Category Archives: Quilting Retreat

Two More!

Posted on June 27, 2018 by heARTs Creations

My goal for June was to quilt and finish as many Hospice quilts as possible. I have been working on it for the last few days, but because so much of my time went into finishing my new sewing table, I could not begin earlier.

I pulled out all the quilt tops and if I had not already had a backing stored with them, I chose one. I also prepped the binding for each. Oh my – look at all those bindings!

I prepped the batting for two of the quilts and sandwiched them. Now it was time to quilt!

I especially like this one because it is well suited for a male. See the lion peeking out?

Lion Hospice

This paintbrush quilt is so bright and cheerful and is sure to bring a smile to someone in Hospice care.

paintbrush hospice

The blocks for both of these quilts were pieced by those attending the Quilt & Sew-In retreats. I then put the blocks together and finish the quilt. It is a great way to get more charity quilts done and is fun for all!

Hospice, 2

Comments: It is always so much fun to read your comments. The encouragement is just priceless!

Linky Tuesday, (too) Cute Tuesday, WIPs on Wednesdays

Needle and Thread Thursday

Surprises & A Great Retreat!

Posted on April 28, 2018 by heARTs Creations

Last week was the Spring Quilt & Sew-In Retreat and it was a blast! There was so much sewing going on, but that is truly the least of it. The sharing, assistance, laughing and teaching moments were all such treasures. The generous spirit of all who attended was just amazingly wonderful. How lucky am I to bring these quilters back together each year!

And there were surprises! Beverly made these darling heart appliqued bags for everyone and a few extras for the wonderful employees of the inn where we stay. She also made cute little butterflies (mine, unfortunately, is camera shy). She is the resident crochet queen! In addition, she blessed me with the crocheted doilies (if I ever made one of these, I don’t think I’d be giving them away!) and a sewing machine cover with pockets for tools.

Sandra made everyone this cute finger pin cushion (on the right). It is going to be a real bonus for me when I am hand appliqueing.

In their goody bags, each attendee received a pin cushion with a Velcro backing – perfect to place on your sewing machine or table or wherever you might find it handy (above left). Several were put to use shortly after receiving them! Both were made with bottle caps as the base.

Something very special that happens at retreat is that there is a bucket of block “kits” for each to sew if they choose. The blocks are then put together for Hospice quilts. Everyone sewed one – some more than one! These batiks are going to make a beautiful quilt. The very masculine blocks were put together and the quilt top is already finished – Yeah!

AND there was a last minute sponsor – Woo Hoo! Northcott Fabrics so very generously sent these goodies. Sponsor generosity helps to make the retreats so very special.

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In the Fall we retreat again in Blowing Rock. Lucky me – I of course get to be there!

Two Projects Ready to Sew!

Posted on April 18, 2018 by heARTs Creations

It’s time to pack up and head to Blowing Rock for the Spring retreat. I’ll be setting up our sewing room for the Thursday morning start when I’ll greet all the happy, ambitious and anxious quilters as they gather to sew until Sunday!

I have several projects ready to go. The first one I will be doing as a leader/ender project. It is just a simple four patch with a one patch sewn in between each. It will be colorful and fun and fairly mindless – the kind of project I need when I lead a retreat.

In my stash I had a pile of little triangles that I’ve looked at several times wondering, “what should I do with these?” Then when I came across 1 stack of 2 1/2 inch squares, it all came together! These will make a cute wall hanging or table topper – I’ll decide as I progress.

There are a few more projects prepped, but as they are Island Batik Ambassador projects, I won’t be showing those to you just yet. I am excited about working on all of these and hopefully will get much accomplished!

And here it all is – the pile of retreat goodness ready to go!

4 Comments

Posted in Art, block pattern, Color, Fabric, Pattern, Quilt Setting, Quilting, Quilting Retreat, Sew-in and tagged Patterns, projects, Quilting, Sewing. Bookmark the permalink.

Sew Many Goodies!

Posted on April 15, 2018 by heARTs Creations

The Spring Quilt & Sew-In is this week and many goodies have arrived from several generous sponsors. I can’t thank these companies enough for their generosity which lends to the fun and creativity of the retreats.

A HUGE thank you again to Island Batik. How generous to have sent several “Fifi and Fido stamps” (five inch squares) and City Culture II fat eighth stacks. The colors and designs of these beautiful fabrics will make some quilters very happy!

Once again Dritz has sent an amazing prize – this beautiful sewing basket and a pile of sewing notions – such goodness!

Pineapple Fabrics is a faithful supporter of the Quilt & Sew-Ins. The box of fabric they donated is especially useful for the charity blocks that are constructed at retreat. The blocks are then pieced and made into quilts donated to Hospice. Thank you Pineapple for a wonderful assortment!

Pineapple

Colonial Needle is back again with their Turn Sharp rotary blade sharpener and their beautiful Presencia Thread which is virtually lint free!

Clothworks Textiles sent these beautiful fat quarters. Fun prints and solids to compliment them – how wonderful!

And where would our quilting be without Olfa mats and rotary cutters – in two fabulous sizes!

Martelli has also returned this year with one of their ergonomic rotary cutters. Truly, these are life changing in the quilt studio! And, a pack of rotary blades is greatly appreciated.

Quilters Dream has added to the retreat goodies with wonderful battings for our precious quilt projects.

Inch Worm Fabrics sent these lovely fabrics. Soft and rich colors will truly delight a lucky quilter.

June Tailor donated these cute mug rug quotation panels. These will definitely make some cute and thoughtful gifts.

Hobbs donated a wonderful batting – a must product for quilters.

Thank you doesn’t even begin to communicate how grateful I am – these prizes add so much fun to the Quilt & Sew-In and certainly enhance each quilter’s supply of goodies.

There are still openings in the Fall Retreat! November 4 thru 8. More info and registration form are here.

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Posted in Fabric, Island Batiks, Quilting, Quilting Retreat, Sewing Tools, Thread and tagged Quilting. Bookmark the permalink.

A Warm Thank You

Posted on March 28, 2018 by heARTs Creations

The Spring Retreat is coming up soon and it’s time to announce a generous sponsor with a favorite product. A big thank you to the Warm Company! I was so excited when the great big box was delivered. Inside were several battings – Warm & Plush, 80-20 Warm, Warm & White and fusible Warm! We couldn’t have quilting without batting and how wonderful to be able to have these quality battings as prizes.

AND…that’s not all! They also sent the waterproof Insul Shine for making personal coolers and lunch bags and Insul Bright, reflects hot or cold energy and is great for potholders.

AND… Steam-A-Seam light fusibile which just happens to be my favorite fusible for applique projects, together with Steam A Seam tape.

Thank you Warm for your generosity and to help make the Quilt & Sew-In Retreats a success!!

There are openings in the Fall 2018 Quilt & Sew-In! Check it all out here and register today!

Lucky Thirteen

Posted on November 27, 2017 by heARTs Creations

That’s how many quilts will be making it out the door for Hospice next week! Add that to the works of other quilters in our little group, and we are donating 24 quilts this year! A week ago they were dedicated at a church service.

Blurry pic, but does show how great they all looked together for dedication!

Making quilts for Hospice has been a passion of mine for several years now, but I certainly don’t do it alone. I have incorporated sewing blocks into my quilting retreats. All attending have the option of making blocks from “kits” that have been prepared. This fall blocks were sewn for 5 quilts! During the year I will sew the blocks together and complete the quilts. The old adage “many hands make quick work” is so true!

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Even better, others have jumped on the wagon to help. Last Spring Cindy donated several quilt tops. Beverly has donated several quilt tops and surprised me at Fall retreat with a complete quilt! In the spring Tina was so very generous to take blocks home, sew them together and quilt two quilts. What a great army of generosity!

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I have a bin dedicated to this project. It holds some backing fabrics, completed blocks to be pieced, a few tops that need borders and several quilt tops that need to be quilted. I love knowing that the completion of some of next year’s donations is not far off.

Beverly’s Quilt

The two quilts that Tina Pieced and quilted.

A preprinted label is added to the back of all the quilts. Rather than trying to come up with a name for each quilt, I have decided to name each one “Comfort and Prayers” for that is truly what these quilts are all about.

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I strongly encourage any quilter who is presented with the opportunity to work on a donation quilt to do so – the rewards are great for all involved.

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

Quilt & Sew-In Fall II

Posted on November 19, 2017 by heARTs Creations

For one hour, there was silence in the retreat room on Wednesday and then…the magic began again. Attendees of Fall II arrived! Once again there was so much creativity, productivity, conversation and laughter. For me it was double the fun, double the laughter and a little more exhaustion! For the whole week I even got to meet 8 quilters I had never met before which is just awesome.

One of two sweet panel quilt tops

Great start to a scrappy quilt.

Very creative art quilt.

Love Donna’s polka dot beg!

Great use of strips.

Such a pretty star.

Sandy worked really hard this retreat.

Learned to do a square in a square!

What can I say about this one except that it is exceptional! Dolores took scrappy to the next level. Even the back is scrappy strips. That is a LOT of sewing!

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At the Spring 2017 retreat, Tina took some of the charity blocks home, squared them, and put them together for two quilt tops. At this retreat she quilted them. (Both are the same). Won’t this bring joy to someone in Hospice care? Thank you Tina – having to just bind these quilts made life a little bit easier for me and gets these quilts to Hospice a lot sooner.

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Two retreats, Double the fun – thank you all for the memories!