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Monday, September 26, 2011

Recycled Jeans handmade into Lap size Quilt

Recycled Jeans have been my all time favorite from bags, vests, doll making accessories and quilts. I have found using old jeans are the perfect medium for quilt making.
My husband used to travel allot for his business complaining always about the hotel blankets since he lived in so many hotels he knew not to use the top blanket so he would always bring his own pillow but have to suffer with no blanket. He has worn Levi jeans forever nothing ever could take their place I tried Wranglers once oops they went right back to the store. Levi 501's he has probably been wearing them since Levi's was cool...Well I noticed that allot of them the knees were gone, or paint was spilled even had a few with holes idea struck me to cut them up for a quilt just for Steve. He would have his own blanket to take to the job site hotels and since it was made from Levi jeans well he would not mind this at all. I made a queen size quilt for him put a thin batting and a flannel plaid backing. Steve was thrilled and took this with him always. He only had one problem now was to make sure that it was the first thing he packed for his return home. All was good for us both.
Steve being the wonderful husband he is, always brags about my creations but the Levi quilt was his favorite. He would tell everyone about his quilt that I made from his old Levi jeans soon friends were asking me if I wanted their jeans which was a no brainer since I knew I would make something from them. I received so many from a dear married couple that were just starting to have grandchildren enrich their lives so I offered to make the babies jean quilts that were from Grandma and Grandpa. I loved making them took about 5 complete jeans I cut them up making sure the width was at least 7" no matter how long I cut them. I wanted the width to always stay at least 7" this made the quilt easier to make larger squares for me to deal with. Since the quilt was for a small child he just turned one a lap quilt size was perfect you have to remember how heavy jeans are no matter what style of jeans you use so keeping the size down makes it easier to store or travel with. I must tell you the jean material is so fantastic sand from the beach does not stick on it, grass brushes right off making sure you use a cotton backing all you do is shake and fold. Great quilt for the desert! 
I finished up another Grandbabie quilt this weekend using the perfect boy cotton fabric backing, a thin layer of batting in between for a bit of cushion, cut a pocket from each Grandma and Grandpa's pant to add, stitched his name the finished tieing off with  dark blue embroidery thread to match.
This past Saturday we headed off  to the birthday party with wrapped quilt in hand the crowd loved it and I felt the parents appreciation with my labor of love yet of course knowing this was made from the baby's grandparents jeans.
Don't get rid of the old jeans any longer no matter what type they are RECYCLE them.
I have enclosed some pictures of the newest quilt .





The day of the party I found out a new grandson just arrived before we left I asked Grandma and Grandpa to start saving their Levis again for the newest addition. I have made 3 quilts so far for this family.

Just a little side note that some of you may not know
Levi company will replace any of their jean product for manufacture defects. If you find a hole starting in the pocket area, wearing away of the material by the belt loops etc defects they will replace for the same style and size by calling 800-872-5384.
This is not a gimmick I have had several pairs of Steve's Levi jeans replaced throughout the last 8 years.
They send them back if they are not defected so holes in the knees don't count etc. I have sent back Levi shorts, Levi pants and women's Levi pants getting back brand new replacements after 6 weeks. You do pay the postage to ship them to the company but it is so worth it since Levi 501's cost 42.00.
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Sunday, September 4, 2011

Crafty Fall Items

It is already September - I have been so busy creating Fall and Halloween products. I love the aroma of cinnamon and vanilla mixed with coffee the finishing touches to the ornies, dolls and other items that I have completed. Just this makes me know that fall is in the air. Chilly nights again hurray since I do live in California we don't get that brisk change of the season colors- I have to create the ambiance myself. I decorated today that means everything that was americana for the 4th of July months gets packed away the colors of fall come out. The linens, towels, dishes, pillows, rugs everything changes in our house. My husband watches as I lug up from the bottom garage tote after tote of decorations. Sometimes he offers to help but I think he would rather let me do it by myself hoping the decorating occassion will cease to a miminal amount. No he is out of luck I love to go all out! Everything changes.. Right now pumpkins are lining the front door with scarecrows along with signs of my own and others that I have purchased the entry hall leads off with corn and gourds, old dolls that I have collected along with floral arrangements. Next the living room, kitchen and yes the bathroom are all decorated too. I don't really like Halloween too much so I hold the few items of scary Halloween week only- I do have a few scary items but its not what my little grandchildren like neither so they are happy that Nana doesn't have all the scary sounds and sights in her house. The backyard,front and side yards are all decorated with artifical flowers of fall(saves on the water bill) along with scarecrows and wooden birdhouses that my husband made for me. (And he says he doesn't like me to decorate you would never know since alot of the wood items I have he makes...LOL) I have the newest items up on my facebook fan page they will soon be on the web site but you can order directly from facebook if you want them now. I have a few more products that I am working on to finish up the Fall /Halloween pages on the web site those will be done this week coming up. A preview will be posted on the fan page first. I love comments so if you have any suggetions or requests just let me know. To end for today I have included a link that will really get your palate ready for Fall its Betty Crocker delicious desserts just for those cold evenings..

I hope you enjoy them. I am looking forward to visiting your blogs to see what the Holiday season has in store for you. Lots of love Rachel