Monday, August 26, 2013

"Be a Hexie Queen" Blog Hop

We interrupt the regularly scheduled blog postings (Design Wall Monday) to bring you the Hexie Blog Hop Thanks to Madame Samm and to cheerleader Debby for another fantastic blogland adventure.
This is what I created for the blog hop:

This project started in the spring with the "Stitch Me Up" 
blog hop. I enjoyed stitching the embroidery, and then it sat unfinished and waiting for the inspiration to finish it. As soon as I saw the hexie hop posting, I immediately thought of using the hexagons as a border for my stitchery. Always trust your creative intuition!
I am new to Hexie stitching. If you are asking yourself "what is a hexie",  it is a hexagon shape that quilters use as a quilting design unit. They are traditionally sewn together using the english paper piecing technique (click here for a tutorial), which is what I tried.
I made enough hexies (31) to make a frame. I can not explain why the frame's shape turned out to be so odd and asymmetrical, except that it seemed to "fit" around the embroidery. I appliqued the hexies to the red border, and did not enjoy prying the paper out from behind the hexagons. Perhaps you have an idea to share about how to do that in an easier way?

Then I placed the whole border on top of the embroidered piece, and hand appliqued it to the yellow fabric.

It worked out perfectly and I couldn't be more pleased with the result. The hexies make a perfect frame for the stitchery! 
The quilt's finished size is 10.5" x 9".
I added a bit of hand quilting and embellished the stitchery a bit more. I might add a few more quilting stitches around the hexagons (still waiting for the quilt to tell me that it is finished!) 
If you enjoy hand stitching, I invite you to stop by my blog on Sundays for the Slow Sunday Stitching link up where you will find inspiring eye candy and creative ideas every week!
You can see all the amazing hexie blog hop projects by visiting the Pinterest board.
And I hope you will visit my blogging friends and see what they are posting for your enjoyment today - here is the list of stops:




86 comments:

Mary said...

Your project is lovely. I really like the embroidery you did. Thank you for sharing.

Vickie said...

I really like the hexies as a frame it adds another dimension to your little quilt. Pretty.

Cathy Tomm said...

Great way to use hexies as a frame. Love the soft warm colours.

Amy said...

I love you stitching and those super sweet small hexies!

Baa. xxx said...

How lovely - what a clever idea - it looks so pretty

Heleen Groot said...

What a great idea! Having the hexies frame your stitchery really worked well. I am still on the fence about hexies..... But I am getting more and more sure that I will try them....Soon! Thanks for the link to the tutorial!

Janet O. said...

Oh, did that saying in your stitchery hit home for me today!
I really like what you have made, and that is a clever use of the hexies!

Sarah said...

Such tiny hexies. Nice job!

Unknown said...

Ohh nice..I like how it just framed it all out...nice job

Heidi [Banks of Frog Creek] said...

What a fun idea... Thank you for sharing!

Britt-Inger said...

I love your embroidery framed with hexies. Thanks for sharing your creativity

Gill said...

The tiny hexies frame your embroidery beautifully!
Thanks for sharing!

margaret said...

lovely project, popped in through the blog hop

charlotte said...

Glad you trusted your instincts. That was a perfect finish to your embroidery piece.

JoyceLM said...

Lovely creative use of the hexies - thanks for sharing.

Bente-I like to QuiltBlog said...

Your embrodery looks so cute with the hexi frame.
Clever!

Carol said...

It's beautiful! I like the idea of a frame around your lovely embroidery to show it off. Thanks for sharing.

StitchinByTheLake said...

Cute, Cute idea - love the embroidery! blessings, marlene

Vroomans' Quilts said...

What a sweet way to frame your very pretty embroidery. Thank you for sharing.

Marjorie's Busy Corner said...

very nice Kathy

Sparky said...

welll no doubt about it you deserve some loving today...delightful hexie project

The Cozy Quilter said...

Your hexie frame finishes off your embroidery very nicely! I need to try some hexies....

Elizabeth Coughlin said...

What a great idea to use hexis for a frame! Your embroidery is very nice too.

Angie said...

What a wonderful idea for setting off your embroidery! Just lovely!! Thanks for the link to the hexie Pinterest page, too!

Vickie said...

You made a very lovely quilt !

Michele T said...

Looks great and I love the embroidery!!

krislovesfabric said...

Love your tiny little hexies :)

jan said...

I think those hexies are perfect for your embroidery! Love it and glad you shared!
xo jan

Aunt 'Reen said...

Gorgeous! I love all the wonderful embroidery and lovely saying you've added.

Livin' Blue Quilter said...

wonderful hexies and I love the embroidery.

Margaret said...

I really like how you combined the hexies around embroidery. Thanks for sharing

Pieced Brain Quilt Designs said...

Great embroidery project, and fun idea for the hexie border!

Agnes B. Bullock said...

Gorgeous!

Anita said...

Your hexies make a perfect frame for your embroidery!

Just Quilt It said...

Lovely embroidery work, and the hexies just set it off! Great work!

Linda said...

What a pretty stitchery! The hexies really make a nice frame!

Frederika said...

I really like the hexies as a frame.
So nice this idea.
Thanks for sharing

Carol Swift said...

Beautiful stitching and those hexies are so tiny! Nicely done!

Jane's Quilting said...

Wow, so tiny....It is BEAUTIFUL. You do really good stitching.

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

This is so beautiful and I can't believe how tiny those hexies are!! Thanks for sharing.

Needled Mom said...

The embroidery looks so nice with the hexies.

Kathy H said...

What a great way to finish your stitchery. I always have a lot of pieces sitting around that I don't know how to finish. Your hexies are like a wonderful little trim on the piece. Just beautiful.

evelyn said...

I think the hexie frame is a great idea! Love it around the embroidery. When I use hexies, I use a paper punch to put a hole in the template. To remove paper, I use a small crochet hook through the hole. It works if you don't sew through the template.

Anonymous said...

Hiya Kathy!!! That is just lovely. Your hand work is exquisite. I used to do a lot of embroidery, but haven't done any in quite a while. Need to get back to it. Thanks for sharing. Blessed be, hugs!!! Pam

pamspretties57 at gmail dot com

Michelle said...

Very pretty, I really like it.

Daryl @ Patchouli Moon Studio said...

So sweet.

Kwilt Krazy said...

Nice hexies, wonderful embroidery too! I wanted to do some on mine but ran out of time!

Lou said...

Great job! Love the mini hexies as the frame! Great idea!

Katherine said...

Your hexie frame is the perfect way to showcase your stitchery. Beautiful!

Teresa in Music City said...

OMG Kathy!!! Your stitchery piece is so lovely surrounded by those sweet little hexies!!! What a creative way to border it - I'm simply in love with it!!!

Linda C said...

Wow, you can see just how tiny those hexies are there in your hand in the preceding post! I thought that embroidery floral motif looked familiar and then you told the story of how this came to be. I love hearing about the process we use to come up with our creations! Well done, Kathy.

Unknown said...

So sweet

Calicojoan said...

What a lovely quiltie. Beautiful sentiment!

sandra said...

What an excellent and creative idea to turn two hops into one beautiful project.

Anonymous said...

This is such a nice small quilt, I really like it, the embroidery is so fine!

Moneik said...

I like to use a stilleto or "purple thang" to get my hexie papers out. I've also used the tip of my scissors in a pinch.

Debby said...

I love your hexie frame! what a clever idea. I may just have to borrow that. It's fun to see all the creative ways to use these humble hexagons. Thanks for sharing today.

Robin said...

That is beautiful! The hexie border was a terrific addition. I thought those embroidered flowers looked familiar when I first looked at your project! Great job.

Janarama said...

Great idea to use the hexies as a frame. Lovely quilt!

Carla said...

Very sweet project. Thanks for sharing your talent.

Unknown said...

You are very creative. I would never have thought to combine the two. I love it!

bevwalks at aol com

quiltmania said...

Your little hexies are adorable!

Lesley said...

Great use of your hexies...sweet border!

apple blossom said...

someday I may get brave and try the english paper piecing hexies. nice work

Suze said...

The frame is amazing. It is perfect for your Stitch Me Up. I've never tried EPP. I'm anal about my stitches and I learned to do my hexies the traditional piecing way. I do ones that finish at 1". I've never done ones smaller than that. I think if I did really small ones that I would have to EPP. I'm working on a Grandmother's Flower Garden that is 1" finished and doing it by hand using traditional hand piecing. Maybe that's an alternate way for you. We each have our niche for way to do things. Somehow it doesn't make sense to me to cut all that paper and then baste the fabric to the paper and then do a stitch that I don't like to put them together. Just me. Your project is amazing. Thanks for participating and wowing me. I am amazed at how people take one project and finish or embellish it with another hop. You creativity amazes me. Again, thanks for particiapting.

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

Pretty embroidery. I've only done a few hexies myself.

Marcy said...

You finished it off in style.

lauraluvsloons said...

I love seeing your embroidery project finished with the hexie border. I did my embroidery for the stitch me up blog in blue. Fun pattern to stitch.

maggie said...

Very clever and very pretty. I love embroidered projects, Framing it that way was great!
Well done.
cheers
maggie

maggiemine42@gmail.com

tink's mom said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
tink's mom said...

Nice job using the Hexies as a border. sets off your stitchery nicely.

LJ said...

Just beautiful. I really like the asymmetrical look.

Shannon said...

Wow, it is perfect. I love the colors! Your stitchery needed these cute little hexies. Good for you on having a finish!!

Emily C said...

wow. That came out really nice.

Beth said...

Oh I like that! Thank you for sharing.

Cathy's Chatter said...

What a great way to combine two projects into one! Very clever. thanks for sharing.

BizyStitches said...

Thanks for sharing your fun project it is lovely. This has been a fun hop.

Tami C said...

You are right! The hexies make a real cute frame for your stitchery! Thanks for sharing.

KaHolly said...

Oh, I love it!! How very inspiring!

Teresa Rawson said...

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that!!!!!!! Those tiny little hexies are to die for!

In stitches,
Teresa :o)

Mary said...

Those are some Teeny Tiny Hexies! Good Job, Kathy! I love the quote too- it hits home.

Sunshine Girl said...

Its lovely - thanks for sharing.

Josie McRazie said...

I LOVE it! Your stitching is beautiful!!! Thanks for sharing!

Stitches said...

What a great idea..to use the hexies for the frame...very nice..

Sarah said...

What a lovely framed project - the stitchery is gorgeous! I punch a hole in the middle of each of my hexies and use my stork scissors to pop the papers out.

Kate said...

Absolutely gorgeous! What a wonderful finish.