Pieced Brain

All about quilting, knitting, crochet, embroidery, free tutorials, quilting and crafting book reviews.

Happy Birthday Banner

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  I was asked to put together a banner for someone who bought the kit but did not know how to sew. This banner is easy to make! You will need assorted [coordinating might work best!] fabrics for each rectangle, a backing fabric, black fabric for the letters, and black ric-rac. Just cut the 8.5" x 10.5" rectangles for each letter out of the front and backing fabrics, then sew three rectangle sides together (right sides facing), leaving the short top end open. Press it, flip it inside … [Read more...] about Happy Birthday Banner

Numerous Blessings

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Here is an excerpt of an email my husband received this week from someone at work: " Met a woman tonight at UofU [University of Utah] hospital that makes the phrase "count your blessings" come alive.  Be good.  Be nice.  Be grateful.  Life is too darn short... ... Stage 4 breast cancer that has moved to multiple locations.  Cancer has broken her neck and spine and is incurable at this point.  7 months pregnant and trying to keep alive for healthy delivery. … [Read more...] about Numerous Blessings

Holiday Decor Tutorial

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At this time of the year I search for ideas of gifts I can make for friends, teachers, my husband's co-workers, and others who have affected our life in a positive way during the year. As I make the gifts, I am filled with gratitude for them... and hope they will feel it as they receive the gift. My requirements: the gift should not take hours to put together, it must be creative, and its materials must be easily found in nearby stores. This year I made a Christmas wall hanging decoration … [Read more...] about Holiday Decor Tutorial

Quilting with wool

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I love the look of wool applique, and have made a table runner, a small wall hanging, and a pin cushion, and have a Christmas wall hanging kit waiting to be worked on. I think I will start it soon, as I have been dreaming of working with wool for quite a while. I am perhaps influenced by my friend Sandi, whose applique quilts are to die for... Until I have a chance to start working on the wall hanging, I have been reading the latest title I purchased for my quilt library: Pennies from Heaven: … [Read more...] about Quilting with wool

Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday…

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Last Saturday I went to JoAnn's very early in the morning, armed with coupons and cash. Look what I got: Yep, the entire roll of my favorite batting! When my friend Diana S., who also happened to be there super early with her mom, suggested I buy the entire roll since the price was so good, I listened! I am the proud owner of this roll of 40 yards of Warm and Natural batting, except I feel like a thief who just stole the contents of an entire house but can't pack it all onto his 'bicycle'!!! … [Read more...] about Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday…