Lillie Mae's Crafts Newsletter for September is Out!

Ms Brenda's new Lillie Mae's Crafts Newsletter for September 2010 is out!!

Click HERE to read it.

New feature: Newsletter Archives.
Now we can access the last 2 years of newsletters. Woohoo!!
Link is in this month's newsletter!

Don't miss Brenda's This n' That E-Book 2, a awesome resource booklet just packed galore with ideas, tips, and yes! patterns!!
Click HERE for the link to download it. :)

I see Ms Brenda has been very busy ~ she has F-O-U-R new patterns for us to download this month!! Yippee!! :)

Pssss.... don't tell her I told you so, but our sweet Ms Brenda is having a birthday on September 20th!!!♥♥
H♥A♥P♥P♥Y B♥I♥R♥T♥H♥D♥A♥Y, Ms Brenda!!!!

The Clip Cafe Softie Swap Open NOW

Hi everyone please head over to my blog if you would like to register for our softie swap the page is now live!!

NOTE FROM CJ ~
Ladies, Vanessa is our newest Pins & Needles member! Please give her a big welcome and pop over to see her beautiful blog!!
Thanks for sharing the info about your softie swap with us ~ gee, that sounds like fun, doesn't it?♥

Upcycling ~ by The Patchwork Heart ♥

Upcyling  

Rag rug made from recycled t -shirts

 in Cath Kidston colours.

 I have so enjoyed making this rug, 

my favourite so far

and yes

I have decided to keep it!

It is looking beautiful beside my bed.

I have made 3 rugs this summer holiday, 

not bad, 

the next order is a heart shaped rug

 in lipstick pinks!

Rag rug tutorial available on my blog

Heather ~ The Patchwork Heart

Back-to-School Teacher Gift

My daughter just started K3 at a local private school. Monday was her orientation, meet and greet time. While talking with her teacher I had planned on being random (in her eyes) and asking her favorite color. I changed my mind shortly after arriving. I had decided to go with blue. After most of the parents left the teacher started talking with my daughter. She asked Kaitlyn Joy her favorite color then said, "Mine is orange." So orange it is!

I left the school and headed for Hancock Fabrics for some orange fabric. As you can see I put a M for her last name. I got the idea after doing a google search and coming across a bag like it from Martha Stewart. I did end up having to quilt the bag because the fusible fleece wouldn't stick to the decorator weight fabric. I lined it with a blue, green, yellow fabric. I considered putting a pocket in it and probably should have, but goodness after the fusible fleece issue it was getting late. Her teacher sent a note saying she loves it!

Hand Turkey

Ladies fall is fast approaching and I'm ready to make decorations. Yes, San Antonio has been over 100, but fall is coming despite the temps. While welcoming this new school year in I had to start thinking about MOPS (Mother's Of PreSchoolers) craft ideas. One common complaint about MOPS crafts is that they aren't something the mom is really going to use nor does she want. Like last year we had a choice of making a tote or apron (putting paint and iron on patches on pre-made ones) and I believe ALL the moms made them for their kids. So if I'm doing the crafts this year I'm hoping to make them something the moms might really like. With that in mind I traced my daughter's hand and made a fabric hand print turkey.

I used the blanket stitch around all the pieces and a small zig-zag stitch for the legs. I couldn't find my masking tape so I hot glued the fabric to the backside of the glass; hence the glass glare on the bottom right.

Seeing how the MOPS moms really don't come to the meetings to sew theirs wouldn't be as cute. I would have to give them fabric paints to use around the edges. Sadly once it was all done our MOPS coordinator was bucking the idea. She pointed out that many moms have more then one child. I told her they asked for gift ideas and for things they could give away. I said they could pick a child to do this one of, then go home and cheaply make them of their other children's hands. Send them to the grandmas, they will love them. We'll see...

Now I will forever have a Thanksgiving decor of my three and a half year old's hand.

Upcycling ~ by The Patchwork Heart ♥

Hello and nice to meet you all!

♥♥♥

I am a new member of Pins and Needles.

My name is Heather and I am from England.

Please visit me at

The Patchwork Heart

I love anything country ... my new passion is upcycling

and I love to collect fabric from car boot sales

which I then remake into

hearts

stitcheries

eco friendly fat quarter bundles

and rag rugs

Rag rugging has taken over my life at the moment

with family fearing for their clothes!

I have had so much interest on

my blog

that I have written a tutorial.

You can find it here ~ follow the link on the side bar to the tutorial page.

Heather x

NOTE FROM CJ ~ Here's a quick link to Heather's Rag Rug Tutorial ~
Click HERE

Happy 2nd Birthday Sweet Baby Boy !!!

My son is a beautiful angel born to Heaven. We celebrated his 2nd birthday on saturday the 21st. We realeased ballons here in VA and My friend sam released some in TX so hopefuly he got to see his wonderful surprises !!!!

Fall Apron Swap!

If you'd like to join us for a fall apron swap, then head over to my blog "Country Pleasures" for full details and to get signed up! I can't wait!!

We Have a Winner :)

I want to thank each and everyone of you that played along in our very first Challenge here on Pins and Needles. I hope all of you had as much fun making your pin keeps as I did watching them come together from the teasers.

I know everyone has been waiting all day for me to announce the winner to our very first challenge on Pins and Needles. The delay could not be helped...
Darn work gets in the way of my fun!

I am home now and I am ready to announce the winner... are you ready????

The lucky winner of the prize... for the most voted on Pin keep is
Jennifer #7 .. Flowerpot :)
Jennifer please send me an email... I need your address....
to mail out your winning surprise.

Thank you to everyone that played along to make our first challenge such a wonderful fun success. Stick around.. we have more fun in store for all.

I also wish to thank Cj for all her help on this project. Your my Hero :)

Please feel free to comment on the pin keeps now..
thank you readers for waiting to comment.
While we held our contest.

Dj ~ PINCUSHION CHALLENGE ENTRY POST #9 ~ Jewelry box

I enjoyed this challenge so much, I made two pincushions. I decided to post this one as my entry. I had an old jewelry box laying around not being used. It had a blue velvet lining that I used as the bottom. I sewed my fabric to the lining and then placed it back in the bottom. I removed the lid and threw it away, it was pretty badly scratched and dinged up. I filled the bottom with silica sand which is good for keeping pins sharp. The top is fiberfill to make it more rounded. I put some silver cording I had around the top of the box to make it look more finished. Now I just have to keep it out of my daughter's hands!