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HeartStringsQuiltProject.com

Happy Blocks

Do you remember the Happy Block project we started back in January and February? Well we're still making and finishing quilts in fact I put the last stitch in the binding of one tonight and I was excited to read the email from Sue about her group. She wrote:

When I saw this site with the happy block quilts, I linked it to the leader of our Sarasota KIDZ Quilts group and we have been making dozens of them for 2 months now!! We donate all of them to the NICU of the Sarasota hospital...and they are so appreciated.

She sent along some photos and I chose a few to share here.

Northwest Sew-in photos

I'm late getting these photos posted from the last HeartStrings Sew-in which was held on the 26th of June in the Seattle area. Doesn't it look like fun? The next one will be held in Roberts, WI so plan to join us!

More donations

Nine HeartStrings tops arrived today from Sue and her Oroville/Chico California group which has been meeting once a month since January. They'll be quilted and donated by me and other HeartStrings volunteers in the coming months.

I'm constantly amazed at the generosity of quilters who have participated in HeartStrings over the last 2 and a half years and I love the grassroots effect of the project with quilters working on their own within their communities and groups to make these quilts for those in need.

An upcoming sew-in ---- Roberts, WI

The Roberts Sew-in is August 22, a Saturday, from 8:30 until about 3 (we stop a little early so we can visit a local quilt shop on the way home!)

We'll do the usual potluck lunch. Bring your sewing equipment and we'll make blocks and quilts and have a great time. There is a database set-up on our Yahoo list so we can see what others are bringing for food and sewing equipment - you don't need to belong to that group to attend -- just email Kathy to let her know what you'll be bringing and for directions.

We'll be at the Warren Town Hall just outside the village of Roberts.

Mark your calendars and come to the wonderful Wisconsin countryside to see some HeartStrings friends and have a great sewing day.

Email Kathy (kwmiller@pressenter.com) privately for directions. It's easy to find.

A soldier quilt by JoAnne

Here's a gorgeous QAYG HeartStrings quilt made by JoAnne.

To learn how to make one of your own, take a look at Jan Mac's tutorials.

Making Quilt as you Go blocks

Assembling Quilt as you Go blocks into a quilt

Visit JoAnne's blog.

String Quilt Inspiration

In addition to our typical HeartStrings quilt, many patterns can be adapted for use with strings. I've compiled a list of inspirational links from HeartStrings members and readers of my blog to share with you.

Don't forget to take a look at the HeartStrings Photo Albums for even more inspiration!

• String Pinwheels from Kathie's blog
• Fruit Striped Gum string quilt from Cherri
• Pink & Purple Candy Stripes by Helen
• Chinese Coins variation from One Mother of a Blog
• Green Strings by Wanda
• Heart Quilt by Wanda
• Easter Quilt by Wanda
• String X by Bonnie
• String Quilt Primer by Bonnie
• Virginia Bound by Bonnie
• Diamonds in a Square by Bonnie
• Cinnamon Jumble by Nancy
• Strip mine quilts (scroll down the page to see several versions)
• Red Zinger quilt from the Selvage Blog
• Framed Butterflies from Kathie's Blog
• Bouillabais from Pie in the Sky Quilts
• Rainy Day Quilt by Ann-Marie
• Quilt Bug Gallery -- all made with 2.5 inch strips but could be adapted to strings.
• Pam's M Quilt
• Pam's Star Quilt
• Pam's St. Patrick's Day Quilt
• Pam's version of our HeartStrings logo quilt designed by Forest Jane
• String Pinwheels by Knitnoid
• Ruthie's String Fish Aquarium
• String Pieced Spools from the book Spectacular String Pieced Quilts
• Dianne's quilt for Katie Rose
• A string quilt by Belle Quilts - notice she doesn't have a particular color center string like our HeartStrings blocks but it still looks great
• A HeartStrings Quilt by Spicy Shots in a GREAT colorway
• A String quilt by Film in the Fridge in black/white/green
• A String Rail Fence by Olearia1968
• String quilts from Hanne
• String Rain by Arizona Quilts
• Sara's String Stars
• String Quilt Gallery
• Endless Chain
• Patriotic String quilts by Gypsy Quilter
• Rainbow Strings by Cheri
• Another Rainbow by Cheri
• Blue & Orange Strings by Cheri
• String Stars from Julie in the Barn
• Mountains of Crumbs from Julie in the Barn
• Ami Simms String Quilt Gallery
• Fan Quilt from the Selvage Blog
• Maple Island Quilts - some contemporary string quilt patterns.
• String quilt from Victoriana

I got a lot of Flickr links emailed to me and rather than listing them all here, I'll link to a Flickr search for String Quilts -- check it out there's lots of good inspiration there.

And finally, some links from my own quilts. These quilts have instructions sheets posted on my website in case you want to give them a try.

String Tumblers
Amish Stripes and Strings
Chinese Coins with Coins border
Chinese Coins - Easy version
Chinese Coins - Easy version #2
Chinese Coins ~ Uneven Version
Strings ~ Half Square Strings
Strings ~ Patriotic Star
Strings ~ Purple Project Quilt #1
Strings ~ Purple Project Quilt #2
Strings ~ Rectangle Strings
Strips and Strings Log Cabin
Strings ~ Hearts

This Coins quilt doesn't have instructions but it's based on a quilt by Karla Alexander on the cover of this book.

Here's my String Courthouse Steps quilt based on one by Sandy Bonsib on the cover of this book.

This is my HeartStrings quilt with green centers -- instructions are available here and here's my Pink version. As you can see, our typical HeartStrings quilts can be adapted to just about any color scheme and still look great!

Creative Quilters - AZ

I received an email from Mary today sharing this gorgeous HeartStrings group made by her group. She wrote:

I just wanted you to know how much good the heartstrings pattern has done. The picture included in this e-mail is of a quilt that our group did earlier this year. We live in a retirement community and our visitor’s center need to raise some funds, so we decided to make this quilt and let them raffle it off. It was such a delightful project. All the ladies made the blocks, one lady sewed the blocks together, I quilted it, and another lady did the binding. It was really a group effort.

Thank you for all you do.

Mary Holland

Creative Quilters

Sun City, AZ

You can find instructions for making your own HeartStrings quilt at this link.

Tying a HeartStrings Quilt

At our Nebraska sew-in, Jay shared how he learned to tie a quilt from his grandmother. I'd been interested in posting instructions on tying HeartStrings quilts so I took the opportunity to take photos and create a tutorial.

How to Tie a HeartStrings Quilt

Julia and Sheree pose with the finished quilt.

Sew-ins

We had back to back sew-ins in MN and NE and worked on assembling the Happy Blocks sent in from all over during our January and February project. Eight tops were assembled and sent home with quilters and even more block sets were taken home with members to be assembled, quilted, and donated.

Thank you so much for participating -- there will be many very cute quilts for kids finished in the coming months as a result of your generosity.

Click on the links below to:

See photos from the MN sew-in on April 25th

See photos from the NE sew-in on May 2nd

Look at our completed quilts for 2009 to see finished happy blocks as well as other quilts finished so far this year.

QAYG

From Kathie's blog

We've been making Quilt as you Go blocks to send to Australia but it's a great technique if you want to try it yourself.

Jan Mac created a tutorial for making the blocks and a Part 2 for assembling them.

Hanne's been busy

Check her blog to see her recent progress.

Chinese Coins variations

Becky's working with RWB coins donated by HeartStrings members and is trying a new setting. Chinese Coins quilts are great because you can use up those short strings.


Becky also has a tutorial for another great coins quilt and there are instructions for several quilts at my MaryQuilts.com site.

Quilts for Hospice

Kathie recently shared this bright, happy HeartStrings quilt on her blog. Visit her to read about the project she's working on to make quilts for her local hospice.

In memory of Marilyn Gossen

A donation was made by Linda in memory of her friend Marilyn. It was a thoughtful way to remember a quilter by helping to provide quilts to those in need.

For those that would like to participate in HeartStrings, visit our website to see how you can help.

QAYG project for AUS

Are you making QAYG blocks to send to Australia for those effected by the bushfires? If so, you might be interested in this blog that shares the quilts being made, collected, and donated.

Oz Comfort Quilts

If you'd like to help - join us in making QAYG blocks in March and April. We'll collect them and mail them to Jan Mac, a HeartStrings member who will asssemble them.

This week

March 21st -- Las Vegas -- The Las Vegas Quilters will be working on some HeartStrings projects during their sew-in and welcome other quilters.

They will be sewing for St. Judes Ranch new group home for unwed mothers -- contact Tonie at TONIEGK@aol.com

QAYG blocks

Although we'll be sending the QAYG blocks to Jan Mac unassembled, Maxine shared this tutorial from Keryn Emmerson showing how to assemble these blocks by machine.

For those of you making these and donating them locally, I hope the link is helpful.

Keryn's tutorial

A special project for March & April

Now that we've finished up our Happy Block project, if you're interested in making some Quilt as you Go blocks to send to Australia for quilts for those affected by the bushfires, you can find the information here:

Jan Mac's QAYG tutorial

Tutorial for assembling blocks into a quilt

Sue will be collecting and sending these together to save some postage costs so if you make them, email me for the mailing address at mmcjohnson@gmail.com .

As always, we accept blocks made according to the guidelines all through the year so feel free to make up a batch of these too!

Alycia's QOV Goal - 400 Quilts

Are you following Alycia's quest to donate 400 Quilts of Valor in May 2009? She works with students to make these quilts and with this ambitious goal this year has been getting help from HeartStrings members and many other quilters.

She recently spoke to a group and her project was mentioned in the local paper.

Australia - helping out

There are plenty of ways to help those affected by the bush fires in Victoria but we're quilters right? So lets make some blocks.

Jan Mac is a HeartStrings member who will be collecting quilt as you go string blocks for assembling and donating. She's posted a tutorial on her site if you'd like to help her out and send some blocks.

I've got strings -- I've got batting leftovers -- I'm going to make some to send.

You can contact Jan Mac at janmac@mcmedia.com.au

Do you want to attend a Sew-in?

The MN/WI group has been getting together since our first year and now more groups are starting to coordinate Sew-ins in their area. Here are the current ones scheduled. For more information email the contact person or Mary at mmcjohnson@gmail.com.

March 21st -- Las Vegas -- The Las Vegas Quilters will be working on some HeartStrings projects during their sew-in and welcome other members. They will be sewing for St. Judes Ranch new group home for unwed mothers -- contact Tonie at TONIEGK@aol.com

April 25th - Virginia is hosting at Hope Christian Church in Shoreview, MN.

May 2nd - Jay and Julia are hosting in Fremont, Nebraska. Contact Jay at gap_number_02@yahoo.com

June 27 - Cindy & Mary H are coordinating in Seattle, Washington. Contact Mary H at maryhopkins39@yahoo.com

August 22 - Kathy & Rhonda are hosting in Roberts, WI

SF Bay Area (Date TBA) - contact Cynthia H. at QuiltTechEd@comcast.net if you'd like to participate

Dawn's scrap quilting class

Earlier this week Dawn gave a talk about scrap quilting at a free community Library Quilt Show in Shelley, Idaho.During her talk, she also shared information about HeartStrings. Here is what she wrote to us:

They LOVED the heartstrings quilts. I gave them the link to join us,on my handout and told them about all of you. I told them all the great and easy ways that they could be a part of Heartstrings. Sue sent me three completely different quilts with different looks so that I could teach and quilt them for charity - they were really impressed with how wonderful the quilts looked.)

Dawn is a member of HeartStrings and a longarm quilter; she has an excellent quilting DVD (yes, you can quilt her designs on your domestic machine too) and I have used her designs on many of the HeartStrings quilts I've finished in the last year.

Thanks to Julia for sending me the photo and you can see a couple of Julia's recent string quilts on her blog.

Make a Blanket Day

Project Linus National Make a Blanket Day, February 21, 2009 is almost here! Just a reminder that this is the day that Project Linus chapter volunteers and blanketeers across the country celebrate Project Linus with special blanketmaking events.

Please check with you local chapter to see if an event is being planned in your area,
or set a goal to make a blanket to be donated to your local chapter by February 21. Project Linus is very flexible -- whatever works for you and your schedule. Keep in mind that depending on weather and local circumstances, the local chapters may have an alternate day of celebration in your area.

We hope that you will honor this day by making a blanket for Project Linus or by helping at a blanketmaking event in your area.

To find a Project Linus Chapter near you, check out
http://www.projectlinus.org.

Thank you!


Here are a few ideas to get you started!

Happy Blocks

Quick Strippie

String Quilt

Twisted Happy Blocks

Dragonflies

Fish

Roman Stripes

Happy Block Quilts

Here are two Happy Block quilts by Mary Hopkins - finished and ready to donate. She added borders to hers but they look equally good without.

Happy Blocks - are you making them?

We're continuing to work on our Happy Blocks and Happy Block Quilts through the end of February and I've heard people comment that they either don't have a variety of novelty fabrics or don't have a variety of framing fabrics so here are a couple ideas.

Jessica used the same fabric for all her centers. (photo linked from her site)


LauraJean used just two fabrics for framing her blocks.

So you can see, even with limited fabric choices, these quilts can be really successful.

Happy Block Instructions

Martin Luther King Day

Looking for something to do on MLK Day (January 19th)?? Go visit Cheri's blog and read her suggestion.

Darlene's first HeartStrings quilt

Made with red centers, Darlene recently posted her first HeartStrings quilt that will be donated to an orphanage in Tanzania.

Instructions for making a HeartStrings quilt.

The beginning of a new year!

We started out our 3rd year of service making Happy Blocks. They're a departure from our usual string blocks but every now and then we like a new challenge.

If you'd like to join in, we'll be collecting blocks for use in group quilts through February and you can find the guidelines are the link below.

Happy Blocks for HeartStrings

Take a look below at some of the blocks and tops being made by HeartStrings members.

This set has all cat prints.

I love the graphic black and white of this top.

Here's a *manly* set from Lori.

And a twisted version.