Hexies are HOT in HOTlanta!

The Hexagon Trim Tool www.jeanannquilts.com is here. I sold in my booth at the Georgia Quilt Show in Atlanta this past weekend. They flew out of the booth like flapjacks off the griddle. I am attaching a photo of the tool and also the story board I used to demonstrate how it works. It actually works a lot like the Log Cabin Trim Tool. I am having lots of fun making projects with this one!

Hexagon Trim Tool

Hexagon Story Board

Here is how it works.

1. Cut a 2-1/2" strip of fabric. Position the pointy end of the trim tool at the end of the strip and cut the top point of the hexagon. Then turn the tool, line up the marked cutting line on the tool and finish cutting the hexagon shape.

2. Sew strips of fabric to each of the six sides of the cut hexagon. Then line up the hexagon you see in blue on the illustration directly on top of the center hexagon. Trim each side to finish the first round of strips.

3. Sew a second round of six strips and trim just like the first round but this time using the 3rd hexagon shape in the line of hexagons.

4. Add a third round of six strips and repeat the trimming process using the middle hexagon in the line up to finish the block.

Result: A perfect pineapple strip pieced block every time! YEAH!

The ruler cuts 2", 4", 6", and 8" hexagons. The 8" hexagons can be cut from layer cake squares. The smaller hexagons from 2-1/2", 4-1/2" and 6-1/2" strips.

A Family Affair

From time to time I divert from quilting to let you know what my daughter, Heidi Eitel, is doing as exhibits designer at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum - http://airandspace.si.edu/. Today is the opening of a short, six week visit of Leonardo da Vinci's sketchbook featuring the page with his Codex of Flight. Heidi is checking out the lighting in the box. It has to be just right to deter fading that might cause damage to the centuries old sketchbook. It's all in a day's work and I am a proud mother as I see the interesting work my daughter is doing.

I plan to see the exhibit on December 13. I am teaching quilting workshops at the Fredericksburg, VA Sewing Expo - www.sewingexpo.com on October 10th and 11th. It is just a short drive from there to Washington DC on a Sunday morning to see this amazing sketchbook. What could be better, quilting, seeing my daughter and granddaughter and then seeing such an important artifact from antiquity all in one weekend. Life is good.

Here at last!

Quilting a Circle of Nine - the sequel to the original book that my sister, Janet Houts, and I wrote is here at last. From the day we started until the day it was printed and ready for sale it took about nine months...the same amount of time it takes to have a baby and just about as involved but pain free. Well, almost pain free. Making the quilts was pure fun but putting all the parts together to finish the book can be painful as every tiny detail is checked and rechecked.

You can order the book from my website www.jeanannquilts.com - it sells for $24.95. In this new book Janet and I explored the design and use of spacers in much more detail than in the first book. there are patterns for 12 quilts in the book...books are such a bargain when you compare books to patterns which usually start at $10 and can run up to $15 for a pattern for just one quilt so getting 12 patterns with directions, diagrams and bonus lessons is a real deal. 

For a look inside the book you can check out the Landauer Publishing Youtube video for Quilting A Circle of Nine that takes you on a video tour of the pages in the book complete with photos of the projects and the lessons. It is a fun video. I think this is my favorite new TV show! (but then, I am prejudiced) Here is the link.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8a07QZcjiQ&feature=youtu.be&utm_source=Consumers&utm_campaign=dc5d6e4ed5-Consumer_Sept_05_2013_Circleof9&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e85a54f889-dc5d6e4ed5-32486405