Tag Archives: UFOs

Batik Party!!

Posted on December 28, 2016 by heARTs Creations

batik-party-4-heartscreations-large Love, love, love batiks – and I have four bins of batiks to prove it! A while back I decided to do a scrappy batik after having seen a quilt a member of my guild did using scraps. I started this quilt at a quilt camp (here) I attended in October and finally got back to it at home last month. It is totally scrappy – no plan with colors and was done as a “leader-ender” project. Although the pieces are somewhat small, it finished rather quickly.

I was happy with it, but once I hung it outside – Wow! That’s when I fell in love with it! This Batik Party is a fun year-end finish.

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Today I’m linking up with:

NTT at My Quilt Infatuation

Let’s Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts

WIPs on Wednesday, Esther Aliu’s blogspot

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Posted in Art, block pattern, Color, Fabric, Pattern, Projects, Quilt Setting, Quilting, Scraps and tagged Color, Patterns, projects, Quilting, Quilts, Scraps, UFOs. Bookmark the permalink.

Red, Black & White Finish

Posted on December 21, 2016 by heARTs Creations

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Put together, these are three dramatic colors. It’s pretty obvious why I named this one “Planetary.” Actually, hubby named it per my request. There was a lot of arranging and rearranging of strips on the design wall before sewing together. Then there was deciding where to join the strips. It was a bit challenging and a lot of fun. Mostly, I worked from my stash. I just happened to have a design roll of black and white fabrics which helped a lot. I didn’t need big pieces of reds, so those came from my scrap bins. I did sew all the circles on by hand, but looking back I could have easily fused them. I do like the turned edges though. For the back I used up large pieces. And yes, I do still have black and white fabrics and some reds. They just never go completely away, do they? (Pattern from Victoriana Quilt Designs)

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I’m all ready for Christmas, so I’ll probably have time for another finish, maybe two. Must admit, though, bindings are becoming just a bit tedious! Fortunately, having a project finish outweighs that by quite a bit!

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I know not everyone has a busy, busy schedule during the holidays, and maybe you’ll be enjoying some great sewing time. Others will have a packed schedule with friends and family. Ours is somewhat in between, but on a grand scale: quiet. Sewing with Christmas music playing will be much enjoyed. Wishing you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

NOTE: There is still room in the Quilt & Sew-In Fall II – Please join me for a really fun time!

Today I’m linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts and My Quilt Infatuation. Hop on over to see all the great works!!

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Posted in Applique, Color, Design Wall, Fabric, Pattern, Projects, Quilt Setting, Quilting, Scraps, Stash and tagged Binding, Color, Fabric, Patterns, projects, Quilting, Quilts, Retreat, Retreats, Scraps, Sewing, UFOs. Bookmark the permalink.

WHEW!! Quilt & Sew-In Retreat Fun

Posted on November 14, 2016 by heARTs Creations

WARNING – Lots of pics and lots of fun!!

Fall 2016 Quilt & Sew-In Retreaters (minus 2) – Fabulous Group!!

So much to tell about the Fall Quilt & Sew-In Retreat in Blowing Rock, NC – SO much fun! Of course, I can’t share everything because of course, “What happens at retreat, stays at retreat!” How fortunate to have the best ladies to come and join in on the creativity and fun together. Lots of sewing, lots of laughs, learning new techniques and tricks, meeting new friends, catching up with old friends and more inspiration than I could handle!

The retreat was once again held at the Meadowbrook Inn – a beautiful and very comfortable boutique hotel in Blowing Rock, NC.

Take a peek inside our retreat:

Susan was the queen of chain piecing!

Susan’s square in a squares

Significance of this quilt – tells a life story

Precise and organized piecing

Beverly’s “Sunshine” quilt – she donated it as a Hospice quilt!!

“You’re interrupting my sewing!” This was one prolific piecer!

Janet’s quilt block

Made into this amazing quilt top!

Cindy’s really working her jewel tone piecing.

Sandra was very happy with her win!

This was one hard working group.

So much to do!!

Sandy won one of the the fat quarter left-right games!

Birthday girl – oops – didn’t get a pic ’til the cupcake was all gone!

Anna’s whale – Sara generously made it into a paper pieced pattern and taught her how to paper piece – don’t you just love quilters’ generosity?!!

Beverly really worked these curves

Cindy won the charity quilt block first place prize – a whole quilt kit!

Jean came in second with a Fat Quarter Shop gift certificate.

Jean’s flannel quilt for hubby – a few years in the making.

Sandra quilting blocks of the month.

A few of Sandra’s blocks put together.

Sandy’s table topper – hate that this pic is fuzzy – it’s really so pretty.

Sara’s crazy colorful tumblers

Sara’s trial experiment – she’s on her way!

Vonnie’s very creative art quilt.

Oops – a little unsewing. Won’t say who, because we all probably did some of this.

Very interesting design.

Nell’s big quilt as you go

Judy’s creative quilt block.

My dragonfly quilt top – lots of buttonhole stitching to do!

Whew! What a Whirlwind!!

Posted on October 31, 2016 by heARTs Creations

Beautiful Colors in the NC Mountains

Travel – love it and am so glad that I am now free to do so. But this summer has been a crazy whirlwind! I flew to Chicago for a few days, then a week at the beach in Georgia. I enjoyed 4 days in the NC mountains for a quilt camp, turned around and flew to upstate NY for a special wedding. Now, next week is the Quilt & Sew-In in Blowing Rock, NC. I am so super excited and mostly prepared, but I’ll enjoy the anticipation so much more when I finally catch up on the evil necessity that is laundry.

Barn Quilt at Quilt Camp – Perfect!!

For camp I prepared a leader-ender project which is now in the finishing stages. I want always to have one of these projects prepped because sewing two quilts at once is so much better than just one! This is a scrappy block. A fellow quilter at guild had done one and I immediately had to have the pattern. I have bins of batiks so it was a no brainer to go with batik.

Sewing away at Quilt Camp!

Just had to get one block done just to see it!

Blocks all complete and on the design wall! The sewing plan for the day is to get them all sewn together with the “spacer” blocks, press, trim, and border. I am really, really pumped – can you tell?!

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I want to finish this top today so tomorrow I can begin prep for the projects I’ll be taking to the Quilt & Sew-In. They I really, really need to get a few quilt tops ready for the long arm quilter!

What I’m Working On

Posted on October 12, 2016 by heARTs Creations

backyard-ferns

Beautiful weather here in the Piedmont of NC! Where I live, we were very fortunate – only some much needed rain from Hurricane Matthew, no flooding or downed trees. The clear sunny skies and high 60’s moved me outdoors to do some much needed yard work. Ughhh! For years I spent sunup to sundown digging, planting and weeding. That passion has been replaced with sewing! After a few hours of that and a bit of housework ( double Ughhh!), I headed for the sewing studio.

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Both design walls now have something on them. The first is a postage stamp wall hanging that I’ve wanted to do for some time using Kaffe fabrics. And yes, the squares are one inch finished. It looks pretty skihawed because the rows are not sewn together and it’s on the wall a bit crooked. More neutral squares need to be added to the end of all the rows and then the rows sewn together. This one is done in more of a colorburst style, grouping like colors. I have a pretty cool border planned but the math needs to be done first. “Oh Hubby – you are needed for quilt math detail!”

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The second is a background for a wall hanging. I have an applique in mind but haven’t gotten it designed yet. It too will have a border. This project was started years ago and every time I pulled it out, back into it’s project box it went. Not sure why, but it spoke to me this week and have been sewing on it quite a bit. Still no empty project boxes, but projects have been completed and progress is being made.

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Posted in Applique, block pattern, Color, Design Wall, Fabric, Pattern, Projects, Quilt Setting, Quilting, Scraps, Stash and tagged Blocks, Borders, Color, Fabric, garden, projects, Quilt, Quilts, Scraps, Sewing, UFOs. Bookmark the permalink.

Organization – Fun labels!

Posted on September 18, 2016 by heARTs Creations

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Just got back from a week at beautiful Jekyll Island, Georgia, so no sewing to show for this past week. I did a little applique work and knitting while there, but mostly bicycling and enjoying the ocean. I have, however, labeled all my bins and project boxes in my studio. Do you know about chalkboard labels and chalk pens? I didn’t until my daughter suggested I use them in my sewing studio. I was like a kid in a toy shop when they arrived. I purchased a pack of 45 – plenty, right? Wrong! I’ll be needing a few more to complete the process.

Now all my supply/fabric bins are clearly labeled. For the few wire bins I have, I just cut a strip to fit across the top of the bin. The liquid chalk pen is so easy to write with.

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The project boxes are now not only clearly labeled, but they look nice too! When a project is complete, I can just erase and write a new project name.

I know, I know, lots of projects!!

Admittedly, I am a bit organization obsessive, but like it even better when it’s easy and looks good!

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Posted in Applique, Fabric, Organization, Projects, Quilting, Sewing Tools, Tips and tagged projects, Quilting, Sewing, UFOs. Bookmark the permalink.

Strips Make Quick Work!

Posted on September 10, 2016 by heARTs Creations

This is my second quilt with this fabric line. The first was gifted and my guess this one will go into my quilt collection or may very well be a gift to someone in the future.

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I started out by cutting 2 1/2″ strips using my Big Kick Pro. I used to be such a snob about these cutting machines, but now eat my words. Not only do they make quick work of what can sometimes be a tedious chore, they make totally accurate cuts! No more slipping an eighth of an inch and saying not so nice words in frustration. I used a quilt pattern I found on You Tube with Three Dudes. This was quick, fun and didn’t require a whole lot of thinking. I love to sprinkle these kinds of quilts among my other projects. Mindless sewing can be so therapeutic!

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If you have journeyed with me on my quilt adventures, you know I’m all about the borders. A plain white border sets off the center of the quilt nicely. Wanting to keep the pieced border simple, I just sewed strips, cut them, and pieced them into the long borders. Here’s something new I am beginning to do with these pieced borders: an eighth of an inch on each side I am sewing a seam, much like stay stitching in garment sewing. (The seams appear wavy because the fabric is not laying flat.) Now the seams stay closed when I work with the border and when the quilt top is quilted! This is another top for the “to be quilted” pile (you know, the one I never wanted to start to begin with.)

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Posted in block pattern, Color, Design Wall, Fabric, Pattern, Projects, Quilt Setting, Quilting, Stash, Tips and tagged Borders, Color, Fabric, Patterns, projects, Quilt, Quilting, Quilts, Sewing, stash, UFOs. Bookmark the permalink.

September Already? August Roundup

Posted on September 3, 2016 by heARTs Creations

Summer just started – didn’t it? Now September is here and I’m thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas! The time between now and the end of the year always goes so quickly for me. Nooooo, slow down!

Pinwheel top (Large)

I have been sewing – some days I’m so on task and really enjoying myself. Other days I just sort of piddle. A while back I asked for advice on borders for this pinwheel quilt. I love the fabric, although it’s not what you usually see me work with. After days and days of playing with combinations, nothing worked. I thought a ribbon border might work. Then I realized the real issue. I was not passionate about this quilt and not willing to spend the effort doing a complex border. I cut strips, sewed and voila! Done! And, I really like it! Off to the “to be quilted” pile. I don’t like having that pile, I want them finished pronto – but hey, I’m being realisitic. Can’t do it all! ALl in all, a productive and fun month.

Scrapbuster Sunday – Scrap Rugs!

Posted on August 20, 2016 by heARTs Creations

Scrap Crochet Rug (Large)

My great scrap adventure continues. Actually, it’s more like a great video game that I think I am losing! A huge amount of scraps went into this project (I first posted about this project here) and it was fun and easy. A scrap crocheted rug! I cut strips of scraps, 1 1/2″ wide, choosing my longest scraps. I then chain pieced them together. I did several batches. I have seen that some press the strips in half – hah! Not going to happen. Some roll the “fabric yarn” into a ball. Double Hah! Not going to happen. By making several batches instead of one large one, it was quite manageable. I crocheted a chain of 25 stitches, then single crocheted. This first rug was not planned with color at all, until I did the last round around the whole rectangle, for which I chose yellows. I love all the color fun going on in this rug! It now lays colorfully on the guest bathroom floor.

Crochet scrap rug round

I liked it so much it was a no brainer to do another! This one is more planned – yellows, gold and browns. And this one is round. I really enjoyed crocheting it in a circle. It’s 24 inches diameter and may need a few more rows added to it. I’ll live with it a while and then decide.

AND…drum roll…no more yellow scraps! Of course, I am sure to need some soon for another project (Is “Quilter’s Law” something like “Murphy’s Law?!”)

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Posted in Art, Color, Crochet, Pattern, Projects, Scraps, Uncategorized and tagged Color, Crochet, Fabric, projects, Scraps, UFOs. Bookmark the permalink.

Workin’ It Wednesday – Border Dilema

Posted on July 20, 2016 by heARTs Creations

Pinwheel quilt

Leftover blocks from a split pinwheel quilt last year, so I sewed them up for another quilt top. I’m all about the borders lately, and don’t want to just “plain” border it again, which would be the easiest way to do it. I made some smaller pinwheels and am auditioning a couple of possibilities. Oy – what to do. A very thin red border and then the pinwheels on point with white print setting triangles? Or just the pinwheels with the white print and no separating border? WHAT should I do??? I need a quilt fairy on my shoulder advising me!

Pinwheels on point Border with white Border with red strip

I’ll need to live with this on the design wall for a few days and hopefully the bolt of lightening will hit me. Actually, I shouldn’t use that as we really did get hit with lightening last week. A huge tree was destroyed, telephones fried as well as our garage door opener. Yes, we’re fine, just experiencing some stress. I’ll just immerse myself in sewing – one of the best destressers I have (except when trying to decide borders!)

This is just the “threatening limb” that was hanging from the tree and had to be removed. The limb alone was a pretty impressive size.

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Posted in block pattern, Color, Design Wall, Fabric, Pattern, Projects, Quilt Setting, Quilting, Stash and tagged Borders, Color, Fabric, Patterns, Pinwheels, projects, Quilt, Quilting, stash, UFOs. Bookmark the permalink.

heARTS Creations

Tag Archives: UFOs

Batik Party!!

Red, Black & White Finish

WHEW!! Quilt & Sew-In Retreat Fun

Whew! What a Whirlwind!!

What I’m Working On

Organization – Fun labels!

Strips Make Quick Work!

September Already? August Roundup

Scrapbuster Sunday – Scrap Rugs!

Workin’ It Wednesday – Border Dilema

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