Hexie Project Progress.....

I just wanted to upload a pic of the hexagon medallion now that it has been completely surrounded by a row of neutral hexies, followed by a row of green hexies. There are more hexagons than you think in this project! I haven't counted them yet..I'm not sure I want to. I just keep going!

Working the two rows in sections was definitely the way to go. I like to keep my thread as continuous as possible, so if I can tack-baste a hexagon (I don't go through the card, just fold it over the edges and tack the corners...the basting stays in, the card pops out easily when I need it to)and connect it to its neighbor without having to knot and break the thread, I feel like that is the more secure way to go. No short seams. I like it when I can continue around two sides of a hexagon instead of stopping every 3/4" and knotting and restarting.

Doing the neutral/green border around the central motif gave me workable sections, sewing the neutral to the green allowed me to sew at least two sides per seam, and it is fairly continuous. Adding the units to the center was easy, much easier than adding one hexagon at a time to the center working on the big piece.



So now I'm up to the little flowered border....can you see it in my map? Good thing, as I'm tired of just stitching neutral and green together, I'm ready for some red :c)

We'll see how much stitching gets done on the road this weekend...it's going to be a bit more challenging to work this round in sections and get it attached to the "mother ship!"

Oh! And see this?



A month back when I was in Columbia visiting with my son Jason, his sweetie Kim, and her mom Charlotte....Charlotte showed me this hexagon punch she had bought. WOWIE!! This thing played on my mind and played on my mind....

Turns out while we were retreating at Peaceful Valley Ranch, there was also a group of Scrap Bookers there (My thought is that they really are closet quilters, they just don't know it yet! *LOL*)and the sign on their dinner table said "Creative Memories" which was the same name that Charlotte's hex punch had. I asked them if they had a rep with them, or if anyone had a hex punch they'd want to part with. One gal did!! She said "But it's used....." I said, "I don't care!" Retail it runs $20, and she sold it to me for $15! So now...I can punch hexes all I want..in TWO SIZES!

The "paper pieces" hexes that I had been using cost me over $20 for 750. Worth the time it saved if I were cutting by hand, but this? BETTER!

The larger one is the 3/4" per side size that I have already been using. The smaller size? Well, it's awfully cute, but I don't know if I want to really work smaller than 3/4". I'm already thinking on the quilting for the one I'm doing, and there is seam allowance to deal with. It has to go somewhere. On the 1/2" hexes, the seam allowance is going to mostly fill the whole shape. You can't go with less than 1/4" seam allowance or there is not enough to fold over the edge and hold your paper in.

So..back to the pic! Card stock shapes are best! And what fun to use greeting cards and other things that come in the mail that are this weight? I generally like to give cards double duty.....if the inside of the cover has not been written on, and it is a cute one, I'll cut that off and use it as a post card or a gift card. But the other side with the messages? Cut them into hexes, and relive that message puzzle every time you baste one on! Fun :c)