For Jack

While I consider every project that comes through my workshop special, every once in a while, I get the opportunity to do something totally  unique. And recently, I was given the enjoyable task of creating a gift for Jack.  

Jack is an 8 year old that has a birthday coming up and his grandmother is a friend of mine. I connected with her to do this one of a kind project for her special boy.

Jack loves the Tin Tin  series of children's books just like his father did before him. When his dad was a child, his folks bought him t-shirts with graphics from different Tin Tin editions. Now it was time to do something with them just for Jack!

He is about to get his very own t-shirt quilt!

The quilt started with the delivery of 9 t-shirts, 

freshly laundered and full of promise.

The first task was to mount them on some stabilizer and cut them to size. I'll admit that these types of projects come with just a bit of nervousness on my part. It's not like I could run to the nearest fabric store to buy a new shirt if I made a boo boo. 

They truly are one of a kind!

So after getting the scariest part out of the way, (cutting up all of those t-shirts!) it was time to choose some contemporary boy loving fabric to fill it out. The backing was a no brainer. Flannel would make it snuggle worthy. And since he loves old cars and old airplanes, that would go on the front surrounding the tshirt squares. 

I was actually looking for old airplanes because that would be my favorite too, but cars and motorcycles jumped off the shelf, so I brought it home.

And a fun buffalo plaid would be great for the binding!

I always love to use my favorite power tool for these projects! 

Granny Fanny's 1936 Singer.

And since I needed one more square to round things out, I saved the tags from the back of the shirts. 

Many of them had interesting graphics 

and there were also family initials on them.  

So no question, they had to be included. 

The next step called for spreading it all out to pin it for quilting. I rarely do hand quilting anymore... old hands! And diagonal machine quilting would make it extra durable for a growing boy. The only space big enough to do such a thing is in the sunroom on the floor.

It's good exercise crab walking all over to get it pulled nice and tight! 

The buffalo plaid binding finished it off nicely. 

And I actually really enjoy this type of monotonous detailed sewing. 

Even with a relatively brief lead time, I was able to not only finish 

Jack's special present, but take a vacation as well! 

I'm always so thankful when people trust me enough to do such a thing,

and enable me to say 'no' if I feel it's out of my skill set. 

Now it's just waiting for Jack!!

A very happy birthday, little man,

and God bless you a bunch!

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature,

and in favor with God and man.

Luke 2:52

Other Projects

It All Started With A Stick

 Our oldest children live in an enchanted place. At least our grandchildren seem to think so. They're in a new residential community, still under construction and nestled in the middle of acres of woods. So the possibilities for creative play are unlimited. 

Places like "Pineville", where the obvious currency is pinecones, are tucked into the woods by the neighborhood kids, and provide endless hours of fun. 

Adventure awaits!

I believe Pineville is where the stick came from. It was beautiful. A long straight piece of small pine tree that had been encircled by some predatory vine before it fell. One of the neighbor kids claimed it and I offered to buy it from him. 

Our #G2 brokered the deal, first offering the currency of Pineville, a whopping 15 pinecones. When the kid wouldn't accept that offer, we came at him with cold hard cash. But he insisted it was magical and rare so wouldn't entertain any of my offers. 

It was at this point that #G5 stepped in. He insisted that the woods were full of such treasures and offered to help me find one. A couple of days later, he headed out the door in search of a stick for me, and I had to hurry to keep up. We grabbed his dads axe and set off on an adventure of our own. 

This creative old soul housed in a 9 year old body didn't take long to find the perfect specimen. Whereas the first stick was straight and uniform, the one he found was a bit larger, more gnarled, and also covered with the predatory vine. It was just right and as we chopped it down, we talked about what might be done with it.

Like me, he also saw the beauty in it just for arts sake. It didn't really have to perform any function. We decided that a beautiful walking stick would be just the thing. The length was determined by what would fit in our car for the trip home. It's about 5 feet tall.

So it sat for months in the corner of our garage drying out and waiting for the weather to warm up before I could get started. I spent the time mulling over what might be done to it to emphasize the natural twists and turns.

I already had some leather, copper wire and lots of beads so after I scrubbed and sealed it, I got started. It was one of those projects that took some time. First for the branch to dry, then for the polyurethane to dry, and then for the Gorilla glue to dry...

Leather is much more agreeable when it's soaked in water

Beads for days!

I'll admit to preferring instant gratification. I don't like waiting. But I actually didn't mind this taking some time. Like all of the Resurrection Upcycle projects, this one satisfied the creative troll that lives deep within me and I loved watching it take shape. 

I think #G5 will appreciate it too. I don't know if it will ever be used to actually aid in walking. Right now, I love it sitting in the corner of my favorite room as a piece of art and a reminder of a "magical place" and a creative grandson.

I preserved the axe marks

Another warm fuzzy in my favorite room

Even tho' I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for You are with me.

Your rod and Your staff,

They comfort me.

Psalm 23:4

From Your precepts I get understanding;

Therefore I hate every false way.

Your Word is a lamp unto my feet,

And a light unto my path.

I have sworn and I will confirm it,

That I will keep Your righteous judgments.

Psalm 119:104-106

Other Projects

Mama Bear

Recently, I was given the opportunity to do something I had never done before. It involved spending time in my favorite room in the house doing something I love, so I jumped at the opportunity.

A new friend had lost her mom and asked me to make something special out of a piece of her clothing. She suggested a bear or "something she could hug." Sounded perfect and I had just the right pattern.

Mama's robe would be just right for something huggable

In order to satisfy an English class project in high school I purchased a pattern and made a Winnie the Pooh. I no longer have the bear, but was sure to keep the pattern. 

The plan for it, in my 15 year old head, was to someday make teddy bears for my grandchildren. That was 50 years ago, and I have been able to do just that for the many grands we have as well as some other special little people.

But this time, the fragile old pattern would turn out something different and much more meaningful.

So, with great respect for what I was getting ready to do, I began pinning the pattern pieces to the robe before I prayerfully cut it out. This was a once in a lifetime project. I needed to get it right!

Slowly but surely, the huggable stuffy came together. One piece at a time, one prayer at a time...

A face went on her and she began to look much more lovable 

All that was left was to stuff her and put her ribbon on.

 But when I started the project, my hope was to save the top half of the robe for something special.

My friend wanted something she could hug. I wanted to do something that would hug her back. So I was able to save the top half of the robe to finish off as a jacket for her to wear when she felt like she needed a mama hug in return. And it worked out perfectly.

Mama Bear and her matching jacket

I'm so thankful that my new friend gave me this opportunity! While ultimately, it is the Lord Who brings comfort, this small token can serve as a physical reminder of a sweet relationship.

May your favor comfort me,

according to the word of your servant.

May your compassion come to me

so that I may live.

For your law is my delight.

Psalm 119:76-77

Other Projects

It's Been Awhile!

 Since moving last fall we've renovated a gem of a money pit. The interior is completed. (except for the inside of closets, but really... does that even count??) Because of the work we've done, we're left with various pieces and parts that I knew we'd have use for eventually. 

The first opportunity came this week. We got rid of a lot of things we no longer needed before moving, but ended up with a very small gap that needed to be filled. Easy. Our style is pretty much "Craptastic", so pieces and parts are perfect!

After remodeling the kitchen, we were left with several drawers and cabinet door fronts that were just the ticket. In the front room of the house, we have a hump back trunk in front of the couch, but no tables on either side so there is no place to put drinks, or food, or ...whatever. We don't use that room much, but I'll admit to spilling drinks because they were sitting on the floor and I always seem to find them with my feet. 

That copper boomerang hardware is a dead giveaway as to the origins in our sweet midcentury. We chose not to reuse it in the kitchen, but keeping a little here and there works. 

I also came across 4 legs from a piano bench a couple of years ago and this was just the right project to put them to use. With the move, my stash went through a serious clean out, but these sweet little legs made the cut.

Spent about an hour or so stripping a really bad paint job, and sanding and it was ready to assemble.

 

My favorite man beast

After we got it all together, the rest was easy. A little polyurethene and some dry time and it was ready to use.

Many times, there are several things that need to be purchased to make an upcycle work, but this one is truly 99.9% upcycle. The only thing not reused were the 4 screws used to attach the legs. It's just right, and it's great to be back in the workshop!

Do not let kindness and truth leave you;

Bind them around your neck,

Write them on the table of your heart.

Proverbs 3:3

Family Stuff