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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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

Holidays are Around the Corner Are You Ready

Wow I was looking at my last blog I am running behind my goal to blog every Sunday not because I don't have anything to say or show you only life has overwhelmed me here at home. Since November 2010 my husband has become disabled a ruptured brain aneursym put in him the hospital for about 3 weeks between the surgery and going to rest home to recover after this it was another 8 weeks of everyday therapy 9-5 with weekends off. I am afraid to leave him alone I know that this is ridiculous but if you know me you are aware that I am a bit of a worrier. Steve, my husband, is unable to return to work which I know is a bit stressful for him but now its my turn to take care of him. We married when I was barely 20 since this Steve has taken the best care of me and my daughter that I brought to the marriage he had a daughter and then after 3 years we had a daughter so 34 years later 3 daughters and 7 grandchildren-awesome.
I have been working for a company called Working Solutions, based in Plano, TX this is a work at home business I love it surely I have mentioned this before it works out perfect for us keeping me at home to help watch over him and earn money so that we can continue to pay our mortgage.
Steve is getting better each day all the prayers from family and friends and support to help him has been fantastic I am constantly thanking everyone on facebook, letters yes I still use snail mail and telephone calls.
Work has been keeping me quite busy not those wee late hours where you can find me sewing not only for myself and the web site but for others now. I have taken on a few customers that wanted me to sew for them for their products. I love the fact they have trusted me enough to sew their products and it allows me to still be creative, something that I have to do to maintain stress level at even keel.
I ventured into an old favorite again crocheting and knitting I found that at night I was unable to run my sewing machine the sewing room is too close to our bedroom with my trusted old sewing machine it makes a bit of a noise that does interfere with Steve's sleeping hence quietly crocheting and knitting. I have had a lot of fun making cocoons, hats, blankets for friends, family and been selling a few items too. I know that everyone is used to me creating with wood and fabric this is new to those that are viewing my fan page so I am sure the sales will increase with time. The items have been listed on my web page once I felt confident to continue making them you can find all new different items under tab Crafter's Corner. Catchy little phrase that my web designer came up for me since everything else was wood and fabric she decided I should include everything I make not that she is bias or anything...LOL
The rest of the days have been clearing out the clutter that I have accumulated thinking we would have our married daughter and her family move back in with us for a bit realizing it was way too much stress on each of us we decided I would work more it was a mutual agreement now I have cleaned out all the rooms Hurray- clutter is gone onward and forward.
Gave away of lot of items to the family members one big yard sale at the end of September all is Good. :-)
I have lots of new items that I want to show and a few how to's my goal for next week is to get back on schedule Sunday blogging again.
I have continued reading all your blogs though learned a lot of great tips made new friends so least that did not go by the wayside.
Well now that I have written a partial book here I am ending my blog today.
Here is something I did finish up on a pillow for a dear friend

receive Miracles in the present moment

Lots of love to you all
Rachel♥

What I have learned from Blogging

The summer has inched itself right into our lives the days longer weather hotter I love it. I am ready for a bit of sunshine lasting more than a few hours in the day. I work the mid afternoon shift so in early morning time I get to go outdoors to water, garden, paint all the fun things before I am sitting at my desk for 5 hours straight.
This weekend I went to a baby shower for my daughter's dear friend. I was quite impressed to find how much my daughter has learned from the blog inserts I have sent her. I read your blogs even though I may not comment all the time I have been there looking to see what creative ideas you have produced. All of you are so talented in so many different ways. This talent is appreciated back to the story my daughter had chocolate covered strawberries, dipped pretzel sticks, large chocolate and carmel marshmellows on a stick plus she decorated the containers used. Glass vases with ribbon, painted flower pots with large bows to hold the favors, pink buckets for prizes, her personal touches were everywhere. I must say she is her Mother's daughter and I was very proud.
The baby shower went so well even with the temperature in the high 80's no one melted especially the Mommy to be. The gifts there were extra special because there were so many handmade items. It was so nice to see the old fashion type of gift giving from the heart those handmade. Mommy was so touched by the love from each indiviual one created for her new little Brooklynn.
There I met some wonderful ladies who had created these gifts one in particular I wanted to share with you. Her name was Debbie the owner of
http://lovelydiapercakes.weebly.com/index.html her diaper cake was so beautiful I was anxious to know if she created others. Yes she had a web site and I went there to look. Wow she is so talented the choices were amazing and her prices reasonable. I liked the fact that she really wanted customer intake before making any diaper cake. Debbie creates for the customer I admire this since I try to make sure that I craft the same way.
I have included some pictures of the festive day hope you enjoy them I know I had a wonderful day.
Included two of my granddaughters with me couldn't resist they are just too cute.

It's A Giveaway

In the mood for a Giveaway I know I am feeling the love to do one.
These past few weeks I have been so busy creating for customers, thinking of the future holidays to come, working my day job, tending to the house and busy outside in the yards that I want to remind you how much you are appreciated from me.
The only thing is that you have to make sure you follow the rules for entries. Lots of time I sincerely feel bad that someone did not put their information in the correct area so they could not be included in the random drawing. Please that makes me feel sad and usually I take the time to go email that person so they can have the chance to do it again.
The rules:
1. Must go to my website at http://www.ourcreativehands.com
sign up for our newsletter. If you already have that is one entry just comment you have. There is a coupon for 10% discount on first purchase when you do just for doing this you can have a coupon for future use. That is a plus right.
2. Follow my blog if you do just comment you do. Every comment is one entry so if you suggest me to a friend have them let me know that so you will get another entry.
3. Like me on Facebook if you are there already make sure and comment again for that entry.
After our facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ourcreativehands reaches 900 fans the drawing will take place.
The prize I have chosen is Apple Betty who warms my heart and I know that she will warm yours also.
I wish you all the best of luck! You all make me want to continue to create, craft and enjoy what I do so I want to thank you.

Creating and Promoting

I can't believe its been over 3 weeks since I have blogged the time slips by so quickly. Not that I am not doing anything this definitely is not the case.
I constantly read from you how important it is to spread the word about your wares to sell. There are so many avenues today to accomplish this without knowing which is the best. We have Twitter, Facebook, Web sites, LinkedIn, Blogging and the old favorite of mine Word of Mouth. In order to accomplish this I have found that it must be done everyday. I wonder where I am going to fit in the creating part since I am a Customer Service Rep during the day hours too. Not to worry I tell myself the house can be a bit less perfect and the garden can wait until Sundays. So I have made a schedule for myself morning hours are working on projects for either the local store here in California that I sell to, the web site and any special orders received from family and friends. The early night hours are for promoting on the media I mentioned above and those late night hours when nobody else is awake is to sit and think of new ideas. These late hours are around 1-2am I am found thumbing through magazines, scouring the internet, looking at old photos of items I created years ago and a bit of dreaming. I do my best idea planning this late so peaceful and in the summer months you could find me out on our deck under the stars sitting on a rocker just thinking of what I could create or have Steve cut for me in wood the next day. He is so funny because I barely jump out of bed some mornings with all these ideas that he gives me an odd stare as to say"who are you". I really do overwhelm him sometimes with my ideas. But the good guy he is we discuss if the idea is possible and off he goes to make it a reality. No Steve wastes no time once we decide.
Well I am hoping that out of all my words today you to will come to a conclusion of what schedule works best for you. I know it is harder for you that are Moms with small children to tend to but when your creative juices are flowing and your passion for your ideas are flying out of your head you will find the time.
Make sure to promote even if it is quick note on one of your media choices we all love to show what we have made and better yet we love to see other creations.
Added a few pictures of my latest items you can find on the web site.

Creating Summer Desserts

It's Friday mid May and I don't know about your home area but here in California I am still hoping for more sun. I am not complaining nor wishing for 100 degree weather but I would like to go outside without long pants, two shirts and a sweater. I have so much yard work to tend to, want to bring out those summer cushions and plan on some barbaques without wondering if the rain will spoil our plans.
I just received an email today that made me yearn more for summertime it was from Betty Crocker receipes. I want to share this with you because they sound so yummy. I am making sure to put them in a safe place, I have a tendency to delete, so when summer plans are in the making I will be the first to offer a new dessert.
I have tried and tried to get the link to post to my blog page but it won't so after several attempts I am just going to let you know they are from Betty Crocker recipes called Happy Hour Desserts. They are absolutely yummy looking. Pina Colada Cupcakes,Mojito Bars, Strawberry Daquiri Cake, and Grasshopper Dessert Squares.

So sorry that the link would not appear on my blog page.
Hope you enjoy them.
Have a wonderful weekend be safe and enjoy whatever you have planned.