Sewing With PUL

A few weeks ago a request came to our small Quilting Bee from a fellow member, Spokes and Stitches, for handmade bibs. There is a project underway through Love Without Boundaries for items to make the lives of babies undergoing cleft surgery a little brighter and more comfortable.  I found a free online bib pattern by Heather Bailey and began to pull fabrics from which to make up a few; that was, until, I had an in-person conversation with my friend who made the request. She has a son who has already undergone one cleft surgery; her sweet boy has a second one scheduled for next month. She well understands the need for these bibs and she likes for his to be as waterproof as possible. She explained that since drool is excessive a shirt can quickly become soaked through; she showed me some PUL; a waterproof fabric that she had only just purchased. PUL was new to me; it's soft to the touch and comes in solid colors as well as child-friendly prints. After seeing hers I decided to give it a try; I got some and found it to be extremely easy to work with. I used PUL for my bib fronts, backing them with soft flannel. The only special attention that I gave to this new-to-me fabric was a fresh, sharp, needle and avoidance of placing the iron directly onto the PUL itself. I did press the bibs, and they did just fine, but I pressed them from the flannel side.

While sewing the bib fronts and backs together I kept the flannel side down, against the throat plate, so that the bibs would feed through smoothly and not "stick" or bog down. I used an overedge stitch for construction. The PUL that I bought was in a three-pack of precuts, each piece measured 21" X 24" and, with precise attention to placement, I found that I was able to get three bibs from each piece! I had never made bibs before, this pattern was wonderful to work from; I found the process to be fun and rewarding!

Try something new today, I, for one, am glad that I did!
I hope and pray that these bibs will be much loved and well used by their precious little recipients.
Life is Good!

Photo Documentation and Organization

It all started innocently enough, doesn't every great adventure? For years I've known that I had to something about the burgeoning box of photos that was hiding out in the dark recesses of an armoire in the guest room. But, where, and when, to start? I kept putting it off, adopting the "out of sight", (almost) "out of mind" philosophy. Every once in a while I would be challenged to find an old photo and the wrestling match with my conscience would begin all over again. And then it happened... I entered The Container Store (this is where it all started so "innocently"), that mecca of  happy home organization (which, for me, is like returning to the mother ship). I stumbled upon a display of photo storage boxes, each with the ability to hold 1,200 photos, and they were on sale. What more could I ask for? The time had, at long last, arrived!

The dining room has become work-station central, folding tables have been erected temporarily and the contents of boxes are being exposed. This is going to take a long time, but that's okay; this stash didn't amass itself overnight. Every time I pass by the room I work a little bit, that's what it's going to take. At first, I started with laser-beam focus but I can't continue with that intensisty; it's too hard, it makes my brain hurt.

A highly visible, front and center, work location is exactly where this project needs to happen. No more sweeping this task under the rug; a light is shining brightly on the job at hand and those brand new, slick, photo boxes are ready and waiting! I bought two, I believe I need to get another one... while they're still on sale.

One can never be too prepared!

Life is Good!

Wilma Ran

"Wilma ran. No one can catch her. Wilma Rudolph won."

I spent the afternoon in a kindergarten classroom this past week. The students have each illustrated prepared fabric squares that combine to tell the life story of Wilma Rudolph. I assisted them in "framing" out their blocks with strips of fabric and brought them home to set it all together and quilt it. I presented it to their teacher, my dear daughter-in-law, last evening. She was thrilled! It will hang outside their classroom, she told me that all of my new little friends will be excited beyond belief to see the finished product. They couldn't be any happier than I was to help them with their fantastic project!

Life is Good!