A HEXIE New Year! How About a BOM!

2014 is almost here! Yippee! Another year to make hexies! And you'll find me on Quilting Arts TV on your local PBS station very soon. Check your listings!

I don't know about you, but I'm ready for a fun project - a fun HEXIE project! Are you in? I'm starting a Block of the Month (BOM) here on the blog.

Here's how it will work.

1. Each month I'll provide an original pattern for a block made from hexies. Each block will be appropriate for that month of the year.

2. You can make the block with any hexie technique you choose: English Paper Piecing (EPP) or you can use the Quick and Easy Hexie Technique, making hexies from circles - you know that's how I'll make them! But it doesn't matter!

3.  The patterns will be designed so that they will be a group of hexies that are then ready to appliqué (by hand or by machine) to a background square of fabric. I'll use Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton Solid in White, but you can use whatever you want!

4.  I'll post a new monthly pattern on the FIRST of each month.

If you're thinking:

1. I don't need another project.
    Think again! I promise that each block will be really fast and fun and will not interfere with other
    projects!

2. I don't want to buy more fabric for this.
    Think again! Use up your stash! I've seen lots of New Year's Resolutions about making scrap quilts      
    and using up our stash, so this is a great way to do it!

At the end of the year we'll all have a happy new quilt to use or gift to someone!

I'm going to try to figure out how to do a link up so everyone can share their blocks as they complete them. What a fun year it will be! Are you in?

First pattern will be posted on Wednesday, January! Stay tuned!

Sue Spargo and Her Hexie

I've been away, but with good reasons:

1.  Quilt Market in Houston!
2.  Visit from my mother
3.  Finishing my book and shipping the manuscript and quilts to the publisher!
4.  Trip to Knoxville
5.  Trip to Birmingham

Back home now and my life is calming down and getting back to normal.

The Birmingham trip was to take a class from Sue Spargo! What fun I had! Of course Peggy and I had to teach her to make a hexie using our Quick and Easy way, starting with a circle.

I've got several hexie photos from Quilt Market to share soon...

Sneaky Peaky!

A Hexie Masterpiece!

I spotted this gem on Facebook and got Emalee's permission to post it here.  Here's what she said about it:

Emalee Gerhards

Well, I finally declared my quilt top done. Unfortunately it is a bit larger than I had in mind. I was making a lap quilt and this about the same size as the top of my queen size bed. I briefly thought about putting another border on it so it would fit my queen size bed, but after 6 1/2 years, I think I am ready to move on.

This is about 84 x 73 inches, made with 3/4 inch hexis.

I'm VERY impressed, Emalee!

Quilting Art TV!!!

What an adventure I had in Cleveland! I was beyond THRILLED to be invited to film a segment for Quilting Arts TV! My taping was scheduled for Thursday and I had to arrive in Cleveland and go to the studio that afternoon to set up. Boy was I nervous!

The producer assigned me a table in the Green Room (no, it wasn't green!) and I was given a big tray to lay out my step outs. Once I was set up, the producers briefly let me show them what I brought to talk about on TV.

Thursday I was back at the studio and the talented makeup artist did her thing with me. I'd never felt more glam!

Then it was my time to tape. We organized my stuff on the table surrounding us. Then we walked through what Pokey Bolton and I would talk about with the producers and cameramen. They gave me last minute instructions like don't look at the cameras, if you mess up - keep going, only touch the things near you, etc., etc. So much to remember and think about!

And then we were ON! Pokey made it easy for me, walking me through each step, asking me questions, leading me through the segment.

I survived! And though I know I wasn't perfect, I did as well as I could have. I think I probably should have smiled more, but I was concentrating on so many things at once that I forgot!

Here's a pic one of my new friends took of us on the TV in the Green Room.

And now I'm smiling and relieved I didn't totally screw up! Here I am admiring (and drooling over!) this fabulous Bernina. Yes, I got a complete demo while there. Hmmm....maybe on my Christmas list?

All in all, it was a FABULOUS experience. But the best part was the wonderful new friends I made - more about them in the next post!

Ready for Cleveland!

I think I'm almost ready for my trip to film a segment for Quilting Arts TV. I made two display boards to show some samples. They are covered with a nice acrylic felt. How do you carry something like this on a plane? I made them so they will collapse and fold in half. Yes, sometimes my Engineering degree does come in handy. I'll have to show you the back sometime - I'm so glad my plan worked. It involves velcro, jumbo popsicle sticks, and brads. These will come in handy when I teach classes, too.

Got my nails done today - neat cuticles and clear polish as instructed by the show's producer.

Tomorrow I'll be buy practicing and timing my self and....PACKING! Say a prayer for me please!

LOTS going on around here in Hexie Land! I've been making hexie quilts from my new designs (still secret!) like crazy! I'm loving these quilts and can't wait to share them with you!

And I have two BIG announcements:

1. I'm under contract for the NEXT hexie book!!! Yay! My book deadline is November 15 and I'm so excited about this book! Dear friend Peggy (co-author on Quick and Easy Hexie Quilts) is supporting me behind the scenes, but she's decided that one book was enough for her). Peggy is still recuperating from knee replacement surgery and she's really had a painful time with this one. But she seems to have turned the corner and is doing much better. She and I are speaking together to the Birmingham Quilters Guild on Monday.

2. I'll be filming a segment for Quilting Arts TV in a couple of weeks! Can you believe it? I can't! So much planning to do before then. What to wear? Need a manicure! EEEK!