Thursday, April 15, 2010

think about it Thursday...

Today I am thinking about...your help!!! Thats right all you crafty crafters out there. I need some help!

First things first: Here is the quilt I featured a few weeks ago. It is all quilted and I LOVE it! She only charged $25 and that included the batting!


Now for the challenge...I have NO IDEA how to finish off the quilt. This is one of my first quilts and I want to finish it off cute, but I don't know how! I have about 3 inches all around of the back dot material plus a bunch of extra batting hanging out all the sides too! I could just do the fold over finish that I have typically done in the past by just folding over the dot material, but then I would have the dot material on the edge all the way around and I'm not sure I like the way it looks. I have some left over squares of the rest of the pattern materials, but not a ton. I have thought about maybe a big chocolate brown ric rac or something like that, but once again, I have never done it and have NO IDEA how to go about it! So HELP!!! I would love your ideas and suggestions!

Second challenge: This is the dresser in my daughter's room. It is a dresser/changing table thing. I have NO IDEA why I chose this ugly color. (Okay...thats not true...way back when...back with my first child I ordered a crib in a honey pine color...this dresser was from the same company and said it came in a honey pine finish...only this is about 5 years later...lets just say that it doesn't even come close to matching the crib! Live and learn!) Anyhoo, I would LOVE to paint it. I have only ever painted 1 other dresser and I used wall paint! I am wanting to do it cream/off white to match her head board. What kind of paint have you had the most success with? It needs to be durable and able to withstand many a day of princess play! Spray paint? Loads of craft paint? Paint from a can? How much sanding is necessary? I guess I should probably just call my good pal Andy who probably knows exactly what to do...

Any ideas?


So put your thinking caps on ladies....HELP!?!

What are your ideas?

Think about it...

12 comments:

  1. I am sorry that I can't contribute to your dilemma! Not a sewer or quilter, but I love those fabrics! Could you by chance let me know what line they are from and where you got them? I've been looking for something close to that color scheme. thanks!
    briethington at gmail dot com

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  2. That quilt is going to be beautiful...it already is! My mom is a quilting maniac but I have no clue about any of it. Painting, however, is my forte. Oil based paint wins with me, hands down. You don't have to prime or sand the furniture so it saves you a LOT of steps and it covers well. You can get it in any color you want too (it does yellow just slightly but unless you want absolute snow white or are trying to perfectly color match something else, that shouldn't be a big deal.) Another thing is that it is tough with a capitol T. There is no primer tougher, I promise you. You'll also have to beware of fumes though, they're very toxic. Good luck figuring everything out!
    ☺ Celeste

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  3. I always just use a can of regular old paint that I would use on walls or anything else. The shinier the sheen, the more durable and easy to wash. I'd go satin or semi-gloss. If it's a piece that's going to get a lot of wear, primer and a top coat (poly of some sort) gives you the best protection. Sometimes you can get away with one or the other, but both is the surest. And, of course, sand it first. I love spray paint and use it whenever I can, but it's not great for things with drawers unless you are okay with overspray inside the drawers and frame of the drawers or are planning to paint the insides as well. Good luck!

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  4. Use paint from a can not craft paint. I'd go with semi gloss if you are going to do cream, so it is easier to clean if it gets smudged.

    Use a soft FOAM roller to roll it on without leaving streaks...unless you have a paint sprayer, that would be your best option(but not necessary)

    I always SAND OR PRIME...not both even though you can. One or the other has always worked great for me! I can't wait to see the AFTER pics! Don't be scared, it won't be that hard!

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  5. Ok love all the stuff that you are working on! Can't wait to see how they turn out!!

    Check out my new
    GIVEAWAY!!!

    ~Morgan

    Meet Virginia!
    Meet Virginia!
    Meet Virginia!

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  6. Can't help with the quilt Im not a quilter but I CAN help with the dresser! I am a decorative painter in Norman,OK! Every ones advise on sanding..priming...using the foam roller is all good advise! After you follow the sand or prime advise I would give it 2-3 coats of dutch boy LATEX ENAMEL "wall and trim". Maybe a clear coat for protection. If you think she will be SUPER hard on it you can use oil based paint instead of the Dutch boy. BUT...oil based is more expensive and it is a PAIN to clean up and it STINKS! (you have to use thinner for clean up) If you chose oil you wont need the clear coat. The finish I prefer is Satin. Hope to see the "new" dresser soon!
    ~Bridgette

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  7. You could do pecos on the quilt. Basically a triangle edging. It is simple - but a lot of work. Cut your scraps into squares (the size would depend on the amount of fabric you have and the finished size you want). Iron each square in half and in half again (forming a triangle) Sew triangles into a long strip and sew onto quilt (triangles should face toward the middle of the quilt - like sewing them on wrong side out, hope that makes sense). Turn edging and hand stitch back side to it.

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  8. Paint from a can is probably the best option for your dresser. I just tried the new Behr paint at Home Depot when I painted our bathroom cabinets. It has primer in it, and it went on fabulously. I used a foam roller for the larger surfaces and a small brush for the corners. If you really want to protect it, seal it with a coat of poly.
    Good luck! Can't wait to see the results.

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  9. I have NO IDEA about quilts...but I just had to comment because i LOVE the fabrics! It's gorgeous!

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  10. I so want to know who did your quilting... that is an awesome price???

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  11. Beautiful quilt!

    There are loads of great binding tutorials out there. Check out Heather Bailey's site. Or Angry Chicken.

    Most people will machine stitch the binding, fold it over and hand stitch the binding down to the back of the quilt. I've got hand issues and cannot hold a needle, so my quilts are totally machine stitched, sort of like putting on bias tape.

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  12. I also am curious about the person who did your quilting! Can you pass on her name? My email is jessatharp@gmail.com

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It's such a pleasure to hear from you! Thank you for taking a moment to comment. If you have a question, please leave me your email address! Thanks a million!
~Andy