There’s something big goin’ on….

 

I have a huge (read into this queen size bed quilt) project that I have on the "TO DO" list with a very, very, very (read into this by the end of September) short deadline.   

 

 

 

 

I have made a goal calendar for where I should be every day when I close my eyes.  I am going hard on it with a stepped up due date of Sept 25th.  I work best when I leave wiggle room at the end. 

 

I can't wait to share this with all of you as I am loving it.  (read into it my Civil War Repros loving heart is singing).

 

I ask that you just hang in there with me and as soon as a cover is decided (oops there's a clue) and the nod is given for release I (and someone else...another clue)  will let you in on what we have been working on.

Now back to your regularly scheduled quilting.   Carry on.

Toadally Awesome Winnie Star

My good friend Brenda Esslinger sent me a picture of her version of the Pieced Hexie Star WINNIE to share!

Brenda is a very talented long arm quilter, quiltmaker,  author and teacher.

Her studio name is Toadally Awesome Quilting and she lives in Oklahoma City, OK.  

She also has a new book out called Fabulous Fractures.  Her publisher is Ashton Publications and you can find information about her book here.

You can find more of her work here in her Etsy shop.

And as always you can find the FREE PDFs for Pieced Hexie Star Patterns on the right hand side of this page.

Today is binding day here.  I hope to have the Brews4Drew quilt done and able to share it tomorrow or Wednesday.

Take Care,

It’s one of those days.

You know the type of day, you wake up thinking I have not much to do and this day will be a breeze.

And then every turn you make unveils something else that needs your attention NOW and before you know it the day is almost over.  And you are exhausted.

Welcome to my day.

 

On Monday I finished my manuscript.  Well 95% of it.  There are a few more elements to go into it but until my editor does her thing and gives me a standing page count I am not sure how much room there will be.  So I will finish these elements by months end when I have an idea how many pages I may have.

 

 

But regardless.  The core of the book is done.  DONE!  My original due date was Oct 1st and in June I was given a new due date.  And I did it.  I am pretty darn proud of myself.  It was 32 days of a 12-14 hour days to finish it in time.  Thank goodness I had about 40% done prior. 

So yesterday I was walking around the house with absolutely nothing to do.  So what did I do.  I tackled half of those fore mentioned book elements. I think I have forgotten how to relax.  I remember relaxing in early January.  I don’t think I have since.  In fact I am not sure if I even remember how to sleep in.   This is sad.

Today I envisioned that relaxing that I passed by yesterday.  Didn’t really happen.

Tomorrow I am off to North Carolina at 6am to teach the Collaboration Celebration Retreat with Bonnie Hunter.   The retreat runs to midday on Sunday and the days will be filled with fun and sewing. 

Sunday afternoon Bonnie and I are taking off to spend a few days in her cabin in the mountains. We both need to just have a few days of nada.  

Cell phone service and internet will low key.  We think this will actually help.  We plan to just veg.  and sew.  and sleep.   and veg some more.

Why do I think we are going  get either nothing done or a whole lot done.

What do you think?

p.s. my new book will be out mid January 2014

Winners All Around!

 

We have a winner of the Indygo Junction Friends of a Feather pattern and fat 1/8th of hand dyes!

….drum roll…..

Laurie Parrack!   Drop me an email with your info and the pattern and fabric will be on their way!

 

I am deep in the midst of manuscript writing for my next book to be out in January 2014!

I am thrilled that so many love Pieced Hexies.  

They are addictive that’s for sure.

 

 

So as I sit here for another day with Illustrator creating and playing with colors and textures my police scanner squawks out the neighbor happenings to me.   Over the years my ears have learned to dim it out the info until something exciting happens or an address close to my house is mentioned.

Like just now.  Someone fell on their bike a block over and an ambulance is in route.   Hope they are ok.

 

In the studio I listen to either music (some of it by these Police) or the dim of cable news.   I have tried to break the habit of the need for white noise but I just can’t.  If nothing is on my brain starts to think to much. 

Does that make sense?

Surely I cannot be alone win my need for static noise.

(ps I have tried audio books…I land up mind drifting and loosing all track of the story).

 

And before I click the post button I wanted to share this great winning deal.  Today is day two of Craftsy’s Great Summer Sale.  Some classes are up to 75% OFF!  Yes Craftsy has awesome quilting classes but I also have several foodie, knitting and sewing classes in my stash on Craftsy. 

These are a few that have caught my eye and tumbled into my basket.

        

Click on the images above or the Sweet Summer Sale image to go right to the site for sale pricing!

Big News Tomorrow!

Zippity Do Dah! Zippity Yay!

….my oh my it’s a wonderful day!

My episode on Pieced Hexies is available starting today on The Quilt Show.

For those who are not members you can click here for a special offer!

 

 

 

I will be posting the Suzy’s Sack pattern & fabric winner later today…..but for not I am just gonna sing a bit with breakfast.

Zippity Do Dah…..

Pieced Hexie Star WINNIE

July’s star name is WINNIE!

For no other reason then I like it.  

Having a long unusual first name myself I am drawn to such names that can be shortened into cute nicknames, either with a masculine edge or the other direction so fluffy and girly.

My given name is Michaelene.   My immediate family calls me Mike.  It wasn’t until Paul entered my life and I began to work in an office setting that the nickname Mickey was born.

So when I think of an odd name I like I think of Winifred.   Either Freddie or Winnie for nicknames!

Ok that was a strange reason to name July Winnie I concur but well it’s the truth.  LOL.

So I give you Winnie!

And isn’t she a dynamo.  I love using neutrals in those 50/50 hexies to give an illusion of openness like a snowflake or doily.

As always you can find the free PDF pattern for Winnie on my sidebar.

Now in the next few weeks I will be unveiling a brand new website.  We haven’t decided to keep the side bar on the blog which will be embedded into the website or go with a separate page of PDF patterns.  So don’t fret if the bar goes away…the patterns never will.

I promise.

Enjoy!

p.s. A big Thank You to Maggie my wonderful stunt sewer for this sample of Winnie!

Stained Glass Pieced Hexies

Candy P. of the Pieces and Patches Quilt Guild in Steger, Il. sent this pic to me.

Oh my! I love it.

And a hexie frame too.

My heart be still.

I am posting this from Midway Airport as I am on my way to a dual guild engagement in Asheville North Carolina.

I have a lecture tonight...there will be a nap this afternoon.

Hex On!

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Pieced Hexie Star–AUDREY

 

Aww…the name Audrey.  I love this name.  That grade school teacher that changes your life (I hope everyone has one of these..if not a few) for me was named Mrs. Bukovsky….Mrs. AUDREY Bukovsky.  Mrs. B. was my 5th grade teacher.  She was that cool teacher who filled our class room with all kinds of “out of the box” learning tools.  We had class pets galore (turtles, frogs, a gerbil, etc) and projects were always inventive.  She was the cool teacher to have. 

I was so lucky.

All year she watched me crocheting during recesses, and she obviously caught on that I was a “crafty kid”.  So it was a surprise and delight when on the last day of class she asked if she could commission me to make a granny square afghan for her.  (this was the 70s remember).

Could I!  I shook my head yes before I even knew what “commission” meant.

Then she pulled out a big bag from LeeWards filled with beige, brown, yellow and rust colored yarn.  And a pattern…for a california king size granny square afghan.

I crocheted all summer.   I’m not gonna lie the all beige squares were tedious.

And my mom helped with sewing it together.

I presented her the afghan on day one of the new school year.

I was so proud.

Mrs. B is now my neighbor ironically.   I get to thank her almost everyday when I see her on my daily walks with Molly (she is now retired) for her giving me direction in my life’s work.

So here is Pieced Hexie Star – AUDREY.

This example is done in a scrappy blues with the yellows and oranges staying the same.  I like to mix “Scrappy & Stable” as I call it.  Hope you like it too.

As always you can find the pattern to the right on the blog.

Enjoy!

p.s A big THANK YOU to Cathy K. one of my wonderful “stunt sewers”.

Pieced Hexies Star–GINGER

Whew!

I know this post is one day late, my apologies.  It has been crazy busy here at Chez Depre.

Both kids…err…young adults are home…for a small amount of time.   Both have secured well paying jobs that will afford them the luxury of living on their own…actually they have no choice as both will be in other states.   But more on that later.

Today is all about Pieced Hexie Star GINGER!

Ginger is a name I love.  I even considered Ginger for Emily’s name.  I just love it.  So spicy and sassy, yet soft and traditional.   The perfect name for this months star.

Here she is!

With everything going on lately in my life I concluded a few months ago that there is just not time for me alone to make all my creative ideas come to life.   So I have two wonderful “helpers” now making the Pieced Hexie Star samples.  They are Maggie S. and Cathy K. and they are lifesavers!  I am so grateful.

Here are their renditions.

 

 

 

 

 

Maggie’s GINGER star

 

This rendition is done in soft tonal prints so I put it up against a black background so you could see the edges easily.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cathy’s GINGER star

I sent Cathy a collection of

30’s repros to make this star.

 

I absolutely love the soft turquoise “ring”.

 

And I love that Cathy used the same solid bubblegum pink in the outside “points” of the Jacks Pieced Hexies.  Cathy did do the actual piecing so you could easily understand the concept but in reality you could just drop off that step in your making of the Jazzy blocks and save a step. 

 

 

I hope you are enjoying the Pieced Hexie Stars.   Considering making a Flickr group for them.  Any thoughts?

 

Enjoy the day,

Finally Anna in fabric.

Finally I have found the time to take the pic and post the blog.  I cannot apologize enough.  

Here is Pieced Hexie Star Anna in fabric.

 

Thank you for sticking it out and waiting.  It’s been a tough couple of weeks here at Chez Depre.  And I have made the decision to share with you one of the stress factors.

Unfortunately a close family member is dealing with another round of cancer. While I cannot share whom and exactly what form out of respect for their privacy I can tell you it is not Paul Sr, either of the kids or myself.  But it is close enough to part of our daily lives too.

We will get thru this.  We have done so in the past.  And we will be stronger and more united on the other side.  That is what love brings to the table in the fight against this awful disease.

So if I am a few days late on some promises…please bear with me.  It’s pretty hectic here.

But I have a lot of good quilty things in the works too and will be able to begin to share this week.

And another one of the hectic items is a good kid thing (actually a few are and I will keep sharing as they become clearer).   Today’s good thing is in just a few hours dear son, Paul Jr., will be flying overhead to a job interview in the Wisconsin.  

He is still on the path of completing his Federal Service Officer’s testing but this opportunity has arose and if all goes well (hey the company is paying all his expenses to bring him in for a face to face interview…that’s positive!) I may have him within a two and a half hour car ride from my front door for a few years.

And that makes this mom smile.  

…….even though he will be residing “behind the cheddar curtain” as we say here in Chicagoland.

Cheese curds anyone?

 

Enjoy the day!

Pieced Hexie Star ANNA

 

This post will be short and sweet.  Want to get this up before the storms hit.

April’s Pieced Hexie Star is named ANNA.  

Anna is the name of two very special people in my life.  My grandmother.

and Pauli’s girlfriend of several years. 

Yes….we love her.   Yes….we hope.   ‘nuf said. 

So Anna is a very special name. 

I do have a finished ANNA in fabric to show you.  But the overcast skies are proving difficult in taking a picture of this Star’s soft color palette.  Hopefully later today and I will post it.

As always you can find the pattern to the right on the blog.

Enjoy Anna!

Pieced Hexie Star EMILY

 

Here is your free Pieced Hexie Star Pattern for March. 

It is named Emily, after my daughter who brightens my day every time she calls.  Soon she will be a college graduate and off on the adventure of life.  I can’t wait to hear all about it!

I did a fabric sample showcasing Em’s favorite colors of green and lavender/periwinkle. 

You will find a PDF link at the top of the right hand side column on the blog. The PDF will give you all the info necessary to make the “Pieced Hexies Emily Star”. You will need a copy of my Pieced Hexies book to make the actual Jacks and Jazzy hexies.

April’s star is already being sewn….check back on April 15th to meet her!

PH Sondra Star Finished!

 

My PH Sondra Star is done!  Well the first one at least.  I plan on 8 more (four in this “hot” color way and 4 in a “cool” color way)

I am also working on a pieced background pattern that can be used for all PH Stars.

And I am almost done with March’s Pieced Hexie Star.  Watch for Pieced Hexie Star - EMILY around the 15th of March.

Pieced Hexies Stars!

Lately I feel like I am running on high speed all the time.

So many ideas.

Remember that package of lovely batik scraps I blogged about last month. 

The package from Sondra. 

And from that package this project was started. 

Well she sent more.

And thus those scrappy Cogs rosettes went to the next level.

Now I have toyed with the idea of creating “Star” patterns for the Pieced Hexies designs for a few months.  But truly I have been just running to keep up with all that is happening here.

But now I had no excuse.

This is the pattern I created.

It is the first in a series of Pieced Hexies STAR patterns that I will be sharing with you on the blog. This one is named SONDRA.    It is composed of COGS & TUMBLER Pieced Hexies.

 

You will find a PDF link at the top of the right hand side column on the blog.  The PDF will give you all the info necessary to make the “Pieced Hexies Sondra Star”.  You will need a copy of my Pieced Hexies book to make the actual COGS & TUMBLER hexie designs.

 

The PDF even gives you a blank design page so you can color in your own design!  I would love to see what you color and/or make.  Please either email me or share your own creations on the Pieced Hexies with Mickey Depre facebook page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh…and here is one of my Sondra Stars….now I just need to find the time to sew it together.  Maybe tomorrow I will start during Downton Abbey.  “)

New Project-itis!

Another new project has been born.

This one started with the delivery of a bag of lovely batik scraps from my friend Sondra of Mojo Quilt Designs.  She offered them up as she knows I am working on the samples for the next Pieced Hexies Book and in need of many different fabrics in small amounts.

But when I opened the bag and began sorting out the scraps in size…well my mind was whirling and a new Pieced Hexie Quilt was born.

 

 

I needed a fabric to tie everything together and I immediately pulled this lovely dark gray with black polka dots out.   It is the perfect scale of print to calm down the craziness of what I am planning to do with the scraps.

 

 

Then I began to divide into HOT and COOL piles.

 

 

 

I knew I wanted to spotlight the COGS design from Pieced Hexies.   I have been keeping track of which designs are booked when I teach Pieced Hexies Buffet and poor Cogs is bringing up the rear.  So it needed some special attention.

 

 

 

The quilt design will have a large 9 patch format, 5 cool “whatevers” (not totally revealing my plan yet) and 4 hot “whatevers”.

Cut all the 2” squares of the polka dot and then from the scraps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spent the evening sewing.

My plan was to sew all them together and kit them up for basting and sewing together on the road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I sewed 3 sets entirely together…then I had to take at least one HOT and one COOL kits to the basting and sewing together step.  I couldn’t wait.

 

So here is where I am.

Scrappy HOT and COOL Cogs Pieced Hexies!

Well actually I am back in the studio sewing up the other 6 sets so I will be good to go for my travels tomorrow.

Craftsy here I come…hopefully…now the weather might be an issue.  :/