our fireplace is drafty. when there isn’t a fire crackling away, a cold trickle of air comes in on days like today. ahem. days like today when the wind and snow blows. when school buses get canceled. when the temperature drops way down low to freeze the tips of my tulips that had just emerged to greet the recent warmer air we’d been enjoying. we, like those poor tulips, fell again for mother nature’s oldest trick. it happens almost every year.
as i write this, the snow drifts up against my front door, trying to sneak inside and mock my cozy new blog header no doubt.
as for the draft from the fireplace, i came up with a quick fix the other day. i got one of those tension curtain rods that squeeze into place. it was just under $10 at the local hardware store.
the ends fit snuggly on either end of the frame around the fireplace…
and the tension from the coils inside keep the bar above the fireplace…
i draped an old crib-sized (*sniffle*) quilt over the rod. this quilt was the first one i ever sewed, made when i was expecting a little one.
it has really made a difference in keeping the cold air out of the room.
and it’s nice to have that quilt back out again. the fabric print deserves a close up. those cows and chickens remind me that it wont feel like winter forever.
(right?)
You quilt too!? Isn’t that an art that empty nesters learn? I’ve never heard of a young mom with such talent! Did your mom teach you all of these tricks? Are you passing them on? Your woot cracked me up. My daughter was begging for us to plant tulips. I think we’re a little late.
are you calling me an old biddy? i love old biddies :)
my mom taught me a lot, but mostly the rewards of creating for yourself and the patience to see a project through (that last one took me a little longer to realize). the kids are creative in their own ways. sometimes they ask what i’m working on or ask me to teach them.
as for quilting i took an evening class. the appeal for me is in the history of it. i’m sure you know it used to be a way of economizing, of taking old bits of clothes and cloth and sewing it all together to make a piece of fabric again. the backings on some of the earliest pioneer quilts were sugar or flour sacks, sewn together. itchy itchy! have you seen the prices of quilter’s cotton today? it’s insane. we do things kind of backwards, take perfectly good and expensive fabric, chop it up into bits, and sew it back together again. hehe… but there are may who have turned it into a real artform. i should write a post about some of the amazing quilts out there, they look like paintings.
anyway, i don’t quilt regularly, but i wanted to make a special blanket and to learn the technique of quilting in the process.
right!! Here’s to hoping that your Spring snow storm will be brief!
THAT’S THE BEST IDEA! *running around wildly saying WOW! YOU GOTTA SEE THIS!* because really, I did.
Any remnants of those cows and chickens you want to part with I will pay shipping.
it was a while ago and i may have used them all, but i’ll take a look for you.
Such a lovely idea! I also have a few adorable baby size quilts from my children’s early days (I didn’t make them though) and this would be a wonderful way to keep them out and in view.
Yours is simply gorgeous!
thanks jo. i know you’re not supposed to fold quilts, as the crease mark in mine reminds me. it’s nice to have it out in the open again.
Great idea! I took a quilting class as part of my fashion design classes. Besides quilts I really enjoyed making applique wall hangings. I have always used scrap fabrics from my clothing designs to make my quilts. I guess just like in the old days, I guess in your case the old old days.
victoria, you must have learned so many skills along the way through your classes and experiences. i think one of my favourite posts of yours was about altering a garment, with your french curves ruler i think it was? anyway, that’s a whole other realm of sewing i have yet to explore. thanks for sharing.
Aw, I love that sweet print…and a no-fuss curtain rod. I hope I find one while thrifting…
Sorry you guys up North are getting a last gust of snow. Things are blooming and producing quickly here in Florida, I’m way behind on garden-season!
sure, rub it in ;) and i was surprised that they have such nice finishes on these tension rods now, and so reasonably priced. there used to only be those flimsy white cafe rods.
So cute! Of course I love that print.
(re. woot – I never say that out loud either, but I type it quite often. I think I’m not exactly sure how to pronounce it.)
rhymes with hoot?
Love that! The idea, the quilt- it’s adorable! I am learning how to quilt from my neighbor- she’s 70 and genius at quilts. So cute, Ana! :)
how cool cessie, the best way to learn — in person, preferably from a genius!
Love the idea and the quilt. I love quilts. I’ve made a few, but my favourite was the one I made for my daughter before she was born. A few years ago I inherited one my grandmother started who knows when. It is made from all vintage clothing/fabric. There are a few blocks left to assemble and then the top will be done. It’s all hand stitched though, so the thought of getting into all of that is a little daunting.
oh wow, yeah, that would be an undertaking. sounds beautiful though. if you ever do work on it and take photos, i would love to see. thanks marti.
what a beautiful no draft solution….mooooo
Lovely!
I am visiting lots of places that had a false start on spring weather AND snow = oh my!
we are chilly here in Northern Virginia too…but no white stuff…yet
Enjoy * Enjoy!
oxo
Another great idea – good job! Our tulips fell for it too :( heck, we all did lol
genius!
I don’t have a fireplace currently. but if I ever do… now I will know just what to do!
Woot! With the colours in that quilt, you’ll think a fire is still blazing.
Very cute country edging.
Oh WOW. That is a beautiful quilt!!!
Rest assured, it won’t feel like winter forever. We are on the up and up (and my dog has started his coat blowing season, so warm weather is a certainty). =]
Pingback: here’s that green sweater, knit in the round | i made it so.