Sunday 5 August 2012

If You Can't Stand the Heat...


When temperatures reach 50C (120F), there is only one thing you can do. Pack away the sewing machine and do some gentle hand sewing...


I started making my own templates but then succumbed and bought a large pack of 1" hexagons from paperpieces. Thanks to Catherine who reminded me about a promo code (FAT25) valid until I think the end of the month which gives free international shipping and 25% off.  Win win. I was super impressed with paperpieces, with the templates arriving less than 2 weeks after being ordered!

This is more or less where I am right now. I used my aqua, orange and gray charms from Jenelle's mystery charm swap.  Jenelle cleverly chose all the fabrics and she did a fab job. I have supplemented the charms with my own stash and I love how they are turning out. However, I have now all but exhausted my fabrics in these colours.

hexie detail
So my question for you on this Sunday is whether I should enter more colours in to the mix or keep it as it is for a smaller project? 


By the way, the temperatures have dropped a little today and it's much more tolerable although there won't be much machine sewing apart from bee blocks until September when things should cool.

Thank you so much for all the lovely welcome back comments on my last post - I was worried you all might have disappeared!  I²m very happy and relieved you are still here.

37 comments:

Little Island Quilting said...

Tried a couple of times now but neither of your images appear to have loaded so can't offer advice!

Mommarock said...

super bummed that I can't see your pictures! I really was excited to see hexies in progress, or anything hexie for that matter. I am super into anything English Paper Piecing at the moment, and really want to give it a go. I have no idea what exactly I want to make. I just made a hexagon quilt, so I think I want to try something with diamonds or something else, but have no clue exaclty what design I want to go with.. I've been searching everywhere and can't come up with a pattern.

Mommarock said...

I love the color scheme you are using, I would try to stick with this color scheme. It is just fantastic!

Elizabeth said...

Sounds too hot to do anything at all to me!

Canadian Abroad said...

50C is intolerable!! I feel for you. I've been in Marrakech in 45C and that was more than enough to do me in. I love the colour scheme you have going and would stick to it if possible. Why don't you ask for donations in those colours?

Catherine said...

Welcome back! Adding another colour is always quite exciting because you never know quite what it will do but I like the limited colour palette. It's elegant and it goes rather nicely with the wallpaper behind your blog:-)

Sarah said...

Paperpieces is a great shop :-) Your hexies so far look fab, I dont know how you manage to breathe in 50C!! Highest I've been in was just over 40C and I hated it.

Leanne said...

The flowers are lovely and if you have another month of heat I think you might want to make some more. Those are really hot days.

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

I love the hexies in the limited palette and would be tempted to see if you can eke out the rest of the charms - have you got any solids in the right colours that you could add? Or appeal for donations!! I can't imagine being in temperatures of 50C - that's over twice my upper limit ;o)

Run Quilt Knit Write said...

I really don't know how you cope with temperatures like that - incredible - I would just be a little puddle on the living room floor! Love the hexies and the colour scheme - can you make doubles or triples to make it bigger or are you completely out of fabric?

Erin @ Billy Button Design said...

Oh they look so lovely. What a decision you will have to make.

www.randomthoughtsdoordi.com said...

I would stick with the color scheme and wait until you get more fabric. I'll see what I have to include in our swap. I still have not mailed it. xo

Charlotte said...

I love the colour scheme - I would leave it as it is. It's just gorgeous!!

Catherine said...

I was so impressed with the paper pieces service and am working away on my double wedding ring. Love the colours on your hexies

Mary said...

I love the colour palette you've chosen, I would stick to it if you can. Even in our miserable English 'summer', 50C sounds awful!

Katy Cameron said...

Oh I love those colours you're using (well I would, as I'm getting an entire bee to make me blocks this colour lol) I'd stick to this colour combo, maybe do a hunt round your stash for any solids to up the combos, or ask a friend or two for help. What size bits do you need?

Strawberry Patch said...

Hello hello! I love the mix you have right now, I'd be naughty and suggest you buy more if you want it to be bigger as I love the way it looks right now.

mary/Sy Lake Quilts said...

Stay with your color choice! It looks great. I'd be happy to send some scraps and i am sure others would as well. I'd have several aquas, but i'm not into orange, and don't have much grey either. You'd have to post how much you'd need for one flower and your mailing address, of course.

Anyone dealing with temperatures like yours deserves some free scraps! It would be great fun to see how it turned out and we'd all feel a part of it-- but you get to do all the work!

Cherie said...

In the heat it is awful to sew!
Hand sewing does work out easier. I really like the colour scheme so I would leave it as is =D

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

Oh lovely! I would only add one flower of an alternative fabric, as I'm contrived like that!

Do you want it huge or finished - maybe it could be a slow burner you keep going for a while longer?

Ellie said...

I really like your colours. I'm no expert by any means but this looks really complicated.
Hope it cools for you soon.

Susan said...

I love the colour palette you've chosen and would hold out til I had more of it. Stay coo, if that's at all possible!

Cindy Sharp said...

The heat sounds wretched...but your garden blossoms none the less! Beautiful work.

Toni said...

Looks fabulous so far! I love the limited palette. Will one charm yield enough fabric for a flower?

Nicole said...

120 degrees F?!? OMG - I thought it was bad here.
Hang in there! I say add more colors. The more, the merrier! How about some green or yellow?

Dianne Neale said...

You have to keep going with the colour scheme. Couldn't you do some private swaps?

Sheila said...

Said it before but I used to loathe GFG - the fabrics you have chosen have totally changed my mind - I do like this colour palette, tempting to stop now or search for more.
Foul sounding heat.........

Suz J said...

I love the limited colour palette. Have you thought about applying the flowers in a more abstract layout on a solid background? That way you could work with what you've already got, but make a bigger project.

My Castle in Spain said...

Hi Annabelle,
definitely too hot to sew ! How cool to live in Marrakech ! and yes Essaouira is a great place to go when temperature is too high...
Thank you very much for your visit and have a wonderful summer :-)
Lala

Kelly said...

Love this colour scheme, so I would stick with it! It's going to be gorgeous finsihed!!

Cindy said...

Beautiful! The orange and aqua combo is just perfect. I'd stick to it if possible...

Cindy said...

Beautiful! The orange and aqua combo is just perfect. I'd stick to it if possible...

Jenelle said...

These are so fantastic! I love how you have used your charms. :) I think whether you choose to stay with this color scheme or add in more variety, they will look beautiful!

Chelsea said...

This is lovely! I'd stick to the colour scheme as is - maybe it's a sign that your stash needs adding to!

Nicky said...

Lovely as is Annabelle! How big were you going for?

Jenniffier said...

Amazing color choices!

Anonymous said...

Love your hexies. I haven't touched mine in months. I think I need to do a different color scheme.