Category Archives: Hexagon Quilts

#56 Kaleidocally Hexed or OBW

Before you reach for your dictionary, I made that word (kaleidocally) up!  These Kaleidoscope/hexagon quilts are fun and addictive as you can tell by the fact I have now made 56 of them!  This year Grand Central Station in New York City and Union Station in Utica New York celebrated their 100th birthday.  I had wanted to make a quilt to celebrate this fact but was overcome by events.  The year 2014 has been challenging for me to say the least.  Needless to say I found my self facing the last week in 2014 and my goal was to get this quilt top done, and I did – in 4 days.  It is News Years Eve, and I feel a great sense of accomplishment.

I wanted to show you some interior pictures of Union Station in Utica NY. I love this train station.  When I was 12 I left from Union Station and went all the way to Las Vegas, Nevada.  It was a thrill for me and I have loved trains ever since.
01 Union Station 1

Isn’t the marble gorgeous?

02 Union Station 2

I absolutely love the oak seats.  This is a very active train station.

03 Union Station 3

Below is a fabric from Timeless treasures I chose for this kaleidocally hexed quilt.  It is a city scape of landmarks in New York City.  I will have to make another quilt that represents the rest of New York (which is stunningly beautiful)!

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Below is the top I finished in 4 days aptly named “New York – Kaleidocally Hexed”.  I recorded my self making this top and shared the video’s on this blog.

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I so look forward to 2015 and pushing on with other quilt projects like Studio 180 Design’s “Northern Neighbors”!  Happy New year everyone and God Bless!

06 Northern Neighbors

The Wild Flowers of Alder Creek

Number 55 top is done.  I will be teaching a 3 part class on making these hexagonal quilts beginning November 8th at Tiger Lily Quilt Company.  I went there yesterday to pick out an inner border.  The colors in this quilt are so wild, Donna Papaleo (the shop owner) suggested I use black Kona and she was right!  It was the only color that would calm down this quilt top.

Wild Flowers

Tiger Lily Quilt Co. is located at 809 Court Street, in the Historic Brewery district, at the Boilermaker finish line in the City of Utica, located in upstate Central New York across the street from FX Matt Brewery.

 http://tigerlilyquiltco.com

The Shoppes at the Finish Line building was part of the historic Utica Globe Woolen Mills established in 1847.  Today this building has so much original character, I love this building.

04 Shoppes at the Finish Line

http://www.shoppesatthefinishline.com

The Shoppes at the Finish Line not only houses the Tiger Lily Quilt Company but also Finish Line Furniture, Utica Brews café, a gift shop, and a Psychic.  The Rome Investigators of the Paranormal visit there often.

http://romeinvestigatorsoftheparanormal.com

06 Brewrey tour

How can you beat a quilt shop across the street from a brewery?

05 Brewery

 

 

 

Number 54

OGeorgia OKeefe OBW

Number 54 is finished.  This hexagon quily was made from fabric by Alexander Henry based on the art of Georgia O’Keefe.  I love this fabric.  This was supposed to be a gift for someone dear, but I am not pleased with my quilting so it will stay in my collection.

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06 Original Artwork

Above is the original Georgia O’Keefe art that the fabric is based on.  Next I would like to make a hexagon quilt to commemorate Grand Central Station’s 100th birthday.

Soho Sunflowers at Houston Quilt Festival 2013

I made this hexagon quilt specifically to donate to Quilters Dream Batting for ALS Research. As of this date I have made 52 OBW’s.

This quilt is made from one piece of fabric (not including the inner border).  I bought the fabric from eQuilter.com. The fabric was called Soho Sunflowers so that is what I named it. The quilt measures 64″ by 84″. I had great fun making it!
Houston Soho Sunflowers

These ladies are members of the “Piece Corps” for the Festival. They are responsible for unpacking each quilt that will hang at Festival. They wear white gloves and literally write down the condition of each quilt that is hanging in the show. They start by writing down how the quilt is folded, then look at the sleeve, then open up carefully and write down if they see threads hanging, the condition of the binding and they literally look at every square inch to see if there are any seams that might have torn or a stitch loose, etc. They write this down for insurance purposes so that when the quilt is returned the recipient will also know if there needs to be any repairs and what condition the quilt arrived in.
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The Quilter’s Dream Batting crew had to leave to catch the plane flight before they could get a really good picture of the entire exhibit set up the way it is showing now. There are three tall café tables in front with flyers about the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for everyone to take and hopefully participate. There is also this sign – as all the quilts hanging are for sale. So far we have gifted 3,000 quilts to “PALS” – patients with ALS, and donated over $80,000 to ALS Research through sales of quilts. 100% of the proceeds of quilt sales goes to ALS Research.

THIS YEAR – they changed the Sew Creative Category. It now says:

“Fabric postcards, handbags and accessories, miniature quilts, mug rugs, paintings, placemats, tablerunners, table toppers, wall quilts, watercolors and more. These items will be sold to raise funds for ALS Research. All entries will be entered into a drawing to win a $250 Gift Card.”

Here is the url link to Hopes & Dreams:

http://www.hopesanddreams.quiltersdreambatting.com/
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A Great Way to Start the Weekend

I just got some good news. I live at the beach but I’m from Utica, NY. I belong to the Mohawk Valley Quilt Club. This weekend is their quilt show. My sister Mary McCorduck is up there now. My hexagon quilt “A Walk in Frida’s Garden” has won 1st Place, Judges Choice & Best in Show.

The blocks are made from one piece of fabric based on artist Frida Kahlo (born July 6, 1907 – died July 13, 1954 in Coyoacan, Mexico), fabric by Alexander Henry. I used the original fabric on the left side only. Printed on the fabric are two quotes made by Frida Kahlo & printed on the fabric in spanish. I machine embroidered them on the borders in english. On the top border, embroidered is “Feet, what do I need them for when I have wings to fly”. She survived a terrible bus accident where she was impaled by a steel post, but was in pain most of her life. The second quote I embroidered along the bottom border: “I Desire to Live, I have already begun to paint”. I had left over blocks, so I reduced their size and appliqued them in several place on the quilt’s edge as if they were spinning off onto the border.

Ribbon Winners

“Remember Me” has won a 1st place ribbon! This quilt consists of Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star blocks and machine embroidered blocks. There are 22 machine embroidered obituaries from my family the McCorducks, Lansings, and Fischers, the oldest is from 1900 (113 years ago).

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A Walk In Frida’s Garden, Part II

Well, I finally finished my hexagon quilt based on artist Frida Kahlo (born July 6, 1907 -died July 13, 1954 in Coyoacan, Mexico), fabric by Alexander Henry. I think I like it. I can’t stop looking at it. I used the original fabric on the left side only. I love the 2002 movie based on Frida’s life. Frida was played by Selma Hayek.
A Walk in Fridas Garden

Printed on the fabric are two quotes made by Frida Kahlo & printed on the fabric in spanish. I machine embroidered them on the borders in english. On the top border, embroidered is “Feet, what do I need them for when I have wings to fly”. She survived a terrible bus accident where she was impaled by a steel post, but was in pain most of her life.
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The second quote I embroidered along the bottom border: “I Desire to Live, I have already begun to paint”.
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In the top right corner I added a skull with a butterfly super imposed over it. (Design by http://www.urbanthreads.com)
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I wanted to play with cubes on this hexagon quilt.
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I had left over blocks, so I reduced their size and appliqued them in several place on the quilt’s edge as if they were spinning off onto the border.
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The Backing is also by Alexander Henry, called “Contigo”.
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Let me know what you think.

A Walk in Frida’s Garden, Part I

I’m working on my 52nd Hexagon Quilt. This one is cut from Alexander Henry’s fabric “Frida’s Garden” for Frida Kahlo, a Mexican Artist born July 6, 1907, died July 13, 1954. Below is one repeat of the fabric.
Fridas Garden

Fabric cut into equilateral triangles.
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Frida Block
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Another Frida block, fun!
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I decided to incorporate cubes into this hexagon quilt. You choose 3 colors for your cubes. A light, intermediate and a dark fabric. I chose these three colors taken from the block fabric.
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We make two kinds of triangles, striped and V triangles. For the striped triangles sew the strips into 6 sets of 3 fabrics each. Cut 14 strips of each shade – light, intermediate, and dark. All the strips are 1 ½” x the width of the fabric. Press all seams open! (Confession, I forgot and pressed to the side the side, I had to go back and press my seams open).

Striped Triangles – Sew the strips into 6 sets of 3 fabrics each as follows:
Light – dark – light
Light – intermediate – light
Intermediate – light – intermediate
Intermediate – dark – intermediate
Dark – light – dark
Dark – intermediate – dark
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Using a Clearview Triangle ruler, align the 3 ¾” line of the ruler along the bottom edge of the light-dark-light assembled strip, and cut along both sides.
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Note: the point is missing on the cut triangle. This is not a mistake. That missing point
will be absorbed in the seam

To cut the second triangle, flip the fabric over and cut from the wrong Side again using the 3 ¾: line.
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V Triangles: Sew 4 of each value of the remaining strips together in pairs as follows:
Light – intermediate
Intermediate – light
Light – dark
Dark – light
Intermediate – dark
Dark – intermediate
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You will have 6 strip sets – 2 each of 3 color combinations. Press seams open.

Align the 2 ¾” line on the Clearview rule along the bottom edge of the assembled strip, and cut along both sides. Note again that the point is missing.
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Flip to the wrong side and continue cutting as before. The 2nd triangle is a reverse of the 1st one cut, no problem, we will need both.
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From the 4 remaining strips of each color, cut 3 ¾” trapezoids using the Clearview Triangle ruler
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Sew a trapezoid to every 2 ¾” triangle, matching the color of the trapezoid to create a V triangle.
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You can quickly chain sew triangles to trapezoids.
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All seams are pressed open
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From the Striped Triangles, V Triangles and trapezoids you can make these five different cubes:
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I placed Frida’s Garden on the design wall. When I had a design I was satisfied with I started to play with the cubes. I simply replaced hexagons with cubes.
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This is part one. I want to use some machine embroidery and broderie perse in the borders. First I need to sew blocks into rows and then join the rows so I can audition my ideas.

Hexed at the Virginia Quilt Museum

I’m thrilled my hexagon quilt “Inside the Twister” has been selected to be in an exhibit at the Virginia Quilt Museum that is called “Hexed” presenting quilts made from hexagons from May 21 – August 24, 2013. There is a link to the Virginia Quilt Museum on the right side of my blog.

 

Inside the Twister 3

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One Block Wonder Fabric Selections

What fabric makes a good Hexagon Quilt? Some say a 24″ repeat is key, but I do not necessarily agree. I made a hexagon quilt from a fabric that had a 24″ repeat, but the print was not that large. Although it was still a pretty quilt, I thought the colors were a little muddy (Natures Chorus). So I say get as big a print as you can find with colors that you like. Keep in mind that once the repeats are layered you will be cutting them into 3 3/4″ strips. If your print is flowers that are only 3″ across, you will not be taking them apart very much and your blocks will end up looking a lot like the original fabric. Whereas if the print is 6″ you will have a better chance of your blocks looking nothing like the original fabric.

I ignore the print itself and go for something large with colors I like, then I know I will have fun. When I made “Inside the Twister” from the Wizard of Oz fabric in sepia tones, it was only a 12″ repeat. I could have cut 6 repeats of a fabric 12″ each, but because the print was big enough, I chose a design element that was easily identifiable and when it came up again at 12″ – I skipped it and went to the next one. Now I had a 24″ repeat. When you do this you may have blocks that repeat themselves, but remember you have 3 design choices with each block.

To make a good lap-size, twin, or full size quilt, 4 1/4 yards for your blocks. 6 repeats of fabric at 24” each, is exactly 4 yards (24 x 6 = 144; 144/36 = 4). I ALWAYS BUY at least 6 Yards so I have the option of a 9 OR 10 inch outer border with the original fabric.) It is fun to see a slice of the original fabric along with the quilt. DO NOT PRE-WASH THE FABRIC!!!!

Below are some of my hexagon quilts waiting to be born. I still have another 20 or so 6 yard pieces I didn’t show you.

OBW Fabric
Just Lion Around by Alexander Henry

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New York City at Night

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Red Sunflowers

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Route 66

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Ocean Fish

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UPS Men

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Construction Hunks (I love cutting up people)

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New York, New York

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Under the Rainbow, I used this fabric for “Inside the Twister” it had a 12″ repeat

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Over the Rainbow

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Paris Pin Ups

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Frida’s Garden

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Georgia O’Keefe

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Large Leaves by Alexander Henry

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Parrots in the Jungle

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Kaffe Fasset same fabric 3 color ways

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English country Side by Sue Beevers

Soho Sunflowers, Number 51

I have just finished my 51st hexagon quilt. This one is being donated to Quilters Dream Batting, Hopes & Dreams Challenge. Hopes & Dreams raises funds for ALS Reasearch (Lou Gerigs disease). 100% of all funds raised by Quilters Dream Batting goes to ALS Research. If you think you, your Bee or local quilt shop would be interested in donating quilts please go to their website http://quiltersdreambatting.com/HD/ALS.htm for all the details.

Soho Sunflowers OBW

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