Hexies

 

How are you today?  

We are expecting rain (again) here in eastern Pennsylvania but it sure beats snow!  

Sewing goes in waves and fads.  The last few years cross stitch has made a strong comeback and a lot of folks are doing English paper piecing.

I've never made a quilt involving hexagons.  It isn't the idea of English paper piecing that stopped me--I used to love handwork.  I think it is the look of hexagons.  

I knew someone in the quilt world who for a while kept collecting different kinds of hexagon quilts.  It was actually astonishing the different varieties she found.

In the 19th century, the pattern was often referred to as "mosaic".  

One young man, made a mosaic quilt to heal his heart:

1886:

The pattern is quite old and considered one of the earliest patterns used for quilts.  Here's a lovely coverlet dated 1790-1820.

Many are arranged like this one that was begun in 1864.

In the 20th century, we referred to them as Grandmother's Flower Garden and there is a vast array of layouts.  I found two at a yard sale down the street many years ago:

As much as I enjoy this piece, I think I love the scrappy hexie quilt I received years ago.  It's a sentimental piece and was gifted to me from a friend.

This is what we refer to as a quilt that used a "deep scrap bag".  There are many fabric pieces from the 1920s and extend back as far as the 1890s.

Have you made a hexie quilt?  Would you like to share one for Flower Friday?  

Have a safe and happy day!

National Quilting Month

 

Happy Monday!

One of the guilds posted that it is now National Quilting Month. March 16 marks National Quilting Day.  It's also Women's History Month.  

I thought I would feature a quilt I haven't shown in a while, the Robin Quilt:

The reason I am posting this one again is because Lucky is experiencing his first spring as a loved puppy.  He's been chasing birds and especially seems enthralled with the robins at the park.

Poor boy doesn't realize he'll never catch them.  However, one mourning dove was just sitting on the garden wall and Lucky passed him by 2 times without even noticing him.  😆 He sure makes our life fun!

Wishing you a happy and safe day!

Flower Friday: March 1, 2024

 

18 Days Until Spring!

It's feeling like spring despite the fluctuating temperatures.  The days are longer and Lucky is enjoying more walks at twilight. 

Nann sent some photos to us this week.  Her crocuses are up!

 

Also from Nann is a lovely photo of a quilt she received from her swap partner, Sara Hooten, from a mini swap they participated in.  Sara used a photo from Nann's blog!  WOW!

And here is Nann's original photo!

Thanks Nann!

Have a safe and happy day!

Happy Leap Year Day!

 

Happy Thursday and happy Leap Year Day!

Leap Year antique postcards make me laugh.  But...did you know that the tradition of a woman proposing to a man originated in Ireland?  Most sources state that St. Brigid of Kildare complained to St. Patrick that men were taking too long to propose to women.  So St. Patrick decreed that women could propose on leap year day.  

Soon the tradition spread to other areas and if a man declined the woman's proposal, the man would have to pay a penalty like give her a pair of gloves (or 12 pairs of gloves), a silk gown, etc.

One source suggested that the gloves were symbolic because they could hide the lady's ringless hands.  😮

There were even some laws in Europe that dictated penalties for a man refusing a woman's proposal.  I read that this tradition (later law) originated again with the Irish.  St. Brigid proposed to St. Patrick and he--possibly too busy casting out snakes--declined her proposal and gave her a silk gown.

Now how much this is true is debatable.  One Irish newspaper pointed out that St. Brigid was only 9 or 10 when St. Patrick died.

In some countries, this day is referred to as Bachelor's Day or Ladies Privilege.

Would you ever proposed to a man?  I know I learned my lesson asking a man out on a date in the 1970s when we women were feeling more liberated.  The man turned out to be my first husband.  I didn't do that again.  😂

Have a wonderful and safe day!

End of Embroidery Month

 

Hello friends!

Well I've been meaning to post something about National Embroidery Month (February) but I kept forgetting.  So before it is gone, here are some of my favorite pieces:

And some of my pieces:

Have a safe and happy day!

Tuesday's This and That: February 27, 2024

 

Good morning and how are you today?

In about 10 days we change the clocks and spring forward.  As usual, my body is already preparing for spring.  I'm falling asleep at 9 p.m. and waking before 6 a.m.  Later in the season, once daybreak occurs at 5 or 5:30, I'll be up with the light then.  I read that this desire to be up in the morning means I'm a "lark".

Although we are familiar with the concept of a night owl, a lark is an early bird morning person according to Wikipedia.  Are you a lark or an owl?

Now some of you may have not heard of this word:

But technically none of us are really what this words means one who stays up late or doesn't sleep at all.  Usually it refers to a party animal and most quilters I know do not conform to that definition.  Or do you?

***

This week's resolution:

***

Spring is surely coming and Lucky saw his first baseball game (on tv) on Sunday.  He was intrigued with the Philly Phanatic and then curled up on my lap and fell asleep.  However he does look cute sporting his baseball jersey!

Have a safe and happy day!

Fairy Tale Day

 

Greetings and Salutations!

I was looking for inspiration for this morning's post and found it is National Tell a Fairy Tale Day!

I'm not sure what my fairy tale would involve but I'm sure there would be some kind of journey involved...

And hard labor (at least for a child):

Of course there would be a dog or two:

And some kind of heroic kindness, perhaps with a magical inanimate object...like a wishing ball:

And of course everyone would live happily ever after!

What would your fairy tale be like?

Have a safe and happy day!