Finish it 2014-Summer in the Park Quilt Pattern

My 2nd finish of 2014 from the UFO pile is a quilt that I sewed +Riley Blake fabric fest this fall.  I finally quilted and bound it.

I love how it turned out and so does my almost 2 year old little girl.  She has barely let it out of her sight since she ripped it from my hands when I finished it. 

The fabric is from +Riley Blake Lost and Found fabric line from a couple years ago and the pattern is Summer in the Park Quilt Pattern from +MissouriQuiltCo

Best Place to Buy Rotary Cutter Blades

Do you ever get sick of paying $8 or more for 1 rotary blade?  I know that I do.  

Even with a coupon at the local craft stores rotary blades will cost you a $5 dollar bill.  

Not anymore! 

If you have a +Harbor Freight Tools (OFFICIAL) head on over there when you need new blades.  They are in the carpet section of the store.  They come in packs of 2 and are around $3. 

I love saving money.  Especially if you combine  saving money on buying blades with sharpening your blades with tin foil.  Its Money in the Bank!

Instagram Picture Display

I love instagram but I hate that all my fun pictures are stored on my phone and not where I can see them and remember all the good times I've had with my little family.  So when my husband shortened all of our wood slat blinds and we ended up with a bunch of wooden slats I decided to create a way to display those pictures.  

I cut 2 - 1x4 inch boards the length that I needed.  Then nailed the wooden slats to the boards.  I used picture hangers on each of the 1x4 boards to hang it onto the wall. 

Then I took hemp string and tied it to the wooden slats.  I printed my Instagram pictures directly from my phone at +Walgreens and hung them using mini clothespins.

I like to change out the pictures every couple of months to keep them updated.  My girls love seeing the pictures and sharing them with people that come over.

Now I just need to figure out a word to place on one of the bottom corners in vinyl.  Any ideas?

How to Get Wrinkles Out of Vinyl

The easiest and quickest way to get wrinkles out of vinyl:  With a blow dryer.  Low heat on the wrinkles.  Smooth as you go. 

How to Make Mini Bolts for Storing Fabric

I have this thing, weird as it may be, about being able to easily see ALL of my fabric.  

Its a little difficult at times, especially with all different sizes of fabric.  

This is the solution that I use for my fabric that is close to a yard to 2 or 3 yards.  

First go to the dollar store and get the foam craft boards.  They are with the poster boards and are the same size as a poster board.  Then cut the foam board.  I used my rotary cutter.  I cut mine 12 inches wide by 10 inches tall. 

It shows at the 13 inch part but I really cut it 12 inches cause I always start my fabric or whatever I am cutting on the 1 inch line.  It just seems easier for me to line everything up that way. 

You will end up with 4 pieces that are the 10x12 inch and then 2 left over pieces that are 6 inches x 10 inches.  I use these smaller ones for pieces under 1 yard

Now take your fabric and fold it in half, lengthwise.  With selvage edges touching.  Then fold again so that your fabric is folded into 1/4. 

Now roll the fabric just like they would on a bolt at the fabric store. 

Pin the end of the fabric into place so it doesn't unroll itself and then stack it on a shelf or cupboard. 

You will LOVE having your fabric on display!  Plus it won't make you feel so crazy when you are constantly searching for a certain fabric.

Now if you have a great way to store fabric under 1/2 yard PLEASE LET ME KNOW.  I still store it in some plastic drawers under my cut table, but they get all mumbled and jumbled up and then I can't find what I need. 
 

Christmas Stocking Sew Along: Day 1-5 (All in 1 Simple and Easy to Find Place!)

I absolutely adore these rag quilt Christmas Stockings.  They are really simple to make, and they don't cost a lot, especially if you have some scraps on hand

My Favorite Way to Eat a Turkey for Thanksgiving

You all know how much I love to cook!  Right?  A couple of years ago I heard of soaking your turkey in kosher salt for 12-24 hours before cooking it.  So I decided to try it.

I made sure the turkey was nice and thawed out.  Then I pulled out all that inside stuff and threw it away (a sin I know, but it really grosses me out).  Then I rinsed the turkey off.

Then I got out my largest pot and the stuffed the turkey in there and rubbed kosher salt all over that turkey.  I put it inside, outside, everywhere I could get salt.  Then I covered the turkey in water (as much as I could).

Now put the turkey in the fridge for 12-24 hours.  Since my turkey was not totally covered in the water I flipped it over halfway through.

The salt will make the water absorb into the turkey so you will have a super moist turkey.  It is SOOO good.

Then when I was ready to cook the turkey I added a couple of chopped up onions, celery, garlic, and apples to the bag.  Put the breast side down for cooking.  Then I cooked it for the appropriate amount of time (I think I found that on the cooking bag instructions or the turkey I really don't remember).  Then when there is an hour left I flipped the turkey over so the breast was up.  This is really difficult because everything is super hot and the juice from the bag is going to splash all over.  It is worth the effort though.  Trust me :)

I won't be making the turkey this year cause we are going to Grandmas house instead.  But I am going to go buy a turkey if the weather will let me and then sometime in the next few months I am going to cook me a super good turkey

Cheap Wood Entry or Sofa Table Using 2x4's

I have been searching high and low for 2 year for a entry table that would fit in my long, odd shaped entry.  I didn't want to spend very much and wanted to refinish whatever it was that I found.  I  have had no luck.  Seriously, Craigslist and Facebook selling groups failed me big time in this area.   

I finally gave up my search when I found this tutorial on Ana White's furniture building website.  It was perfect, except it was a bench and not a table. 

With 2 small changes we were able to turn that bench into a table.  Plus, it is perfect in my entry way.

First we made the legs a lot longer.  I wanted it to be more like counter height, so I just put my hand on my hip for how high I wanted and my husband measured.  Old fashioned, I know, but it worked.

Then, we added 1 extra board on the top to make it wider.  The top fits perfectly on the top, but it no longer  was as wide as the legs, because we lengthened them.  So we just cut one more board the length of the boards for the top and centered them on there and screwed them down.

Now my top is a little wider like a table would be and taller.

Finally, I just stained it for a rustic look.

I love the table!  It was our first "build from scratch" project and I am in love.  It was an easy build.  It was CHEAP too!  It was only 2x4's and we bought 2 extra boards for the couple of changes we made.  2x4's at my local store are around $2.50 so in total it cost me $20 for 7 2x4's and some longer screws.  I already had the stain from other projects that I have been working on.

So a huge shout out to my husband for building the table and to +Ana White for having easy to follow instructions on how to build a table.