Check out week one on my 30 days of quilting experiment. This week’s project was Beating Heart. It is an abstract piece that shows the 4 chambers of the heart and the arteries.

I choose to finish this piece as it has more meaning now, than when I originally made the top. Since I turned 45, I started having panic attacks. These occur mostly at night for me and I really think I am dying from a heart attack. It could start with a twinge and then my mind jumps straight to I’m dying. Of course, logically I know I am going to be ok. Most of the time, I can talk (in my head) myself down and also use a variety of relaxation methods. Once I get to sleep I know that I’ll be ok if I wake up in the morning.

It is so hard when you know your body and its signals so well and then all of a sudden you can’t trust it. It’s definitely been a journey. I have talked with friends and did you know that panic attacks are common in females in their 40’s and related to peri-menopause. Once I found this out I spoke with my doctors and we worked on a solution together. It is so important for us to share and tell our stories. No shame, no more hiding. I think it offers great support for others.

Beating heart, is made from beautiful Oakshott Cottons (an amazing cross weave that adds another dimension to this quilt when you see it in person). I had always wanted to make this secondary design of a heart, off center, with the quilting.

Once that initial markings of the geometric heart was mapped I used straight line quilting around the shape.

I didn’t like the puff though in the middle where the negative space was so I added some hand quilting lines into each of the quadrants of this geometric heart. I used Wonderfil’s Razzle 8wt thread for this.

Also this one for binding I did block match the binding, so that the binding is color matched with the quilt. I think that is one of my favorite parts of the quilt.

Details

Name : Beating Heart
Design: Original Design (one of my QDAD designs)
Fabric: Oakshott Cotton (mostly Ruby Red bundle)
Backing: Kona Cotton Neutral
Binding: Kona Cotton (Putty, Lipstick)
Dimensions: 25 x 27 in.
Quilted: Straight lines walking foot quilting, Aurifil # ; Hand quilting Wonderfil Razzle
Start date: 02 March 2016
Finish date: 11 March 2021