Category Archives: Pattern

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)

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.

A Quilter’s Generosity

Posted on June 4, 2017 by heARTs Creations

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I was going to wait until this quilt top was quilted, but I am so overwhelmed with the generosity of having received this quilt top, I needed to do it now. Recently Jo’s Country Junction added a page to their blog for charity projects. I posted that I would receive quilts, quilt tops and/or blocks for the Hospice group I quilt with. I immediately heard from two quilters and very quickly received this quilt top. A very big thank you to Jackie who sent it all the way from Canada!

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I really like this pattern and am going to do a pencil sketch for a possible future quilt. It is lovely and I am so looking forward to seeing it quilted and bound. The generosity continues as a friend has offered to quilt the quilt on her long arm. This week when I get together with the hospice sewers I will look for a backing from our stash and cut the batting. Even better, I imagine the comfort and warmth it will bring a patient!

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Posted in block pattern, Color, Fabric, Pattern, Projects and tagged Charity, Quilting. Bookmark the permalink.

Modern Batik Challenge

Posted on May 21, 2017 by heARTs Creations

An Island Batik Ambassador Adventure

For May, we were challenged with a Modern Batik quilt. My first choice was to do a small wall hanging – I find those a little easier for modern than a larger quilt, but then I decided it was time to break out of the mold and go bold so I chose to do a small lap quilt.

Modern Batik

I went through all my yummy Island Batiks and chose blues and greens, various neutrals for the top portion and a neutral for the section out of the main square. I love this color palette and doesn’t that make sewing them together that much more fun? This quilt is made up of all five inch squares set on point. I did do a pencil sketch, but somehow when the squares were on the design board, I was not happy. What to do? I had them all cut. Then a funny thing happened. I sat on the sofa on the other side of the room and looked over at the design wall and it appeared totally different than when I looked at it straight on! I liked it! Whew!!

Modern Batik

Lots of piecing and then straight line quilting. Wouldn’t it be interesting to know how many stitches are in the quilting? Then again…maybe not! I used Aurifil 2311 (neutral) for the piecing and Fantastico 5166 for the quilting – both a dream to work with.

Modern Batik 2

Be sure to check out all the Modern Batik creations by the Island Batik Ambassadors here.

Linking up with My Quilt Infatuation, Silly Mama Quilts

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Posted in Art, block pattern, Color, Design Wall, Fabric, Island Batiks, Modern Quilting, Pattern, Projects, Quilt Setting and tagged challenge, Color, Patterns, projects, Quilting, Quilts, Thread. Bookmark the permalink.

Snow Fun!

Posted on April 19, 2017 by heARTs Creations

IMG_1596 (Medium)

I recently traveled outside of my “box” and entered the Martelli Quilt contest. There was a theme choice of Winter, Thanksgiving, Christmas or Autumn. I chose Winter and was sent these templates:

Winter Templates

There was no set criteria except for the size of the finished panel. My interpretation was that although we did not need to use all the templates, I should use as many templates as many times as I could. My guess was that the quilt panels would be displayed at market and/or shows to show how the templates could be used. I used the quarter round template 38 times, the Snowman template 3 times and the mitten template 6 times. This did not seem to play into the judging, however. I did not make it as a finalist, but thoroughly enjoyed the process. For a few days I threw myself into this project. My only regret is that we don’t get the panels back (we do keep the templates.)

I had fun creating the winter sky with a bit of crazy, no plan piecing. Embellishing the snowmen definitely fed my creative side.

Would I do this again? Probably not this particular contest unless there were more guidelines and would be able to get my project back when the company was done with it. It was, however, definitely an excellent experience!

Snow Fun (Medium)

Linking up with Em’s Scrapbag, WIPS on Wednesdays, Let’s Bee Social, Silly Mama, and My Quilt Infatuation

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Posted in Applique, Art, Color, Fabric, Pattern, Projects, Quilt Setting, Quilting and tagged Color, Patterns, projects, Quilt Contest, Quilting, Snowmen, Templates, Winter. Bookmark the permalink.

March Saw Some Progress

Posted on April 2, 2017 by heARTs Creations

March Charity quilts hanging (Medium)

The sewing machine hasn’t exactly been humming this past March. I did complete projects and work on others, but my main concentration has been getting ready for the Spring retreat in May. I do love putting it all together, but it is time consuming.

Two Hospice quilts were finished. The one that is blue squares was really easy – the top was left in the room where the Hospice sewers get together to sew. All I needed to do was back it, quilt it and bind it. Done! I completed the lizard quilt top earlier and finally quilted and bound it. It’s such a good feeling to move a quilt top out of the closet!

March charity quilts backs (Medium)

The baby quilt was made with flannel and chenille and I backed it with a pretty flannel. I found a non-batik backing for the lizard quilt that I think compliments it well.

March charity quilts (Medium)

I may not see any finishes in May. Progress is what I am truly aiming for!

March Progress listing

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Posted in block pattern, Color, Fabric, Pattern, Projects and tagged Charity, projects, Quilting, Quilts. Bookmark the permalink.

What I’m Working On

Posted on January 14, 2017 by heARTs Creations

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For quite some time I’ve wanted to do a postage stamp quilt – a true postage stamp with 1 inch finished squares. I pulled out a bunch of my Kaffe prints and found a neutral batik that I love. This is a wall hanging – another day I will do a larger one (maybe?). The arrangement is somewhat of a colorburst. I did have fun arranging all the pieces.

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Now for the border. After sketching on paper and deciding on dimensions, Hubby put it in EQ for me so I could print out paper piecing patterns. The sewn piece on the design wall is not trimmed yet, and will be much smaller when done. Now I just need to decide what will go in the outside corners. I haven’t given that much thought yet or played with it, but would certainly welcome suggestions.

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I also got out my black and white scrap bin. Boy is that bin jammed packed! There is now a pile of 2 1/2″ squares that will be pieced as Leader-Enders. This will be my first quilt that will be entirely black and white. I’m thinking of using solid black and solid white half square triangles to make a Buckeye Beauty block. Much more sewing needs to be done before that decision is made.

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Maybe, just maybe, by February I’ll have another empty project box!

NOTE: Quilt & Sew-In Retreat Fall II still has openings! Hope you’ll join me for all the fun!!

Linking up with My Quilt Infatuation

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Posted in Art, block pattern, Color, Design Wall, Fabric, Pattern, Projects, Quilt Setting, Quilting, Scraps and tagged Borders, Color, Patterns, projects, Quilting, Quilts, Scraps, UFOs. Bookmark the permalink.

My First Round Robin

Posted on January 8, 2017 by heARTs Creations

One of my New Year’s pledges was no new projects until a few bins are empty, charity and gift quilts excepted. I did decide to join a Round Robin with 3 other quilters. Did I break my pledge? Technically, NO! Several years ago I started a paper pieced star that has four sections and 14 pieces per section. A little over the top, don’t you think? I had two sections already done, scrappy style, and just completed the other two sections. I’ve put them together and added a border and I love it! Oh – so many ideas for the center block of the Round Robin. This star was already started so it was the winner and a no-brainer! I’m really ahead of schedule. I even have the scraps and yardage in my box already and we don’t even need to have it done until the end of the month!

Project box filled with scraps and yardage.

I’m excited to design and add borders to the other quilter’s blocks. Don’t know what a Round Robin is? Because we are a small group, we are doing it about every two months. We’ll exchange our project boxes and add a border to that quilter’s block. With just three borders being added, it could finish as a wall hanging. My block, however, is starting out at 14″ so it may be a bit too large for a wall hanging for me. After all three borders have been added, we may choose to add more to our own.

I am excited to try some inventive and creative borders. Borders can add so much to a quilt. Now, the math may end up being a bit challenging for me, but I’m no stranger to that dilemma. Enter husband help! Also, the other 3 quilters are truly talented – I’m a bit intimidated but am up for the challenge!

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We got about 6 inches of snow here in NC Friday night which is a great event! I made two pots of soup and am enjoying watching the birds eat the seed I scattered on the driveway. We have bird feeders, but they fight and only allow one bird at a time. Now there have been up to a dozen feasting on the driveway and six different kinds of birds! We have Sparrows, Cardinals, Blue Birds, Thrasher, Finches, and Woodpeckers. Hubby spotted a Blue Jay. Wish I would see him – would be so pretty against the white snow. The rest of the day was spent in the studio sewing. Lucky me! Did you get snow as so many states did? How do you spend your snow days? Is it an event, or the norm, as it was when I lived in New York State?

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I’m linking up with Oh Scrap!, Em’s Scrapbag, My Quilt Infatuation and Patchwork Times.

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Posted in Art, block pattern, Color, Fabric, Pattern, Projects, Scraps, Stash and tagged Blocks, Borders, Color, Fabric, Patterns, projects, Quilt, Quilting, Round Robin, Scraps. Bookmark the permalink.

heARTS Creations

Category Archives: Pattern

My New Bag – Quilt As You Go

A Quilter’s Generosity

Modern Batik Challenge

Snow Fun!

March Saw Some Progress

What I’m Working On

My First Round Robin

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