Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Hearts on Fire Blog Hop



Welcome.  This is my first Hop of the year and I'm so happy to be part of it.  Carol ( justletmequilt ) has, as usual, come up with a great idea for the group and we're running with it.  The guidelines were pretty simple  something with a heart that isn't Red.

When I signed up I went searching on line for a design idea. I found this on Clipart and instantly knew that was the design I wanted to use.

Next up was the what.  Preferably not a mug rug or pin cushion, my usual go to items when I don't have a plan.

While pulling apart my house for the holidays I came across a mini quilt holder that I haven't used in years and thought it would be a perfect showcase for this piece.

Then I set to work.  Several years ago I spent the month of August doing a block a day of raw edge applique and loved it.  Well you know how "they" say that to do any free motion work you need to practice, practice, practice. Taking a 2 maybe 3 year break in using a skill is not good.

The first issue I had was that I am using a different machine now than back then. This one is more computer driven.  I could not figure out how to drop the feed dogs.  I massaged the entire machine for 10 minutes hoping to find the button.  Then I spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to read and find info on the machines on screen computer manual.  Seriously in total it took me 30 minutes to drop them only to discover I had pretty much lost the skill. 



I will admit that as poorly as my stitching was I really loved the finished piece.  It didn't work well in the mini quilt holder so I found it a spot on my sewing room wall.



 I am not a quitter.  I wanted to use this pattern for this hop. Ta da.  I came up with another goal and switched up and did the stitching by hand . I'm out of practice at this too but I'm happy with the end result.


Again, what to do with it.  I exchange hand made gifts with several friends for Christmas.  One of the  gifts I received this year was this great dish drying mat. 


She included this with the pad just in case I wanted to try it on my own.  Yeah we've been friends for a long, long time and she knows me well.


This is a wonderful concept.  I have a store bought one of these that I have used for several years but it was just boring black.  It did it's job and that was really all that was required and when not in use it was in a drawer.  

My new one consists of 2 layers made from a jelly roll with a piece of foam in between. You can use a solid piece of fabric or a pieced block.  Just know it will get wet and will more than likely need to go through the washer occasionally. The best part of making it is that you can make it any size or shape that you want depending on the space you have available.

Using this idea and my heart design and some of  the Pellon foam I had in the closet I came up with this drying mat.






Well that sums up my contribution to this fun hop.  Here is the entire list of participants. Please take some time and visit them all you will be so glad that you did.




32 comments:

  1. What a great idea for a drying mat, love your hearts! It is always fulfilling to find good use for small projects. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. Now that is what I call "pretty and practical" Well done.

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  3. Your mini quilt and drying mat are both so charming!

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  4. Selina, that is such a cute design. Your colorful hearts that are NOT red make adorable flowers. I love raw edge applique always and I’m in love with your wild free motion stitching. I never do free motion, so I would have made the stitching look like that in a controlled way. It gives your heart flowers character and attitude. A dish drying mat is always a good useful idea and a delight to use with that cute design.

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  5. Love your drying mat, what a great idea! So practical and beautiful!

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  6. This design is so sweet and love the drying mat. Such a great idea.

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  7. I love the hearts as flowers! So cute, and so great that you now have something useful you will use AND enjoy looking at!

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  8. So delicate and yet so functional too. A love,y balance.

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  9. Those are absolutely the sweetest little hearts, and perfect or not, they are adorable in your sewing room. I love your dish drying mat too. I've always felt that if we purchase a machine, we should be experts. Who knew that we would have to spend years actually learning how to do things on it. LOL!! Oh and don't get me started on these new computerized machines. I spent hours trying to get to the screen that tells you how many stitches are on a machine I'm trying to sell mine, only to call the dealer and find out the answer in about 30 seconds. Arrrrgh. I am back to my old standby machine without a zillion bells and whistles. :-)

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  10. The heart flowers are so adorable. Thanks for the tip on dish drying mats. I did not know that Bosal product existed. It is a great idea to use up my orphan blocks.

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  11. Love the whimsical hearts! And so perfect for the drying mat!

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  12. I love those hearts and that design is something I want to do...so cute! As for that drying mat, I have never seen one or that product to make one. Seriously, that is just what I need. As usual, you've given me some inspiring ideas to add to my to-do list. Thank you for hopping with us today and showing off your no-red hearts! xo

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  13. What a pretty design! Thank you for the inspiration.

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  14. Adorable heart flowers, and a great way to use them!

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  15. Cute idea for a drying mat! Great work, and great wall hanging too!

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  16. This is such a cute quilt, Selina! Love the idea of using as a dish mat!

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  17. I love that design, too. The sky background fabric is adorable. I've often thought of making a drying dish drying mat for my daughter. Hopefully, yours has spurred me on.

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  18. That's a great idea for using as a drying mat. I love that heart design too.

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  19. So sweet. I've never thought about a dish drying mat before.

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  20. I love how practical your project is.

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  21. I like both versions of your heart project. Very clever to make your own drying mat! What a joy to see that every time you use it!

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  22. I love this and you know, the stitching may not look good to you but looks good to me. And I'd be willing to bet someone would snatch it up quick if it were on display at a craft fair.

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  23. Your work does look good, both versions. A drying mat is a useful item, and yours is so darling.

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  24. Beautiful! I love the dish mat idea. Thank you for showing your design method and sharing in the blog hop ... <3 Pat

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  25. How fun to find a new use for the "littles" you sometimes make. That drying mat is a great idea! You don't give yourself enough credit with free motion quilting! Your skills aren't bad at all. Keep up the good work!

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  26. What a fabulous idea. I too have the boring ones. OK I buy one for every season, but was thinking I would really like to make my own.

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  27. Clever idea - would not have thought to use Bosal (and I have a box of it). I could use one of these.

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