My "online canvas" will be colored with:thankfulness, foolishness, poking fun [mostly at myself], quilting, crafting, memories, tsk-tsking, encouragement [I really like to encourage], poetry, recipes, memories, opinions [and boy, am I opinionated. I have left brush strokes on many canvases throughout my lifetime:my children, grandchildren, the rest of my family, my ball teams, my girl scout troops, my Sunday School and Bible School classes, in fact-everyone who I have come in contact with.
No, I haven't completely lost it, not any more than usual anyway.
My "green" sense is kinda always in gear, I've just been toying with some things that we have in abundance around here and I hate to have so much plastic go into the trash.
Since I am a quilter, all those milk and distilled water plastic jugs could be used possibly for templates if the time is taken. I have been working with creating organizers but the water jug I was experimenting with didn't fill the bill. It did show some promise in another direction, though. Having spent enough quality time together to know it wanted to continue its life as useful and not be looked upon as just another piece of trash, we came up with a design to allow the Plastic Jug or "PJ" as he wants to be called, do just that.
The magic marker magically glided around "PJ" and when I followed the markings with my exacto knife, voila, a really large scoop came into existence.
So from the job of holding one of our most important commodities, water, "PJ" still has a job to do.
"PJ" has become the really big, really cheap [mmm-economical] "Scoop", scooper of the dog food, the one scoop scoop. No more multiple dips into the bag, now you can do it with just one-"Scoop".
The following video was made to detail the process of PJ Scoop's metamorphasis from almost trash to useful treasure.
It can be seen at http://www.favecraft.com/, the online craft site that offers all free patterns, instructions, videos and tutorials in many crafts-crochet, knitting, jewelry making, paper crafts, kids crafts, recycling, and much, much more.
Who knows, you may have PJ's brother in your cupboard.
Happy crafting. Would love to see your "green" creations.
I know this is a strange title but I like using things differently from their intended purpose and like them even more if they are cheap. I do keep quite a few things handy on the table by my chair so I don't have to jump and run every time I want to do something or forget an idea or phone # if not jotted down immediately. It seems I am in constant need of:pencil/pens/paper clips, pins/needles/thimble/thread, fingernail clips/file, glue stick, notepad/daily planner, etc.
All this paraphernalia has been kept in a basket til now which took up too much space.
When the idea of this little coffee mug organizer hit, I just loved it and had to make one for myself to see if it would hold enough stuff for me. While I was at it, I made several more for friends, my sisters and my mother. I hope they get as much good from this as I do. The cup with its pockets holds everything I need in a much smaller area and looks so much better.
[All that stuff in one little mug]
It takes just a few cents worth of fabric and a coffee mug with your every day sewing tools. You probably have a mug in your cupboard that you can use or pick one up at a yard sale for a few cents. I, the great cheapo, broke down and actually bought special friend mugs for the gift organizers. Mine, on the other hand, came from my own kitchen.
The organizer can be really dressed up if you wish with any trims you have. Ours just has some of my plain vintage buttons securing the lace ties. I think these would also make a good bizarre or festival item. They could be made up in theme fabrics for fall, Christmas, teachers, patriotic to be used as a fund raiser.
The video demonstrating how to make the coffee mug organizer was made for FaveCraft.com, the online craft site that provides free patterns, videos, tutorials and instructions for all kinds of crafts including:crochet, knitting, paper crafts, kids crafts, jewelry making, needlework and much more.
If you decide to make one of these, I would love to see it.
You can contact me at:quiltngrin.granny@blogspot.com
Happy crafting,
Carolyn Wainscott
the quilting granny
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Come over and visit My Craftsy Pattern Store @ http://www.craftsy.com/user/pattern/store/43851 http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/toy/ag-hooded-cape/15386 http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/toy/ag-hoodie-from-hannahs-closet/43213
Full time job for me-getting organized. Then when I finally get it done, I can't find anything. I knew where it was when it was under something in one of those piles over there.
There is a tendency of too much around here and not wanting to throw anything away that is too good to pitch is part of my problem. I have been watching the shows on hoarding to encourage myself to NEVER, NEVER get to that extreme.
My habit of not getting rid of emptied containers does come in handy and keeps me from having to send food out the door in my good purchased ones which I would never see again. I make soups, beans and chilis by the gallon[s]. The leftovers are stored in the freezer in the various emptied ice cream buckets, margarine-butter-sour cream-cottage cheese tubs stacked on the shelf. I always buy the giant economy size of anything so the containers are large.
Recyclables are also used in a lot of my crafts and have helped save money, especially when working with childrens' groups on a small budget. I have designed crafts around what was on hand rather than having to purchase supplies.
I love making a lot of different crafts so have a variety of supplies on hand. Sometimes I think I would like to go out and purchase a system to organize all of them but then it is really more fun and creative to make my own for free.
Organizers like the one shown in the videos run anywhere from $10 up. Mine only takes a little while to make with everyday sewing tools. It takes very little fabric and the ice cream bucket is free. This one will be used with my fabric paints and accessories.
For a different sized container, just adjust the measurements to create your own custom organizer.
The videos below were created for FaveCraft.com for the online craft site. I was trying to keep the instructions to less than 5 minutes but that wasn't enough time to give adequate information. The site provides free patterns, free instructions, free tutorials and free videos on all sorts of crafts including: crochet, knitting, jewelry making, kids crafts, paper crafts and much more. You can find information on just about anything you are interested in with links to craft supply companies.
The site has so many beautiful crochet patterns that I must do for my great grandchildren that I almost have carpel tunnel syndrome trying to get them done.
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check out all my designs in My Craftsy Pattern Store @ http://www.craftsy.com/user/pattern/store/43851 http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/other/soft-sculpture-nativity-set/147482
My family has always been involved in sports-all kinds of sports-baseball, softball, football, basketball, volleyball.
Through the years, I have kept newspaper clippings, rewards, photos, videos and uniforms and I am glad I did. They are wonderful to look back on.
The clippings, rewards, and photos have made it into scrapbooks. I am trying to get the videos organized and the uniforms have finally been put into quilts.
I had intended to have the quilt for grandson, Travis, done for his graduation but that didn't happen with so much going on even though many of the blocks had been prepared over many months so he could take it to college with him. He did get it for Christmas, however. I think I have gotten all out of the box of uniforms that can be used and can finally pitch the rest of what is left.
Travis' quilt-12 Years of Uniforms-Basketball, Football, Baseball
In case you have uniforms or event t-shirts you would like to use and don't have a clue in getting started, I hope the following will help. It is simple to do, just takes some preparation as with all quiltmaking. It doesn't have to be a huge endeavor, maybe just a pillow using basic tools.
Iron fusible interfacing onto the back of motifs to give them stability to keep them from stretching.
PART 1-HOW TO MAKE A QUILT USING UNIFORMS & T SHIRTS
You can also see these and other how to craft videos at: FaveCrafts.com.
FaveCrafts also offers free patterns and ideas from many designers for crochet, knitting, quilting, sewing, beadwork, scrapbooking, needlework, and on and on and on. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLnjs9WtcqI
One of the most unique and enjoyable projects I do is making a photo quilt. They are instant heirlooms. They portray a family's history, genealogy or any story all on fabric. I love putting the photos together-old and new. We usually combine several photos in collage form on each block so a lot can be told in the space of the quilt with accessories.
Here is a family quilt ordered for the matriarch of one family. It has 8 generations in several hundred photos on the quilt along with a pillow scarf that featured generations of times past.
If you have thought about making a photo quilt or wallhanging but didn't know how to get started, here is how to begin with preparing fabric for inkjet photo printing.
Being dissatisfied with purchased printable fabric sheets, I started preparing them myself. The printed sheets have been washed several times to check for color fastness. I would suggest test washing a printed square in mild detergent or the suggested quilt wash on the treatment solution to check for colorfastness. The printed sheets are completely washable but these projects are usually not the type that would be washed frequently. Through several washings, the treated fabrics have shown no noticeable fading, however. Treat the fabric as any fine textile by keeping out of direct sunlight as fading will occur. i would also suggest spraying the quilt with a fabric shield to reduce the chance of spills and stains. To remove dust from quilt:shake, tumble in dryer or vacuum gently with brush attachment.
The Bubble Jet Set allows the ink to grip the fabric. The 16 oz. bottle will treat 40-50 [8 1/2" x 11"] sheets. This translates to 4- 5 yards of 100% cotton. I usually treat the 5 yards since I am at the task anyway and will have plenty on hand. This is enough squares for 2 of my queen size quilts or several wallhangings or accessories.
I hope the following video helps you to get started making your one of a kind masterpiece.
SUPPLIES NEEDED:
Bubble Jet Set [16 oz.]
5 yards high thread count 100% cotton [I have had good success also with broadcloth-you need to test this for yourself]
rubber gloves
wax coated freezer wrap
tub large enough for soaking fabric
rotary cutter/ruler/cutting mat
iron
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step 1: cut fabric into one yard pieces [easier to manage]
step 2: place 1-2 folded yards at a time into tub, pour portion of Bubble Jet Set solution over,
until all fabric is in tub, all solution poured over. Wearing rubber gloves, turn fabric to insure solution is thoroughly distributed. Soak 5 minutes
step 3: wearing rubber gloves, lay fabric flat or hang to dry. Do not wring or use dryer.
step 4: while fabric is drying, cut freezer wrap into 8 1/2" x 11" sheets
step 5: cut dry fabric across width into 11 1/2" strips.
step 6: press shiny side freezer wrap sheets onto 11 1/2" fabric strips.
step 7: cut fabric/freezer wrap strips into 8 1/2" x 11" sheets. [each fabric strip yields 4 or 5 printable sheets]
tip: all edges must be pressed securely together so they will not jam the printer. Make sure there are no loose strings on edges or on body of fabric [loose strings may jam printer and ink will not print under loose strings causing blotches]
tip: heat set blocks after printing is dry
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Now the easy part is done, get those photos out and get them organized. Use your software to edit as you wish and start printing. Photo quilts are instant heirlooms and a once in a lifetime gift to yourself or others.
---------Happy Quilting---------
Carolyn Wainscott, the quilting granny
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Check out my patterns in My Pattern Store @
http://www.craftsy.com/user/pattern/store/43851
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