Just Two More Rows

Posted on August 9, 2021 by heARTs Creations

This quilt should be named Forever! The quilt top was finished about three years ago. My brilliant idea was to hand quilt it with embroidery cotton doing a big stitch. I stitched, stitched, and stitched some more. The project got put away for quite a while. Finally, I pulled it out and have been determined to get it done! Unfortunately, I couldn’t do much stitching at once because it caused my hand to cramp. The quilt was being handled so much the outside ends were getting sloppy so I trimmed and bound it. There was enough quilted that I knew it was okay to do that step.

Oy. Most evenings I worked on it and got a little done. I’m really over this project now! I do have one more row to finish and it should be done this week. It’s time to show it!

Different color threads for quilting, and varied spacing.

The print fabrics are all Kaffe from my scrap bin. I used a batik print as the background. I really like the black and white border – I am a big fan of black and white fabrics. I think they make the prints pop more.

Now that it’s already bound, when I do that last row – A-Mazed will no longer be a work in progress!

Aww – look who likes sleeping under a Kaffe quilt. It’s Callie and she snuggles under there all on her own.

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The Foundling Quilt & Update

Posted on August 1, 2021 by heARTs Creations

Early July, I pulled my orphan blocks out and began playing with them on the design wall. I found a few more and there has been SO much rearranging. I’m thinking this is going to be the final layout – maybe. Every so often when i walk by it, I change something. I know that has to stop so I finally committed and sewed a few blocks together. Now all I need do is decide how to tie it all together. I’m in the process of pulling filler fabrics. This, my Foundling quilt, is definitely a challenge and that is making it enjoyable for me.

Looking back at my overall progress, I’m please that I’m headed in the direction I wanted to go, and closer to my goal. That goal? Chip away at my Works in Progress so that I only have two going at one time, reducing the flimsies hanging in my closet, and overall reducing my ridiculous large stash.

There are a number of projects in the wings – patterns with fabric, but nothing cut. Two of those projects are kits. I’m thinking of selling one because although I like it, I’m not excited about it! I also have a large hand work project waiting in the wings. It’s the Twelve Days of Christmas ornaments which was rather pricey and will take some time and I absolutely want to do that one.

Some quilters can’t imagine narrowing down to this extent, but it is giving me piece of mind. And really, I have a house full of quilts, my kids have many quilts, I’ve given too many to count away, and unless I’m chomping at the bit to make it, adding another quilt to the pile no longer gives me pleasure. I’m big into simplify these days!

Side Note – I made a few more changes to the Foundling layout!

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Another, then Another

Posted on July 25, 2021 by heARTs Creations

Woo Hoo! Two more Hospice finishes. The first one was made with some orphan blocks I found from another Hospice quilt finished last year. There was just enough to make a wheelchair quilt. I really like these little quilts. They’re small so they go quickly, and they’re very practical for those in wheelchairs. As you can see, the corners are cut to avoid getting caught in the wheels. On this one I had enough to add a pocket. It’s lined with the same fleece I used for the backing. The pocket can hold tissues, cell phone, etc. and keep hands warm!

This second finish is from a top that was sent to me by a reader. It too is backed with fleece (as are all my Hospice quilts now). It’s bright and fun and hopefully will bring warmth and comfort.

I’m ready to connect with the Hospice rep and move some quilts out of the house – my favorite part of the process! I’ll be working on my other projects for a while and probably won’t be revisiting the Hospice quilts until fall. My goal for the future is to work on one charity quilt a month. Hmmm. We’ll see!

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Two More & She’s Back!

Posted on July 19, 2021 by heARTs Creations

I love to post finishes and today I have two Hospice quilts to show! Another three will soon be completed and then I will call the Hospice volunteer to collect them. This first quilt was finished from a top sent to me by a reader. It is so vibrant and happy and will surely give great comfort.

The second I did from some orphan blocks. So glad to get another quilt out of the flimsy closet and on the finished pile.

Two weeks ago I had a real OOps moment with my Bernina while free motion quilting. Finally, we took a road trip a little over an hour from here for her to be repaired. This ordeal made me very anxious as I was so sure it was goinging to cost big! We went to Sew Original in Winston Salem, NC. The tech was already working on a machine, but because we came from out of town, he put mine next in line. Wow! What great service!

Now, what to do for a few hours? Fortunately, three miles away is the Reynolda House and Gardens. It was sunny and hot with a wonderful breeze – a good day to visit a garden. It was unbelievably beautiful! We walked around all the beautiful beds which took us up to lunch hour. Within walking distance was a lovely restaurant with wonderful outdoor seating on the patio. Another delightful experience! Now it was too hot to walk around the grounds, so we found a bench in the shade back at the garden and enjoyed a constant breeze.

Finally, back to the shop and for the best part – the fix wasn’t awful! I had the annual maintenance done for her while there and that’s all I was charged for! The two sales professionals were so personable and helpful. I highly recommend this shop! And although I have a great backup machine, it is so good to have ol’ faithful back in the saddle!

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Orphan Blocks – What to Do?

Posted on July 11, 2021 by heARTs Creations

I came across some orphan blocks the other day and decided to put them on the design wall.

Then a few more were added:

The last row of blocks were not playing nicely with the rest. I also don’t think the outside blocks will work. There are more of them and I thought perhaps they could be used as side borders. And the blocks on the lower right with the large pieces? Well…I dove into another bin and there were more of those! Enough I think to make a wheelchair quilt for Hospice.

This is where I left off yesterday. I did find more blocks but haven’t gotten them put on the design wall yet. Yes, back to the drawing board/design wall. More time to play later!

Fillers and sashings will be needed. No doubt there will be a lot of playing and rearranging!

My Bernina will be going in for repair this week. Hopefully it won’t be too big of a $$$ fix, but there is no choice. Thankfully I have a couple of good backups that I’m using. In the meantime, Callie is guarding my carry bag!

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Melee – the Quilt

Posted on July 6, 2021 by heARTs Creations

Many moons ago I stitched strips from a roll together, then cut them into triangles. For a reason not known to me now, I put them away in a bin.

Time to sew these together, but I needed a plan – or did I? I decided on a free-for-all, thus the name “Melee.” It’s not entirely unplanned. I did make a “spider web” as the center.

After that, it was anything goes! The outside borders were also planned. They hold everything else in.

There wasn’t much left over and I knew none of it was going back into a bin, not even a scrap bin. I sewed a row and used it for the backing.

I did have fun with this one. All this color was a joy and creating as I go can be so freeing sometimes. I just need to choose the batting and it’s off to the long arm quilter. Looking forward to this finish!

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Fourth of July!

Posted on July 3, 2021 by heARTs Creations

To all celebrating, may you have a Happy and Safe Fourth of July! I’ll be back on Tuesday with more quilty goodness!

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A Very Colorful Table Runner

Posted on June 26, 2021 by heARTs Creations

Finally, all the blocks with little pieces were finished. I cut each in half diagonally, switched them around, sewed together to form a rectangle, then arranged all the blocks and sewed together. It makes for a cute table runner!

So many borders were auditioned. I had enough fabric of Kaffe’s Aboriginal Dots in six colors and just couldn’t decide. I called in my color cohort – Hubby. We decided on the purple – it seems to hold all the little pieces of color together.

My mother-in-law’s hand crocheted doilies and my little vases with fresh flowers were perfect for the dining table. This is now my favorite summer table runner.

Help! I need a name for this project for my label!

I haven’t been sewing too much lately, but when I finished this project, I was ready to get another done. I chose a Hospice flimsy that had been donated. Unfortunately, only a few minutes into quilting, disaster struck! The needle broke and it sounded bad. Hubby checked it out and Oh Yeah – bad! Off to the Bernina expert next week. Thank goodness for back-up machines!

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“Snuggle”

Posted on June 19, 2021 by heARTs Creations

Finished the baby rag quilt I started here. It was a quick sew, but the clipping took a while. I’d clip, rest, clip some more, do something else, then clip, clip, clip! The quilt has been washed and dried twice to get it fluffed up. Each washing & dry will make it more snuggly.

I secured the outside of the quilt with an extra strip doubled over instead of binding. It too is clipped. The stripe brightens the quilt and pulls it all together.

For the backing I used a bright directional print, but altered direction of the design. SNUGGLE is labeled and ready to gift!

And…my newest addition to my garden. Couldn’t resist this sign.

Yes, sometimes it does happen!

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Two More!!

Posted on June 5, 2021 by heARTs Creations

So happy to have completed two more quilts for Hospice. These will be the last of my finishes for a while as I will be concentrating on a few of my personal quilts.

The first is a quilt with triangle blocks that were cut on the Sizzix and sewn together by attendees at a retreat in 2019. Seems forever ago, especially since there weren’t any retreats in 2020. I’ve been going through my donation bin lately and pulled these out – put them together – quilted – sewed the binding and done!!

Next was a quilt that was donated quite some time ago. It was already backed and there was a little bit of quilting done. It really was a pretty quick finish to get this quilted – oh why, oh why did I wait so long?? I also love that it’s all blue. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get a great pic – the colors are really much more vibrant in person.

I especially love that so many hands were involved in the completion of these quilts. A few more finished to add to the pile and they’ll be on their way to Hospice.

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