Heart Art: A Tutorial

I thought I would take a little break from my deadline work and play a bit. I’m not usually a heart art kind of person but this was fast and fun. I’ll leave it to you to think up ideas of where the finished heart could be used… maybe a tiny art quilt, on a fabric purse or tote, or simply framed? If you try it, I hope you’ll let me know what you did with the finished heart. (I apologize for the blurry photos but I’m sure you will be able to get the just of the process).  I love Neocolor ll wax pastels and that is what I used.

heart 1
Start with four pieces of freezer paper the exact same size.
heart 2
Iron three of the pieces together so that the paper side is out (like a freezer paper sandwich), then iron the fourth piece of freezer paper to the other three. Be sure they are lined up well so the freezer paper doesn’t melt onto the iron.
heart draw cut
Next fold regular paper and cut out a heart shape pattern. Then place the pattern on the freezer paper and draw around the heart.
heart draw design
Use a black marker to draw around the heart and then draw a free-style design inside.
bare needle
I removed thread, bobbin and presser foot. You may want to use a free-motion/darning foot but I prefer an open/bare needle. Be very careful if doing it this way.
bare needle stitching
Use a needle that will not be used on fabric ever again. Place the freezer paper heart under the needle and start stitching on the lines. I like to go fast and as you can see I didn’t follow the lines very well and that is just fine. If you go slowly it is easier to stay on the lines but for this project it doesn’t matter.
stitching finished
Cut the freezer paper heart out. This doesn’t need to be perfect unless you would like an even edge.
flip the heart
After all the stitching is done flip the heart over, notice this side is more textured than the other so this is the side to do the rubbing on. Place a piece of cotton fabric over the heart.
heart under fabric
Neocolor ll wax pastels may be used on fabric with water and other liquids and then heat set.
heart rubbing
Hold the fabric while using the wax pastels and rub across the fabric over the heart. I used one color inside and another around the outside edge.
rubbing done
When the rubbing is finished (there will be another rubbing later) removed the heart (this freezer paper heart could be colored and used in another piece of art). Place the fabric on a protected surface.
paint with water
Water and a soft brush used around the outside edge.
paint with water2
Start with only a little water and see how it bleeds before adding more. Notice how bright the pastel becomes.
paint with alcohol 1
Next do the same with rubbing alcohol on the center design. While water really causes the wax to bleed into the fabric, alcohol brightens it without causing it to move as much,
paint with alcohol 2
After the center is done I wadded a piece of foil then opened it out. Placed the foil under the fabric and used another wax pastel color for another rubbing.
heart foil rubbing
Wadded foil
heart foil rub painting
Another color.
heart art
A little more water wash on the blue and then air dry and heat set using an iron. I think it is calling for some quilting!

By Ann Scott

I started sewing and designing using fabric, thread, and paper when I was a child. I taught myself to make quilts, at first not following the "rules," then watched some experts, learned the rules, and made many hand quilted and appliqued quilts. I spent years focusing on miniature landscape quilts. Now I am a fiber and mixed media artist and that encompasses everything I have a passion for. I have taught, lectured, and my work have show nationally and internationally, some pieces have been published.