Tag Archives: Scraps

My Pot of Gold & A Giveaway!

Posted on June 24, 2019 by heARTs Creations

Several years ago, more like many years ago, I started collecting metallic fabrics. Many had an Asian theme and I loved them. It took me a couple of years to decide, but finally I decided to do a hexagon star pattern. I cut the hexagons on my Sizzix – I cut, and cut, and cut. Rather than cut the individual triangles, I sewed the hexies to strips of fabric and then trimmed.

I found this black with gold dots fabric and a friend suggested that I scatter a few black stars about. Had to admit – a good idea. It also meant taking some of the quilt apart in places, but it was doable.

Finally, I pulled the project box out and was inspired to complete this quilt top. I added the black borders. I played with a couple of cornerstones, but nope, the black borders were it! It is being added to my “to be quilted” pile, as I plan on quilting this one myself. The project box, however, is empty!

Leftovers – many hexie leftovers! And several pieces of the fabrics! I will not save them, but if someone out there would like them, they are yours if you leave a comment saying so. I will randomly pick a winner and announce the winner next Wednesday, July 3.

Linking up with: WOW Midweek Makers

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Posted in Art, block pattern, Color, Fabric, Give Away, Hexagons, Projects, Quilting and tagged Color, Metallics, projects, Quilting, Scraps. Bookmark the permalink.

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:

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

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.

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 Color, flowers, garden, projects, Quilting, Quilts, Scraps, spring. Bookmark the permalink.

Prepping and More Prepping

Posted on April 27, 2019 by heARTs Creations

Off to another retreat! I’m a guest at this one, so I get to do a lot more sewing. Prepping has been going on for about a week and I am SO ready! There’s something wonderful about being in a room full of creative quilters that serves to feed my creativity and productivity.

First – a scrappy flimsy that needs a border. It’s a strip quilt and I’ll be doing more strip blocks, making them into small half square triangles with a white-on-white, and adding as a border.

Second – a baby scrappy quilt that was started a very long time ago. The paper piecing portions are complete and now I need to do the curved piecing. Each block is cut, pinned, and on its own paper plate.

Third – Log cabin wall quilt. I worked on this last year at this same retreat – made many, many blocks but didn’t like the way they were squaring up. So now I am starting all over but this time on a paper foundation. I’m definitely committed to accuracy on this one!

Fourth – not that I’ll really need it, but just in case something goes awry with one of the other projects, or I just don’t want to work on one of them. This will be a queen size for our bed. Very simple – green leaf prints and white on white, all 3 inch squares finished. Simplicity is what I’m going for.

Hopefully I’ll be back next week with some impressive results!

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Posted in Fabric, Organization, Projects, Quilting, Quilting Retreat, Scraps, Stash and tagged Color, projects, Quilting, Retreats, Scraps, Sewing. Bookmark the permalink.

Leaders/Enders Progress

Posted on March 13, 2019 by heARTs Creations

It’s amazing how quickly a quilt top goes together when using leaders and enders. I placed this L/E project at my sewing machine the beginning of the year and now I have the main section together! I set aside all my 1 1/2″ green strips and sewed them all around the outside.

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Now I will continue to piece the L/E’s and make a border of two squares across and as many down as needed for the sides, top and bottom.

Unfortunately, I haven’t made much progress on those because I have been doing string quilt piecing on a foundation which is not L/E friendly and at another machine I have been paper piecing which is also not L/E friendly. But that’s okay – there are many more projects in the wings!

Although, this happened today (it was scheduled, not a surprise) so now there is much neglected yard work to get to. I had been putting it off until the tree work was all done. It has been a glorious spring bloom this year, so I know it’s all worth it!

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Posted in Color, Fabric, garden, Projects, Quilt Setting, Quilting and tagged flowers, garden, Leaders/Enders, projects, Quilting, Scraps. Bookmark the permalink.

The Last Scrap Attack

Posted on February 28, 2019 by heARTs Creations

At least for now, that is. I just couldn’t stand it any longer. I had my scraps sorted by color. None had been precut to any particular size. I devised a plan to get a better grip on things (or at least my scraps!) There were a lot of larger pieces which I cut into 5 inch strips.

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I also cut 2 1/2 inch strips:

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1 1/2 inch strips. I have a scrap string quilt in the process for these.

3 1/2 inch squares and 2 1/2 inch squares. There is a leader-ender quilt in the process for the 2 1/2 inch squares.

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There were fabrics in the bins that I have used many times and have had around for up to ten years. I am very tired of looking at them so they are headed to my next guild meeting to give away. No doubt they will make one or more other quilters very happy.All these scraps are so neat and tidy! I do still have a bin of black and white scraps that I will not cut until needed. I also have a bin of Kaffe scraps that will stay in their bin of disarray until I have a specific project for them.

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I used my two fabric cutting machines – the Sizzix Big Shot Pro and the Sizzis Big Kick. Oh how much easier and quicker it was with those two work horses.

And the very scrappy scraps? They’re packed tightly in this bag and will be going to someone who stuffs dog beds with them. I like that so much better than putting them in the trash. Yes, mile a minute quilts could be made from them, but I don’t have the interest nor will I live long enough! If you think about it, there are the equivalent of many yards of fabric in here (the contents are quite compacted).

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Now, feeling quite accomplished, I can proceed to finish a project or two!

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Posted in Color, Fabric, Organization, Quilting, Scraps and tagged Quilting, Scraps. Bookmark the permalink.

Back from A Retreat

Posted on February 8, 2019 by heARTs Creations

Talk about fun! There might have been more laughter than sewing! Thankfully, there was a lot of sewing on my part. As usual, I brought more projects than I could possibly have worked on. Just in case I have a problem with a project, or if I should get bored with a project, or if I miraculously finish a project, I’ll have another to keep me busy. This was a “Featherweight Lovers” retreat, so we all brought our Featherweight machines. Although not a FW, Dee Dee’s Singer was an absolute beauty and I love her elegant setting with a table lamp!

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I actually worked on three projects at once. First, was my leader-ender with 2 1/2″ squares finishing as sixteen patches. Second, for the “I Spy” I am doing, I did “square in a square” for the five inch cut picture squares. Simultaneously, I sewed parts of the project using the Egyptian fabric. Only one complete block to show, but quite a bit done on the others. Update: Corrected block. There were 3 pieces turned the wrong way – this is meant to be a star!

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ALL the “I Spy” squares are now a square in a square. I set them all out and pinned – now I just need to sew together. I did need a few more and I have such awesome quilting buddies – I now have all I need. Thank you!!

And finally, my sixteen patch leader ender. I set out these blocks because that is just so much fun. A few of my 1 1/2″ strips happened to get onto one of the blocks and EUREKA! I knew I had to use them for sashings. I ran out of long enough strips, but did manage to get this much together. A little wild, but I love it. After I’ve added the other sashed blocks, I’ll work out a border – maybe I’ll have another happy accident!

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Lots of great sewing done by the other retreaters. Here are just a few: Pam’s scrappy and her batik (borders to be added) –

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Jennie’s charms and stars – I love those colors –

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Janet’s Sunbonnet Sue. The setting is delightful. And how about her tiny pieces from her ongoing leader-enders?

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Seatta loves to do the Bonnie Hunter quilts –

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There were so many more that did not, unfortunately, make it into my camera. Very inspirational group. AND, an intensely fun group!

A big Thank You to Debbie for planning this fun and memorable retreat!

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Posted in block pattern, Color, Featherweight, Projects, Quilt Setting, Quilting, Quilting Retreat and tagged projects, Quilting, Scraps. Bookmark the permalink.

Scraps, Scraps & More Scraps!!

Posted on January 23, 2019 by heARTs Creations

This is a song every quilter I know sings! “They multiply on their own” is definitely a favorite phrase. I was looking through my scrap bins – they are separated by color. One bin is all Kaffe scraps. Hmmm…I feel like I’ve been looking at these same scraps forever now. I’ve never used one of the many “scrap saver systems” that others use, but wanted to do something to empty these bins and start fresh. So….out came the studio Sizzix and the Big Kick.

I cut many of the larger pieces into two and one-half inch strips.

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Then I cut more of the larger pieces into one and one-half inch strips.

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Finally, I cut scraps into bunches of two and one half inch squares. The squares are now leaders-enders for a scrap quilt. How quickly they get put together this way! The 2 1/2″ strips will sleep in their bin for a while. I will use them for scrappy quilts and will most likely be for Hospice donations.

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I’ve wanted a simple straight stitch project to be at my Featherweight now resting comfortably in its new home. That’s what I’m using the 1 1/2″ strips for. I scored a great deal on very light weight interfacing (only 39 cents a yard! Hello 15 yards!) and am using it for a base for string blocks. Oh how I love the way the Featherweight sews. This is the perfect project for when I just don’t feel like thinking – mindless sewing. Very therapeutic!

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Lots of fun sewing ahead. Now, if I could just figure out how to survive on less sleep!

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Posted in charity quilts, Color, Fabric, Hospice Quilts, Organization, Projects, Quilting, Scraps and tagged projects, Quilting, Scraps. Bookmark the permalink.

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