Got the Hexie Bug Again

When I was clearing out boxes in the garage, I got all excited when I found my old English Paper Piecing (EPP) supplies.  I learned how to do it several years ago, but never put anything together to really make anything.  Wait, I did piece these poinsettia hexies to make a sort of table mat/runner, but I didn't finish it with a backing, or quilt it or anything.  I simply stitched them together and left the papers in for stiffness and called it good, LOL.  I used the 2 1/ 2" hexies for this.

Anyway, since I've been trying to learn piece/patchwork quilting, I've been accumulating scraps, and finding the old EPP stuff is giving me a new outlet to use them up.  I've cut templates and basted a bunch of 1"hexies the last two days, and anxious to see my pile grow so I can decide what I want to do with them.

Of course there's the standard layout for Grandmother's Flower Garden, and I might do some of those if I have six blocks of one color/pattern.  That will also be a good way to use up single hexies for the middle, where they might not work for anything else.

I also want to play with other  patterns, something with a group of same or similar color scheme hexies to make each grouping (each grouping different, though), with a group of solid/small pattern around each which will end up as sort of a sashing.  I didn't have enough of anything to get much of a trial layout, but this is something like what I had in mind.  I would probably use black, white, or a neutral color in place of the yellow.  

I love simple, no-brainer ways to keep my hands busy while watching TV, or sitting somewhere waiting for an appointment.  I can't stand to sit and do nothing, even riding in the car (with someone else driving).  I can keep a take-along bag of hexies that are ready to baste or hand piece together and just grab and go.  

Don't know if I'll ever be able to make a full quilt (that would take thousands of 1" hexies, and I plan to hand sew them all!), but I should be able to make some table runners, mug rugs, wall hangings, and maybe lap throws or baby quilts.  

Now I want to cut up all of my pretty fabric to make hexies, but I  need to stay focused on the mission to use up scraps, and not 'waste' my good fabric!  Stay tuned to see how successful I am with that mindset.  :)

~ Marie Anne