Building a Hanging Quilt rack

I really enjoy working with wood.

I have very few tools.  You really don't need that many as long as they are working.

I really like the look of old quilts on old ladders. I also know what would happen on a daily basis if I displayed an old ladder in my living room.  It would be stripped of its quilts and climbed continuously.  I decided to make a hanging rack and take the temptation of climbing away.

A few lovely quilts that were created by my great grandmothers are in different stages of cleaning and mending. I look forward to the day they can all be displayed. I started creating this months ago so we have an easily accessed storage place in our living room to use them.

Materials Used:

9ft. piece of Alder wood (I cut pieces off for another use and this piece was used as a toy car ramp for my boys for awhile)  I cut 2 pieces that are each 33" long. And one piece at 17 1/2".

2,  3/4" dowels that were 36" long ( I cut with my tree loppers) to 18" long for 4 pieces.

3/4" drill bit

6 screws at least 2" long.

Drill bit same size of screws to pre-drill on brace piece and in wall

wood glue

sandpaper

measuring tape or level

wood clamps

This is pretty easy to make but some Math needs to be done along the way. And as straight as cuts as possible.  You can see in the finished pictures that my middle brace of wood did not have a straight cut.  I wasn't bothered because when covered in quilts it will not show. 

1. Cut all your pieces to your desired length.  You could easily make this longer but it would need another brace to hold the weight of quilts.

2. Measure 3" down from top and make a pencil mark 1" in from front.  This will be your first drill hole. Then continue 8" down and 1" in until you have 4 drill marks.

3. This is the trickiest part:  You want to drill all of the holes the same depth (1/4") so when you put the piece together your dowels will be held in the holes and the side pieces will attach to the brace evenly.

If your side brace is 17 1/2" and your dowels are 18" wide you have 1/4" on each side for this.

The easiest way to measure is place a mark 1/4" up from the bottom of a dowel and put it in each hole to measure.  Be careful and stop to measure before you make it too deep.

4. Sand all of your pieces well.  Wipe with a damp cloth.  

5. Drill two holes in each side piece and in brace so the brace is about 5" down from the top.

Attach one side piece to the middle brace with screws.

6. Apply wood glue to holes on one side. Place dowels. Then add glue to end of dowels and place other side piece on top.  This is a bit tricky.  When all are in place put wood clamps on to hold firm.

7. Place screws into other side piece into the middle brace.

8. Now make two marks in your back brace for hanging.  Find the center and measure 8" to each side of that and make a mark.  This is where you will drill a hole to mount the piece on the wall.  They are measured 16" apart so that you can put each screw into a stud.  (all studs should be 16" apart, if not adjust to your home).

9. Finish with Stain or Paint. 

(At this point I hung it on the wall and waited.  I was planning to paint.  I was not sure if I wanted to stain or paint the wood.  Months later we decided on the wall color with white trim. Therefore I painted the rack white to match the trim.)

10. Hang quilts and enjoy how easily they can be used and put away.

Before painting

Taking a break after painting quilt rack and shelves.

With Blue walls and White rack

Make a difference

While cleaning out 40 years worth of our families attic a few treasures were found.

This box of magnets given to me by a dear friend is one.

He was a fellow camper and then a fellow camp counselor with me when we were 18 years old.

He took the time to send a package of magnets that would have been waste and to write a beautiful letter telling me that I make a difference.

I know I read this letter 18 years ago and I was touched.  I was probably moving from one college to another and put it in the attic to use them when I had an idea.

Many things happen for a reason.  Timing amazes me.

Now, 18 years later, I needed to hear these words again.  I need to be inspired by my younger self and the friends I've made.

I've been thinking lately of the irony of this 36 year old (me) waiting tables with 21 years olds.  And it is for the same reason that this letter was rediscovered.  To remember the passion, conviction, and determination, of the age.  And to reclaim some of that.

So I chose to create.  I spent a lovely evening winding down after work with art supplies and Christmas Ale. And I now have lovely inspirational quotes for gifts.

In this time of Thanksgiving I am so Thankful to have the ability to reflect, to love, and with my own hands to create.

Martinmas Lanterns and Laundry Soap

The lack of posting lately is due to busy nights sewing in the basement studio. My goal was to make as much as I could to sell at a local festival so that I would have money for Christmas Presents. Well I did alright and  managed to get enough homemade items from local vendors to fill the Advent Calendar for the boys. Pictures to come later as the Advent Calendar I completed last year comes to life again.

We have been busy during the day as well.

preparing Sammy's eggs for our breakfast

Beside the daily unfreezing of the chicken water, collecting of one egg, and general observation, we have had quite a bit of fun holding and caring for our chickens.

For Martinmas the boys made Lanterns from old applesauce jars, wire, glue, and tissue paper.
They were beautiful on the table and for the Lantern walk at our local Waldorf School.

Making Laundry Soap:

Then we returned the new box grater I purchased to make laundry soap back to the kitchen and pulled out the best grater I have every used.

 My dear friend passed this down from her mother's home.  It was once used to make a great deal of bread crumbs and grated cheese.  But now it emits the lovely smell of tea tree from the soap and makes the perfect size and texture of soap for our laundry mixture.
This was fun to crank, to smell, to feel in the bowl, but not so much in cleaning up off the floor beneath.

Laundry Soap Recipe:

Two 4oz bars Tea Tree Oil Soap grated

1 cup baking soda

2 cups washing soda

2 cups Borax

mix well and store in a glass jar.

Napkin Rings

In an effort to save some laundry we fashioned napkin rings with our names.

Now, if we could just keep the napkins clean enough for another sitting.