Thinking Outside the box!

Last July when we went to Alaska for our 25th anniversary, we went on a Princess cruise!  Actully this was our 4th time as DH's Dad had taken the whole family 3 times!  In 2003,2004 and 2005!  Yes we are blessed.

Anyway, if you have been on a cruise you know they give you lots of little coupons for little trinkets in port.  Basically they are to get you in the store and then have you buy something else!  Well last year one of the free gifts was these set of watercolor reproductions.

They were 16x20, but I didn't want the writing on the bottom.

So the dilema became how to get these framed out without spending much money!  DH didn't want to pay to have them matted, so I was befuddled!  Well, enter my wonderful friends in blogville!  

Yesterday it rained all day, so we decided to go to Aaron Bros to see what we could find.  We found these great frames that match our dining room table and they were 40% off!  Now to figure out how to mat them.

Then a light bulb went off!  Burlap!  I have been buying remnants when I see them and I had just enough to do all three prints!  I just covered the cardboard that came with the frame with the burlap, using spray adhesive.

 

I then trimmed the print, removing the writing on the bottom and the white on the sides.  

Here is Juneau ready to be added.

And here is the finished product!

Two of them are in the dining room and Juneau is over the piano in the living room.  We really had no wall space to put them all together and since the rooms are open it works!  I love that we finally got them framed and now we can enjoy them.  All for just the cost of the frames.

Toodles,

Laura

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Sad Day

Just thought I would let you in on a little sad news.  My Dad passed away on Tuesday night.  He had been sick for a long time, so it wasn't really a surprise. But that doesn't make it easier.  In June of 2008 he was given 6 mos, and defied all the drs and nurses.  He had congestive heart failure and there was nothing else they could do.  The good thing was he was on hospice care, so was allowed to live out his final days at home! 

I know he is in a much better place, in fact I am sure he is having a great time seeing his brother and parents and dancing with angels!

So if I don't post for awhile, this is why!

This was taken at their 50th anniversary 3/7/09! 

Have Fun Dad, we will miss you!

Rag Quilts for Haiti!

Yes I have been sewing away!  Currently we have 23 quilts ready for the orphanage in Haiti!  I have sewn 15, my Mom has done 3 and a neighbor donated 5 from her quilt guild!  Here is a pic!

The ones on the right are 10" squares and are 5x6, meaning 5 squares by 6 squares.  These are for the older kids.  The ones on the left are 7" squares and are 6x6, these are for the babies and toddlers.  I have one of these waiting to snip and another cut and ready to sew!  

I am really bummed about this one though

 

See how the red ran on that one print!  I wash in cold and even use Shout Color Catchers.  After the first wash I sprayed with Shout and washed again, still not change, so I sprayed and let sit over night, nothing!  I have used the red before with no problem.  And it is funny how it only ran on that on print, not the other red print.  DH says I should send it, but I just can't!

DD has been helping me snip and has made a few quilts of her own for an organization that I have worked with for a few years. Threads of Love, one of the things they do is make blankets for preemies, so I have been doing that with my scraps.  Here is one of hers.

They are a little smaller, 6" squares and 6x6, I have some that I made that are 5x5.  She is doing it for community service, but I know she loves to do them anyway!  We made a bunch after hurricane Katrina and sent them to New Orleans.  They are so easy and such fun to make.  You can go with a theme, or just run with it.

Still have about 25 or so to go.  Rainy days are perfect for sewing

Have a good one,

Laura

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