One of the reasons I wanted to try English paper piecing is because we have a huge year-long database conversion project starting at work and it will include a lot of long Zoom meetings where my mind can tend to wander and I can get antsy.
When we had a similar project a few years ago our project manager brought us things to keep our hands occupied while our brains were busy. Pipe cleaners, adult coloring books, Playdough, and other things. I started taking my knitting projects in so that I could actually make my hands be productive, rather than just noodling around.
And that’s why I thought of trying EPP hexis. I tried them out in my first meeting today. It’s simple and repetitive enough that I was able to stay focused on the conversation, and the hand activity kept me from getting antsy.
I made good progress on this piece during that one meeting, and finished it up easily after our walk this evening.
My stitches are pretty inconsistent. I think it’s due to two things. First, I’m having a hard time seeing what I’m doing. It might be time to get some stronger reading glasses to make this close work easier. Second, it’s likely I’m not using the right needle. So I ordered some needles that people on Instagram recommended when I asked for advice. I also just took a break and ordered some stronger glasses.
I love looking at the back of these EPP pieces. It’s so intricate and regular.
I’ve already selected the next set of pieces to sew together. I’ll keep this on my desk in preparation for tomorrow’s meetings.
Bender thinks this whole EPP thing is a total snooze.
A couple of months ago I downloaded an app to my phone called Seek. It’s made to identify plants and other things. It’s been really fun to ID some of the trees, flowers and shrubs I see on my walks. It does a really good job with flowers and bushes. It’s more challenged with trees and isn’t as successful as returning a definite identification.
I used it on our walks today to ID some flowers I saw. First was this scarlet bee balm. I had never seen this plant before. The blooms are pretty crazy and were the most incredible shade of deep red.
The app also keeps track of the species I’ve identified. So I can go back and find other plants that I’ve identified in the past.
Here’s another plant from today. I remember this bloomer from last year. It’s quite different from all the other hydrangeas we have around here. It has those larger four-petal flowers along with the more fuzzy clusters of smaller blooms. It’s really a cool plant.
Here’s another one we identified today. It was the most amazing color of deep and bright fuchsia on light silvery gray foliage. I don’t know that I’ve ever heard the name “rose campion” before.
I also saw this plant and didn’t ID it because I don’t need to. It’s one of my favorite summer bloomers: crocosmia. I picked up a clump of these free in the neighborhood a couple of months ago and planted two large pots on my patio. They are the most amazing color of bright deep orange on delicate grass stems. The plants are about four feet high and move gently on the breeze. I had never seen them until I moved to Portland 12 years ago.
On our walk tonight Rico was very concerned about this sign that was out in the street. He noticed it from a block away! It took some convincing to get him to approach it to check it out.
In that last photo you can see that his posture is allowing him to bolt at the first sign of danger!!! He’s so sensitive for such a big beefcake!
I noticed again today how much better my ribs feel! It’s so nice to see such improvement every day! I’m definitely on the mend.
Big news. I made some home made ice tonight! I’m pretty proud of myself!
agilejack 
Some years ago I joined a group on Facebook that was making the hexies from the book The New Hexagon by Kajta Marek. We were to make one hexie each week…ha! Mine took a couple of years but they traveled with me on any vacation and anywhere I went and had to sit- so I had something to do! I now have 52 hexies that are finished but I don’t know what I want to do with them- yet. It’s a process- lol!!
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Yeah… i’m not making these because I have an actual plan for them. Will be interesting to see what I decide to do with them.
Anne
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Good job on the Hexies ! And the 🧊!🤣🥰
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I’m exhausted from making ice. I’m worried that I might need to make ore this weekend!
Anne
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If you like using Seek, you might also like to try the Merlin app. That one listens to the bird song around you and identifies them. Very cool.
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I have the Merlin app but I’ve never used it. I’ll have to make a mental note to give it a try this week. Mostly it will probably tell me that what I’m hearing is a crow! So many crows here!
Thanks!
Anne
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It really does pick up an amazing number of birds, often ones I don’t hear and hadn’t realized they were in my area. And the app ignored other sounds and even the sounds of my chickens. It’s amazing.
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Oh cool! I’ll give it a try!
Anne
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LOVE 💗 your EPP hexies! I EPP a lot too (cuz I can’t sit still) and here are my unsolicited suggestions:
💗Superior The Bottom Line thread – thin but strong. 💗I use a size 10 between needle. It’s short and makes it easier to navigate. Most seem to use a longer milliners needle – awkward for my hands. 💗 you may want to consider cutting your fabric with a 3/8” sa. By the time it’s wrapped around the paper, you loose too much of the 1/4”.
Have fun and have a beautiful day!
Sent from my iPhone
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Someone else recommended that same thread. I assume I’ll try a different thread at some point in time. I have some milliner needles on order. I do prefer a longer needle.
I’m way ahead of you on the seam allowance. After gluing my first set I could see how skimpy the quarter inch was. So i increased it for the second set.
Anne
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Hope your ribs feel better, is that from pickle ball? How will you get the papers out of your hexes since you “glued” them in….your design looks so beautiful and perfect!!!
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Yes, from pickleball. I fell down on the concrete while playing a few weeks ago. But I’m doing so much better!
The papers come out of the hexis pretty easily. I tried one the other night because I was curious. So I can relax now with all those glued hexagons!
Anne
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The hydrangea looks different because it’s a “lace cap”. The pink flowers are a dianthus. Part of the carnation family.
Congrats on the guard dog keeping the neighborhood safe. And septacular ice making!
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Yeah… now I’m thinking my app is not very accurate.
Anne
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Lovely flowers. Here in Louisiana the old folks used to call Hydrangeas “Yesterday, today and tomorrow” because the flowers started purple and slowly changed to pink. It could be an old garden variety around here.
The hexes are fab. I have an Accuquilt and got their Hexie die that has small Hexies for the paper insert and large ones for the fabric. I haven’t committed to any of it yet but it might be a good thing for scraps.
I’m not much on hand sewing but I travel by plane enough to get bored so bought one of those yo-yo makers by Clover. I cut fabric circles and take a baggie with small scissors (that go through TSA) and thread to keep my hands busy.
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I’ve heard you can change the color of the hydrangea blooms by changing the PH of hour soil. l’ve never tried it.
I like the idea of having handwork ready to go. I can think of all kinds of instances where it would be nice to have something to work on as I sit and wait.
Anne
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SEEK is a great website. Glad you discovered it. All the flower photos you’ve been posting are such a treat. SW Florida has lots of blooming things of course, but more tropicals than perennials. The natural world is a constant source of interest and delight!
Can’t wait to see what you do with your hexies!
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I love this time of year in my neighborhood. So many blooming things. The jasmine are blooming right now and I love getting whiffs of it on our walks.
Anne
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Love all the new things you explore..I have bee balm and it always blooms around the 4th of July..looks like fireworks to me! thanks for making my day a good one with your inspirations!
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Bee balm does look like fireworks, or some kind of alien invasion. And such a gorgeous deep red!
Thanks for reading and for commenting!
Anne
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I’ve not commented before, but I absolutely love everything about finding your colorful blog in my messages each morning. This comment is just a small recommendation about your efforts at English paper piecing. I can see in one of your photos that you are using Aurifil thread….I’m a fan and use it exclusively for machine piecing which is primarily what I do. When hand stitching binding or doing EPP, I’ve found that Wonderfil is a superb option. It is a 100 weight, half of Aurifil, and it is about like stitching with a very strong human hair. I admit that it takes a bit of getting used to, and it’s challenging to tie a knot, but it will behave like silk when doing those tiny stitches, helping to even out how they might look. A neutral color will totally disappear no matter the fabrics you are using. It is also nearly impossible to tangle, a definite plus in my world….I also do not use a terribly long hank to begin with. If you’re not familiar with it, maybe just get a single spool and give it a try. Upon investigation, you will also discover that people use it for machine quilting when all you want to see is the dimension and not the actual stitches….pretty cool stuff! Again, thank you so much for sharing part of your life with us….brenda
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Thanks for the suggestion. I’m sure I’ll get down to trying a different thread at some point in time.
Thanks for reading and for commenting!
Anne
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I think that is a “lace cap” hydrangea.:Mop head” is another name for “Limelight” hydrangea -if you want to be accurate!
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
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Yeah, someone else pointed that out. I’m so disappointed in my app. It’s not the first time it’s led me astray.
Anne
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I love your hexis! May I suggest another way to sew them together? I learned somewhere to lay the hexi flat, as you would see it finished, position the new hexi, then use blue tape to secure it on the front. Sewing from the back (wrong side of fabric), use a ladder stitch with fine thread (Superior threads “Bobs” are great for this) and a fine, long, thin needle. (I like Tulip brand) to sew hexi edges. My stitches are not visible on the front. I love your blog! It is my favorite. I live in Bellingham, and have lived close to Portland in the past.
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I tried the ladder stitch today and it worked really well! thanks for the suggestion!
I’ll have to try the tape trick too. I have a bunch of that blue tape. I use it all the time in my sewing room.
Anne
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Great idea to do those during the meetings! I’m a doodler in real meetings it’s the only thing that keeps me awake lol.
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I’m always happier if my hands are occupied. If I don’t have something to keep my hands busy I tend to wander to email or the internet and get distracted. So this will keep me comfortable and focused.
Anne
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I started working with Hexis for a similar reason. I travel by ferry on a weekly basis and need something to occupy my hands.
Since September I have completed about 80 flowers. Now I am stuck on whether to add another row of prints, or just use solids to join them.
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I was thinking it might be fun to applique them onto different low volume white with black fabrics. I really have no idea what I’ll do with them. Probably just start a pile of them and decide later.
i might make it to 80 flowers pretty soon!
Anne
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We have a yard full of blue Lacecap hydrangeas and they are just beginning to bloom. I love them. Our white mop head hydrangeas are also in bloom. It’s just a riot of color outside right now and I love it!!!
So happy that Rico is on guard for you. Poor guy, first he had to deal with the “honey bucket” for days, and now this sign in the middle of the road. Of course, Bender is the epitome of casual…the napping picture is pretty cute. My older BC also likes to sleep under my desk, or dinner table, or sewing machine table. Just about wherever I need to put my feet!
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We have hydrangeas blooming all over the place now too. I should really plant one in my yard.
Bender likes to be under whatever I’m sitting at. I have to keep him out from under my desk because there are so many cords down there and he invariably unplugs something critical!
Anne
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I didn’t see in the recommendations , a headlamp. It really helps me see”. They are readily available at some hunting stores, but I get mine fr9m Amazon (where else). They will have them on sale if you look at them a time or two. Happy Stitching😵💫🤓
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Shirley Cawyer
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I tried one tonight and it made a huge difference! Thanks for the idea!
Anne
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We don’t have those Mophead Hydrangea here in hot Texas. But we have our majestic lupine (bluebonnet). I am glad you are enjoying your walks. In Texas, July. We don’t go outside when it is consistently over 100-105. I have started sewing bucket hats to protect us. Shirley Cawyer p, Gainesville, TX 🇨🇱🇺🇸😵💫
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Shirley Cawyer
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I’m sorry to tell you that my app may be wrong on that plant ID. So don’t go out and buy one unless you’re sure.
We’re having an old fashioned cool Portland summer and it’s really wonderful so far!
Anne
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Can’t beat good old EPP Hexies! The first quilt I made was a hexagon and I loved every minute of the making. Superb for using scraps of KF fabrics.
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I’m enjoying this more than I thought I would. And it hasn’t been too hard on my hands so far.
Anne
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I believe your plant identifier misled you. The Hydrangea is actually a ‘Lace Cap’ Mopheads are those lovely huge ball ones. In case you wanted to know the Rose Campion is called ‘Lychnis Coronaria’ [Don’t you hate a plant snob!!] that is the problem with being English. We garden!! Congrats on the ice. I am impressed even I do not make ice!!
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Damnit! And here I was feeling all confident in what it was telling me!
Anner
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