Category Archives: block pattern

Winner! & September Wrap-Up

Posted on October 4, 2017 by heARTs Creations

Grand Canyon 2017

September has not been a heavy sewing month for me. We went out west for a nine day vacation (Vegas, Grand Canyon, Sedona, Flagstaff, Lake Powell, Zion Park and Boulder City.) Much time was spent planning and then packing. We had a GREAT time but, of course, came back exhausted. I am just getting back into the studio and trying to get a rhythm going again.

I have done several blocks for a batik quilt using a block of the month from Craftsy I downloaded a couple of years ago. The fabric is the batik version of “Bobbins and Bits” – see the sewing motifs? I love how bright it is. I’ve never put together such large blocks! This won’t be done for a while, but I am enjoying it.

B&B Pinwheel (Medium) B&B stick pnwhl (Medium)

A good bit of my time has been spent prepping for the two fall retreats – Quilt & Sew-in Fall I and Fall II. One of our guest bedrooms is filling up with all the goodies and I’m really looking forward to once again being with all the wonderful ladies who will be attending and I get to meet a few new ones this year too!

And now for the winner of my Island Batik Ambassador Blog Hop – Linda W. from the Shenandoah Valley! She wins a pack of 60-five inch squares of the Solstice collection. Congrats and enjoy!I have contacted you by email for your address. Start planning your project for these batik beauties!

Island Batik blog giveaway

Back to School & Giveaway!

Posted on September 27, 2017 by heARTs Creations

Back to School Blog Hop Graphic Back to School time has been a bittersweet time for me. The weather starts to cool which is a good thing, but reminds me that our yard will soon be thickly carpeted with leaves and acorns (we live in the woods) that take many, many hours to clear. Also, when my children were school age, I was never one of those parents who celebrated going back to school. I loved having them home! As the temps get increasingly colder, however, I spend more time in my studio – a great thing!

Island Batik Solstice

This month as part of the Island Batik Blog Hop, I had the joy of working with the Island Batik Solstice. The colors are so rich and I love the geometrics. I knew immediately the quilt I would make with this line. I’ve made this quilt several times before and knew I needed one for myself! I first made this quilt at a workshop and unfortunately, after contacting the workshop leader, she informed me that she has chosen not to publish the pattern, but there is a similar pattern available on the net, “Bento Box.”

Solstice I heARTsCreations.com

This would make a perfect quilt for a college dorm room. No, I don’t have any college student in mind – this one’s for me!

Solstice heARTsCreations.com

To celebrate this fabulous collection, I am giving away a stack of 60 – 5″ squares and coordinating Superior Master Piece thread.

Two chances to win – (1) leave a comment telling me what you like about fall; (2) Follow this blog. Winner will be chosen randomly on Wednesday, October 4.Note: for this giveaway, comment must have name and email on comment form (won’t be published publicly) so that I may notify the winner! Open to continental USA only.)

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Posted in Art, block pattern, Blog Hop, Color, Fabric, Island Batiks, Modern Quilting, Pattern, Projects, Quilt Setting, Quilting and tagged Color, Patterns, projects, Quilting. Bookmark the permalink.

Black and White Beauty

Posted on September 23, 2017 by heARTs Creations

B&W 3 heARTsCreations

Black and White fabric – love, love, love! Because of that love, I ~~have~~ had lots of scraps. I’ve used B & W in lots of quilts, as an accent, but wanted this one to be just B & W and began cutting lots and lots of 2 1/2″ squares. Luckily, I have a cutting machine!

buckeye beauty block

I chose the Buckeye Beauty block – simple but dramatic, especially with this color choice. For the half square triangles, I used a white on white polka dot and plain black. Two four patches and two half square triangles = great effect!

Interestingly enough, towards the end I needed a handful more of B & W that read light. Great quilt friend to the rescue (thanks Jean!).

B&W 2 heARTsCreations

I was all set to do a black border and binding until I ran across the black and white large polka dots in one of my bins – and I love it! I pulled a black and white piece of yardage out for the binding and my Black and White Beauty is complete.

B&W heartscreations

Side Note: No, the black and white bin is not empty. It’s also no longer stuffed full!

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Posted in block pattern, Color, Fabric, Modern Quilting, Pattern, Projects, Quilt Setting, Quilting and tagged Color, Patterns, projects, Quilting, Quilts, Scraps. Bookmark the permalink.

Lots of Prepping

Posted on September 17, 2017 by heARTs Creations

Finishes – I’ve had a couple but they are “secret” for now. I am also spending much time prepping – prepping for the Fall retreats and what I’ll be sewing at those retreats.

First up is my December Island Batik project. Yes, I work ahead – it’s just my nature. I actually have September’s project done (to be posted on September 27 with a give-away), October’s project done and just need to quilt January’s project. We have the month of November free, with no project. I’m so thankful we are given our full list of projects in the beginning of the year. Without revealing too much, I’ll just say that I cut all these most gorgeous blue, purple and silver batiks into strips. It will be such fun, easy sewing at retreat!

blue Batik strips

Project Boxes (Medium)

Secondly, I am doing a scrappy quarter square log cabin. I was inspired by Stitched in Color. This is so truly scrappy – I went through each of my six scrap containers and cut, cut, cut. The sashings are with a turquoise grunge. I know I will love this quilt!

qtr log cabin heARTsCreations.com

Do you work ahead? Do you plan your projects or work purely by inspiration?

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Posted in Art, block pattern, Color, Fabric, Island Batiks, Modern Quilting, Organization, Pattern, Projects, Quilting and tagged Color, projects, Quilting, Scraps. Bookmark the permalink.

My New Bag – Quilt As You Go

Posted on August 6, 2017 by heARTs Creations

QAYG Bag heartscreations.com (Medium)

An Island Batik Ambassador Adventure

Intimidation! That’s what I experienced when I saw the August Ambassador assignment. I have never done a quilt as you go, and did not want to begin another quilt, table runner or pillow. After recently sorting through my handbags and tossing and donating a few, I decided it was time for a new one! I used a free pattern off the internet – The Phoebe Bag, and adapted the pattern to quilt as you go.

QAYG fabrics (Medium)

I pulled and pulled fabrics from my Island Batik bin. Purples won! Instead of batting or stiff interfacing, I used foam! In the fabric store it’s located with the interfacings and you can get it plain, fusible on one side or fusible on both sides. I chose the fusible on one side. Much to my delight it was a dream to sew!

QAYG 1st block (Medium)

I placed a rectangle in the center of the main part of the bag, and then placed another on top. I then sewed the two fabrics together, directly on the foam. I pressed open and quilted on top. I repeated that around and around until the bag piece was covered, then trimmed. I repeated for the back. For the straps and closure flap I used interfacing.

QAYG bag back, heartscreations.com (Medium)

Following the pattern, I added a pocket to the lining, and then a second pocket sized for my cell phone. I have a feeling this will be a favorite for a while. No doubt I will be using this method for another bag soon.

QAYG Bag 2 heartscreations.com (Medium)

Quilt As You Go

This August be sure to check out what the other Island Batik Ambassadors are creating for their Quilt as You Go projects.

Linking up with: Em’s Scrapbag.

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Posted in block pattern, Color, Fabric, Island Batiks, Pattern, Projects, Stash and tagged Color, projects, Quilt as You Go, Quilted Handbag, Quilting. Bookmark the permalink.

Three Hospice Finishes & July Round-Up

Posted on August 2, 2017 by heARTs Creations

IMG_1783 (Medium)

One of my goals the last couple of weeks has been to move along the Hospice quilts I have to be completed. The bright one above is a smaller lap quilt. The blocks in this next quilt were all pieced at a retreat by all those in attendance and I put the blocks together at my residency in June. This week I finally got it quilted and bound and am quite pleased with the results. I’ve also been working on my free motion quilting and think I’m finally getting the hang of it with simpler designs. Yes, I know, “practice, practice, practice!”

IMG_1785 (Medium)

IMG_1786 (Medium)

The third quilt top was donated by a reader and quilted by a friend on her long arm. Thank you so much Cindy B – it is such a time saver for me and she does such a great job!

IMG_1784 (Medium)

My big goal for August is to just enjoy working on some of my many projects. I reduced my list quite a bit, only listing those projects I have been working on or will work on in the next month. The others are still in their boxes on the shelf and will be gotten to eventually. Up to now I have never minded having so many projects in the wings. Lately they have made me a bit anxious and other than the monthly Island Batik Ambassador projects, I will not begin any new ones until the number is greatly reduced. A by-product of getting older maybe? This has been the case in my whole house. Every closet, cupboard, drawer and storage space has been cleaned out and many, many things donated. It has been VERY freeing! I will not stress about completing the projects, however, I will continue to enjoy the process.

8 2017 Project Listing

Linking up with Jo’s Country Junction and Needle & Thread Thursday

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Posted in block pattern, Color, Fabric, Organization, Projects, Quilt Setting, Quilting, Scraps, Stash and tagged Charity, projects, Quilting. Bookmark the permalink.

A Quilt for Love

Posted on July 10, 2017 by heARTs Creations

Heart Quilt 2 heARTsCreations.com

A couple we are quite fond of are getting married this fall and I was so excited to make them a quilt. Did you get that – they are getting married this October and the quilt is done!! Not only did I really want to make them a quilt, but I was excited about the design I chose and the colors to go with their décor.

There were quite a few gray fabrics in my stash and I had fun picking out several more. The oranges were a little more challenging. I didn’t want a “Halloween orange,” but more of a tangerine orange. These colors are out of my usual range, but I knew it went with their décor and I love the result!

Heart quilt heARTsCreations.com

It was a lot of half square triangles, so I took a shortcut. I cut triangles on my Sizzix. The fabric had been starched so I didn’t worry about stretching on the bias. It was so much easier than putting two squares together, marking a line and then sewing two seams. It worked perfectly!

I’m planning to see the couple soon to gift this quilt to them, and my hope is that this quilt adds warmth to their lives together.

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Posted in block pattern, Color, Fabric, Gifts, Modern Quilting, Quilt Setting, Quilting and tagged Color, Quilting. Bookmark the permalink.

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