Repurposing Old Quilts

Recently one of the members of our message board community, affectionately known as The Parlor, asked for ideas on reusing an old quilt made by her grandmother. The quilt was in mediocre shape and becoming threadbare, but as family heirlooms go, she wanted figure out a way to repurpose it. After all, isn't more respectful to find a purpose for all that hard work that grandma did, rather than stuffing it into a trunk in the attic? i like to think Grandma would think so.

Here are some suggestions inspired by our community as well as some of my own:

Teddy Bears
Turn them into teddy bears for the family's children and grandchildren. Because they don't need to be washed very often, they won't wear as much. The best part is that you will remember that special family member whenever you see our hug the bears.

Framed Quilt Patches
Use a plain black frame with a white matte. Place 1 quilt block, or a block of 4, depending on the size of your frame, centered within the matting. Cover with glass and close the frame.

Baby Quilts
Cut good sections of the quilt and finish all the edges to make a miniature version. Wonderful as an accent hanging in the nursery, draped over the crib, and better yet, used to cuddle baby in.

Pillow Shams or Covers
Old quilts can be cut up and made into pillow shams for your bed, or make smaller ones to cover plain pillows for your window seat or sofa.

Ornaments
Be creative! Cut out squares of the quilt and sew a backing on it, stuff with batting and add a hanger for a keepsake ornament. For sections that have worn squares or unsalvageable areas, cut around those and make shapes, such as pine trees, birds, and circles. Stuff these, add hangers and you have some lovely keepsake ornaments. These make perfect gifts to share with family members!

Pin Cushions
Cut quilt sections , stuff tightly with batting and you have an ideal pincushion.

Rag Dolls
Similar to the teddy bear idea, turning old quilts into rag dolls make for lovely accents to a tea room or little girl's room. Adorable sitting on a shelf as well!

Seat Cushions
Covering the cushions of a window seat, or the chair pillows of your tea room or sun porch is a great way to use old quilts. Because these areas do not receive as much activity as general living areas, the wear and tear on your keepsake fabric will be much less.

Place Mats & Table Runners
Repurposing old quilts into place mats and table runners is another great option. They look wonderful atop a shabby chic wicker table or an old rustic wooden table.

Bags & Totes
While making quilts into purses is common practice, you might not want to turn granny's keepsake quilt into something that will quickly wear out. However, making a craft tote or yarn bag will remain mostly in the house and receive much less wear and tear.

Heart or Flower Pins
Cut 2" hearts or flowers from the quilt fabric, use a blanket stitch to finish the edges, use fabric stiffener to make the fabric hard and attach a pin to the back. These make lovely lapel pins.

You might also like: Caring for Heirloom Quilts 

Do you have any ideas to share? Leave them in the comments, or better yet, join The Parlor and post your ideas there!

Special thanks to community members PamperedLady and Sheila for sharing their ideas!

Vintage Garden Advice

Where flowers bloom so does hope. ~Lady Bird Johnson

This winter I thought I would share some garden advice from old garden magazines I've been given over the years. The following tips are from Home Garden, August 1969.

In a small article some advice is given on fighting off the moles when they attack your bulbs and other roots. I'm assuming the writer did this in the area she was noticing the mole damage.

I perched a piece of bacon on a mousetrap and crossed my green thumbs. The next day I was rewarded with a captured mole. Within a week, I had captured a colony of moles. My problem seemed to be solved.

Plant narcissus bulbs among crocus, tulips or whatever type of spring flowering bulb you may have...the odor discourages moles from munching on surrounding bulbs.

This was interesting. I've always wondered about the seeds on peonies. I usually dead head the blooms when they fade. It takes four to eight years to develop peonies from seeds! Needless to say this is a project for a very adventurous gardener.

The seeds should be gathered as soon as they are ripe and kept moist until November when they are sown in a coldframe or in a very protected spot outdoors. It is a good plan to mulch the seed bed so that it stays evenly moist. It normally takes 18 months for the seedlings to appear above ground and then a few more years before the plants bloom.

How to Water a Tree During Drought

The Shallow-rooted ones such as dogwood, beech, birch, maple (especially Norway and red), hemlock and spruce are the first to suffer.

One good soak a week is far better than letting the sprinkler spray the area beneath a tree for an hour or two a day. If possible water a tree by letting the water trickle over the root area overnight. Trees should be watered at night when possible,not a midday.

Plan ahead; learn how to attract hummingbirds: http://oldfashionedliving.com/hummingbirds.html

~Brenda

Lunch Box Tips & A Reader's Advice

Winter came down to our home one night Quietly pirouetting in on silvery-toed slippers of snow, and we, we were children once again. ~Bill Morgan, Jr.

Today I wanted to share some tips from a book my parents gave me last month. It's a copy of The Good Housekeeping Cook Book from 1944. My dad has bought, sold and collected books for many years now and said this particular edition wasn't available online and they thought I would enjoy it.

With the economy struggling as it has been, we are all looking for ways to save money. Buying lunch for adults at work, or the kids at school doesn't seem expensive until you add it up for the month, then it becomes a fairly large expense. I found some good tips for packing lunches in my "new" book.

-Work butter or margarine with a fork until creamy and easy to spread, before using. Never melt it, it soaks into the bread.

-Avoid putting lettuce into sandwiches-it may become limp and unappetizing. Rather wrap the washed, dry leaves in waxed paper, so that they can be added to the sandwiches just before eating.

-Tomatoes sometimes have a tendency to soften in sandwiches. So frequently tuck a small whole tomato in the lunch box to be eaten with salt.

-Keep the lunch box in mind when planning dinner the night before. Oftentimes you can prepare enough of the soup, main dish, bread or dessert to include in the next day's lunch box.

-Because sandwiches are so often a mainstay in the lunch box, coax tired appetites by varying the bread you use. In addition to enriched and whole wheat breads, use raisin, bran, French, corn, rye, oatmeal, pumpernickel, cracked wheat, and nut breads for variety.

-Blueberry, corn, bran or other muffins left from dinner the night before, as well as hard and soft rolls, also ring a welcome change in the sandwich part of the lunch box.

-Be sure to vary the sandwich fillings too-in fact, try to include two different kinds of sandwiches in each lunch. It's a great help when at least one of these fillings can be made up from the dinner the night before. Leftover potroast, meat loaf, corned beef, lamb, etc. are all delicious.

-To keep sliced meat sandwiches from seeming dry, blend the butter or margarine with mayonnaise, salad dressing, prepared mustard, horseradish, catchup, chili sauce, pickle relish, or the like before spreading generously on the bread.

This was one sample menu:

Cream of Celery Soup
Minced Bacon and Egg Sandwiches on Whole Wheat bread
Tomato
Cookies or wafers

READER'S TIP
Martha sent in another tip regarding a substitute for corn syrup:
Your friend can make a syrup that will work in the recipe. Use 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar and 1/3 cup water. Mix them in a sauce pan and boil until it becomes thick like syrup. You can also add a little molasses to this too. Maybe honey? Here is good sugar free recipe:

SUGAR FREE PECAN TARTS: 1/2 c Splenda; 1 (12-oz) s/f imitation honey; 3 eggs beaten; pinch salt; 2 T butter; 2 c chopped pecans; 1 tsp. vanilla; 12 pastry shells. Melt butter, add Splenda, mix well. Add beaten eggs and mix. Add other ingredients; mix well and pour into shells. Bake @ 350 for 45 minutes. ~Martha

Yummy ideas for Grilled Cheese sandwiches on OFL:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/grilledcheese.html

~Brenda

Reader's Questions: Home & Garden

Use the talents you possess - for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except for the best. ~Henry Van Dyke

I hope you all have recovered from the holiday hustle and bustle. I have some questions and answers today. It's hard to think of gardening when it's 22 degrees (F.) and snowing outside, but I snuggled up to the laptop and managed:)

I planted a couple of bearded iris in individual pots. One of them started to sprout so I placed it under a UV light like the others, but two days later the new green started to turn brown. I've removed it from the light, but if you could get back to me on what I did wrong. ~April

April, my understanding is that Iris need the cold in the winter. If you have it indoors during the time it's suppose to be dormant and kept cold, it's not going to grow as it should. I don't know where you live, but I would keep the pots in a very cool or cold location (garage etc.) until spring. The bulb may have started to sprout because it was inside, but it still wasn't ready to grow and bloom. I could not find information on forcing Iris to bloom early, so I'd store the pots in the cold until spring as I mentioned.

Could you suggest plants and shrubs that the deer won't eat? Even if I can't plant yet I still want to plan! ~Elaine

First thing to remember, nothing is ever 100% deer proof if they are hungry enough. But, many plants are not appealing to them if they have other things to nibble on. You'll notice a lot of herbs in the resistant category: santolina, spearmint, thyme, rosemary, most sage plants, Mexican oregano, tansy, yarrow, and lavender are among them. Some perennials that are also unappetizing to deer are foxglove, joe-pye weed, anemones, astilbe, butterfly weed, bellflower and periwinkle. This should give you a good start on planning!

I live in Roseville, CA, just above Sacrament. I planted bulbs for the first time in November (according to the packages) for Spring. A lot of them have come up and flowered already. Does this mean I won't have a full flower garden in the spring? Is there something I should or shouldn't have done? I was looking so forward to them all be up at once. ~Marta

I'm in Michigan, so our bulbs are still dormant. I looked up a little on California, and found that some bulbs like crocus and tulips aren't really suited to your climate, though there may be some exceptions. Bulbs usually don't come up all at the same time. They are usually classified as late winter, early spring, mid-spring and late spring, plus there are summer bulb varieties too. Each one is triggered by different time lengths and temperatures. Many times when you buy an assortment they will have different bloom times so they are staggered. People often prefer this so the bulbs flower for a longer length of time. What I would do is make a little diary of what bulbs bloomed already and the dates that the other ones end of blooming. Next fall instead of buying an assortment, fill in the bed with bulbs in the various bloom times, so you have a nice selection from late winter to summer.

I have a friend that lives in another country where corn syrup is not available What could be used in a pecan pie instead of corn syrup?. Would you have a different recipe without it? ~Janet

Your friend can make a syrup that will work in the recipe. Use 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar and 1/3 cup water. Mix them in a sauce pan and boil until it becomes thick like syrup. You can also add a little molasses to this too.

~Brenda

Friday Recipes: Winter Squash

Winter squash is great this time of year, and there is so much that you can do with it. Whether it's from your garden or the produce section, don't miss out.

Always look for firm squash that are not damaged. When a recipe calls for cooked squash, simply cut it in half, scoop out the seeds and strings, and place it upside down in a pan with about a 1/2 inch of water. Cook the squash at 350 degrees for 40-60 minutes, depending on the size. It's done when you can easily pierce through the skin with a fork. Cook enough to handle and scrape out the squash you need for the recipe.

Try these recipes this year:

Stuffed Winter Squash

3 small acorn or butternut squash
3 green onions
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup finely diced celery
1 bunch fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
3/4 cup whole wheat bread crumbs
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 cup almonds or pecans, finely ground
1 tablespoon butter

Cut in half and clean the squash. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until tender. Sauté the onions in oil until soft. Add diced celery. Cover and simmer on medium heat until just tender. Add spinach; stir to wilt. Combine the crumbs with salt and ground nuts. Stuff the squashes with spinach and sprinkle the crumb mixture on top. Dot with butter. Return to oven for 10-15 minutes. Serves 6.

Serve the following dish with a mixed green salad and rolls for a nice autumn dinner. Serves enough for company!

Roasted Beef and Squash

2 tablespoons olive oil
4 pounds chuck roast
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste
3/4 cup beef broth
2 tablespoons fresh sage, chopped
3-4 pounds butternut squash
Optional: 2 tablespoons herb vinegar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a Dutch oven (or a pan that can go from stovetop to oven) heat the oil until warmed. When the oil is hot, add the roast and brown slowly for about 10 minutes on each size. Meanwhile, slice the onions and mince garlic. Remove the roast to a platter and season with the salt and pepper-set aside. Lower the heat and sauté the onion and garlic until light golden-be very careful not to brown completely or scorch. Add the broth/wine and the sage. Cook for one minute. Return roast to the pot, and cover. Bake for 1-1 1/2 hours (add more broth or water is it becomes dry). Meanwhile, peel the squash, remove seeds and cut into one inch cubes. After the roast has cooked for the 1 1/2 hours, add the squash and bake 30 more minutes. Do not over bake or the squash will become mushy. Makes 8-10 servings.

Squash Cornbread

1 cup cooked winter squash
1 egg
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup yellow corn meal

Place squash in a blender or food processor. (You can also mash it as long as it's cooked well-this is great for leftovers) Beat the egg lightly and add to the squash in a large bowl. Add the other ingredients and mix lightly. Place the batter into a cast iron skillet or 9 inch square pan that has been coated with butter or margarine. Dot the batter with butter if you wish and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

Savory Butternut Squash

1 butternut squash-about 3 pounds
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. cumin
salt and pepper to taste

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Half the squash and scoop out the seeds and strings. Place it cut side up in a baking pan, adding 1/4 inch of water to the pan. Bake for 35-45 minutes until tender. Cool, then peel and cut into 2 inch chunks. In a large skillet melt the butter and saute the garlic over low heat for 1 minute. Do not brown, or scorch. Add the squash, toss and cook for 2 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients, and toss to coat. Cook for 2-3 more minutes and serve.

Winter Squash Pie

1 9 inch unbaked pie shell
2 cups cooked winter squash
2 cups whole or lowfat milk
3 eggs
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey

Place 1 cup milk in a blender and add the squash, a little at a time, blending til smooth. Add the eggs and spices and blend. Pour the mixture in a large bowl, and add the remaining 1 cup milk, brown sugar and honey. Stir until well blended. Pour into the unbaked pie crust and bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes. Lower the heat to 325 degrees and bake for 30 more minutes. Cool. Serve with whipped cream!

More you might like:
Butternut Squash Season
Delicata Squash Tips and Recipes
Harvesting and Using Summer Squash
Discovering Spaghetti Squash

Wordless Wednesday: Ready for Summer Again

25 Uses for Coffee Filters

I received this list via email, so I'm not sure who compiled it, but I definitely learned a few new tricks! You can pick up large packages of coffee filters from the dollar store, I believe there are 1,000 per package!

1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.

2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome. Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.

3. Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.

4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.

5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.

6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.

7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.

8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.

9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.

10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.

11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.

12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters..

13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. It soaks out all the grease..

14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers."

15. As a sewing backing. Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliquéing soft fabrics.

16. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.

17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.

18. Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.

19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.

20. Can use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies. Saves on having extra bowls to wash.

21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.

22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.

23. Use them to sprout seeds. Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a plastic baggie until they sprout.

24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book.

25. Use as a disposable "snack bowl" for popcorn, chips, etc.