Friday, April 13, 2012

BOM - a - gons!

OMG!!! I finally started working on the Craftsy Block of the Month for April. It's very time consuming. The topic is English paper piecing. It took me probably a total of 3 hours to make one block! I'm not unhappy that I learned a new technique and I thought that never in a million years would I be making hexagons. I especially never thought that I would be hand sewing anything! But, OMG, it would take me forever to make a quilt made of these blocks! I guess I always thought that a BOM was all about quick and easy projects that you could do "as you go" and in the end you would have an entire quilt that seemed it took you so little time to make. Not the case with this block! I'm happy with the turnout, but in this BOM there are 2 blocks a month. And, the second one is very similar in technique, so I know it will take me awhile. Anyway, here are the pics (first one is the finished block):

I am glad that I have now finally appliqued something. I decided not to do the hand applique. I just did a straight stitch "sew on" and to stabilize I used my trusty basting spray "505." Whew! What a project! It's pretty, but with my limited sewing time, I could never do such projects that take so long. I would have so many less "Friday finishes." :( I think for the second block I will take the "hexies" with me on the train to work so I can do it then. I only need the squares, templates, scissors and a needle/thread. That sounds like fun actually (besides all the weird looks I will get being male and in business casual).

I've decided to work on my HST (half square triangles for those that are new) for the Quilt Story BOM. I think this will not take me as long :)

Anyway, until next time,

Mike.

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17 comments:

Danih03 said...

The only thing I have done is cutting out the paper templates! You are waaaay ahead of me! I'm ging to make my own design for the second block. The one she offered is a little to "cutsie" for me. What are you doing for yours??? Don't worry about how people look at you. You could always just say your doctor suggested you do this for physical therapy for your hand. (my grandmother broke her wrist and did hand embroidery sewing for physical therapy)haha. they won't know what to think! Sometimes, when I talk about sewing, people look at me strange, too. Like I should be an old lady to sew...hahah ! But then they try to ask me to sew shit for them. :( I don't want to be someones personal seamstress! Ans yes, I'm a sailor cussing sewer!....sorry

Danih03 said...

Oh, and BTW, your hexies look great! The fabric goes well together!!

Mike Pearson said...

Funny though, all the fabrics were just scraps, even the background fabric. They were all leftovers from other projects :) I'm sure I will ignore the "looks." I'm good at that. I've learned how to ignore the looks in my lifetime and just be who I am. But, that doesn't mean I don't make excuses!!! :P And, I'm doing that second block god damn it!!! Thanks for chiming in!

Mike Pearson said...

OH, and I forgot to say, I am making a nighttime scheme for the sunny with side of hex. I hate the block so much, it's like making fun of it (for me).

Rosemary Dickinson said...

I love making hexagons! I like to sew or knit while watching TV. I feel less guilty watching TV if I'm working on something. I bought the pre-made paper templates. I use up some of my scraps this way. I'm making a quilt top of just hexagons, no applique involved. Your hexies look great together! My dad is a retired tailor so I see no reason why a man cannot sew. All his friends were tailors. They could sew way better than any woman I knew! I feel like people think quilters should be old too. I guess they're just bad stereotypes.

Mike Pearson said...

Thank you Rosemary! I'm thinking it could suffice for something to do while commuting to my "real" job. :) I used paper and after I popped them out, I think they are reusable. I used cut outs from a soda/pop box (one of the 12 case holders). As far as stereotypes, I get it. I'm a librarian :) but not a public librarian like people always think. I work in a huge corporation. They rely on me for doing complex research. But, I have a cat, I'm a librarian and I like to quilt. What else would I expect people to assume? It doesn't bother me. I've learned, as I have always said, to just be me. Thanks for stopping by!

Mary said...

So far I refuse to do paper piecing. BUT...I did do foundation piecing for that stupid chicken pin cushion. I am impressed with your block. Far more patience than me.

Funny thing is I hate to just watch TV. So, I generally do something else at the same time. I used to read a lot but I can crochet and I do embroider some. But I HATE to hand sew. I am getting better about doing it and I no longer say I "can't" do it. I discovered I do just as well as the people that like it. I just hate it.

As for the stereotyping....sigh...I have never fit and fortunately neither do my sons. I like to say my husband married me because I was the best "buddy" he ever had. I know the difference between a socket and a tubing wrench. My husband and my sons all can and do make a quilt block each year for the family quilt. It isn't much but they seem to enjoy it.

Sewing machines are just power tools with thread!

Mike Pearson said...

Thanks for stopping by, that's a cool idea about the family quilt. I like it!

Kati from Kati's Quilting said...

Wow, how much I would love to see you on that train stitchin' away! I'm so glad you decided to do that, it will make your train ride go a lot faster and you'll be amazed how much you can have done! the second block will come together a lot quicker, I promise! I usually stitch my hexagons in the car when we go on vacation and I always get a lot done. You just need a little plastic box to organize your stuff together. Mine has my trusty scissors, needle, thread, a box of pins, and my trusty plastic templates. I really like how your first block came out!

Helen@Till We Quilt Again said...

Alright Now!
I link up with Marcia today and find so many neat people and blogs. But this tops them all. My last name for many years was Pearson (not many people spell it that way! could we be related?). And you live in North Jersey and I live in South Jersey (Cape May Court House). If you happen to look at my blog you will see allot of things you are probably familiar from our state.

Here is a link to my English Paper Piecing:
http://helenernst.blogspot.com/2011/03/channeling-toughts.html

And a link to my Octagons/Hexagon?
http://helenernst.blogspot.com/2011/03/another-spring-day-well-almost.html

I look forward to getting you posts and seeing what you are up to. Shall I call you Cuz??

Helen

Maria Kievit said...

I always have a bag with me whenever I go to doctors, or dentists. Either cross stitch, quilting, or crochet or knitting, but I just always like to have something with me. I don't always do something on it, but if I feel like it, things do get done this way. Found your blog via Marcia's linky blog.

Mike Pearson said...

Thanks for stopping by! I brought some hexies with me today on the train. I finished them all, now I need some for the ride home!!!

Mike Pearson said...

Cool! I never meet people that spell it with an "a" either. I'm originaly from Kansas though. I've only been in this area for about 10 years. Unfortunately, I don't know much about my Pearson roots. The only ones I ever met were my dad and his brother and they are both passed now. Anyway, maybe we will run into each other at an area quilt show. Also, let me know if you know of any good ones! I'm still new at everything!

Mike Pearson said...

I did it on the train ride this morning. People were watching sometimes. But, I think they were just trying to figure out what I was doing :) Anyway, I finished them. I really wish now I had some for the train ride home!

Helen@Till We Quilt Again said...

What I know is, our descedents were from England and Sweden(Pearson side)plus my was born and raised in Sweden too. They were one of the first white settlers amongest Indians in the Reading PA area. And eventually most moved to the Germantown area, right outside Phila. But never heard anything of Kansas, but you never know! Because there are several brothers that have never been traced.
Now that we are connected here I am sure we all are going to share all kinds of information. But to start, my son is at Monmouth Univer. (105 off Parkway)and there is a Great Quilt store near the Edison Mall called The Mouse Trap. I stop whenever I am up that way.
Till We Quilt Again,
Helen Pearson Ernst

Anonymous said...

Good for you making those hexis on the train. Believe me, you will be doing more in your future. It just happens;-)

blessings, jilly

Mike Pearson said...

I've already started doing more on the train. I love it! And, oh the looks of interest I get. I don't even have a project in mind. I'm just doing them with fabric I like :) I even did them outside today during my lunch. And, it was a beautiful day outside in New York City, especially down on the water by the Statue of Liberty :)