A Spool Thread Board & Sew Many Spaces

 

Okay, today you get two posts for the price of one.  Wow isn't that a bargain?????

First, I want to show you the cheapie thread board I made this week.  After much research, I found several great ideas on blogs, with quilters showing off different thread boards.  I liked them all and priced out several projects.  All were a bit pricey in the end.  So I thought I would design my own.  After a false start last week, I manage to get one done that I can live with.  Here's how I did it:

I asked Paul if he had any spare wood - he laughed (as you can imagine - its like asking us if we have any scrap fabric!).  He brings in the piece of plywood that was left from my sewing machine table.  I painted the whole piece with two coats of lime green.  Paul made a jig that had holes in it at an angle.  Now for all you non-woodafiles - a jig is just a custom made piece that will guide your tool in making the right cut.  So this way, all the drilled holes were at the right angle and at the right distance between.  He was going to have me drill the holes, but he did it so effortlessly, that I sweet talked him into doing them quickie.  He then took dowls  that match the hole size (I think it was 3/8") and pushed them in.  They were so snug - he didn't have to glue them.

I then took painters tape and tapped off the whole top.  I had already picked out the message I wanted, found a great font on Fontspace and sized it on Word.  I took those sheets of paper, glued them to the top  of the tape with spray adhesive, and cut out the letters using an Xacto knife.  It was hard at first and they ain't perfect but it got the job done.  With the letters gone, I painted over the spaces with navy paint.  Three coats later, I removed the tape and wa-la - my own sign!  Now, I would like to take credit for this way of lettering - but Paul suggested it after seeing that Andy Warhol did it on his soup cans.  (I guess you really can learn something from reading all those little museum signs!)

Anyways, he bolted it to the wall, and as you can see, I had no problem filling it up.  Finally, all my thread in one place.  Now mind you, I  have four more big boxes of little spools, but now my hodge podge of medium spools have a new home.

Which brings me to the second part of this post.  I want to announce that next week I will be hosting a Studio Spaces and Sewing Places link party.  Any blogger can link a new post showcasing their creating space - big or small - extravagant or humble.  The link up will be open all year, so you can use it as an excuse to do some spring cleaning or show it in full creative flurry.  Its up to you!

Now that said, let me say that I can be a bit bitc catty at times. Lately I noticed a tendency on blogs to show their work spaces looking more like magazine layouts rather than places where someone actually works.  One way I can tell that the person really doesn't do any kind of real sewing is  their thread board is all color coordinated with the exact type of thread and size - all new and pristine.  I mean - seriously - what sewer actually has all the same thread and its all new???  Sighhhhhh  So please, if you don't actual work in your space and really your passion is decorating and blogging about it - this isn't the link party to show case those talents.

So look for the post next week - there will be a button to grab if you want. Spread the word.   My button will eventually lead you to the link up party post when its written.  I'm going to unveil my new grown up studio (that yes - I do actually work in - LOL) and I hope you'll share yours!