak peek of the next job on my To Do list: making some pre-cut packs from these brand-new 2012 ranges: Papillon, Petite Odile, California Girls and Vintage Modern. (I love them all!)

2012 - California Girl

 You are welcome to pre-order them by emailing me. Just let me know which ones you want me to die-cut and I will put them to the top of my To Do list and make them within 24 hours.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, the Free Offer is back on in my store until 6 March. With any purchase of a Hexagon Multi Pack, you'll get a free pack of 100 paper or card hexagons (or 50 of each if you prefer).

Giveaway Winners - Happy New Year!

Oh my, I almost forgot to draw the giveaway! I've had such a lovely day in the fresh air and sunshine (stitching hexie flowers on my balcony) that I hardly even looked at my computer.

So here are the results ...

1. (International winner) Natasha from Nova Scotia, Canada
2.  (Australian winner) Elaine T from the Blue Mountains, NSW.

Congratulations to you both! I'll contact you to find out which Hexagon Charm Pack you would like. And don't forget to tell me which pack you would like me to send to your "Secret Santa" friend.

Happy New Year everyone! I hope that all your creative endeavours this year are a great success.

Giveaway - More Hexagon Charm Packs

The New Year inches closer and closer but it's not too late to enter the giveaway for my brand new Hexagon Charm Packs.

I've made lots more pre-cut hexagons for you to chose from. These are large hexagons, the same size as Moda's regular square charm packs. This batch includes Good Fortune, Sassy, Little Apples and others, plus the not yet released California Girl. You can find more details in the pbpatch store.

There'll be an Australian winner and an International winner. To enter, just read my previous post and leave a comment there before 2011 runs out. (If Blogger doesn't let you leave a comment, send me an email and I'll enter one for you.)

Good luck everyone!

Now available - Hexagon Charm Packs

Another busy week has flown by - busy in my day-job and busy at night making new products.

The new hexagon-shaped charm packs that I previewed the other day are now listed in my store. I have decided to sell them for around the same as the Australian retail price of the regular square charm packs from Moda.

Yes, that's right - a charm pack of pre-cut hexagons for the same price as the squares! (My local store sells the square ones for $17.95 and some eBay stores sell them for $15 so my hexagon ones are in between.) Ready for you to machine-sew or hand-sew without any further preparation.


I couldn't resist using another pack myself. Here's my latest charm quilt, using A Walk in the Woods by Aneela Hoey for Moda. I need lots more practice at free-motion quilting!


You might have noticed in my store that I often only have 2 or 3 packs available for each range of fabric hexagons at any one time. That doesn't mean that more aren't available, it just means I haven't made it for you yet!

I'm not a store so I don't have a lot of stock sitting on the shelves. I generally just custom-make my products when anyone orders them. If something is 'out of stock', that just means that I will custom-make it for you, so please do not hesitate to email me your requests. If the fabric is available, I'll make it for you within 24 hours.

I am determined that from the New Year on, I am going to spend a full day each weekend at my cutting table, making LOTS of stock so I can do LOTS of markets in 2012. I enjoyed getting out of Sydney so much in November to go to the Braidwood quilt event, so I want to do lots more of that.

Do you have a favourite market? I'd love to hear about it, so how about we make that the theme of a new giveaway.

This giveaway is to launch my new Hexagon Charm Packs. An Australian winner and an International winner will each receive a Hexagon Charm Pack of their choice. You can see what's available now here, but I will add more Moda ranges over the coming weeks.

Plus, each winner can nominate a friend to receive a surprise present. Keep it a secret for now, don't mention any names in your comment, just let me know their details when you win and I will send them whichever Hexagon Charm Pack you think they'd like.

To enter, leave a comment telling me about your favourite market, whether that's in Australia or overseas, a quilters market, flea market or whatever. I'll draw the winners on New Year's Day. Good luck!

Escape to the country 2

It rained and rained and rained, but I had a great weekend at Braidwood. It was lovely to get out into the wide open countryside and to meet lots of friendly quilters.

I was looking forward to the Airing of the Quilts and seeing hundreds of quilts hanging from the historic buildings, but obviously that got cancelled because of the rain. I guess no-one wanted to see the Washing of the Quilts. LOL.

I was lucky enough to find a completely dry spot underneath a balcony to set up my market stall, on the corner of the main street and right outside a cafe. This is the building I sheltered under, although the photo is from a previous year. (I forgot to take my own photos!)


I'm thrilled to say my pre-cut fabric hexagons were a big hit. It makes me so happy to know that I am saving people lots of time and effort. And I think quite a few people will be getting my handmade pendants in their Christmas stockings this year.

My Mum was a fantastic co-stallholder and a wonderful B-and-B host too. Thanks so much Mum! The weekend could not have gone smoother. I'm looking forward to returning next year, and I'll make sure I allow some time to see the exhibitions.

P.S. There's a small problem with my website - I can't seem to update any information e.g. product availability. (I think this happens due to automatic security upgrades. I haven't figured out how to fix it yet.) If you want to order any fabric hexagons, can you send me a quick email at joanne@pbpatch.com.au to check they are available first.

Giveaway 4 winners, and birthday yumminess

I've had a yummy yummy birthday. Out to lunch at a favourite cafe on the bay (crispy-skinned barramundi drizzled with chilli oil - yummmm), phone calls from my family and friends, and a sweet sweet e-card from a lovely online friend.

To top it off, I have a piece of chocolate gateau waiting patiently to be eaten. I'm still too full from lunch! And I just splurged on a present for myself, I ordered some yummy yummy caramels from one of my favourite Etsy sellers, Fusion Sweets. (They're in the US but ship internationally.)

Their caramels taste as good as they sound. (This is starting to sound like a sponsored post, but I swear it's not!) I am trying Pumpkin Pie Butter caramels and Apple Butter caramels for the first time, and have reordered the delicate Rose Orange Vanilla caramels. (I'm not into hot stuff so I'm giving the Thai Habanero Butter Caramels a miss.)


I have also ordered my favourite favourite favourite ones - French Sea Salt caramels and French Sea Salt & Lavender caramels.

Speaking of lovely French things, it's time to draw the winners of my French-themed giveaway. I'll go and draw them right now. I'll be back in a minute ...

------------------------------

Hi, I'm back. Before I announce the winners selected by Random.org, I want to say a big Merci Beaucoup to everyone who participated. I have really enjoyed learning all the new words (parapluie and portmanteau = umbrella and bag, thanks Manda and Gemma) and new sayings (Journée ensoleillée = a day with sunshine sounds good. Thanks Anette J, that's beautiful).

I've also enjoyed being reminded of some great memories, like seeing Les Miserables on stage, and learning to play Debussy on the piano.

OK on with the draw ....

The winner of the pack of pre-cut fabric hexagons is Gill from the UK. (Sacre bleu!) Gill, you can choose from the Rounneries Deux pack or the Fa la la la la pack, or any other pack from here.

Lindi from the Hunter Valley, Australia, has won the Paris Flea Market fat quarters and Sue from Elderslie, Australia, has won a handmade pendant. I will contact you all to find out your choices.

I'm getting hungry now so I'm going to say goodbye now and go and have my chocolate cake.

Thanks again to everyone for participating. It has been a lot of fun.

In progress - Rough Terrain

I don't have much to say at the best of times, but when my job gets hectic (that is, even more hectic than usual) I do tend to shut down. My Forum friends will agree with that, they haven't heard from me for ages. Sorry!

And some sad memories have been on my mind lately, I've been missing what could have been. But let's not talk about that, I do appreciate that I'm very fortunate in many parts of my life. I'm single so I can indulge my need for a lot of quiet time, and I get a good paycheck so I can indulge my craft addiction.

So here's a peak at what I've been doing with all my time over the past couple of weeks. I tried and tried to resist starting another quilt (because I am so close to the end of piecing this quilt) but I obviously didn't resist hard enough.

I gave in to temptation the Tuesday before last and cracked open a pack of pre-cut hexagons. I couldn't resist the Terrain. It was like opening a little gift box of mixed chocolates! You're not quite sure what's in there, but it's fun finding out.

I glue-penned the pre-cuts to my templates in no time at all. Here's a picture of some of them ready to stitch.


I have since stitched up all the hexie-flowers and am half-way through piecing them together. I'm not entirely convinced that white is a good in-betweener, but the deep purple centres are absolutely perfect.

Here's where I'm up to. I'm pleased to say that it looks fantastic in real life. I'm so thrilled with it.


I am racing through this project as fast as I can (because I have a feeling that once I've put these hexie-flowers together, I might be tempted to crack open another pack and turn this small quilt into a large one).

So bye for now, I've got to get stuck into Row 5.

P.S. There's still time to enter the giveaway below. Did I mention that I'm drawing it on my birthday, Saturday 5 November?

Giveaway 4 - Ooh la la!

I promised another giveaway over a week ago, and here it is.

This giveaway is open to all Australian and International visitors, and there are three prizes altogether. Or should I say trois prix, as this is a French-themed giveaway.

The first winner pulled out of my chapeau can choose a pack of pre-cut fabric hexagons from either the Fa la la la la range or the Rounneries Deux range by Moda.

Rounneries Deux

Each pack contains close to 300 pre-cut fabric hexagons from close to 40 different fabrics.

Fa la la la la

The second winner will receive these pieces from my stash. They are from one of my first favourite fabric ranges, the lovely Paris Flea Market by Moda. They came out quite a few years ago, but who can forget the Paris city street map in ballet slipper pink.

The third winner might like to choose one of these pendants I made last year. They are made from genuine vintage Republique Francaise postage stamps set behind glass tiles, and measure 1 inch high by 3/4 inch wide. A thin silver chain will be included. (Sorry about the photographie terrible.)

This giveaway is open to all, and is open until 9.00 pm 5 November, Sydney Australia time. To enter, leave one comment below telling us your favourite French word/s. (I'm guessing that chocolat will popular.) If you can't leave a comment, you are welcome to email me. The winners will be randomly drawn.

P.S. I said the winner could choose from either Fa la la la la or Rounneries Deux, but actually you are welcome to select any pack of pre-cuts from my store. I have to confess that I opened one of the Terrain packs for myself last Tuesday night.

P.P.S. I'll extend my October free offer to coincide with the end of the giveaway. Buy any pack of pre-cut fabric hexagons from any of the Moda ranges between now and 5 November and receive a free pack of paper or card 1" hexagons.

* * * * * * * *

Hi Everyone, I'm really enjoying all your comments. Tres amusement! Thank you all so much.

Chookyblue, this post is for you!

Chookyblue, this post is for you! Thanks for your inspired suggestion.

Here's the Rough Terrain layout using a pack of my Hometown Pre-cut Hexagons. I guess I should call it Rough Hometown LOL.

I'm calling them "rough" because the final design details are unfinished. I don't think you can know what a quilt will look like when you just see it on-screen, you have to see it in real life. That way you can balance out the light and dark, the proportions and placement, and experiement with some finishing touches.

I think the Red looks a little overpowering in this one. Maybe it needs a bit more open space between the hexie-flowers. I usually piece my in-between rows, but if you appliqued the hexie-flowers on instead, you could play around with it until you found just the right balance of open space.


I'd like this grey-blue version to go with my Hamptons-style white wooden beach house please, a la Diane Keaton's house in Somthing's Gotta Give. I'd have to make this in king-size don't you think, so there is enough room underneath for one Mr K Reeves as well. (I can dream, can't I!)


But my favourite tonight is this one with a softer gentler yellow colourway. You can only see the hexie-flowers on-screen, but in my mind I can see finished off with a stylised curvy vine design appliqued on the yellow border and lots of swirly quilting all over.


I have a limited number of packs of Hometown Pre-cut Hexagons available here in the 1 1/2" size to go with 1" templates. Larger amounts or larger sizes can be custom-made on request.

Rough Terrain revised

Thanks for the tip, Diamant. You're right, it looks much better now.

(I think I'll leave the edges on the coloured ones though.)

Rough Terrain

I spent last Sunday getting to know the basics of EQuilt. I'm sure you're familiar with it, it's design software especially for quilters. I could so easily get side-tracked for hours playing with the hundreds of different block designs.

But I had a specific task that I wanted to do, so this morning I went back to using the regular graphics program that I was familiar with, and this is what I came up with.

I've always been the first to say that I am not a designer. I have talented hands and a talented brain but not talented eyes. What I mean is, I love making things and I love figuring out how other people make things, but I just don't think that I have fresh new ideas or an eye for colour.

(Thank goodness I can fall back on pre-selected fat quarter bundles and layer cakes. I'm sure you've recognised this is Terrain.)

But I still wanted to give it a go. After all, everything can improve a little with practice, and I'm not planning on being the next great new designer.

I thought my first effort looked crowded. Maybe that's because in the past I have been too timid about using bright bold palettes like this (I think starting the Candied Hexagon quilt cured me of that though) and maybe I'm just not used to the busy-ness.

I am happier with my second effort which has some breathing space in between the flowers.


This layout measures approximately 90cm x 90cm, not including the borders. I guess my next computer task is to set up a larger version, or maybe do one in another fabric range, but I'm itching to do some stitching so that's all going to have to wait. I haven't picked up a needle all week!

Now available - pre-cut Terrain hexagons

Just a quick post tonight to let you know that I have (finally) made some pre-cut fabric hexagons in the fabulous Terrain by Kate Spain. Sorry I took so long!


I have die-cut these in the 1 1/2" size, perfect for your 1" hexagons. The pack contains 294 fabric hexagons (that's 7 from each layer in this Moda layer cake) for $34.00. You can find the pack here.

I think the bold patterns in this fabric range would also look great in the larger sizes and other shapes too. If you have a particular size and shape in mind, let me know if you'd like me to die-cut some for you.

It is taking all my strength not to break open a pack for myself! I am dreaming of making a large stuffed dinosaur and calling him Terrain-asaurus Hex!

Giveaway 3 - and new fabric hexagons in store

I recently mentioned that I have added some pre-cut fabric hexagons to my store. I cut these fabric hexagons from Moda layer cakes so that you can easily mix and match them with other Moda fabrics for your borders and backs. You can read more about them here.


I think I also mentioned that I'd like to add custom pre-cuts as well, that is you select the fabric range and tell me what shape and size you'd like me to cut for you. But first I need to clean out my cupboards, starting with these fabric hexagons that I must have cut years ago.

These hexies are made from cotton homespun and are all plain colours, a mix in each pack. They are 1 1/2" along each side, suitable for your 1" paper, card or freezer paper hexies.

There's a mixed pack which has 50 different colours/shades, one hexie in each colour. There's a pack with 8 different shades of blue, 5 hexies in each shade. Other packs have 8 different shades, 5 each, in other colourways e.g. pink/maroon, yellow/orange, peach/apricot etc.
I'm clearing them out for just $2 to $3 a pack. I think it would be so useful to have a pack or two in the cupboard for when you need just one hexagon in one particular colour. Perfect for the Inchy Hexie Flower Swap.

You can find both my Moda hexagons and the plain hexagons here. I'd be interested to hear what else you'd like added to my store, so how about you add a comment below telling me about your favourite fabric ranges.

Each comment is a chance to win my latest giveaway - one pack containing 50 fabric hexagons in 50 different colours, plus one pack containing 100 of my 1" paper or card hexagons. I'll draw one Australian winner and one international winner in two week's time, 9pm Wed 21 September (Aussie time).

It's just a little giveaway but it's all I can think of right now. I'll have to come up with a great idea for the next one!

Oh I just remembered, my previous post about fabric hexagons mentioned that every purchase of Moda pre-cut hexies before 17 September comes with a free pack of paper or card hexagons.

Pre-cut fabric hexagons are now available

I'm so glad that my job is over for another week. Now I can on with doing the important stuff - patchwork!

The first thing on my To Do list is to tell you that the pre-cut fabric hexagons are now available in my store. (Sorry for the delay - the hexagons were done weeks ago but I wasn't satisfied with my photos of them.)

I have die-cut these hexagons from Moda layer cakes, so that you can easily obtain matching fabric for your borders and quiltbacks. I've started off with Etchings by 3 Sisters, Curio by Basic Grey and (my favourite) Hometown by Sweetwater. For those of you that like to make a bold and colourful statement, try Oh My by Sanae or Circa 1934 by Cosmo Cricket.

With 42 layers in a layer cake and 7 hexagons die-cut from each layer, that's a total of 294 fabric hexagons per pack. If you like making hexie flowers, that's enough for 6 petals and 1 centre from each fabric.

Imagine, no more tedious hand or rotary cutting. Match these 1 1/2" fabric hexagons with 1" die-cut paper/card hexagons and the only time you'll get out your scissors is to cut your threads off.

I've been meaning to make these for you for years. I'm glad I've finally done some, and I have plans to do so much more. Other pre-cut shapes and sizes, perhaps a cut-to-order service, and definitely more hexies out of more fabrics.

Lined up on my shelf are lots of pretty pastel floral fabrics waiting to be cut, and I'm expecting some of the latest Joel Dewberry and Tula Pink moderns to arrive any day now.

The pizza delivery guy just arrived so it's time to get on with the second thing on my To Do list.

So why don't you have a look here and see if there's anything you like. Each ad includes a link to the Moda brochure for each range so that you can see the original fabric designs and colours, so don't let my photos put you off.

Purchase any pack of fabric hexagons before 17 September and I'll include a free pack of 1" paper or card hexagons.

Bye for now, my pizza is getting cold!

Hometown by Sweetwater

Curio by Basic Grey

Oh My! by Sanae