Hexie Quilt "Chunk"

I bought this so-called "quilt chunk" from a vendor in Chicago. Saddest thing ever to see a beautiful quilt cut up like this. I hope there was some damage or staining on it that warranted this destruction! I felt obligated to rescue it as if it were a stray dog. There was a teddy bear for sale in the booth that had obviously been made from another section of this quilt - nope, I didn't buy that!

It's not really old, but that's no excuse to cut up a quilt!

So what will I do with it?

I'm teaching a class in Chattanooga in September on making small art pieces from cutter quilts, so maybe I'll make a sample from part of it.

Hexies from Chicago

Yes, the Chicago International Quilt Festival was great! That being said, this was not a judged show, so to speak. The quilts on display were from various traveling exhibitions. Because of this they were phenomenal! I'd seen many of them before either in person or in magazines or on the Internet. But there was only one hexie quilt hanging. :( You know me - I'd love to see nothing but hexie quilts!!!!!

I walked through the vendors a few times, carefully keeping my eyes peeled for hexies - here are a few items I spotted.

I thought this was adorable: Stars in the Garden by Yellow Creek Quilt Designs. This is made from TINY hexies -

Yes, the kit came home with me, mainly because Hubby loved it. And guess what? I'll be making this using English Paper Piecing - can you believe that? I still love using the Quick and Easy Hexie Technique (making hexies from circles), but for these tiny little bits I'll be doing it another way!

Here was another cute little pattern.

And look at this vintage top! Elongated hexies! Very unique! I sort of wish I'd bought this, but too late now!!!!

Hexie Historical Fiction!

What? A book review? On The Hexie Blog? YES!

I heard about The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier from a friend. It was being read on a radio program, one chapter at a time. I did listen to the first chapter, but knew I really want to read it at my own pace.

Here the Amazon description:

A powerful journey brimming with color and drama, The Last Runaway is New York Timesbestselling author Tracy Chevalier’s vivid exploration of an iconic chapter in American history.



Ohio 1850. For a modest English Quaker stranded far from home, life is a trial. Untethered from the moment she leaves England, fleeing personal disappointment, Honor Bright is forced by family tragedy to rely on strangers in an alien, untamed landscape. Drawn into the clandestine activities of the Underground Railroad, a network helping runaway slaves escape to freedom, Honor befriends two exceptional people who embody the startling power of defiance. Eventually she must decide if she too can act on what she believes in, whatever the personal cost.


Like Sue Monk Kidd's The Invention of Wings, Chevalier's novel is a sweeping and important novel about the power of bravery, friendship, and perseverance. 

The author also wrote Girl with the Pearl Earring. I loved The Last Runaway! The plot was interesting, but I loved the way quilts and quilting were interspersed throughout the story. The main character, Honor, made hexies using English Paper Piecing, though she didn't call it that. She referred to hexies as "rosettes."

I highly recommend the book and hope you'll get a chance to read it!

Off to Chicago early in the morning! Chicago Quilt Festival, here I come!
 

 

I loved the plot. But I also loved all the quilting included throughout the story, yes, including hexies! The main character used English Paper Piecing to make hers, which she called "rosettes." It was very interesting to read how the sale of fabric was so affected by the rampant slavery controversy going on in the US during that time.

Hexies in Andalusia!

I had the pleasure of speaking to the Covington County Quilter's Guild in Andalusia last night. They were celebrating their 10th anniversary! Wow, this is an active and fun group!

I did a quick slide show for them and a trunk show of most of my hexie quilts. Such fun to share the hexie love...

They had a packed house. We all enjoyed an Italian buffet before the meeting. They met in the back room of a restaurant - how perfect!

Thanks for your hospitality, Covington County Quilters!

Hexie Show and Share: Martha Washington

I've got a good one for you today. Missy from Missy's Cakes and Aprons was nice enough to share this with us today! Here's what she wrote about it:

This is the quilt I got from my grandmother who passed away 20 years ago.   It has taken me about a month to find the name of the pattern.  I knew it was diamond set hexies, but did not know the name of the pattern.  I asked on the Mad For Treadles Facebook page.  They suggested tumbling blocks, diamond set hexies, Grandmother's Flower Garden etc.    I knew it was not Grandmother's Flower Garden.  I used all these key words and Googled it until I found the pattern name.   I found this old one from the 1800's, it is called Martha Washington's Flower Garden.  Here is a full view of my quilt.  This pattern is going to be my next hand stitched project, I may even try the English paper piecing!

Wish I'd known her grandmother - she was a real quilt artist! Thanks again, Missy!