Bluebird Gardens Blog: May 2010 Archives

Why Do You Show Other People's Quilts on Facebook?

By Charlotte on May 29, 2010 8:32 PM | No Comments

"...I follow you on Facebook and wondered why you show other people's quilts and not just your own? Aren't you helping your competition?....I don't quilt but I love quilts!"

Hi Amy,

Here's the magical thing about quilts. You change one color and the design can look completely different so I enjoy seeing what other quilters are doing.

Maybe it's because I'm a gardener but I always start thinking about colors to help give a quilt it's tone - elegant, country - and my favorite customer adjective - "squishy."

Quilts are a form of art because each quilter brings their point of view, taste in design and color, and in some cases, life experiences; each quilt is reflecting that quilter's talent, perspective and sense of drama, or humor.

Since I specialize in designing custom quilts, I not only appreciate what other quilters do but every little nuance inspires me. You're enjoying seeing the quilts, aren't you?

It's not competition at all, it's professional admiration!

Charlotte

Making life easier: custom quilts, gifts, gardening
Bluebird Gardens Quilts and Gifts Blog
Bluebird Gardens Quilts and Gifts on Facebook
Bluebird Gardens Etsy Shop
Bluebird Gardens Chirps!
Gardening to Distraction on a MO Hill

5th Annual Ozark Hills Quilt Shop Hop June 3-5, 2010

By Charlotte on May 28, 2010 8:51 AM | No Comments

Start off your summer right with the 5th Annual Ozark Hills Quilt Shop Hop June 3-5, 2010 from Lebanon to Sullivan, MO.

Started by Faye Melear, Salem, owner and founder of Melear Fabrics, the shop hop features a number of the best quilt shops in mid-Missouri, including three Faye has started herself: one in Salem, one in Sullivan and the newest one in Rolla, which used to be at 1000 Holloway and now is next door to Sun Sensations Tanning. (photo)

So pack a picnic and plan your trip between 9 am - 6 m so you can pick up your "passport" at the first shop you visit. Have the passport stamped at successive shops and you'll be entered into a drawing for a number of prizes:


$350 Grand Prize: Gift Certificate in the amount of $50.00 from each shop.

2nd Prize: Choice of Prize Quilt Kit from any one of the seven participating shops.

3rd Prize: Gift Basket

This year youth ages 6-16 can participate in the drawing for a beginners Sewing Basket.

Quilt shops participating include:

Uniquely Yours, Rolla, MO 573-364-2070

Melear Fabrics, Rolla, MO 573-364-7134

Melear Fabrics, Sullivan, MO 573-468-5255

Melear Fabrics, Salem, MO, 573-729-8900

The Thread Peddler, Buckhorn, MO 573-774-2658

The Fabric Store, Lebanon, MO 573-588-2324

A Stitch in Time, Lebanon, MO 573-588-9900



Charlotte

Making life easier: custom quilts, gifts, gardening
Bluebird Gardens Quilts and Gifts Blog
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Gardening to Distraction on a MO Hill

Five Gift Ideas for Father's Day

By Charlotte on May 27, 2010 11:14 PM | No Comments

Father's Day is a great excuse to have fun with the male members of my family so Bluebird Gardens Quilts and Gifts has a nice selection of - well, fun gifts!

Does your Dad carry around a wallet that's WAY past its prime, maybe taped with silver duct tape of black electrical tape on the corners?

Mine did, too so give your Dad a brand new Duct Tape wallet, which includes his very own duct tape patch kit, $19.95 each.
http://www.bluebirdgardens.com/?realm=Home&page=Store+Item&product_id=1106

Dad handy around the house? I developed a 10-foot tape measure with a level, notepad and pen included so he doesn't have to write on his hand, $14.95 each.
http://www.bluebirdgardens.com/?realm=Home&page=Store+Item&product_id=405

Rather take Dad fishing on Father's Day? Make sure he tucks one of our Floating Fish Hook Removers in his tackle box $14.95
http://www.bluebirdgardens.com/?realm=Home&page=Store+Item&product_id=225

Dad have a piece of wood furniture he's put off refinishing? Give him one of Bluebird Gardens Custom Furniture Refinishing Starter Kits $49.95.

Bird-loving Dad will get a kick out of our handmade birdhouses where you add a license plate roof out of his favorite license plate $24.95. Or make a birdhouse yourself and sneak one of the license plates he has stashed in his workshop as the roof!

Whatever you make for him, or do, have fun this Father's Day!

Charlotte

Bluebird Gardens: custom quilts, gifts, gardening
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How to Use Murphy Oil Soap Without Using Water?

By Charlotte on May 27, 2010 10:57 PM | No Comments

"I am trying to refinish a 1950 solid walnut bedroom suite, and
pecan finished living room coffee table. I think your product may work,
because really only the finish is bad and sticky. My first question is
how to use Murphy soap without using water?"

Hi Phyllis,

What kind of finish is on the furniture - varnish, shellac or is it just
an unfinished wood?

First determine what wood finish you have so you will know how best to make repairs.

If it's varnish or shellac, Howard Furniture RestorAFinish won't work
unless you remove the finish, which is difficult to do and you loose all
the built-up patina, which gives wood furniture it's lovely character.

If the wood was treated with wax over the years and has wear and tear
marks, such as water rings, etc. then Howard Furniture RestorAFinish and the other
products will work well.

In terms of cleaning your wood, products like Murphy Oil Soap and Howard
Furniture Cleaner are especially designed to be mixed with water so 
the water doesn't penerate wood and cause damage. The oils protect wood fibers so water 
remove debris and not settle into wood cells, which is what causes the damage.

If you have any other questions, please let me know. Good luck!



Charlotte

Making life easier: custom quilts and gifts
Bluebird Gardens Quilts and Gifts Blog
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Gardening to Distraction on a MO Hill Blog

Beard's Tongue Flowers Father's Day Garden Gift Idea

By Charlotte on May 24, 2010 8:47 PM | No Comments

Have someone on your gift list who would like to attract bees into the garden?

I just started my adventure with bees by adding two bee hives to my garden and was very happy to have my bee mentor point to these and say it was good I have these plants around.

Why bees?

They're wonderful pollinators - 35% of all of our fruits and vegetables are pollinated by bees - and bees will help make your garden healthier by pollinating fruits, vegetables and other flowers.

This white Missouri wildflower, a cousin to foxgloves, is beard's tongue and is designed for bees!

Each flower head holds a cup so bees can easily reach pollen on the flower stamen; and they do. I watched several bumble bees last week meticulously making their way from one flower to the next.

I literally started growing these flowers from a little start I dug out of the ground with a pen. I didn't know what they were but they were in the middle of the driveway and I didn't want to run them down before I found out what they were. In other words, these almost 2-feet perennial plants transplant easily.

There are a number of hybrid varieties but this is the basic wildflower often found on roadsides. You can find starts at most Missouri native wildflower nurseries. Beard's tongue would make a nice Father's Day gift for that gardener on your gift list with a pair of good gardening gloves and bee guide.

Beard's tongue have a long blooming season and look best at the back of the flower bed, although mine are not very good listeners...

Charlotte

Making life easier: custom quilts, gifts, gardening
Bluebird Gardens Quilts and Gifts Blog
Bluebird Gardens Quilts and Gifts on Facebook
Bluebird Gardens Etsy Shop
Bluebird Gardens Chirps!
Gardening to Distraction on a MO Hill

Tips on Starting Your Own Home Business

By Charlotte on May 22, 2010 9:58 PM | No Comments

"...I really like your website, there's so much to see. A friend at work has been encouraging me to start my own home business but I don't know what to make. I made a quilt several years ago, it took me months. Should I cook instead, or be a personal shopper? What do you suggest - how do I get started?"

Hi Mona,

Only you can decide how you want to spend your time but I would recommend starting with something you love to do.

Running a home business is more than just making something; there's the artist part, then the business part, and neither one necessarily gets along well with the other one. At least if you're doing something you love, you won't mind putting in the time required on the business side to make your business successful.

Start by making a list of all the things you do well; then highlight the things you do well that you love to do.

From that list, do a little research about what is required to have a business in that specialty. Want to try to sell quilts? I have a guide on what to consider when thinking of starting a quilt business.

Want to cook things? Check with your state health dept. to find out what home kitchen requirements are; they're different from state to state, and local health departments have their own rules as well.

Interested in a service-related business? Find someone who's doing something similar and ask if you can tag along for a day; then ask a lot of questions!

Also go to your local chamber of commerce meeting and see what other people are doing. Don't assume your idea will work without checking out what other people are offering; what you're looking for is to match what someone needs with what you love to do.

Finally, remember any business will require money to get started. Not having enough money set aside to fund a business at least a couple of yrs is one of the the reasons most beginning businesses fail. Even if you're not sure what you want to do, start saving. Good luck, and let me know what you decide to do!

Charlotte

Bluebird Gardens Custom Quilts, Gifts, Gardening
Bluebird Gardens Quilts and Gifts Blog
Bluebird Gardens Quilts and Gifts on Facebook
Bluebird Gardens Etsy Shop
Bluebird Gardens Chirps!
Gardening to Distraction on a MO Hill

Gift Ideas for In-Laws To Be Wine Lovers

By Charlotte on May 22, 2010 11:07 AM | No Comments

"I don't see anything about wine on your website but maybe you can help me. I'm going to a big dinner at my fiance's house and they're HUGE wine collectors. I don't know a thing about wine!! My boyfriend thinks we should take a bottle but I don't know where to start. Any ideas?"

Hi Margaret,

If you live close to a local winery, ask about their winning and best-selling wines.

Wine collectors love nothing more than to find a good wine, and if it's local and undiscovered, even better.

Sometimes local newspapers write articles about the local winery. Find an article and add it to the bottle to give them background about the winery.

Even if the wine doesn't meet their standards, the fact that it's a local wine will be of interest and they may give you some tips on looking for a good wine.

If you're not comfortable guessing, then I recommend "ChocoVine" (photo).

ChocoVine is a product of Holland and combines the taste of dutch chocolate with fine red wine. I can attest, it's delicious and makes a great desert wine.

ChocoVine was a big seller Christmas 2009 and is still in short supply in some parts of the country. Check with a local liquor store to see if they have it in stock or can get it for you. It's not expensive, about $10 a bottle and it's another great conversation starter.

Will young people be at the dinner? A bottle of chilled, non-alcoholic bubbly Welch's grape juice - it comes in red or white - can be a special treat for the youngsters, and if you don't drink wine you can sneak a glass.

If you can't find a wine you're comfortable giving, look for wine stoppers.

Local ceramic and glass artists sometimes make them in unique and interesting designs. There are also a number mass-produced, some even re-vacuum seal a wine bottle, which helps preserve the open bottle of wine. Nothing wrong with being practical with your gift!

If that fails, take them a nicely-potted catauba grape vine with a card that says "now you can grow your own. " Half the fun of a "growing" gift is watching it develop, and they may appreciate your resourcefulness finding a wine-related gift.

Charlotte

Making life easier: custom quilts, gifts, gardening
Bluebird Gardens Quilts and Gifts Blog
Bluebird Gardens Quilts and Gifts on Facebook
Bluebird Gardens Etsy Shop
Bluebird Gardens Chirps!
Gardening to Distraction on a MO Hill

"Container" Gardens Make a Nice Garden Gift

By Charlotte on May 9, 2010 7:04 PM | No Comments

So maybe calling it a "pot" garden doesn't quite have the right connotation but I'm talking about growing vegetable gardens in flower pots.

There are a lot of products and guides on how to do this so before I make container garden gift suggestions, here's how my "pot" garden is growing.

I have been gardening in pots for years, keeping large soil-filled and compost-enriched pots on my deck so I can keep them watered and away from maurading wildlife. I leave them on the deck over winter, adding compost late fall so it can slowly trickle through.

Not that wildlife don't find the pots; I saw a raccoon checking one pot last night, and a squirrel took a nap on a bed of spinach last spring but all in all, I can at least protect the containers faster when they're sitting outside my deck door.

To make these large pots easier to move around, I put half a dozen soda cans in the bottom before adding soil; and each pot is on metal casters, which ran $4 each at a local liquidation store.

This year my little "pot" garden included lettuce, radishes and onions, some of my favorite salad fixings, and a sprig of dill that came up from last year.

It was still cold and damp when I started late March. I seeded the pots directly and watered well.

Our frost date in mid-Missouri is middle May so there was still a good chance seedlings might be hurt.

When weather turned colder, I used a large pot saucer over the top to keep seedlings protected.

Now more than a month later, you can see lettuce around pot edge, and radishes forming a necklace around onion sets. (Yes, I like my little gardens to look pretty!)

I picked my first salad a few days before Mother's Day, our last frost date in Missouri.

If weather stays cool, I'll have a few more before it's time to plant something else.

If you would like to make a - well, let's call it a garden gift in a pot - for someone, herbs are a wonderful choice. Basil, dill, any of the mints, catnip, parsley, chives and oregano all do well in pots in direct sun in Missouri. Although most of these are annuals, some do come up next year.

Want something more interesting?

Plant a tomato or pepper in the center and surround with marigolds, nasturtiums and onions, or chives. The onions and marigolds will keep bugs away and nasturtium flowers make a lovely salad garnish.

Charlotte

Making life easier: custom quilts, gifts, gardening
Bluebird Gardens Quilts and Gifts Blog
Bluebird Gardens Quilts and Gifts on Facebook
Bluebird Gardens Etsy Shop
Bluebird Gardens Chirps!
Gardening to Distraction on a MO Hill

Wild Violets Lovely Garnish, High in Vitamin C

By Charlotte on May 9, 2010 6:05 PM | No Comments

Looking for something to spice up your dishes?

It could be right out your door!

Wild violets add a lovely color to any dish and are high in Vitamin C.

Wild violets come in several colors and grow best in shade.

In this photo, they're growing in shade with clover.

To pick wild violets for garnish: make sure you're picking wild violets, or any flowers, from an area that hasn't been treated with chemicals. Pull gently on the flower stem; wash.

I like to pile several wild violet stems together, keeping flowers on the same side. My nephew prefers to literally toss his wild violets all over his plate, giving his dish that extra artsy touch!

Not only will your dish look pretty but you're also getting your vitamins!

Charlotte

Making life easier: custom quilts, gifts, gardening
Bluebird Gardens Quilts and Gifts Blog
Bluebird Gardens Quilts and Gifts on Facebook
Bluebird Gardens Etsy Shop
Bluebird Gardens Chirps!
Gardening to Distraction on a MO Hill Blog

Gift Idea for Weddings and Anniversaries

By Charlotte on May 9, 2010 5:28 PM | No Comments

"...still looking for that perfect gift for my boss, who's getting married late June but has EVERYTHING. Any ideas?"

Hi Veronica,

Personalized double wedding ring quilts continue to be a favorite Bluebird Gardens customer wedding and anniversary gift, and for good reason.

Whether it's a Midnight Blue double wedding ring throw (photo) or regular size quilt, giving a personalized double
wedding ring quilt as a wedding gift is not only a nod to tradition with the double wedding ring design, it's also a great way to, well - marry something practical with something that's an instant memento.

Our best-selling wedding quilt is country double wedding ring quilt (photo), which incorporates almost every possible home decor color.

Country double wedding ring is a great quilt for that situation where you don't know bedroom colors and don't want to second-guess what quilt colors the bride and groom might prefer.

One of my customers last year picked a quilted throw based on wedding colors, which was a nice twist on the challenge of knowing what quilt colors to pick!

The gift doesn't have to be big, and neither does the quilt. Although queen size quilts - 90x90 inches are the most favorite quilt size, a lap quilt or throw like country double wedding ring throw will work well, too.

Standard throws are 50x60 inches and can be used as quilted wall hangings as well as home decor over a sofa or chair. What makes it unique are those embroidered names and wedding date in a quilt corner!

It usually takes an embroidery shop about a week to gets names and wedding date embroidered. If you want to make the quilt even more special, add a special quote, favorite saying or location of the wedding to mark the special day.

Charlotte

Bluebird Gardens Quilts and Gifts
Making life easier: custom quilts, gifts, gardening
Bluebird Gardens Quilts and Gifts Blog
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Bluebird Gardens Chirps!
Gardening to Distraction on a MO Hill Blog

Finishing Vintage Quilt Top Changes Appraised Value

By Charlotte on May 9, 2010 12:12 PM | No Comments

"If I buy a vintage quilt top, and then quilt and finish it, does this reduce its value?"

Hi Shauna,

Depends on how you value a quilt.

If you are asking if a quilt's appraised value will change; yes, it will. In general, the appraised value of a quilt is determined by the last work that's been completed.

There are extenuating circumstances. Some quilts have more value because of who and when they were made, or what designs are used. We don't know who made some of the more stunning botanical quilts from the Victorian era but they're highly valued because of their detailed floral designs.

Quilts, quilt tops and quilt blocks (photo) also have more appraised "valued" if they were made by someone famous, or found in unusual circumstances that helped to explain, or had some tie, to something historical.

Most of us don't have quilts with that provenance so I suggest those quilt tops and quilt blocks will have more value being finished so they can be enjoyed.

If you want to add value to a quilt, sign and date it when you're finished. You can easily do that with hand embroidery or by adding a patch to the back with your name and date.

If you're finishing a vintage quilt top and know who made it, I would add that information somewhere on the quilt or quilt patch.

If you have any other questions, please let me know. Good luck!

Charlotte

Making life easier: custom quilts, gifts, gardening
Bluebird Gardens Quilts and Gifts Blog
Bluebird Gardens Quilts and Gifts on Facebook
Bluebird Gardens Etsy Shop
Bluebird Gardens Chirps!
Gardening to Distraction on a MO Hill Blog

Here's to Mom!

By Charlotte on May 8, 2010 10:13 PM | No Comments

Mother's Day is busier for us than Christmas, a combination of making custom quilts and gifts and suggesting unique ideas to celebrate "Mom."

One long-time customer said recently she feels guilty because her kids are not close but she still celebrates Mother's Day. Why not?

The day is more than giving Mom a card or gift - it's a day to commemorate what mothers have done over the centuries, and to thank those women who have been special at the various stages of our lives.

It also means if you're a Mom, you should celebrate what you've accomplished bringing and guiding a child, or children, in this world. From what I hear from my younger friends, raising children today is a lot more difficult from the days I was a stepmother.

So to all of our Moms, this flower bouquet is for you!

"My mom is a never ending song in my heart of comfort, happiness, and being. I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune." ~Graycie Harmon

Charlotte
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Quilt Appraisals: How Much is This Quilt Worth?

By Charlotte on May 7, 2010 8:46 AM | No Comments

I get a number of emails like this one, asking me to give a "value" for insurance purposes to a quilt damaged in a fire, through a move or in some form of mishap.

If you need an appraised value for your quilt, there a number of professional appraisers you can contact, including Julie Silber from The Quilt Complex.

If you just want a ballpark figure of what grandma's bedspread is worth, surf the internet and see if you can find similar quilts on sale.

Quilt names vary from region so don't be surprised if your grandma called her quilt one thing and you find the exact same quilt with a different name. The key is the quilt pattern.

Sometimes insurance companies will only award replacement value. Then your best bet is to find someone like us who makes custom quilts, or has similar quilts for sale like this radiant star quilt and use that price as the estimated quilt value.

Inevitably the response to replacement value is something to the effect of "but I thought this quilt was worth more because...."

I realize the sentimental value is much higher. Unfortunately that's not something that's factored into a quilt's replacement value.

Charlotte

Making life easier: custom quilts, gifts, gardening
Bluebird Gardens Quilts and Gifts Blog
Bluebird Gardens Quilts and Gifts on Facebook
Bluebird Gardens Etsy Shop
Bluebird Gardens Chirps!
Gardening to Distraction on a MO Hill Blog

Five Handmade Mother's Day Gift Ideas

By Charlotte on May 2, 2010 10:34 PM | No Comments

Isn't this bluebird card charming? I love the way the leaves are loose on the branch.

The card was made by a colleague and reminded me some of the best Mother's Day gifts, including cards, are handmade.

Here are 5 suggested Mother's Day gifts, all you can easily make:

1. Homemade gardener's Hand Cream. No gardener I know wouldn't appreciate a jar of this homemade hand cream. Type out the recipe and include it with a batch of cream and it will be a gift that keeps on giving.

2. Make a photo album of Mom's favorite sayings and put a favorite family photo opposite each saying. Mom may not realize she has some favorites and the photos are guaranteed to generate comments.

3. Does Mom have a favorite hobby? Make her a gift certificate for something you can do to help her with her hobby. Say she's a gardener, make a gift certificate that promises her 2 hrs of weeding, or an afternoon of moving rocks. (Oops, on my wish list - still!?) She likes to scrapbook? Promise her one hr of cutting out paper for her, or 1 hr of cleaning bathrooms. Be creative, and follow through.

4. Is Grandma or another close family relative easily accessible? Askfor some stories about Mom as a child and type those up in a little photo album with pictures of Mom as a little girl. Grandma's usually love helping to make those gifts and you'll be preserving part of your family history and heritage.

5. Short on time? No, don't buy Mom a card, make her one. These days with scrapbooking and card making parties there are a lot of supplies available. More importantly, you have a good source of material in your own home in photo albums and paying attention to what Mom likes. The daughter of a Navy friend who knew all about my white cat Margaret made me a card a few yrs back that was all white on the front. Inside she wrote "Oops, Margaret got too close but she wants to wish you a really, REALLY Happy Mother's Day"

To all of our customers and visitors who are mothers, here's wishing you a very warm and happy Mother's Day May 9!

Charlotte
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May 2010 Archives

Why Do You Show Other People's Quilts on Facebook?

5th Annual Ozark Hills Quilt Shop Hop June 3-5, 2010

Five Gift Ideas for Father's Day

How to Use Murphy Oil Soap Without Using Water?

Beard's Tongue Flowers Father's Day Garden Gift Idea

Tips on Starting Your Own Home Business

Gift Ideas for In-Laws To Be Wine Lovers

"Container" Gardens Make a Nice Garden Gift

Wild Violets Lovely Garnish, High in Vitamin C

Gift Idea for Weddings and Anniversaries

Finishing Vintage Quilt Top Changes Appraised Value

Here's to Mom!

Quilt Appraisals: How Much is This Quilt Worth?

Five Handmade Mother's Day Gift Ideas

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