heARTS Creations

Several years ago – 5 maybe? – using Kim McClean’s pattern “Lollypop Trees,” I began appliqueing the first block. With only a few pieces to go, I decided to do the blocks with a different background. I abandoned the block I was working on and went full steam ahead with the new background. A couple of months ago I pulled out the original block and finished it. There was just too much effort invested into it to just let it sit in a closet forever.

I added a border with curved edges, quilted and bound it. It makes a lovely wall hanging and is now hanging at the Meadowbrook Inn in Blowing Rock. And…it’s another finish! There are also six Lolypop Tree blocks all complete and waiting for me to design sashings and a border. I’ve decided I want to do something different than the pattern calls for. It won’t happen for a while, though – I have been auditioning several fabrics but haven’t found the right fit. There’s just too much work in these blocks to settle.

There’s also been a lot of outside time lately. The temps have been so gorgeous – perfect for weeding and sitting outside to read or stitch. Unfortunately, the leaves have begun to fall and we’ve had another banner year for acorns. They really are such a menace!

Fall really does offer so much beauty here:

Linking up: Oh Scrap! To Do Tuesday N&TT

Welcome Standard Time – the time of year I usually get more sewing done in the early evening dark hours.

I have been wanting to do a wintery mountain wall quilt. Batiks were the way to go and fortunately I had a variety in blues for the background.

The strips were cut into two inch strips and I began piecing, adding the “mountains” on three of the upper strips. After researching several pines, I printed one out and began to cut. And cut. And cut. And – you get the idea! The scissors were replaced with an Exacto knife with a brand new blade, but it was quickly apparent that the scissors worked better.

I quilted the background first then ironed on the tree, adding free motion quilting. Instead of the usual binding, I mounted the quilt to an 18″ x 24″ canvas. I’ve never done that before and now know I will definitely do more mounted on canvas!

I only wish I’d taken more pics before bringing this piece up for my little quilt show in Blowing Rock. I’ll post more at a later time.

Now I want to do pines, mountains and bears – oh my!

(credit to Beths quilt works, picture only – no info.)

Link up: N&TT

I keep a log of my Works in Progress and completed projects and share it here monthly. Somehow I got away from that this year but became curious as to just where I’m at with everything. I know my project boxes have lessened and as I began my update I could see why! I’ve been busier than I realized! It’s probably because of all the time being spent at home that I wasn’t fully aware of just how much I was actually accomplishing. That and gardening have kept me going.

Note my definitions: Work in Progress – a project that has been started no matter how far along it is. Project – fabric and pattern in a project box with nothing done to it – no cutting, no sewing.

Here it is: projects still in the works and projects completed. Wow! A couple more and I’ll give myself permission to begin a new Work in Progress – I just may have a few of those!

Yeah! Another flimsy out of the closet! Some time ago I put together this fun Hawaiin String quilt and it was time at last to quilt it. I only do simple quilting and thankfully a string quilt lends itself to that quite well.

It’s backed with a navy fleece – warm, soft & comfy. This is also a Hospice quilt so it’s a double win!

The fabric wasn’t bright and bold as is my usual choice, but somehow it spoke to me. It seemed somewhat Victorian andI chose to do a small wall hanging. I pieced four patches and then cut them wonky which I found to be a fun technique. I did the same with the borders, just much smaller.

The background is straight line quilted. Circles of a focused portion of the fabrics was then hand appliqued onto the center of each wonky block.

It all blended in a bit too much so I embroidered around each circle using no. 8 pearl cotton.

Unfortunately, I do not have a pic of the bound and finished wall hanging which was bound in a dark Navy blue – it is now hanging at the Meadowbrook Inn in Blowing Rock, NC.

Sometime in the future I would very much like to use this wonky four patch technique in a larger, bolder and brighter quilt. Overall, I am pleased with this little quilt – another finish!