Recycle those signs again and update.

I am re-recycling part of an old post.  Right now is the time to replenish your stash of yard signs.  Clean up the landscape and put those signs to good use.

 

Mini-bolts!

  About 4 years ago, I began using the mini-bolts for storage.  When I first  began this, I was using a thin plastic insert.  Later I switched  to using  foam core board.  The foam core  can be purchased at the Dollar Store in the 2 foot by 3 foot size usually.  I cut the size-- that works best for me-- 11" to 12" high by 8" wide.    It's easy to cut with a craft knife.  I often end up with smaller sections of the boards and they work great for shorter cuts--- those under a yard. 

Today, I am even more frugal.....I use old  yard campaign signs or yard signs of any kind that I find....like house for sale, or other advertising.  They get knocked down or the wires rust out.  I collect them, wash them up, and cut  to the size I like.    I'm saving the land fill (if they would ever make it there) and keeping my dollars for fabric and thread.  

 Fabric is folded just like it comes off the bolt.  Then one more fold---bringing the folded side over to match the selvedge edge.  Roll it up and pin the end.  

     The mini-bolts make it easy to see what I have to work with.  I am  known to be pretty messy and scattered, so this really helps me neater.   And what fun to shop your own fabric store in your stash closet.

And one more idea.....portable design boards.  

  I use old yard signs.  This one is the plastic type 

of corrugated sign.  I cut mine to 12'' by 16'', 

along with a layer of batting and muslin about 

 1 1/2'' larger on all sides.    Grab the glue stick......

I use the glue stick for a temporary hold.  Run the glue stick along the edge of the board and fold the fabric over.  Press down with finger tips.

Remember the colorful duct tape?  

I found a good use for it here. 

 Pull off a piece long enough for the side.

  Lay the covered board face down onto the tape.  Put the tape around the edge and press down 

onto the back covering the edge of 

the fabric.   I trimmed the ends 

of the tape so that they were flush with the ends.

 

 Done!  A small work surface that

 easily moves from sewing table 

to ironing board....safely.


  What a time around here......we endured a hurricane, Halloween, and a blue moon,

and a time change.  Sir Old Man had a skin cancer removed from his nose and is 

healing.  One more to go and then we see if he needs the plastic surgery.  

  

                                                      

 I survived the stress level by sewing

 units and rows together......to make a top 

with borders out of the spool blocks!

  This is about 1/4 view of the top.

I had 3 extra spool blocks and hated to throw them into 

the orphan box of blocks.  Instead I used them to

extend the pattern to the outer border by inserting them

when I joined strips.  I also used up all the blue  fabric for 

that border.  
 

  

   

I continued making the hourglass blocks. 

 These are ready to be trimmed up. 

And I sorted, and sorted, and sorted 2'' squares

that I have been throwing into a box!

I have a new assortment of floral 2'' squares

to work with from my cutting block pieces.  

I found some inspiration and think it is time to return

to working with them for a while.  So if I don't

surface for a bit, that is where I will be.  

Happy stitching.