Virtual Retreat - Join Anytime

[wendy w.]

Wow Nicky so colourful. Glad you've joined the retreat

That's a lot of hexagons

[Nicola W.]

Hi Twiglet and Loise98, thank you so much for your lovely comment, which was so appreciated. I am so glad you like the quilt so far.
Yes, this is totally traditional English paper pieced quilt.
Every paper hexagon was cut out by hand, hand tacked and totally sewn by hand. The only time I used the machine was to make the inside cream border and attach the hexagons to it. I will attach the binding with the sewing machine too.
Of an evening, I am spending ages undoing my hand tacking stitches and removing the paper templates

I am thinking about adding some appliqué red hearts after the binding, so I can butt the hearts right up to the very edge of the binding. They will sit on the outer edge of the 10" cream border. This quilt is made with lots of love, and I want to hand it down to my daughter eventually with her knowing this.

[Judith A.]

Hi Nicky,
Welcome. Your hexagon top is beautiful. So colorful! I see the colors are in color families along the outside border. How did you decide where to put the different colored hexagons. What size are the finished hexagon sides? Do you have a pattern?

Judith

[Jennifer D.]

Nicky - your quilt is gorgeous. So much time and work, your daughter will surely treasure it! Please share the finished top with us before it heads off to the quilters!

[Jennifer D.]

Nicky, that is going to be a great quilt. It will be nice to see when it is finished.

Margarita in Auburn, California

[Jennifer D.]

Hi Nicky - What a wonderful quilt! Looking forward to seeing the finished quilt.
Barb :-)

[Jennifer D.]

Hi ladies! I just spent a few hours with Connie Kincius (Thank you Sue Henyon for suggesting our get together). We had a great visit, it is so nice to spend face-to-face time with someone you have known only online. I hope, in the future, to be able to meet more of you ladies in person. I wanted to thank Connie for contacting me to let me know she was going to be in the area. I also wanted to that Sue but have not been successful in searching and finding members since the new site is up and running. If anyone knows how to do that and is willing to let me know--I would appreciate it. Anyway, I am doing well and am working hard to finish the twins' quilts. More later.

[Marianne G.]

Hi there,
Been sent here by Wendy (twiglet) so thought I would say Hi and then start reading. Looks like a very useful thread to follow. Virtual retreats are great - I do one once a month with one of my DDs using Skype where we make clothes. Although fitting is tricky it is a great way to keep focussed on projects. Looking forward to seeing what is going on here. Wendy has almost persuaded me to return to the forum by leading me by my nose (or should that be following a thread) around a couple of topics :cheer:
Marianne

[Nicola W.]

Hi Judith,
Its such a real pleasure to meet such lovely ladies. The art of quilting in the UK is very rare, there are only a few quilt guilds scattering the UK, and so few quilt groups too, non of which are in my area. Quilt shops are very rare. As I quilt alone, I very much appreciate feed back from you as I don't have a group of ladies who I can quilt with, this is why having this group means a lot to me, its so lovely to meet you ladies

Regarding your questions, the hexagons are apron 2" in size each. This quilt was suppose to be a lap quilt but I loved making this so much that I could not stop, so it just kept growing! Im so sorry you cannot see the hexagons close up as each has whimsical designs, wonderful patterns and it has a modern feel to a very old technique. Every hexagon has been "auditioned" so it "sings" nicely to the next hexagon and others around it. This whole piece was designed from the heart, and it reflects my character and quirky personality, plus my inner child. Its filled with love. There is no pattern for this as I design my own quilts mostly. I am so glad you like the border, I wanted it to flow into colour families as I wanted some definition as most hexagon quilts are mostly done totally randomly or in the flower garden pattern. I wanted something unique.

Thank you again.
Best wishes
Nicky

[Nicola W.]

Hi Jdeluka, BarbCA and MargaritaW,

Thank you ladies for taking the time to leave such lovely comments, its very much appreciated. I will take another photo before it goes to the long armer from a different angle so maybe you might see the detail better. I didn't have anyone to hold the quilt for me at the time I took the picture so I laid it out instead for a quick snap shot, its a shame you cannot see any of the detail, as that is heart of the quilt design. I might try and take a close up shot of a section?

With many grateful thanks always

Nicky

[Nicola W.]

Hi Marianne,

Its such a pleasure to meet another new person, as I am one too.
Its wonderful to hear about your other virtual retreat group specially as its connected via Skype which is a fabulous idea. I could imagine this would be brilliant for all project groups, keeping motivation high and meeting amazing ladies from around the world with the same interests.

What quilting project are you working on at the moment?

Nicky

[Nicola W.]

This is an awesome idea and I would love to be member of this virtual retreat. Do you work on projects already in progress? Please count me in and I will read some of the posts.

[Nicola W.]

Welcome to everyone! I never thought this topic would get so much activity. I knew that for me, making a decision to commit just a bit of time, on most days, would get me further along on my projects. But I didn't realize just how much many of us need the 'connection' to like minded people!
I moved to Summerville, SC 2 years ago in July. I've met many people but just have not made the connection with others that enjoy my passions. Until I went online!! Now, I want to say right up front that I think 'real time' friends are a great joy, but making those relationships work, is very difficult. We all have a lot of other things that we are busy with. That's why having this 'virtual retreat' has worked for me. I can listen to everyone's story, when my time is available. If I write at 3am it isn't going to wake anyone up.
I have enjoyed this past few weeks immensely.

I have a proposal for EVERYONE! Are you interested in changing it up a bit?
I would like to start another topic, it would be July 2015 Virtual Retreat - Join Anytime
Each month we could start a new one so that in the future, we would be using a current month and new joiners could read what transpired month by month, in the past, if they wanted to. But they wouldn't feel like they've missed anything if they pop in at any time.
I would encourage each of us that are "gettin' into this grove" to make their first post each month about their intentions for 'their' virtual retreat. Even if it is to sip sweet tea, eat MilkDuds, and peer over everyone's shoulder! (Obviously, I should go to a health retreat!) LOL
It's just a thought, but one I've been really drawn to.
Will you be interested in following over?
Luann

[Nicola W.]

Sometimes you just wanna cry!!
I was really liking my 'fire' element art quilt when it looked like this:



But then I continued with the class information and now it looks like this:




And I am NOT a happy camper. I lost my mid ground trees, and these look like giant flames, and, and, and,,,,,,
I thought about using more sheer fabric to move these into the midground and then go for NEW foreground trees that would need to look like they are 'ablaze' but I am just stumped at the moment. I don't want to keep adding to the point of it being able to stand up on the floor!!! LOL. Ok, so now that I've vented to friends that can laugh with me,, maybe, I will 'set it on fire' and take a picture, hmmm??
I need a glass of tea, or perhaps some milk duds!!
Any ideas? For the quilt, my sweet tooth needs no help!
Luann

[Marianne G.]

Hi Nicky,
I'm working on a quil-ket (cross between blanket and quilt) as well as a thousand other things. Like your hexi quilt - bright and cheerful.
Marianne