AH-mazing Heart :: Another WIP Bites The Dust

I've made a bit of progress with my WIP's this past week.  I finished my Glam Clam top and made a scrappy backing for it (here), and glue basted a bunch of Drunkard Path blocks.  I started and finished a quilt that was made from placemat scraps (here).  And I finished a mini quilt.

AH-mazing Bias Tape Heart
15" x 15"

I started making bias tape maze hearts back in February.  It started with a big one (here) and a small one (here), and led to a third one and now...this one.  I wanted to try different widths of bias tape, different grid sizes, colors, techniques to see how each heart would change depending on what combination I went with.

  

After the first couple, I made a maze heart template.  I printed the template and centered it under the background fabric.  On my ironing board, I pinned through the fabric and template to secure both pieces together.  And then began to glue baste the bias tape down following the maze along the way.



I decided to try 1/4" bias tape for this heart.  Fussy cutting the strips with the X's centered on a 1/2" strip wasn't too bad!  They seemed to be made with 1/4" bias tape in mind!



Once the glue basting was finished, I could add borders.  Lot's of borders it seems!  It just happened...I kept going!

Heart Block:  9" x 9"
White Border:  3/4"
Blue Border:  1/4"
Magenta Border:  1/2" 
White & Low Volume Border:  2"  



I added a 'flanged' binding that or added interest and also because I thought it would look amazing!   When I do my flange, I cut strips that are 1" wide. I press wrong sides together and then sew it around the entire quilt.  Then I sew my 2 1/4" binding mitering the corners like usual. The flange sticks out about a 1/4" and it really does look good!



The back is a piece of fabric I've had forever.  I'm trying to use those misfit fabrics I have!  And to finish it off I did my usual technique for hanging corners.  I use my tutorial for Hanging Mini Quilts.



Quilting was very basic and simple.  I stitched around the edges as close as I could by adjusting my needle to the right and aligning my walking foot on the edge.  I used a matching magenta thread for that and in the ditch around the third border.  White thread was used for the rest of the quilting.  

I have come to the conclusion that 3/8" bias tape is the best width to use for this project.  If you take a look at the second bias heart I made (here), there is less space between the rows giving it a chunky, chubby look and I like that.  Using a template was a very good idea. It makes it so much easier to place each bias tape row.  However, you would have to use a light colored fabric so you are able to see the maze through it.  When gluing the bias tape down, the fabric has spots where it has stuck to the printed template.  It easily pulls off but may also pull off some of the template with it!

Now if I would only get this written in a pattern!  Would anyone be interested in such a thing?!

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Secret Surprises Are The Best!

I finally had a chance to work on a secret surprise for another unsuspecting person!  I started last year making little surprise quilts for a random people who have in one way or another been a part of my quilting journey.  I've said it more than once, quilty friends are the best.  If I can surprise one person and put a smile on their face, that makes me very, very happy! 

With a little time on my hands, I was able to finish a project I started a couple months ago. As with many of us, life can get crazy!  We go with it, we do what needs to be dealt with and patiently wait for the time to do what we really want to do!  Life!

Spirit Heart
17" x 15"

Let the fun begin!  I knew I was going to use every square inch of the red polka dot fat eight fabric.  I didn't want any small pieces left that would languish in a discarded pile.  

I cut 1" wide strips (just a tad less) of white and red fabric, and stitched each one together making one piece.  



The fun began when I cut this strip to make the tiny little square frame for the heart!  It isn't easy keeping something so small straight, but I did my best.



I had a few ideas for the border blocks which included half square triangles.  Thank you Bloc-Loc for making the task of trimming HST's so much easier and faster!  I can't imagine life without it!



I guess I should tell you the first blocks I decided to make were Mini Raspberry Kiss paper pieced blocks.  They are the cutest ever blocks ever!  The blocks finish at 2"...mini indeed...and it's a free pattern on Craftsy.  Click here for the pattern:  Mini Raspberry Kiss    

The size of the Kiss blocks determined the size of all the rest of the blocks in the border.  A few nine patch, geese, kisses and ribbon star blocks should get me the border I'm envisioning!   



Admittedly, it was a tough little border to work through!  But it came together and for the most part worked out.



I stitched all around the bias tape heart before quilting the rest of the mini.  The center is vertical lines that line up with the frame squares.



I wasn't sure about quilting in red thread for the background heart.  I was fully prepared to pull out the seam ripper if it didn't work.  Boy, am I glad it worked!!  



This will be in the mail in a couple days! Let's hope it surprises and puts a smile on the unsuspecting victim!

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Happy Valentine's Day :: I Couldn't Resist!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

The day of love, sweets, romance, chocolate, flowers, candy! 

It's probably too soon to share version two of my bias tape hearts...but it is Valentines Day after all!  A slightly different interpretation from Heart 1.

16" x 16"

This time I went smaller.  Instead of working with 1" grid, I decided to go with a 1/2" grid.  If you look at Heart 1, you will see it has more space in between the bias tape and the heart in more elongated. 

  

I starched the fabric this time, didn't use the fusible web tape and did not cut the fabric on the bias.  All three of those things...Home Run!!  It worked so much better!

I think I like this version best...so far!  I like a good chubby heart!

More match stick quilting with white and pink thread.  I like that with the light background you can clearly see the thread colors.

I'm not going to lie, I have plans for Heart #3.  I know...I'm 'beating' (beating ... heart ... pun intended) this idea to death!!  

What would it look like using a 3/4" grid?!  Plus, I need to get a secret surprise gift for another unsuspecting person.  I had so much fun with the few I did last year, I want to keep it up for 2017. With that in mind, wouldn't a pretty little heart be a nice surprise to receive?

Thank you for putting up with yet another heart...

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Electric Heart :: Bias Tape + Faux Trapunto

It wouldn't be February without a heart or two!  I've seen so many amazing heart projects the past few weeks that have inspired me to throw my hat in the ring as well!

20" x 21"

I first saw this image years ago on the television screen of all places!  As soon as I saw it, I thought "hmmm, that would be an interesting quilt'.  I paused the screen, took a picture and the image was saved.  I would revisit the image every now and again, waiting for that spark of inspiration to hit me but it never did.  Until recently...



I always thought I would figure out the code and piece a quilt, but the idea of bias tape came to mind and from there...the idea was born!

With the image printed, I marked a grid using 1" squares as my guide for when I place the bias tape.  

Bias tape, you ask?  It seemed like the perfect way to see this image become a reality.  I've tried bias tape one time with semi-success and was ready to give it one more try.



The 3/8" (9mm) Clover Bias Tape Maker was my weapon of choice for this project.  I revisited my lessons for 'Technicolor Galaxy' (which is my oldest WIP ever) and found the proper way to fold fabric so the strips are cut on the bias.  Trying to be proper here!  The strips were cut at 3/4" and sewn together for a very, very long strip.  



Now, this is the irritating, aggravating, frustrating part!  I should have used starch on my fabric first.  Second, I really didn't need my strips to be cut on the bias.  Bias cutting is great if you are doing curves, I am not, therefore why bother?!  

Also, you see that white strip?  That is bias tape fusible web, which is suppose to allow you to fuse the bias tape to your project, make it stick...my luck with that was a total bust!  A total waste of time!  I think my problem was my iron was too hot.  I didn't use steam, but I had the heat hot. I'm sure it works if you adhere it properly.  

In the end I took all the paper off and grabbed my glue!  



I grabbed my Moda Cross Weave fabric and began to mark a grid on it just like the photo. After pressing the horizontal and vertical lines, I used my Hera Marker to fill in with the 1" grid.

 

And the fun began!  Glue, bias tape, press and repeat.  You can see how the bias tape has a 'bump' and is not perfectly straight.  Starch...starch...starch and no fusible web or bias fabric cutting would have made all the difference.  

How do I know that?  I had to make another one, a smaller one and it was pretty dang perfect! I'll share that one when it's finished!



It took a lot of fiddling, fussing and rearranging at times and I did get confused.  I persisted because that's what women do...and the results were worth it.



Because I hadn't done my 'Faux Trapunto' method in a long time, I wondered if I could incorporate it into this piece.

One heart project that really inspired me I saw on Instagram.  Stephanie Ruyle @Spontaneousthreads is a great source on inspiration to me.  Her #lovemore quilt got me motivated to 'heart it out' too!

What I really wanted to say on my quilt was #shepersisted, I didn't think the heart was the right background for that.  Maybe one day.



  

I first quilted around the edges of the bias tape to make sure they were secure and now raw edges would pop out and then went with Match Stick quilting for the rest of this piece.  I ended up using a dark red, bright red, dark pink, light pink and grey thread.  


  
And yes, I did wash it!  I had to do it!  



The back uses my hanging method and the left over heart fabric.  The Heart fabric is Heavy Metal by Windham Fabrics which has a touch of gold metallic splotches on it.  



Have you tried bias tape on a quilt before?  What about bias tape adhesive?  What is the secret to applying the adhesive...I know I'm doing something wrong!

Hearts for Valentines are as old as dirt!  As is heart shaped boxes of candy!  Which frankly I love! All those little candies with sweet surprised inside of them!!

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Pattern Release {GIVEAWAY}

Dear Past, Thanks for all the lessons.  Dear Future, Bring it on!

Starting a New Year is a clean slate, a fresh start.  It's a time to make good on those pesky resolutions and goals, which I'll point out is something I have fallen short on for many years!  

But this year...I'm starting off with reaching a goal that has been my achilles heal!  I am releasing a pattern!  Finally...a goal met!  

You can find the pattern in my Craftsy Pattern shop as a PDF download here:  'Rainbow Heart Trio' .

RAINBOW HEART TRIO PATTERN

There's always time for hearts...or love...and even rainbows!  When you can combine all three together, it's a winning combination!

This is a beginner friendly quilt and can easily be made with scraps.  You could make these hearts rainbow with solids or rainbow with prints.  Or not rainbow at all!

You will end up with three quilts:  One large single heart, one large double heart and one small heart!

Dare I say Valentines Day is just around the corner (I'm pushing it)!  With three you can keep one for yourself, and share the other two with friends or family!  It's all about sharing the happiness!

This is a great pattern for those times when you want a quick finish, a fast gift or a fun project to make with little fuss!

15" x 15"

The double heart combines the best of both worlds!  Big & small!  And, it's a pretty good scrap buster to boot!

15" x 15"

The big hearts finish at 15" x 15", with a mini 6" x 6" sidekick!  

6" x 6"

This variation of the pattern features rainbow prints for the heart and low volume prints for the background.  All from my scrap pile!

  

I was very, very lucky and honored to have a couple pattern testers who took time away from the Holidays and family to make their version of the Rainbow Heart Trio.  Your going to be surprised at what they came up with!  I was!

Surprised, right?!!  I've had rainbows on my mind forever and never thought to go in the opposite direction!  

Photo courtesy of Sophie @ Luna Lovequilts

Sophie from Luna Lovequilts blew me away with the colors and fabrics!  Dare I say I want to make more just so I can uses different fabrics?!  I love that she took the pattern in this direction. It showed me this is a pretty versatile pattern limited only by your imagination! 

You can easily turn the pattern into a pillow just like Sophie did.  Wouldn't this set make a fun cluster of pillows?

Thank you Sophie!  You rocked this!  Please check out Luna Lovequilts blog too!  You don't know what your missing! 

Photo courtesy of Sarah @ Cedar Fork Stitches

Another example of WOW-ness!  Sarah from @ Cedar Fork Stitches, again who graciously volunteered and gave up her time, knocked my socks off with her take on the Trio!

Sarah took a different approach with the background fabric and hearts.  Two color families, two different backgrounds.  It never crossed my mind to mix it up like this, but it totally works!

I'm anxious to see how Sarah quilts these!  She mentioned there might be some hand quilting involved!  If any of you know Sarah, you know she is hilariously funny!  I know I can count on her to put a smile on my face with her wit and charm!  Her blog is well worth repeated visits and you can also find her on Instagram @cedarforksarah.  

The fun doesn't stop with the fabric or colors!  (there are coloring pages included in the pattern) The smaller size makes quilting fast, or FMQ a blast!

To celebrate the long awaited release of my pattern and the start of a New Year, I thought a pattern giveaway was the perfect way to kick of 2017!  (here I go again!)

I'll be giving away a three (3) PDF patterns of 'RAINBOW HEART TRIO' to three (3) lucky winners!

To enter answer the following question:

What would your 'Heart Trio' look like?  

Would it be a rainbow, scrappy or two-toned?  Solids, prints or a combination of both?   

• Giveaway ends at 6PM CST on January 7th
• The three (3) winners will be chosen by Random Generator
• If you’re a “no reply” or an anonymous commenter, include your email address in your comment.
• I will announce the winners on my blog and notify them via email. 
• This giveaway is open to everyone everywhere!

If you make these hearts or any of my designs, I would absolutely love to see what you did! You can contact me through email:  twiggyandopal (at) gmail (dot) com or tag me on Instagram using @twiggyandopal 

You can find the pattern in my Craftsy Pattern shop as a PDF download here:  'Rainbow Heart Trio' .

Thank you for letting me share my work with you!  Your comments are the 'cherry on top', which in my opinion...is the best part!

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Welcome To 7 days of Giveaways :: Day 1

Are you ready?!  Do you want to throw your hat in the Giveaway ring?!  As I said in my previous post: 

'I don't think I mention nearly enough how grateful I am to have met so many wonderful people through my blog.  I've been inspired, humbled, thankful and deeply touched by this quilting community and what it stands for.  You guys keep coming back with amazing comments and constant encouragement.

Day one (1) of my giveaway is heartfelt!  A lovely mini mini quilt heart made and quilted by me! Christmas in my heart!  


This mini mini quilt has been made with love...and scraps!  Which seems to be my way.  It measures 4 3/4" x 4 3/4" and is a combination of shot cottons and Gee's Bend Solids.   You can read more about this piece here:  Finishing Mini Mini WIP's . 

The tiny grid in the center makes me happy!  Tedious, yes...but the effect is worth it!

 

The Fabric is a Fat Quarter of 'Madrona Road' by Violet Craft.  It has all the elements of country living back in the day, in a soft pastel pink!  I was taken with the donkey, the old truck and the fields of crops.  I hope it goes to a new home that will not stuff it on a shelf like I have done!

The nitty gritty!  Answer one simple question to be eligible for the drawing:

Boxers or Briefs?  

This drawing will stay open until 6PM CST December 11th, at which time I will pick a winner using Random Generator.  I'll email the winners by Monday the 12th.  

Stay tuned for Day 2 giveaway!!

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***this giveaway is now closed***

Thank You!