Happy June, quilting friends! I hope you are enjoying sunshine and good weather where you are located. We had a very cold spring, but June has ushered in warmer temps that I am really enjoying. My husband and I have finally tackled some outdoor projects, and I’ve planted flowers. We’ve also taken a couple of road trips, and you know what that means . . . more English Paper Piecing (EPP)! My hexie flower count is now up to eleven!
In the picture below, the tray holds my six newest flowers, which feature some beautiful prints in medium and light blues. The petals on the top right and middle left flowers are from Brenda Riddle’s 2023 Sweet Liberty collection. The other four flowers are from Bunny Hill’s 2024 Hollyhocks & Roses collection. Both ladies design the sweetest collections for Moda Fabrics.
I’ve mentioned in my earlier EPP posts that this practice of “slow sewing” encourages me to notice the finer details in the fabric. For example, check out the darling heart flowers in the center red hexie. What a happy print! It is from a 2020 collection called Be Mine by Stacy Iest Hsu, another Moda designer. I also love the timeless, botanical feeling in the navy print, which is from Camille Roskelley‘s 2025 collection for Moda, Nantucket Summer. Friends, this is why we save all those favorite scraps. Some day we will find the perfect spots for them!
Speaking of scraps . . . I want to remind you of another fun project for using up treasured scraps, my free pattern called the Simply Starry Pillow. My pillow features summertime fabrics, but it would also be fun to make using Halloween or Christmas prints! Maybe this August I should work on a Halloween sample to share with you. I’ll add that to my to-do list.
I still have a lot to learn about EPP, and there are many other shapes and patterns I want to try in the future. But I am thoroughly enjoying the process so far. If you’d like to know more about how I’ve started, you can check out these previous posts:
EPP} More red, white and blue hexie flowers
EPP hexie flowers in red and blue
EPP} Getting started with hexies
This coming weekend, my friend Sylvia and I are travelling to Canton, SD to attend the 10th Anniversary Celebration for My Timeless Day Quilting & Sewing. (Visit them also on Facebook here.) I have known shop owner Allison since she opened her first online quilt store in her home, and she is an absolute gem of a lady. Over the years we have supported each other’s small businesses in a variety of ways. In 2019 Allison moved her shop to a main street location in Canton. In June of 2021, Sylvia and I visited Allison’s new storefront. Here we are on that fun day in 2021!
I can’t believe this picture was taken five years ago. My how time flies! Sylvia and I are long overdue for another shopping excursion at My Timeless Day. I’ll be sure to let you know what treasures we find.
~Taunja
