Wednesday, October 26, 2011

It’s been a “hexing” sabbatical.

Hello Everyone!

I hope you are all fine.  I have been thinking about the blog these last few weeks and finally decided it’s time to bring it back.

You might note that all the past entries are gone…and for this I apologize.  But it was either archive the old posts only to my computer so I could start fresh or start an entire brand new blog.  And since I love the name of this blog, I wanted to keep it.

I have learned a few new tricks and cataloging is one so this will be a very organized blog that will make locating past info extremely easy….I hope.

So a brief update for some of my long time readers (and I do hope a few of you find your way back).

P&E are now Juniors at Hendrix…and the talk of plans after graduation have begun.  Looks like graduate school is on the agenda for them both…and this makes us very proud parents. 

They are out of the dorms now and sharing an apartment.  Emily is loving having her own kitchen and is cooking up a storm much to her brother’s delight.

We are enjoying being “empty nesters” and have fallen into a very nice routine although the house is very quiet at times.   I sure wish they would hurry up and invent the “Jeanie Transport” as I call it so I could just blink my eyes and pop up for a few minutes to hug them both on campus.  I know they would love that…lol.

I traveled quite a bit in the last six months and just finished up my last “on an airplane gig” for the year.  I am doing some teaching locally but the load is very light.  This gives me some time to explore and create.  And I have hit the ground running.

A few months ago as I was ordering supplies for kits I added a pack of English Paper Piecing Hexagons to the virtual shopping cart.  You may better know these as “Hexies” and from now on this is how I will refer to them. 

Bonnie K. Hunter is a very good friend of mind and she has been working on a “hexie quilt” while on the road for a couple of years now.  In January we taught together at the Road to California and I got a glimpse of her spectacular quilt…and I was in “hook, line, and sinker”. 

The only problem is I just didn’t have time to start this project, so on the back burner it went.  And then I ordered the Hexie Papers and they sat and fermented.  

And last week I finally put together a travel kit of some hexies and fabric squares and hit the road to Oklahoma.  

Let’s just say all that “fermenting” was dangerous because by the time I was whip stitching my second flower together I was dreaming up all kinds of designs for the Hexies….using a technique I am calling “Pieced Hexies”.   

These are just some (yes the word OBSESSION has been thrown around) of the Hexie flowers I have completed in the last week.  These wild flowers will make up the border of the pattern I have designed. 

The center will be made up of “Pieced Hexies”. 

Yes…this quilt is going to take awhile…with a total of about 150 flowers needed for completion…but after all I have a very quiet house now…and full control of the TV remote.   And they are like potato chips…I just can’t seem to stop.

10.26.11.3   p.s. YES..there is going to be a workshop…and a pattern… several of you have already inquired from my Facebook posts.  Thank you for your interest.  :)

So signing off for now.  I am thinking 2-3 blog posts a week will be the average.  After all life is a bit slower around here with just the two of us.

17 comments:

Lizzy said...

What a wonderful surprise to see your post tonight. Glad to hear your family is doing well. Not surprised P and E are thinking about graduate school. Good for them. Take care

Jules said...

Happy to see you back to your blog. I've missed your posts. :)

(I've changed my posting name but I think you know who I am. Send me an email if you are confused!)

Lynn said...

Welcome back! It was great to see your post tonight!

Debby, crowefan0517 said...

Hi Mickey! Glad to see you are blogging again. I never took you out of my blog reader so this came right up. Alhough I've kept up with you on Facebook, it's nice to have you back in the blogging world.

-debby
Chester, NY

Jennifer said...

Great to have you back blogging again!

Mari L. said...

You know I don't often leave comments on blogs but I have always enjoyed reading about your family and your quilts. I was just thinking about your old blog the other day and was hoping that you'd start up again. I am in love with your new hexies. I have been thinking of starting some of my own. So happy to see that you're back blogging.

Virginia said...

I'm glad you are back to blogging. I'm excited about your new project - love it. Did you ever finish the Farmer's Wife quilt? Glad to here you and the family are doing well.

Darlene B said...

So glad to have a new blog post from you! Can't believe P&E are juniors in college already - I think when I took my first class with you, they were in 8th grade. Sheesh...
Loved the pieced hexies - what a great idea!

BJ (aka Sewdreamy on TQS) said...

Welcome back! So happy to see you blogging again. I retired a few weeks ago and have started a blog myself. You seem to have some words of wisdom on organizing a blog there. Love your hexie project.

Maggie Szafranski said...

I am so loving what you are doing with your Hexies! And looking forward to more blog posts!

xrtexpat said...

Great blog Mickey, Love the hexies and can't wait for more!

Seesaw said...

I'm so happy you're back. I was afraid you had given up TQS for FB. Good to hear Paul and Em are doing well. Time is flying by quickly. I love your hexies. I have been working on a Freddy Moran style hexie flower quilt. Very colorful. Can't wait to see what you're doing with them.
Carolyn in Kerrville, TX

Bonnie K. Hunter said...

fabulous, fabulous!! I can't wait to see what you do with these!!

And I still slug along on my traditional one!

Bonnie

Patsy Thompson said...

You're back!!! Yippee!! Please keep posting!

Leslie said...

Welcome back. Just want you to know that I finished the Fish Wall-Hanging that I started in your class at R2CA 2011. I, too, have been contemplating hexies but haven't yet dived in.
Leslie in CA

Anonymous said...

Welcome back to blogging. Missed your posts. Love the look of your hexies.
Cher in BC

9patchnurse said...

Yaaay! You're back. I love to see what you are making. What a great spin on the hexies.