Wool Felt Central

Interview with Cath's Pennies

2011-10-06T19:00:00.000-05:00

We've stumbled upon a new-to-us wool pattern designer that we've fallen in love with. We think you will too.

Cath from Cath's Pennies Designs was kind enough to participate in an interview to share with you a little bit of the behind the scenes details of her pattern company. She has a fabulous blog with amazing tutorial to help you recreate her pattern designs. Check out her interview then head on over to our site to snag some of her patterns. We've got a special offer on her Stuffed Turkey pattern this week too.

Stuffed Turkey Pattern Regular Price: $9.00
Deal of the Week Price: $7.20
(Price Valid October 21st-27th, 2011)

Stuffed Turkeys

Tell us a little bit about you . . .

I don't really think I'm crazy, but both my daughters and my husband affectionately (I think) call me the crazy wool lady. I have wool pretty much all around the house with my main collection/stash taking over our spare bedroom. Jimmy, my husband and I have been married forever .. well, actually for 36 years. I have two daughters and one son-in-law and one almost 5 year old grandson.

I started designing and selling finished wool candle mats, penny rugs and pincushions about 12 years ago. Two years ago and after getting many requests for the patterns, I started selling patterns of my wool designs. I now have 32 pattern designs with many more to come! I love wool...it's an addiction that I'll never give up!

Christmas Sparkle

How did you get started working with wool?

I used to quilt, in fact, I took quilting classes at my local quilt shop and discovered that I loved hand-stitching, especially appliqued hand-stitching. At some point, I was searching the internet to get some craft ideas and came across something odd called a "penny rug". I loved the history and the look of those circle on circle wool designs. I decided to try it with some felt that I had laying around. That was the beginning of the addiction.

Regular acrylic felt just didn't give the look that I wanted so I went to my local thrift store, bought some 100% wool skirts, cut them up, washed and felted them and created my first penny rug.

I sold that first penny rug on Ebay for some crazy amount which completely astonished me. That response on Ebay is probably what really fed my addiction. I could actually easily make $$ by selling something that I loved to do!

Those Blasted Crows

What do you like best about working with wool for your projects?

Wool is so forgiving! If a mistake is made and threads have to be removed, with a little fluffing, the wool looks like new again with no needle marks from the previous threads.

Felted wool is so soft and light that it's like stitching through butter, and since it doesn't unravel, the edges don't have to be turned under before stitching.

Jingle Bell Candy Canes

Any great tips you'd like to share about working with wool?

After doing embroidery stitching on wool, like for instance, the center embroidered ring on a candle mat, the wool tends to pucker and looks stretched. To get it to lay flat again, just flip it to the backside and hit it with a steam iron. That's another example of how it's forgiving! The steams shrinks the wool right back to size and it will lay perfectly flat.

Also, if your wool seems a bit too bright, tone it down with coffee or tea. Simply simmer it in watered down coffee or tea for about 20-30 minutes. Rinse well and throw it in the dryer. You've overdyed it to a more subdued primitive color!

(She has a fabulous post on coffee-dyeing wool here)

Scarecrow Jack in the Pumpkin Patch

We're often asked for suggestions/project recommendations for begining crafters. Which of your patterns would be a good starting point for those that might want to give wool a try?

Good question! I get quite a few questions from beginners about this. I always keep the beginner in mind when I'm creating a new pattern. Not only is there a picture on the front of the pattern to refer to, my patterns all have the design drawn on a layout sheet which shows exactly where each and every pattern piece should be placed. I have online pictured step-by-step tutorials to go along with some of my patterns too. Those tutorials are immenesly helpful for beginners. I created the pattern "Just Pumpkins" especially for the beginner stitcher. The pattern is just simple basic pumpkins stitched onto a background. It's simple blanket stitches along with some backstitching on wool.

Several other patterns are super easy for anyone who is familiar with the basic embroidery stitches. I always recommend "Let It Snow", which has the online pictured tutorial to go with it.

Let It Snow

"Snow Faces" and "Oh Snowy Night" are two others that are quick and easy. "Scarecrow Jack in the Pumpkin Patch" looks detailed and complicated but it has an online tutorial which shows exactly how to make it. Besides all of that, I'm always available to help if questions or problems come up. I tell my customers that I'm just an email away!

Black Eyed Susans

Where are your favorite sources for design inspiration?

Gosh, I really don't have one particular website or place that I use for inspiration. I always have ideas in my head for designs. I get inspiring ideas everywhere I go. The chick shapes that I used for "It's Spring, Chicks!" came from background painting that was shown in a movie. I don't know what the painting was but the shape reminded me of a cute primitive chick! Another example.... I was sitting in church a few weeks ago and spotted a bundle of wheat which inspired me with a (future) fall design.

My fellow bloggers are immensely helpful with providing me inspirations. Their blogs show me that I'm not the only one obsessed with crafts and sewing and wool!

Anything else you'd like to share about you and your patterns?

I only use 100% wool in my designs but just about all of my pattern designs would look just as nice with wool felt. 100% wool is expensive and rather difficult to find in some areas so woolfelt is an excellent substitute which will give beautiful results.

(Side Note: Cath has one of the best explanations of the difference between wool felt and felted wool that I've found. Check out her blog post on the subject here)

I'm often asked to recommend the best place to buy wool. Go visit a quilt shop in your area! Support those small businesses and keep them in business.

Even if they don't carry wool, they will help you find the materials you need. They'll help you with any questions you might have and they will really appreciate your business!

I would not be doing what I'm doing today with my patterns if it were not for my local quilt shop that so long ago taught me how to make quilts.

Festive Snowmen

Thanks so much for all the fabulous info, Cath! We've all learned a lot.

How to Make Flying Geese Blocks

2011-09-10T07:19:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite things about quilting is that there are so many different ways to accomplish the same thing. It's fun to experiment with different techniques to find a method that works best for you.

This post will show you one of the many techniques available to make a flying geese block. This method will yield four flying geese that measure 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" (1" x 2" finished size).

Step 1: Begin by cutting:

(4) 2 1/4" squares for the flying geese background

(1) 3 3/4" square for the flying geese

Step 2: Draw a diagonal line across the wrong side of the (4) 2 1/2" squares. My favorite method for speeding up this process, especially if I need to mark many squares, is to line up the points of the squares along a line on my cutting mat.

Now I position my acrylic ruler over the squares, lining up the edge of the ruler with the line running through the center of the squares. Draw a line with your favorite marking tool. Pictured is the Clover Chaco-Liner. The barrel is filled with powdered chalk that is dispensed as you roll the wheel of the pen along your fabric.

Step 3: Position one of the 2 1/4" squares right sides together on the corner of the 3 3/4" square.

Step 4: Position another 2 1/4" square on the opposite corner of the 3 1/4" square, overlapping the 2 1/4" squares in the center. Pin each square to hold it in place.

Step 5: Sew 1/4" from each side of the drawn lines.

Step 6: Cut block apart on the drawn line.

Step 7: Press the seams towards the small triangles. The unit will now look a little bit like a heart. I know this looks a little strange - but hang in there - it really works!

Step 8: Position a 2 1/4" square right sides together with the heart shaped units. Pay careful attention to the direction of the drawn line.

Step 9: Stitch on each side of the drawn line. (I've enhanced the stitching lines on my photo just so that you can see them better).

Step 10: Cut the units apart on the drawn line.

Step 11: Press towards the smaller triangle. Now your flying geese unit should look a little more familiar to you.

Step 12: Square up each flying geese unit to 1 1/2" x 2 1/2". Here is a video to show you how:

Watch it on You Tube HERE.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_DHZpWpjVA

Step 13: Now you should have perfect flying geese! Alternate your light and dark placement for even more options.

Now, what to do with them . . .

Make a Sawtooth Star:

Make a Pinwheel Block:

Make a Tree Block:

Make a flying geese wall quilt:

Finished Size: 12" x 16"
The basic directions: Make a total of 36 flying geese blocks.

Cut (9) 3 3/4" squares of assorted fall prints.
Cut (36) 2 1/4" squares of cream background.
Cut (2) 1 1/2" x 12 1/2" rectangles of tan for sashing.
Cut (4) 2 1/2" x 12 1/2" rectangles of brown for borders.
Cut (2) 2 1/2" x 42" strips brown for binding.

Follow the steps above to make the 36 flying geese blocks.

Arrange flying geese in three rows of 12 flying geese each. Sew into rows.

Sew the cream sashing in between the rows of flying geese.

Add borders.

Quilt as desired, then bind.

The images and flying geese pattern directions are copyright Julie Geiger, Prairie Point Junction, 2011.

Quilts Around the Block 2011

2011-08-14T14:00:00.000-05:00

Cozad was decked out in quilts this weekend for the Cozad Chamber of Commerce's Quilts Around the Block. Quilts were on diplay at Chipper Hall, the 100th Meridian Museum as well as 14 other locations thru town. Below is a little overview of some of the displays.

Antique Singer sewing machine on display at JM's Gifts.

Quilts on display at the Country Cookie from the family of Lisa Budd.

Lisa greets lunchtime guests.

Quilts on display in the window at First Bank and Trust.

The Strawberry Patch welcomes quilters.

Guests check out the quilts on display at the Strawberry Patch.

Val Geiger at the Strawberry Patch shows off a jacket made by her mother.

More quilts at the Strawberry Patch.

Downtown was a buzz with visitors.

Quilt on display at Riley's Hair Studio.

The caricature quilt was created by friends of Jean Riley (Kris' sister-in-law) from North Platte.

Quilts from the family of Ken Gerdes on display at Furniture Mart.

Patriotic quilts on display at Shelter Insurance.

Welcome to Chipper Hall.

Volunteers greet guests at Chipper Hall.

A living 9-patch block on display from Natural Escapes.

Antique quilts from the family of Connie Moore and Kelly Schmeeckle.

Holiday quilts on display.

Quilts at Chipper Hall.

More quilts at Chipper Hall.

Shelly Burge talks about her antique toy sewing machine collection.

Quilts at the 100th Meridian Museum.

A variety of wool felt projects made by Kathy Anderson.

A Husker quilt made by Dianne Klein.

Vintage quilts from the museum collection.

More quilts at Chipper Hall.

A unique quilt made from golf towels.

Quilts made by, or collected by Shelly Burge.

What a great day in Cozad.

Market Dollars Winner

2011-05-28T08:28:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everyone that left a comment on our trip to market. We sure had fun and hope you enjoyed seeing our pics.

Linda was the lucky winner of our $20.00 gift certificate. Linda - please contact via e-mail
prairiepointjunction (at) yahoo.com
to get the details on how to redeemd your certificate.

Linda said...

Hi. Loved your pictures of the small quilt shops and all of the quilt market pictures. Would have loved to have been there. I especially liked the Thimble Blossoms and Cuddle fabrics. Thanks for sharing with us. Linda Musser

Want to see more about our Market Trip?

Join us for our Preview Party on June 16th. We'll entertain, educate, and even better - feed you!

Your $7.00 registration fee includes:
*A school-house/speed dating series of demonstrations to learn new techniques/gadgets
*Slide show of our trip to market
*Mini Merchants mall booth to shop all the latest market finds
*See the Minnesota Road Show display of projects from several Minnesota designers
*Treat Bag Full of goodies
*Light supper of 7-layer salad and 7-layer dessert
*Fun, Fun, and more Fun

Register online or mail your $7.00 registration fee to Prairie Point Junction, Box 184, Cozad, 69130 by June 13th to reserve your spot.

Quilt Market

2011-05-19T20:00:00.011-05:00

Whew,

We're back from our whirlwind trip to Salt Lake City. I always come back from market ready to conquer the world. So many ideas are jumping around in my already jam-packed brain. You'll have to stay posted to see what we've dreamed up for the shop.

In the meantime, here's a little photo tour of our trip.

We brought back quite a few of the newest patterns with us. We posted one round of new product to the website this Friday. More will be coming on the next few Friday's too, so check back often.

We headed on on Tuesday morning to allow plenty of time for quilt shop-hopping along the way.

First stop, Cheyenne, Wyoming. Love their downtown. Found a nice little quilt shop and an amazing gift shop nearby. Had a little lunch, then took time for a photo-op by the Big Boot! Waved at a trolley full of kids on a field trip.

Spent the night in Green River, Wyoming. This huge boulder was right behind our hotel. It looks just like a teapot, do you think?

Wednesday we drove the rest of the way to Salt Lake City to see more shops. Quilts, Quilts, Quilts, Etc was a fun shop. They have two buildings that are across the street from one another.

We also visited American Quilting in Orem. Amy McClellan, one of our favorite wool pattern designers owns this shop.

Next stop, The Corn Wagon in Springville. Love the character of this building.

Pine Needles was in a quaint little village shopping center with antique stores and boutiques. Supper was a mini-chicken pot pie at the bakery. Mmmmmm. They also served melted cheese on bread. My kind of restaurant.

Visited a few more shops on Wednesday too, but must not have remembered to pull out the camera at those stops.

Headed to Downtown SLC to get ready for a full weekend of market. So glad we had the opportunity to wander around downtown that night and visit some of the sites.

Thursday we started out running with a full day of Schoolhouse sessions and Sample Spree.

Got a sneak peak at some of the new quilts from the Let's Twist Again book . . . . coming soon.

Learned more about using the Lazy Angle ruler to get amazing results. Julie Herman from Jaybird Quilts is a hoot.

Love her technique for piecing her quilt labels into the backing of her quilts.

So much to think about and we haven't even hit the market floor yet.

Can't ever get enough wool felt. Found some little framed wool trios from Bits and Pieces by Joan.

Had a great chat with the gals at National Nonwovens. We tried to convince them to make a winter-white shade of wool felt. Something between Straw and White. Don't you think that would be great? If this is a color you'd like to see, give them a call (800-333-3469) and let them know. I keep thinking that if enough people request it, we'll get it made!!!

Riley Blake had a tree made from fabric and a painted bike in their booth.

Michael Miller went all out, as usual. Note the super-hero in the phone booth.

Emily Herrick of Crazy Old Ladies won the Best Single Booth award for her display. Way to go Emily.

New stitchery patterns from Crabapple Hill. Outstanding as always.

Discovered a new-to-us designer, Red Button Quilt Company. Loved her combination of cotton piecing and wool applique on her Candle Mat Trios.

You know we love everything Moda. Who can resist a Country Fair?

Yummy goodness from Fig Tree Quilts. I think I could do my whole house in this color palette.

A ferris wheel with sock monkeys. Only at the fair . . .

Camille busy writing up orders at Thimble Blossoms.

The newest addition to Moda's fabric design team . . .Cosmo Cricket. You know you loved their scrapbook supplies, how will you be able to resist their fabric?

Can't wait to get Sweetwater's newest line, Hometown. There is a focal print that contains hundreds of town names from their blog readers. Cozad made the list!!! Whoo Hooo!!!

I could have stayed in the Moda aisle all day, but there were other fabulous booths to discover as well,

so we eased on down the road to . . (Insert cheesy music here)

Our friend Amy at Under the Garden Moon.

Amy is the sweetest gal you'll meet.

I feel in love with her Americana sampler.

Hint, Hint . . . . You may see this project again at a store near you . . .

Stay tuned for more info.

Had a chance to catch up with Heather Mulder Peterson in Anka's Treasures Booth.

Her Christmas line of fabric should be arriving soon, followed by her next addition of citrus inspired tones.

I have my eye on several of the quilts from the new Livin Large 2 book.

Julie Herman of Jaybird Quilts seemed to be everywhere this market - cute booth, awesome schoolhouse session and demo-ing rulers for Checkers. I'm exhausted just watching her.

But seriously - these quilts rock! You'll be amazed at how many different designs

you can make with the Lazy Angle ruler.

We were so impressed that we've decided to change our original plans for this year's

Quilting on the Prairie Retreat and instead will be offering some classes on this technique.

Be sure to check out our website for more information in the next week or two.

Oh goodness. Shannon fabric has brand new styles of Cuddle fabric.

I'll just snuggle up now and take a nap.

Lynn from Bloomin Minds. Always good for a little comic relief.

(Nice Silvery Moon runner, right Lynn?)

Simply gorgeous new wool projects from Wooden Spool Designs.

Fun new projects from Suzn Quilts including a quilt-as-you sew project and Santa Countdown banner.

New from Atkinson Designs: Trio of Pillows, Reader Wrap, and Wine and Dine.

Chatting with Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts.

And last but not least . .. enjoying an ice cream treat at Jillily Studios.

Hope you had a great virtual tour.

Mark your calendar for June 16th for our famous Market Preview party.

We'll have a wide variety of new product demos, tons of samples,

and will give you a behind-the scences tour of our market experience.

Subscribe to our e-mail newsletters or check out the

events page of our website for more detailed information.

Thanks for sticking with us this far.

Leave a comment below letting us know what your favorite picture is from our trip.

We'll host a random drawing from the comments for a $20.00 gift certificate

to our store so you can score some of your own favorite products.

Drawing will be held mid-afternoon on May 26th.

Frolic'N Butterflies Quilt

2011-05-01T18:23:00.000-05:00

We just love to see show-and-tell from our readers.

Kelly from Kansas City shared her version of the Frolic'N Butterflies quilt created from the pattern I designed for the Moda Bake Shop.

It's always so much fun to see a pattern done up in a new colors.

Here's Kelly's version:

Here's my original version:

Want to make your own version? You can download the pattern from the Moda Bake Shop HERE.
Thanks for sharing, Kelly.

Our Second Give-Away of the Week

2011-04-06T10:50:00.000-05:00

How lucky can you possibly get? Not one - but two amazing give-aways in one week. We're currently partnering with Stumbles and Stitches for a gift certificate to our site (http://www.woolfeltcentral.com/) along with a copy of the Big Little Felt Universe book. Be sure to check out the Stumbles and Stitches blog for all the details and to register.

Then, head on over to Wee Folk Art for a different give-away that we are partnering up on.

The very talented ladies over at Wee Folk Art have created a stunning wool felt flower bouquet just in time for you to start thinking about spring. We have our first taste of 70 degree weather here in Nebraska this past weekend. Just as soon as it came, though, it was gone again with temps back in the 50's, windy and rainy. That's the best/worst thing about weather in Nebraska. If you don't like the forecast today, just wait for tomorrow, it may be totally different.

You'll find a tutorial to make a bouquet of your very own. Best of all - this one doesn't need to be watered and it won't trigger sniffles and sneezes for all of you that are allergic to pollen. (I can tell that things are greening up outside, my Claritin is working overtime this week).

I'm always excited to work with Michelle and Kimara from Wee Folk Art. Their tutorials are so detailed with complete step-by-step pictures. The help instill confidence that you can really be successful at re-creating their projects. The atmosphere on their blog makes you feel like you are sitting in their living room sharing tips with a good friend. You just can't beat that!

Head on over to http://www.weefolkart.com/ for plenty of inspiration and find all the details to register to win the some of our yummy wool felt supplies to make your bouquet.

Big Little Felt Universe Give-Away

2011-04-04T13:00:00.000-05:00

Wow! You read that right! We're partnering up with Stumbles and Stitches to host an amazing give-away.

Angel and Jenny over at Stumbles and Stiches host a crafty conversation about all things creative and handmade. You're sure to be inspired by their wide range of projects.

We were so excited when Angel contacted us to see if we might be willing to contribute some wool felt to go along the Big Little Felt Universe books from Lark Crafts that they are offering for a give-away on their blog. We're always thrilled to share our love for wool felt, so of course, we jumped on the band wagon. There are so many projects to choose from in this book - that we didn't even know where to start picking out colors of felt for a give-away. So . . .. . The best news of all is that we opted to offer a $25.00 gift certificate to our site instead, so that you can pick out your very own colors for the project of your choice.

Want the low-down on all the details to enter this double-feature-give-away ?

Head on over to Stumbles and Stitches for all the info and to register to win.

Check out our blog post from a few weeks ago for a preview inside this book. It's so filled with projects for every theme imaginable. A great reference for your collection. If you don't happen to be one of the lucky winners, you can also order your copy of the book from our site along with wool blend felt for all your crafty needs. (http://www.woolfeltcentral.com/)

It's Party Time

2011-04-03T18:17:00.000-05:00

My uber -crafty friend Gwen made the cutest little Mario-inspired birthday party decorations.
She's one of the most creative gals I know, and has one of the most generous hearts of anyone you'll ever meet.

I just had to share them with you.

Don't you just love these mustaches? What a fun party-favor for the kiddo's to play with and take home as a favor. (The also make great pirate mustaches - I've seen them in action too.) Gwen cut the mustache shape out of wool felt, machine-stitched around the edges, added a little stuffing, then stitched them the rest of the way closed. Insert a chop-stick or bamboo skewer to finish. (Sorry, no pattern available - just free hand your best 'stache.)

The pipes are PVC pipes from the plumbing department at your favorite hardware store, spray painted in Mario colors.

Want to see more crafty-inspired goodness from Gwen?

Check out her blog: http://www.anotherchapterinthebooksfamily.blogspot.com/

Big Little Felt Universe

2011-03-17T17:23:00.000-05:00

Wow! There are just some times when a new book knocks off your socks. This is one of those must-have-books to add to your wool felt creativity collection.

The book is based on play sets that have everything you need to spur the imagination for creativity play in a variety of themes for boys, girls, and the young at heart. Each project features full size patterns so they are ready to trace and go.

Check out the themes below:

What an amazing bargain to get all these pattern in one book.

Head on over to our website to order your copy today.

http://www.woolfeltcentral.com/

Meet The Crafting Chicks

2011-01-22T08:32:00.000-06:00

Whoooo Hoooo! I'm so excited to announce that Prairie Point Junction, home of Wool Felt Central, is one of the newest sponsors over at http://www.thecraftingchicks.com/. If you don't know about this blog yet - you've been missing out on some of the most clever projects and ideas. They've been on my Favorites list for quite some time.

In the last couple weeks I saw this amazing Felt Flower Pillow tutorial on their site:

Then Brooke posted these super cute Valentine Felt Envelopes:

I knew I had to jump in and introduce my shop to these talented gals as another source of supplies for all kinds of crafty felt goodness.

I’ve put together a special “You’ve Got Mail” bundle of my favorite pinks, reds, and white felts that would be perfect for the Valentine Felt Envelopes or for any other project you can dream up. Each bundle includes 1/3 yard each of seven high-quality wool blend felts. You could easily mix and match the colors to make 6 or 7 envelopes.

But wait! It gets even better. To kick off our sponsorship with a bang, we're giving away two of these bundles over on The Crafting Chicks blogs. There are two ways to enter:

#1. Visit our website, then head over the The Crafting Chicks and leave them a comment telling them which of our wool felt bundles is your favorite.

#2. Become a fan of Prairie Point Junction on Facebook, then head back to The Crafting Chicks blog to tell them that you did.

Easy Peasy. Now head on over and give us some love on The Crafting Chicks blog so that you can be the lucky winner of some love from us.

Favorite Valentine Projects to Make

2011-01-21T19:55:00.000-06:00

Dont' you just LOVE Valentines Day? All the Christmas decorations are put away. The snowmen have lost their glittery sparkle after seeing way too much real snow for weeks on end. Valentines are the perfect excuse to dream up something fun and new.

Here are some of our favorite Valentine project ideas to get you inspired.

Hop on over to the shop at http://www.prairiepointjunction.com/ or http://www.woolfeltcentral.com/ to order online.

Or, happen to be in the Cozad, Nebraska area? Stop in and see all these projects and much, much more at our shop.

Love You Wraps and Mats by Bareroots.

Chocolat-Forget-Me-Knot by Annelle's Originals

Little Perks February Candle Mat by Pearl Louise

Elegant Floral Pincushion by Bird Brain Designs

Layers of My Heart by Annelle's Originals

Valentine Ornaments by Garden Moon

Cute as a Button by PastThyme Patterns

Very Valentine by Pearl Louise

Be Mine Candle Mat by Farmhouse Threads

Hugs and Kisses by Ribbon Candy Quilt Company

Cherry Season by Sandy Gervais

Giddy fabrics and Charm Packs by Sandy Gervais

Forever Young by Waltzing with Bears

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you LOVE our project ideas.

An Interview with Trudy from Nutmeg Hare Designs

2010-12-10T01:00:00.001-06:00

I'm always so excited to discover a new-to-me pattern company.

Trudy, from Nutmeg Hare contacted me a while ago to see if we might be interested in carrying her patterns. I knew at first glance that our customers would love them. The amount of detail that Trudy puts into her designs is nothing short of amazing.

But even more amazing then her designs is just how nice she is in person. I've so enjoyed getting to know Trudy a little bit through our e-mails back and forth. I knew that you just had to meet Trudy and her designs too. Trudy was gracious enough to share a little info in the following interview with us.

So without further ado . . .. . . I'd like you to meet Trudy

As many of us who enjoy handwork, stitching, and beautiful woolens, we can often recall our childhood memories and remember when this love began. I was a young girl in Washington, growing up with five brothers and sisters...Lucky me... because this gave me the opportunity to make handstitched gifts for many family members.

I can't remember a time when threads, fabrics, patterns, and any and all crafty things weren't a part of my daily life. I organized and made raggedies, santas, snowmen, and stitcheries for our annual gift show which was held at our home for 15 years and had become somewhat of a family tradition. I know I will never give up the love of "Needle and Thread".

Nutmeg Hare was on my mind during those years, but came into existence a bit over two years ago, when I took the plunge and had my website put together. I began with six stitchery patterns and knew that I wanted to keep adding to my collection. At the same time, wool applique was always something I planned to add into my pattern designs and now has become the main focus of my "Fun".

My family sometimes looks at me strangely as I get overly excited in bringing my wool appliques to life, and find myself staying up until the wee hours of the morning happily stitching. This is my most productive time as the quiet and peaceful hours tick on by.

I am a stay at home mom, married for 21 years, and the lucky mother of six kids ranging from ages 19 to age 4. They are all such different personalities... but I do believe my 10 year old daughter, Fallon, will soon be a big part of Nutmeg Hare as she takes great interest in watching and offering ideas to me as I work on my designs.

I feel very fortunate to be able to do what I love. I hope to be able to make patterns for many years to come...I am also excited to be hand dyeing wool as my new collection of "Nutmeg Hare" woolens will be ready soon. It is so much fun to see and experiment with the different colors as I dye wool pieces 1/2 yard at a time. I thoroughly enjoy choosing a name for each new wool color that I finish. I said to my family that it was like naming children...That was always one of the most fun parts of having a new baby....choosing the name. Perhaps that is why I wanted six:)

I would like to thank Julie for inviting me to share a bit of myself and my " Nutmeg Hare " beginning. If any of you are at all wondering where the name comes from...Well, as a child I always loved bunnies, hence the name "Hare" and because baking was also a big part of my childhood (I always wanted to be the youngest Pillsbury bakeoff winner), I thought "Nutmeg" fit well with it. I suppose that doesn't make a lot of sense, but perhaps the name will stand out in your mind as you shop at Prairie Point Junction and decide which "Nutmeg Hare" stitching project will be your next.

Deal of the Week, December 10th-16th

2010-12-09T17:00:00.001-06:00

December 10th -16th, 2010

All regular priced Charm Packs

Buy 3, get the 4th FREE

Valid in-store (124 East 8th, Cozad, NE)

online (www.prairiepointjunction.com)

and by phone (308-784-2010)

We have nearly 30 styles of charm packs for you to choose from.

There's something for every style.

Perfect for stocking stuffers for you or your favorite quilting friend!

Shop early for the best selection.

*Cannot be combined with any other offers. Limited to stock on hand.

Snowflake Stocking Ornament Tutorial

2010-12-02T19:18:00.000-06:00

Here's a little tutorial for quick and easy Snowflake Stocking ornaments to help jump-start your holiday decorating.

I choose to use a super easy running stitch, rather than a blanket stitch for these ornaments so that they would be easy enough for even the most novice crafter to create. Have a girl scout troop or other kids group? These are even easy enough for elementary school aged kids to make.

Supplies Needed: (Makes one ornament: Approximate finished size: 3 1/2" x 4")

1 1/2" x 3" white wool blend felt for cuff
5" x 8" contrasting wool blend felt for stocking front and back (Can easily get four stockings from a 12" x 18" piece. Red, Moss, and Baby Blue are shown above.)
White embroidery floss (could also use size 8 pearl cotton)
Embroidery needle (I prefer the Clover Gold-Eye embroidery needles in the assorted size 3-9 pack)
Freezer paper (for tracing your ornament pattern)

Directions.

1. Print the ornament pattern. The size of the box around the ornament should be 4" x 5". You may have to adjust the size of the image when you print depending upon your printer settings.

2. Trace the ornament and cuff shape separately onto the paper side of freezer paper.

3. Cut loosely around the traced shapes, leaving about 1/4" of paper extending around the traced line.

4. Iron the waxed side of the freezer paper to the wool blend felt.

5. Cut out stocking shape on traced line.

6. Repeat for cuff shape.

7. Position cuff on top of stocking. You can either use a couple drops of Roxanne's Glue Baste It to temporarily hold in place, pin, or simply hold in place while you stitch.

8. Use one strand of white embroidery floss to tack the bottom and top of the cuff to the stocking. You don't need to tack the sides, as they will be caught when you sew the back of the stocking in place.

9. Add heel and toe details by sewing a running stitch with two strands of white floss. You can either draw a line with a marking pencil, or can just free hand stitch the line. It doesn't need to be real accurate.

10. Add snowflake detail. Use two strands of embroidery floss, stitch an X on the upper stocking. Then stitch another X to form the snowflake.

11. Add two small crosshatches to alternating spokes of the X. Add a french knot to the remaining spokes.

12. Place stocking right sides up on another piece of felt. Cut around stocking to create the backing. You could also use your freezer paper template to cut the backing. I prefer to cut around my completed shape, however, as sometimes the stitching process can slightly alter the size of your shape.

13. Cut a strip of felt 3/8" x 4 1/2" long. Fold in half lengthwise to form hanging loop. Attach to the top corner of the wrong side of the stocking back using a small X stitch. The X will be visible on the outside of the stocking.

14. Layer stocking back and front wrong sides together. Stitch around sides and bottom of stocking using a run stitch to attach the backing. Leave the top of the stocking open. This way you can use it as a money holder, or can tuck other little treats inside.

15. Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T20:55:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. We hope you are able to take a moment to enjoy all the blessings that are bountiful in your lives.

I'm blessed to have such a fabulous staff to work with! Thanks Terri, Barb, Deb, Misty, Jolene, Pam and Connie. A special thanks goes out to our sampler sewer, Peg and our machine quilter Janet who work behind-the-scences to help keep you inspired.

Thanks as well to my super-patient family who graciously puts up with all my crazy work hours and my border-line-unhealthy-attachment to my laptop computer.

Enjoy some turkey, but don't get too stuffed. If you are looking for a fun craft for after the big meal (or to keep the kiddos busy and out of the kitchen . . .) take some inspiration from the November issue of Family Fun magazine.

Set out a scrap bag of wool felt and let the creativity begin. Visit http://familyfun.go.com/thanksgiving/ for more ideas too.

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving.

Gym Dandy Bag on the Moda Bake Shop

2010-11-24T09:00:00.001-06:00

What a fantasic early Thanksgiving Day Blessing! I'm thrilled to have my fourth Moda Bake Shop pattern post today.

Check out my tutorial for the Gym Dandy Bag.

This handy little bag is lined with PUL That's fancy for polyurethane laminated fabric. In just plain old terms, that means it is a water resistant fabric that keeps the rest of your bag (or your car seat, etc) from getting wet and disgusting.

The bag is perfect for taking your clothes to and from the gym. Got a swim class? Just toss your wet suit in the bag and everything else will stay nice and dry.

Got diapers? You can also use the PUL to make a wet bag for transporting used diapies home to wash.

Like the fabrics I used? That is the fantastic Fandango line by Kate Spain for Moda. We've got charm packs, layer cakes and yardage of our favorite prints in stock now. Check it out on our site here.

As a Thanksgiving-Thank-You to our blog readers . . . .

Use code GYMDANDY to take 20% off a regular priced order on our site at http://www.prairiepointjunction.com/ from November 24th-December 1st, 2010.

Kansas Troubles Favorites Pre-Order at 20% Off

2010-11-23T20:42:00.000-06:00

Do you love Kansas Troubles fabrics as much as we do?

Did you know that the new Kansas Troubles Favorites collection marks 10 years of fabric designing by Lynne Hagmeier?

Did you know that Prairie Point Junction is offering a special opportunity to pre-order any and all the fabrics in this collection at 20% off from now until December 2nd?

Hop on over to our site to check them out now.

Hands Around the World Wallhanging

2010-11-17T09:29:00.000-06:00

We love it when our customers share pictures of projects they have created with our wool felt. It's just a like a virtual show-and-tell session. Remember how fun that was in Kindergarten? I don't think we ever loose that sense of pride in sharing our accomplishments. And what fun to be inspired by all the creative people out there.

Tina over at Squirrel Acorns shared this amazing banner that she made with a friend for their Montessori school’s annual auction fundraiser.

Be sure to visit Tina's blog here to see more photos and details about their project.

Tina has several links to some great tutorials on her blog too. Just in time to think about hand-crafting some gifts for the holidays.

Thanks for sharing your project, Tina.

Would you like to see your creations posted here? Just drop me a quick e-mail at http://www.prairiepointjunction.com/ and we'll post as many ideas as we can.

Wee Folk Art Garland Give-Away

2010-11-10T09:00:00.001-06:00

Did you get a chance to check out the Wee Folk Art site this week?

We're so proud to be one of their sponsors. Kimara very generously posted an interview about me and my shop earlier this week.

Now we're teaming up to host a give-away for the supplies to make this gorgeous garland. Head on over to http://www.weefolkart.com/ to download the instructions for this project.

Simply follow the instructions in their blog post from November 11th-14th, 2010, to enter to win one of two kits to make this project.

Doesn't that just make you want to grab a cup of cocoa, put some Christmas carols on, and prop your feet up in front of the fire?

O.K., so I'm a little dramatic - but it is the simple things in life that get me all excited. My seven year old son's teacher should spend more time with me and she would see exactly where he gets all his personality, creativity, and energy from. Really, its a good thing.

Don't worry, if you weren't the lucky winner, you can certainly order the necessary supplies from our website too. Visit our site or give us a call at 308-784-2010 to order our Mini Kit or coordinating fabrics.

Garland Mini Kit:

Coordinating Fabric Selections:

Thanks for taking time to stop by. If you can't find me for the rest of the afternoon, I'm digging around in my boxes of Christmas decorations . . .

Quiet Book Pattern

2010-11-09T20:35:00.001-06:00

We just love this new pattern that is hot off the presses from Ribbon Candy Quilt Company. I'm sure there are several little kiddos on your holiday gift giving list that would be delighted to receive this project. Just a word of caution, though, the book has several tiny embellishements so you might want to skip the buttons, etc for very small children.

What a clever way to recycle an old pair of jeans and some of those little trinkets you just might have laying around in your craft stash.

We've made it even easier for you with a little coordinated Bitty Bundle of felt, available for $5.00. Visit our website at http://www.prairiepointjunction.com/ or give us a call at 308-784-2010 to order the felt or pattern. Our store hours are Monday-Friday 10:00-5:00 and Saturday 10:00-4:00, Central Time.

Extra, Extra, Read All About It: Wee Folk Art Interview

2010-11-08T21:47:00.000-06:00

Goodness, Gracious.

I feel like a movie star today.

The talented gals over at Wee Folk Art have an interview posted about me and my shop. It actually was a lot of fun to think back on where we've come over the past 12 years and spend a little time pondering my thoughts on wool felt trends.

Head on over to http://www.weefolkart.com/ to read all about it. And while you're at it, be sure to add Wee Folk Art to your Favorites list. If you're not already familiar with this site, I promise you'll love it. Right now they have a fabulous Handmade Holidays directory that links to a wealth of sites that either sell supplies or handmade finished products.

Their blog posts are filled with more crafting, cooking, creating, and fun than you could ever imagine. I'm always so impressed by the innovative ways they engage their children in learning. I guarantee, you'll be inspired too.

Hint, Hint, Hint . . .. Be sure to check back on our blog and also over at Wee Folk Art from November 11th-14th. We have a few surprises up our sleeves.

Thanksgiving Project Ideas

2010-11-07T16:00:00.000-06:00

Turkey Day is just around the corner here in the US. We' ve had such unseasonably warm weather this fall that it is been fun to actually decorate for the season. We've had snow already by this time the past few years, so seeing the leaves and grass is such a treat.

Here are some ideas to inspire you for a few more fall projects. You can order any of the patterns below on our website at http://www.prairiepointjunction.com/ or give us a call at 308-784-2010. Our store hours are Monday-Friday 10-5 and Saturday 10-4, Central Time.

Autumn Wraps and Mats by Bareroots.

Pumpkin Harvest by The Woolen Needle

Autumn Leaves by Cotton Tales

Fall Harvest Pins by Meeting House Hill

Gobble Gobble by Bunny Hugs.

Pumpkin Candle Mat by Farmhouse Threads.

Pumpkin Stitchery by Welling

ton House Designs

Saltbox Harvest fabrics by Deb Strain for Moda

Enjoy a little bit more fall this week before the cold weather hits.

Princess Lasertron Shout Out

2010-09-08T23:00:00.000-05:00

We are super huge fans of Megan Hunt aka Princess Lasertron. She is a rock-star in our book. You can't believe the amazing bridal bouquts this gal is single-handedly creating from wool felt. (Quite literally - she a proud new mom). Prepare to be stunned. Head on over to http://www.princesslasertron.com/ and check out the inspiration. Besides bridal bouquets, Megan has just launced a co-working space, CAMP, in downtown Omaha, Nebraska - PLUS she has a clothing line coming out soon.

My little heart started to pitter-patter when I saw her September 6th blog post - where Megan just happend to mention little ole Wool Felt Central as a source for her wool felt. I was nearly giddy to see that lovely pile of felt stacked up behind her to-die-for shoes - knowing that those very bolts of felt had been in my shop before we packaged them up and shipped them down the Interstate to Megan. What an joy to be included as even the tiniest little step in the process towards the creation of a bouquet for one of the most important days in a girls life.

Every time we pack up a felt supply order, I can't help myself but to imagine for just a minute what that felt will become once it reaches someone's creative hands. Now before I wax too poetic on you . . . just wanted to thank all the fabulously amazing people out there who trust us to be their supplier for their wool felt projects.

Deal of the Week: September 9th-16th, 2010

2010-09-08T22:42:00.000-05:00

Add the Fat Quarter Fashionista or the Get Strippy With It pattern to your collection.

See our next blog post below for a virtual gallery of quilt possiblities.

Fat Quarter Fashionista Pattern

Regular Price: $8.50

Deal of the Week Price: $6.50

Get Strippy With It Pattern

Regular Price: $8.50

Deal of the Week Price: $6.50

Prices valid September 9th-September 16th, 2010

*Not valid with any other discounts.

Revisiting Old Favorites

2010-09-08T22:35:00.001-05:00

Do you have those patterns in your collection that you turn to time and time again? You know the ones . . . . You've got them down to a science, don't even really need to read the directions anymore . . . Know that any fabrics you pick out will look great. Well, The Fat Quarter Fashionista and Get Strippy With It are those two patterns for me.

Granted, I may be just a teensy bit biased, as they do happen to be two original designs from Prairie Point Junction, but once you give them a whirl, you'll be inclined to agree with me.

What makes them so special?

The Fat Quarter Fashionista is perfect for that fat quarter stack you've collected. Use 18 fats for a throw, 21 fats for a twin size. Then just add border fabric. Once I've cut this one out, I can piece the top in about 4 hours. (O.K., I'll admit that I've been accused of exceeding the speed limit when I sew, but still - give yourself an afternoon and you'll be fine)

Here are some examples of fabrics I've made the Fashioinista with.

Our Get Strippy With It Pattern is just as easy and it showcases all those fabulous large printed stripes that are on the market right now. I think I've made this pattern just as many times as the Fashionista, but for the life of me, don't know why I didn't take as many pictures. Trust me on this one though, you can make it in so many different fabrics. Stop by the shop, we've got lots of options to show you.

Contest Alert . . . Contest Alert . . .

We'd love to see YOUR pictures if you have made either of these patterns. We'll sweeten the pot just a little bit to get you going . . . .

E-mail us at woolfeltcentral@yahoo.com with a picture of your version of either quilt by September 24th. We'll randomly select a winner from all photos submitted to win your choice of original designs from the staff at Prairie Point Junction.

(Just a note, we use this e-mail address only for contests to help keep our regular inbox from getting full, so if you send any other message to this address, chances are we won't read it unless we happen to have a contest going on at that particular time.)

Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner

2010-05-27T20:21:00.000-05:00

Well, not exactly a chicken dinner, but we do have a winner!

Thanks to everyone that posted such nice comments on the http://www.modabakeshop.com/ site for my Frolic'N Butterflies pattern. If you didn't get a chance to download the pattern, head on over here and get your copy now.

We selected one lucky winner through a random number drawing to win a charm pack of this fun Frolic fabric.

Drum roll, please . . ..

Our lucky winner is Cindy in Ohio. (I've sent you an e-mail to the address in your blogspot profile)

Cindy said...

This quilt is sooo cute!!! I love it in the Frolic line. Nice job!! And thanks for showing how easy it is to make butterflies - I love that! :)

Now, if you weren't as lucky as Cindy, we do have a little surprise for all of you . . .

Our Deal of the Week from May 27th-June 3rd is 20% off all Frolic fabrics on our site at http://www.prairiepointjunction.com/.

Hop on over here to pick up some if you like.

Quilt Market, Part 2

2010-05-25T19:24:00.000-05:00

We certainly had an amazing time at market.

Sorry I didn't get to post everyday.

By the time we got back to the hotel at night we were ready to collapse.

Talk about shopping till ya drop.

Great fun was had by all at the Moda booth.

Their theme was a dollhouse. How cute is that?

Tons of great Moda goodness will be coming this fall:

Got to chat with our friend Lynne (and Robert, too, of course) from Kansas Troubles Quilters.

Signed up Prairie Point Junction for the Stash Society Club. We'll have more details soon.

See that darling ornament runner and the little packages mini-quilt???
They'll be part of the series.

Another of our Moda favorites . . . .

Joanna from Fig Tree Quilts

And you can't forget Camille from Thimble Blossoms

We've got a big party planned in a few weeks to show off all our market loot plus many more pictures from our trip.

Keep checking back for details - or sign up for our newsletter on the home page of our site at

http://www.prairiepointjunction.com/

Then you'll be the first to know.

Tons of new patterns will be posted on the site on Thursday.

Enjoy.

Market Madness - A Few of our Favorite Things

2010-05-21T22:52:00.000-05:00

Here we are in Minneapolis at Quilt Market. Wish you were here. It is an amazing experience.

We'll do our best to share of glimpse of this twice-a-year extravaganza. Check back often for more posts.

This picture was taken Thursday night after a full day of School House Sessions. School house is a day jam-packed full of mini-classes from 15-30 long. You can choose between a whole slate of topics each session that range from new product presentations, business topics, notions demos, you name it.

We were waiting in line for Sample Spree - the craziest thing you've seen in the world. This is just part of the line that waited for almost two hours to get in the doors. Bigger crowd than you'll find sleeping over night for the hottest concert in town. Sample Spree gives shop owners a chance to purchase single copies of the newest patterns, fat quarter bundles, and ready-made samples so that they can go back to their hotels and plan what to purchase the next day.

This best describes the madness - A nice gentleman strolled by the line (he later admitted his wife was somewhere in the line) and was teasing us about what we were waiting for. Someone tried to explain . . .

His response? Now let me get this straight . . .

You are all quilters? Yes

You all owner quilt shops? Yes

You are waiting in line for two hours to buy something you already have mass quantities of? Well, Yes.

You get the picture. Its what we all do . . . .

That's how you know you are a real quilter, right?

After all the craziness of Thursday, we hit the floor running Friday morning on the market floor visiting with some of our favorite designers and meeting new friends too.

Here's Julie with Barri from Bareroots.

Hint Hint . . . .

Super, awesome, amazing, new candle mats will be on their way soon.

You're gonna love them, we promise.

Ran into Meg from Crabapple Hill Studios.

Don't know how much you can tell from the photos, but those are the cutest little cardstock tags hanging from real tree branches in her booth.

But, it gets better . . .

See those little pillow in the wire bin?

There are embroidered vintage postcards.

But, wait . . . it gets better yet . . .

Those little postcards are address to someone in a fictitious town in . . .

Nebraska! How cool is that?

Then, Would you belive I was banned from buying more bag patterns?

Huh. Me neither. I didn't know there was such a thing as too many bags.

Jusk ask my friend Gwen. She'll defend me.

Anyway, my travel companions declared that I had purchased more than my quota of bag patterns (and wool felt patterns.)

You'll have to wait just a little longer to see all the new bag patterns we added.

Some of my favorites? These new goodies from Pink Beach Designs.

I guess this is proof of all the goodies we've tracked down just for you.

That's Terri there in the middle guarding our luggage filled to the brim with new product.

It will be worth the wait to see what we add to the website soon.

Now its time to say Goodnight . . . .

Frolic'N Butterflies on the Moda Bake Shop

2010-05-19T00:00:00.001-05:00

Greetings. I'm Thrilled, Thrilled, Thrilled to have my third original pattern featured on http://www.modabakeshop.com/.

To celebrate, we're having a little GIVEAWAY.

1. Check out the Frolic'n Butterflies pattern on http://www.modabakeshop.com/.

2. Leave a comment about our Frolic'N Butterflies pattern on the Bake Shop site.

3. Then, leave a comment at the bottom of this post here on my blog to tell me you left a comment on the Bake Shop site.

4. We'll do a random number drawing on May 27th, from the comments on my blog for a FREE Frolic Charm pack.

5. Doesn't get better than that!

6. Oh Wait . . . . Maybe it does . . .

7. We love Frolic so much that we re-created another one of my Bake Shop Patterns, the Verna's Cutting Garden runner in Frolic fabrics.

Download the pattern for Verna's Cutting Garden HERE.

Purchase a kit or other Frolic fabrics HERE.

Thanks for stopping by.

Deal of the Week

2010-05-18T17:00:00.002-05:00

Did you know that Prairie Point Junction offers a Deal of the Week? Every Friday we post a designated item or items on the home page of our site at a special price that is valid for one week.

Usually we just pick one or time items, but . . .

Just had to take a minute to let you know about our best Deal of the Week Ever . . .

Since we're headed off to market, the gals at the shop thought we needed to make room for all the new patterns we'll be bringing back.

So . . . from May 19th-27th, take 20% off - that's right 20% off - ANY regular priced pattern in stock.

You can order online, by phone, or stop by the shop.

The deal is only good on in-stock items while they last.

Just a little caveat though, our website does not operate in real time, so periodically we sell out of an item before we have a chance to remove it from the website.

What does that mean for you? While we try our best to stay on top of things, due to the volume of orders, its possible that someone can order a pattern, but it might take us up to a day or so to process their order, find out it is now out of stock, then update the site. To complicate things just a bit more - half of our staff is away from the shop at Quilt Market. So, we'll contact you within 72 hours (but usually sooner), if we are unable to fill your order. Sorry ahead of time for any possible inconvenience.

Now head on over to our site at http://www.prairiepointjunction.com/ or http://www.woolfeltcentral.com/ to shop early for the best selection.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Off to Market We Go

2010-05-18T09:10:00.000-05:00

I can hardly contain my excitement. We head off today for International Quilt Market in Minneapolis.

This is a whole-sale only trade show open to shop owners, vendors, and designers.

Talk about kids in a candy store!

We'll be traveling on Wednesday doing our own little shop hop between Omaha and Minneapolis.

Who knows where we'll all end up.

We'll keep you posted.

Check back every day this week for a little glimpse at all the goodies we've found just for you.

Man, you just can't beat getting to spend three days shopping for all things quilt related - and still get to call it your "job."

And I'll tease you just a little bit . . .

We have another exciting announcement . . .

So be triple sure to check back tomorrow.

PS . . . Do you get our weekly e-mail updates? If not, you are missing out of lots of great new info.

http://www.prairiepointjunction.com/ or http://www.woolfeltcentral.com/

You'll thank us.

Best Mother's Day Ever

2010-05-10T20:03:00.006-05:00

What more could a mom ask for than having her seven year old son want to sew with her?

We had a little fun with our tub of wool felt. I'm always amazed that my little guy can just pick up a piece of felt and start cutting, and voila - a creation has appeared.

This time he made Mario, Luigi, and a Cupa. Those red circles? Fireballs, of course. Landry did the cutting, then I had the job of sewing the pieces together. Glue will only do so much, you know. Gotta love it.

It gets even better . . . . Landry wanted to know if he could make them into a pattern to sell at the shop.

A budding artist, I'm just sure of it.

Hope all the moms out there had a great day too.

On the Run Lunch Combos

2010-04-21T13:36:00.013-05:00

It isn't often that we find a book where we want to make EVERY project - but this book is the ONE! We just love Heather Mulder Peterson from Anka's Treasures. Can't wait till she arrives in Cozad in September to teach at our Quilting on the Prairie Retreat. Until then, though, we've been cooking up runners and quilts from a variety of her books and patterns.

You just have to add a copy of her "On the Run" book to your collection. Check out the books pages of our website to order the book and kits.

We've created a little corner in the front of our shop featuring Quilter's Lunch Combo's On the Run. Nebraska's Shop Hop runs from April 15th-25th and the theme is Cooking Up Great Quilts. Doesn't this make for a perfect tie-in display? Quilter's can grab a little brown lunch bag with the necessary charm packs, fabrics, and backing for any of these darling runners. Add the book with the instructions for all 12 runners and you've got yourself a "Lunch Combo - To Go"

Fresh Blooms Runner

Shown Using Basic Grey's Blush line.

Seasonal Topper: Summer

Shown using Park Avenue from Moda.

Seasonal Topper: Spring

Shown using Attitude Girls by Mary Englebreit for Moda.

Fresh Blooms

Shown using Flutterby Garden by The Buggy Barn for Henry Glass.

Party Time Runner

Shown using Soiree from Moda.

Baby Boxes

Shown using Simple Abundance from Camille Roskelly for Moda

Patckwork Mosaic

Shown using Wrapped in Paisley by Kansas Troubles for Moda.

Enjoy!

And the Winner Is . . .

2010-02-16T10:05:00.010-06:00

Thanks to all the creative artists that entered our Valentine Wool Felt Challenge.

The winner of our $20.00 Gift Certificate is Kathy Cooper.

We loved her combination of techniques to create this project.

Kathy designed the eyeglass case herself - using black wool felt for the pocket. The heart is made from white, red, and pink wool felt that she felted together then stitched to the black. She used a heart shaped paper punch to punch holes in the pink felt. The leaf was felted with brown and olive roving onto green felt.

Thanks for sharing your project with us, Kathy!

Here's a little gallery of some of our other favorite entries to inspire you . . .

Linda, from Racine, WI, made this doll applique to decorate a t-shirt for her daughter who happens to love "dollies" very much.

Tina-Marie made this amazing birdhouse. The little birdie is wearing his heart on his sleeve. You can check out her etsy shop for even more creative ideas.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39071493

Jackie, from Maple Valley, WA created this original Valentine Banner.

Leah from Cartersville, Georgia, made this candle mat. She added her own personal variations to adapt the Hearts and Flowers candle mat pattern from Bareroots.

Jill, from Reno, Nevada, created this "Loving Retirement" quilt to showcase nine things she is loving about retirement.

Jennifer made this Mama and Baby Owl for her 5 year old daughter, Cora. (Hi Cora! Keep up that love for wool felt!). Love that the little baby owl fits into the Mama's heart pouch.

Thanks to everyone that shared their creations. Look for another challenge in April.

Valentine Give Away

2010-01-19T12:00:00.001-06:00

Those crafty gals over at http://www.weefolkart.com/ have done it again. Yes, they've come up with yet another "must-do-right-now" project. I never cease to be amazed at their creativity. This time Michelle and Kimara have whipped up a little "Rip and Tear" napkin and napkin ring set. How fun would these be to make for a special Valentine's Day dinner? You can find instructions for the project here:

http://weefolkart.com/content/valentine-napkin-rings-and-napkins

But WAIT! It gets even better!

We've partnered up with those crafty gals to sweeten the deal just a bit. We're offering a special give-away of two kits to make a set of four napkins and napkin rings. We've picked out the fabrics below for two very special Wee Folk Art Readers.

Want a chance to win? Leave some love in the comments section below, then head on over to ,

http://weefolkart.com/content/valentines-day-give-away,

read their blog entry with all the nitty-gritty details about our giveaway and then leave them some love in their comments as well.

Don't want to wait for the give-away? As always, we try to make life simple. You can head on over to our shop at http://www.prairiepointjunction.com/ or http://www.woolfeltcentral.com/ to pick up the necessary supplies. We've put together kits as shown above for $16.50 - or you can pick and choose your own favorite fabrics.

We recommend 1 1/8 yards of the print fabric of your choice, then 12" x 18" pieces each of three colors of wool felt. This will make four napkins and plenty of napkin holders.

You could even use the design to make some pins or clippies from the extra felt. How about using the napkin rings as bands for a yummy candy bar??? You'll be the coolest mom on the street!

We have several Valentine themed fabric collections to choose from:

Hope you enjoy!

Valentine Challenge

2010-01-17T16:52:00.009-06:00

Valentine Favorites . . . .

Here are some of our favorite Valentine inspired projects that are

currently available on our website at www.woolfeltcentral.com

(Chocolate-Forget-Me-Knot by Annelle's Originals)

(Layers of My Heart by Annelle's Originals)

(Hearts and Flowers Candle Mat by Bareroots)

(Valentine Ornaments by Under the Garden Moon.)

Wool Felt Valentine Challenge

We haven't issued a challenge in a while, so thought now would be a good time to get your creative juices flowing again. We're down to just a little under one month and counting before Valentine's Day is upon us.

I love how sweet this holiday is. Nothing can be better than receiving a home-made Valentine from your sweetie - especially when they are seven years old and write "my mom has strat her" (Translation - my mom had straight hair - I get the biggest kick out of the phonetic spelling).

Anyway . . . . Here's the Scoop . . ..

1. Create any Valentine inspired project using Wool Felt. This can be a candle mat, pillow, banner, candy wrapper, ornament - you name it!

2. E-mail us at woolfeltcentral@yahoo.com with "Valentine Challenge" in the subject. Include a photo of your project and a short description. Be sure to note whether this is an original design or created from a published pattern.

3. We'll choose a lucky winner from all submissions to win a $20.00 gift certificate to http://www.woolfeltcentral.com/.

4. Entries must be received by February 14th.

5. Submission of entry grants Wool Felt Central permission to post a photo of your project on our blog.

Ornament Challenge Winners

2009-12-05T06:30:00.003-06:00

Drumroll please . . . .

And the Winners of our ornament challenge contest are:

Anjeanette from www.rootsandwingsco.blogspot.com with her Silhouette Ornaments. Isn't this a clever idea to preserve those special moments of childhood?

And . . . .

Jackie Johnson from Maple Valley, Wa.

Both talented gals will receive a $10.00 gift certificate to our shop to stock up on their favorite wool felt supplies.

Looking for some other ideas for ornaments, be sure to check out the Christmas page of our site at:
http://www.prairiepointjunction.com/woolfeltpatterns.html#xmas

and our Garden Moon section of ornaments here:
http://www.prairiepointjunction.com/woolfeltpatterns.html#moon

Happy Crafting!

These are a few of my favorite things . . .

2009-11-29T19:46:00.008-06:00

Ask my family and friends. Blue and Brown are my favorite color combination. I'm going to be in serious trouble when this color scheme goes out of style.

I had a rare chance this weekend to do some sewing just for me this weekend. Most of my sewing projects end up as a display of some sort for the store or as a pattern to publish somewhere. This time I was able to take my current favorite fabric line, Figgy Pudding, from Basic Grey for Moda - and make my favorite quilt pattern - the Fat Quarter Fashionista (designed by me, of course!)

Even better - I found these glorious blue, silver, and brown ornaments and snowflakes while out shopping on Wednesday. And . . . . drumroll please . .. . flannel sheets that are brown with blue and white snowflakes. What more can a girl ask for?

Sources:

Blue and Silver round ornaments: Target

http://www.target.com/28-Ct-Glass-Ornament-Tub/dp/B002BIVTAO/ref=br_1_25?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&searchView=grid5&searchNodeID=2054098011&node=2054098011&searchRank=salesrank&searchPage=1&searchSize=30&id=28%20Ct%20Glass%20Ornament%20Tub

Blue, Silver, and Brown snowflakes: Shopko (I think . . . I was shopping lots of places)

Brown Snowflake Sheets: Target

Quilt Top: Made from Figgy Pudding by Basic Grey for Moda

Fat Quarter Fashionista Pattern: Designed by Julie Gegier for Prairie Point Junction

Available HERE:
www.prairiepointjunction.com/patterns.htm

Now to just get a tree so I can decorate . . .

For This I Am Thankful

2009-11-29T19:33:00.005-06:00

The week fly by way too fast, but I did get to take a few moments to appreciate time with family.

Last Sunday night we attended a community Thanksgiving church service. I'm so proud of my "guys" for their roles in the service. It has been amazing to see how my husband, Jon, has grown in his comfort level and musical abilities as he serves our church. I'm blessed by his giving spirit.

Landry also had a surprise role in the service too. He was asked, and agreed to read a prayer during the service. He willing stepped up in front of a room full of people and read like he had practice for days - instead of just for a few minutes. I'm amazed daily by his creativity and love of learning.

Thanksgiving night we moved a small light next to Landry's bed. He has been reading Junie B Jones books non-stop for days this week. He was so thrilled by the special opportunity to stay up later reading by himself in his bed. It warms my heart to see him share my passion for reading. Keep up the great work!

What are you thankful for this week? Be sure to take a moment to let those in your life know what you appreciate about them. Life changes too fast in the blink of an eye.

Snowman Table Runner - Customer Profile

2009-11-20T06:44:00.005-06:00

From time to time we like to post entries to celebrate the talents of our customers.

Jackie from Maple Valley, Washington, sent us this picture of her clever version combining two of our favorite winter patterns.

That is what I love about quilting and crafts - you can start with a pattern for a little inspiration and then can customize the details to make it your own. Or as my friend Gwen and I always say, "We like things the same - but different!"

Here's a little info about Jackie:

I've only done wool felt for about a month or so, but I have done crafts all my life. I've done crochet, a little knitting, cross stitch, embroidery, stamping, scrapbooking, photography and many odds and ends of crafts. I work on projects mostly in the evening to melt away the stress from work. It really works. I enjoy wool felt and the finished results. A very satisfying craft. I have to say thank you to Prairie Point Junction for the quality merchandise and quick and efficient service. You are a pleasure to do business with.

The runner is slightly larger than the original pattern (BUN195 - Season's Greetings by Bunny Hugs). I changed the background from red to blue. I combined this pattern with the Snowflakes pattern (HC550 - Snowflakes by Homespun Charm) instead of using the stars on the original pattern.

Want to make your own version of this runner? Patterns can be ordered on our site at

http://www.prairiepointjunction.com/woolfeltpatterns.html#winter .

Would you like to see your project featured on our website? We love show and tell. Submit your creations to prairiepointjunction@yahoo.com. Be sure to put "Wool Felt Central Blog" in your subject.

Our Friends at Wee Folk Art

2009-11-04T11:00:00.002-06:00

We are so jazzed to participate in a Give-Away with our friends over at http://www.weefolkart.com/. Kimara and Michelle have designed this brilliant Advent Calendar. This is a great project that could easily be worked on by kids too. Let the little ones paint the buttons while you sew the tree. Older kiddos could easily sew on the buttons too.

What a great idea for a creative little project. Maybe if your family is looking for a little craft to do after the big Thanksgiving feast - you could work together to make this. How about letting the kids each make a small little version of the tree out of felt to decorate as they wish. Buttons, beads, lace, fun foam - you name it! The gals at Wee Folk Art also have a wealth of plenty of other ideas to keep you busy. Head on over there to be inspired.

Check out the details on their website from November 4th-10th. Be sure to leave us some love here in the comments section to earn an extra entry in their drawing for 2 free kits from us.

We'll also have all the supplies available for purchase on our site HERE: www.woolfeltcentral.com/woolfeltpatterns.html

Here is a little interview with the gals at Wee Folk Art:

We are a mother/daughter team (Kimara/Michelle) with a mutual love of crafting and the gentle art of homemaking. With the "wee folks" in mind, most of our crafting is focused on children. We do, however, throw in crafts for the home, self, or yummy recipes just to keep it interesting. Kimara has degrees in home economics and education. She is in her element when crafting and children collide! Michelle has a degree in photography and graphic arts. She is homeschooling her three children ages 6, 5, and 3 and shares many of their experiences on Wee Folk Activities. (http://www.weefolkactivities.com/)

We do a wide range of crafts including clothing and accessories for children, wooden toys, gnome and fairy crafting, household decorating and our specialty . . . applique blocks, made from felt, but adaptable to many other materials. All of our patterns, over 100 and growing, are offered for FREE. Why do we do this? Our rationale is simple. We are trying to simplify our lives and become more responsible consumers. We know there are a lot of other people out there trying to do the same thing, and we support their efforts. By offering free directions and patterns, we hope to encourage and support others that want safe, natural, inexpensive and high quality items for their children and their homes. So, it is our plan to never sell patterns on our site, and to continue to share projects that enhance our lives, and hopefully those of others. Join us for some crafty goodness.

Now Prairie Point Junction/Wool Felt Central fans . . . . Head on over to those amazing gals at http://www.weefolkart.com/ and check out their inspiring site. Be sure to tell them we sent you . . .

Christmas Ornament Contest

2009-11-03T16:10:00.015-06:00

Hard to believe that Christmas is only 7 weeks away. Last I knew it was still August. Since the holidays are coming whether we are ready or not, lets get a jump start and have some fun.

One of my favorite parts about the holidays are digging out my boxes of decorations. I love to reminisce about all the memories that go along with my collection of ornaments. Would you believe I still have some of the ornaments that I received in grade school when we would exchange with our classmates? One of my favorite ornaments is a felt stocking that was made by by cousin Marilyn when I was just a small girl. As soon as I get my boxes of Christmas decorations down, I'll be sure to show you.

That leads me to our ornament challenge . . .

Send us a picture of your favorite hand-crafted ornament to prairiepointjunction@yahoo.com by November 25th. Be sure to put "Ornament Challenge" in the subject. Let us know which category you are entering your ornament in.

We'll choose our favorite ornament from each category and the lucky winner will receive a $10.00 gift certificate to use on our site -- plus will have the honor of having their ornament picture posted on our blog. Enter as many ornaments in as many categories as you want.

Cozy Christmas Ornament by Bits and Pieces by Joan)
Order HERE: www.woolfeltcentral.com/woolfeltpatterns.html#xmas

Ornament Challenge Categories:

Wool Felt Ornament - Original Design
Wool Felt Ornament - Made from another designers pattern.
Ornament - Any Material, Original Design
Ornament - Any Material, Made from another designers pattern

Would you like to see your blog/etsy shop/flicker stream/designs featured on our site? We'd like to feature several sites that offer ornament inspiration. Let us know if you have a site that you'd like us to consider. E-mail prairiepointjunction@yahoo.com with "Featured Site" as the subject.

Now for a little inspiration . . . Here are some of our favorite ornament patterns available for purchase on our website:

Christmas Classic Ornaments by Bird Brain Designs

Order Kit HERE:

www.woolfeltcentral.com/woolfeltpatterns.html#xmas

Christmas Ornaments by Under the Garden Moon

Order Pattern or Bitty Bundle HERE:

www.woolfeltcentral.com/woolfeltpatterns.html#moon

Indiana Jones, Wool Felt, and Random Trivia

2009-11-03T15:05:00.008-06:00

Isn't it amazing what kids can come up with? My 6 year old boy is very much into Indiana Jones (as if you couldn't tell from the photo's below). We eat sleep, breathe, and play Indiana Jones all day long. During a sewing day with a few friends, my sweet boy was bored and wanted to sew along. I set out my grand tub of wool felt and let him have at it. This Indiana Jones banner (plus seven others, with Indiana Jones character names that slip my over-taxed-mind at the moment) is the result of his handi-work. I see a budding fabric artist, don't you? At least he'll have something to fall back on if the golf career his dad dreams about falls through.

The moral of the story? Wool Felt is a great creative outlet for kids. (Plus it allows you to get some sewing and chatting done with your friends too).

As if that wool felt treasure wasn't enough, guess what we made a few days later for Halloween? Presto! An Indiana Jones pouch and jacket. Nothing fancy, we just cut around an Oshgosh hooded zip-up sweathshirt for a general pattern for the body and sleeves. Those days of garment sewing two decades ago in 4-H actually came in handy after all. The pouch, though, was the talk of the street. Everyone thought it was perfect for carrying trick-or-treat loot. No plastic pumpkin required.

We had a great time out and about in the neighborhood. The 8 inches of snow from the day before didn't even stand in our way. 60 degree temps melted most of what fell.

Left a perfect evening to ring some bells and go on an adventure that Indy would be proud of.

Quilt Nebraska 2009

2009-07-26T20:26:00.012-05:00

We've just returned from a weekend vending at Quilt Nebraska at the Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln, Nebraska. Here are some pics from our merchant mall booth.

One of the favorite items in our booth were these great ornaments from Under the Garden Moon. Amy let us borrow some of her gorgeous samples for the weekend. Thanks, Amy! I couldn't believe how quick these went together. I'm not very good at sitting around with idle hands, so I had the set of Fall Ornaments and the Valentine Ornaments prepped and ready to stitch. I actually finished 10 of the Fall Ornaments and 4 of the Valentines just while tending our booth. If you need a quick and easy project, be sure to check these out on our website. We've got wool felt packs for them too - so you don't even have to stress about which colors to buy. Check them out here: http://www.prairiepointjunction.com/woolfeltpatterns.html#moon

Our display of patterns . . .

You can also see the Bouncing Baby Boy Flannel quilt in the background. Give us a call (308-784-2010) if you need a baby quilt that can be completed in an afternoon. We simply added a piano key border to this panel. Available in pink for little girls too.

Most of the projects pictured below are not on our website yet, but give us a call if you are interested in any of the kits or patterns.

1. Cream Quilt with Snowflakes: Made from the neutral fabrics in the Frosted Memories Layer Cake

2. Red/Green Quilt with Stars: Large throw made from the book Big Blocks, Big Quilts using the dark prints in the Frosted Memories Layer Cake.

3. Figgy Pudding Quilt: Check out the free pattern at http://www.unitednotions.com/un_main.nsf/free_patterns. We have a limited number of kits available.

4. Warm Winter Wishes: Wall Quilt with Cardinals, snowflakes, and flying geese. Project by Cottage Creek Quilts, kits available. Pattern is posted on our website here: http://www.prairiepointjunction.com/winter_patterns.htm#cottage

5. By The Verse: Fall and Winter made with the Figgy Pudding Charms. This is an original design by our shop. Order the pattern here: http://www.prairiepointjunction.com/patterns.htm

6. Chocolate Covered Cherries: Blue/Brown quilt. The pattern actually shows this quilt in pinks and browns - but who can resist this color combo too? Order the pattern here: http://www.prairiepointjunction.com/favorite_patterns.htm

7. Get Strippy With It: Original pattern by our shop. Jumbo rick-rack accents strips in this quick-to-piece quilt. Find the pattern here: http://www.prairiepointjunction.com/patterns.htm

8. Create by Cottage Creek Quilts: We used fabrics from Fig Tree quilts to give this pattern a shabby-chic flair. Order the pattern here: http://www.prairiepointjunction.com/winter_patterns.htm#cottage

9. Sweet Sugar Swirls using the Patisserie Honey Bun by Fig Tree Quilts.

Stop by the shop, give us a call (308-784-2010), or visit the website at www.prairiepointjunction.com to see all the great new products we showcased.

And the winner is . . .

2009-07-23T06:29:00.004-05:00

Letty of Ventura, CA.

Congratulations Letty and thanks to all who submitted entries for our random prize drawing in the "Flower Shower" challenge! We were definitely showered with some amazing wool felt flowers by talented artisans from around the country. Keep up the beautiful work and don't forget to check back for our next challenge to be posted in August where you too could be the winner of a fabulous prize from Prairie Point Junction!

Kelli
The Guest Blogger

Flowers, Flowers, Everywhere

2009-07-14T22:12:00.006-05:00

Our Flower Shower Challenge is going strong. Have you submitted your entry yet? Need a reminder? Here's a little summary of the rules . . . Plus a few quick snaps of some flowers from my front porch.

Use your garden for inspiration or go for a walk in a nearby park to check out the gorgeous lilies and daisies in bloom. Not only will you find it inspirational, but it’s good for your heart too!

- finished project must include a least one flower and incorporate wool felt
- embellishment with stitching or beading is encouraged
- a photo of your completed project must be submitted by Friday, July 17
- please email photos to ppjguestblogger@yahoo.com- include a brief description of your item along with your name and location (Example: Julie G., Cozad, NE) with your email
- only one entry per person
- The winning entry will be randomly selected and posted on the blog the weekend of July 18th
- The winning entrant will be notified by email

What can you win?

Your choice of 12 wool felt 12” x 18” pieces & a wool felt swatch card

Total value: $27.80

Flower Shower Continues . . .

2009-07-11T07:49:00.009-05:00

Have you taken a minute to submit your entry for our flower shower challenge? We're so excited to see all your creations.

Just in case you need a little more inspiration to get you started, we'd like to introduce you to Heidi Ryan. Heidi uses such clever stitching to accent her pins. Love those zigzags to spice things up.

Here's an interview with Heidi to answser some of your wool felt questions:

1. What lead you to open an Etsy shop selling your felt creations?

I thought that opening up an Etsy shop would be a great way to make some extra cash, but also a portal to disperse my stock....if I kept everything I ever made, I'd have no room in my house! Being creative is such an important part of my life...and the fact that people want to buy things that I make is a real compliment.

2. There's always a debate about whether wool felt should be pre-washed or not prior to using it. What are your thoughts on the issue?

I think that if you like the look of the felt after it is washed, go for it. I don't think it's necessary, unless it's part of your design. I've made complete pins before and then thrown them in with a load of clothes to get a different look. I've also accidentally washed them after leaving them on a shirt...but I always like how they turn out! But normally, I do not wash the felt before using it.

3. What do you find inspiration for your projects?

I find inspiration everywhere...this is a cliche for anyone creative, but I always think of ideas when I'm trying to fall asleep at night. Color is always so inspiring too, I LOVE all things colorful...and I think that's apparent in my designs!

4. Where can fans find you online?

You can find me online at: pinksparrow.etsy.com

Thanks for sharing your tips with us, Heidi.

More Flower Shower Ideas

2009-07-02T20:04:00.013-05:00

I stand completely in awe of all the amazing things people can do with wool felt. If you think of only penny-rugs and country inspired projects when you hear about wool felt, you've never dipped into the amazing online community of crafters out there.

Today I'd like to introduce Thine-Marie Van Blommestein. She has lived in Texas, Colorado, California, North Carolina, England and Denmark in the past ten years. Wool felt has been the perfect, portable project to take along on all her moves.

Thine-Marie shares her answers to our interview:

1. What inspired you to start creating with wool felt?

Well, I am kind of lazy and felt is really easy to work with. It doesn't fray or require any special treatment. I prefer wool felt to acrylic because of the superior quality and appearance, and the fabulous colors wool felt is available in. Acrylic felt is also glossier and does not photograph as well.

2. Tell us a little bit about the diverse array of wool felt projects you create.

I make hair accessories like hair clips and headbands, brooches, vase fillers, cake toppers, Christmas decorations, "disco" balls and wall art. I have two shops on Etsy where I sell accessories (shoozieshoes.etsy.com) and home decor pieces (heymiemie.etsy.com).

3. Where do you find inspiration for your projects?

Fashion magazines, home decor stores, flowers, nature, colors, fabric and Children's books. And sometimes the buyers themselves come up with the most amazing projects. One of the biggest and most challenging pieces to date is the necklace wreath I made for a large toy animal in a baby nursery. It is made up out of clusters of over 20 individually handmade felt flowers. The piece is finished with hand-embroidered leaves and is made to tie around the neck of the animal with a satin ribbon bow.

Hope you've been inspired by all of Thine-Marie's creations.

Another Bit of Inspiration

2009-07-02T19:46:00.008-05:00

How are your flowers coming along for our little flower shower challenge? Don' know where to start? Here's another bit of inspiration to get you going.

I'd like to introduce Amanda Rosander of Berkley's Clippies. I met Amanda online as a customer of our shop. Her adorable clippies makes me want to have a little girl to dress. (Well, almost anyway) (I have a 6 year old boy). I think I'll just admire her creations and save them for all the mommies of little princesses out there.

Here's a little interview with Amanda to give you a behind the scenes peek at her designs:

1. What lead you to start creating wool felt flowers as a business?

My designs have taken a very long but fun road. When my daughter was born, I really, really loved the typical "big bows", but thought they looked ridiculous on my daughter's tiny head. She had a darling dress with a fabric flower attached to it and I remember thinking, "that would make THE cutest hair clip!" After a few months of playing around with fabric, I tried wool felt and fell instantly in love! The versatility, the wide array of colors to choose from, and most of all, the uniqueness of the fabric just sold me!

2. Where do you find inspiration for your creations?

Inspiration comes from 2 areas: my daughter's clothes for the most part and then also little spurts of color combinations "come" to me at random times.

3. I noticed that you had been featured on several blogs and even a magazine. Any tips for other crafters on getting their products noticed?

Being featured by magazines and/or blogs has been THE best part of it all! I love it when someone takes a second to let me know that they truly enjoy my little creations. Getting your product "out there" takes a lot of time and even more patience. If you are taking your creations to a "business level", you must invest your time in multiple areas and just hope that 1 or more get noticed. Marketing has been the biggest challenge for me. I'm not by nature a sales person and I literally have to force myself to make those calls and send those types of emails. The best tip I can pass on would be to offer samples of your product to a wide assortment of bloggers, shop/boutique owners, and websites.

4. Where can fans find your creations online?

Berkley's Clippies are available at http://www.berkleysclippies.com/ and also on Etsy at: http://www.berkleysclippies.etsy.com/

Thanks for sharing with us, Amanda!

A Little Inspiration . . .

2009-06-29T19:19:00.013-05:00

One of the best parts of owning Prairie Point Junction is all the opportunities to meet fantastic people that are using wool felt in extraordinary ways.

Here's a little inspiration to get you started thinking about using wool felt for flowers. Amber North is one of those super talented gals that I happened to "meet" through our website. I asked Amber to share a little info about herself and her creative projects:

1. What lead you to start creating with wool felt?

I first started making felt play food for my daughter who was 4 at the time. She was my muse but as she got older and my skills became more refined, I began to create "plushies" and appliques with embroidery. I enjoy teaching my children about our natural world and we spend loads of time outside collecting and inspecting bugs, their favorite being the "Roly Poly" bug or "Pill Bug"....which led to the creation of "Charles Chuggypeg".

2. What other types of creative projects do you enjoy?

I also enjoy making fabric and felt flowers (http://www.rebloom.etsy.com/) . My grandmother was a floral designer who was my inspiration for these "Reblooms". They are even more special if they are made with a piece of fabric that one is sentimentally attached, like a child's favorite outfit that has been outgrown.

3. Where can fans find your work online?

I have 2 Etsy shops online: http://www.rolypolyplanet.etsy.com/ and http://www.rebloom.etsy.com/

Thank you for your interest in my creations and I hope you have a great day!

Sincerely, Amber North

Thanks for sharing your work with us, Amber.

Hope you've inspired everyone to try their hand at our little wool felt flower challenge.

Wool Flower Shower Challenge

2009-06-28T19:35:00.003-05:00

We’re going to shower the web with flowers! Wool flowers that is! And, one of our lucky readers will have the chance to win a FABULOUS prize from Prairie Point Junction.

Drum roll . . . and the fabulous prize is . . .
Your choice of 12 wool felt 12” x 18” pieces & a wool felt swatch cardTotal value: $27.80

Use your garden for inspiration or go for a walk in a nearby park to check out the gorgeous lilies and daisies in bloom. Not only will you find it inspirational, but it’s good for your heart too! I’ll also be posting some works from other artists to showcase their talents and to help get the creative juices flowing.

Here are the challenge guidelines
- finished project must include a least one flower and incorporate wool felt
- embellishment with stitching or beading is encouraged
- a photo of your completed project must be submitted by Friday, July 17
- please email photos to ppjguestblogger@yahoo.com
- include a brief description of your item along with your name and location (Example: Julie G., Cozad, NE) with your email
- only one entry per person
- The winning entry will be randomly selected and posted on the blog the weekend of July 18th
- The winning entrant will be notified by email

Craft on!
Kelli
aka The Guest Blogger

Road Trip

2009-06-24T19:43:00.011-05:00

Summer is flying by much too fast. It seems like school just got out, but yet that was already 4 weeks ago for us. All my big plans are still sitting on the back burner. One fun thing that I did get squeezed into the schedule was a fun little road trip with the gals from Prairie Point Junction. On June 6th, six of us piled into a van and headed to Kansas for a little Shop Hop fun. We visited quilt shops in Hebron, Nebraska; then Kansas shops in Abilene, Concordia, Salina, Belleville, Manhattan, and Holton. We found plenty of treasures and tons of inspiration.

A special little side trip on our journey was a stop in Paxico, Kansas. If you never been to (or even heard of, for that matter) Paxico - this is a must see stop on your journey across I-70 - smack dab between Manhattan and Topeka. Their downtown area is straight out of a western movie. Check out the Paxico Merchants Association web page for more photos and details about all the fun antique stores and more there. http://www.paxicomerchants.com/

You may be wondering what in the world led me to this town in the first place. As the gals at my shop know, most of my conversations start with, " I was messing around on the internet . . . " Well, another Julie - Julie Dillingham - happens to own The Gathering Place in Paxico and she happend to by messing around on the Internet and discovered Prairie Point Junction. Julie is considering adding fabrics and/or wool to her antique shop and contacted me for some information. Several e-mails later, I discovered I was going to be passing be her darling shop and she rolled out the red carpet to welcome our caravan on Sunday afternoon.

Be sure to head on over to The Gathering Place's website at http://www.thegatheringplaceinpaxico.com/. And if you ever happen to be in Paxico, be sure to stop by and tell Julie that Julie from Prairie Point Junction sent you.

Introducing . . . The Guest Blogger

2009-06-22T14:32:00.002-05:00

Julie has honored me with the invitation to blog on Prairie Ramblings. I've been promised a fancy title . . . oh, what should it be. . . Executive Guest Blogger? Vice President of Blogging? Any suggestions? Whatever the title, the promise is fun and the opportunity to share and explore the world of creative ideas.

Who am I?
My name is Kelli and I'm a friend of all arts and crafts. I love fabric, felt, beading, crochet, knitting and more! I love fiber and glass! I love metal and plastic! I love buttons and ribbons and rick rack! I love paper and found objects! I love it all! I'm a huge fan of Prairie Point Junction and an even bigger fan of Julie! You could say she is the sister I never had. Julie and I met in college and spent many an idle hour day-dreaming about Prairie Point Junction (PPJ) and all of the wonderful possibilities. The coolest part our day-dreaming is that Julie and her awesome staff have made it a reality in Cozad, Nebraska! And, if you can't make it to the store, they have a wonderful website where you can order online!

Safety briefing:
Before we begin our blogging journey, we must first start with a safety briefing. I've attended several quilting workshops where the instructors insisted that all students close their rotary blades while not in use. Very wise advise! Well, my safety story is to encourage you to be careful with your cutters (scissors too!) at all times! Almost two months ago while working on an adorable Buggy Barn quilt, "It's in the Bag" from the "Those Crazy Kids" book, I had a slight accident. Short story: sliced finger, later passed out and knocked my head on the wall, woke up laughing at my "stupid" accident, went to the emergency room for a CT scan and 6 stitches in my head, a very large bandage on my finger and a prescription for pain relievers. My finger is still healing and now the bills are starting to arrive in my mailbox. Of course, I thought I had it bad until a friend reported that she met a woman with a similar experience except that when she passed out, she also broke a tooth! Healing can take a long time so taking all safety precautions when working on arts and crafts is advised. Have fun, but be safe! On a more positive note, the quilt will be on display later this summer at PPJ. Then, it will be sent to Omaha to serve as the featured silent auction item for "Art in the Bag" a benefit for Cancer Awareness, Research and Care.

Until next time
Kelli
aka The Guest Blogger

Needle Book Tutorial

2009-05-25T16:19:00.004-05:00

School's out and summer time fun has begun.

Have you tried a project made from wool felt yet? I love how portable wool felt projects are - just glue the appliques in place with Quilter's Choice Basting Glue, then pack some pearl cotton or embroidery floss and you are set. Perfect for stitching in the car on the road, on the porch, or while you sit and wait during T-Ball practice.

Here's a quick little project you can make in under an hour to try it out. Have kids or grandkids around this summer? This project is easy enough for a pre-teen to stitch with a little supervision.

Hope you enjoy this little free tutorial to make a wool felt needle book. Visit the Tips and Free Patterns page of my website here to download the instructions:

http://www.prairiepointjunction.com/woolfeltcentral.html

Shop Hop

2009-04-26T21:26:00.009-05:00

Wow! Cozad sure rolled out the red carpet to welcome Shop Hoppers to town. Thanks to all the businesses that extended a welcome to our special guests. Your hospitality was appreciated.

We had a wonderful turnout of hoppers on the 11th Annual Nebraska Independent Fabric Shop's Hop. 1400 quilters enrolled in the hop to visit 33 participating quilt shops across the state. Quilt shops handed out patterns for 12" quilt blocks designed by Thangles - plus original patterns for projects utilizing the blocks.

Hoppers validated their passport cards at each shop they visited to qualify for gift certificates ranging from $25 - $500 dollars that can be redeemd at any of the participating shops. We'll draw for certificates on May 6th, so be sure to check back to see our winners. You can visit http://www.fabricsandquilts.com/ for more information.

Thanks to everyone that came out to visit us. It's always great meeting new quilters as well as reconnecting with friends we only get to see every one in awhile. Hope you had a fabulous time.

2009-03-24T21:04:00.003-05:00

Where did March go???

As you can tell, I haven't kept too up to date on the good old blog posts. Now, here it is, offficially spring on the calendar, and I feel like I'm still back in February.

This snowy, blustery weather is for the birds . . . or if you happen to hop on over to http://www.weefolkart.com/, perhaps you'll remember that spring is for bunnies.

They have the cutest free pattern download for this basket of eggs. Plus, they have some free patterns for adorable little appliqued wool blocks too. Now hop on over there, and tell the gals we sent you. Plus . . . you'll find a handy little special link on their site back to our wool felt site with a special discount code so you can fill your easter basket with goodies.

Creative and Then Some . . .

2009-02-01T15:40:00.014-06:00

Wow! Two posts in a row, can you believe it. Those of you that follow my blog at all know that I have a habit of being pretty random. I'll be inspired and do several consecutive posts, then life gets in the way and it will be over a month before you hear from me. Wish I could make one of those promises that I'll post regularly from now on, but I know me too well. As I told one of my friends today, I'm much better at finding ideas than actually caring them out.

Which leads me to the real topic of today's post.

I've followed the blog http://www.skiptomylou.org/ for quite awhile. She is the most super-creative-inspired blogger I know. She had the BEST tutorials for all sorts of projects. There are crafts for kids, holiday decorations, recipes, and directions for all sorts of handcrafted projects like CD holders, tote bags, you name it!

One of my favorites is her wool felt crayon roll. Check out the directions here:

http://www.skiptomylou.org/2007/04/25/on-a-roll/ (Fabric Roll)

http://www.skiptomylou.org/2008/08/06/felt-crayon-roll/

(Felt Roll)

While you are on the Skip to My Lou site, be sure to check out the following sites that are part of the Chic Chick Network. We're advertising http://www.woolfeltcentral.com/ on all four of these blogs this month. Be sure to stop by and see what these talented ladies are up to.

7 Degrees of Blogs

2009-02-01T15:13:00.006-06:00

Remember that whole "7 Degrees of Kevin Bacon" thing where you supposedly could link Kevin Bacon in 7 steps to any other movie star? Well, I think the same thing is true for Blogs! I just love to read all the creative goings on out there and admittedly, pursue waaaaay too many interests. It's amazing how many connections you can find out there, though, in the creative community.

Here's an example that I discovered this past weekend . . . .

I love digital scrapbooking. One of my favorites sites is http://www.designerdigitals.com/

Every week they post a color challenge where they create a little digital mini kit freebie based on an image from an advertisement, website, etc. Last week they had this beautiful picture as their inspiration. Well, you all know my obsession with wool felt as part of my http://www.woolfeltcentral.com/ store, so of course, I had to check out the link to the origin of the picture which was http://www.princesslasertron.com/.

I fell in love with this gals creations. She makes custom wool felt and button bouquets for brides, proms etc.

Then . . . . I noticed from her column that her work had been featured in the Omaha World Herald (Nebraska's largest newspaper). Hmmmm . .. .. Could this gal actually be from Omaha? Lo and behold! She is! What a small world to discover such an incredibly talented gal right here in Nebraska.

Now run on over and check out Megan's blog so that you can continue the 7 degrees loop! You'll be glad you did. What gorgeous eye candy!

Christmas Ornaments

2008-12-19T06:29:00.008-06:00

Our Junction Function club had a fabulous time at our Christmas Party last night. The gals folded green and brown fat quarters into darling little Christmas Trees. Wow! 10 Junction Functioneers proudly display a completed project. (We're known for starting projects, not finishing them!)

We also made these super-easy poinsettia wool felt ornaments. You can download a FREE copy of the pattern at http://www.bhg.com/holidays/christmas/ornaments/poinsettia-ornament/.

You'll have to login to their website, but it's worth it for the amount of things you can do there. My son loves to play their "Create a Cookie" and "Make a Snowflake" games. Keeps him busy when I'm tyring to get supper together. To find these games go to their "Holiday" tab at http://www.bhg.com/holidays/

This pattern by Better Homes and Gardens was so quick to make. We used Moss wool felt for the background and Rustic Crimson, Barnyard Red, and Red wool felt for the poinsettia. Don't have wool felt on hand, you can order it on our website at http://www.prairiepointjunction.com/.

Wool Felt Advent Calendars

2008-11-19T23:16:00.004-06:00

I just love how the world of blogs allows you to jump from place to place getting inspired. All the great links on my favorite blogs lead me to a wealth of creative ideas.

One of my favorite ideas that I stumbled upon today was on the blog Squirrel Acorns at: http://squirrelacorns.blogspot.com/2008/11/advent-calendars.html

This crafty gal is working on making her own version of a Pottery Barn Advent calendar that is now sold out from the catalog. Check out her blog to see what she is up to. We were so excited to see that she had mentioned Prairie Point Junction as her source for the felt for her project. Can't wait to see how it turns out.

2008-11-14T08:40:00.009-06:00

Mini Market at Camp Comeca

I had a wonderful time out at Camp Comeca, just outside of Cozad on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. The Nebraska Independent Fabric Shop Owners group met for a business meeting to plan Shop Hop 2010. After our meeting we had the opportunity to attend 20 minute "Schoolhouse" sessions to learn about new products and techniques. The best part of the event was getting to meet with 13 vendors to purchase new products for the coming year.

Fabric is typically ordered for delivery 3-6 months down the road - so I was actually ordering Christmas fabric for next year's season. Its hard to plan so far ahead, but sooooo much fun to see all the fabrics. Pictured below is Cheryl Cantoya, my rep for Moda fabrics. You can check out all the new Moda lines that will be appearing this spring at http://www.unitednotions.com/.

Moda is famous for their Charm Packs and Jelly Rolls. Well, now they've added even more "treats" to their Bake Shoppe Line. The idea is that you are able to get a little sampling of about 40 fabrics from each collection in a pre-cut size that is ready to sew with. Pattern designers have stepped up to the challenge and have "cooked" up tons of designs to use these pre-cut fabrics.

Here's a quick "recipe" list of what all the pre-cut terms mean:

Charm Pack: 5" squares

Layer Cake: 10" squares

Jelly Roll: 2 1/2" strips

Honey Buns: 1 1 /2" strips

Turnovers: Triangles made from 6" squares (They fit perfectly with 5" squares when sewn into half-square triangle units.

We ordered the new Patisserie line from Moda in both Honey Buns and Turnovers. They are expected to arrive in February. We'll let you know when they are here.

2008-11-09T20:02:00.000-06:00

Wow, its been a whirlwind of a few months both at the shop (Prairie Point Junction, home of Wool Felt Central) and in life in general. I'm so glad to feel like I'm finally catching up a bit over the last couple weeks. I'm looking forward to start up some regular posts here on the blog.

I love to see all sorts of creative endeavors that people are up to. My plan is to feature a creative, crafty, inspiring artist periodically here on the blog. Let us know what you are up to; whether is be quilting, crafting, sewing, beading, scrapbooking, or whatever it is that brings you creative joy! We'd love to feature you here. E-mail me prairiepointjunction@yahoo.com for consideration.

The first gal I'd like to profile is my friend, Kelli Sweet. Kelli is one of the most talented people I know. She loves to dabble in all sorts of creative projects. We were roomies in college, way back when, and still love to get together and quilt or scrap whenever we can. Check out Kelli's blog at http://www.sweetkelli.blogspot.com/. You'll find all sorts of cool links too.

Wool Felt Central SALE

2008-07-03T15:23:00.001-05:00

Don't miss out on

http://www.woolfeltcentral.com/

Wool Felt Frenzy

July 4th-14th, 2008

Take 20% off all wool felt

yardage, bundles, and 12" x 18" pieces.

Welcome

2008-01-27T00:37:00.000-06:00

We're working to get a blog for Wool Felt Central up and running. We'd love to hear your suggestions of what you would like to see here. E-mail us a woolfeltcentral@yahoo.com to share your requests.

In the meantime, visit our website at www.woolfeltcentral.com to view our selection of 60+ colors of wool felt available by the yard, in 12" x 18" pieces, and in coordinated bundles too.

Looking foward to your visit.