Top 7 Articles of 2015

#7  Follow Your Heart

 …the words of Edward Everett Hale are a great mantra to keep playing in our minds:

I am only one, but I am one.

I cannot do everything,

but I can do something.

And I will not let what I cannot do

interfere with what I can do.

 Follow your heart and you’ll create with passion.

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#6 Chair Bound

Seldom do I follow pattern directions. Well, this [wheelchair quilt] is certainly a prime example! This is also a good example how you can make things your own as well!

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#5 Creating an Action Quilt - Part 9

....finishing up.I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial! I encourage you to make your own Action Quilt [Fidget Quilt] to give a Loved One with Alzheimer's Disease or dementia!

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#4 Turning Scraps into Fabric

…try it!…adapting…

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#3 Creating an Action Quilt – Part 1

…The Action Quilts (aka Fidget Quilts) I create are not for commercial facilities such as Nursing Homes or Adult Day Care Centers serving those with Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia. My focus is for those living in a home environment with a 24/7 caregiver.

Read the complete article.

#2 Action Quilt (aka Fidget Quilt)

…a friend called my attention to a newspaper article about a lady creating Fidget Quilts. La Mon knows me well…

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And the NUMBER 1 Article is...

#1 Life with a 16 year old

Various websites state a Doberman has a life expectancy of 10-12 years. Some mention up to 13 years. We have a miracle living with us!

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Tomorrow is CyberMonday!

Thanksgiving 2016 is now in the memory file. Preparations for the joyous Christmas celebration are underway!

~ Decorating ~

~ Shopping ~

~ Wrapping gifts ~

~ Baking ~

~ Giving ~

What an exciting time of the year!

Tomorrow is CyberMonday!

I don’t usually “plug” my shop on this blog, but I do hope you stop by my online shop, Lanetta’s Creations, where you’ll find unique, one-of-a-kind items Handmade in Texas!

On CyberMonday, use coupon code CYBERMONDAY

and receive 20% off!!!

I just loved creating this Red Cape (and accessories come with!) that fits 18” dolls like the American Girl, Springfield, Our Generation, Gotz, and the vintage Chatty Cathy!

Oh, and rather than calling it a “bib” – I have created “Wearable Napkins” for adults! This is just one that’s available in Dallas Cowboy print:

Cowboys are doing fabulous this season! We may even get to the Super Bowl! Wouldn’t that be amazing!

Don’t forget, classy aprons make wonderful gifts! And, tomorrow’s savings is a good time to think ahead for Valentine’s Day! I just love Snoopy…  

Although I love everything I create, the most special item I produce is the Action Quilt, also known as Fidget Quilt.

Time and time again I hear heartwarming stories of how these little lap quilts covered with doodads, bibs and bobs provide activities to help those with Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia, or Traumatic Brain Injury keep once busy hands occupied! As Martha would say, “It’s a good thing.”

So….

Don’t forget me ~ and other small handmade businesses ~ tomorrow!

I/We need your support!

Thank you in advance!

Love the Idea!

Remember back, during the first week of National Sewing Month, when I wrote about adding my own flare to something I’ve seen others create? Well, I’m doing it again!

I stumbled upon the idea of a Fidget Book the other day. Of course, I would refer to them as an Action Book for adults with Alzheimer’s Disease, dementia, or traumatic brain injury. As I’ve mentioned before, “Fidget” is a derogatory term in my mind.

I’ve never created a “fabric book” before! Of course, I did a google.com search first, then moved to Pinterest to gather some ideas! Oh. My. Goodness. I found LOTS of fabulous ideas!

Not being blessed with having children, through this search I learned the term “Quiet Books” - that is, those that are for children! But, I did find lots of additional ideas (that I pinned) of how and what to incorporate that can be used for adults!

Lella Boutique shares a wonderful photo tutorial on the basic book structure. It’s for a little boy, but can you just imagine doo-dads for an adult – like I do on an Action Quilt??!!! This example has frayed edges…

I’m thinking I want a smooth, finished edge… but how to join together? I really don’t want to use rings, but maybe I’ll have to rather than stitch it together – depends on how thick it is.

BINGO!

Pictures are worth a 1000 words…

Although I found on Pinterest, a website in Russian (I’m sure google would have translated), Baby Blog shared lots of photos that speak VOLUMES!

I believe “Mother Load” is another saying that fits the bill here!

Now, my creative juices are flowing… I’ll figure it out!

Creating an Action Quilt - Part 9

Backing - Quilting - Binding on an Action Quilt

I cut the batting about 2" larger than the top - all the way around:

I cut the backing at least an inch bigger all the way around than the backing:

I took only the batting outside, and laid it out on a leftover styrofoam thingy that was packing from something we had to recently buy ~ a new air conditioner (window unit). I highly recommend doing this OUTSIDE (out of the wind) and any surface will work, but know the basting spray will get on everything and it's very sticky!!!

(This is what I use, from Walmart, Dritz Basting Spray)

I carefully carried back inside, and placed it down on the wrong side of the backing, smoothing it out nice and carefully. You do have a little time to make adjustments if necessary:

After the basting spray dried a little, I started pinning the top to the backing/batting set:

You can't really see the "quilting" stitches from the front side...

Maybe you can see it a bit better from the back side:

Now it's time for the binding!

Prepare binding as you would any other quilt.

I cut 2.5 inch wide strips and sew together on the diagonal to make the length needed. I then fold in half and press the length of the binding. On one end, I press a 45 degree angle and that's the end I start with. To determine length needed, measure sides and ends, 14.5, 14.5, 18.5, 18.5 = 66   / 36 = 1.8333 yards of binding needed.

I've learned several things since I posted last September for National Sewing Month - making a quilt top...

A friend of mine shared not to trim the backing and batting close to the top until AFTER I do the first stitching down of the binding. Oh. My. Goodness. Does it ever go quicker and makes a nicer application! Again, Thank You, Dianna!

Any, and all, of my quilts, I start the binding on the lower left side. Somewhere, another lifetime ago, a training class for creating effective newsletters, I learned the lower left side is a blind side... the eyes go every where else first!

Once the binding is stitched down, I then trim off the excess backing and batting.

After pinning down (I love these clips!), I'm ready to stitch the final trek around the Action Quilt.
Here is another trick I've learned this year from a friend... use a zipper foot!!! I love this! I can adjust my needle to run right along the edge of the binding. Thank you again, Ann!

The Action Quilt is DONE! And, it's gone through the laundry cycle perfectly!!!

I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial! I encourage you to make your own Action Quilt to give a Loved One with Alzheimer's Disease or dementia! It will surely put a smile on their face!

I hope you share pictures!!!

Creating an Action Quilt – Part 7

Thinking outside the box …

I won’t be using the following doo-dads on this Action Quilt I’m making with you. I do, however, want to share how / what some “unconventional” things or ways I’ve used items on other Action Quilts. It’s “thinking outside the box” when it comes to doo-dads!

A large yellow acrylic bead threaded with grosgrain ribbon. I also took a piece of felt and cut slits large enough for the bead to go through. I stitched both the ends of the ribbon and the felt strip securely within the seam allowance of pieces.

Rubberized shelf liner… now that’s a cool texture for Loved Ones to have on an Action Quilt! It goes through the home laundry cycle (cold water/low heat) beautifully!

String ball shaped buttons on a metallic cording! Of course, I secured the ends of the cording within the seam allowance.

Take a piece of gingham and do a cross-stitch design!

Here I embellished a purchased dolly by crocheting a fun yarn around the edge, then doubled each button set and knotted a narrow satin ribbon through their holes. Knots and more knots on the back side secures the buttons – only scissors will get them off!

I bought a package of stretchy headbands… I made the ceramic pendant years ago (I rarely throw anything away) and put them together! I stitched the ends of the headband securely in place. Now the Loved One using this Action Quilt has something to put in the pocket! (In addition, with the pendant tucked inside the pocket and the caregiver using a safety pin to keep it in place, it will protect the washing machine & the dryer when going through the laundry process!)

A nicely covered pony tail band used as a slider…

I like using strap sliders on ribbon…

Sometimes, something catches my eye… like this scrapbook page design “Layering Papers”. I have it pinned on my Pinterest Action Quilts Board.

So I created something similar out of fabric…

 Tomorrow I’ll start putting the pieces together. I’m thinking I’m going to need one more fabric piece cut. It will be a perfect place to put a clear pocket for a photo!

Creating an Action Quilt - Part 4

Adding a zipper to the Action Quilt…

I’ve learned, our Loved Ones with Alzheimer’s Disease, or those with dementia issues, like to zip and unzip zippers. Caregivers have made the suggestion they like an actual space (pocket like) behind the zippers to place objects such as a tube of lipstick, or keys – whatever the Loved Ones want to keep handy. Since learning this information, I rarely simply stitch a zipper down to a piece of fabric.

Someone recommended a “full pocket” … this was tricky to create and I probably won’t be doing it again!

During 2013’s National Sewing Month, I wrote an article about Scary Zippers. You’ll find several links there on how to put in different types of zippers. For this zipper, I did the “recessed” process – but without adding large fabric to create a bag! The Sewing Novice has a great picture tutorial here showing how I made the zipper “unit”… with one exception…

Rather than using pins, I find gluing it down first (and letting it dry) helps me keep the casing lined up correctly.

I then lined the zipper unit with yellow flannel and made extensions from the zipper casing using a blue/white stripe corduroy fabric. Notice the stitching across the zipper casing. This makes the zippered “pocket” space – not the entire length of blue backed by the flannel. (Goodness, if it were mine, I would never be able to dig out a tube of lipstick at the end!)

The beauty of creating an Action Quilt, there are no rules/patterns, so if you use this recessed zipper technique, the side casing along the zipper can be however wide you want it to be! I just happened to have this bright cheerful flowery print leftover from a 2.5” wide binding (folded in half lengthwise) that I used on a lap quilt! Feel free to cut yours wider! I wouldn’t make it much smaller though.

My personal opinion: I prefer using metal zippers rather than the polyester ones. I’ve found the metal zippers have much larger pulls – something, I would think, someone would find much easier to use. When I have used the polyester zippers, I’ve added something, like a ring, secured as best as I can to the little hole found on the pull. This is an example I did on another Action Quilt:

Thinking of the caregiver's washing machine & dryer -
metal key ring crocheted covered using nylon yarn.

  

Tomorrow is Patriot Day. It’s a day to remember, reflect, and to pray for peace.

Saturday I will continue the Creating an Action Quilt tutorial with Part 5 and share some doo-dads I’ve added to the various pieces!

Creating an Action Quilt – Part 1

Let me begin with a caveat –

The Action Quilts (aka Fidget Quilts) I create are not for commercial facilities such as Nursing Homes or Adult Day Care Centers serving those with Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia. My focus is for those living in a home environment with a 24/7 caregiver.

Why are they my focus?

1) After reading posts from the closed Facebook group Memory People, I’ve learned how much help the caregivers need in helping their Loved Ones keep once busy hands occupied, and mind stimulated.

2) Some of the materials I usually like to incorporate (clear vinyl, for example) may not withstand the commercial laundry process. They will, however, go through a normal home washing (on delicate cycle in cold water) and drying (on low temperature). When I’m finished with one, they each are washed and dried, and come out perfectly!

When creating an Action Quilt (aka Fidget Quilt) there are a couple of things I keep in mind…

Safety of our Loved Ones

Easy to use “doo-dads”

One of the first pictures I saw when doing an internet search for “fidget quilts” – was where someone put a large safety pin on one of the squares. I immediately wondered, What Could Go Wrong There? Goodness gracious folks. What were you thinking? Keep Loved Ones SAFE!

Have you noticed the difference between metal zippers and the polyester ones? The pulls are much bigger on the metal ones which will make them EASY to use! Whenever I do use a polyester one, I do something, add something, to the pull. I’m sure arthritic hands/fingers will appreciate the “bigness” created!

Oh, and I want to explain once again why I am calling these little quilts ~ Action ~ rather than fidget. To me, “fidget” sounds negative.

As a little girl, I would get in trouble if I did any “fidgeting” rather than sitting still while in church. I do use “(aka Fidget Quilt)” a lot, only so others used to the name will know what I’m talking about. And, for search engines to catch! Nancy, of Sewing with Nancy, uses “Activity” – I’m guessing she may think fidget has a negative connotation as well!

Maybe, someday, eventually, Action Quilt will be the norm!

Now that that’s all said, gather some fabric together and tomorrow we’ll begin creating an Action Quilt together!

Action Quilt (aka Fidget Quilt)

Several weeks ago, a friend called my attention to a newspaper article about a lady creating Fidget Quilts. La Mon knows me well. She knew it would interest me. I went on a Facebook search, and found Fidget Quilts, by the same lady the article featured!

I then did a Pinterest search… oh my goodness, lots of folks are making them! What a great idea ~ to help those with dementia and/or Alzheimer’s keep their hands busy, things to fiddle with while they still can.

Even “Sewing with Nancy” has a blog entry “Sew an Alzheimer’s Activity Mat”. I like the clear plastic pocket where a photo could go. I understand zippers are important, and I like the way Nancy used different machine embroidery stitches to attach the zipper.

As long as the felt is washable, and doesn’t fade, I like the different textures this provides:

Several folks on Etsy are creating “fidget” something or the other quilts… and they are charging outrageous prices. I’m sorry. I just can’t see doing this, charging anything other than minimal shipping and handling to get it to the caregiver.

I did an Internet search and found a blog article called Nancy’s Beginnings from a couple of years ago on a quilt guild creating the Fidget Quilts for community service! Yes! She’s also provided lots of fabulous ideas.

And, I found other articles going back to 2009. So, I’m late to the party… again!

However, I personally don’t like calling it “fidget quilt”.

I believe it sounds more positive for an adult to call it an “Action Quilt” … and is what I’m calling those I create! Lord knows I have the supplies. I’m thrilled to discover productive ways to use the materials I readily have available.

January has been a weird month…

I wrote it all out, then deleted… just trust me!

Suffice it to say, time spent in Dallas so far this month I couldn’t sew, so I did the next best thing – I planned! I created a Pinterest board, Action Quilts, where I’ve been pinning different ideas to incorporate. I’ve also learned about adding different tactile attributes to the quilts. Sometimes it’s a simple embellishment like ribbon folding or weaving, or using ruffles or scallops, in a variety of fabric textures. So many ideas! It keeps me going when I can’t sew…

I know I have several quilts to quilt for our Veterans (and a few tops under construction to finish), but I so want to make at least one Action Quilt very soon. Maybe, once my energy level returns to normal after also experiencing the flu over the past couple of weeks, I can gather supplies together and make a “kit” for the next time I’m off to Dallas to be with my mother! I can weave ribbon without sewing. I’m sure there are a lot of things I can do without having a sewing machine… all in preparation of creating Action Quilts!