It’s been some time since I’ve posted about my scrappy grandmother’s flower garden project. This is one of those “life-time” quilts. Except I hope to have it finished in a few years.
I have just over 30 finished blocks, and I’m still undecided what I’m going to do with them…
A couple of years ago I started making sure most of them had yellow centers and a variety of scrappy outer petals in coordinating color ways. As you can see I’m low on the navy and purple flowers and also need to make a few more orange.
I can’t decide if I’m going to applique’ each flower to a background square or if I want to make a true Grandmother’s Flower Garden and make a lot of white hexagons to separate the flowers. Making hundreds of white hexagons isn’t something I can ever get too excited about though…
I did applique one of my flowers on a 7″ square and do think I’d like a quilt like this…but if I took the time to make the white separator hexagons it could be spectacular. Does anyone have any tips for getting through all of the white hexagons? Maybe I should make myself make a certain number after each flower I put together.
For now I just keep making hexagons and storing them by color in this plastic bin. Since we will be taking a short trip this week to attend my Grandmother’s funeral (she passed away last week at the age of 94 after a brief illness), I thought I’d take these with me to have something to work on in the evenings. Maybe I will come home with a few more flowers!
My flowers are all made using the 1″ hexagon papers from Paper Pieces dot com.
I know a lot of people just use squares of fabric for these, but I really do prefer to use hexagon shapes. The small hexagon on my Go! Cutter by Accuquilt works perfectly, but I also use the small hexagon template pictured above when I just want to cut a couple of hexagons quickly. I also take it with me when I travel in case I have time to cut hexies from scraps.
For more information on how I prepare my hexagons, you can read this post from a couple of years ago: “I Heart Hexagons.“
I’ll be back later this week to share my progress. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Dorian says
Since you like the white hexies so much Sherry, I would just go for it. Make so many every time you make a flower, and you'll have them done in no time. I'm sorry your Grandma has passed. Take care.
KathyinMN says
Wow on the hexis, with white hexis, you are so right, it would not only be spectacular but truly once in a lifetime. Go for it!!I to think if you do a few white every time you do a flower that it'd go together in no time.
Sorry about your grandmother.
Karen - Quilts...etc. says
when I made my hexie quilt the white hexies were a bit boring, I am now done with it though and if I did another I would want to have done it differently so all the white wasn't done at he same time. Sorry about your grandma but I'm sure it was just time for her to go and if you are like me when someone reaches that time in their life you are glad to see they are no longer in the pain of old age and have many memories built up of happy times.
Toni Macomb says
Love your flowers!! I too am working off and on, on a hexie quilt. I am impressed with the Paper pieces product. I also use an acrylic template. I cut strips and then cut the hexies from that using my small rotary cutter. Again, beautiful flowers.
marcella says
I think I wouldn't do all the white hexagons at the end. That would be a killer! I'd probably outline half the flowers with white so that when I put it together it would all fit…or maybe half way around each so you could rotate them to fit.
I love the paper pieces cutting template for their hexagons. Nice for cutting out hexagons to fit their papers and has the same thickness as a ruler to protect fingers.
Tracey Holzer says
I should mind my own business, but…!!! You know that the pieced white hexagon will make this quilt phenomenal. Focus on the glorious outcome instead of making all those white hexagons, instead. There's my advice 😉 Have a great week.
Paula says
Beautiful hexies, and I do think that going the extra mile to make white hexies would really be worth the effort. If you have have a stack of coloured fabric hexies cut then add white to the mix so that you are covering the papers as you go along. You could also add a round to some of your flowers as you go along. If you are going for a scrappy layout and don't want flowers of the same colour touching then maybe pick one colour of flower and surround it with white hexies as you sew to cut down on the task at the end. Whatever you decide to do it will be a really beautiful quilt.
Hildy says
Sorry for your loss, Sherri. My grandmother also died with 94 and although it wasn't a easy time I have some fond memories of her (she was a great woman).
Love your hexies but I can totally understand that you don't wanna sew hundreds of them. Perhaps you can use low volume prints instead of plain white as background. Just a thought.
Donna says
Your GFG won't be any prettier with white hexies, but will look "older" finished that way. Do ya want quicker or"forever"?
Christine S says
This is so pretty Sherri. I'm sorry for your family's loss. Even though she had a good, long life, it doesn't take away the pain. Take care.
Aunt TC says
I am sorry for the loss of your grandmother. My grandmother introduced me to crochet and I think is my quilting link. I saw other bloggers who were making large quilts using the hexies and they had planned out the next round or two so they decided if they wanted a round of white and then perhaps green diamonds, etc. when they did this they were able to see how many white hexies to add to each flower so at the final joining of all the flowers, they were actaully joining the colored flower with a few white hexies alreday joined so there was less sewing as they had already done some of it with the flower. I think Jo Morton was one of the quilters who did this. Check her blog or send her an email. I hope this makes sense.
Marcie's Quilting Therapy says
Hi Sherri – sorry for the loss of your grandmother. Her memory will be with you always! Hope that is a comfort. I made a GFG completely hand sewn and hand quilted. It's a treasure and the time really went by. I sewed the flowers while crossing the country so when someone asked me "how long did it take you to sew ALL of those pieces?" my answer was always, "oh, about 8,000 miles." haha
I LOVE the finished product and would always sew "all those hexies" to do the background – although I did a white row inside all of the flowers and finished with a green background. Whatever you choose, it will be beautiful!!
ruthie says
Sorry about your grandmother. It's just never easy to let go no matter the circumstances. I would go for the white hexes. It will be beautiful! Just don't stress about how long it will take!
Beverly says
Sorry to hear of your loss of your grandmother. May your family have a special time together as you celebrate her life.
You are making nice progress on your Hexie quilt! I haven't made one so I am not much help. Your work is beautiful .
Dondi Murdock says
I've seen gorgeous hexis made with solid hexis in the background or swiss dot or even small black dots or small black texts. Combined they are really a knockout. Not as traditional but stunning. So, of course, the choice is yours.
I'm glad your grandmother lived to be such a great age. It is always a loss no matter the age or how healthy or unhealthy the beloved is. It the great relationship that creates the loss. The wonderful thing now is your great belief system in an eternal family. I don't know how I would have survived so many losses in my family without this knowledge.
kshackabq says
So sorry you've lost your dear grandmother, Sherri. She's left you a great legacy, especially quilting!
Beth says
Sending my condolences at the loss of your dear grandmother. Even at 94, I think we always wish there was a little bit more time, and are thankful to feel that someday we will be beyond the limitations of time.
I think working on a Grandmothers Flower Garden quilt while you are attending her funeral is so very fitting. Like everyone else, I think you are likely to be happier with the quilt later on if you plug away with the white hexies, a bit at a time. Eventually you'll be done and the quilt will be an heirloom.
Denice says
I made a similar quilt, only it was stars. I added 3 white diamonds to each star as I made them and then connected them several at a time. Once in awhile I needed to add another white diamond but most of th time it worked out great and it added enough variety to the project I didn't tire of it. I spent about two years hand piecing the top and another year hand quilting it.
gibbygoo56 says
I adore everything you do! Beautiful work on these lovely hexies. I can't wait to see what you decide to do with this quilt. I know it will be the perfect choice.
So sorry for the loss of your Grandmother. God bless you and yours during this time.
Janice says
Your Hexies are beautiful. I did a king size diamond quilt using english paper piecing. It took me years but it looks wonderful on my bed. It is worth the work. Keep going.
Sue says
I am so sorry for your lose……….think of the memories and you will always smile. The timing on this post could not be better! I just made my very 1st flower and when I saw this I realized I need to do this even if it takes a very long time! What an heirloom. And I LOVE the white! I'll keep checking to see your progress. Thank you again for this post
KR says
Hi Sherri, sorry to hear about your Grandmother. I thought I would add my comment re to sew or not to sew white hexies. I think you should do what your heart and your gut is telling you deep down. Either way it will be absolutely beautiful and something to be very proud of. Love your blog, thanks for all the inspiration and knowledge you share. Kelly
Whichcrafts says
I am sorry for your loss.
Your hexagons look amazing.
Teje Karjalainen says
Hi Sherri! I'm happy I found your blog because your work and blog is really beautiful! I love the same colours as you and usually mixed with white. I don't know if you have decided how to continue your hexies, but I have the same idea with my hexy project. I have made white hexies with just little bit other colour in them, to mix with the colourful hexies. But I'm not sure if I like it. White squares are beautiful background but I don't think I would like to applique so much. Best summer wishes from Greece! x Teje
http://www.nerospost.wordpress.com