Attaching Your Punch Needle Project to a Box

Hello my friends :-)  I apologize for being so late on this, but I had to get my home decorated for fall as Country Sampler is coming soon to take pictures and they needed preliminary pictures.  So , I will  be sharing some of my pics in the next few days.

Anyway,  a friend asked if I would show how I attach my punch needle projects to a box without using glue.  I personally do not like using glue on the paper mache boxes other than to attach the fabric not on the punch needle itself.  That being said I did use it on my owl I made recently and I really like how stiff it makes it.  Anyway, that's another day's discussion.

 

OK remember this sunflower I made?  It wasn't large enough for the box I had so I had to figure out something else to make it fit.

 

So let's get started shall we?

 

I chose the fabric I wanted for my box and coffee stained it.(Before and after staining)  I am soooooo glad I am a fabric hoarder.  I had this awesome sunflower fabric in my stash and didn't know it until I went looking. LOL Cute huh?

 

 

 

I needed to cut down my sunflower a bit.  I don't want all the bulky fabric.

 

I cut around it and left about 1/4-1/2" all the way around.

 



 

I decided to use the gold color around the box lid.  I measure the width of the band and add 1/4" or less to it and cut or tear it to the right length to fit around your box.  It is your choice but I like the torn fabric look around my bottom edge.

 

I know this picture is fuzzy AND messy, but that extra 1/4" you added to the width will get folded over.  What I mean is fold the top edge over a bit so you have a small "lip" that sticks up over the top of the box but yet enough fabric to reach the bottom of the band.  Enough to get a needle through.  You can finger press or iron press the fold.

 



 

I LOVE Mod Podge.  Yes I know you can make your own, but I am lazy. LOL.  You can also use white glue if you so choose.  Anyway, at this point I glue my gold band around the top of the box so it can dry while I'm finishing up the sunflower.

 

 

Alright ready to move on?

 

 

With the sunflower we are going to make a little "pillow/ pinkeep" per se.  I like to hand stitch my top to the base fabric because I can hide that white better as I tuck it in.  This is not a fancy stitch.  I just use thread that will blend and just stitch as I go around tucking in the white as I go.  Stay right at the edge of your project.  I like to bring my needle up within the first row or two of punch needle to hide the stitch.  Make sure you are using a piece of fabric that is long enough to fold over your project.

 

 

 

Perfect!

 

This is what my back looks like.

 

 

Take your lid place it over your project and draw around it centering it as much as possible.  See it wasn't quit big enough for the box.

 

 

 

Fold over your fabric and using a machine or hand stitch that circle you drew all the way around.

 

 

Carefully cut a slit through this side of the fabric only!  You don't want to cut your punch needle piece.  So that you can turn it right side out.

 

 

Now we're cooking!!! It looks like a "pillow/pinkeep"

 

The next step is up to you.  I personally like my piece to stick up a little so I used left over fabric from other projects and stuffed my pillow a bit.  You could leave it flat. Then I stitched up the slit.

 

 

Now let's actually attach it to the box top.  Your lid should be dry by now.  Place your project on the lid and begin hand stitching little stitches to bring the two together.  That little "lip" we left on the band makes it sooooooo much easier to get your needle through then trying to push it through the box lid.  TRUST ME! Yes, I did that. Ugggghhhh never again!!!  Just stitch completely around the lid.  See how the "lip" on the band is folded?

 

 

There you have it.  MY way of attaching my projects.  It is not the only way and may not be the right way, but it works for me.

 

If anyone needs a tutorial on covering boxes with fabric let me know and I will do one.  Otherwise there are a ton on internet to look at. 

 

 

My Creative Space

Do you have a space that makes you creative?  I actually have two.  I have a pretty big space in my basement where I do a majority of my work. Then there is the dining room table.  The place that should be used for family dinners and to be kept clear of clutter and debris.  Since starting up my punch needle again I have taken over this space.  Thank goodness I am the head cheese at the homestead and my children have learned to deal with it. LOL.  My house my rules! Right? Anyway, I know this looks like clutter, but it is organized clutter.   I just went and bought new thread for new projects and heave them sorted as you can see. So I am semi organized.  I like to have a few skeins of my favorite colors on hand when starting a project because you never know when the creative bug will hit.  Besides DMC thread is relatively cheap!  Yes I am telling myself it is ok to be a hoarder. shhhhhh...

 

You can see the newest projects I've been working on.  So see I NEEDED all that new thread! LOL

See the sunflower? I will be putting together a tutorial on how to attach it to the top of a box.  I had a request to please show how I do it.  So, that is what I will be working on today.

Remember if you would like to learn to punch needle I have a tutorial.  Just look on the right hand side of my blog and click on Tutorials.  Have a great day!

NEW!!!! Punch Needle Patterns

New to Gettysburg Homestead... Punch Needle patterns. 

 

Please check out our website Gettysburg Homestead to purchase yours today!

 

You can also find my patterns on Patternmart for instant download.

 

 

 

More patterns coming soon....

A Quilter's Dream

Here in our neck of the woods yesterday was the first day of school.  Yiippeee!!! Woot Woot!!!! Happy Dance!!!!  Oh sorry I got off track a little.  Don't get me wrong I love having my kids home in the summer, but there comes a point where he gets bored and needs to go back.  OK OK I NEED him to go back. LOL.  Anyway, I was planning on catching up with housework, which I did, but needed to run a couple errands myself.  My daughter was suppose to work but they called her off.  I was hoping for several alone hours, but that didn't happen.  So, I had to do a couple things at work and decided then to hit up the local Goodwill and craft store to celebrate the first day of school.

I won't bore you with what I got at the craft store, BUT will gloat  tell about my Goodwill finds. LOL.  I haven't been to this particular store in awhile.  It is only about 20 minutes away, but that is 20 minutes I could be working on crafting or housework.  So, since I was in town I stopped and boy am I glad I did!  I hit the motherload of all motherloads of good stuff.  I know in this store there are certain hot spots for me.  I go to that section first!  In this particular store it is the domestics.  One time I happen to be there when JoAnn Fabrics had donated a ton of fabric and I snatched it up!

At first I didn't see anything good and was starting to get a little down when what did I see....


Beautiful pieced quilt squares!!!!!



I have 2 of each of the above squares.  They are pieced beautifully.

 

Again awesome!!!!!

 

 

Not my favorite colors but....  I can work my magic.

 

Beautiful fall colored huge 9 patch squares.

 

 

And who can pass up fabric.  I just love the eagle fabric.

 



 

 

Last but not least... I will work my magic on the cheese box by painting it.  As for the heart pan I can see a huge wax heart in the near future.

 

It has certainly been awhile since I shared Goodwill finds with you because most times I find nothing.  I haven't been buying like I used to since I no longer have my booth to stock.  Which is a very good thing because I was getting to be a hoarder.  Oh I'm still a hoarder just not as bad ;-).  LOL.

 

 

Until next time... have a great day!!!!



 

 

 

 

 



Leather Britches Tutorial

Many of you know I like using all sorts of drieds in my home decorating.  First of all, it is pretty cheap to do.  Secondly, it is really easy to do.  You can go on a walk in your neighborhood or the nearest park and find all types of seeds or berries to dry.  Yeah you may look like you are picking up dog poop with your little Walmart bag in someone's front yard, but who cares right?  I don't have a dog so I always look really weird. LOL.  Anyway, most times homeowners will willingly let you pick their yards clean of nuts and pods.

In my kitchen I like the looks of dried fruits or veggies and of course garlic.  The other day one of my friends from work brought me in a load of veggies from her garden because she had an overabundance.  I know I probably should have canned some, but there was not that many.  PLUS I am the only one here at this home who eats all types of veggies.  I have added yet another veggie hater who shall remain nameless "RICHARD". ugggghhhh  I was so busy last week I didn't have time to cook up these awesome green beans.  The week before school starts is so hectic along with working.  Anyway, so I decided to make myself some leather britches. 

I have no idea where the name came from but basically back in the day this was a way to preserve green beans for later use before canning came along.  There are many ways to do this if you are actually going to use them.  I have no intentions of rehydrating these and using them.  These are for decorative purposes only. So, it really doesn't matter if they are historically correct.

First you need some green beans.  I didn't bother washing them.  Why?  Basically because I was lazy.  I was in the middle of cleaning my kitchen this morning when my ADD kicked in and said let's do a little crafting.  It helped clear off my counter so it's all good. LOL

 

Next get a darning needle and strong thread.  I used black crochet thread.  Make sure the eye is big enough for your thread.

 

 

Now start threading your beans.  I put my needle through the middle of the pod.

 

 

Keep threading your beans keeping them as close as possible.  The beans will shrink as they dry and are hard to push together at that point.

 

 

When I was done threading my beans I centered them on my string and tied a knot at one of the ends so the beans wouldn't slide off approx. 6"-7" from the end of the thread.  I also tied a loop so that I could hang it from pegs down the line.  Then I made another loop at the other end to hang them from to dry.

 

 

 

There you have it.  Leather Britches... Don't these look fantastic hanging.  I have heard conflicting ideas whether to dry them in the sun or not so I'm going to not dry them in the sun.  I guess we will see how they turn out.

 

Have a great day everyone!

 

 

Idle Hands

Remember in my last post I said I was working on a special project?  I was working on this olde gal.  It is really a mini me doll lol.  I have a mole just like her only on the opposite cheek.  I haven't made a doll in ages so this was fun to do.  I don't normally make witches as I don't necessarily decorate for Halloween, but for some reason she wanted to make an appearance. Have I ever told you I hate painting faces?  Well, I do!  Uggghhh... I have decided to offer my witch at $27, but they will be made to order and the dress can be made in any color.  Make sure you email me if you are interested.

 

I have since coffee stained her to prim perfection.  I will try to get a better picture tonight.

I also started a new punch needle project from a free pattern I found online here.  I wanted to do a fall project and thought this was sort of cute.  Remember, I am still pretty new to this punch needle thing so there are some areas I need to go back and fix.  But, this is where I am so far...

It isn't this bright in real life but I wanted you to be able to see it better so I used a flash.  Cute isn't it?  I hope I can work on it a bit more tonight since "Richard" is spending time with his son and Mom.  

Well, my friends I am off and running again with my son, but I thought I would stop in and let you know what I'm up to.  Have a great day :-)

Mary Wetmore Sampler

I have always LOVED coffee.  I can remember my Dad using a percolator coffee pot when I was younger to make his.  He would fix me a cup of it and would put maple flavoring in it for me.  mmmmmm... I can remember that taste.  I'm not sure my Mom always knew he was giving my sister and I coffee at such a young age, but she never said anything. LOL.  From that point on I was addicted  hooked. :-)  I especially love flavored coffees.  I don't have the money to go to a coffee shop everyday so I make mine here at the homestead and take it with me.  "Richard" works for a very well known coffee brand and brings me bags of coffee or Kcups constantly.  I know you are jealous, but he is taken and he doesn't have a brother. LOL.  Anyway,  I got home from work last night to see this sitting on my counter.

OK, I have never seen this coffee before. The question is WHY? Look at the flavor... Banana Bread Bliss. Seriously, there is no way this can't be good.  So, this morning after taking my son to soccer practice I came home and made my pot.  Ummmm... hello.... this stuff is AWESOME!!!! It is so smooth and yummy especially if you add vanilla creamer like I did.  Holy Moley I'm in heaven.  I really think "Richard" is a keeper if he is going to bring this kind of joy in my life. LOL.  So, this product name "Life is Good" is VERY true this morning!

Alright alright... You want to see what I've been up to.  Well, I saw a sampler in an antique shop many months ago with quite a hefty price on it that I dearly loved.  You all know how much I love true looking samplers.  The alphabets and borders just draw me in as do the mistakes made by the original sticher.  This one was no exception. I tried my best to duplicate some of the details/ mistakes I remember.   I wish I had stitched it on smaller count linen but this is what I had on hand.  It ended up being quite large.  I started this one months ago, but would put it down then pick it up when I wasn't doing other things.  I finally finished yesterday at work.  I LOVE how it turned out!  I need to search my picture frames to see if I have one big enough.  If not I will need to make a trip to the Goodwill. I haven't pressed it yet, but wanted to show you anyway. This will end up in my bedroom when I'm done.

There will be no pattern made for this beauty since I do not own the original. 

I also stitched up a free pattern for a shop hop here in Ohio in the month of October that I agreed to design for it.  I am not allowed to show it yet until all the shop keepers have received their patterns. It is a cute prim pattern for fall.  I am hoping to start crafting again as it is truly my passion.  "Richard" and I have discussed it and even though he is not creative like me he understands it feeds my soul.  It is what is important to me.  And... the best part is he loved football.  And what does that have to do with me you ask.  That means I can craft all weekend long while he is glued to the TV. Yiippeeee!!!! We will both be happy. LOL. 

I am working on a secret project as we speak and am hoping to find a nice fall punchneedle pattern to  also.  But if not I will design one. LOL.  Have a great weekend!