Originally Posted by clynns

Growing up we had a projecter screen that you unfolded the legs, turned the screen horizontel, and then pulled the screen up to latch on the hook at the top. I'd give anything to have that back again. I haven't seen it in 40 years.

Originally Posted by fleurdelisquilts.com

It occurred to me that most schools are going to smart boards, which are basically white boards that connect to computers and work as projectors with a built-in screen. What this means is that the older version, overhead projectors, are now obsolete and are being dumped in landfills, or whatever, in multiples.

Every quilter could use an overhead projector, trust me. It's so easy to enlarge a pattern from a regular piece of paper or coloring book, small drawing, etc. and it doubles as the best light box! That means you will want to try to get your hands on a discarded projector.

Thanks for the idea!

If you have a teacher friend or family member, do yourself a favor and ask him/her to be on the lookout for a working projector that the school no longer needs. They have an inside track on things being discarded if they ask the right people, usually a librarian or media person, the principal or asst. principal, or other teacher friends.

If you're not so lucky, give the schools a call. Speak to the librarian (we're now called library media specialists, or LMS) and ask her to let you know if or when the school discards any projectors. Offer to pay, but she can't take the money, so you might consider donating a few books to the library. (Ask her the name of a popular novelist and purchase a few books if necessary.)

If your work pays off and you get a used projector, you can purchase replacement bulbs on the internet at sites like Bulbs Direct. Call and the salesperson will ask for the make/model of the projector, then tell you which bulb you need. Trust me, it's the easiest way....there are literally hundreds of different bulbs and not all projectors list the recommended type, although some do. The wrong type won't work!

It's easy to clean a projector and change the bulb, but you might ask the LMS to give you a quick lesson. ALWAYS wear cotton or rubber gloves when you touch the bulb: the oil on clean hands will blow the bulb when you turn it on! Ask me how I know :-)

Of course, you can always PM me if you have a question. I've been a LMS for years now, so I have changed a few bulbs and cleaned a few projectors.

Oh, you can use almost any clear plastic as film, but office supply stores do carry boxes of transparency film. You probably won't need more than 10 or so at first. Use a fine point Sharpie to trace your pattern onto the film--just set it on top the drawing you want to use. Then put the transparency on the glass and turn on the projector. Most projectors can be adjusted to get a clearer picture, just play a bit with the knobs and you'll figure it out.

I like to use thin poster board to make my pattern. I tape it to the wall, adjust the projector (moving it closer or farther away) to get the right size, and trace the pattern on the poster. Then cut away and you have a template or pattern.

Good luck! You'll love the projector and wonder how you got along without it!