Hexagons And Prairie Points

Remember the hexagons and prairie points? Last time you saw them they were in bits and now they have all been put together to make this.


An oversized pincushion. It stands 10cm in height and 19.5cm across. It's larger than I imagined it would be but that might have some thing to do with the fact that I didn't read all the instructions. (Well who does?) I should have cut the middle band down to 3½" in width before joining together but never mind it still works the same. I've stuffed it with sawdust after some advice from a friend (thank you Barbara). As I was putting it together I didn't like it and wished I'd never started but now it's finished and I've had time to look at it I am pleased with it. I think it's going to be very useful and I've never had a pincushion before - can you believe that!


I added some embellishments of my own and I think more will follow. The hexagon and square button are handmade and I've had them for ages, I always knew I'd find a use for them.

This oval pendant used to be a necklace until this afternoon, I had it as a child (see you should never throw anything away) and it has got my name on it as well as some flowers (bad photo) so that just had to go on there.

There are enough squares in the box to make another two pincushions so you may see some more.

A Finished Quilt

This is christmas table mat number 4, numbers 5 and 6 are waiting to be made.

We've got a social stitching day at the shop today so Steph said she would like to make a cake for every one and she did. Last night she made these lovely Pumpkin Muffins. They smelt so good when they came out of the oven, temptation was hard to resist . Not too much longer now to wait for coffee break.

I thought you might like to see this. Do you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning? So does this fella. He got up came downstairs jumped onto the sofa laid the cushion down and curled up on it. Neil came down felt sorry for him and covered him up. The dog stayed there for half an hour!

This is my crazy quilt as you go quilt finished and hanging up on the wall. It's so large that I had to take two pictures. I'm not totally happy with the borders, they didn't go on very well but they're on and staying. Overall I am happy with it, I just love all the colours.

Last night I spent some time on my hexagons. I now have two strips sewn together and 27 prairie points (only need 26) so now all I need to do is put it all together.

Thoughts Of Christmas

The hexagons are progressing slowly but surely. They are very pretty and I have enjoyed the little bit of handsewing. I did have some help, I must confess, and say thank you to Barbara who tacked the fabric to the paper hexagons which saved me a lot of time.






At the same time I have started work on some table mats for christmas (that dreaded word).
The pattern is square dance and I am really enjoying putting it together.

The black one is my favourite although it looks brown in the picture.

Just another three to go. I wanted to make each one different but now I'm worried that once it gets to christmas day lunch there are going to be arguments, every one has been picking their favourites.

We have had a poignant weekend. Steph's fiance has gone to Afghanistan. There has been lots of tears and even though it's only been a few days since he went we miss him lots. He is due back just before Christmas. Nick is in the RAF (a communications officer) and is confident that all will be well. We think of him every day so far away from home as well as all the other servicemen and their families.

Who's Blackmailing Who

It's meant to be me blackmailing him but I think it may well be the other way round. The only way I could get him to take his medicine was to put it in chicken and rice, which I had to cook for him. As he was clearly feeling better I thought he could go back onto proper dog food. How wrong could I be! Yesterday morning I put his medicine in his dog food and with true Sparky attitude he didn't eat it. He didn't eat all day. So at 7:30 last night I cooked some more chicken and rice put it in his bowl with the medicine and he ate it!

When he had finished this is the look I got. What do you think he is trying to say?



This is as far as I have got with the wall hanging. I have decided to leave it alone for a while have a think and see what happens.



I have been working on this quilt for a few months now and it's very nearly finished. All I've got to do is two bindings. It's such a pretty quilt.

We had a delivery at the shop on Monday and inside one of the big boxes was some of these little boxes.

Inside the little box is 320 two and a half inch squares. They are so cute you can't help but pick them up and feel them, flick through them and stroke them. If you love fabric you will understand.

Anyway, feelings put to one side I set about using them.

I cut 38 one inch hexagons out of freezer paper.


Decided which squares I was going to use and that wasn't an easy decision.

Then I ironed the freezer paper hexagons onto my chosen squares ready for the next step.

This Week

This is Pam at her sewing machine looking rather pleased with herself.

For a few weeks now she has been making a bag from hexagons. These hexagons haven't been playing ball though and she has on occassions got a little cross with them.

Perseverance has won the day though. Pam has managed to work out a way of sewing them on the machine.

I love the fabrics she is using they are so cheerful.

Last weekend Pam had a much better time. She went on a quilting weekend with some friends, and this is what she came back with.

Isn't it gorgeous!

This week I have made Neil a new waistcoat. We have a Gala Dinner to go to this week and he is presenting some awards. He asked if I would make him a new, bright waistcoat. I think I have but you will have to wait for a picture. It is some where in a suitcase. At the moment we are in the Radisson SAS Hotel at Manchester Airport overnight waiting to fly to Jersey tomorrow.

I have also been knitting this week, I have brought it with me. I am making the hat first and it is nearly finished. The wool is 50% Alpaca so it is very soft.