The beginning of a new year!

We started out our 3rd year of service making Happy Blocks. They’re a departure from our usual string blocks but every now and then we like a new challenge.

If you’d like to join in, we’ll be collecting blocks for use in group quilts through February and you can find the guidelines are the link below.

Happy Blocks for HeartStrings

Take a look below at some of the blocks and tops being made by HeartStrings members.

This set has all cat prints.
I love the graphic black and white of this top.
Here’s a *manly* set from Lori.
And a twisted version.

The giving season

At HeartStrings, we work on making and giving string quilts all year around but as I wandered through the HeartStrings blog ring today, I found several posts that I’d thought you’d enjoy reading.

Judy finished four comfort quilts for a family who lost 2 children in a fire.

Ruthie’s guild made holiday placemats for Meals on Wheels.

Deb’s been collecting hats and scarves for kids in Kosovo.

Nann made a donated a quilt for a fundraiser AND made one for a little boy being adopted.

Hanne finished a string star quilt that was mailed off to be donated to children with long term diseases.

Alycia showed off some of the pillowcases that have arrived from our Pillowcase Party over Thanksgiving weekend. They’ll hold the Quilts of Valor that will be donated in May 2009.

JJ continues to make quilts to send to East Timor.

Pat made a Yellow Brick Road quilt that will be donated to a crisis center.

And I took 2 quilts with me on my trip to Virginia for the Angel Tree at Mom’s church.

We’re planning another party!

Mark your calendar now for a HeartStrings Party – New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, we’ll be making Happy Blocks to start off our special project for January and February. (You didn’t think we ONLY did string quilts did you?)

We’re going to be making quilts for kids so pull out your novelty fabrics and some brights to go along with them!

Instructions for the blocks can be found at the link below:
Happy Blocks Instructions.

If you’re a little twisted like me, there’s a twisted version of the block too BUT you’ll need to make a full set of 48 blocks or piece the entire top to send these in. If you just want to make a few blocks use the instructions above.
TWisted Happy Blocks Instructions.

Email me at mmcjohnson@gmail.com with questions or for the mailing address to send in blocks.

A successful party!

Pillowcases by Barbara in FL


Although they’re a departure from our usual HeartStrings quilts, we worked on making pillowcases this weekend.

Initially our thought was to make and send some pillowcases to Alycia for her 2009 Quilts of Valor project but that idea was expanded into a 2 day *virtual* sewing party with 266+ pillowcases being made for Quilts of Valor, ConKerr Cancer, Operation Support for Deployed Military and other local charitable organizations.

Thanks to everyone who participated!

HeartStrings and Quilts of Valor

Becky has been working with RWB Chinese Coins sections donated this summer by HeartStrings members and has several quilts ready to ship off to Alycia to be donated as Quilts of Valor for wounded soldiers. You can see the others at Becky’s blog.

We’re also making pillowcases this weekend to send to Alycia – the Quilts of Valor are placed in pillowcases and with a goal of 400 QOV for 2009, she’ll need some help. You can use any pattern you like – I was shown how to make them by Ethel who sews them for Operation Support for Deployed Military and since I learn best with lots of photos, I took step by step photos to share as I made my first ones earlier this week.