We're in the process of updating our website and have combined our blog and the website into one.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
We've moved!
Posted by Mary Johnson at 1:53 AM 2 comments
Friday, August 14, 2009
Happy Blocks
Posted by Mary Johnson at 12:53 AM 1 comments
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
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!
Posted by Mary Johnson at 12:07 AM 0 comments
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
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.
Posted by Mary Johnson at 4:39 PM 1 comments
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
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!)
Mark your calendars and come to the wonderful Wisconsin countryside to see some HeartStrings friends and have a great sewing day.
Posted by Mary Johnson at 3:12 PM 1 comments
Monday, June 29, 2009
A soldier quilt by JoAnne
Posted by Mary Johnson at 1:35 PM 2 comments
Sunday, June 21, 2009
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.
- 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
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!
Posted by Mary Johnson at 5:11 PM 2 comments
Saturday, May 30, 2009
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.Posted by Mary Johnson at 3:00 PM 4 comments
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
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
Posted by Mary Johnson at 2:13 PM 0 comments
Monday, May 4, 2009
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.
Posted by Mary Johnson at 10:50 AM 1 comments
Sunday, April 19, 2009
QAYG
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.
Posted by Mary Johnson at 10:16 AM 0 comments
Hanne's been busy
Posted by Mary Johnson at 1:14 AM 1 comments
Friday, April 17, 2009
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.
Posted by Mary Johnson at 9:15 PM 1 comments
Saturday, April 4, 2009
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.
Posted by Mary Johnson at 2:28 PM 0 comments
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.
Posted by Mary Johnson at 2:14 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
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.
Posted by Mary Johnson at 5:47 PM 1 comments