It’s my turn on the blog hop for my darling friend Tacha’s new book, Hexa go-go! And what a book it is!
For a chance to win a copy of the book keep reading!
In my world, Tacha is the queen of all things hexagon. She was the first person to show me that hexagons can be modern and not old fashioned. We were in a few bees together when we both joined the online quilting world and I was so tickled to have a friend from Germany. I felt very cosmopolitan!
In a blatant copy even then of Tacha’s style, I made these blocks for a bee using epp.
Little did I know she would go on to write a book about this fabulous concept. I just knew that I needed to try my hand at it. Time consuming but absolutely worth it!
Just a glimpse at the back of one of those blocks I made.
Because I know Tacha a bit (as well as you can know someone you’ve never actually met and share an online hobby with!) I wanted to do an interview with her so you all can get to know her a bit better. I hope you enjoy it.
A: What made you decide to write a book? I know you have a super busy schedule with two girls and being a member of Fat Quarterly. How did you find the time?!
T: Good question. I can’t really remember what made me finally put together some of my ideas into a formal book proposal. My youngest daughter was just beginning daycare and I finally had time to gather my thoughts for more than a few minutes at a time so I started to put together ideas and it soon became clear that I was obsessed with hexagons! After a quick google I found that there weren’t many books on the market which combined hexagons with modern quilt designs so I thought why not write a book myself!
Time was a huge issue for me. I pretty much submitted the proposal to C&T at the same time as I was contacting the rest of the Fat Quarterly team to see if they wanted to work together somehow. Fat Quarterly had been up and running for only a couple of months or so before I heard that my proposal had been accepted. It was pretty full on and I had to plan my time to the minute to meet all my deadlines especially since all the projects in the book are EPP projects and therefore sewn by hand. The only way to make it work was if pretty much every waking moment I was stitching hexagons! But that is the beauty of EPP – it is really so portable. I stitched during car trips, took the hexagons on family holidays, to the park and pretty much anywhere that I went. Everyone got used to the fact that when they saw me I was sewing and covered in threads. When I look back now I am not really sure how I managed it.
A: Be honest. How long did it take to make that fabulous Union Jack quilt? Because I want one and I’m not British! lol
T: The Union Jack quilt took shape pretty quickly as I just couldn’t wait to see how it would look once finished! It was also one of the first of the quilts that I made which meant my hands were still quite fresh so the stitching went more quickly. (I could definitely feel myself slowing down by the time I tackled the last few quilts!) I reckon it probably took about a month from start to finish.
A: What is your favorite project in the book? And yes, I realize that is like asking you to pick a favorite child
T: Totally impossible to answer that! I think at some point or other during the process they all ranked up there. But I have to admit for having a soft spot for the Over the Rainbow quilt but shh don’t tell the other quilts! The rainbow quilt reminds me of all the people in Bee Inspired who stitched up blocks and there are so many different scraps of fabrics in the quilt it is like a library record of my stash about a year ago!
A: What can we expect from you next?
T: I was trying to have a rest but little ideas keep bubbling to the surface so I do have a few secret projects on the go. Hopefully I’ll be able to let you know more about them soon. In the meantime it is business as usual at Fat Quarterly. We are busily preparing for our second retreat next year and of course for our next issue!
Thank you Tacha for sharing that with us! and for more peeks at her book and hexagon goodness, keep following along on the blog hop.
Just arrived at my doorstep yesterday- Monaluna Fox Hollow.. O i'd love to trymodern hexagon… Hopefully I can get to it soon..
the book looks great… I must admit.
I bought some stuff at fabric.com yesterday… some prints to make Scarlet a Strawberry Shortcake costume (I decided it will be her birthday and Halloween outfit), some Cotton Couture (of course I needed more), and a few other prints. I wanted to get some Bella, but it wasn't there yet…
I bought a stash of Amy Butler fat quarters from ChristaQuilts – the parcel arrived 2 days ago and I haven't stopped admiring them!
I just received my new "Oh Deer by Momo" layer cake in the mail today 🙂
A few weeks ago some fabric from Hancocks with a friend, not all of it's arrived yet; still waiting on a charm pack of Vintage Modern and then I'll go pick it all up from her. Am seriously considering putting an order in with Fatquarter Shop soon though; need some more Art Gallery fabric.
I got a 3/4 yard remnant of Plume Tailfeather in Mint by Tula Pink! Just love this fabric and can't wait to make something fun out it!
My most recent purchase was some fabrics for two baby quilts as a friend is having twins 🙂 Picked up some green, orange and white with plans to buy blue or pink as appropriate when they're born. Moda's Meadow Friends dragonflies will be the patterned fabric, the rest is solid's cos I'm on a budget!
I just bought a layer cake of the new Cosmo Cricket line yesterday…I think it's called odds and ends…and can't wait for it to get here.
I just received my Marmalade charm squares to make a liitle pinwheel quilt from the Simplify shop . As well as a layer cake of Trade Winds that was on sale . Sew Stitchy charm pack to have a little play with as well as the Chicopee fat quarters to make up that awesome Cog and Wheel quilt pattern .
My last purchase fabric was about 1 year ago, it was plain black for a BOM written by Esther Aliu – "Heart's Desire". Thank you for the chance to win this book, it looks so interesting. I haven't done any EPP yet, but I know that I will.
Well my most recent fabric purchase was a bunch of felt (does that count?) for 2 quiet books that I have 48 days to make for my kids! Along with a bunch of buckles, snaps, buttons and ribbons. Can't wait to see the finished product!
I won a $10 gift certificate in the recent FabShopHop & used it to purchase a fat quarter bundle of red & black fabrics online. Thanks for the chance to win.
Love the interview Angela! I have met Tacha and I can confirm she is totally lovely. I think she is quietly the queen of organisation too! I bought fabric this morning, 4 metres of Liberty lawn at a flea market- that was before 9.00 am!
My most recent fabric purchase is half yards of the lovely Bella by Lotta Jansdotter – her earlier range, Echo is my all time fave & Bella is just as lovely. Thanks for the chance to win.
My most recent fabric purchase is some Kona White I got yesterday. That was not my most exciting purchase, but I did get some Bella a few days ago!
I have been buying fabric on ebay…latest to come in mail was a beautiful Liberty scrap pack.
I worked Thursday for my local quilt shop and I hate to put bolts with less than a yard back on the shelf so I came home with 6 pieces of fabric all about a yard. Then she had some of the Cacoon fabric so I bought a little of that too. I never make any money when I work. There is just way too much cool fabric I think I need to own.
I purchased random aqua and red fat quarters for my international quilting bee! Thanks for the giveaway!
I bought some of the new dots (Riley Blake I think?) from Westwood Acres
I can't remember when I last bought material. I just got 3 large tubs full from my Mom. I think I bought some pirate print several years ago.
I went kind of crazy in July and bought tons of fruit-themed fabrics to make a set of kitchen aprons.
Oh wow. That gorgeous quilt only took a month? I will admit, Hexies intimidate me abit. I quess being new, all I see is the short stitch lines. Hmm will have to try to get my feet wet. I would love to be for a chance to win. Thanks.
The last fabric I bought was a month ago. It was for a skirt for my great neice.
Last fabric I bought was to make a baby quilt….got fleece for front & soft flannel for backing! (Could shop every day….but I'd be in trouble with my Sweetie! LOL)
Thanks for chance to win this book!! I want to make Hexie's!! Have been a chicken for toooo long! lol
True confession time! Last week I bought a fat quarter bundle of Benartex Calico Cuties! awolk at rogers dot com
Two days ago I purchased Benartex's Wordplay to go with Melody Miller's typewriter print. I was going to make a bag, but they sure would look cute in hexagons. Hope to win the book!
My most recent fabric purchase was about a month ago. I am collecting fabric to make a baby quilt for my niece. It was just a Kona solid in bright red. I got it at JoAnn Fabrics using a coupon.
I just bought some fabric from Laurie Wisbrun, about 10 minutes ago. I've never done proper hexagons so I'd love the book.
I went down to Arthur, IL where there is an Amish community. Many of the families have started cottage industries, and I love to go to a dry goods store to check out their fabrics. I also went to a fabric store in town where the employees are Amish last Tuesday. I bought some flowered fabric at both places to put on the shelf for a quilt that is in the planning stage.
well, I bought 2 charm packs of Cuzco just cuz it was so COol. No idea what I'm gonna do with it……..maybe I need this book to fire the imagination???
I LOVE those hexie blocks you made! THis book has been on my wishlist!!!! My most recent purchase, yesterday, was some Denyse Schmidt fabrics that were on clearance! I was able to get them half off the clearance price! So I got 4 yards of DS for $12!!!!!
i just bought some simple nice pure white cotton fabric at a clearance 🙂
thank you! id love to win the book!!!
After being in storage for five years, my entire sewing/quilting room was unpacked this Spring. Man, was it great to have it back again!
Yes, I had OODLES of fabric packed away. I haven't bought anything new since 2006. I guess you'd say that I'm working on my stash, huh?
Love those hexies…thanks for the giveaway.
this book looks awesome; would love to win it! my most recent purchase was in Skagway, Alaska at port while on a princess cruise Thu Aug 23 – DH fell in love with a quilt and they had a kit to make the top. it's called Earth Spirits of the North by Lisa Moore. In case you would like to see here is the link (photo does NOT do the quilt justice btw) I plan to start cutting fabric this weekend to start. http://quiltswithatwist.com/store/details.php?prodId=380&category=15&secondary=&keywords=
I love hexies and need to have that book! My latest fabric purchase was on Etsy this past week for some Beauty is You hard to find fabric…can't wait to get it 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway and looking forward to see what she comes up with next!
I just bought some Orange Crush fabrics and Kona solids from fatquartershop.com a few days ago. According to UPS, it was last scanned in Indiana. Hopefully I'll get the package on Tuesday!
Bella and bella and bella I think there is about 25 yards of the stuff arriving soon, oh yes and some know for a quilt along I am doing, green for luigi
timandmichelle@iprimus.com.au
Meant kona not know
I bought lots of remnants at Walmart last week.
lag110 at mchsi dot com
it was this morning and it was something that i liked and it was on sale
Two days ago, I joined a fat quarter club at A Joyful Soul Fabrics. A selection of Birds and Berries by Lauren + Jessi Jung for Moda. The package shipped today and I can't wait to get my hands on it. Thanks for introducing us to this title and the giveaway!
Oh I just purchased and received in the mail a couple of days ago the cutest collection of Pieces of Hope fabric. It is the cutest fabric I have seen in a while. I have no idea what I am going to make with it, I just had to have it!
Thank you
sandyb720 at gmail dot com
I was just making plans to go to the fabric store on Monday (only because they are closed tomorrow
I just went to a LQS in Stockton CA and lo and behold, they had more yardage of a Moda pink with yellow sunflowers batik fabric that I had purchased more than a year ago. I bought more and also pieces of pink and yellow compatible batik. I am not a huge batik fan but this fabric group was so cool!
I just bought some Sarah Jane "Out to Sea and some AMH "Field Study" and 3 extra charm packs of Amy Butler "Lark" in the last few weeks on Etsy!
It was about two months ago, I bought a couple of fat quarters from one of the vendors at a local quilting retreat. Don't ask me to remember what they were, as they were just added to the many piles in my sewing room! Thanks for counting me in, Angela!
Spilling my beans here – placed an online order just this morning. These Labor Day Sales are too good to pass up! Hexagons are on my To Do List – love 'em!
I just placed an order 2 days ago for Phenominal Fall!
Hmmm the most recent I guess would of had to be yesterday!! lol I got a purple piece with cute little butterflies on it from one of my favorite little quilts shop' were I live!!! Thanks for the chance to win!!!
Four days ago, I placed an order for a fat quarter bundle of Goodnight Bunny to go with the Goodnight Moon fabric I already have…and hopefully it will become a quilt top before Christmas.
Earlier in the week I got a fat quarter bundle of Sweet on NYC…my kids love it. Very cute!