heARTS Creations

Playful Pillow

Posted on May 16, 2018 by heARTs Creations

An Island Batik Adventure

Such a fun adventure – “Playful Pillow.” It wasn’t much of a decision for me as I knew I wanted another pillow for my sofa to go with the one I made last year with our curves adventure. I got the idea from potholders made by Patchwork Pottery.

The pillow top was easy and it was the first project I attacked at my Spring retreat. As soon as I got home I embroidered the face, backed the pillow front and quilted it. I kept it simple because I wanted the kitty’s face to be the focus of the pillow.

It finishes at a generous 20 inches and I love the way it looks side by side with my other Island Batik pillow.

The fabrics were provided by Island Batik and the threads by Aurofil.

Linking up with: Let’s Bee Social, My Quilt Infatuation, Midweek Makers

Lots of Sewing in April

Posted on May 7, 2018 by heARTs Creations

Wow! April was a great quilty month! First, there was the Quilt & Sew-In in Blowing Rock where I got more accomplished than I ever have at my retreat! I finished a baby quilt top which was also an Island Batik project, a pillow top which was also an Island Batik project and I started a square-in-a-square project. Sorry, can’t show the Island Batik projects just yet. Then, lucky me, I just got back from a quilt retreat in South Carolina that I had never been to before. What a great group of quilters – lots of fun, talent, and sewing. Lots of food too, but not sure that was really such a good thing!

I put the square-in-a-square top together. The borders are pieced and now just all needs to be put together.

The scrappy double four patch, which started out as a leader ender, has really come a long way. I’ll be adding to it, building the small four patch blocks as leader-enders. I also worked on and completed the main blocks of a quilt that is going to be a Christmas gift. Pics of that at a later time. All in all, April was a great month of sewing!

April listing

Linking up with My Quilt Infatuation

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Applique – So Much Color

Posted on May 2, 2018 by heARTs Creations

Several years ago I saw the applique pattern, “Lollipop Trees” by Kim McLean and immediately fell in love. An impossible task? I was up for the challenge! The pattern was gifted to me on my birthday and I began block one and finished it! But…I didn’t care for the background fabric I used so that block got tossed into the maybe I’ll see you one day bin and I began again. This time I chose a gray on white fabrjc and for all the applique pieces I am using Kaffe Fassett fabrics. Two blocks are complete and I am part way through block number 3.

I am in love! And I am enjoying the applique process. I work on it for a little while in the evenings and have found it very relaxing. I’m not sure how many of the blocks I will do. I plan on using this as a wall hanging, so maybe six or eight. Four complete this year? That’s my goal! We’ll see!

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Posted in Applique, Art, block pattern, Color, Fabric, Kaffe Fasset, Pattern, Quilting and tagged Color, Patterns, projects, Sewing. Bookmark the permalink.

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 For Charity

Posted on April 22, 2018 by heARTs Creations

There are several completed quilt tops in the charity bin and finally I quilted and bound one of them. This was done with random width strips of a fun and colorful nautical fabric donated by a fabric company. The strips were sewn into groups of three at the last fall Quilt & Sew-In by several of those who attended. It feels so good to have one completely done!

The second finished quilt was donated by a friend and generous quilter. Laurie showed up one day with this sweet, sweet quilt completely finished! I especially love the quilted motifs in the blocks. This quilt will surely bring a smile to someone’s face and give them comfort. She also brought with her some blocks and quilt tops – Thank you Laurie for your generosity!

Donations of blocks, quilt tops and finished quilts are always welcome! Just leave me a comment that you would like to make a donation and I will send you the address. All finished quilts are donated to the local Hospice office and they in turn give patients quilts to help comfort them during their time of need. Last year our small group donated about 27 quilts and we would love to increase that number as the local office has hundreds of patients.

Thank you quilters – you are a generous group!

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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!

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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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Thank you quilters – you are a generous group!

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

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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