HEARTs

Here are the hearts made by my group on our first day together.  Isn't this going to be LOVEly?! :)

HEART Quilt to donate

This morning a fun group of women from church came over to have a quilting party.  We are planning to make two quilts this summer to donate in September.

Quilting with friends is just about my most favorite thing EVER!

Here's our first plan:

 

I'm really excited about this heart block.  I drew up this block after being inspired by this quilt and this quilt.

All the hearts will be made from medium to dark RED, BLUE, PURPLE or PINK fabrics with a low volume white/light background.  (***See note below.)



Cut  2       6 1/2" by 4 1/2" rectangles from the medium to dark red, blue, purple or pink fabric. 

Cut 2        4 1/2" squares from the light background fabric.

Cut 4        2 1/2" squares from the light background fabric.

Mark a diagonal line on the back of each of the light colored squares.

 

Place one of the 2 1/2" squares on a top corner of the darker fabric- right sides together.  Sew along the diagonal line you drew.  

Trim off the excess fabric. 

 

Important:  Open that first seam.  Then sew another 2 1/2" square on the other top corner. It will overlap the first square by just a little bit.

 

Cut off the excess.

 Repeat this same basic process on the bottom of the rectangle using a 4 1/2" square.

 Repeat everything with the other dark rectangle.  You are making two halves of your heart.  Make sure that when you sew the second bottom seam you are making a mirror image of the first.

 Again, make sure that your top seams are pressed open before you sew the bottom seam.  It will overlap.

 

Press and then sew the two heart halves together.  Right sides together of course.

Press again and you are done!

 

 

 

Make a million! :)  Today we were able to make 15-20.  Tomorrow I'll post a picture of them all together so we can start to get an idea of what they will look like all together in one BEAUTIFUL quilt.

 

(***SIDE NOTE:  While planning this group quilt, I thought a lot about how to make a quilt collaboration with women of different ages, different tastes, and different skill levels work.  I strongly feel that when you make quilts to donate you should put as much care into making it a thing of beauty as you can.  People need beauty in their lives.  A quilt should provide warmth, comfort and beauty.  Anyway, I think picking and sticking to a color scheme is key to making a group quilt turn out beautiful rather than a hodge podge. )

 

Finished: Scrappy Trip Around the World!

 

I LOVE this quilt!  This is my quilt of choice for snuggling on the couch right now. 

 

I posted way back when that I was a late joiner to the Scrappy Trip Around the World craze.  And now, several months later, its finally done!  Better late than never.  And this one was definitely worth the wait.

 

Scrap quilts are my favorite.  I've said it before and I'll say it many times more.  

 

I decided to quilt it with an orange peel pattern (inspired by Nettie-  again! and by Camille)  and I LOVE how that turned out.  It was super easy yet looks fancy.  Here's a great tutorial for that quilting techniquehttp://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransson/2012/03/orange-peel-quilting-on-a-grid.html

: 

 

This picture below of the main backing fabric shows the orange peel pattern pretty well.  (I don't think I'll ever stop loving illustrations of vintage children.  Adorable!)

 

 Aqua binding and a scrappy backing.  This was my first time to piece a back.  I've never been in love with that idea before.  But frugality won this time, and I decided to see if I could just use some of the bigger pieces in my stash.  I'm very happy with how it turned out and might have to do it again.   

 

 

 

 

Bunny Winner

Congrats and thanks to Kelly O. for helping me out with my giveaway and winning a little bunny of her own! 

Bunny Giveaway!

In the spirit of Spring and Easter I decided to have a Bunny giveaway!  I would love to share one with one of my few readers. :)  The winner will get to pick either a pink bunny or a linen one. See this post for more about my Bunnies.

So here's how I think this will work: 

1.  This giveaway is only open to US readers.  Sorry!  Those shipping costs can get scary.

2.  Go check out my etsy shop PolkaDotsEtc. and then either like or share it on Facebook or on your own blog.  Please tag me (Erica Ernstrom) on Facebook so that I can see that you shared, if you decided on that method.  Leave a comment here and let me know which way you shared and which bunny you prefer. 

3.  This giveaway is open until Friday, April 4 at MIDNIGHT. 



P.S.  For the sake of full disclosure, yes, I am asking for help in promoting my etsy shop here.  I hope you don't mind too much. :) 

Mixed Berries Baby Quilt

This quilt was made after sitting down and playing with my stash one day.  The lime green was new and the blue floral I used for the backing was new.  Everything else was fat quarters saved for a rainy day or leftovers from another project. (specifically this one) 

This quilt was so fun to make because the colors just made me happy. 

Come to think of it, why would I want to use the little bit of precious time at my sewing machine working on something that looked depressing or drab?  I'm at a point in my life, maybe because I'm heavily influenced by little children all the time, where I want to be surrounded by things that are bright and happy.  Forget somber.  Forget avant guarde (whatever that means.  ha!  or however you spell it!).  I just want fun and happy. 

Bunnies!

This bunny was born right before Christmas as I was fiddling around making some handmade gifts.  He is simple and cute and sometime around February, I realized he is perfect for Easter. 

 

 I think my kids might see something similar to this on Easter morning.

His little heart shaped tail might be my favorite detail.  :)

I also love his gingham or polkadotted ears.  Maybe someday I'll figure out how to make a pattern for him.  For now, I have a few for sale in my new etsy shop.