Vintage QR Code Quilt

I finally decided what to do with my vintage sheets!  I decided to make a "QR code" quilt out of them!  I've been wanting to make one for a while now, but the process seemed quite daunting.  It seemed daunting that is until I realized that I really didn't have to make a "real" one.  The lines/pixels on this quilt didn't exactly turn out as "crisp" as I'd hoped, but I just love it.  It's made from "recycled" fabric, is geeky, AND pink, plus I love the old/new thing going on!

I had a totally different design all planned out and drawn up for this vintage sheet quilt, but a math error, and subsequent cutting error (as in I cut up the whole entire sheet before realizing the error, error), left me with a block that was way too big.  I realized this after I sewed up the first 3.  I also had a smaller "test" block that I'd made, all from the striped fabric.

Being the frugal person that I am, I decided to come up with another plan, instead of cutting them down to size.  I must admit that I've come to my own personal conclusion that when it comes to vintage sheets, it's a lot more fun to buy them than to sew with them, so I decided I wanted to make something small... crib or lap sized.  Don't ask me how I decided to do a QR code.  Maybe it was because of the 3 big "bullseyes", and one little one that I had, maybe it just jumped into my head while I was surfing the internet looking at other quilts made from vintage sheets.  I certainly haven't seen any other QR code quilts made from vintage sheets, but must have come across both in a search somehow.  Don't you love the internet?

WIP Wed: Upcycled Quilts

I started sewing together my "upcycled" quilts in the last few days.  The photo above gives you the gist of my blue jeans quilt.  Plaid flannel and jeans are a perfect combination, don't you think?  Even with 4-5 pairs of old kid jeans, though it's only going to be a lap quilt size at the most.  I'm really surprised again, at how much fabric goes into a quilt...

I've been playing around with ideas for my vintage sheets, and made up a spool block.  I like it, but I'm not sure if I'll go with this or not.

As usual, it's Wednesday, so I'm linking up with Lee's WIP Wed at Freshly Pieced!  Come see what we're all up to!

Vintage Bed Sheets Project 2: Postcards!

I just finished up some postcards that I'm making for a swap!  I originally had fabric and a plan all figured out, and had even started cutting and sewing, but the curtains that are now finished left me with a few scraps laying around and suddenly I decided they'd be fun to use instead.  The theme is "boxer shorts (I'll show you mine if you show me yours)".  There's 4 of us in a groups, so we only have to make 3 to send off (and get 3 back).  I like to make one to keep though.  It's my second swap, and getting the first round was so much fun!  The first round was "blue and lace".  Here's the cards from that swap (mine is the top right):

Here's the finished curtains!

And I can't seem to post anything here without a garden related photo!  Enjoy!

WIP Wed: Looney Tunes Vintage Sheet Curtains

For the last few weeks, I've been working on these curtains for my son's room, after we removed the bi-fold doors on his bedroom closet.  I'm almost done with them, just need to mark and sew a hem line! 

I LOVE the way they turned out, and the funny thing is that I originally was just going to make them plain, but the sheets weren't wide enough for the closet, so I had to add a border.  Now I'm so glad that my original plan didn't work out!!  I'm tempted to make a quilt using the same theme, and even saw these same vintage sheets on eBay yesterday. Hmmm...

It's my first vintage sheet project, and it really wasn't bad working with the poly / cotton blend.  The fact that they were thin from wear made them cooler to deal with too!

"Our" baby quail are growing fast!  I took this pictures over the week-end, and already they're flying!!  It's been incredibly fun to watch this "WIP"!

Finally, our garden is progressing very nicely!  We're eating zucchini now, and have tons of green tomatoes, baby corn, and peppers.  The cucumbers and beans have flowers and the winter squash and okra continue to grow!  Onions and garlic are turning brown, so it won't be long before we can dig these too!

As usual, I'm linking up with Lee's WIP Wed.  Come join the fun over there!

A Sign of Things to Come (veggies and vintage sheets)

I love the sight of this in our garden...

We will eat our first zucchini of the year in the next day or two!

Our shade cloth experiment is going nicely...

The only sewing going on lately is some "closet curtains" that I'm making for my oldest son.  We spent the better part of a day or 2 cleaning out his room, rearranging furniture and removing the bi-fold closet doors that I hate and that take up so much room.  I cut up some really fun vintage sheets that I had and I can't wait to show you what I'm planning with them. 

My boys have been busy too...

These tiny quail chicks are having the hardest time getting up over the street curb.  They're incredibly cute!  In a few days I'm sure they won't get so stuck!

But lately I've been spending time just about each day at this place...  I feel so lucky to have this in our community!!   How's your summer going?

More vintage sheets and Kona fabric swap arrived!!

Look what came in the mail today!!  I had both the Kona swap fabric from Gen X and Y Quilters blog, and the other vintage sheet that I ordered to make a repurposed quilt from!

When I read that AnneMarie had tons of red fabric, I got a bit excited, because I only have one big piece of red in my entire stash!  I'm just not a "red person".  I love red in other people's quilts, but as far as the color goes, I'm afraid it's probably my least favorite!  BUT, I have been wanting to make a red quilt, and I also have had an idea stewing in my brain for a few weeks now.  Knowing that the red was coming, I decided to wait to start on it.  The piece of yellow that I got will also be included!  Can you guess what it will be?!!

And yes, it's Valentine's Day!  It'll be our last "little kid" Valentine's Day, as next year we'll have 2 middle-schoolers, so it's kind-of a strange feeling.  But here's their "stash" from the day LOL!  Hope you have a great one!

Vintage Sheets

I think it was this post, by Amy Smart, of "Diary of a Quilter" blog,  about vintage sheets that really got me going...  Seeing those colors and patterns triggered a primal memory flashback from my childhood, spent sleeping every night on those similar patterns and colors.  Colors and patterns are indeed powerful mind seducers.  Sports teams know this (yellow and green cheeseheads, gold and black fleur-de-lis), and indeed one of the most powerful symbols of a country or people is a flag (more colors and patterns). No wonder these captivated me!

Once I saw an announcement that our local art center was looking for people to sell "upcycled", or "repurposed", hand made, local art at this summer's farmers' market, I sprang into action!  I knew right away that I wanted to make a quilt (or something) with these vintage sheets!  I'm all about recycling and doing good things for the environment, so it really taps into that part of me as well.

I found the striped sheets at our local Salvation Army thrift store, for just a few bucks a piece, and then searched on Etsy until I found the purple and green flowers to go with them.  I just realized that Amy has the same ones.  They just arrived in the mail this week, and I have another sheet on the way.  Even though quilting is all about using scraps and bits of clothing and such, I've never really used a poly / cotton blend, so I'm eager to try it out.  I've also never used stripes in a quilt.  I have some ideas, but mainly, I am trying to decide if I should buy some more solid colored sheets to use with what I have, keeping the fabric content similar, or if I can use traditional 100% cotton with it.  Have any of you made a quilt out of vintage sheets?  Stripes?  I'd LOVE to hear about them, or any ideas.

Speaking of which, I really want to thank everyone who has left comments!  I really do love them, and try to respond to them, but life sometimes gets in the way, and I just don't have time, but I do read and cherish them all!

And I know some of you are still under feet of snow, but here's a picture I took this morning!!  Spring is indeed on its way!