Category Archives: Hospice Quilts

Lots Going On

Posted on April 5, 2020 by heARTs Creations

Like everyone else, I have extra time at home because we are truly isolating.  This has led to accomplishments! First, I cut ALL my scraps.  Yowza! It was a lot!! Below are just the 1 1/2″ strips.

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Then, I completed ten face masks. There’s a thread out there that we may be required to wear them out soon, so I made one for each of my family.  I plan to make more for family, friends and neighbors. Honestly, I found these somewhat tedious to make, but also important to do. I did have a couple of 1,000 thread count pillow cases that we never used that I cut as the layer on the face.

Quilting and batik fabrics were used for the other two layers. Not only did I not have any elastic, but I understand that health professionals have said that the elastic is taking a toll on surface skin, so I used t-shirt material, cut one inch by 18 inches and pulled to make a cord.

face mask cords

At the November 2019 retreat, blocks were pieced by the retreaters.  I put those together for a Hospice quilt. Would really like to get this quilted in the next week.

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Social media has been wonderful during this time.  As the Quilt & Sew-In had to be cancelled, we have been doing an “on-line retreat.” It’s also so easy to text or face time with family and friends. Imagine isolation before internet – Yikes!

I truly pray that all of you are staying safe and happy. So glad it’s spring!

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A Quick & Not So Quick Sew

Posted on March 15, 2020 by heARTs Creations

bird quilt

Purging and reorganizing have consumed me the last couple of months.  Last week I went through the two donation bins of fabric, blocks and quilt tops I have.  Some I passed on to other worthy causes.  I pulled a couple of quilt tops ready to be quilted. Then I found a panel of bird blocks. I immediately cut them and paired with two solid fabrics.  Two days later a completed Hospice quilt top was on my design wall!

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This was such an easy and gratifying sew.  As soon as the fleece I ordered for the backing comes in, I’ll get it quilted.

Then on to the not so quick sew.  We recently put in new countertops and a backsplash in our kitchen.  The windows needed new toppers.  This was not a big undertaking, but mentally, I just wasn’t into it.  I found fabric I truly fell in love with and it was birds! So fitting, as we have many birdhouses in our yard, a few feeders and lots and lots of birds. After two days of sketching, cutting, sewing and lots and lots of griping – ta da! They’re up and I love them. It’s amazing how a simple window treatment can transform the look of a room.

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I was so pleased that I purchased fabric for the living room window treatments.  Hmmm, I wonder how much I’ll procrastinate and gripe before completing that project!

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A Very Good Year

Posted on December 29, 2019 by heARTs Creations

My year was not as productive as some, but it was enjoyable. It is the process, not the progress that I now focus on.  There was still a lot of thread used! Each year I post a pic of my empty spools.  Not as many as last year, but I also had less partial spools when the year began.  It continues to amaze me how much thread quilters go through!

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What are my plans for 2020? I will continue to minimize the contents of my studio.  I have been cleaning out my craft bins, tossing, gifting and rearranging as I go. I sold some of my fabrics because  it would have taken at least a dozen quilters to stitch through my stash! I also sold my electronic cutting machine (Scan n’Cut) because I was not using it. Beware – stand in one place too long in my studio these days and you’re on your way out! Now I’m seriously thinking about finding my Featherweight a new home. I’m not acting too quickly on that decision as I want to be sure. The cleanout has been very freeing.

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I’m also knitting again! Starting out with something simple like a dishcloth seemed like a good approach.  Next week I’ll be taking a sock knitting class – something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time and I am excited! I chose a pretty jazzy yarn!

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There are several flimsies in the wings waiting to be quilted. I need to decide which ones I will tackle and which will go to the long armer. There are also a few projects that have been around for a long while. Hopefully the motivation will hit me to complete them. A couple have challenges that I have been avoiding.  Hmmm…am I passionate about them enough to meet the challenge?  We’ll see!

So here it is – my end of year Project Progress Listing. Lots accomplished – lots more to do!

Dec Projects

Thank you for being part of this past year with me. May your new year be filled with joy, peace, love and creativity!

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Prep & Progress

Posted on October 31, 2019 by heARTs Creations

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Lots of prep has been going on here.  Saturday I leave for the mountains for the Fall Quilt & Sew-In! Even though I’ve been doing retreats for thirteen years, I still get a little antsy and anxious a few days before it begins.

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Blocks have been prepped for the charity quilts from the bin of precut scraps above. There are a couple of layout possibilities for one:

And here is the layout for another quilt:

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A bucket of blocks with instructions are available for anyone who chooses to complete one or more blocks. They then put their name in for a drawing and on Show & Tell night names are drawn for prizes. I and another quilter put the blocks together for a quilt –  it certainly helps to get more Hospice quilts completed!

My projects – I always bring more than I could possibly complete. When you are the facilitator, time sewing is reduced. I love it though, and wouldn’t have it any other way! First and foremost, I plan to work on my Tula strips.  I already have several blocks complete and all is very organized (completed block above).

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A nine patch I worked on at a recent sew-in is also in the queue.  The plan is to do a disappearing nine patch, but I just haven’t decided which pattern I will be using.

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For when I don’t want to actually sew, there is this bin of half-square triangles that need to be trimmed to size.  There’s a bunch, so trimming a little at a time will make the task less daunting.

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And finally, a bin of 3 1/2″ squares for a leader-ender.  I recently spent two (exhausting) days sorting my batiks by color.  There is now a bin full of scraps, and six bins of larger pieces.  The batik squares will be paired with black and white squares.  I think this will be quite stunning. I love to have a leader-ender project going – makes me feel so productive!

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A fun and productive week is ahead! I can’t wait to share all that is Quilt & Sew-In!

 

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Two Weeks – Week One!

Posted on October 12, 2019 by heARTs Creations

Whew! I’ve been gone for the last two weeks.  The first week I went to a sew-in with some great gals, came home on a Saturday, and left on Sunday for a week vacation with hubby! Some careful planning made it doable and it was all totally worth it!

First, the Sew-In.  A good friend planned this time for us at the same place where I have the Quilt & Sew-Ins – at the Meadowbrook Inn in Blowing Rock.  This place is like a second home to me so I was thrilled that we gathered there.  How convenient it was that my sleeping room was just around the corner from the sewing room!  There were only six of us so it made it very intimate.

auuofdigryeekn9xf2_fhq-medium.jpgDebbie had the first finished project. This is such a cute mini.cx-bqbztskqzt3tmcrxz0a-medium.jpg

Another Debbie creation.  This pic does not do this beautiful log cabin justice. The fabrics were just glorious!

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Pam’s wine fabric casserole carrier sure is classy!

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Yes, Debbie was quite productive. This flimsly was mostly done before the retreat – a few more seams and border – colorful and fun!

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Pam made this bag using a preprinted batting and precut strips.  I love the way the strips meet on the sides. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll be getting some of this batting.

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Love this scrappy block pattern that Sue was working with. The block is rather time consuming and she made several. This is going to be one beautiful quilt!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three table toppers! Sheranna tackled the 10 minute table toppers – one Christmas, one St. Pattrick’s Day and one very elegant and formal.  Full disclosure – they take a bit more than ten minutes!

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And yes, I did sew.  I worked on blocks using some of my batik stash for a quilt called “Katsura” from Modern Quilts Illustrated.

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I also put together a pile of nine patches with a pile more to go.  I’m going to split each block but have not decided which method to use yet – something different from the most used split nine patch.

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I also managed to complete a flimsy for Hospice.  This will be a 2020 contribution. How nice to have a bit of a head start!

It was a great week! Along with sewing I enjoyed talking, laughing, swimming, walking, dining at a few fine restaurants and lots more laughing.  Now back to reality…

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All The Bits and Pieces

Posted on September 4, 2019 by heARTs Creations

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There was a fair amount of flannel fabric left after piecing hubby’s cat quilt. The large pieces were used for the backing and there was still a fair amount of pieces left. Right then and there I cut them all up into 2 1/2″ strips and began to sew!

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A patterned fleece is the backing, with no batting. Isn’t that backing jazzy?! Using the walking foot, I quilted using crossing wavy lines. Originally I was going to gift this quilt to someone, but it wasn’t quite large enough for the person in mind, so off to the pile of Hospice quilts it goes!

I call this one a double win!

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Endless cutting and August Progress

Posted on September 1, 2019 by heARTs Creations

A blogger I follow, Quilt Diva Julie recently posted about a string quilt she was doing called Optic Strings, using prints and solids. I loved it and immediately knew what fabrics I would use from my stash! The prints I pulled are all the Tula Pink prints I had and matched them with coordinating solid shot cottons. It was a blast to pull and match!

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The cutting marathon began. The strips are 1 1/2″ wide by 10 1/2″+ long. There are 37 pairs of fabric and I cut two sets of each fabric with 4 print strips  and 5 solid strips for each block. Whew!! It took me days because I cannot cut very much at once. The tennis elbow has improved, but I can’t push it. The blocks are all cut and clipped together – yippee! I do not have permission to post a pic of Julie’s blocks, but you can follow the link above to see them.

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This past month I did manage to complete and prepare the backings for two quilts that are now at the long armers. I quilted and bound a scrappy flannel quilt that will be added to the Hospice quilt pile. I will share pics of these at a later date. And I made 8 Baby Tag Blankets.  Because I am attending quilt retreats in September, October and mine in November, I have been very busy prepping so when I get there I can just sew!

August WIPS

How about you? Have you gotten to sew in August, or did end of summer activities take over? Either way, I hope you had fun!

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