Update to Dear, Deer, Deere

Dear, Deer, Deere is rollin along!

First candies hexie made.

I started this with the challenge fabric from our local guild - Yes Deer in navy from Emily Herrick.

From there I knew I wanted something somewhat scrappy using all the glorious colors in the print - grey, navy, lime, orange, eggplant, even fuschia.  The candied hexie idea came along even before I actually had my hand on the fabric.

Then - I added fabrics.  Some from my current supply - shades of eggplant and orange, and a variety of low volume grey prints.  

Several from Emily Herricks line of Rustique - 

like this one!

...and then went and found some gorgeous and fun deer fabrics from other lines!

Then, I started making hexies.  I have a ton already (well, 63!).  As they are all done by hand (my personal challenge on this one) it is time consuming.  

I figured out what basic shapes I wanted to use for the hexies and made plastic templates of those shapes.  Then, for each hexie I make paper pieces from magazines.  I baste several at a time, then start whipstitching them together while watching TV.  

Here you see my ottoman workspace.  The trick is keeping the cats off it!

This is the basic layout I decided on.  Originally it was only hexies, but I thought that looked a little crazier than intended.  I added the triangle cornerstones to add cohesion and space.  By making some of the hexies solid grey/neutral I think it will draw the eye around the top.

Now the trick is - get to sewing!  I am trying to decide if I will hand quilt or machine quilt.  I think it will depend on how much time I have left once the top is done.  HOPING to have it together by the end of this weekend, but we will see.