Do. Good Hearts

As some of you know, December was my month to coordinate our Empower Group for Do. Good Stitches.  I requested that each lovely lady make blocks that involved hearts.  They could choose whatever style and design they wanted.  The colors were to be red, white, pink and one color of their choice.  I really wanted this quilt to have a scrappy, happy feeling that came from our hearts.  That's the point, right?

And let me tell you, I'm thrilled with what I got from 9 of the best girls around.  It was so exciting to check the mail because each package contained such beautiful blocks.  I'd love to keep this one, but once I get it quilted and bound it's headed to it's new home.

I left my blocks till last, at first because of time being an issue (imagine that), but then because I decided to wait and see what I felt the block was missing and then add that in.  I knew I wanted to paper piece mine, or at least one of them, and I see that I wasn't alone.  But there are pieced blocks, applique and even mini hexis!

I am so glad to see that the girls took my vague directions and really created.  That's what I wanted.  I wanted this quilt to be an honest reflection of us and I think it will be.

Normally, I'd just lay them all out in rows, sash them and sew it all up.  Done.  But, with asking the girls to stretch they creativity, I'm feeling the need to stretch mine too.  I'm thinking of grouping 4 together and sashing them with a thin strip and then using a much larger sashing to tie the groups of 4 together.  That would leave me with 4 left and I'm going to put them on the back.

Sorry for the quick pic, I'll take close-ups of these beauties when I get mine made and decide on a layout.

I'm off to make mine now.  Since there are so many paper-pieced ones, I'm going to do one with applique, kinda like this beauty minus the embroidery...

And for number 2...well, I haven't decided yet, but I'm working on it.  We've got another birthday party to attend this afternoon and the Broncos play tonight (yes, I did become a Broncos fan when Tim Tebow got drafted and I'm totally okay with that), so I'm hoping to get one done today and the second done tomorrow.

I hope you're having a great Saturday!