The earliest known representation of a quilt is on the statue of an Egyptian Pharaoh dating back to 3400 B.C.!  The oldest surviving quilt in existence is dated from the 14th century in Sicily.  Quilting has been around for generations, and passing down a handmade quilt is one of the most timeless gifts to cherish.

Types Of Quilts

Hand Quilts – these are stitched together by hand, sometimes with the aid of a hoop to ensure the fabric remains taut.  Hand quilting gives you the freedom to create unique designs and patterns that a machine just doesn’t allow for.  You can use many different types of stitches as well.  This method is relatively cheap as you don’t need any expensive equipment, but it does require patience and time as it’s not as “quick” as some other methods using machines.

Machine Quilts – obviously these are quilts that are put together with the aid of a machine. Machines really do speed up the time it can take to put a quilt together and it can help you create more even and precise stitching.  Once you become proficient with the machine you can use it to create more varied designs and patterns with the stitching.

Longarm Quilting – this is a type of quilting that uses a special quilt stitching machine that is about 10-14 feet in length.  The head can be moved with a computer or it can be guided by hand.  This type of machine is rather expensive so it’s not for a beginner – rather it’s for the mature hobbyist or perhaps someone who is selling their quilts.

Quilting Techniques

Block/Patchwork – Block quilts are put together using blocks or other shapes such as half triangles of varied patterns and materials.  Generally a rough pattern is formed to create some unity, but there really are no rules!  You can be as creative as you want, however you do want your shapes to follow a uniform sizing so that your quilt pieces match up correctly.

Applique – An applique is a piece or decoration for the top of the quilt that goes directly over the rest of the patterns.  These can add some character and pizazz to spice up your quilting!  They can be completely flat or they can be somewhat raised (aka with a thicker or furry fabric).

Trapunto – This is a type of quilting in which a stuffing or padding is put inside the quilt top to create the appearance of texture and a three dimensional pattern.

English Paper – Although it might sound complicated, English Paper quilting is simply a method by which quilters can sew complex patterns through the assistance of paper or acrylic templates.  The designs possible through this method are incredible and can be quite complex and fun to do!

Quilt Storage

If you have a cherished quilt that you need to store, or you simply want to keep your handmade quilts safe between displaying them, here are a few tips on the care and keeping of quilts:

Choose a stable climate – if you want to store your quilts, choose a room that has a relatively stable climate and that isn’t too hot or damp.  This usually means no attics or basements.  A bedroom or living room closet is a good choice.  Under the bed is a great idea too but ensure that your quilts are packed in a container to prevent them from getting too dusty.

If you must fold your quilt for storage, do so as loosely as possible.  Take them out and refold them a different way from time to time to ensure that the fabric doesn’t retain folds or wrinkles.  Allow them to air out and inspect them for any damages or issues (too much dust?  pests?).  Take this time to clean out the area where you’re storing them to get rid of dust and spiderwebs.

Mothballs are a good idea but they shouldn’t come into contact with the quilt itself as this can damage or discolor some fabrics.

And remember to enjoy the quilts that you have!  They don’t do anyone any good hidden away – cycle them in and out of use/display from time to time to ensure that they are being seen and loved.

The good news is that a simple list is often the best place to start: Here are ten ideas to get you in the creative mood for your own furniture projects!

Storage Beds

A storage bed can be a highly effective way to combine functionality with design and aesthetics, so it only makes sense that it would be one of the first places to go for a DIY plan!
Look into building one and see if it doesn’t get that perfect mix of excitement and practicality you’re trying to find.

Bedroom Cabinet

With a bedroom cabinet, you can find a place to store some of your personal items and belongings right in your own room for comfort and convenience. Making your own cabinet can be a great way to personalize this part of your bedroom and make it more in line with your preferences!

Chests

Looking for some extra storage space around the house? Consider making one or two of your own chests to cut down on clutter, impress guests with your craftsmanship or wonderful sense of style, and find a place to put some of your side items that you have difficulty sorting through.

Coffee Table

For those looking for a stylish coffee table while also keeping within their budget, building one yourself can be a great option. Try thinking about some different styles you’d be interested in and take a shot at hand-crafting your own coffee table!

Bookshelf

You might find that you want your bookshelf to be as unique and personal as your book collection itself! If that’s the case, it would be worthwhile to try making your own; doing so requires relatively few materials and is a fantastic way to practice some DIY skills.

Coat Rack

Getting tired of tossing your coats on the chair or floor? Luckily, you can get your own coat rack assembled in virtually no time at all, which will significantly reduce clutter while also giving you some experience in home furnishing and build confidence for more complex future projects!

Nightstand

Creating a sense of unique style and interesting design for your nightstand can be difficult, but this problem is much more easily solved when you construct it yourself! Plan out some of the details and get started on building it if you want another part of your home to be a more accurate reflection of your taste in furniture.

Picture Frame

Smaller projects can sometimes be even more satisfying than the flashier ones, and this is no less the case for picture frames. Put together a beautiful home for your family photos and travel highlights with a subtle, yet no less effective custom picture frame!

Bed Frame

And speaking of frames, why not tie together your bedroom more creatively with a hands-on attempt at your own bed frame? This isn’t as complex as it might appear at first glance and can be achieved with some easily accessible materials and a handful of simple tools.

Small Tables

Tables are a crucial piece of your home furnishing and yet pre-made designs often come across as bland and unoriginal. Take a stab at representing your own bold or unorthodox choices by building a few of your own small tables to place around the home and bring some lively creativity to the atmosphere!

If you’re looking for a list of beginner-friendly projects that will help you develop your skills while also being achievable, try giving one of these ten ideas a shot!

Basic Shelf

A fantastic and relatively way to get started with woodworking is to construct a basic shelf. Simple shelves have the double advantage of looking impressive while also being low-cost and good for those with a less developed skill set.

Not only that, but they have a great functional use too!

Boxes

When it comes to woodworking, things don’t get much more straightforward than a storage box. By practicing making a few of these, you’ll learn some of the fundamental principles of woodwork while also successfully creating something useful for around the house, so boxes are a perfect first project!

Bird House

Not only is a bird house a great project for a woodworking novice, but it’s also ideal for those who’d like to involve their children in this hobby! See if this creative, fun, and original experience doesn’t energize you and get you further along on your journey to become an expert woodworker.

Small Table

Another simple yet functional idea is to create a small table, perhaps to hold a lamp or other little items. This is something you can get done in as little as two or three days and yet will be using for as long as you find a purpose for it in the home!

Candle Holder

Want to develop your craft and get a new holder for your candles at the same time? Try a light, basic candle holder out for size as one of your first projects and watch how quickly your skills progress along the way!

Chopping Board

If you also have a culinary interest in addition your woodworking hobby, consider combining the two with a new chopping board! With only a few easy steps, you’ll find yourself with a finished result that can be an added boost to both of your skills while taking very little time to do so.

Bench

Whether you need a small, sturdy bench for inside the home or a slightly larger option for outdoor seating, this will be a surefire way to refine your beginner woodworking techniques. And the best part is, some bench designs can take as little as a few hours for you to complete!

Coat Rack

For those who have been experiencing major problems with clutter in the home, a coat rack can be an effective solution that also lets you practice your wood crafting abilities! Painting and decorating it can also be a fun way to add some personal style to a more basic design.

Bookend

Bookends can be a great addition to a shelf project, but they also work just fine as a standalone piece. These are also helpful due to the relative lack of materials or complexity and are a fun change of pace from some of the larger projects included here!

Shoe Holders

A quick and final challenge to try out for those new to the craft is making some shoe racks! These can conveniently store all manner of shoes you might own and give you a chance to impress some guests with your woodworking knowledge at the same time. A nice side benefit as you practice and grow with your hobby!

If this is the position you’re in now, then try out some of these five ideas and see if they don’t get you moving in the right direction!

The Right Workspace

Advancing in your pottery journey will depend heavily on a comfortable, reliable, and efficient room or building for you to work in. For this reason, you should focus on finding a workspace that has easy-to-clean floors, steady shelves, storage spaces such a cabinet for supplies, and a good, strong table to work on that also won’t be easy for clay to stick to.

For those who have been stuck in a rut, you might find yourself pleasantly surprised at how drastically your work improves when you move to a more accommodating room for your pottery!

Selecting Materials

Don’t be afraid to take some time to consider your options for pottery supplies and what will work best for your goals! For example, you’ll want to look closely at the temperature range for your glazes and clay as this will be a deciding factor in what combinations you use.

Additionally, ask yourself what colors your interested in and what will work best with your goals, workspace, and other materials you’re using. If you plan on working a great deal with your pottery, it might be worth it to order supplies in bulk!

Picking Your Tools

A crucially important element of pottery to consider is the tools that you will be using on your projects. While there is no universal list of tools to have on hand, it’s common for people to find that they will want a toolbox, towels, a needle, a trimming tool, and cleanup supplies for afterward.

Of course, all of this depends on personal preference, so take some time to think about what you preferred working style is like. Some people find that working as minimally as possible with just the clay and their hands is the best option!

Manage Expectations

Mind hacks are often just as important (if not more so!) as material advice with a craft, and this is no less true when it comes to pottery. A key mental trick that is sure to come in handy along the way is to keep your expectations for your projects kind and reasonable.

Progress doesn’t come easily, and you might initially find yourself disappointed or even depressed by the results you’re seeing. But if you keep your expectations at a normal level, forgive your mistakes, and persevere in your efforts, the mistakes won’t bother you as much anymore and you will start to appreciate the progress you’re making!

Experiment

And speaking of progress, experimentation is one of the best possible paths you can take to improving your craft. This doesn’t have to involve massive changes or ambitious innovation but can rather be as simple as doing one thing you haven’t done before with every project.

While this might sound like it wouldn’t make that big of a difference, it is extremely useful for instilling a trial-and-error approach to your work that leads to effective practice and quicker improvement. Experiment just a little bit with every pottery project you take on and ask yourself if you notice a change in your attitude, skills, or growth!

A strong theme can pull together the rest of the decorative elements in a spectacular, unique, creative, and exciting way. In that vein, here are 10 of the best themes for a baby shower!

Vintage

Vintage baby showers are great for those who have a more classical style as well as anyone who has an appreciation for handcrafted decorations. And after all, tradition has become known as traditional for a very good reason!

Some ideas to get a good brainstorming session going for this theme could include subtle, muted coloring, vintage toys, and handmade accessories, clothing, and invitations; really, anything that recalls a classic or antique sensibility.

Color

Basing the theme around a specific color can be a wonderful way to stimulate some outside-the-box design thinking! For this theme, it’d be very important to keep in mind that some colors are often seen as representing specific moods or atmospheres.

Yellow, for example, could be used for a bold and lively approach, while blue would be a good choice for a more tranquil and serene design.

Animals

A fantastic, tried-and-true theme for the baby shower could be something everyone loves: Animals!

For this theme, you could either base the shower around a specific animal or a group of animals such as a farm or dinosaur theme. Both choices offer a great deal of options and it’s really just a matter of what fits in better with the personality of the future mother.

Seasons

Seasons are a wonderful choice if there is a certain time of year or holiday that you want to try basing the party around. A winter theme, for instance could feature some iconic imagery and designs such as snowflakes, sleighs, or a fireplace.

There are a lot of great opportunities to be had here, so try focusing of some of the best elements of the time of year you’re designing the shower around!

Space

For a more adventurous and pioneering atmosphere, you can’t go wrong with a space or astronaut theme!

By utilizing stars, the moon, other planets, and a rocket ship it’s possible to create a stunningly alien experience for everyone involved. The ideas for this theme are as open and boundless as outer space itself!

Storybook

Storybook themes are a fantastic path toward giving the celebration an escapist or imaginative vibe and can also evoke fond childhood memories.

Some of the best options here could be Winnie the Pooh, various Dr. Seuss books, or Pinocchio. Alternatively, you could combine multiple children’s book tales and characters together and turn the party into a general storybook theme. Luckily, there’s no shortage of source material to work with!

Nature

It’d be difficult to go wrong with a natural theme, which has a universal sense of enjoyment to it! Try experimenting with different combinations of natural imagery, from sunshine and flowers to ladybugs or green hills and forests.

The important thing here is to just try and construct a sense of wildlife and the beautiful outdoors. Once you get the ball rolling, the whole theme will start to come together in no time!

Flight

The idea of flying conjures spectacular and wondrous images, so it only stands to reason that it would make a great theme for the baby shower. Clouds, airplanes, kites, and birds can all be blended together or focused on separately with this category of themes and work together beautifully and uniquely.

A good starting point with this theme is focusing on anything and everything you picture when you imagine flying!

Circus

The circus is a place of spectacle, excitement, and the eccentric. Elephants, peanuts, tents, and acrobatics fuse together in a theme like this and recreate the sense of going to watch circus performers. Begin planning it out and see if the ideas don’t start coming to you naturally!

Superhero

Lastly, we have the beloved superhero theme for all those who admired the caped crusaders and everything they stand for! Regardless of whether you focus on a specific hero like Batman or Wonder Woman or instead decide to mix together a combination of many vigilantes, the result is sure to be spirited and joyful.

Give it a shot and figure out if it’s the right fit for your party!