Needles-n-Pins Stitcheries: Prairie Point Quilting Borders

Now that the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season is done and we are starting a new year many of us can get back into our sewing rooms. I know mine is a mess from all the sewing I did for family and friends. So let's start sewing again. This is a tutorial that I found on HGTV.com on Prairie Points.

Calculating size

To determine the initial size of your points, consider the proportion of your quilt. Audition points of various sizes to determine what looks best. For the pictured project, one block in the quilt was measured, and that length was divided into about 3½ prairie points.


Folding:
1. Fold a selected fabric square into a half-square triangle, right sides out.
2. Fold the square again into a quarter-square triangle and press. Once folded, the raw edge will be the same length as the initial square.

Attaching:
1. With right sides together and raw edges aligned, place prairie points along one side of the quilt top. When satisfied with the placement and all points are pinned down, continue in the same manner around the rest of the quilt top.

2. Sew the prairie points with a ¼-inch seam.

3. Layer, baste and quilt the quilt top. Stop quilting about ½-inch from the edge.

4. Trim the backing ¼-inch beyond the raw edges of the quilt top and prairie points. Carefully trim only the batting slightly less than the raw edges of the quilt top and prairie points.

5. Turn the prairie points away from the center of the quilt. Note that the seam allowance turns inward. Wrap the backing over the edge of the batting. Secure the backing to the prairie points with pins, and hand-stitch to close.

Easy peasy. Actually I have made these before and they are pretty easy to do once you get the hang of them. 

Happy Sewing! 

Colleen :)

Needles-n-Pins Stitcheries

Needles-n-Pins Stitcheries Blog

Calculating size
To determine the initial size of your points, consider the proportion of your quilt. Audition points of various sizes to determine what looks best. For the pictured project, one block in the quilt was measured, and that length was divided into about 3½ prairie points.
Folding:
1. Fold a selected fabric square into a half-square triangle, right sides out.
2. Fold the square again into a quarter-square triangle and press. Once folded, the raw edge will be the same length as the initial square.
Attaching:
1. With right sides together and raw edges aligned, place prairie points along one side of the quilt top. When satisfied with the placement and all points are pinned down, continue in the same manner around the rest of the quilt top.
2. Sew the prairie points with a ¼-inch seam.
3. Layer, baste and quilt the quilt top. Stop quilting about ½-inch from the edge.
4. Trim the backing ¼-inch beyond the raw edges of the quilt top and prairie points. Carefully trim only the batting slightly less than the raw edges of the quilt top and prairie points.
5. Turn the prairie points away from the center of the quilt. Note that the seam allowance turns inward. Wrap the backing over the edge of the batting. Secure the backing to the prairie points with pins, and hand-stitch to close.

Jacquie's Up-Cycle Nation: Spin A New Tune

With up-cycling and re-cycling finally reaching mainstream consciousness, the arts and crafts community is rocking the cause with ingenuity and style.
These Etsy up-cyclers have found the right notes with their musical recreations.
(Fair warning: there will be many corny musical references in this post!)

BootsNGus gets my ultra fave award for reintroducing the mason jar as stylish speakers.  Visit this eco-chic shop to be wowed by this artist's magical up-cycled home goods.

Place the music close to your ears with these up-cycled music paper earrings by EarthChildArt.  Visit her Etsy shop to see how she transforms ordinary paper into delicate jewels.

 Who isn't in love with the romance of vintage music sheets! StayGoldMedia adds pops of whimsy and hipster images to up-cycled papers to create artwork that sings good vibes.

Old album covers are both artistic and nostalgic.  Retrograndma up-cycles album jackets into sturdy handbags that totally rock!

Mix sewing and music in the up-cycle process?  Yes please! LaurelsArt uses recycled records as her canvas. With a wide range of subject matter, this store is right on key.

Make the music last with functional assemblage art.  Made from piano keys, piano hammers and scrap wood, this Robot sculpture would be the high note of any collection! Swing into Rengaarts to view more of this artist's amazing work.

I think I'm finally out of musical puns but you can make the beat go on by searching up-cycle music on Etsy.

 

LOVE  &  UP-CYCLE NATION!!

Jacquie Wheeler

Hand of Bela Peck

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Handofbelapeck?ref=si_shop
https://www.etsy.com/shop/BelaPeckHome

http://handofbelapeck1759.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hand-of-Bela-Peck/294397987277061?ref=hl

Blog Party Sunday -- Show Off Your Handmades

Welcome to our Blog Party Sunday. We would love to have you show us what you are crafting.

You are allowed to add 3 links to your shops or your blog.

The rules are simple:
1. Follow our blog
2. Handmade items only.
3. You may list up to 3 items each week.
4. Family friendly items only.

The success of this link party depends on the participants so spread the word to your friends, visit the shops,  post about it on your  blog, in a forum or on your favorite social networking site, grab the button and put it on your blog or website.
Just click on the Add Your Link button below and add your items.
And if you would like to add a link to the party you can grab this button below.

<a href="http://www.byyourhands.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy110/ByYourHands/blogparty.jpg">, </a>

Today's Featured Shop -- My Lady Of Gourds

Today's featured shop is My Lady Of Gourds.

In Sue's shop you will find unique handmade gourd and glass art, jewelry and home accessories.


Rustic Gourd Bowl, Southwest Gourd Bowl, Natural Bowl, Planter Bowl

Gourd Pin, Yellow Daisy Gourd Brooch

Birdhouse Gourd Ornament, Holiday Red Gourd Bird House

Rustic Sunflower Pendant, Fused Glass Flower Pendant

Be sure and visit Sue's shop to see all her handmades.   https://www.etsy.com/shop/myladyofgourds

Merry Christmas

All of us at www.byyourhands.com would like 

to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas.

Needles-n-Pins Stitcheries: Legend Of The Nutcracker

I think most of us are familiar with the Christmas icon of the Nutcracker. But do you know how the legend of the Nutcracker began? According to the Nutcracker's Collector's Guide this is how the legend of the Nutcracker came to be. So in the realm of the Christmas spirit here is the legend:

Long ago, in the Erzgebirge of Germany, there lived a wealthy farmer who was miserly and lonely. His heart was as hard as the walnuts on his trees! As he had no time for foolishness, the farmer was unable to crack the walnuts and enjoy their tasty meat. So he offered a reward to anyone who could find an easy way to crack the nuts. An old soldier said that he would shoot the nut. A carpenter recommended sawing through the nut. A veterinarian suggested placing the walnuts under a chicken. Surely the walnuts would hatch! Of all the unusual ideas, none were acceptable.

One day, an old puppet carver traveled from Seiffen and presented the farmer with a beautiful wooden puppet. It was painted in bright colors with a large mouth and powerful jaws-big and strong enough to easily crack the hard walnuts! Extremely grateful, the miserly farmer rewarded the entire village. Each year at Christmas, he treated everyone to German fruitcake and painted his walnuts gold to decorate the Christmas tree. And for the puppet carver, the farmer created a special workshop where he could make the most beautiful nutcrackers in the world! Because not only did the beautiful nutcracker crack the walnuts, but it also broke the hard heart of the farmer….so that kindness and generosity would come forth for all.

I have seen Nutcrackers at Christmas time all the time, but I never knew there was actually a legend about them. So now I know...and for those that didn't know before....now you know. :)

I also want to take this time to wish everyone of you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Best wishes for all of you in the new year!

Colleen :)

Needles-n-Pins Stitcheries

Needles-n-Pins Stitcheries Blog

Jacquie's Up-Cycle Nation: Quick Holiday Vignettes

Oh the excitement and joy!  Families are gathering and tables are almost ready for festive feasts, laughter, and new memories to be made.  Why not take a few minutes to create centerpiece-worthy table toppers from left over decorations.

Every year the decoration bin bottom grows deeper with broken ornaments, figurines without a village and random offbeat menagerie. It's a sinkhole of misfit décor! But how can one throw sweet pieces in the trash?  Everything has a bright side, right?

By using simple household items the cast-offs can be up-cycled into jolly new holiday vignettes.  

 

Salt, or sugar, in small jars makes a perfect base for glittered candles.

Sculpt large snowdrifts using wool roving, fiberfill, or batting. And any household mirror can be transformed into an instant skate pond.

These wee snow babies lost their original lighted snowscape to one unsupervised pet many holidays ago.  They are so happy to be up and skating again!

Place up-cycled vignettes in the entry, a side table, alongside the appetizers, or anywhere compliments are sure to gather.

 

A very Merry Christmas to all and to all a good up-cycle!

LOVE  &  UP-CYCLE NATION!!

Jacquie Wheeler

Hand of Bela Peck

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Handofbelapeck?ref=si_shop

http://handofbelapeck1759.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hand-of-Bela-Peck/294397987277061?ref=hl

Blog Party Sunday -- Show Off Your Handmades

Welcome to our Blog Party Sunday. We would love to have you show us what you are crafting.

You are allowed to add 3 links to your shops or your blog.

The rules are simple:
1. Follow our blog
2. Handmade items only.
3. You may list up to 3 items each week.
4. Family friendly items only.

The success of this link party depends on the participants so spread the word to your friends, visit the shops,  post about it on your  blog, in a forum or on your favorite social networking site, grab the button and put it on your blog or website.
Just click on the Add Your Link button below and add your items.
And if you would like to add a link to the party you can grab this button below.

<a href="http://www.byyourhands.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy110/ByYourHands/blogparty.jpg">, </a>

Today's Featured Shop -- Creative Treasures UK

Today's featured shop is Creative Treasures UK.    Teresa makes some beautiful and unusual beaded jewelry.  It was hard to pick just four to show here.


White Beaded Floral Necklace and Earrings Set Bridal.

VIOLETTE Bead Embroidered Cuff with Purple Paua Shell

 

Blue Willow, a Beadwoven Bracelet in Blue, Gold and Picasso

Daisy Chain Bracelet with Burgundy Pearls and Super Duo Beads.

Be sure and visit Teresa's shop to see all her handmade jewelry.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CreativeTreasuresUK

Witches Stiches Printed Fabric Strawberries

I wanted to have some fabric strawberries hanging in my living room so I decided to make some. They are so quick and easy. I wanted to make one with printed fabric but all I had was some tea dyed solid feed sack fabric. So I decided to give it a printed look with stamps. You can run fabric through the printer but some fabric is too thin. The feed sack fabric I have is way too thin to run through. So here is what I did.

Step 1 – Making the strawberry. All you have to do is cut a piece of freezer paper in the shape of a triangle with two long sides and one short. The size of the triangle is up to you. You can make it 3”or 13”. The one I made is 4” long. So cut your shape and set it aside.

Step 2 – Stamping the fabric. I wanted a background. So I stamped that first. I used a large script stamp. Then I added other pictures on top of that. You can use regular stamps and ink, the same kind you would use for paper. Place the pattern on the fabric so you know where to start stamping. Cut your fabric in a square large enough to fit your pattern. Ink up your background stamp and lay the fabric on it and press down. Now do it to a second piece of fabric. Remember the stamped side is now your right side of the fabric. With right sides together place your pattern on the fabric. If you hold it up to the light you can see the stamped image and place the pattern where you want it. Now iron your freezer paper pattern on your fabric, SHINNY SIDE DOWN, sew around the pattern leaving the short side open.  Peel pattern off, cut out around sewing line and turn to the right side. Stuff your strawberry and then hand stitch a running stitch around the opening so you can pull it tight and gather it closed. Knot it off. 

 

 

Step 3 - Make the top of the strawberry by just drawing a star on the wrong side of whatever fabric you want, cut it out. We are not going for a perfect star; you don’t want the points to be exactly the same. Cut out your star and glue it to the top of the strawberry. This will cover where you gathered it. I just use the white craft glue in the gold bottle.

Step 4 – Make a wire loop for hanging. If you are going to be putting your berries in a bowl skip this step. I wanted mine hanging. Cut a piece of wire about an inch and a half long. Fold it in half and twist the two ends together, I used needle nose pliers for this. Poke a hole in the top of the berry, I used a craft knife. Put a touch of glue on the wire loop and stick the end that is twisted into the hole. I used tea stained string to hang them. If you want you can sew your ribbon or string to the top of the berry.

 

I made 3 strawberries; two out of homespun and one stamped and hung them on an old stuffed feed sack. I also did this with hearts.  

 

You can use any shape you want and any fabric and just stamp it. Thanks for reading and if you have any questions please give me a shout.

Thanks, Faith

 

Handmade Spotlight - It's Cold Outside

Check out this awesome selection of winter items. You can view this entire treasury by Clicking Here, or you can click on each item to see it in greater detail.

Hand knit cowl scarf, auberg... CoffyCrochet $83.46	snow photography abstract wi... mylittlepixels $25
Womens Knit Socks, Striped S... Slicknits $39	Black Scarf, Bulky BMW Unise... Solandia $38
Hand knitted egg cozys set o... FeltedByRikke $14.75	Purple Tea Pot Cosy hand kni... TheFeminineTou... $27
Baby Beard Hat - Fleece Line... TheRuggedWoods... $45	NYC winter photo, Christmas ... PhotographySpa $15
Little Ceramic Mug : Winter ... JessiVanGundy $16	HAND KNITTED GLOVES / Women ... DinFir $32
Blue Throw Blanket, Wool Bla... LoveJoyCreate $94	Christmas Decorations Snowfl... EarthlyCreatur... $30
Neckwarmer Tunisian Crochet ... ChronologyOfCr... $35	Free shipping - Hand Crochet... ievasshopcroch... $20
Copper wire dangle earrings ... ArtemisFantasy $35	Winter Landscape Painting, o... CathyHillegas $2000

Sponsored by send bulk email from excel.