Fun Hoop Art!

I love decorating my home with homespun decorations and artwork. A cheap and easy way to spruce up any wall is with hoop art. The sky is the limit with what you can do with the inexpensive wooden embroidery hoops that you can pick up at any craft store. Above my bed I have started putting together a hoop art collage. 

On the ones I have hanging so far, I simply cut a square of fabric, placed it tightly into the embroidery hoop and then trimmed the excess fabric. I can't wait to add more hoops to this wall collage to make it a focal point of my room.

This hoop was made by centering up a quilt block I had made in a quilting class and trimming off the excess fabric. This will be a perfect addition to my bedroom wall collage!

To get started making your own hoop art. Pick up any size embroidery hoop and go through your stash of fabric scraps to find some coordinating prints.

I laid the inner ring of the embroidery hoop on my background fabric and marked it on four sides with a red marker so I could better center my design on my fabric.

I cut a variety of scrap fabric I had on hand into bunting flags and strips and arranged them on the fabric to get them aligned.

Then I sewed down the bunting on my sewing machine to create the string of the bunting design.

Place your fabric in the hoop and tighten it up. Then flip it over and trim the excess fabric closely to the edge of the hoop.

I simply love the finished product. A simple, cheap and easy way to add a little homespun charm to your home. 

Laura

Finishing Granny's Quilt

When my Granny passed away she left a legacy of talent in the family, one of which is my Aunt Linda who's creativity never ceases to amaze me. In a recent family get-together I noticed that my Aunt had a quilting loom set up in her living room where she was quilting by hand.

Currently I am taking a quilting class, so I am intrigued by any and all quilts. Not just for the colors and beauty of the quilt, but for the work and love that goes into each quilt that is made.

These quilt blocks are known as the tic-tac-toe pattern.

Here you see where Linda is actually doing the quilting. This is where you sew together the decorative top, followed by batting which adds the thickness to the quilt, and then a back fabric is added. This sandwich of fabric and batting is quilted together basically making one very warm blanket to curl up under once complete.

The white chalk lines you see are where she will sew her quilting stitches. This classic stitch is known as the fan quilting pattern.

In talking with my Aunt she told me that the topper for this quilt was actually sewn by my Granny (who has now passed away) and she was finishing it up by quilting it. I treasure every quilt ever made and given to me by my Granny. She made each with hard work and love which makes them more valuable than any other items I own. This beautiful quilt, however goes to my cousin Lisa.

My Aunt talked about how hand quilting can be very time consuming for one person, so I expressed the idea of starting a family quilting bee. Several of us gathered around stitching away and gossiping about all the family members who aren't there, what could be better?! I love my family time!

 

 

Kelli