Do you have dozens of your high school student’s old sports t-shirts?

Has your offspring spent their lifetime growing their t-shirt collection?

Are you wondering what on earth you will do with all of those soccer t-shirts — or football, or basketball, or whatever other extra-curricular activity in which your student participates — that are piled in corners of your teenager’s bedroom?

Would you like to combine all of those random “keepsake” t-shirts into one comfy, snuggly item that can be loved and used much longer than a pile of old t-shirts?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, a Memory Quilt is the solution to your t-shirt overpopulation. These quilts are great to take away to college, or keep at home for Mom to snuggle with when the baby-bird leaves the nest. See below for a couple of my recent quilts, or check out the Memory Quilt Tab for more examples of what these amazing quilts can look like.

Over the last few months of living with masks of all different varieties, I have come up with some tricks of the trade so to speak when it comes to masks.  I’m sure any of my medical/frontline-worker friends who wear masks even more than the rest of us, could shed even more light on mask wear – mask cleaning, mask fashion, mask faux pas, and other general mask etiquette – but today here are mine.

These are just a few of the questions I’ve gotten, or think I should have gotten over the last few months.

How many masks should I buy per household member?

I keep 2-3 cloth masks per week in rotation for me.  These serve when I’m running to the post office, the fabric store or the grocery store; which are primarily the places that I travel to on a weekly basis.  My teenagers have 2-3 each; either because they can’t always find one or because they like having different colors to choose from.  My husband has 2, and he is my toughest customer.  He only wears them because they are required by his place of business.

How do I clean my mask?

I recommend treating your masks like delicates.  Either hand wash in mild soap, or place them in a mesh bag on the delicate cycle of your washing machine. They may be dried in the dryer in the mesh bag on low heat; they can be ironed dry on the cotton setting of your iron; or you can hang them to dry in the sunshine. 

I personally wash mine once a week and either dry them in the dryer (in the mesh bag) or iron them dry so they keep their shape better.  During the week I hang them in the rear view mirror of my vehicle with a large wire S hook.  The sunshine and the heat inside my vehicle help kill any germs, and keeping multiple masks in rotation allows for each mask a chance to sit in the sun long enough to kill my own germs.

How do I choose the style of mask?

Let me preface this by stating that I have only worn my own masks.  I have worn paper disposable masks, but that is comparing apples to oranges, in my opinion. 

I do like the neck-gator style masks, but I haven’t investigated those too closely because I don’t typically sew on that stretchy type of fabric.  This is this style of mask that my husband’s office decided to use, and the only complaint I hear from my husband is that it messes up his beard.  I do crochet neck-gators for winter, but definitely don’t want anything like that in summer in Texas.  I would be open to designing one with cotton fabric, but haven’t had the time or request to do it, yet.

As far as the Pleated and/or Pocket style of mask, I do like the ease and flexibility of size that these have.  They are basically one size fits most.  They have some flexibility of nose-to-chin height and ear-to-ear width.  I prefer the elastic ear loops, but I have many people asking for the ties because that gives you ultimate flexibility as far as sizing.  Overall you would want this if you don’t have to wear a mask much and just need one to throw on for a few minutes when you’re in public.  

The Fitted style mask is the most comfortable for long term wear, in my opinion.  It is designed to fit close to your face, resting comfortably on the bridge of your nose and hugging your chin underneath while leaving plenty of room for you to breath and speak.  If you have to wear a mask all day long, this is the one for you.  

How do I wear my glasses with a mask?

I wear readers and sunglasses.  I am constantly changing my glasses.  Adding a mask to the mix made me feel even sillier as I juggle all the accoutrements of daily life in the pandemic induced twilight zone that is 2020.  I have found that tucking your glasses over the top of your mask helps reduce the amount of mask-movement and glasses-fog. 

How do I choose a color/design for a mask?

I like to think of picking a mask color like picking a tie color.  Do you want your mask to make a statement, or compliment your outfit?  Is your mask a uniform to be blended with all others in your environment, or a one-of-a-kind statement about you?  Since wearing a mask obscures our most common form of expressing ourselves – what do you want the mask to say for you?

Can I use essential oils with my mask?

Yes!  I love to drop a few drops of essential oil into my mask to help with sanitizing, disinfecting, and it just makes the overall mask experience more pleasant.  I have used Thieves oil, lavender oil and eucalyptus oil.  All of these have antibacterial properties, smell good and a little goes a long way.

If you have any more questions about masks, ordering masks, designing masks or any other fabric engineering we can do together…please contact me and let’s collaborate!

Hello again from the mask-making trenches.  I hope everyone is staying safe out there during the ever expanding pandemic.  I am officially counting over 700 masks made as of the end of June, 2020.  What a long, strange trip it’s been.  I have made masks for moms, dads, sisters, brothers, babies, children, front line workers, local businesses, youth organizations, yogis, retired marines, OU fans, UT fans and of course Aggie fans. I have sent masks to Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Washington, Minnesota, Louisiana and of course all over Texas.

I have used all these fabulous fabric opportunities to stretch my fabric engineering muscles and design what I think is a pretty darn comfortable fitted mask for those of you looking.  (Check out my new tab Mask Mania for details on how to order yours!)  I try to offer a pretty quick turn-around (1-2 days for production) and shipping for those of you who don’t live close enough to run over and grab them.  If you need a mask for you, your family, your friends, or your business – I would be honored if you would contact me and let’s design something that works for you.

Weird times are upon us my friends.  I along with everyone else deemed non-essential have been holed up in our homes for over a month now.  Aside from the isolation from friends, the daughter home-schooling, the son attending college from home, the husband working from home and cooking three meals a day seven days a week, I have designed and made over 300 masks since my first order in late March. I truly appreciate all of the business; I am grateful to have work to do when so many are out of a job because of this virus.  I am also super happy to be providing something that people can and will use.  (Nothing warms a sewing girl’s heart more than what she creates being of use to those who receive it.)

All of the masks are cotton fabric made from a plethora of scraps that happen to reside in my sewing room.  I started with what little elastic I had on hand, graduated to elastic hair bands, elastic head bands, and finally I will begin making tie masks as the great elastic shortage of 2020 takes its toll on the seamstress world.

I offer both standard two-ply masks for $6/ea, and masks with pockets for inserting filters for $8/ea.  Each mask is made to order and then offered for either pick up at my front porch, delivery (if you are local to New Braunfels, TX) for an additional $5, or shipment via USPS 2-day Priority in the Small Flat Rate USPS box for $8.30 shipping.  If you are interested in ordering, please contact me, and we can discuss color, style and how to get your mask/s to you.

Pleated or Pocket Style

 Just a quick update on the fun and funkiness that has been happening around Calder Creations.  We just wrapped up our annual girls’ weekend with the 1st Annual Grown Ass Ladies (GALs) Camp!  A big shout out to Charlie Jo Pope for putting together a fantastic weekend of fun, creativity, talent, craziness and color wars!  Calder Creations was super proud to be a sponsor, and I hope everyone enjoys their complimentary eye-pillows.

As the weather changes and the holidays start to peek around the corner, I’ve got some pre-made items in stock for you.  Lunch-wraps are in stock along with some super cute drawstring pouches and drawstring backpacks…all made from recycled denim and scrap fabric.  These make cute gifts for those special teachers or students in our lives.

If you’re looking for a unique way of wrapping up a special gift, the scrapkins are 20″x20″ cloth napkins made from scrap fabric.  They make a perfect gift wrap with a ribbon or inside of a pretty gift box for soap, candles or a cute figurine instead of tissue paper that will just end up in the trash or recycle bin.

Memory Quilts are super special, useful and meaningful gifts.  If you’ve got old shirts, baby clothes or other keepsake fabric that someone special might like to have a quilt made from…I’m your gal!  Now is the time to gather those and get them to me so we can make something beautiful for your loved one that will be treasured for a lifetime.