Vintage Hexi Project

Recently, I went to the Dallas Quilt Show where I was fortunate enough to run across a cute booth that was selling vintage quilting supplies, including these beauties!

I convinced the man running the booth that I just had to have all his hexis and we struck a bargain gaining me 40+ hexagon squares from the 1930s.  They are all hand cut and hand stitched.  Each one has a little bit of personality that just grabbed my attention.  All my life, I have had a weakness for anything from this era.  (Ever feel like you were born in the wrong decade???)   I am a complete sucker for this one featuring polka dots.

Now, the crafter in me says check the internet to see what can be done with these precious little hexis.  They cannot be made into a quilt without some serious work because they are on the frail side and because they were hand sewn, have very little seam allowances and honestly, are a little wonky - eh hem - unique.  I want them to be used in ways that will be respectful of the grandmother that spent hours making them, but modern enough that today's woman will appreciate them.  

These squares have been locked up for so many years, that they are begging to see the light.  So, it is my quest to make simple, beautiful art.  How will I do this?  I have no idea.  The internet is supposed to be chock full of ideas for everything and so far, no one has wowed me with fantastic ways to display vintage hexi squares.  I see them in frames, but they are blah.  I see them made into pillows, but as I said, that is not an option here unless I put some serious hours into each project.

So, tonight I made a prototype.  It's a little wonky, just like the hexis, but it's a start.  It's a shadow box with the square in it an then some lettering.  I went basic since this is just a trial run, but I can see a family name and the "est. DATE" after it on the glass.

So fans, followers, and fellow crafters, hook a girl up and spill the beans.  Is this a good direction?  Do you have better plans for my hexis?  Should I sell them as is or make kits?  Should I custom make shadow boxes for y'all?  Or, should I just hoard them and continue to call them precious???  What would you do?

One more picture, just because I love that she was so short on fabric that even the middle hexi is pieced together.  That says something doesn't it?

-b.