Bernie @Needle and Foot blogged today, and it really captured my attention. I live in California, and the state is currently besieged by wildfires. While I was away on vacation, a fire started 3 miles from my home, and I made a short list of 3 things that I sent to a friend to remove from my home if necessary: my cat, our fire safe, and the backup hard drive for our computers. Thankfully the fire was contained quickly and I don’t think any homes were ultimately damaged. The same is not true for the large Butte fire north of me. Over 75,000 acres burned with a loss of 535 residences. Per Bernie @Needle and Foot:
Kerri of “Kerri’s Quilting” in Lakeport, CA, is putting together a few quilts for some of the quilter’s that lost not only their homes, but their quilting supplies and fabric. I think this is such a sweet thing to do. Providing something handmade as an expression of love and concern will hopefully bring comfort to some of our fellow quilters.
Would you like to help? Here is what Kerri wants:
“If you would like to help turn ashes to beauty please make a quilt block – applique a heart in the center of a CUT 10” square using pastel colors, sign your name and town and mail to:
Kerrie’s Quilting
1853 N. High St.
Lakeport, CA 95453
The blocks will be set together to make quilts for at least 5 ladies that I know of who lost all their sewing/quilting things in the fire. The deadline for mailing is October 8th.”
As a thank you from Jaftex for participating in their 85th anniversary blog hop, I received an extra bundle of Fusion Illusion fat quarters, and I will also be shipping Kerrie that extra bundle and other fabrics from my stash to hopefully provide the women with a small start to rebuilding their lost stash.
Heart Applique Block Tutorial
After selecting my paired pastel fabrics, I cut the background block to 10.5-inches square. I like to make the background block a bit over-sized on an applique block so that I can trim it down to size and square after the block is complete.
Applique Heart Block Tutorial Step 1
On the wrong side of the fabric for the heart, I ironed on Pellon 805 fusible web and traced an outline of a heart. Here is a PDF template for the heart pattern I used. The heart template I created is based on a paper pieced heart pattern by Lindsey Rhodes @LR Stitched, which I found on Sew Mama Sew and used for the Myer Family quilt. I really like the horizontal reference line on the heart and after tracing the heart on the paper backed fusible web, I also drew indication marks at the horizontal line.
Applique Heart Block Tutorial Step 2
Prior to peeling the backing off the fusible web, I fold the heart horizontally along the indication marks. I also folded the background fabric in half both ways and used the folds and natural heart shape points to center the heart on the block prior to ironing in place.
Applique Heart Block Tutorial Step 3
After stitching around the edge of the heart, I press the block flat and then trim down to the finished 10-inch square size.
Applique Heart Block Tutorial
I hope these blocks help comfort a few quilters who have lost so much, and I would love to know if this post or tutorial inspires you to contribute blocks as well.
Well done Yvonne. Thank you so much. Also, fantastic idea to donate some extra fabric. I will do the same!
How scary. Glad to hear that your home is safe. This is a great idea…a quilt can be comforting in a time of need.
Yvonne
I asked my Guild and friends to send out heart blocks. Thanks for letting us
know about this worthy cause!
Hopefully, they’ll receive many blocks from Maryland !
Mj Snyder
Baltimore Modern Quilt Guild
I saw Bernie’s post earlier today as well. I’m hoping to make a few blocks and get them sent off in the next few days. Thanks for the link to the heart – I can’t draw a good one to save my soul.
Thank you for this post Yvonne. I will definitely be sending blocks. My heart goes out to everyone that is dealing with these fires in any way; they are devastating. I’m glad your home has been spared and you are safe.
Very worrying, I hope the threat of the fires passes soon. Is this usually a particularly dry and dangerous time where you are? As much as a situation like that focuses your mind on what really matters, to lose all your belongings would still be devastating. And I think sending the fabric is such a lovely idea.
Thanks for sharing this, Yvonne. I ran across Bernie’s post yesterday and would like to send some blocks as well. Your tutorial will come in handy. What did you use to put your name and town on the block?
Yvonne, I think that is lovely what Kerri and you quilters are doing to support other quilters struck by tragedy. I love your little tutorial and the beautiful hearts you made. Well done!
Thank you for sharing the tutorial and information! It has been a devastating fire season, I hope the quilters who receive the quilts and stash supplies are cheered by them.
These look like they came together quickly! I do love the fabric choices for each one. I know quilts and supplies would be low priority in the event of a fire, but so, SO devastating to lose! If you could only pick one quilt to grab on the way out of the house, which one would you take?
Great tutorial and some very cute blocks for a good cause.
Absolutely terrifying looking at the news Yvonne . It goes without saying I’m relieved your home was safe
Wow I will try whipping some up thanks for posting a tutorial. Do we need fusible web? I am not familiar with it and was wondering if it is needful… Thanks n.snaer at gmail dot com
Yvonne–thank you for posting this. I have blocks finished and will post tomorrow. We lost everything but the p.j.s we were wearing in a house fire five years ago. I had pretty much decided after losing my stash, machines and tools that I wouldn’t be quilting again. Then… a friend sent me a box containing a project and all the tools needed to get started as well as a book of blocks and some fat quarters. I was hooked again! My heart goes out to everyone who lost their homes.
O gosh, I missed the deadline, live too far away and the post is at snail pace! Hope you get lots of blocks and quilts! My group makes the blocks, leaves it to the people who put it together to cut it to the proper size and another group quilts it, then I put the binding on as many as I can with my friend. Great in the winter while watching TV but a killer in the summer, hahaha!