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Thursday, December 1, 2011

Be still my crazy-patched heart...


Well, I've been messing around with strippy, free-pieced hearts.  I have 120 green/neutral scrappy log cabin blocks that I am putting into a quilt for our bed.  I thought adding hearts would personalize it a bit so it wouldn't be just another log cabin quilt.  And, after all, it is a gift for my better half.  (And no...not an apology for the snarky underwear wall hanging...)  The blocks are 4 inches square and will finish 3.5 x 3.5.


I like the idea that they are scrappy and haphazard at best.  Sort of reminds me of the human heart...our hearts are constantly broken and re-made as we go through life, stronger and stronger as we grow older.

                

Have you seen the movie "How to Make an American Quilt?"  When making a block to represent 'where love resides' in her life, Marianna made a crazy-patched heart and talked about love being represented by a "multitude of patches."  I loved that...


These are a little doinky and pointy on the sides, but once they are seamed in, that will 'round' them up a bit.

The thought of making enough of these to go around a queen/king quilt doesn't appeal to me.  So I made 18 hearts- one for every year we've been married.  Now I just need to figure out how to incorporate them into the design.


I'm thinking I will arrange them vertically, nine on the top left, nine on the bottom right...need to think more on that.  I need to piece those 120 blocks together...ugh.  I think that is my least favorite part of quilt-making...sewing all the blocks together into the top.  Because they are scrappy, I need to lay the the log cabins out and make sure I like the distribution of the scraps.  That takes up a lot of space, and this is going to be a HUGE quilt.

The first Valentine's Day card Steve ever gave me had a saying that I really liked and kept all these years..."Very fine is my Valentine...very fine and very mine."  I'll have to put that on the label.  (Or maybe letters in the borders????  I may NEVER finish this quilt as I add more and more stuff!)

In stitches (and still in love...),
Teresa  :o)

14 comments:

  1. The hearts are a cute idea...18 for 18 years. Neat idea to commemorate that anniversary.

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  2. The hearts are cute. Seeing your log cabin when you started it inspired me to stop saying "someday I'll make one" and got me cutting strips. Last night I finished the first 11 blocks. Only 169 more strips to go before I can really look at the layout. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  3. I love the idea of making one heart for every year you've been married. Great boxer quilt in the last post; love how you quilted your hubby's 6 pack. LOL

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  4. I like the top left and bottom right, what about doing left & top and Right & bottom more of a corner thing? My favorite saying for wedding/anniv quilt is "Grow Old With ME, the Best is YET to BE", you could wonky piece it in the alternate corners.

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  5. You are off a running again! Just love this idea for a special quilt.

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  6. What a great looking quilt (and a very good way to use up a lot of extra strips!). And I love your Valentine saying. I'm so taking it. LOL

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  7. Another great project! I love your wonky hearts and think they will be awesome with your log cabins. Your hubby will love it! I can't wait to see how you end up piecing it together. As always, you've inspired me. :)

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  8. How sweet. I'm not really a heart person but these ones are pretty cute.

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  9. I'm new to quilting and I LOVE this! It looks fairly easy. I wish I had time to get something like this done for MY 18th anniversary in January.

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  10. These are lovely!
    Lucy from Amitie Textiles

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  11. what a fun strippy and a great way to use scraps!
    just in time for Christmas -

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  12. Hey, this is really cool. I love the patchy hearts and the 18 to represent your married years. :D

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  13. {Heart} those scrappy hearts...Julierose

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  14. Teresa,
    I really like your hearts and the sentiment behind it. In today's world, a marriage that works is a gift! Our guys can drive us crazy at times but then I'm certain I drive mine crazy more than 10x a day so it all evens out. I'm most delighted with the phrase from your first Valentine card. THAT prose is the KEY to making your quilt a Keeper and a true gift from the heart!
    Merry Christmas,
    Gmama Jane

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