prettypennyprecuts

Let’s Have Tea

What could be better than Tea and stitching fellowship? Not much in my little world! Sizzix.com has a couple of great Teacup Dies and I created a fun make ‘n take Teacup Needle Book with Bigz Die 658093, Flower embellishments 657722. You might think that a die cut project is pretty cookie cutter, but you would be wrong. My stitching friends blow me away everytime with their creativity. Here is a sampling of their progress today at our open house Tea in the Pretty Penny Precuts Studio. Die cut something soon and create! May your needle always be sharp and threaded.

Tags: Applique, Embroidery, Felted Wool, quilting, Shelley Fine Bone China, Sizzix, Sizzix Bigz, Tea, Teacup, Wool, Wool Felt

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Categories Crafts, Embroidery, Felted Wool, Sewing Notions, Sizzix, Stitchery, Wool Applique

Sew Free Retreat

7 May

I attended my first Quilting Retreat ever this week! What a wonderful time we had!!! My goal was to a. Bond with my

sewing machine, b. Finish projects, and c. Enjoy everyone and everything. It was a huge success and I highly recommend “retreating” to you. My finishes included binding one full sized quilt

one charity quilt, a Cindy Needham thread play practice piece, and my Bluebird Tea Party wool on cotton appliqué (look at that awesome Bluebird wool I dyed).

Stitching out several labels and using embroidery software to quilt quilting motifs (See the one block sample of Primitive Pieces by Lynda Hall – Wedding Day Quilt). It’s so wonderful to accomplish things! This retreat was held at the Charlie Elliot Nature Center in Mansfield, GA. The facility and staff was top notch. The beds are rock hard so plan ahead and take a mattress pad. And no, it wasn’t free, but we were free to sew to our heart’s content and the only schedule to follow was for meals. Should you ever go to a retreat at the Charlie Elliot Nature Center be sure to request the Scones with each breakfast served. Yum!

Tags: Applique, Bernina 830, Charlie Elliot Nature Center, Felted Wool, hand dyed woool, quilting, retreat, Sizzix

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Categories Quilting, Quilting Retreat, Uncategorized

DIY Modern Apron or Adult Bib Charity Sewing Project UPDATE

14 Feb

I just cannot keep up with the requests for this pattern. Your patience is appreciated as I create an updated pattern and offer it in kit form in my Etsy Shop. Should be available early spring. http://www.PrettyPennyPrecuts.Etsy.com

A very stylish lady we know is recovering from a Stroke. She is leaving the hospital and entering Rehabilitation next week. I meet weekly with the best group of ladies in my little world, we call ourselves Comfort Quilters. Sherri brought in an adult bib for us to make. I knew we could do better! Our friend Jan brought something like we will be making in to show us several years back. I drew the yoke for this new version. It’s really all about dignity, what adult wants to wear a bib? With a tiny bit of extra effort you’ve got a stylish alternative. All you need is two Fat Quarters of fabric, one for your focus fabric and one for the lining, one Hand Towel or Dishtowel, and 1 1/2″ x 1 1/2″ piece of of Hook and Loop Tape. Stitch, then clip, your yoke rights sides together leaving Bodice open. Turn your yoke right side out and press. Turn the raw edges of the bodice under 1/2″. Trim your hook and loop tape to an oval shape. I used my favorite tool the Sizzix Bigshot and Originals Ovals to cut my hook and loop tape. Stitch hook tape oval to the left side – on focus fabric side and loop oval to the right side – lining side of fabric. Set aside. Turn the bottom of your towel to the right side creating a 6 1/2″ deep pocket. Stitch sides of towel pocket securely. For an Adult Bib we leave this pocket as one large opening to catch falling food. For a Kitchen apron stitch one or two rows of stitching to create pockets. Trim away the hem from the top of the towel and place it into the bodice opening pushing it up inside at least 1/2″ pin to secure, easing to fit. Top stitch a scant 1/4″ from bodice edge catching all three layers at once. That’s it! Your Apron or Adult Bib is finished.

The one with the Tomato Fabric is mine for cooking and I love it! That’s Penny the Chihuahua photo bombing. I whipped out my hand dyed felted wool and die cut a matching tomato to Applique on the pocket. Too cute don’t you think?

Tags: adult bib, apron, charity sewing, DIY, stroke

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Categories Apron Adult Bib, Sizzix

Upcycled Stitching Notion – Petifore Emory Pincushions

10 Feb

Love a useful stitching notion. These Petifore Emory Pincushions fall into that category. The base/lid is from a Slimfast drink bottle. The wools are from recycled 100% wool garments some hand dyed. Even the Perle Cotton threads used to stitch mine were acquired at a local thrift shop. Of course I used my most favorite tools the sizzix.com Sizzix Bigshot Die Cutting Machine and Originals and Bigz Circle dies. The photos are the results of a Make n Take stitching session in my studio. Don’t they look good enough to eat? May your needle always be sharp and threaded!

Tags: quilting Sizzix, sewing, Sizzix Bigshot

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Categories Crafts, Embroidery, Felted Wool, Quilting, Recycled, Sewing Notions, Sizzix, Stitchery, Wool Applique

Sweet Talk

31 Jan

Sizzix has several Heart dies in their lineup. What could be better than designing around the iconic Conversation Hearts? Here are my projects related to this theme. I created a large table mat for my antique tea table, a smaller candle mat version, a tiny tall table banner, and Conversation Heart topiaries. I hope you are planning some Sweet Talk for your favorite Valentine!

Tags: Applique, Conversation Hearts, Felted Wool, hearts, Stitchery, Sweet Talk, Valdani Threads

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Categories Crafts, Embroidery, Felted Wool, Holiday Decorations, Quilting, Recycled, Sizzix, Stitchery, Wool Applique

Frosty Fun

30 Jan

Hopefully you survived last week’s threatened snowmagedon! Here is a photo of my Frosty Fun table scape made with felted wool die cuts from Sizzix steel rule dies. Time to put the snowflakes away and decorate for Valentines.

Tags: Applique, Candle Mat, die cut, Embroidery, Felted Wool, Sizzix, Snowflakes, Stitching

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Categories Sizzix, Snowflake Decorations, Wool Applique

Leftovers – Do you have crafting leftovers to good to toss?

28 Jan

I designed this Shot by Cupid’s Arrow candle mat using two Sizzix steel rule dies – Originals Flourish and retired Cupid. The leftovers from die cutting the Flourish the “negative of the image” were just too good to toss. I designed this adorable cushion From My Heart in order to use up the Flourish leftovers. I hope you too can do something creative with your useable leftovers! Happy Crafting!!!

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Categories Recycled, Sizzix, Wool Applique

Stitching Gifts for Sewing Friends

1 Dec

Great gift for you stitching friends.

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Thank you for your response. ✨

Do you have handmade gifts planned for your sewing friends? Locked in my mind forever are these words from my lovely mother Annette “if I can’t eat it, wear it or spend it I don’t want it!” LOL. To this end I created this little Scissor Holder Needle Minder combination. Hope you can fit in plenty of stitching with your Christmas preparations.

Tags: die cut, Embroidery, Felted Wool, Gift, Precut Applique Shapes, Pretty Penny Precuts, Recycled Wool, Sizzix, Stitchery, Wool Applique

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Categories Wool Applique

Acorns – It’s a Fall Thing

13 Nov

I love acorns! Perhaps it’s the 14th Century Proverb Mighty oaks from little acorns grow, meaning great things come from small beginnings.

My stitching friend Mary Ann who shares my passion for felted wool projects collected baskets full of acorns, I think they are Post Oak acorns, for us to make little wool acorns.

We used 2″, 2 1/4″, and 2 1/2″ die cut felted wool circles, stitched them like a Yo Yo, stuffed them with fiberfill about the size of a cotton ball (or less), knotted them closed and glued them inside the acorn caps with my favorite glue Fabri Tac. They should last forever and we won’t have to fight the squirrels for them!

The Acorn needle book was die cut using the Accuquilt GO Fall Medley die, I used my Sizzix Bigshot Pro machine and the Accuquilt GO Adapter to cut them out. Happy Stitching!

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Categories Uncategorized

Name Tags

9 Nov

Do you have occasion to wear a name tag? I participate in several stitching groups and name tags are encouraged. Sizzix has a number of label dies that make wonderful name tags. Here is how I prepare my name tag: fuse fabric to both sides of Peltex then die cut desired shape. Apply white glue to the side/perimeter, it’s about 1/8″ and dust with your favorite fine glitter. Yes you could stitch around the edge, but the glue and glitter is so quick and accents the edge without overpowering. Select your favorite Sizzix Flower Layer die and make an embellishment for your name tag. Use a Pigma Pen or other permanent none running ink pen to write your name. I usually use a corsage pin to pin my name tag to my garment.