Heart-shaped yo-yo’s?  What a wonderful idea! They’re mentioned and pictured both on Cyndi’s Layers Upon Layers and Chloe’s Tangled Thread.  (More yo-yo’s at Tangled Thread.)
Yo-yo’s always seem so popular whenever I mention them or I find them on other quilting and crafting sites.  These little shirred circles can be used for so many projects and have been around for ages. 
Noreen Crone-Findlay,  at Hankering for Yarn, always has some yo-yo ideas to share with us, too.  Here she shows us how to make a yo-yo circle.
 I wonder how someone first discovered they could make yo-yo’s.  Was it by accident or done deliberately?

Old-time patchwork can be turned into Christmas gifts and decorations.  Yo-yo’s, which once were very popular with quilters, seem to evoke a great deal of interest when I write about them.  Some quilters contact me concerning their memories making these as children and with their children.  Other quilters want to know how to make yo-yo’s.
These decorative shirred circles can be used by themselves…with loop of yarn or trim attached…as decorations for your tree.  They can be sewn together in a chain.  Or they can be stitched to other items…such as pillows, tote bags, vests (see Noreen’s ideas), scarves, hats, headbands for …read more

This isn’t exactly the yo-yo animal ornament Eleanore was looking for, but Noreen of Hankering for Yarn has come up with a yarn bear wearing a yo-yo vest.  She also shows a photo of a yo-yo chain that her daughter made.  This decorates the piano with Teddy sitting on the keyboard.
Noreen is from Canada and I live in the United States.  It’s interesting how we both have a fascination for the yo-yo’s of the quilting world and have made them with our daughters.

Noreen at Hankering for Yarn, with her fascination for yo-yo’s, has designed and made another vest using yo-yo decoration.  She also posts attractive photos of much of her work, including this one.
Perhaps Noreen’s creativeness will give you inspiration for making yo-yo projects.  Yo-yo’s are very versatile and can be used for decorative effect or making complete items, such as bed coverings and tablecloths. 
(I shall go more into detail about making and using yo-yo’s in future posts.  I’ve written about them for magazines and in my newspaper columns in the past.)

What a fascinating idea….creating a yo-yo “memory” vest, consisting of these little shirred circles from fabrics given by friends and family.  Noreen at Hankering for Yarn shares her love of yo-yo’s, dating back to her grandmother’s friend, and shows us pictures of the “memory” vest.
Yo-yo’s have a place in my life, too.  I made exquisite bits of fabric art with my daughter.  Together we created yo-yo Christmas tree decorations one year.  Currently I have a bag of yo-yo’s in my closet and must find a project for them.  Noreen has inspired me!