Quilts and Home Comforts

One Great Way to Use Swatches and Scraps

2010-06-26T11:29:00.000-07:00

The story of the scrap pillow

Searching for fabric to cover a headboard left me with a variety of swatches. Though I chose none of those swatches, I did save them. I still liked those fabrics, and as you may have guessed, because I'm a quilter, I couldn't bear to toss away something I could use. Since the swatches harmonized well, I put them together into a small pillow. I like that the pillow has a special memory of the search--a fun time for both my husband and me, as he often accompanies me.

I took the idea one step further and used more swatches and remnants I had in my cache. Some were calico and others were decorator lengths, but all made wonderful pillows.

Whether using inserts or filling your casing with fiberloft, making pillows is a fun way to give new life to those scraps and swatches.

Becky (Rebecca) Jacoby writes and edits fiction and nonfiction. She has written and illustrated for quilting publications. She has designed for the needlearts industry, owned a home decorating business, and continues to share her ideas. Contact her at Rebecca.jacoby09@gmail.com or via becky.jacoby.com

Coastal Style Cornice Boards

2010-04-30T13:22:00.001-07:00

Dress up ready-made curtains with custom cornice boards. They add a finished look to any window and unify the colors in your room.

There are a variety of shapes one can create. Most begin with a base of wood or foam. I made a simple straight set for my living room and dining room. Though anyone can make cornice boards, I would not recommend a beginner trying it without having someone who has experience being available for assistance. I have years of sewing, crafting and upholstery experience and I found it frustrating at times--because my staple gun would jam.

How to make straight custom upholstered cornice boards

The most difficult part for me was choosing just the right fabric. I scouted hundreds of decorator fabric swatches and settled on one that was able to be reversed.

So, the cornices in the living room are blue with cream coral branches and the single cornice in the dining room is reversed, cream with blue coral branches. Both have contrasting self-fabric cording welts at the top.

Supplies needed:

sharp fabric shears

decorator fabric

roc-lon or drapery lining fabric

cording for welt (optional)

lightweight poly quilt batting (same amount as fabric)

fabric glue

quilting pins

pine boards cut to lengths

wood screws

L-brackets (one pair per cornice)

staple gun and 3/4-inch or 1-inch staples

gimp, seam binding or grosgrain ribbon (1/2-inch wide)

tack hammer
wire cutting pliers
a protected work surface

Directions Overview:

To make the simple straight cornices, I used commonly found 1 x 8 pine, checking to make sure no board was cupped. The boards were cut at the home supply store to measure two inches longer than my window frame for the front pieces and 4.5 inches for the sides. The pieces were butted together and joined with wood screws.

The fabric and batting were cut five inches longer and five inches wider than each length of board (total length including side pieces). The fabric was placed face down on the table with the batting matched on top of it. The board base was centered on the batting.

Alternating sides and starting at the midpoint, the fabric/batting was pulled over the board and stapled on the underside of the cornice board. I continued stapling until the board was completely covered, making sure to mitre the corners. Tack down any staples that stick up using the tack hammer.

I stapled the contrast cording along the top edge of the board, carefully placing the ends toward the inside and securing with a staple.

With the bulk of the lining fabric piece facing toward the front of the cornice board, I stapled the edge (about 3/4 inch from edge) near the cording and folded it toward the inside of the cornice board to create a finished edge. Then I stapled the rest of the lining to the bottom edge of the cornice and trimmed close to the staples.

Using the seam binding or gimp and fabric glue, create a finished edge along the bottom of the cornice. You may need to hold it in place by positioning quilting pins along the edge until the glue dries (I suggest a minimum of 4 hours).

Attach the L-brackets to your wall and attach your new cornice board to the L-brackets.

Use your vacuum cleaner's fabric brush to keep dust and pollen from building up on the surfaces.

A Cheerleader's Quilt for Breast Cancer

2010-03-15T15:02:00.001-07:00

Know a Cheerleader Who Isn't Positive?

Opportunities large and small confront us every day, and, I believe if we see them with an open heart, they become blessings.

Take Tuesday, for example. Bob, my husband, telephoned me from our church’s bookstore where he recently began volunteering. He explained that he had spoken with Josie, a young woman who shared with him that she had a friend, Amy, in her 20’s who was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer one day, had a single mastectomy the next day and had her first chemotherapy session scheduled for the following day.

Josie’s earnest desire was to furnish a personalized quilt for her friend as a keepsake and comfort to use during her year of chemotherapy treatments. Josie’s problem was that she didn’t sew. She didn’t know someone who did, or who would be willing to donate time to create the quilt.

Bob, eager to offer tangible help, showed her Beating Cancer: Stories of People Who Are Surviving and Thriving. I had recently edited and published this book to encourage people who suffered from cancer as well as inspire those who knew, loved or acted as a caregiver of a cancer victim.

Next, Bob told Josie, “My wife is a quilter. She’s made lots of them, and might be willing to help. I’ll ask her, but she’s really busy and I can’t promise.”

Bob gave me Josie’s phone number. I met with her the next afternoon, discussed details and agreed to assist with the quilt. The basic color would be purple, Amy’s favorite, and Josie would coordinate gathering all the patches and bringing them to me to sew.

Little did I know what I was getting into.

Josie and I had discussed sizes and positioning of the quilt blocks. However, all the pieces came in on stretched out t-shirts written diagonally or out of alignment, in marker, as transfers, in fabric paint or stiff-backed embroidery. And all were in non-uniform sizes!

How could I make all these heartfelt words into one quilt?

I couldn't. Not without getting some standard sized blocks. So, I backed each contribution in muslin, bordered it in calico, then trimmed it to a specific size. Then all were assembled around a large center square, the main theme—cheerleading camp.

Paying It Forward

My joy emanates from a quiet place in my spirit where God speaks. He speaks to me loudest when my heart is willing to help others, to put my own wants aside for a time. It seems that it’s in those times—the times where God orchestrates the opportunities He has tailored just for us—that we “Find Our Quiet” and open ourselves to receive His abundant blessings. Spiritual energy both excites with expectation and grants indescribable internal peace, the “Rest of God.”

For me, helping Josie complete her quilt was not just saying ‘yes’ to God, it was allowing me to be a conduit in whatever capacity God’s plan held.

I am certain that when Josie delivers the quilt, Amy will feel the love that went into it. It’s also my hope that when she is covered by it, she’ll know the blessings sewn into it. She'll soon be on her way to recovery.

A Homemade Cork Wreath and Quilt Speak Welcome

2010-02-25T13:20:00.001-08:00

A wreath, especially when used in a room with quilts, says welcome. Over the years, I have made more wreaths from more items than I can even recall, but one of my favorites is a wine cork wreath.

Since I drink wine so infrequently, I’d be saving corks for years to have enough. I needed about 200 to make the kind of wreath I envisioned. So, I received some from family and won a bulk lot of them from eBay. To find more, try craft shops, online stores such as Widget, and local restaurants.

7 steps keeps it simple

Before I started, I looked on the Web to see how others had made a wreath. Some, like Alexandra's are quite lovely. Most people used a hot glue gun, toothpicks or straight pins. I didn’t. I used more substantial tools; but, they weren’t difficult to use, and anyone 12 or older could use them.

Here’s the finished piece. Instructions follow.

Tools and supplies:

Paper or a vinyl tablecloth to protect work area

one 12-inch straw wreath, keep plastic on it.

a spray or vine of silk grape leaves, preferably with grapes

one or two bunches of small realistic plastic grapes

about 12 floral pins

12 inches of floral wire, medium weight

1 ½ - 2 pounds of 2-inch finish nails

Wire cutters

An awl

Pair of pliers

175-225 used wine corks

Twist the floral wire around the wreath and twist into a strong loop for hanging, keeping the loop to the back of the wreath. Use the wire cutters to snip any extra wire from the loop or wind it tightly around the base of the loop. (Make sure to test your loop as the final weight of the wreath will surprise you.)
Using the floral pins to secure the segments, position the grape leaves and grape bunches randomly on the wreath. (I used two bunches of grapes and snipped one in half to make one large bunch and two mini bunches so the wreath would have balance of grapes on either side.)

Starting with about a dozen corks, use the awl to make a hole into the center-end of each cork, about one inch deep.

Insert the pointed end of the finish nail into the hole you just made, one nail per cork. Use the pliers, if necessary to help you position the nail more deeply into the cork. About one inch of nail exposing the nail head will stick out from the end of the cork.
Take the awl and poke a hole into the straw wreath for each place you wish to insert a cork. Insert the nail head fully into the wreath. You’ll get a feel for how closely to arrange them. They should look random and hide the surface of the straw base underneath.
Repeat the process until you have secured corks throughout the wreath.

Hang the wreath and enjoy what you have made.

Oh, and send me a photo and a summary of your experience to include with my blog.

Nothing Says Comfort Like a Quilt

2010-02-13T10:45:00.000-08:00

No matter what your decor, a quilt suggests warmth. Quilts are tactile art that can express the quilt maker's design style. Be warned, however, because once you snuggle under a handmade quilt, or you hang one like a tapestry, you're hooked. You'll have quilt fever.

I've been sewing quilts--and giving them as gifts--for years. The one you see in the photo is the only one I kept because its neutral color palette is pleasing and acceptable in traditional, transitional or country decor. The quilt pattern is an adaptation of the broken star, but you'll find that quilt names aren't synonymous among quilters. Just choose one you like and get started.

Many times I have been asked to write articles on quilt design, include step-by-step instructions and illustrate the graphics showing how to assemble the pieces. It's always fun to share the how-tos with a fellow quilter, beginner or advanced. But there are a few Websites that offer free quilt patterns. This is one of my favorites: http://www.freequiltpatterns.info/

From time to time, I'll share some quilting patterns, but for right now, start gathering your fabrics. Men's ties (who wears them anymore?) make a treasure trove for quilts or other sewing projects. Don't throw away the stained cotton shirt. Keep it and cut pieces from the parts that have no stain.

Store your fabrics by color family in plastic tubs, a file cabinet or whatever method organizes your stash. For a quilter, she who has the most fabric wins...or so I've been told.