Castoff’s turned to treasure

IF you are a regular reader, you will no doubt know that I have spent the last 2 years working with “other people’s castoffs” from their crafting and sewing rooms.

My quilt guild – Ocean Waves Quilt Guild, Lewes Delaware,  has a Second Time Around committee.  I took this committee on with a partner 2 years ago following our last quilt show.

In the course of 2 years, repurposing those “castoffs” has made nearly $6000 for the guild.  People bring things to the meeting they no longer want. I go pick things up from other people, often times filling the car or SUV to the roof.  One lady I know was downsizing from 2 houses into one, and we made 3 trips with 2 vehicles to take the things she no longer had use for.

All those things come home with me, and my helpers sort, press, trim, fold and make the fabrics look “new again”.  We have been given YARDS of fabric, still with the price tag from the original sale, tools, hoops, beads, zippers, scraps etc over these 2 years.

We fix it up, make it look USABLE again, and take it back to the guild meeting to sell back to the members as a fund raiser.  Those sales take place in the hour before the guild meeting starts and we usually fill up 6 or 7 tables full of yardage.  We set the price LOW, so the fabric and notions etc will be a great value to the person wanting to make a purchase.

With the upcoming   Ocean Waves Quilt Guild Quilt Show ; I have been prepping items 2-3 days a week for the last 6 months or more. Sometimes I have as many as 4 helpers doing this prep.  We have FILLED 40 bankers boxes and 10 plastic totes with fabric and other sewing items for the show.

One thing that crossed my mind many months ago was “how to merchandise” some of the items.  I have been collecting wicker baskets from friends, and purchased some small plastic baskets and have “run out” of ways to “display” things.  Two weeks ago, someone on a Facebook group I follow posted a link to a free pattern on the Craftsy . com website for a One Hour Basket.  Turns out, I had downloaded that as a free pattern a while back, and the size was PERFECT for what I needed.

I contacted members of the 2 quilt bees I belong two, and we got busy making those baskets.  I offered the bee members an opportunity to come pick ANY fabric they wanted from the 2nd Time Around stash; and they did.

I think they had fun making these baskets.  They get to take the baskets home after the show.

Check out the photo’s of the great baskets !

I think they look cute with patterns in them –

I used donated deco fabric for the outside of the bags I made – fat quarters for the inside.

I even used upholstery fabric for 2 bags –

Some baskets were made out of “stash on hand” at home.  Barbara lives near a beach community and did these cute ones with seashells.

Pam arrived at the Queen Bees gathering on Tuesday – ready to go!  She is marking her quilting lines on the In-r-Form before she starts to sew.  Most of us used In-r-Form between the layers of the lining and the outer part of the basket.

She was prepped and ready to work !  I am impressed with her efficiency!

I thought it would be a good idea to “label” the basket with what the types of patterns-

My helpers sorted LOTS of patterns and gave me a great list to get busy making “labels” for the show.

I have more baskets coming in, waiting to be filled when we set up for the show.

Yesterday I did the happy dance that ALL the donated items are prepped, boxed, and ready to sell.  No more “work days”.  Now, I need to get busy with my own sewing!

note- The basket pattern is now on for sale on the Craftsy website….for $1

The Ocean Waves Quilt Guild show will be held in Lewes DE on July 21 & 22 with over 300 quilts on display.  There are vendors and teachers and demos!!  Check out the website for more details! Ocean Waves Quilt Guild Quilt Show

When you come, stop by the Second Time Around Tables and get some great deals!  And say hi!

Make plans to come, bring your friends and share the show info with your friends on Facebook or your blog!

If you use Facebook, help us by sharing the show page ( https://www.facebook.com/Ocean-Waves-Quilt-Guild-presents-Quilts-in-the-Orchard-Quilt-Show-1243973002325463/?ref=br_rs )

Happy stitching!

EDIT – I want to give credit to the original designer of these baskets — Kelby Sews  .  We got the pattern from Craftsy as I mention above, but I first saw it on Kelby Sews awhile back.  Thanks for the cute project!

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