Hexie Camera Strap

This finish was a long time from conception to completion. I needed a project I could work on as I traveled around the world last year...small, portable, easy to stash in my backpack to board a plane, didn't take up too much space and spill over into someone else's airline seat. I also needed something to help me pass the time in the evenings while I was traveling.

My finished hexie camera strap. I LOVE it!!

I LOVE hexagons. I have so many hexagon quilt and project patterns. A ton of hexie inspiration photos!!! A quilt was definitely out of the question, it would break two project requirements...easy to stash in my backpack (sewing machine is too large, ha!) and potential to spill over into someone else's seat is high. I had recently purchased some hexagon paper piecing supplies, so I started planning my traveling hexie project. Since it met all of my project requirements, I raided my scrap fabric and packed everything I needed to make paper pieced hexagons!

Stacks and stacks of hexagons! Brought to you by long, lonely nights in Malaysia.

I started making my hexagons in August 2015 on a trip to Malaysia. It was a great way to pass the time before I collapsed into bed after a long day of work!!

Progress on my project...location: Indonesia.

I didn't particularly care for the strap that came with my camera and I thought that a hexagon camera strap would be cute and comfortable!

My camera pre-hexie camera strap.

After working on the project in a guest house in Malaysia, a hotel room in Indonesia, and my sister's classroom in Dubai. I had a really good start on my camera strap. I had a few weeks off at home, where I didn't work on the project, then it was off to China!! No pictures from China, unfortunately :( Before I knew it, I was off to Spain! Too busy in Spain to work on the project, but it was there with me!! I also has A LOT of fun in Spain. I was in Barcelona for a night before I returned home. I LOVE that city!!

I had a crazy couple of months at the end of 2015 traveling to Colorado and New York for work...no time to work on the project, not time to work on any sewing projects :(

2016 arrives...and with it comes A LOT of drama (and a boyfriend!!). In the midst of planning another long, extended trip to Indonesia in February, the price of oil took another dive and my client and the customer I worked for decided to cancel my trip and lay me off. OH NO!!!

Looking for a new job is a job in itself!! Fortunately, my boyfriend and my daughter are keeping me sane during this time...still no job yet, but I haven't given up the fight!! I can't...I need an income to buy more fabric!!! LOL!

May of 2016 arrives and I'm drowning in unfinished projects, and plenty of time on my hands!! So, I break out my hexie camera strap project to complete it. It was soooo easy to complete!!! I don't know why I waited so long, LOL!

Many pictures showing the finishing touches on the camera strap.

Woohoo!!! Final hexagon was added to complete the strap. I am ready to quilt and complete the strap!

A little FMQ...wavy lines down the center of the hexagons and between the rows of hexies.

Close up picture of the FMQ

The free motion quilting on this strap was so easy to complete!! I kept the feed dogs up to give me a little more stability. I can see myself using this technique on many other projects!

This project was so much fun to make!!! I can't wait to use my camera with its new hexie camera strap!

Completed May 15, 2016