I'm still gathering stuff, too. Our temps are in the 60's so it's very pleasant wandering around the garden or nearby fields & roadsides. As to containers, I've used all the items you mentioned plus things like oatmeal box weighted with rocks, wrapped in burlap & tied with sisal. Or for fancier presentation, wrap a milk carton in white nylon net or crepe paper and tie with gold cord or colored ribbon. I get a kick out of low-cost low-tech solutions. What can be more fun than enjoying flowers & foliage fresh, then dried, then painted and extending the pleasure for still another season! josh

Mastic can be used as an adhesive in non-wet areas. Your drywall is obviously in good shape, which means by itself it's not being hit by or incurring standing water. You didn't mention and water staining or degradation, so sure, mastic can be used to adhere the tile to it. Grid lines: It will most certainly help to add layout lines on the wall. It might help to strike chalk lines, then use a straight edge and sharpie marker to go over those lines. With differing tile sizes, you are correct in that you use the layout grid lines for overall guidance to keep the overall layout looking good, but on a tile-by-tile basis within the grid lines, the tile spacing is adjusted plus-or-minus here and there to keep that overall pattern looking good. Regarding uneven tile sizes...you might want to do a rough mock up. Your goal will be to not have a larger-than-normal tiles adjacent to several other larger-than-normal tiles. Several large tiles in a row can really throw the layout off. Same with several smaller-than-normal tiles in a row. That can result in a run of wide grout joints. Try to work out your layout and installation so larger-than-normal and smaller-than-normal tiles are mixed and mingled throughout the layout. Mastic usually holds tile pretty well on the wall, it's usually a "no sag" installation unless the tiles are heavy. If you think your tiles might sag, then have a collection of tile spacers and/or tile spikes (spacers shaped like wedges) to prevent sagging. These can be store bought or home made. I'd clean off the backs of the tiles. Use a sharp chisel to shave the dollops of silicone off the tile. If you start with crap, you'll end up with crap. Why start with compromised materials? If you use the "premixed adhesive" (mastic) to set the tiles, wait several days before grouting. Mastic cures by drying, so it needs air. If you use the "premixed grout" which is also a mastic-like material, read the installation and cleanup instructions. It can shrink as it dries, so it might not be the best choice if you have wide grout joints as the excessive shrinkage could result in it pulling away from the tiles. If you decide to opt away from the Mapei premixed stuff, see if they have Mapei Kerabond and Mapei Keralastic. That combination gives good working time and good stickiness in terms of minimizing sag. Mongo

Marlene, your DH's mantel gift to your sister DEFINITELY counts! What a fantastic homemade gift! I'm very lucky to have two wonderfully talented BILs that have made very special things like that for me! OA, your wooden soldiers are adorable! It's wonderful that you're able to craft with your grandchildren -- how creative and talented! Jeanne, I'll bet your tags and bookmarks are great! I've seen photos of many of your DH's beautiful woodworking creations, but nothing from his new scrollsaw work. Would love to see pictures! :) Lynne, hand-embroidered Christmas table runners would be an incredible gift! Can't wait to see what you produce! I did take a few photos to show what I've made... The bee skep didn't come out as well as I had hoped... I'm not going to try to make another before xmas though! My sister only wants to use it as garden decoration. The elbow basket came out great: I also made a sciathog for my niece from my freshly harvested willow... the photo also shows one of the many lavender sachets I made. :) Now I feel lost. I don't have anything else on my 'to make' list other than some xmas sweets!

If you do it in the tub, lay a sheet in first to use as a lifter for the wet quilt later. Fold the outer quarter on each side to the back, and then put it into accordion folds to fit in the tub with the accordion pleats going up and down. The folds help make sure all the front gets nice swishing water, and then can be gently recompressed to get some of the rinse water out. My mom never used much soap, because she said it's really hard to rinse a quilt and water is pretty cleansing anyway. That may not matter so much these days with special quilt soaps-she always used a shampoo she liked the smell of. Enlist help to lift a wet quilt out the tub--it's going to be really heavy. Lay it out flat to dry, again on top of a sheet and my mom always puts another sheet on top of the quilt to protect from any sun and bird droppings. Nothing quite so frustrating as a clean fresh quilt that's almost dry with a plop of bird poop on it.