Welcome to Mountaintop Quilting Studio

This is where you find me exploring a variety of creative adventures mostly about but not limited to quilting. I'm a firm believer that one increases their creativity by being open to and playing with a variety of cretative endeavors ... at least that my excuse for today. Enjoy your sourjourn through my studio playroom. May you find encouragement and inspiration, and on occassion, a little pin-prick that may be thought-provoking or spark your imagination. Thank you for stopping by.

You can find the shape everywhere ... in art, in architecture, in nature, on the floor, on the wall, and used as a religious iconic motif.

Hexagons have been used as the shape of everything from the bath house to the shape of the pulpit. Tile artists create many different designs when using the hexagonal shape as building blocks in a vairety of colors. Much has been made of the connection and hidden meanings with the number 6 and the six-sided shape - the hexagon. Nature constructs this shape when forming snowflakes and basaltic crystals. You can find it on turtle shells, and of course, hexagons are associated with bees and the honeycomb in their nests.

Part of the popularity of this shape stems from its most efficient use of space. Various sources describe the symbolism of the hexagon with words like reconciliation and peace, cooperative and hardworking. Quilters love the traditional pattern using this shape called Grandmothers Flower Garden.

I love going into my "Zen-zone" when I'm using the English Paper Piecing technique for making my hexagonal flowers. Sifting through my basted pieces ... do I have enough pieces to make a flower? What would make a good center piece for my flower? How does this flower look placed next to this flower? I listen to my books on my IPod, play favorite tunes, or "watch" favorite old movies ... quiet, slow-down, relaxing time ... the best part ... using up scraps from my stash!

These little flowers are being made with 1/2" hexagons and I love the way I've been able to create the illusion of some flowers being on top and others hiding under the flower beside it. This also allows me to make use of flowers that don't have all 6 petals to go all the way around.

And what could be more perfect than using this shape as a basis for quilting designs. A friend recently asked me to digitize a quilting design for her using the hexagon as the outlining shape. Jan sent me the photos of the quilt that had come into her studio and the "mouse-work" began. The results a hexagonal flower shaped quilting designs ... 1438 JAN'S HEX FLOWER.

I love the way this block looks repeated in alternating rows with the edges trimmed. for creating a beautiful simple scalloped edged wholecloth quilt. Living on the East Coast in the Berkshires with the snowy cold wintery season has increased my need for king sized bed quilts dramatically. I think this might be a soon to be quilted pieced to add to the collection.

Watch for more as this block grows into a collection with more suggestions and project ideas.

 You might be interested in reading these related posts as well:

• Star Bouquet
• Postage Stamp Hexagon Quilt
• Design Challenge Wrap-up

Comments

• I did not have your name on the Garden Party list for One Flower Wednesday, but have added it now. Be sure to use the Sign In Sheet on the weeks you are posting, so other members know to visit. I look forward to watching your garden grow!
  by Karen on 13 September 2010 at 6:38 p.m.
• Very sweet flowers Kay!
  by Karen on 13 September 2010 at 6:31 p.m.
• How could we not comment on the little flowers...they smell soooooooooo good and sure make a beatuiful arrangement. Maybe I could do this! Ann
  by E. Ann Beeman on 27 August 2010 at 11:27 a.m.