Blocking the Hearts from around the World 9

This lovely lady came from Linda F of New York

Blocking the Hearts from around the World 8

This lovely heart is for all of us who have a shoe fetish.  It was made by Renea A from Washington.

Blocking the Hearts from around the World 7

I love the ribbon roses and the lovely rose braid on this, it was made by Lorenza from Italy

Blocking the Hearts from around the World 6

Another beautiful fairy, this one was  made by Zandra P of Arkansas,  it truly is the prettiest thing.

Blocking the hearts from around the World 5

This gorgeous heart was made by Margaret P of Sunny Queensland, she will know the meaning of the daffodils.  Sorry I left a couple of pins in.

Blocking the hearts from around the World 4

So many people have looked at the album I have kept all the hearts in over the years that some of the notes have been mixed up but having a fairy on it does make it one of my favorites so even though the note is lost I'm sure this is made by Lindy W of NSW

Blocking the Hearts from around the World 3

Heart From Maureen B

One of the lovely hearts I have from Maureen B in Victoria,

Blocking the Hearts from Around the World 2

This heart came to me from Hideko in Sendai, Japan.

This was one of the first hearts made by Hideko on Chains of Hearts a few years ago.  I  was so pleased to hear she was safe after the tsunami.  I had the heart were I could see it each time I went into my craft room, it was then that I got the idea of how I would put some of them together.    I was hoping to get one heart blocked a week but have already fallen behind. .   I made the frame to surround each block so as to hide the raw edges, when I sew them together I'm going to use the same fabric to sash them.

Christmas Heart Pouch and Stocking

On the Chains of hearts group this year we had a "Christmas heart block" stocking and a postcard swap, this was the heart I got from  Margaret P.  I didn't want it to just hang around for to long waiting to be made into something and as I badly needed a way to keep small Christmas treasures together so they were easy to find and didn't get lost among the rest of the decorations each year, the pouch was created.   It will serve two purposes,  a means of not losing my silver plum pudding coins and cake decorations for most of the year  and as a lolly bag during Christmas.   I'm really pleased as to how it turned out.   Most of our Christmas decorations and ornaments have sentimental memories.  I like things to have a reason, they represent a year so each new item has the date placed on it, knowing the year is a link to what has happened in that year whether it be good or bad.  The beads on the bottom of the bag were from a past its best  decoration so its now a continuum of past years, I used the same fabric fotr the top of the stocking as I used on the pouch. the stocking was sent to me by Margreet from The Netherlands.

Do Your Own Block 2

These are my two naked blocks for the Do Your Own Block on the Chains of Hearts group. Each week we will do a different seam treatment with a stitch given to us by one of the group members, this month the stitches are being called by Faye Dianne

DYOB swaps

So much for keeping a blog. I really do have to much to do and not enough time. Well the do your own block is finished and the swapping block has gone to its new home. I have received mine. It was a lovely challenge and I am looking forward to the next one.

My finished block that went to Faye Dianne.

The lovely block I received from Helina.

First heart

I've decided to put a heart on all 3 blocks, they will all be different. This is block 2.

Week 4 Chevron Stitch

Not many more to go.
Block 1
Block 2

Block 3

Block 3 redone seam

Week 3 Paisleys

These are the Paisleys from week three.
Block 1
Block 2

Block 3

Third seam and Paisley's

The weeks are flying past the stitch this time was feather stitch and a paisley motive. I tend to use feather stitch mainly for plants, bushes and seaweed so it made a change to use it just as a seam. Paisley's are not a favourite of mine but I did quite enjoy doing them. Margreet used the print on the fabric as a base so on one block I placed a scrap of fabric onto the patch and stitched around it. Scan of those tonight.

Second DYOB seams

The second row is chain stitch. One has since been changed as I didn't like it but I will have to scan it again so you can see the change when I put the next lot up.

Waved chain stitch with chain stitch flowers and french knots.

Not sure what you call this, I saw it in a book and now can't find the book to tell you its name. it was fun to do and when I have more time I really want to play with it, maybe a bit of ribbon under the stitches or a little bead or french knot in the chain.

Open chain stitch with bead and twisted chain. the twisted chain makes a lovely filler or outline. I love it but not on this row.

First DYOB seams

First stitch is herringbone, theres so much you can do to expand and dress it up.

Chains of Hearts DYOB

A few weeks ago I started a DYOB with the Chains of Hearts group, these are my blocks, two I will keep for myself the other will be swapped, we are on our fourth seam, blocks are 20cm (8")

And Two More

Cream pastel


Ginger cat

New Hearts

Have worked all week on "things" most will end up as more UFOs. I finished the last of the blocks for a star quilt I'm making all 49 hand sewn using English paper piecing, while trimming I sliced one of the blocks so its now in the "to disgusted to do any more pile till I find a piece of the same fabric to replace the patch otherwise I will have to remake the whole block.


I've done my first seam on my DYOBs at Do Your Own Block and have just got six new hearts made for Chains of hearts At least they are not UFOs.