W.I.P Wednesday: Hexies, a Hound, and New Handbags

My WIP Wednesday, proved to be a work in progress of it's own.   I've been working on this all day, and just getting it in under the wire.

A) Finished this week:  Um.... almost but not quite anything!

B) Working on this week: 

1)  Hex on the Beach, a hexagon quilt made from Tula Pink's Saltwater fabrics, as mentioned on the blog yesterday.  I was very excited to get these precut hexagons jumped right in following Jacquie's tutorial.  She mentions that you should try piecing them one by one and move to sewing column to column as you get the hang of it.  Well I am(was) pretty darn impressed with my sewing skills and went straight to sewing column of hexagons to column of hexagons.  Okay, it didn't go so well.  When working with 2 1/4" hexagons, an 1/8th or a 1/16th of an inch really puts things out of whack.  These little things are so fiddly!  I cursed a bit at my non-perfection, and toyed with the idea of ripping it all out and changing to hand sewing.... then tried stitching them on one at a time.  That's going quite well!  This is going to take a long time.  Stopping and starting at each point/seam and doing a tie-off and a scissor snip of threads, it's tedious work, but I'm in for the long haul.  I pieced 58 blocks in the last few days, but that nonsense can't go on, I have other sewing to do so... with 1008 blocks in total, 950 left - if I do 5 per day, I will be done in 190 days!  That's not too bad.  It's a labour of love.
Here is what I've done so far.  Keep in mind please, they are not pressed!

Hex on the Beach Quilt

 2) My latest handbag pattern, will be a bowling bag style bag.  I don't have a name for it yet and I'm not sure I even want to show pictures of it because I haven't finished them yet, obviously, but here is a sneak peek.  They will have piped handles and a detachable shoulder strap.  I love the shape of this bag.  I love the wool plaid the best, and I've cut a very bright and fun Alexander Henry print with roses and funky skulls for the lining.  My daughter, Steph, saw it tonight and already claimed it for her own so it looks like I'll be making another.  The red bag is also an Alexander Henry print, and it's interfaced with byAnnies Soft and Stable which makes it very soft and sturdy.  This bag stands up straight and tall, with no stuffing inside for the photo.  Okay, I'm loving this bag so far and I think it would be great in a larger, travel bag size.

The Bowls Club Bags?

3)  I've done some straight-line quilting on a Christmas table runner that will have to be for next Christmas ;)  I just need to pick up some binding for it.  I made it up from a charm pack I got while living in Australia, and I believe it's called Holly Jolly.  I used linen on the back side and some remaining charm squares.  I hope to buy some binding for it soon!  Or maybe before next Christmas.

A Straight-Line Quilted, Reversible Table Runner

Other Stuff:
January BOM's Done
Hemming all the curtains in the house - not started!

I thought I'd share some Northern Alberta vistas with you.  The weather today is dreary, the wind is bitter and cruel!

My devoted companion in the sewing room, Toohey won't stay out from under the sewing table.  This is him with hurt feelings because I made him move for the 10th time.

Thank you so much for reading, here is some sewing advice:  Don't sew with your presser foot on backwards, it's not awesome.