Where do you find inspiration?

Have you been browsing through the new HeartStrings Blog Ring? Here are some recent quilts posted by members.

From my blog, Half String Hearts. An instruction sheet for making this quilt is available on my MaryQuilts.com site.

On Becky's blog, a Funky Caterpillar quilt from RWB coins donated by HeartStrings members. She also wrote instructions for this quilt and shared them.

Ruthie shared a chinese coins quilt that she dressed up with buttons and yo-yo's.

If you are a HeartStrings quilter and have a blog, you can join our blog ring.

Let's go Green for Guys

After getting some input from HeartStrings members who attended the WI/MN area sew-in August 2nd, I chose Green for Guys as our special project for September and October 2008.

Think guy quilts as you create HeartStrings blocks using a center green strip. Use the guidelines and remember to replace the center red or blue strip with a 2 inch green strip.

Make one block, a set of 48, or anything in between. Email me for the address to mail blocks.

HeartStrings Blog Ring

Click on the logo to view the blogs of HeartStrings quilters.

HeartStrings members and bloggers - don't forget to sign up for the new HeartStrings blog ring.

Variations

Every now and then it's fun to try something different. Here are a couple fun string quilt variations from HeartStrings members.

Melva's quilt uses a block with strings in just half of the block - doesn't the sashing add a lot to this quilt too?

Lori's quilt uses light and dark strings on each side of her center rather than mixing them all up.

I'd heard rumors

I knew there were string Quilts of Valor in progress but what an amazing photo. Visit the Gypsy Quilter blog to check them out.

Donated tops

In addition to donations of string blocks made according to our guidelines, HeartStrings accepts completed tops. We quilt, bind, and donate these tops to local charities and I thought I'd share a few that I've finished up this week.

This top was pieced by Sue's Mom from blocks sent in by HeartStrings members.


We also accept non-string pieced tops like this one pieced by Deb in AZ.

This HeartStrings top was pieced by Barbara in FL.

This pretty pink string top was pieced by the quilters at St. Mary's in CT.


If you'd like to donated a completed top or volunteer to quilt and finish tops that have been donated, email me.

Donated strings

Our HeartStrings members have generously shared their strings with other members for use in HeartStrings quilts. Do you ever wonder where those donated strings go?Barbara, one of our members is currently piecing a String X quilt based on Bonnie Hunter's pattern.

So visit Barbara's blog and then click the HeartStrings link in her sidebar to visit other HeartStrings bloggers.

HeartStrings Blog Ring

At the request of several members, we now have a HeartStrings blog ring. If you participate in the project and have a blog, click the logo below to join the ring.

Alycia's Quilts of Valor Project

Alycia, a HeartStrings member, is a supporter and volunteer for Quilts of Valor making quilts for wounded soldiers. Her current goal is to collect 4oo quilts for 2009 to present to the wounded soldiers at Ft. Carson in CO and HeartStrings members are helping her out with blocks, tops, finished quilts, and pillowcases to present them.

This is one of two recent tops pictured on Alycia's blog sent by a Deborah another HeartStrings member. Visit Alycia's blog to read more about her efforts and to see the tops, quilts, and pillowcases being collected.


For information about how you can help email us.

A string heart for HeartStrings

Michele sent photos today of two of her recent HeartStrings quilts.

She writes "Most of the quilts I make make are just regular patterns (through my quilting group), my string quilting is usually patriotic to send on up to Madigan Army Hospital.  I just love string quilting and almost always have one in the pile for the days when it's too hot to think or I'm too tired for any precise cutting and measuring!" 

Don't you love seeing all the variations HeartStrings members come up with?

 

Visit Michele's blog.

Patriotic Quilts

Interested in creating a Patriotic Quilt to tour the US?

Judy Howard has put out a call for quilts 22 x 22 inches to be included in an exhibition that will tour the US for 3 years to "blanket America in Hugs for our Troops, Stitches of Comfort and to promote love of God and Country".

Click here for details.

RWB Chinese Coins

For those of you who participated in our RWB project from Memorial Day to July 4th, you might want to see the progress being made with the Chinese Coins you sent in.



Becky volunteered to receive the Chinese Coins sections and turn them into Quilts of Valor and here are the first two quilts in progress.

To keep up with her progress, visit Becky's blog.

WI/MN Sew-in

Did you join us yesterday and sew along at home?

Fourteen HeartStrings quilters met in Roberts, WI to work and play.

Join us for a Sew-in

If you're in the MN/WI area and want to join us in person in Roberts, Wisconsin for a HeartStrings sew-in on August 2nd, please contact Kathy at kwmiller@pressenter.com.

Otherwise, consider joining us in spirit and working on a donation quilt or HeartStrings blocks at home that weekend. Make sure to contact us and let us know what you're working on by emailing Mary.

Guidelines for HeartStrings blocks that can be sent in for group quilts.

It's not all strings

Tresica recently sent me some photos of quilts she made and donated locally. She wrote:

"After seeing the photo of my 365 blocks, a lady at the Skidaway United Methodist Church here in Savannah contacted me and told me about the quilts they were making.

I donated the twin quilt tops to the church to help the orphanage. The United Methodist Women are quilting any twin size quilt top donated to them. After completion they are given to the United Methodist Orphanage in Macon Georgia."

Tresica's photo with her blocks also inspired other HeartStrings members to start their own 365 block challenge.

Quilts for wounded soldiers

In honor of our Memorial Day, HeartStrings members worked on making blocks and Chinese coins sections that will be assembled into quilts for wounded veterans. We'll continue to make and collect both through July 4th.

If you're interested in joining us, you can find instructions for making RWB HeartStrings blocks by clicking this link.

If you'd rather make Chinese Coins sections, instructions can be found here.

For the mailing address for RWB blocks or RWB Chinese Coins sections, please email Mary at mmcjohnson@gmail.com

Are you getting ready to piece RWB blocks?

In preparation for making Red/White/Blue blocks on Memorial Day weekend, I've pulled my bins out and cutting foundation blocks will be next.

For guidelines for piecing the blocks check out this post from earlier this week.

Memorial Day Weekend

Won't you join us sometime during the Memorial Day weekend (May 23 - 26) to work on HeartStrings blocks or quilts that will go to our wounded and returning veterans?

You can either make HeartStrings blocks using just red/white/blue strings to send in for group quilts or work on your own quilt to be donated.

For blocks to be sent in, the following instructions should be used:

HEARTSTRING BLOCKS - to be pieced on a cotton fabric foundation; muslin or any cotton fabric can be used, if using dark or printed fabric foundations they shouldn't be visible through the strings pieced on top of it.

Please start with a foundation that is 10 inches square.

Using only Red/White/Blue strings, use a 2 inch BLUE string for the center and add strings on either side of the center strip until the entire foundation is covered. Refer to the above photo if you have any questions about how the block should look - you can click on the photo to see a larger view.

You may use strips of any width up to 3 inches wide in your blocks; you may use strips all the same width or a variety of different widths in each block. You can even use strips that are not a consistent width down their entire length if you wish.

You can use any 100% cotton Red/White/Blue fabric for your strips once you've got the blue starter strip in the center.

When you've covered the entire foundation, press it and then trim it back to 9 and 1/2 inches square.

Email me for the address to mail your finished block or to tell us what YOU are working on.

Mary Johnson at mmcjohnson@gmail.com

Sit back and enjoy the show

I've just finished updating our online album of quilts completed in 2008. As you'll note, some of our donation quilts are not string quilts. We have tops that are donated to us for finishing and sometimes group members make and donate non-string quilts themselves.

Adopt a Soldier

Fran, a HeartStrings member posted this request for help back in January.

A few weeks ago I pulled out the blocks from our summer block swap in anticipation of my son coming home from Iraq I started a quilt for him. The Family Readiness Coordinator from his unit explained that single soldiers come back from deployment to sterile looking rooms in the barracks, therefore upon arrival they like to make the rooms nice for the soldiers and they are allowed to have personal bedding. Most parents will adopt their own soldier and send bedding that will be put on the bed including comforters etc. I am making my son a quilt.

Because not every soldier has family or one that is in a position to provide one I am looking for r/w/b twin quilts for those who don't get adopted. I am expecting to be in Savannah end of March to meet them. These guys have passed the one year mark and it will be 15 months by the time they get back! (This is infantry so all guys)

With help, Fran was able to provide 27 quilts to returning soldiers and wrote:

I wish I had a picture of every soldier that was given a gift but so many so fast! You will see on their faces that it made their day. We gave every soldier that received a quilt a thank you, a quilt and welcome home. The young men who received the quilts did not have anyone there for them personally. It made my day, week, year! I hope all of you feel the same we all did something for someone who risked their lives! Again thanks everyone. Fran