Crazy Daisy Quilt

Well it took a while, mainly waiting time for the longarm quilter to return it, but the Crazy Daisy Quilt that I began back in May is now finished and up for sale on my Facebook page!

The front of the quilt.

The back is a geometric green pattern that can also be found in some of the square on the front.

A detailed look at the quilt.  The actual quilting is a stipple pattern, and I pieced it using a disappearing 9-patch pattern using 2 charm packs.

Now that this quilting project is complete I have begun several others!  I know I may have a small quilting problem, lol.  While Crazy Daisy was away for a month being quilted I began a twin sized quilt using a friendship braid pattern.  I'm now in the process of choosing a layout and adding sashing to it.  This is my progress so far, but I want to add some more fabric to make it a fuller and longer twin quilt.  I'm thinking some yardage of one of the red patterns would look really good with it.  I'll just have to order it, and wait for it to come in before I can do anymore to this project.  I'm also going to be joining an online quilt along where someone posts a pattern and you can make the pattern and create a quilt at the same time as they are.  The theme for this quilt along?  Super Mario Brothers.  This is going to be a Christmas gift, and I think the recipient is going to flip out when he sees it.  He's a video game junkie.  I've also created my first ever paper pieced pattern myself!  A quilting website that I love is having a contest to make a music themed quilt block, so I decided now was as good a time as any to learn how to make my own pattern.  So I made a Book of Mormon Musical quilt block.  I now have grand plans to create a Musical quilt at some point in time, lol.  So many ideas, so little time!!!

The basic layout I'm playing around with.

What the finished quilt from the Super Mario quilt along will look like! (hopefully, lol)

My Book of Mormon Musical quilt block that I made a paper pieced design and pattern for!

 And don't think that I have neglected other forms of crafting!  Although I'm making a lot of quilts lately I have done some crocheting as well.  I had a special order a few weeks ago for a purple hat and scarf that I finished over the weekend and got mailed out, as well as beginning another round ripple afghan that I'll be giving to a friend as a gift since I have never given her anything I've made and she's been dropping hints for some time, lol.  So no picture of the round ripple afghan till it's done and she has it so that it's a surprise, but here is the hat and scarf.

Ignore the "model", lol.

For the record, I really HATE crocheting hats.  I can do them, but they are a real pain in the butt and not my favorite thing to do.  One of the reasons I began crocheting was that it was something that I could do without a lot of other thought.  I could be watching a movie, and making a blanket at the same time.  Able to give attention to the movie and the blanket without too much stress.  Unfortunately hats make me count...every stitch!  So I have to be able to give my undivided attention to the project which means I get frustrated, and bored, quickly.  So I don't make many hats for this reason, lol.

I haven't gotten into card making in a long time!  I know this is disappointing to some people since those were really the first crafts I shared, but I think I just need to do some other things for a while now that I have some other projects to do.  In the winter I crochet a lot, because you often end up with a lot of the bulk of a project sitting in your lap so doing this in 90 degree weather isn't appealing.  I think in the summer I will sew a lot.  It doesn't have the problem crocheting has where you have the bulk of a project in your lap, and I also know it takes some time to have a longarm quilter quilt my pieces and this is often a slow time for them.  I think card making is an any other time project for me.  In the fall I'll begin to make Holiday cards since there will be a demand for them at that time, but there really aren't a lot of card giving holiday's in the summer, lol.  Who knows, I could also just be in a funk.  =)

No "Big Girl" job yet, so Handmade Heart is still my main focus right now.  Be sure to keep up with me on Facebook since most everything gets posted and talked about there first!  I'll be sure to keep posting what I'm up to.  <3

Farmers Markets?

Hey everybody! Sorry things have been a little sparse lately, the fact is that although I love Handmade Heart I can't survive on the income from this business alone.  So I've had a busy couple of weeks interviewing for jobs and dealing with other of life's many stresses!

I have still been crafting though.  I'm currently working on an order of a crocheted hat and scarf made from some amazing yarn!  I've also been working on some other quilted bags for special orders and just for fun.  Apparently purses are the thing right now, and I'm good with that since they are quick projects for the most part.  I'll be post a few that I have made on Facebook for sale, but there are some on my Etsy business page too so be sure to check both places out if you are interested in a handmade, hand quilted purse.

In other new, I personally love farmers markets!  I think they are a great way to get local, fresh items in your community.  Farmers markets don't seem to be a popular around here for fresh produce, I guess that's mainly because of the limited growing season.  The markets tend to have a lot of local artists and premade goods at them though.  This got me thinking, maybe I should think about a booth at one of these markets to sell some of the items that I have made.  Although I don't have a lot, and I don't think I'd sell a lot of afghans or full quilts (frankly who wants that stuff in the summer!) I do think I could sell some cards, purses, and clothing.  What do you guys think?  Should I consider getting a table for a few weeks?  Let me know!

I'll be sure to keep everyone updated about what I'm making/learning, and know that even when I do get a "big girl" job Handmade Heart will still be very important.  <3

Paper Piecing

I never was one to start slow.  I was always the kid that ran out into the street without looking, or decide to do the 500 piece puzzle when I knew I could only do the 100 piece one.  Needless to say, I don't like "taking it easy" or "going slow till I learn".  I want to dive right in...and have it all work out perfectly too, lol.

This past week I decided to attempt something new to me with quilting, paper piecing.  Paper piecing is when you literally sew your fabric onto a paper pattern to help you create a more accurate design...in theory.  Technically since I'd never done it before I should have begun easy, you know a simple pattern with a few pieces of fabric that made a diamond or something.  Nope I found a website with really amazing patterns and wanted to make one of them.  Of course these amazing patterns also happen to be really advanced too, lol.

This is what I got though, a Mocking Jay, and for anyone who is a fan of The Hunger Games you'll recognize it...hopefully.  It's not perfect, and I really want to improve on the next one that I do, but I think it's really not all that bad for a first try at paper piecing!

Because this is not a pattern that I created, I can't sell it, or any of the other patterns that I make that I get from this website.  I can give them away as gifts though, and as soon as I posted this image on my personal Facebook, I had several friends ask about getting one for their daughter, or themselves.  So now I know what everyone is getting for the holidays this year! lol

I would like to learn how to make my own paper piecing patterns though, it is something that I could see being very helpful for difficult patterns, and even in basic quilting to be sure all the seam lines line up like they are supposed too.  I've read that there is a computer program called Electric Quilt that will help you design paper piecing patterns, but I need to do some more research on it since the program is over $150, and frankly if I'm going to lay down that amount of money this program better do everything for me but buy the fabric!

In any case, I'll be making a few more Mocking Jay pieces and making them into bags for friends to practice my paper piecing skills.  I'll eventually move on to other patterns though, the website has a whole line of Sesame Street patterns and you know I'm making that quilt for my future children, or nieces, or nephews, or a friends child, okay let's face it the next kid that comes in my life somehow.  =)

<3

Back with a Vengence!

So I've been a little busy!  Unpacking, organizing, and (finally!!) CRAFTING!!!!!  Okay I cannot convey the depth of my joy as I pulled Veronica (my sewing machine) out of her box and turned her on for the first time in over SEVEN months!!!  I've been a sewing fool ever since then!  Yes I still have a few boxes that need to be unpacked still, and I need to get things in their homes still, but I had to craft for a little while, I mean it has been SEVEN months!!!  I never thought that it would have taken this long to get everything out of storage and set up in a new place again.  Well things happen.

My mom came and visited last week, which was lots of fun, but it also stalled the progress of things a bit.  I'm still trying to get things organized.  Even got a new work table to help, but the fact is that I have a lot more crafty stuff than I thought I did!  I've run across a lot of things I already had made, but didn't sell before I moved.  So be sure to go over to my Facebook page where I'm selling some of them there before I put them up for sale over on Etsy.  There is a load of cute stuff, and I'm finishing more and more every day!

So here is a taste of the things I've found, and a few of the things that I have made recently.  Enjoy and look for a lot more happening soon! <3

Quilted Purse

12-Month Crocheted Baby Pullover

Crocheted Baby Ripple Afghan

Crocheted Baby Color Block Afghan

Baby Sling

Crocheted Car Seat Blanket

Crocheted Hooded Toddler/Baby Afghan

Crocheted Granny Square Scarf

Quilted Purse

Crocheted Round Ripple Afghan

Crocheted Scrappy Granny Afghan

Crocheted Scrappy Granny Afghan

Crocheted Adult Shrug

Quilt Top

Simple Baby Quilt

Failure!

Yes I admit it, I'm a failure for not posting updates in ages! Forgive me!  The good news is that I now have a Facebook page to showcase my crafts, and post items before they go on sale at etsy!  The bad news, I still don't have my craft stuff yet. :-(

It's been a long tough road dealing with movers, and finding out financially how much moving was really going to cost me compared to what I had originally been told.  Beside the point though.  I am for sure getting my stuff delivered the first week of May, so this means craft stuff!!!!!  This and a bed again, make me very excited!!!

I promise when I get it, I will post all kinds of things! Cards, quilts, scrapbook layouts, clothing, paintings, just about everything!  Although I haven't been able to make these items, I have been able to make yarn crafts!  Here are a few examples of what I've been able to make the past few months.  Some are even for sale over on my Facebook page, so be sure to "Like" the page on the information bar on the left of the screen and head over to the page and see what's still there.

Thanks again for all your support guys and gals, and I promise once my stuff arrives there will be so many posts you'll hate me, lol.  <3

12-Month Baby Pullover

Hooded Baby Afghan

Baby Ruffle Afghan

Baby Afghan

Child's Car Seat Blanket

Granny Square Scarf

Pretty Petals Baby Afghan

I Get My Craft Stuff Back!!!!

I get my craft stuff back soon!!!!!  I'm moving to Denver, Colorado March 2nd.  I don't have a job or place to live yet, but I'm going to make it work since I know I am supposed to be there.  All this is great, but the big thing is, I get my craft stuff back and out of storage!!!!!  This might make me more happy than actually moving there, lol.  It will take me a little while to get settled, and to get my studio set up again.  Once I do though, look out!

In the mean time, if you are on Facebook be sure to check out my page and "like" it.  I'm posting my crafts there before I post them to Etsy at a reduced rate, and no shipping.  Right now it's only crocheting since that's what I've had available to me here, but once my studio is set up again I'll be sure to post all the different crafts that I do!  Visit www.facebook.com/HandmadeHeart

Can't wait to start posing all kinds of things again soon!!!! =)

When In Doubt...Crochet!

Well ladies and gents, I'm still not moved yet.  This means I still don't have my crafting stuff.  :-(  It's looking like I'm going to be buying my Christmas cards this year, which makes me sad since I haven't done that in years, but such is life.  Hopefully next year will bring new surroundings for me, and return me to my craft stuff!

Even though I don't have my sewing machine, and scrapbooking/card making stuff, I do have my crochet hooks!  Most of the yarn I have is in storage too, but I have purchased some and I've been crocheting to give me something to do to fill that crafty hole!  I finished a baby afghan the other day.  I think it is super cute, and will eventually be placing it on etsy.  The pattern takes a bit of time, simply because in the petal squares you have to change yarn color almost every row.  It turned out lovely though!

I've already begun on a new hooded afghan for a baby since I needed something simple to do after that beast!  It's also the only pattern I remember how to do by memory since all my patterns are, you guessed it...in storage! I have enough yarn left over from this project too that I'm making a scarf when I feel adventurous, lol.

Anywho, just a quick note to say I haven't given up crafting, and I haven't forgotten this blog.  Just still waiting!  If you are interested on how things are going in my personal life, I tend to post more on my other blog, Learning To Love Me, and try to keep this one simply about crafting.  Hope everyone in the US enjoys Thanksgiving, and I'll post any new projects as I complete them!  =)