Country Birthdays

Birthdays in the country are the best!  Recently, a dear friend reached a milestone celebration, so our mutual friends in our bible study gathered fabric for me to put together a table runner for her. The 2 butterfly squares are paper-pieced. Each of the 2 squares has 70 pieces in it. 


I am seriously considering teaching a class on paper piecing. Don't be overwhelmed. The first thing I made had  only 8 pieces in it - a Christmas Tree Mug Rug. Then, I graduated to a 14 piece "Hot Coffee" Mug - Mug Rug.  Then, a very large "Star in the East" followed by smaller sized pieces.

Paper piecing is an easy method for making a simple mug rug, detailed wall hangings and quilts. Basically, you need to be able to sew with a sewing machine on printed, straight lines. Little to no ironing is required.

Classes for 4 people so that everyone can have special attention. What do you think? Would YOU like to take this class? If you are interested, send me a private message.

I did not design this particular butterfly and unfortunately, I cannot remember where I got it.

Remember, Handmade is Heaven-made.

© 2105 Cat Brennan

Country Kitty-Litter

If you're a true fabric-holic, you hesitate to throw out even the tiniest piece of fabric; I'm talkin' less than a two-inch scrap. There's a solution for us!

Keep a small box or a (true) thread catcher at your sewing machine to collect all of your snippings and clippings; even those short threads cut off at the beginning and end of a seam. These "valuable" bits are called "kitty litter". As your small catcher fills, transfer these bits into a larger vessel to save for later.

There are many, many uses for this soft kitty litter such as, tightly stitched pet chew toys, soft and small "bean" bags for the little people to toss around, and my favorite, pet beds.  

I don't have any house pets, but there are any number of shelters for pets that can ALWAYS use more bedding. Make the bed ''cases'' out of old curtains, jeans, upholstery fabric or blankets. Don't worry if you don't have large pieces to make the cases - sew some together like a crazy quilt, then stuff and sew shut. Be use to use thread appropriate to your bedding case, use small stitches and even double stitch.

These beds are washable and once they are worn out, can be thrown away with a clear conscience.

Remember to re-purpose, reuse and recycle. 

© 2015 Cat Brennan