Two more quilts

So I've made two more quilts, cut a truck load of raceshirts into 12x12 squares and sewn them into shirt "sandwiches".

I've also learned a few tricks. One... if you have text or graphics on both sides, cut the shirt in half FIRST. Otherwise the back graphic gets cut weird. Also, if you have text on the back that you don't really need, cut your second piece from the side of the shirt so you have the matching color but you don't have extra print that you have to sew over. It is SO MUCH EASIER to sew when their is only text/graphics on one side!

 

This quilt ended up being larger than the last one and I really like the size of it. It feels much more substantial with the extra row.

Here it is finished.

And here is quilt number 3. I'm getting better at keeping the squares, well square.

I've had tons of people asking about sewing these for them. I've decided on $150 for a 4x6 (24 shirt) quilt and $200 for a 5x6 (30 shirt). What do you think? Does that sound reasonable?! 

Technique Tuesday: Oh Baby Box

As we prepare for baby #3, I am determined to get as many memories preserved as possible before her arrival. Given that I have yet to scrapbook or even print out pictures from my pregnancy with Lexi and she is closing in on five years old, I know that if I wait to work on this baby’s memorabilia, she could easily be 20 before it happens! So, to that end, I have worked to make my life easier and to preserve memories at the same time!

Here is what I came up with.  A few months ago, I created this box and file pockets and am doing my best to keep up!  Some of the weeks were easy and some I haven’t printed pictures yet (oh shock..)  However, on the whole, I am thrilled with what I have so far!

View Full Album

My goal is that over the next week or so to get the box completed.  I have the appointment reminder cards and things like that I will add to the box.  I am not putting a lot on the pocket itself about my showers as I will scrapbook those events, but for now, the memorabilia can be stored in the box.  Then, if it takes me 20 years to get to scrapping the showers, I will have all of my memories together!

I am also going to make a few pocket pages for welcome cards and a visitor page to go in the box.  Looking back, I wish I had done something like this for Lexi, daughter #2..

A Vintage Craft Project

I found these two “bowls” at a garage sale and just couldn’t pass them up. Nope, I have no attachment to them in that I’m not related to the person who made the craft or do I even know the people that were given the cards.. but I was intrigued nonetheless.

After talking to the daughter that was getting rid of these pieces, I am challenged to find a way to make something like this, but to also incorporate the signatures and notes inside the cards. That’s the reason she didn’t keep these treasures, there isn’t anything personalized on the project.

View Full Album

Can you imagine the work that went into these pieces?? The cards have been cut out, laminated in some way, shaped and then stitched together. It’s just too bad that all of this work doesn’t showcase the people who got these cards.  I tell you, I’m gonna find a way to make something like this and include a picture of the person and some dates!

I’ll post what I come up with… whenever that may be :)
Have a great day!

Technique Tuesday: Using and Protecting Memorabilia

As I have posted about previously, I am in the midst of creating a heritage album for my dad’s 60th birthday.  I am well under way and feel pretty good about how it is going to turn out.

One of the challenges I have is the volume of pictures and memorabilia that need to be a part of the book.  I realize that we are very lucky to have this challenge, but it is hard to prioritize in order to get everything in just one book.

Here are a few of my solutions: 

1. Get a digital scan of everything.
2. Make extra copies of pictures that you know that you want to cut up.
3. Use a good graphics program to take scanned images and make them into photographs that are useable.
4. Be willing to print some things out on your printer at home so that they have a different texture than a traditional photograph.
5. Purchase good scrapbook and heritage supplies, like clear pockets that can be opened, flaps for extra pictures and good quality paper and embellishments. (If you don’t know where to get this stuff, email me)
   

Now for the pictures of this in practice:

On this page I have incorporated the original newspaper clipping as well as a couple of original prints.  The top print is very faded, but I have a scanned copy, so I decided that I would rather have the original here.  Then lower on the page I have 2 photographs from scanned original documents.  The white and blue print is of my grandfather’s birth certificate and the black print is his corrected birth certificate.  I really wanted to have these in the book, but the originals are full page size and I didn’t want to take up that much room.

You can also use different size page protectors for variety in the book.  The western union telegram and letters are from WWII and I wanted them highlighted differently than the pages around them, so using a smaller page protector, broke up the page without changing the theme.

Another technique is taking an item that would go in a shadowbox like my dad’s first pair of shoes and taking a picture and using them in the layout.  Also on this page are scanned pictures of the front and back of his birth certificate and letters that his father wrote him.

And finally, for my grandmother’s page I wanted to include the lock of baby hair (from 1926) so I put it in the clear protective pocket.  Additionally, the blue print is a copy of her birth certificate.

One of the coolest things that is coming from doing this album is all of the writing samples I am getting.  By scanning in the legal documents, we are able to get full legal names,  the treasured photo album that has yellowed and is falling apart has become individual pictures complete with my grandfather’s journaling and the notes on the backs of the pictures are not lost but have become companions to the pictures.

Yes, scanning in the front and back of  a thousand pictures has been time consuming, but so worth it. We now have a big portion of our family history in a format that will last!  I can’t wait to show my dad the completed book!!

Creating a Family Heirloom

I am creating a family heirloom.. otherwise known as a heritage album for my dad for his 60th birthday that is coming up in August.  Yeah, normally these things are done secretly, but not in this family.There are just too many of us and too many memories that need to be included! 

As of today I have scanned more than 2000 pictures into the computer and have sorted memorabilia dating from the early 1900’s through today.  It is an amazing experience but just a little overwhelming!  How can you decide on what to include in an album like this?? 

For example, we have notes written by my Grandfather to my dad during his first week of life.. those HAVE to be in the book.   

But we also have ration books from WWII, love letters, telegrams and poems written while my grandfather was at sea during WWII and even his autograph book prior to leaving for war.

I have learned so much about our family while going through pictures!!  I just don’t see how I am going to get all of it into one book.  And if I make more than one book, where do I stop one and begin the second… UGH!! But what a special problem to have!

One thing that has truly been apparent in all of the pictures, letters and pieces of memorabilia is the strong faith and love of family that has passed down through the generations.  My Great-Grandma spent from Nov. 1947 to Sept. 1969 writing the “Highlights on The Acts of the Apostles” it has to be more than 100 pages of single spaced typed biblical commentary.  Obviously it can’t be in the album.. but how can we not include it in some form!

Have I overwhelmed you all yet?  If not.. how about this.  I have a piece of hair from my Grandma’s first haircut in 1926!And I won’t even mention all of the pictures that are unnamed and unmarked that have got to be more than 100 years old!

Yes, I am absolutely loving this project!  I can’t wait to see how it will all turn out.. no telling how many pages it will be :)  The book I created for my Grandfather on the other side of the family didn’t have near this much stuff and his was 100 pages! 

Well, I am off to work on the book some more, but here are a couple more pictures for you..

This is my Great Grandfather taken during WWI.

The pictures below are of my dad at 8 weeks old with his parents.  My Dad’s dad wrote the commentary under these and probably 100 other pictures!

It’s no wonder that I have a love for scrapbooking!