Tag Archives: Quilts

Post Retreat + Enjoying my Passions

Posted on May 8, 2019 by heARTs Creations

After being home a week, I’ve finally made it to the computer to do a wrap up of my somewhat productive sewing at a quilt retreat I attended in South Carolina.  I began the week full steam ahead by making string blocks for a border that I cut into fours. I then paired each with a white on white square and made half square triangles.  All of my notes were at home (why oh why??) so I just made bunches!  This is the quilt top I was preparing the border blocks for:

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These are the border blocks, not yet attached to the quilt:

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And these are the leftovers! They will make a sweet little quilt. I will either add a couple of border to make it a baby quilt or add to it to make a lap quilt. That is a decision to be made at a later date.

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Following my “string fling” I just piddled.  I did some pinning, some sewing, but didn’t really attack anything else with much vigor. Mostly I enjoyed my time away and being with an awesome group of quilters!

What’s really been keeping me busy is the great outdoors.  I am in the process of dividing my ferns. They are truly glorious this year! And tree work was done in our yard and this pile of mulch was the result. I can only load a few wheel barrels a day and do the spreading. Hubby cut this pile of wood and we’ll need to get a log splitter to finish the job. This is not fun yard work.

There is also much weeding to be done. I attack it a bucket at a time and have the wonderful ability to look past the weeds and enjoy the pretty plants and flowers. Fortunately, my one side bed manages to stay weed free!

 

The temperatures here have been glorious so I am enjoying the outdoors fully.  I will sew more when it becomes very hot – mid to high 80’s and gardening do not go well together for me!

Embrace ALL your Creative Passions!

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Posted in Art, Color, Design Wall, Fabric, garden, Projects, Quilt Setting, Quilting, Quilting Retreat, Scraps, spring and tagged , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

A Double Goodness!

Posted on October 21, 2018 by heARTs Creations

How wonderful when at the end of my last quilt guild meeting, a member came up to me and handed over two quilts for Hospice! Dolores is an excellent quilter and these quilts are truly a prize.

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The first one is so colorful. All the pinwheels are just so playful and the appliqued flowers will sure add a smile to a patient’s day. It’s also a pattern I will keep in mind for all the scraps I have. I would actually like to reduce my scrap bins next year by using the many scraps I have.

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The second quilt is also a scrappy delight. I even recognize so many of the fabrics in this quilt from when I donated a large bag of scraps to my guild. (And no, it didn’t reduce my scrap collection by much!).  To me this quilt is fun and calming all at the same time.

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Thank you Dolores for your generous contribution that is sure to give comfort to those in need.

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Posted in Applique, block pattern, charity quilts, Color, Fabric, Pattern, Quilting and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Falling into Fall

Posted on October 4, 2018 by heARTs Creations

My goal for 2018 has been to reduce my Works in Progress (projects that have been started.)  These do not include Hospice quilts.  I had about 25 in January and now I have exactly 11 in project boxes.  In addition, there are  2 quilt tops that need a border, another that needs stitching around the appliques and one quilt top that I will quilt. One quilt top is on the way to the longarm this week and another that I am hand stitching the binding.

Then there are the projects – yummy fabrics and a pattern or sketch in a box that hasn’t been started. There are 8 of those. I could easily add about a dozen more, but am tying myself down! Chasing less squirrels!!

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Something fairly simple and fun planned for these great prints!

There are labels to be added to several Hospice quilts and bindings on a few that are being quilted by other volunteers. I love looking at the pile of quilts being donated this year. It warms my heart knowing they will be giving comfort to those in need.

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Oh the fabulous colors of Blueberry Park – can’t wait to dive into these!

Three of my WIPs are going to retreat with me in a few weeks. It’s a four day retreat so I’m hoping to get lots done!

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A fun kit waiting patiently for its turn.

All in all, I’m quite pleased with the progress. I’ve committed next year to more finishing. I want to get the WIPs down to four before I begin one of the projects waiting in the wings. (I can hear my quilty besties laughing wildly). I will be opting out of some obligations which will give me the time to enjoy my projects more. The tendency to over commit is crazy and I know I’m not alone! I am also looking forward to more travel, 5 or 6 retreats (2 are my Quilt & Sew-Ins) and day trips with Hubby.

Do you have or make goals in your creative life?

Project listing Sept 2018

I hope you’ll continue to join me on this journey. I really appreciate all my readers and love all the comments – thank you! Your support means so much to me.

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Posted in Art, block pattern, charity quilts, Color, Fabric, Organization, Pattern, Projects, Quilting and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Modern Batik Challenge

Posted on June 5, 2018 by heARTs Creations

An Island Batik Adventure

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The ambassador challenge for June is “Modern Batik Challenge.” I decided to make a baby-sized quilt and went to one of my Island Batik bins to choose fabrics.  I love all the blues and pulled out all the small pieces I had left from previous projects and a few of the bigger ones too.  I chose an white with a very light blue print neutral for the background.

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From a very light weight tissue-like paper, I cut long strips 2 inches wide.  I used those as a base to randomly paper piece all the blue fabrics.  Once it was all sewn, I trimmed each of the four strips. I placed two across the top and two lengthwise on the left-hand side which created much negative space.  After all was cut to size and pieced, I machine quilted straight lines in the white spaces and used a loop-de-loop in the blue strips. Aurifil thread was used in this project.

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This quilt will go into my stash of quilts and when there is a baby I want a quilt for, I will probably put his or her name in the large open space.  I love when baby quilts are personalized that way.

Copy of Modern Batik Challenge 39

All the Island Batik Ambassadors have been busy and I encourage you to give them a visit to see what they have created with these beautiful fabrics that Island Batik has provided us with.

 

 

 

 

Linking up with:

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

Needle and Thread Thursday

 

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Posted in Art, block pattern, Color, Fabric, Island Batiks, Modern Quilting, Pattern, Projects, Quilt Setting, Quilting, Scraps, Stash, Thread and tagged , , , , , . 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.

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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.

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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!

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Posted in charity quilts, Crochet, Fabric, Gifts, Projects, Quilting, Quilting Retreat, Sew-in and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Happy Galentine’s Day!

Posted on February 13, 2018 by heARTs Creations

Galentine's DayAn Island Batik Adventure

Galentine’s is all about celebrating our girlfriends, with a dash of glitz and glamour.

Today, Island Batik Ambassadors are celebrating Galentine’s Day with a post card or rug mug for their “gal friends.” My choice was to do a card sized piece to attach to the front of a card. First, I chose a selection of pinks and purples. (The fabrics featured in the post were given to me by Island Batiks)

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Next, I cut a piece of stabilizer the size of the front of the card. Then the fun began! I cut some strips and shapes from the various pinks and reds and placed them on the stabilizer, securing them with an adhesive basting spray and then sewed over the seams with a decorative stitch. Having chosen two of the purples, I cut out two hearts with the centers cut out. I placed them so they would intertwine and did a zig zag stitch all around each one.

Galentine Card heARTsCreations.com (Large)

Instead of a traditional binding, I twisted two lengths of red yarn together and zig zagged it onto the edges of the card. I then glued the piece to the front of the card.  A quick, creative and one of a kind card! And there I have it – a Galentine card that went out to my very own special gal – my daughter!

Galentine Card complete heARTsCreations.com (Large)

Happy Galentine’s Day to all my “Gals” out there!!

 

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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!

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Two Fall Retreats – Fun, Fun, Fun!!

Posted on November 16, 2017 by heARTs Creations

Usually I post retreat fun immediately after returning.  Having done two retreats back to back, I was totally pooped!! I always love being with these creative souls, and this year was no different – just double the fun and productivity. (Click on each pic to see captions)

Fall I

Great use of strips!
Inspiring charity quilt.
Color!
She built a neighborhood.
Many, Many absolutely precise very little blocks were made.
Major accomplishment – pieced (not paper pieced).
Super Heroes – big and mini.
Another Wow!
Wanted to take this one home with me!

 

Bright and fun.
The paper piecing queen – beautiful Christmas quilt!
Square in a square – shared her method with everyone.
Beautiful fabrics.
These flying geese were perfect – new quilter!
Sweetest hands and feet.

Bargello madness!
Art Quilt I
Art Quilt II
Log Cabin – Fall!
Antique Guilt Restoration of Binding
The snowmen are towels!
Log Cabin great beginnings.
Really???

 

Bright and fun.
The paper piecing queen – beautiful Christmas quilt!
Square in a square – shared her method with everyone.
Beautiful fabrics.
These flying geese were perfect – new quilter!

Fall II to be posted soon! (And yes, lots more pics!!)

 

 

 

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Winner! & September Wrap-Up

Posted on October 4, 2017 by heARTs Creations

Grand Canyon 2017

September has not been a heavy sewing month for me. We went out west for a nine day vacation (Vegas, Grand Canyon, Sedona, Flagstaff, Lake Powell, Zion Park and Boulder City.) Much time was spent planning and then packing. We had a GREAT time but, of course, came back exhausted. I am just getting back into the studio and trying to get a rhythm going again.

I have done several blocks for a batik quilt using a block of the month from Craftsy I downloaded a couple of years ago. The fabric is the batik version of “Bobbins and Bits” – see the sewing motifs? I love how bright it is. I’ve never put together such large blocks! This won’t be done for a while, but I am enjoying it.

B&B Star (Medium)B&B Pinwheel (Medium)B&B stick pnwhl (Medium)

A good bit of my time has been spent prepping for the two fall retreats – Quilt & Sew-in Fall I and Fall II. One of our guest bedrooms is filling up with all the goodies and I’m really looking forward to once again being with all the wonderful ladies who will be attending and I get to meet a few new ones this year too!

And now for the winner of my Island Batik Ambassador Blog Hop – Linda W. from the Shenandoah Valley!  She wins a pack of 60-five inch squares of the Solstice collection. Congrats and enjoy!I have contacted you by email for your address. Start planning your project for these batik beauties!

Island Batik blog giveaway

 

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Black and White Beauty

Posted on September 23, 2017 by heARTs Creations

B&W 3 heARTsCreations

Black and White fabric – love, love, love! Because of that love, I have had lots of scraps. I’ve used B & W in lots of quilts, as an accent, but wanted this one to be just B & W and began cutting lots and lots of 2 1/2″ squares. Luckily, I have a cutting machine!

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I chose the Buckeye Beauty block – simple but dramatic, especially with this color choice. For the half square triangles, I used a white on white polka dot and plain black. Two four patches and two half square triangles = great effect!

Interestingly enough, towards the end I needed a handful more of B & W that read light. Great quilt friend to the rescue (thanks Jean!).

 

B&W 2 heARTsCreations

I was all set to do a black border and binding until I ran across the black and white large polka dots in one of my bins – and I love it! I pulled a black and white piece of yardage out for the binding and my Black and White Beauty is complete.

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Side Note:  No, the black and white bin is not empty. It’s also no longer stuffed full!

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