Tool Time Tuesday...Quilt/Blanket Spike

Happy Tuesday! This week's Tool Time is from the hardware store in the tarp/painting section. If you passed by these little gems, would you think quilting, picnicking or the beach? Well, I did...a long time ago. We use these spikes every year at the beach. They hold down all four corners of our blanket or sheet. Just push them right down into the sand. A normal person would use these to hold down painting tarps, but on Tuesdays I'm not normal LOL!




These are 10 inches long, but they do come longer. I think they were about $2.00 each.



All you need is a spike and a length of ribbon (for each corner) and your quilt for a picnic or a blanket for the beach.

I used a piece of ribbon that was about 24 inches long. Fold it in half.

Place the fold on the wrong side so the fold faces towards the inside of the quilt and the tails of the ribbon are facing out.

Like this...sew in place.

Run the ribbon through the hole in the top of the spike.

Tie a knot or a bow and now you are ready to push the spike into the ground or the sand. This will hold down your quilt or blanket in any wind.

See that little hook on the side of the spike...you could also use a grommet on the corners of your quilt and this hook will latch onto the grommet. The grommet idea is in place of the ribbon.

You can also use suspender clamps or the clips from a name badge. You can find the suspender clamps in the notions section and the name badge clips at the office supply store.

Open up the suspender clamp...

place the teeth on the edge of the quilt and...

clamp it closed.

Slip in your ribbon through the ring and

tie it to the spike.

The name badge clip does the same thing.

Remember this Tool Time post I did a while ago. I used galvanized spikes to organize my ribbon. Well I used these spikes for this idea too.

These spikes are only 65 cents a piece.

Easy to drive into the ground and tie your quilt to.

I wish I could demonstrate how the spikes work in the ground, but this is how our yard looks. We had a storm Saturday and Sunday and we have 14 more inches of snow coming tonight.

I thought I would share this idea with you now just in case you were making a quilt for someone for this spring or summer. When you're done, you can just add the ribbon and buy 4 spikes. Place the quilt in a picnic basket or beach bag for a wonderful gift set.

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I hope you enjoyed this idea and remember...when you're in the hardware store, always think twice when you're looking at something and think outside the box...or just give me a call and I'll come shopping with you!

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Have a great Tuesday,

~Karen~

I Need Your Opinion...

I think I might take the plunge into selling some of my handmade items. However, I have a dilemma...well, not really a dilemma, but more of a business question.

When I walk into a fabric store or a quilt shop, I LOVE it ALL. I really do love all fabrics, but I'm drawn to certain ones more than others and continually buy the same type.

I love Moda's 3 Sisters (absolutely everything they've ever made)...






I swoon over all Moda's French General...








and so many others.

Then there are the trendier fabrics like Amy Butler that I love, but never buy...not sure why.

April Cornell...beautiful, but still never buy.

Other modern fabrics are Joel Dewberry and Kaffe Fassett. I think they're great, but for some reason they never end up in my stash. Maybe because they are out of my comfort zone or they're not the style of my home...not sure why.

So here's the question for you (whether you sell your own creations or not)...

• Do I make things to sell with fabrics that I love and I'm drawn to?


• or do I make things with trendy modern fabrics to please more people?


• or make things with both?

My thinking is a certain look for my whole shop...color, style, etc. Do I stay with a "look" or mix it up to fit a broader group of people.

Does this make any sense or am I rambling...ok that's another question LOL. I'll stop now!

Thanks for your input. I can always depend on my blogging friends.

~Karen~