Queen B Quilts - Custom T-shirt Quilts

Friday!

2012-01-27T10:40:00.000-08:00

It is absolutely beautiful here today! Makes me super anxious for summer time. Until then, grab your t-shirt quilt and keep warm, my friends.

More DIY Quilt Kits Soon!

2012-01-17T12:15:00.001-08:00

Looks like we're sold out of the DIY T-Shirt Quilt Kits! But, there will be more available online very soon.

I will also be at the Cheer Competition at Clackamas High School in Happy Valley, Oregon this Saturday, January 21st! I will have a few Quilt Kits for sale and will have samples of quilts for you to check out and get your order started! I hope to see you there!

Seattle!

2012-01-10T11:23:00.000-08:00

Seattle! I'll be in your neck of the woods this Sunday, January 15th to pick up your t-shirts for your t-shirt quilt order! I have some time for a few extra appointments, so please email me if you are interested in meeting up! I'll even buy you a coffee. :)

New T-Shirt Quilts!

2012-01-02T11:33:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year friends! I had a few great quilts to work on this holiday season and I think now I can finally tell you about them (don't want to ruin the surprise too early).

I made a t-shirt quilt for a family in Juneau, Alaska. This was the biggest quilt I have ever made! It was full of t-shirts, sweatshirts, patches, old sheets and pillowcases that reflected the history of this family of four. The collection ended up looking so great and we also added a machine quilt to it to make sure it lasts for many, many generations. The quilt was so big I couldn't get a picture of the entire thing!

If you aren't familiar with the Underdog Sports League, you should really check them out. I made this t-shirt quilt from a collection of their Portland kickball league t-shirts. It's so colorful and the perfect size for snuggling on the couch after a tough game in the schoolyard. One thing I love about quilts like this is the opportunity to do something creative because all of the t-shirts look similar. I cut each square so that the logo would be in a slightly different spot in each square - I thought it made it look like the ball was bouncing around. So cute!

What's your t-shirt collection all about?

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-24T18:18:00.001-08:00

Quilt Deliveries!

2011-12-15T14:50:00.000-08:00

Since I returned from my trip around the country, I have been very busy making quilts for you lovely folks.

I just finished a couple of quilts for some awesome Portlanders and they were both a dream accomplished for me.

The first was a beer t-shirt quilt. I've thought for a long time that beer and brewery t-shirts would make an amazing quilt and it turns out I was right! Especially with the awesome black and white plaid flannel backing. This quilt belongs to Kris now and I'm sure she'll enjoy it! And if you too are a beer fan, you can read her blog!

The other quilt I recently delivered is completely made of t-shirts from Threadless.com! If you are into t-shirt at all, you must check out this sight. The designs come from the community and are constantly changing. This quilt holds 40 Threadless t-shirts! Quite a collection.

And although it might be a little late to get your holiday order in for this year, you can still give a gift certificate! Simply make your purchase on the etsy site and I'll send you the gift certificate over email so we can get started after the holidays. Why not make it more interesting and attach it to a new t-shirt or put it in a giant box? Just some ideas...

New! DIY T-Shirt Quilt Kits

2011-12-02T18:42:00.000-08:00

Exciting news, just in time for the holidays: You can now make your own t-shirt quilt with this awesome new t-shirt quilt kit!

Each kit includes:

-12 inch Square Cutting Ruler
-Rotary Cutter
-Iron On Fabric Fusing, to strengthen your t-shirts
-Pins & Needles
-Thread
-Instructions on creating your own t-shirt quilt

All you need is a sewing machine, iron, backing fabric or a flat sheet, and batting of your choice (optional). Not only that, but I will be available to answer all of your quilting questions!

Order a T-Shirt Quilt Kit now through Etsy.

Holiday Orders Filling Up!

2011-10-16T19:03:00.000-07:00

October is half way over! Time is moving so fast!

You may or may not be thinking about Christmas gifts already. I know, the holidays usually sneak up on me. If you are having trouble thinking of a holiday gift for someone, think about ordering a t-shirt quilt! They are the perfect gift for a variety of people, young and old.

Since I am limited on the number of quilts I have time to make each year around the holiday season, please get your order in as soon as possible. I can only guarantee December 25th quilt deliveries if you order by November 15th, so get your order in as soon as possible.

Email britta.folden@gmail.com for more info!

2011-10-03T21:29:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! I'm currently on the road, searching for America's best t-shirts! Today I'm in Denver and I still have about 5 weeks left of the tour. I hope you will follow along at Nice Shirt, America!

New! Machine Quilt Pattern

2011-08-31T11:34:00.000-07:00

I recently made this quilt for Andrew and it's a really exciting because we now have a signature quilt pattern! As you can see in the photo, Andrew wanted his quilt fully machine quilted and so I worked with a local Portland long-arm quilter to accomplish this. I wanted to find a quilt pattern that would be simple and allow the t-shirt designs to show through. I'm very happy with what we found, a honeycomb pattern, especially fitting considering the business name. :)

I can’t say how awesome my quilt is! Thanks so much for your hard work! You did an amazing Job! When I look at it, it brings back a flood of memories. Is it sad that I have a story for each one of those shirt squares?
-Andrew

Machine quilting in our signature pattern is priced by the square inch, so pricing depends on the exact size of your quilt. Please send an email to britta.folden@gmail.com with any questions or to order your quilt.

So Many Cupcakes!

2011-08-24T18:11:00.001-07:00

Thanks, friends, for celebrating my 27th birthday yesterday! I went into telethon mode last night and hosted a "virtual" birthday party and asked the attendees to eat a cupcake, drink a beer, have a little dance party and then make a pledge to our Kickstarter fund!

Over the course of the night, we made it to $1,000 on our Kickstarter fund! I'm so excited that we have made it halfway to our goal and we still have 21 days to go. So, if you want to get in on this party, you can still make a donation. :)

Here's the cupcake I had from Saint Cupcake, as well as a few pics from friends who were celebrating!

Living the Dream

2011-08-23T09:57:00.000-07:00

Hey folks! Today is my 27th birthday!! And all I want for my birthday is to get our Kickstarter project successfully funded. No, really... please don't send me an edible bouquet of any sort.

This has been a crazy year for me. Earlier this year, I spent 3 days in the hospital after finding, one night, that the left side of my body had gone numb and I couldn't walk. It was more confusing, than anything, for both me and the doctors. I was perfectly healthy and far too young to be having a stroke... so what was the deal?

Overall, it was a really strange experience. I spent most of the time sleeping, with the occasional interruption of a doctor who would come in and make me run through a series of strange exercises to make sure I wasn't having another stroke or experiencing any brain trauma. But the worst part was laying there and not knowing if my life was about to completely change... or if I'd even have much longer to live.

I had to reach some level of acceptance, or else I was going to drive myself insane. The conclusion I came to was that there should be no regrets or fears. And I don't mean that in the sense of "do everything so you'll never regret not doing it" but more in the sense of "what's done is done." The one thing I did realize, while waiting to learn of my fate, was that there were some things I wanted to do and that I should do these things as soon as possible, because you never know what might happen today or tomorrow or next year.

After a slew of tests (CT Scans, MRI, and the scariest of all, the Angiogram) my crew of doctors figured out that I had a Vertebral Artery Dissection... fancy words meaning that I had actually torn the inner lining of the two small arteries in the back of my neck. My stroke-like experience happened because blood flow to my brain was cut off for a second, leaving me dissoriented and unable to use the left side of my body. The other interesting piece of information was that the MRI showed that I actually did have a stroke at some point. It was unknown us to whether it happened 3 weeks or 15 years ago, but still pretty scary to hear. The blood clot actually went to a memory center of my brain, so I didn't experience any serious damage but I most likely just felt a little "off" when it happened.

I spent 3 months on medications and under close watch until the arteries were able to heal. The crazy thing is, I'm back to normal. It's almost like it never happened. However, I definitely gained a great deal of wisdom from the experience and, honestly, it still scares me when I think about what could have happened.

So, one of the things that came out of this is that I realized that I really have no career goals other than finding a way to make it on my own. I could spend my time working for someone else, and I might even enjoy and be really good at it, but it would still feel like time wasted for me.

The second thing is that I wanted to finally go on my road trip around the country. I can't even remember how this idea was planted in my head or when I started obsessing about it, but it's been a dream of mine for a long time. I have been looking for a way to make it work for years, and so I'm very excited to say that it's finally going to become a reality with Nice Shirt, America. The best part is that it combines my longing to travel with the practical and fun purpose of promoting my business and meeting new people, to share their stories as well as mine.

Of course, I'd like to avoid racking up major credit card debt, so I'm looking to have this project funded through Kickstarter. Thankfully we have friends across the country, willing to put up with us couch surfing, so we are basically looking for gas money. Times are tough, for sure, but if you have anything to spare... even $1... you can help us make this tour possible.

So, here I am, a little older and a lot wiser, trying to make my dream a reality.

PS - Big thanks to the 8th floor of Providence Portland Medical Center. They were so nice and took really great care of me, and without their financial aid, I would probably be forced to eat top ramen and live in my mom's basement for the rest of my life.

New! Magic Jar Cozies

2011-08-19T15:40:00.001-07:00

I'm currently writing my guest post for Campfire Chic about the many uses for the Magic Jar so I'm really excited to tell you about my new Magic Jar Cozies for sale at the etsy shop!

New! Concert Quilts

2011-08-18T12:31:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited to introduce the newest innovation at Queen B Quilts... the Concert Quilt!
These quilts are lightweight and the perfect size to bring to an outdoor concert, picnic, outdoor movie, or the beach.

Each quilt is unique because they are made from a variety of t-shirts and backed with a vintage sheet.

A limited number of Concert Quilts will officially go on sale September 1st. If you want to get ahead of the game, become a fan on Facebook and you'll be the first to know when the quilts are ready for sale.

I brought these quilts to use at Doe Bay Fest this past weekend and I ended up getting quite a few people coming up to me just to find out where I got them, so I'm looking forward to spreading the word!

Show Me Your Shirt!

2011-08-10T13:00:00.000-07:00

Today, we are launching our Kickstarter project, Nice Shirt, America! We love t-shirts so much that we are taking this show on the road so we can get out there and see your best t-shirts!

You can get a lot of fun prizes for supporting the project through Kickstarter, but over here at Queen B Quilts, I have an extra special prize.

Since we need a little bit of help spreading the word, and we also want to hear about your t-shirts, I'd like to invite you to tell us about your favorite t-shirt. You can be as creative as you'd like, but make sure you have a photo and/or video of you in your t-shirt and a then tell me why you like this shirt so much!

Post this on your blog or on your facebook account (as a note) and send an email to niceshirtamerica@gmail.com with a link to your post. Make sure you tag or link to the Queen B Quilts website in your post as well!

We'll post the best entries online and allow fans to vote. A winner will be announced on September 28th!

The best posts will be voted on by fans and the winner will receive $200 toward their own t-shirt quilt. That's a FREE twin-size quilt made of 20 of your favorite t-shirts!

Please post and let us know about it by August 31st! Send any questions or a link to your post to niceshirtamerica@gmail.com.

Nike Quilt

2011-08-03T23:19:00.000-07:00

Check out my most recent project, a king size t-shirt quilt. This was a gift for a Nike employee who was moving away. The team wrote notes on each square to her!

Happy Birthday!

2011-08-01T23:28:00.000-07:00

It's August! And that means Queen B Quilts has been in business for 4 years! And it also means I've been alive for 27 years. Hooray! It's a double birthday! Kind of like a double rainbow, but better...

Yep, four years ago, I officially went into the business of wiping that frustrated look off of people's faces.

What do I do with all of my favorite t-shirts?

To celebrate the best month of the year, I want to not only ease your frustrations by unloading your t-shirt drawer but I want to give you a cupcake to sweeten up the process!

Any quilt ordered in the month of August will receive a gift certificate for a cupcake from a shop near you (wherever you are, I'll find one). If you're in Portland, it'll have to be from Saint Cupcake, because they are my fave.

So, go collect all of those t-shirts and send me an email to get started at britta.folden@gmail.com!

Bloglovin

2011-07-26T15:31:00.001-07:00

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Nice Shirt, America

2011-07-25T14:04:00.000-07:00

I'd like to officially introduce Queen B Quilt's newest project, Nice Shirt, America!

The reason t-shirt quilts are so great is because of the t-shirts and the stories behind them. I want to give more people the opportunity to share their t-shirt love with the world!

This fall, I'm heading out on the road with my friend Lisa to document and share with you the best and most interesting t-shirt stories out there. Over the course of 6 weeks, we plan to travel to almost 30 states where we will be out wandering with our camera to find you and ask you why you love your t-shirt. We will also be meeting up with t-shirt designers, crafters, shop owners, etc. along the way.

Part fashion blog for the average Joe, part travel blog for weird America, sure to be full of fun times.

You can follow along on twitter, facebook and at the blog Nice Shirt, America. Please share with your friends and find out more about how you can get involved!

DIY: Summer Drink Cozy

2011-07-20T11:16:00.000-07:00

It's Wednesday! That means it's scrap craft time. And since it is summer (believe it or not... I'm looking at you Portland) I thought it might be nice to have a new drink cozy/coozie made from our Green Got Game t-shirt. I'm going to use a canning jar since this is what I drink from most of the time (hot and cold drinks). You can use whatever you want! You'll need to have your bottle/can/cup close by for measuring purposes.

Well, we don't have much left of this shirt, but the sleeves work perfectly for this project.

What you'll need:
T-shirt
Scissors
Paper
Ruler & Pencil
A small bit of batting, wool or felt
Sewing machine and/or needle & thread

1. We're going to use the t-shirt sleeves for this project, so you'll need to cut them off of the t-shirt and then cut across the bottom to cut off the seam and open them up.

2. We need to make a template to fit our specific drink. Grab your can/bottle/glass and wrap a piece of paper around it. Use your pencil to give yourself a guide of where to cut the paper. It should be larger than what you actually want your cozy (commonly known as "seam allowance"). I made my template so it completely covered the glass jar and had about an inch of overlap on the ends.

3. Use your template to cut out the two sleeves and also one piece of batting (or felt or wool). This will better insulate your drink!

4. Take your two t-shirt pieces and place them together, with the "good" sides facing in or toward each other. (If you're not sure about which side is good - just go with your gut - what side do you want to see?) Stack those on top of your insulation piece.

5. Now, we sew! You can hand sew this, but a sewing machine will make this much quicker. You're going to sew around 3 sides of your fabric ONLY. We need to leave the short end open so we can flip it inside out. If you have uneven edges, make sure you catch all of the pieces while sewing and then feel free to trim down the edges after you sew.

6. Take your project and flip it inside out so the insulation is on the inside. I like to use a knitting needle to get in there and push out the corner. A pencil will probably work as well. If you'd like, you can also iron so you get a nice flat product.

7. Now you get to be a little bit creative. To finish my drink cozy, I folded in the raw edge on the end and then sewed all around the edge of the entire piece with a contrasting thread. Of course, in order to make it a cozy, it needs to somehow attach at the ends so it can wrap around your drink. I chose to hand-sew the edges together. You can do this as well but add buttons or patches or small crafty anythings. Think ouside the box.

8. Fill glass and enjoy!

For all you Potter-heads

2011-07-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

via CRAFT:

DIY: Finger Knitting

2011-07-13T10:37:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, seems I'm going to get a little bit lazy on you this week! I had a good project planned, but I haven't had time to work on it, so you'll have to wait until next Wednesday to continue with me on a t-shirt deconstruction crafts.

But, I'm not about to leave you without something exciting to make. Since you now have the skills to cut t-shirts into long strips, you can do all kinds of fun projects! I wanted to share this tutorial for a bracelet. It might take you a few tries to get the finger knitting down, but keep trying until you figure it out! I know I had to attempt this many times before I got something I actually liked.

Full instructions here.

Enjoy!

And congratulations to Patty A., winner of last week's giveaway! This week, I'm giving away a second pack of friendship bracelets. Just comment here to win!

T-Shirt Wars

2011-07-09T00:53:00.000-07:00

FF: Fail Gloriously

2011-07-08T10:40:00.000-07:00

I'm starting to love Follow Fridays. It gives me a great excuse to get out of my studio and onto the streets! Looking for the next interesting artist.

Yesterday, I went to First Thursday for the first time and now I'm wishing I would have made this a priority in months passed. If you live in Portland, it's definitely worth your time. Especially since every shop you go to feeds you and gives you free drinks. It's a win-win situation.

I paid another visit to Gigantic Gallery and a few other shops in the area, but I was most excited to check out the show "Fail Gloriously" at Wieden + Kennedy. I really enjoy seeing the way individuals can interpret a word or phrase and I've also been thinking a lot about failure and perseverence lately, so it was quite serendipitous that I came across this show now. This was posted on the wall:

We are W+K 12.

We are 84 people who decided to leave our friends, our families, our lives, and our disposable income behind for a whole year.

We worked harder than we've ever worked before. We did the best we possibly could. We took a huge leap and fell right on our faces. Then we got back up and did it all over again.

We are W+K 12.

We don't just fail, we fail gloriously.

And then we came across this guy:

He's playing piano across America and hoping to inspire people to follow their dreams. I think he's doing a good job of taking risks and possibly failing gloriously - especially after reading that he learned to play piano AFTER deciding that he wanted to travel the country playing on the streets. Oh, and the piano also broke two of his fingers. Is that irony? I haven't been sure of the definition of irony since Alanis Moorisette confused the situation 15 years ago.

Have a great weekend!

You Can Get Whatever You Like

2011-07-07T12:12:00.000-07:00

Since Queen B Quilts is a small company and it's mostly just me (Britta) running this show, you get the advantage of having a one on one conversation with me about what exactly you're looking for in a t-shirt quilt. It's important to me that you get just what you want, so I wanted to share some ideas about how to personalize and customize your quilt.

Most t-shirt quilts are pretty straight-forward, but occasionally customers request something that looks a little more... askew. This is an easy thing to do and also makes it easier to fit in a few more t-shirts, if you've got more than enough for a quilt.

Another of my favorite ways to make a quilt look more unique is to cut the shirts so that the designs are off center or cropped in an interesting way. This one was done completely with lacrosse jerseys and I had a lot of fun with it!

Sometimes people have t-shirts with a larger design on the back of the shirt, but just a small lapel logo on the front. I usually recommend that the smaller logo be sewn or appliqued on the quilt. I can also put multiple smaller pieces into one normal quilt square.

If you have clothing with interesting little embellishments like lace trim on a skirt or a jacket with an elastic band, it's possible to work those into the quilt and I usually try to do that whenever possible.

One last idea I'll post here is the logo design within a quilt! I'll admit, this is a challenge to do, but I'm also most proud of these quilts. For this quilt made completely of running shirts, we included the Iron Man logo in the quilt and it turned out beautifully!

On top of all this, you can have your quilt machine quilted by our contracted long-arm quilter in our signature honeycomb pattern!

DIY Wednesday: Friendship Bracelets

2011-07-06T11:37:00.000-07:00

It's Wednesday so I'm back with another crafty way to use up an old t-shirt! First, I'd like to congratulate Lacey, the winner of the t-shirt necklace from last week. I'll be giving away this week's craft as well, you just need to comment here to enter.

I'm going to continue using the same t-shirt from last week and make some friendship bracelets.

1. Lay out your shirt and use a square ruler to cut out the front and back squares of the t-shirt. You do not need to be precise in your cutting... in fact, you shouldn't be. It is best to cut about a half an inch outside of the ruler, this will be helpful when using the front of the shirt for a t-shirt quilt.

2. Take the back square of the t-shirt and fold it in half. A lot of t-shirts that come from events have logos of event sponsors or participant names - these make really cool bracelets as you will soon see!

3. Use the ruler to cut strips of fabric, about half an inch wide. Don't worry about being precise. Get creative and try different widths. You can't mess this up!

4. Similar to the t-shirt necklace, pull the cut strips to stretch them out. They'll curl up and the printed designs on the shirt will create a random design on your bracelet, which I think looks pretty cool.

5. Braid the pieces together. If you've got some awesome braiding and knot tying skills from your years at summer camp, they might come in handy now. I never went to camp, so I'll just be doing a simple straight forward braid today. Make sure you knot each end of the bracelet. I have found the easiest way is to tie two pieces together, then wrap the third piece around and tie a slip knot. It looks clean and it won't fall out since you'll be braiding it all together.

6. This one square from your t-shirt should give you 6 to 10 bracelets, depending on the size of your cut strips. Tie one on and give the rest to your besties!

If you'd like to win this pack of friendship bracelets, comment below! I will randomly draw a winner and announce it next Wednesday!

FF: Recycled Crafts and Movie Posters!

2011-07-01T12:27:00.000-07:00

I've got a few suggestions of local businesses and crafters to check out this weekend, if you have the time! I'm sure you'll be busy barbequeing or running around with sparklers (be careful, last time I played with a sparkler I sprained my ankle... long story).

Anyway, I went to the Recycled Arts Festival in Vancouver, Washington last weekend. It was a gorgeous day and there was a huge number of amazing artists set up in the park. Every one of them had projects that involved recycling, reusing or repurposing. They were so creative, it's hard to narrow it down to a few to share with you, so I'll probably share some others with you next week as well! You can see more pictures of my visit to the Festival here.

I'm not a big jewelry person, but the goods from Salvage Siren were really interesting! Very vintage like, bold pieces. The jewelry often was made with things you wouldn't think could be worn as jewelry, like this necklace made from a puzzle piece. How clever!

Another great little booth was ReThink Crafts. They had all kinds of neat things, but one of my favorites was the tote bags made out of old sails and banners. One of the things I look for when shopping for new things is usefullness and durability. There are a lot of really cute crafts out there, but I wouldn't necessarily want to buy them. THESE on the other hand are so useful an incredibly durable! It's a really great idea. She also had really great style and beautiful colors and fabrics on her other items. If I was to give out a prize to my favorite artist, this booth would win.

Lastly, I was wandering around Northwest Portland in the lesser populated part of the NW... does it have a name? I'm not sure. I'll call it the practically industrial but newly populated by modern lofts... part of Portland. So, again, I was wandering around there and saw a little gallery of posters called Gigantic Gallery. I'm a big fan of posters so I stopped in. It was cute and pretty small - located in an ActivSpace - but they had a great collection of movie posters from both local and global artists. Turns out they are pretty new and as it says on their website they "could be huge" and I agree.

Happy Independence Day everyone! Put on those I Heart America t-shirts and celebrate!

T-Shirt for Non-Profits

2011-06-30T10:13:00.001-07:00

Sevenly.org from Sevenly on Vimeo.

Behind the Quilt: Elise Rooker in New York

2011-06-29T23:08:00.000-07:00

Who are you? (name, age, occupation)
Elise Rooker, 27, Actor/TV Host

Where do you live?
New York

Describe yourself in 3 words:
Oh let's see...

What is your favorite hang out?
Denny's... always has been, always will be. Very few here in New York though - not pleasing!

How did you acquire all of those t-shirts?!
As a kid, I trid as many activities as possible with hopes that, one day, I'd be good at something!

Where do you keep your t-shirt quilt?
Front and center. On the couch in the living room.

What is your favorite thing about your t shirt quilt?
When I look at it, I am proud of a full life (up to this point) and I am grateful for the people who share those memories with me (including my good friend Britta, who made the quilt!).

What t-shirt is most important to you and why?
Well, they all mean a lot to me but my "American Coed Pageant" t-shirt is pretty great. It really was what started it all for me. I love to perform because I began competing in this program from a young age. It stuck with me and developed into something much bigger.

Best experience you had while wearing one of these t-shirts...
During my senior year of high school, our choir was raising money for a trip to New York. As students we volunteered our time performing odd jobs for local people. My friend Joey and I were painting a fence. The person who owned the house forgot to tell us that she let her chickens and rooster roam free in the yard. The birds attacked us and chased us around the yard until we bolted for the car. As a result, I sprayed paint all over my "Dance/Drill State Championship 2000" t-shirt AND poor Joey! We laughed until we cried. Not the best experience... but I won't be forgetting it anytime soon.

Where can we find you (or something you love) online?
You can find me on Time Warner On Demand Channel 1111 (East Coast/TriState), Youtube, and in small roles on various cable and network TV shows nationally.

I feel like I wouldn't be a good friend without providing something embarassing. -Britta

DIY: T-Shirt Necklace

2011-06-29T12:03:00.001-07:00

Happy Wednesday! I would like to show you some ways to creatively reuse your old t-shirts! My goal is to find ways to use at least 90% of a t-shirt to create other things, so join me for my first post about our lime green Got Game t-shirt and follow along each week until I've used it up for various projects!

You will need:
A cotton jersey t-shirt
A cutting mat and rotary cutters (or regular scissors might work for you)
Some kind of cutting guide or ruler

1. For my project, I want to keep the front of the t-shirt to use in my t-shirt quilt, so using my guide ruler, I cut off the bottom of the shirt to use for my necklace.

2. Make sure the t-shirt is nice and flat and fold it in half. Cut off the chunky hem usuing your ruler as a guide.

3. Cut your t-shirt into strips length-wise. You can vary the width of the pieces, but they should probably be at least half an inch.

4. Stretch it out! Take each t-shirt strip and stretch it until it curls in on itself.

5. Wear your new creation! We'll explore more ways to get creative with your new skills as a t-shirt necklace artist in the future. If you have any ideas, please share!

T-Shirts: Family Reunions

2011-06-28T09:14:00.001-07:00

Do you have a family reunion coming up this summer? Now you can get personalized family reunion t-shirts from kin.

FF: Favorite Finds

2011-06-24T10:12:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of Twitter's "Follow Friday" (or #FF) I would like to share with you a couple of local makers that I have come across lately!

I occasionally like to visit the coffee shop Ristretto Roasters on the North end of Portland for their awesomely strong Americanos! But I'm not really here to tell you about that. Once, after getting coffee with my mom, I realized there was a back hallway in this building and decided to check it out. Hidden in the back, we found tiny meat!

He uses his own art printed on recycled materials to make wallets, passport covers, checkbook covers, and more! They are very fun and the owner was very nice and friendly. I picked up a Lasercat Passport Cover!

My other recent discovery I found at the Rebel Craft Rumble, where she had donated some items to the raffle. Pickle Things has a collection of super cute little felted food. I'm not really sure what to do with them, but they're somewhat irresistable.

Behind the Quilt: Bruce in Seattle

2011-06-23T12:01:00.000-07:00

Who are you? (name, age, occupation)
Bruce Folden, 53, Buyer

Where do you live?
North Seattle

Describe yourself in 3 words:
Active, Enjoys Life, and Likes People

What is your favorite hang out?
My local running trail and bike path

How did you acquire all of those t-shirts?!
Fun Runs over the past five years

Where do you keep your quilt?
Draped on the couch in the living room where everyone can see it

What is your favorite thing about your t shirt quilt?
It commemorates all in one spot

What t-shirt is most important to you and why?
The Love ‘em or Leave ‘em race because it was my first run

Best experience you had while wearing one of these t-shirts...
That people stop to talk to me and tell me that they did the same run

Video by Mike Folden Productions

T-Shirt Tuesday: Hello Summer!

2011-06-21T09:44:00.000-07:00

In case you have found yourself without any cool t-shirts to wear since you traded your collection in for a t-shirt quilt, I thought I would share some of my favorite t-shirts I've found lately! These ones are particularly summery, since it seems it's finally here!

From Threadless

From Pinterest

Camp Anawana, we hold you in our hearts!
From 80's Tees

Happy Friday

2011-06-17T12:07:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I'm wishing that I could be out playing in the sun, but I've got work to do.

I'll be working on a quilt for a high school football coach as well as two quilts made of Northwest t-shirts and some pretty funny fishing t-shirts... seriously, your t-shirts never fail to amuse me.

Also, I'd like to let you know about some other places you can find me on the web. If you have an interest in listening to good music (IMHO) then you should check out my music blog Currently On Rotation.

If you are a small business owner, entreprenuer, designer or just generally curious about those types of things you should check out my blog Kickstand Kaleidoscope. It's been a while since I wrote over there but I'm planning on bringing it back!

And please don't forget to subscribe to this blog or the others simply by clicking that little subscribe button over there on your right!

Enjoy your weekend friends!

New Quilts!

2011-06-08T15:35:00.000-07:00

I've uploaded some new photos of quilts! Please check them out.

Behind the Quilt: Lisa Colella in Juneau, AK

2011-06-02T10:58:00.000-07:00

Who are you? (name, age, occupation)
Lisa Colella, 27, Women's Advocate (DV Shelter)

Where do you live?
Juneau, AK

Describe yourself in 3 words:
Crafty, Compassionate, Curious

What is your favorite hang out?
On the beach at North Douglas, with a bonfire, at sunset (which is about 10pm these days), hoping to watch some whales go by. Or, at the Rookery Cafe catching up on email and what's happening in the rest of the world.

How did you acquire all of those t-shirts?!
College....campus ministry: retreats, etc.

Where do you keep your quilt?
With all my other blankets...ready at a moments notice for some snuggling

What is your favorite thing about your t shirt quilt?
Re-purposed clothing. I really like when things are recycled.

What t-shirt is most important to you and why?
Hard to say...they each hold a special place.

Best experience you had while wearing one of these t-shirts...
One of the best experiences was making the tie-dye shirt that's in my quilt. Tie-dye is one of my favorite crafty activities, and I made that one while camping with a bunch of friends. Everyone tie-dyed a different type of clothing and we had them all hung out over the fire to dry.

Where can we find you (or something you love) online?
I'm up here in Alaska as part of a program called the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. I live with 6 other people and we all work for different social service agencies, we also have alot of fun. This is our YouTube Channel...take a look.
http://www.youtube.com/user/JVCJuneau

Rebel Craft Rumble

2011-06-01T15:01:00.000-07:00

It's June! How did that happen?

Anyway, I'm volunteering on an event that I want to tell you about. It's called Rebel Craft Rumble. It just sounds exciting, right? It's a yearly event put on by SCRAP where 5 contestants go head to head in a crafty battle. They're given a pile of random supplies and recycled goods then they must create something... errr awesome... or hideous... or weird. It's all very cool.

Please attend if you can and get your tickets EARLY! Tickets are only $8 in advance (includes a beer!) They are on sale now at SCRAP or online. The event will take place June 15th at The Clinton Street Theater in Portland.

T-Shirt Scrap Project

2011-05-31T12:34:00.000-07:00

I spent my Memorial Day developing a few new t-shirt scrap products. My goal is to actually have a way to disect a t-shirt so that at least 90% of the shirt is reused in various projects. So, your t-shirt not only goes into a quilt but is used to create other cool things available for purchase on the Queen B Quilts etsy site!

This picture is just a little sneak peek of what's to come!

Guns and Rose Festival

2011-05-27T16:43:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! We're kicking off Portland's Festival of Roses tonight with a fireworks show over the Willamette River tonight. As I am prone to do, I googled "Rose Festival t-shirt" and what do you think I found?

Yeah, I think it's as good as any...

Have a great long weekend friends!

Behind the Quilt: Britta Folden

2011-05-24T10:51:00.000-07:00

Today I'm introducing a new blog series, Behind the Quilt. This is an opportunity to tell you more about the people who have t-shirt quilts from Queen B Quilts! I have been hoping to find a way to share about these awesome people for a while now because everyone is so unique and has such an interesting story. I hope you enjoy!

Just to get things started, I'd like to introduce you to... me!

Who are you? (name, age, occupation)
Britta Folden, 26, entreprenuer

Where do you live?
Portland, Oregon... Foster-Powell to be exact

Describe yourself in 3 words:
Creative, Motivated, Friendly

What is your favorite hang out?
Wherever I can hang my hammock

How did you get all of those t-shirts?!
I've got two quilts! One of high school t-shirts from choir competitions, fundraisers, sports teams, etc. I also have a quilt from my college years at Western Washington University where I was involved with dorm life, retreats, campus events and such. I also have a few t-shirts from places I traveled while in school.

Where do you keep your quilt?
In the winter, on my bed. It's super warm and heavy which I love. Most of the time it's sitting on my couch. It's my favorite cuddle blanket while watching movies because I have a fleece backing on it. SO WARM.

What is your favorite thing about your t shirt quilt?
Lots of memories. I also love how colorful and random it is. It's a little bit chaotic, much like my life.

What t-shirt is most important to you and why?
It would probably have to be my campus ministry shirt because it was something I was very involved with in college. It reminds me of all of the fun events and the awesome friends I made through it.

Best experience you had while wearing one of these t-shirts...
There's a Big Brothers Big Sisters fundraising event, Bowl For Kids Sake, t-shirt. It was something I participated in with a few friends my freshman or sophomore year of college. I didn't realize it at the time, but those friends on my team are still my best friends today. The t-shirt just reminds me of the start of all of the ridiculous fun we've had over the years.

Where can we find you (or something you love) online? (i.e. your business website, sports team, webpage... whatever)
Besides this website, you can find me on my music blog Currently On Rotation!

Hey Seattlites!!

2011-05-20T10:51:00.000-07:00

Save on shipping! I'm in Seattle through Sunday afternoon (May 22nd) and I'd be more than happy to pick up your t-shirts for a quilt while I'm here, saving you the shipping money (and the fear of losing the shirts in the mail...).

If you can get it together quickly, shoot me an email at britta.folden@gmail.com and we'll set something up!

I hope you are enjoying this sun on Bike To Work Day!!

New T-Shirt Quilts

2011-05-19T12:25:00.000-07:00

I've been busy making quilts! Here are a few I recently completed.

I made two quilts from jerseys for the Women's Lacrosse Assistant Coaches at St. John's College in Washington D.C. I had a lot of fun with the design!

A Travel Quilt

A Northwest Quilt

I've got plenty more photos of t-shirt quilts that I've made on Flickr. Check it out!

What A Month!

2011-04-18T10:14:00.000-07:00

Oh, April... a month of sunny days that suddenly turn into hail storms. The month when bright colors and sandals start to look appealing again. A month dedicated to grilled cheese sandwiches...

Yep, you heard me. It's National Grilled Cheese Month. In case you have forgotten the pure joy of eating a grilled cheese, you should probably run to your nearest American cheese provider and start grilling. I finally managed to make my way to The Grilled Cheese Grill here in Portland over the weekend to celebrate. Rather than go for the classic (called the Preschooler) I chose the BABS (Bacon, Apple, Blue Cheese and Swiss) on swirl rye bread. It was tasty.

If you're in Portland, here's a nice review of some of the best grilled cheese in town.

Thought You Should Know

2011-04-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

Found @ little paper cities

Buy Me!

2011-04-12T16:13:00.000-07:00

I just uploaded a new item on the etsy shop - a Turquoise and Black Jersey Scarf!

Also if you are interested in vintage items, I'm selling a few things online over here.

The Weekend: Spring Maybe?

2011-04-12T11:06:00.000-07:00

I didn't get a chance to post an update from the weekend yesterday, so here it is now!

Clockwise from top left:

Backspace Cafe is currently holding the qualifying rounds for the National Poetry Slam in Boston this summer. The poets are fantastic! Honest, intense, insightful and sometimes hilarious.

Even though it has been somewhat sunny this weekend it is still freezing at night! My bed has a comforter, a wool blanket and my t-shirt quilt on it right now!

I went for a walk and came across three little boys selling muffins and orange juice in front of their Sellwood neighborhood home. They were such good salesmen I dug through my bag to find a dollar in change so I could buy something. And it was delicious!

Sunday I hit up my usual neighborhood coffee shop, Sweetness Bakery, for a pastry and an americano. Their pastries are amazing and I also love the breakfast burrito with avocado. Yum!

Finally found my way to Ground Kontrol in old town for a drink and some video gaming action! It's places like this that make Portland so cool.

I spent some time reading Julia Child's book My Life In France... It makes me want to give up sewing and become a chef. Or just move to France and eat in restaurants every night.

I love Jimmy Fallon. On Fridays he writes Thank You Notes and this Friday he thanked quilts for "being blankets made up of other tiny blankets." So true, Jimmy.

I decided to explore the St. John's Neighborhood of Portland, including Cathedral Park. What a cute neighborhood! I even walked in on a folk singing jam at a book store.

It was sunny AND warm on Friday! I went out in search of a new hang out spot and I found a good one at a dock on the river.

I hope you all had a great weekend! Back to work now!

What Is Art?

2011-04-08T09:58:00.000-07:00

Any big plans for your weekend? I haven't been very good at taking my weekends off lately, rather I've been cutting, ironing, sewing, or planning. This weekend, I think I will take some time to be creative in other ways.

Found: Bunny Victorious

I like this quote because it reminds me to enjoy the little things. It also has inspired my weekend plans.
My camera has been getting dusty over the last few weeks. I can only hope I might look this trendy and happy while out shooting.

Maybe I'll do some sewing for myself - I would really like to attempt to make this dress.

In order to keep my sanity, I think I need to do some serious spring cleaning this weekend. My mantra - "less is more."

Have an artful weekend!

April Showers

2011-04-07T07:30:00.000-07:00

The weather here in Portland has been... ummm... frantic. I'm just thankful it's not snowing (as it is in Seattle). All this rain has me dreaming of a more colorful spring. Fingers crossed it warms up soon!

Found: You Are My Fave
Found: Perfect Wedding
Found: Jana Laurene
Found: Oh, Hello Friend
Found: We Heart It
Found: Ashley Ann Photography

BFF!

2011-04-06T15:57:00.000-07:00

I just added a new product to the etsy shop - friendship bracelets! These come in packs of 3 to share with besties. They are made from t-shirt scraps. I hope you like them!

Who would you give your bracelets to? I'd probably give mine to a few of these crazy people:

Unconsumption

2011-04-06T08:11:00.000-07:00

Found: Unconsumption

Apparently there is a movement in our society to become unburdened by our posessions. I have always felt that clutter is the enemy, that is why I found a unique way to turn my memorable t-shirts into something useful (and awfully cozy, I might add). It goes beyond t-shirts, of course, and I often go through my things to figure out how I can simplify. I'm a minimalist at heart. And since spring cleaning is upon us, this might be a good time for all of us to clean up and clear out!

What do you find is the hardest to let go of?

P.S. I Made This

2011-04-05T09:07:00.000-07:00

Being a crafty person has it's pitfalls... stepping on needles hidden in the carpet, backaches from being hunched over a sewing machine all day, but the worst might be the dilusions. Specifically the "I can make that" dilusion.

When I'm wandering through a shop, my mind is wandering through the craft store trying to figure out what supplies I need to make that cute thing. Do I ever actually make that cute thing? No. As soon as I see the next cute thing I've forgotten about the last. It's a curse, really.

There is a great website that offers tutorials on how to make trendy things seen on the runway or in fashion magazines. If you also suffer from dilusions like mine, this may not be helpful for you, but I'm sure you will enjoy the possibilities of actually making these things as much as I do!

See more at P.S. I Made This

It's Monday...

2011-04-04T08:29:00.000-07:00

... let's make magic!

Print found here.

In the Shop

2011-04-02T16:44:00.000-07:00

If I told you I end up with a lot of leftover t-shirt scraps after making a quilt, I might wonder if you could actually picture this giant, colorful, mess.

I am tempted to dump them in my basement until I can create an actual pool of recycled jersey and then ride in a box down the stairs, crashing into the excessive cushion. That does seem a little bit wasteful still.

A scrap filled pool may happen someday, but for now I will use the scraps to create some fun accessories. I have plans to expand the etsy store with more options soon, but for now I have posted three new jersey scarves (or necklaces). They are majorly trendy and a nice piece to transition into spring.

If you have a certain color you are looking for, please email me and let me know. I'm sure I have it! And I'd be happy to make it custom for you. I can also mix colors together... whatever you want!

It's Friday, Friday

2011-04-01T20:17:00.000-07:00

The bad news: That Friday song is stuck in my head.

The good news: It's Friday (and you're probably already out celebrating)

The better news: I'm not sick anymore! Now I can get back to work. Wait...

Other news: I joined this interesting website called Pinterest. You may have heard of it, but it's basically a place where you "pin" things you see all over the interwebs straight onto your "board" and then you can share your pins with your friends on the site.

At first I thought this was ridiculous... and then I went to the site and couldn't manage to stop scrolling down. You see, there is no end to the scrolling. It just keeps coming. Much like twitter, you can never get caught up, which can be troubling for personalities such as mine.

Nevertheless, I hope you will check out my newest online distraction, Pinterest. If you are interested in joining, you'll need an invite. And I'm pleased to invite you! Just sign up for my newsletter (sneaky, I know) and I'll send you an invite right away!

Sick Day

2011-03-29T09:34:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling a little under the weather today, so I thought I would share a few of my favorite things for a sick day...

Of course, I'll need my quilt! This is my quilt from my college years, the second quilt I ever made. I put a fleece backing on this one and it is so very warm.

I can never get enough comfy lounge pants. These knit pants are from J.Crew.

I enjoy a little light reading while I'm home sick. I've been wanting to read this book since I saw Neil Pasricha's TED Talk. I'll also probably spend some time watching more TED Talks today. But, anyway, buy the book at Powell's.

A cup of tea... ironically this mug is not made in Oregon.

And of course I'll need a soft t-shirt. You can get a t-shirt from your favorite band under the Sub-Pop Record label here. The Head and the Heart is one of my faves.

Lastly, I'll definitely need this radio to listen to some NPR and KEXP.

Quilts by Luke

2011-03-28T09:16:00.000-07:00

Ok, this is amazing... I can't imagine how much planning and work it must take to make one of these quilts.

You can buy his quilts here at his etsy store. Wouldn't it be fun to have a quilt with your face on it?!
Found at: If It's Hip, It's Here

To-Do: Buy Notebook

2011-03-24T09:05:00.000-07:00

I like to make lists. It really is the only way I can feel like I've accomplished something each day.

If you're a fan of "to-do" lists, like me, I'm sure you also have an obsession with notebooks. I carry one with me at all times to jot down quilt ideas, remind myself of things to get done, or to take note of funny things that happen that day.
Moleskine

Upcycled Vintage Book

Field Notes Brand DIY Notebook

While I do enjoy the classic pen and paper, I have great respect for the electronic devices that keep us away from piles of paper. Here's a really classic iPad case I found on etsy.

Wool/Felt iPad Sleeve

Or maybe you're so forgetful you can't keep track of a notebook or iPad. Problem solved!
Erik Burke

What is on your list?

Dreaming

2011-03-23T07:43:00.000-07:00

Since I work out of my home, I spend a lot of time dreaming about what I WISH it looked like. This is pretty darn close. I wouldn't mind trading in my cozy little apartment for those high ceilings and tall windows.

Found: Refinery29

Design Your Look with Jess LC

2011-03-22T14:01:00.000-07:00

I came across this competition through Jess LC today. I don't normally enter competitions, but I saw this cute sweater today and felt compelled to create a "look" around that and enter it.

So, vote for me! And check out the awesome jewelry from Jess LC. Maybe even enter the contest yourself!

Left to Right: Faux Leather Vintage Camera Bag / Jess LC Diversey Single Paisley Bracelet / COFFEE / Sewing Machine Tank Top / 7 Trouser / Jess LC Diversey Six Paisley Drop Earrings / Dominica Sandals / Lulu Polka Dot Pullover

I also want to point out how much I love that sewing machine tank. I think I might have to get that one for sure.

I Heart Art PDX & Bike Cozy

2011-03-21T16:03:00.000-07:00

You know how it's been storming and raining for weeks now without end here in Portland? Well, it was actually sunny on Saturday! But I spent the day at a workshop for crafty business people, like myself... I don't regret it. If you are a crafty person in the Portland area, I highly recommend you check out all that I Heart Art PDX has to offer.

The workshop was taught by Rachel Dominguez-Benner of Bike Cozy and A Better Cycle. I just wanted to share some her cute things. Check her out on Etsy!

Pretty cool, right? Seems like a clever way to keep your bike tools together. Speaking of which, I should probably get my bike out of storage. I can tell the sun is trying to break through. It'll actually feel like spring soon... I hope. And, don't worry, I didn't spend all of Saturday inside. I stopped by the Portland Saturday Market and wandered around downtown for a bit. Yep. Be jealous.

Happy Spring!!

Irish-ish-ish

2011-03-17T10:34:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I hope you all are out celebrating your inner irish-ness today.

St. Pat's 2006... the fact that my friend Neil is wearing shorts and we are outside makes me doubly sad that it is so rainy here in Portland today.

In 2009 I spent St. Patrick's Day in York, England but we also hit up the celebration in London. Here's a video of an Irish boy band singing "Apologize." I think the song is about them being sorry for their horrible dance moves...

Order a quilt today (today only!!) and put "Kiss me, I'm Irish" in the subject line of your email to me and I'll throw in a special treat with your order.

I need to find something green to wear... Cheers!

2011-03-14T14:01:00.000-07:00

T-Shirt Quilts: Not Just for T Shirts Anymore!

2011-03-03T14:32:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted in so long! My apologies. I'm hoping to get back here more often.

I recently completed a quilt for Xylia in Denver. It was probably the most interesting quilt I have made yet! Xylia came to me with a large number of various t-shirts, pajama pants, tank tops, skirts, dresses, even a pillow case! There was enough there for a double sided quilt and I got to use some of the lace trimmings from the skirts and dresses as little embelishments on the quilt. She even included a t-shirt that she wore on her first date with her now husband. How cute!

Ugliest Christmas Ever

2010-12-20T18:38:00.001-08:00

Let's take this ugly Christmas sweater trend to the next level... anybody have an extensive collection?

Gift Certificates

2010-11-26T09:40:00.000-08:00

The ideal way to give the gift of a t-shirt quilt! Order a gift certificate online and a printed certificate will be mailed to you.

Please note that the prices do not include any specialty design elements such as embroidery, appliques, sashing, specialty batting or backing fabric.

Out of Print

2010-11-19T23:36:00.000-08:00

I'm a sucker for clever t-shirts and a business with a mission. Out of Print sells literary t-shirts and donates a book to Africa for each sold. Might be a good Christmas gift for the bookworm in your life.

SCRAP Holiday Bazaar TOMORROW!

2010-11-19T09:08:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow you can find me at SCRAP's 9th Annual Holiday Bazaar in Portland! I will be displaying a few quilts as well as selling some small crafts I have made from the leftover scraps from quilts, like these owls. These guys are made of t-shirts plus some extra fabric from quilts. They are even stuffed with quilt scraps!

If you are in the Portland area, please stop by!

Reuse: Old Broom

2010-11-17T10:01:00.000-08:00

I thought this was awfully clever... you can buy it here for $60 orrrr I think you might be able to cut the stick off of a broom and try that out - your choice.

Holidays just seem to run together sometimes...

2010-11-01T15:59:00.000-07:00

Is it Christmas yet? I may have jumped the gun a little early by watching the move White Christmas last night... on Halloween. Hey, I had quilting to do and few movie options!

This month, there will be a few exciting things happening around here.

Nov. 14th and 21stIf you are more of a "do-it-yourselfer" and want to learn how to make a t-shirt quilt, you can sign up for a class at Assemble Studio and Gallery. Space is limited to 4 students so sign up soon!

Nov. 20thWe will be working the booth at the SCRAP Holiday Bazaar in Portland. Come visit the booth for special prizes as well as some unique gifts made from the post-quilt leftover t-shirt scraps. Plus there will be many more vendors with gifts made from reused materials. Don't miss this one!

There's much more in the works, but until then I will be sewing my heart out.

2010-10-30T10:52:00.000-07:00

Repurposed Shelves

2010-10-28T16:24:00.000-07:00

(via Apartment Therapy)

Imaginary Dance Party: Vampire Weekend

2010-10-28T16:02:00.000-07:00

Imaginary Dance Party: Miike Snow

2010-10-26T15:12:00.000-07:00

If you're like me and have a job that involves sitting way too much, I think you might appreciate this.

My dream is that someday I will have a shop where we can do this together each day, but for now I suggest you take an afternoon break and join me for an...

I saw this band recently in Seattle. If only I could recreate the experience of lasers and fog here.

Hey...

2010-10-26T13:47:00.000-07:00

Thanks for visiting! We are currently working on getting a whole new (real) website that will answer all of your questions about ordering a t-shirt quilt through QueenB Quilts.

This is really great news because it means that this actually gets to be a blog! I have lots and lots of ideas, but here are some of the things you will find if you keep coming back:

-Updates on our work at QueenB Quilts. The business has recently expanded and we are serving a wider area now. I hope to keep you up to date on upcoming events and also highlight some of our customers. As you might imagine, the quilts we create are for very unique and interesting people and I hope to tell their stories here.

-Highlights of other local businesses and creative folk who share our values of creating goods that are practical and interesting but also make use of repurposed materials.

-Fun, hilarity and randomness. Some things I'm sure we all enjoy.

Again, thanks for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

2010-09-09T22:52:00.000-07:00

2009-10-27T03:21:00.000-07:00

2009-06-10T11:55:00.000-07:00

Oregon State - Kappa Alpha Theta

2008-05-30T18:45:00.000-07:00

Notre Dame Quilt

2007-11-07T09:51:00.000-08:00