Piecing a Heart Block

If you want to make a Valentine quilt or table topper try piecing some heart blocks!
Scroll to the bottom to see the pieced heart.
Cutting the fabricThis Block requires:

one 6-1/2" x 3-1/2" of focus fabric

two 3-1/2" squares of focus fabric

two 3 1/2" squares of the background fabric

four 2" squares of background fabric


Piecing the Block
1) Lightly mark a diagonal line on the wrong side of the two 3-1/2" background fabric squares and the four 2" background fabric squares as shown.
2) Take the 6-1/2" x 3-1/2" rectangle of focus fabric and place one of the 3 1/2" squares of background fabric on the rectangle as shown, right sides together. Sew on the diagonal line marked on the 3-1/2" background fabric square.

3) Trim fabric 1/4" from the sewn diagonal line as shown. Press seam toward the background fabric.

4) Take the remaining 3-1/2" square of background fabric and place on top of the unit completed in Step 2 as shown with right sides together. Sew on the diagonal line marked on the 3-1/2" background fabric square.

5) Trim fabric 1/4" from the sewn diagonal line as shown. Press seam toward the background fabric. The completed units should measure 6-1/2" x 3-12/2".
6) Take one of the 2" squares of background fabric and place on top of one of the 3-1/2" squares of focus fabric as shown with right sides together. Sew on the diagonal line marked on the 2" background fabric square. Repeat with the remaining 3-1/2" square of focus fabric and one of the 2" squares of background fabric.

) Trim fabric 1/4" from the sewn diagonal line as shown. Press seam toward the background fabric.
8) Take one of the 2" squares of background fabric and place on top of one of the units completed in Step 7 as shown with right sides together. Sew on the diagonal line marked on the 2" background fabric square. Repeat with the remaining Step 7 unit and the remining 2" square of background fabric.

9) Trim fabric 1/4" from the sewn diagonal line as shown. Press seam toward the background fabric. This completed unit should measure 3-1/2" square.
10) Piece together the two units created in Step 9 as shown. Press the seam allowance to either side. This finished unit should measure 6-1/2" x 3-1/2".

11) Piece together the unit created in Step 5 with the unit created in Step 10 to complete the heart Block. The finished Block should measure 6-1/2" x 6-1/2" which includes a 1/4" seam allowance on all sides.

This would look great in traditional red fabrics but would also look great in pinks or mauves.

So many new friends!

I am so delighted with all of the new friends that have visited my blog! There have even been two that live near Pliloth Plantation! Now you know that makes me so envious!
I am very busy with doctor appointments for my husband & son so I have not been able to comment but I have read each & everyone and appreciate them so much!

One World One Heart Blog Giveaway

I am participating in the One World One heart blog Giveaway.

This a huge blog event- at last count there are over 500 participants!

Click on the logo to the right to view more blogs!

I will be giving away Prairie Prim Soap balls & a 3/pk of Country Cabin tarts/melters as shown above.

To be entered just leave a comment telling me what your favorite candle/soap scent is!

If you do not have a blog make sure you leave your email address so I can contact you if you win.

Comments will be taken until 11:59 pm on February 11th.

Winner will be drawn at 7:00 pm on February 12th.

Good Luck!

4 Patch Quilt Block

What You Need
2 strips cut 31/2" x 7 "
Place dark strip onto light strip. Right sides together. Edges even. Stitch using a scant ¼" seam allowance.
Press seam toward dark strip.
Place sewn strips on cutting mat. Rotary cut in half.
Each unit should measure 3 ½" x 6 ½".
Arrange units so you have a dark square & a light square.
Place units on top of each other so that you have a dark square on top of a light sqaure & a light sqaure on top of a dark square.
Make sure right sides are together. Edges even. Pin the center seams so the folds meet. Stitch.
Your quilt block should resemble a checker board and should measure 61/2" x 61/2"

Surgery for Son, Surgery for Husband, But doing the Happy Dance

Let me explain this a bit! I am doing the happy dance because these problems are going to be fixed!
My husband needs his gall bladder removed- has to see his cardiologist & a lung specialist first to make sure he can tolerate the anesthesia- if they give their okay he will be minus a gall bladder full of stones! And that will be a good thing!
My son discovered he has several blocked arteries- abdomen, kidney artery, and iliac artery that supplies blood to his left leg.
The surgeon he saw here found out he did not have medical insurance and said come back & see me when you have at least 20,000 dollars.
Not having this done would have led to a leg amputation or worse for my son- he is only in his thirties.
I contacted a hospital in a big city 80 miles away from us. He saw one of their vascular surgeoans today- he is going to have his heart arteries checked, and the carotid arteries in his neck and fix everything that needs to be fixed at one time if possible- also they are going to try to find out why this is happening at such a young age
They are truly angels there! So there fore I am doing the happy dance since both of my loved ones will hopefully soon be well.

The Log Cabin Block

Choose a color or fabric for your center square in the blocks. These can be the traditional red or toss tradition out the window and pick a bold color (or several colors). You might want to "fussy cut" an image from a novelty fabric for the center. For the center you will cut total length of strips 3.5 inches wide. Or if you are using odd sized scraps cut the number of squares of 3.5 x 3.5 inches to match the number of blocks you plan to make. Put these aside.

Start cutting 2 inch strips from the various fabrics you will use for your blocks. As you cut them sort them into two groups by either contrast (light - dark) or into color families if you choose to do so. If your fabric is full width your strips will be 2 in. x 42", but if your fabric is in odd sizes you will have 2" x assorted lengths and that is fine, too. You need not cut all the strips at once, but cut a variety so you can sew 1-2 blocks to test.

Sew a fabric strip with a 1/4 inch seam allowance to the center square- trim even.

Then add a strip to the other three sides- continue sewing & trimming until you have a 12" block keeping your light fabrics on one side & your dark fabrics on the other.

A diagram is on the upper right side of this post

Quilt Block Projects

It occured to me that if you have never made a quilt- a full quilt might be intimidating- or perhaps you do not have enough fabric on hand to make a lot of blocks in one color.
You can make each block out of different fabric for a scrappy look- these are usually quite wonderful!
One block can be a pillow top- or a tote bag front.
Three blocks can be a table runner.
Six blocks can be a doll quilt or a wall hanging.
Try using up scraps out of your stash like the pioneer women would have for some no cost decorating!

Let's Quilt!

Since quilting was such a big part of the lives of Pioneer woman I have decided to post some free patterns for quilt blocks that have been around for a very long time- many of them back to Pioneer days.
I will try to post easy blocks so that it will be easier to get a quilt finished.
The first block is : Ohio Star.


Cutting Instructions:Cream... 4 squares 4 1/2" x 4 1/2"... 2 squares 5 1/4" x 5 1/4", cut twice diagonally to make quarter-square triangles - yield: 8Blue print... 1 square 4 1/2" x 4 1/2"Red... ... 2 squares 5 1/4" x 5 1/4", cut twice diagonally to make quarter-square triangles - yield: 8
Size: 12" FinishedBeginner Level
Assembly Instructions:1. Referring to Diagram I, make 4 pieced-square sub units.
2. Referring to Assembly Diagram, sew pieced-squares to 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" cream and blue print squares. Sew rows together to make Ohio Star Block.

Note the borders on this block & squares in the corners are not included in the directions.

Bicycle Trivia

Baron Karl Drais von Sauerbronn - Early BicyclesThe German Baron Karl Drais von Sauerbronn invented the "Laufmaschine" or "Running Machine", a type of pre-bicycle. The steerable Laufmaschine was made entirely of wood and had no pedals; a rider would push his/her feet against the ground to make the machine go forward. Sauerbronn's bicycle was first exhibited in Paris on April 6, 1818. The celerifere was another similar early bicycle precursor invented in 1790 by Frenchmen, Comte Mede de Sivrac, however, it had no steering.

Penny FarthingThe Penny Farthing is also referred to as the 'High' or 'Ordinary' bicycle, and the first one was invented in 1871 by British engineer, James Starley. The Penny Farthing came after the development of the 'Hobbyhorse', and the French 'Velocipede' or 'Boneshaker', all versions of early bikes. However, the Penny Farthing was the first really efficient bicycle, consisting of a small rear wheel and large front wheel pivoting on a simple tubular frame with tires of rubber.

Photo from http://thegraphicsfairy.blogspot.com/

information from http://www.about.com/

Embroidery- An Age Old Craft

Emroidery is a very old craft. I know my mother did it,my grandmother did it, their mother's did it and so on.

I found these instructions and pattern on http://www.tipnut.com/

Right click pattern & save to your hard drive.

Enjoy!

This pattern contains motifs to be worked in cross stitch with applique or in cross stitch with outline stitch to be used on kitchen towels.
All applique patches are given.
Linen toweling should be used for towels, percale, gingham or a similar material for applique patches and six strand cotton for embroidery.
The motifs are to be done in a variety of colors or in one color.

1 yard of 16 or 18 inch material
Six strand cotton in each color to be used
Small scraps for applique patches
Please remember these are copies of my vintage transfers that were meant to be ironed on face down (mirror image). Depending on what transfer method you choose, you may have to flip the image before printing.
When working in plain embroidery disregard applique patches.
Hem each towel end.
Cut the motif from pattern. Pin it securely in place on towel and transfer.
Transfer applique patches on contrasting material when working motifs in applique.
Plain Embroidery:
Follow Color Suggestions and work crosses, cross stitch; continuous lines, outline stitch and single lines, single stitch.
Applique:
Follow Color Suggestions and cut out patches on outer line; the inner broken line is the finishing line. Slash edges on small lines at right angles to outer line. Turn under edges and baste in place on motif. Catch patch to article with outline stitch; work rest of motif following directions for Plain Embroidery.

For working in Plain Embroidery or Applique work fruits in their respective colors; leaves, green; large crosses, deep green, brown or black; or work all in one color if desired.

Minus 37 degrees!

Yes that's right ! It was 37 degrees below zero here during the night!
A water pipe broke at my Mom's house- plumbers are at a prmium as everyone has frozen pipes- the plumber I did find says he will still get it fixed tonight.
The tempertures broke a record!

Look at my header now!

It is now in Sepia tone which I think gives it an older more authentic look to go with my blog name.
A big thanks to my friend Holly at http://penniwigs.blogspot.com/ for creating it for me!
Please leave a comment & let me know what you think of it!

The Woes of Winter!! Praying for the Kitty!

Wednesday morning we woke up to 6" of new snow- we already had about 18" on the ground.
This maorning the temperature had fallen to 21 degrees below zero!
I have been feeding a stray cat that wondered in about a month ago. The garge door has frozen shut with just a small opening so the cat can squeeze in there to get out of the wind but there is really nothing for her to snuggle down into for warmth. Yesterday I threw a baby sized fleece blanket through the crack- but I can't tell if she is burrowing into it.
She was alive & wanting to be fed this morning- but it is supposed to get down to 30 below zero tonight- I hope she is waiting to be fed in the morning!

Surprised By the Poll Results

I want to thank everyone that took the time to participate in the handbag poll.
I was a little surprised by the poll results.
The leather purse won the poll hands down.
I had thought that fabric purses would have a bigger vote as there are so many cute ones out there nowdays.
The leather ones on the other hand are probably more durable & easier to clean.

Warm Winter Wishes

It is very cold & snowy here in the Midwest!

Hope all of you in cold climates are staying safe , warm, and dry!

This is another great free graphic from http://penniwigs.blogspot.com/

Please Participate in My Handbag Poll...

it is located at the top right side of the screen!
Thanks!

Words to Live By...

Motivation is dreams with work clothes on.
Author Unknown
Now is a good time to start working on your dreams!!

Calamity Jane

( 1852-1903)
Calamity Jane was a famous woman scout of the Wild West, pony express rider, and known for dressing like a man at a time when women could be fined for wearing men's clothing!
Her famous quote: " I was considered the most reckless and dangerous rider and one of the best shots in the Western country".

Prairie Prim Soap

I have finally made some more soap! It is made to resemble the old handmade soap that the pioneers made- so it is not cut exactly even and has a chunky look to it.

It contains goat milk & other ingredients to soothe your skin.

Looks great in an old prim bowl on your sink!

This great soap can be purchased at

http://www.brandyannescandlesandprims.com/

Great Spring Graphics!

This wonderful Spring gazing ball graphic came from Penniwigs! Isn't it beautiful!

She kindly gives away free graphics on a daily basis! Right now she has wonderful

Valentine & Spring graphics up. Drop on over & pay her a visit!

http://www.penniwigs.blogspot.com/

New Year- New Items

I have been busy adding new products to the website- the seed bags are great for storage and match our Prairie Bonnets- the rice cozies are great for winter or anytime you need a little heat for aches & pains or just to warm up.
New Prairie Prim soaps have been added also.

All items are darker in color than shown.
http://www.brandyannescandlesandprims.com/

My Olde Homestead in Winter

These photos wre taken Christmas day this year. Some of the icicles are around 3 foot long- a typical Midwest winter!