diff --git a/common.gradle b/common.gradle
index d535c72ce..164ca7a07 100644
--- a/common.gradle
+++ b/common.gradle
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ ext {
     // current versions of the libraries
     jcommanderVersion = '1.74'
     jme3utilitiesdebugVersion = '0.9.1'
-    jme3utilitiesheartVersion = '2.8.0'
+    jme3utilitiesheartVersion = '2.9.0'
     jme3utilitiesniftyVersion = '0.7.13'
     jme3utilitiesuiVersion = '0.6.4'
     jme3utilitiesxVersion = '0.2.4'
diff --git a/heart/release-notes.md b/heart/release-notes.md
index efc00fb16..511a46872 100644
--- a/heart/release-notes.md
+++ b/heart/release-notes.md
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 # release notes for the jme3-utilities-heart library and related tests
 
+## Version 2.9.0 released on TBD
+
+ + Added createShadedMaterial() for solid colors to the MyAsset class
+
 ## Version 2.8.0 released on 3 September 2018
 
  + Added an isScaleUniform() method to the MyVector3f class
diff --git a/heart/src/main/java/jme3utilities/Misc.java b/heart/src/main/java/jme3utilities/Misc.java
index 8bf511d3e..6b0a8a602 100644
--- a/heart/src/main/java/jme3utilities/Misc.java
+++ b/heart/src/main/java/jme3utilities/Misc.java
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ public static FilterPostProcessor getFpp(ViewPort viewPort,
      * @return project name, library name, branch, and revision
      */
     public static String getVersion() {
-        return "jme3-utilities jme3-utilities-heart master $Rev: 2.8.0+1 $";
+        return "jme3-utilities jme3-utilities-heart master $Rev: 2.9.0 $";
     }
 
     /**