Hexie Fever

Because Spring is here, I have decided to work with the colors of the season. At the moment, I have no idea what awaits this pretty sherbet-colored pile of pastel hexies. The one thing that I do know is that I've got a terrible case of Hexie Fever. Someone better stop me before I turn my entire fabric stash into hexagons. Yes, I'm that addicted!


I am also working on a pink crocheted afghan for a soon-to-be-expected baby girl. The plan is to create an edging of some kind where this brown and pink ribbon can be woven into. We'll see how that goes as I seem to be making things up as I go along.


For anyone who is trying to email me at my Road Runner address, please note that I still do not have access to it. If you need to reach me right away, please contact me through my email posted in my profile page of my blog. We hope to have my Road Runner email up and running by next week.

Have a good day!

Aloha,

T.G.F.G.

Thank God For Geeks! Computer geeks, that is. Hubby and son, to be exact. They were able to bring my computer back from the point of no return. They even managed to save everything in the process too. Three cheers to my two computer geeks who come to the aid of their computer dummy wife & mother every time she runs into trouble. She knows that without them, her computer life would cease to exist. Thank you J & E. I could kiss your toes. Well, maybe not your toes, but you get what I'm trying to say, right? LOL

Soooo, I'm back and it feels great! I am in touch with the world once again. I felt a little lonely and isolated for a while. This just proves how much I've grown dependent on my computer and life just wouldn't be the same without it. But I'm back now and I am one happy camper.

I have had the opportunity to finish one of my hexagon projects, a really big bag to tote my projects around in. In honor of my newly found passion, I have named this bag The Spellbound Hexie Tote. I've added a sprinkling of folded button-topped yo-yo hexagons to mingle amongst the paper pieced hexagons for a bit of variety and visual interest. There are a total of 231 hexagons in this tote. This baby is big and roomy with four interior pockets to hold all the essentials. It is large enough to hold anything from quilting to crochet and I'm thrilled with it!

As you can see, there is a lot going on due to the hexagon piecing and to the number of fabrics that I've used so I wanted to keep the design very basic. I used black fabric everywhere possible in order not to fight the pretty watercolor mosaic look of the hexagons. There is a black gusset inset on both sides, something that I have never done before. The gusset has a rounded edge at the bottom and a gathered elastic edge on top. The handles taper from 1-inch where it meets the shoulder to 3-inches at the base. I wanted more support at the base because this bag will possibly be toting around some pretty weighty items and I wanted a strap that could support this.
So, one hexie project down, one more to go. Hmmm....maybe many more to go. We'll have to see.

A huge thank you to everyone who has sent me their thimble suggestions. I never knew that there were so many alternatives out there. Thanks a bunch!

Another big thank you to everyone who has supported me through the diet challenge and has sent me motivational thoughts and suggestions. Thank you for taking the time to write me. I just wish that I had a better progress report for you but the truth is that I don't. I'm right back where I started once again. I guess I'm just not as motivated as I need to be at this point. But.....I won't give up. Thank you everyone!

Have a wonderful day!

Aloha!

Computer Woes

I'm having some major computer problems. Will be back soon. I hope.
Aloha!

Monday Ramblings

I haven't had much time to work with my hexagons over the last week but I am still making some progress. Although my fingers have been taking a huge hit from the sewing needle, I'm still chugging along. They're very tender and just plain beat up from guiding it through the fabric. It's scary to think how much worse they could get.

I have employed every piece of finger armor that I own but haven't found the right one to do the job yet. Most of the thimbles hurt the sides of my fingers or simply just fall off. The leather thimble feels uncomfortable and cumbersome. There just has to be something better than the bandaids that I have resorted to using. Finger pain hasn't stopped me before and most likely will not stop me now as I am loving the process way too much.


On another note, my diet is going nowhere fast. At this point in my life, I am lacking the motivation needed to lose weight. It isn't unusual for me to go through periods like this but I usually recover rather quickly. In this case, I haven't. I don't know if public humiliation(posting to my blog)is doing me in or helping me at this point. My pants are becoming tight again so I know that I am moving in the wrong direction. *Sigh*

Take care!

Aloha!

Congratulations!

The winner's of the giveaway are:

#13 Connie W.


#60 Jackie


#88 Emy


#105 Tudy


#184 SG


I will be contacting the winner's sometime later today as it is after 1:30am and I need to get some shut eye. Connie W., Jackie, Emy, Tudy & SG, if you see this before I get to you, please send me your mailing address. You can contact me through my email located in my profile.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who entered the giveaway and to thank you for visiting my blog.

Take care, everyone!

Aloha!

It's A Giveaway!

It's a giveaway...just because.
Just because...you are all very special to me.
Just because...you always say the sweetest things.
Just because...you are who you are.
Just because...I like you and cherish your friendship.

In the spirit of friendship and appreciation, I would like to host a giveaway in your honor...just because.

It has been wonderful getting to know so many of you over the past year. Thank you for sharing your fabulous outlook on life and for your enthusiasm and support. The world is a much better place because of kind and caring people like you.

This giveaway is open to all my readers, near or far. To be eligible, just leave a few words in the comment section under this post. One entry per person, please. Any duplicate posts will be deleted.

This giveaway consists of 5 handbags which will be given to 5 individual winners. It will run for 2 weeks and will end on April 15, 2009. A winner for each of the five handbags will be chosen by random number generator on April 16, 2009.

EARTH

WATER

FIRE

WIND

SKY


Good luck and thank you so much for visiting my blog.

Aloha,

Diet Challenge

It is obvious that I haven't been pouring my heart and soul into the diet challenge. Although I haven't lost any weight recently, I am still happy to be maintaining.

The one thing that I will admit to is having an out of control sweet tooth. I am constantly on the prowl for dessert recipes with less calories and fat than their original counterparts. I love quick breads and I can gobble up more than my share in one sitting. As soon as I have some time, I plan to give
this recipe a try for Addictive Pumpkin Muffins. It has very good reviews and ratings so it must be good. I'll let you know.

From the moment that I first began paper piecing I knew that I would make a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt. I also knew that my fabric choices would be on the traditional side to complement the pattern. Although these colors and prints aren't my favorite, it's growing on me.

I couldn't limit myself to just one project at a time. I am currently working on another one using jewel-toned fabrics. The earthy, rich colors of Autumn and Winter are my favorites. This isn't surprising as Autumn and Winter are my favorite seasons.


If you haven't tried paper piecing, I urge you to give it a try. I have no doubt that you will become hooked too.

Take care!

Aloha!

Happy Easter!

Although I am not a very big seasonal crafter, I have always enjoyed making a project or two during the holidays. My inspiration for this project comes from the paper lanterns of my childhood.

I heat bonded 2 layers of contrasting fabric together in place of the paper and added a fabric covered tin can in the center to form the basket.

Rick rack and a cute little yo-yo posie adds to the fun.

Have a Happy Easter, everyone!


Aloha!

I've Been Hexed!

My head is spinning in every direction. I've been bitten by the hexibug and theres no turning back now. I'm having way too much fun. I know paper pieced hexagons have been around forever, but I have never taken an interest in them until today. All I want to do is make hexagons. The more the better and for reasons that I cannot explain as I do not have a project in mind for these. Yet.

I made these over the last hour and I have to say that I'm addicted. It's very exciting because they come together so fast. Joining them may be an entirely different story but I'll worry about that when I get there. For now, I'm having way too much fun to care.


Have a wonderful day!

Aloha!

Diet Challenge Check-in Monday

Nothing new to report on the diet challenge. As I write this, I'm seriously thinking about chucking my scale out of the window. Ha! How liberating that would be!

I would like to thank everyone who has entered my handbag giveaway. Thank you so much for visiting and for your lovely comments.

For many months, I have been seeing so many beautiful quilts throughout blogland and I have become more and more interested in doing one myself. I have done a yo-yo quilt, a rag quilt and a simple hand-tied block quilt. What has kept me from delving deeper into quilting is the task of maneuvering all of that fabric through my sewing machine. There is simply not enough room and I hate struggling like that.

I came upon some information recently about the quilt as you go method. Now, I think this is something that I can manage as this method allows you to deal with quilting one block at a time. Of course, true to my nature, I will not be following any written pattern. I'm thinking of something more in line of a simple block pattern with sashing for my first try. If anyone has tried this method and would care to share how much you liked or disliked it, please let me know. Even if you haven't tried this method but have an opinion about it, I would love to hear from you. As a non-quilter, it would be invaluable information for me.

This is the color palate that I am thinking about working in. I'm planning to add several solid fabrics into the mix. I'm pretty occupied with other things so I am realistic and realize that I won't be finishing this any time soon. If it takes me years, I will accept that. Steady as she goes will be my motto toward this new endeavor.


Thank you so much and have a wonderful day!

Aloha!

My First

This is the handbag that started my love affair with handbag design. I can't believe that it's been over a decade since I designed this. Time really flies. It is my baby, my first. I was so thrilled about it's popularity back in the day.

Of course, another drawstring closure, my signature at the time. The outside fabric forms a large pocket on both sides of the bag which makes it perfect for keeping keys or sunglasses within easy reach.

I hope you're all having a wonderful day!

Aloha!