Heartfelt February ~ Day 27

Today was extremely rainy and windy, and to add to the gloom, I had a headache all day. 

Luckily, I had started this woven ribbon heart yesterday, so it was easy to finish it this afternoon.

Hope you've had a good day!

Heartfelt February ~ Day 26

Another wonderful, cut paper heart from my friend, Elaine.

"Last Piece in the Box" - Cut paper art by Elaine Lowry

I went to see Elaine today and we had such a nice visit. We talked, went out to lunch,

 came back to her light-filled, art-filled home and chatted for another two hours.

Ah, the joy of a very good friend!

Hope you've had a great day, too!

Heartfelt February ~ Day 25

This morning I woke up to a sight I have not yet seen this winter -

 Trees frosted with snow!!

Although we've had plenty of snow this year, I've missed the "icing" effect that I love so much.

I'm glad I took pictures early this morning because, already, melting has left the branches bare again.

For today's heart, I decided to make a flower with heart shaped petals.

I made two layers, some leaves, and fashioned them all into a corsage,

which can also be used as a hat for Rosie!!

I can tell that she feels very pretty!

Hope your day is a good one!!

Heartfelt February ~ Day 24

Today's clever hearts were made by my dear friend, Elaine.

Cut paper artwork by Elaine Lowry

Elaine enjoys puzzles, and her kitty, Honeybee, inspired these cut paper

pieces by her active "participation" in the process!! 

Hope you're enjoying a wonderful weekend!

Heartfelt February ~ Day 23

A doodle with a heart!

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Heartfelt February ~ Day 20

This is a heart I made several years ago. I always loved it, but I made it

into an ATC and traded it. I should really make it again to keep.

Hope you are enjoying your day!!

Heartfelt February ~ Day 19

I finished embroidering this little heart on a dishtowel just before the light 

left my back porch for the day - right in the nick of time to take a photograph!

One of my goals for this year is to improve my hand embroidery, so this is a start.

I'm enjoying my theme for this month - hearts are fun to do - and I'm thinking of setting a theme for March. I'm actually excited each day, thinking about what I'll make and being excited by creativity gives me a little buzz. Of course, I'm also doing all the things I usually do, but in the back of my mind, I'm looking forward to the time in the day when I can sit down and create.

A very nice way to spend the winter!

Hope you've had a wonderful day!

Heartfelt February ~ Day 18

Yes, I'm planning to make hearts until the end of February!

This is a lace heart, with a lace trim, which I made this morning.

It's not the best photo, but when I went to take another one,

the heart had (I think) slipped behind my dresser, as I had hung it on the mirror 

with a suction cup. If and when I find it, I'll take another picture!

Hope you're having a great day!

Heartfelt Giveaway Results!

machine stitching, Setacolor paint, fused fabric

Snow is falling again today, and the kitties are huddling together for warmth!

It seems like another blizzard like last weekend's, but we are told we'll get less than 6" of snow!

Today my husband (my random number generator!) drew names for the heart giveaway.

And the winners are...

I'll decide which heart to send you, so it will be a surprise!

If you see your name, please email me your address [ judyeh(at)comcast(dot)net ]

and I'll send your heart out this week!!

Thank you to everyone for your lovely comments this month!

Have a wonderful day!

Heartfelt February ~ Day 15

Yesterday I posted about my heart giveaway, which you can enter until this Saturday, February 16.

Today I am so happy to be able to share two hearts which were sent to me by talented friends.

The first is a heart made by Karen at Sew and Sow Life. I love this photograph!

She also included directions for making this origami heart and it looks fairly simple.

Karen's blog description is "crafting a rural spirit" and she writes 

with sincerity and depth about living a simple and meaningful life.

Origami heart by Karen Lowry Reed

The second heart is a watercolor painting done by my friend Nancy at Furry and Feathered Friends.

Nancy does beautiful paintings of nature, birds and animals, as well as lovely custom pet portraits.

Nancy also has other art blogs and a website showcasing her gentle illustrations.

Watercolor heart by Nancy Cooper Funk

I hope you've enjoyed these hearts and that you'll stop by and visit 

Karen's and Nancy's blogs!

Have a wonderful day!!

Heartfelt February Giveaway!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

I've been having so much fun this month making hearts, 

and I've loved showing hearts made by friends.

Now it's time to begin the giveaway I promised!

These are the hearts I'll be giving away. 

Each will have a ribbon hanger so that it can be used as an ornament, 

except for the paper heart at the bottom. 

So far this month, I've had comments and contributions from these friends,

 who will be entered in the giveaway:

Andrea, Libby, Simone, Sharon, Anne, Shell, Alice, Lorinda, Barbara, 

Nan, Lyn, Jennifer, Teri, Carol, Michelle, Karen, KJ, Elaine, The Red Berry

If anyone else would like to be included, just leave a comment on this post!

Winners will be drawn this Sunday, February 17!

I'll be continuing to show hearts for the rest of the month. I have two beauties, 

by friends, to share tomorrow!

Enjoy your day!!!

Heartfelt February ~ Day 13

Fabric, lace, ribbon and button heart by Judy

This heart is recycled from some ornaments I was making in December.

Using pink ribbon instead of red, a button instead a red ribbon rose,

I was able to give it a kind of Victorian flair.

This making of hearts for February has given me the Winter lift I was hoping for.

Tomorrow I'll announce the giveaway I had promised, 

and I hope to spread some joy through

crafting!

Hope your day is a good one!! 

Heartfelt February ~ Day 12

Hearts do not always have to be red!!

heart ornament by Judy ~ fabric, lace, buttons, beads

So happy to see the sun today!! Temperatures in the low 40's!!

Hope you're having a great day!!

Heartfelt February ~ Day 11

Today I'm sharing a couple of heart-themed doilies made by my friend Sharon.

I love the intricacy of this pattern. I had to study it for a minute before I saw the hearts -

how about you?

Crochet doilies by Sharon Butera

And this heart ornament is so pretty, with thicker thread and a scalloped edge.

It makes me want to learn how to crochet!!

Thank you so much, Sharon, for allowing me to feature your work!

We have freezing rain here today and mile high snowbanks!!

Just returned from doing errands and will stay put for the rest of the day!

Happy Monday, everyone!!

Heartfelt February ~ Day 10

Today I am so happy to show you a heart made by my talented friend Barbara. 

She created this button heart with buttons from her extensive collection, threaded with wire - so pretty!

Button heart by Barbara Malek

Today is sunny but cold here - literally, the calm after the storm!

Hope you are having a terrific Sunday!

Heartfelt February ~ Day 9

fused fabric, buttons, acrylic ink

This seemed like an appropriate heart for today!!

We survived the blizzard, with no problems, other than the 2 1/2 feet of snow everywhere!

We have a long driveway, and my dear husband did most of the removal with a snow blower, and I did a bit of shoveling - not very much, as I've been having pain in my wrist and hand lately.

I took this photo last night, through the screened window on our porch, when the wind was howling and snow was falling heavily! Quite a sight! We were lucky not to have lost power!

Well, I hope that everyone else who was affected by this blizzard is doing well and that all are having a very good weekend!

Heartfelt February ~ Day 8

Today I'm sharing a photograph by Andrea of a weathered window shutter in beautiful Rockport, Massachusetts. This is a charming town in Cape Ann, not too far from here.

Hear Shutter photo by Andrea Willey

 Have you heard that we are experiencing a blizzard here on the east coast? Actually, although it has been snowing all day, this is the least of it! We are supposed to have heavy snow and high winds all night and through tomorrow, resulting in about two to three feet of snow!

This brings to my mind the historic blizzard of 1978, when my husband and I were first married. We lived in an apartment in an old home on a busy highway in Massachusetts. I can't find many photos from that storm, but this one was taken after it had ended and people were walking down the highway as though it were a country road!

We are stocked up with everything we need. Our governor has asked that all but emergency vehicles stay off the roads, and I'm hoping that we don't lose power. Towns right on the coast are expecting a lot of damage, so we're sending our best wishes to folks living in those areas.

Meanwhile, I'll be making more hearts, and hope to post more of them soon!

Wishing everyone a safe and warm weekend!

Heartfelt February ~ Day 6

I must admit, I had made this fused fabric, embroidered and beaded heart

wreath a while back, but I added more details and a bow to it yesterday!

Fabric heart by Judy

Meanwhile, Andrea sent me these photos of a birch tree near the lake in our town.

Heart tree photographs by Andrea Willey

Hope you've had a wonderful day!

Heartfelt February ~ Day 5

For today ~ a beaded brooch

Beaded brooch by Judy

I've had these beads for years. The color is even deeper than this photo shows,

and I sewed them on a felt heart, two at a time. It's actually a little bit larger than 

I'd like, but I'll definitely wear it on Valentine's Day!

Hope you're having a great day!

Heartfelt February ~ Day 4

Today is a sunny, very cold day here in New England, and I have two hearts to share!

This morning I completed this cut paper heart, using papers from my stash, along with Sharpie pens.

Cut paper flower heart by Judy

And here is a wonderful 12x12 quilt called "Be My Valentine", made by my friend Andrea.

She also hand painted the heart embellishment.

12x12 quilt, "Be My Valentine", with hand painted heart, by Andrea Willey

Don't forget - I'd love to add your hand made heart to our collection!

Here's how to participate:

Create a heart in any medium. 

Post a photo of it on your blog (if you have one) and email the photo to me at judyeh(at)comcast(dot)net. If you don't have a blog, just send me a photo! 

I will post your heart on my blog  and on the Pinterest group blog, with credit to you. 

You're welcome to contribute one heart during the month of February, or as many as you'd like!

Later in the month I'll have a giveaway of a few of my hearts! 

Hope you're having a great start to your week!

Heartfelt February ~ Day 3

Since my heart for today is not quite finished,

 I'm happy to have this wonderful photo to share,

taken in France by my friend Andrea.

Photograph by Andrea Willey

I love the age-worn wood and beautiful metalwork on this heart-graced door!

I'm showing hearts all month, and would love to include yours! Perhaps you've created a hand made heart in the past, in cross-stitch, quilting, pen and ink, watercolor, felting or some other technique. Or maybe you've caught an intriguing heart in a photo like this one!

Here's how to participate:

Create a heart in any medium. 

Post a photo of it on your blog (if you have one) and email the photo to me at judyeh(at)comcast(dot)net. If you don't have a blog, just send me a photo! 

I will post your heart on my blog  and on the Pinterest group blog, with credit to you. 

You're welcome to contribute one heart during the month of February, or as many as you'd like!

Later in the month I'll have a giveaway of a few of my hearts! 

Hope you've enjoyed a wonderful weekend!

Heartfelt February ~ Day 2

Pink felt heart by Judy, with plastic beads I bought years ago!!

Yesterday I went pink! What fun to use up materials already in my stash, 

just waiting to be brought to light!

Pink always makes me feel nostalgic - old roses, my sister's and my 

summer bedspreads as kids, my mother's "rouge"

when she dressed up and put on makeup,

beautiful sunsets and the curtains in my sewing room...

I'll be making hearts all month, and you're invited to contribute, too!

Toward the end of the month, I'll have a giveaway of a few of my hearts!!

Here's how to participate:

Create a heart in any medium. 

Post a photo of it on your blog (if you have one) and email the photo to me at judyeh(at)comcast(dot)net. If you don't have a blog, just send me a photo! 

I will post your heart on my blog  and on the Pinterest group blog, with credit to you. 

You're welcome to contribute one heart during the month of February, or as many as you'd like!

Here's wishing you a wonderful weekend!!

Heartfelt February: An Invitation and a Giveaway!

February is often a dreary month for me, so I decided to perk it up this year with a theme - handmade  hearts!! I'm also extending an invitation to my readers to join me in this challenge!

Made by Judy - wool, wool roving, stitching, beads

Hearts will be shown on my blog (as well as on yours) and also on a group Pinterest board!

Heart Tree in Winchester, MA - photo by Andrea Willey

Later in the month, I'll announce a giveaway of a few of my hearts, to readers who have commented during the month.

Here's how to participate:

Create a heart in any medium. 

Post a photo of it on your blog (if you have one) and email the photo to me at judyeh(at)comcast(dot)net. If you don't have a blog, just send me a photo! 

I will post your heart on my blog  and on the Pinterest group blog, with credit to you. 

You're welcome to contribute one heart during the month of February, or as many as you'd like.

I'm hoping to fill my blog with hearts and friendship this month! I'd love you to join in!! 

Happy February!!