Quilt Blocks for Fort Hood Families

I heard about this project from a quilting friend and just had to pass it along. Gina at Splinters & Threads is heading up a project to make signature quilts for each family of soldiers lost at Fort Hood, and the police officer who took down the shooter. I contacted Gina and asked if they would give quilts to the living shooting victims as well, and she said they would, and if there aren't enough quilts or blocks before Christmas, they will continue afterward. I think this is a great project and would like all the families who suffered loss, injury, or trauma to have a quilt. Please join me if you can. It's not just for those who quilt, anyone who can embroider or sign their name on a plain piece of fabric can participate. I love it when everyone can be included.

I'm making a few to send to my mother so she can pass them out to her friends for siggies also. She was happy to do it and happier not to have to make them herself.

I've just turned into a real linkity-link blogger lately, haven't I?

Until next time, may you have blessings and nimble fingers,
Marti

Dust Ruffle Finished

When I told Hubby I was going to make a dust ruffle for the bed, he grimaced and said he didn't like dust ruffles because they made the bed so hard to make. Puh-lease, like he ever makes the bed. But I told him not to worry his pretty little head about it, because I had already thought of that. When I had it pinned this afternoon, he saw it and commented on the "scrunchie part". I told him the word he was looking for was ruffle, and technically this was a gathered skirt rather than a ruffle. Hubby doesn't like ruffles. (Or pink.) Early in our marriage when I was less temperate than I am now, I bought a set of pink striped sheets with a lace ruffle on the top edge. (This was after an argument.) I regretted it later, but didn't have the funds to buy anything else for a long time. But after that, Hubby was a lot more tolerant of ruffles, and eventually, I just became more tolerant.

When I started this project, he asked if I had a pattern, to which I quoted Gold Hat: "Pattern? I don't need no stinkin' pattern." After I had ripped out stitches for the umpteenth time where the platform sheet got caught in the seam, I was thinking I should have had my stinkin' head examined though. But finally, I got 'er done. Instead of going between the mattress and boxsprings, the platform fabric goes on top of the mattress - on top of the blankets. No need to tuck the blankets between the box springs to keep them out of sight, they can hang down, as well as the sheets. We'll just fold back the dust ruffle with the comforter every night.


Shown over the dust ruffle is an old quilt turned over with the cream backing showing to give an idea what it will look like with a quilt. Eventually I'll get that quick quilt made. However, next on the to do list are the tablecloths for our bedside tables.


Until next time, may you have blessings and smooth sewing,
Marti

p.s. I used a king size flat sheet to make the platform, with darts in the two corners to make it fit close to the mattress. The "ruffle" is a green and red plaid homespun.

p.s.2   I thought I'd add a photo of the finished master bedroom too - long after this post was made

Unintentional Tip of the Day

Have you ever reached for a spool of thread on your rack or spool drawer and found the end of it tangled with all the other threads? My spool drawer is always like that, and the polyester embroidery machine thread is the worst. Today I had to cut about a yard of tangles off the end of a spool of invisible thread and reached for the Scotch tape, even though I hate the sticky residue it can leave behind if the spool isn't used very often. However, I couldn't find the tape, so I thought I would wrap it in plastic wrap just for now (knowing that just for now usually turns into forever). Then my eye caught sight of the Press n Seal wrap and I snipped off a corner of it (about an inch square). It works great!

This is the way my spool drawer used to look (if not worse).


These are a couple of spools with the Press n Seal.


No sticky residue, comes off easily, and is reusable. How great is that?!!

(Edited, two years later:  After a length of time, the Press n Seal DOES leave a sticky residue on the thread.  So, now I only do this for short times when I am using spools and alternating between colors in a project.)

Until next time, may you have blessings and fewer tangles in your life,
Marti

Painting Fabric

Before on right, after on left (Yeah, I know it's backwards)



Remember the sheets I bought to make a quick bedspread/comforter? I didn't love it, but thought it would work, so I decided to make a comforter. I washed the sheets, and after looking at it awhile, decided I really didn't like the pink color in it. I found a red & green plaid homespun fabric I loved to make the dust ruffle and then I knew I had to do something about the pink roses. So I bought some fabric paint and repainted most of the roses. What do you think, can you tell any difference or am I just wasting time?

Until next time, may you have blessings and a steady hand,
Marti

Interesting Mailbox

This was at a local sewing center.