Showing posts with label Halloween. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Halloween. Show all posts

Friday, October 24, 2014

Black Cat Crossing Blog Hop "Our Day"

Welcome to day 5
of
Black Cat Crossing Blog Hop!
I am so excited to share my day with some wickedly wonderful 
and oh so creative bloggers:

Today-Friday, October 24
Just Let Me Quilt
Buzzing and Bumbling
Thimblemouse & Spouse (moi)
krislovesfabric
Quilt Doodle Doodles
Be sure to visit each and every one!

Thank you dear Mdm Samm for yet another delightful challenge
and Wicked Wendy, our enchanting cheerleader who kept our 'spirits' moving!

I'm also very lucky to share today's post with a couple of our 'kids'.
Yes, we have black cats...but the 'other' ones...
you know...the oranges...the calicoes...
they just feel so left out this time of year....
I told them if they could spookify it up just a bit...
we'd let them play along.

"Ella Boo"
(aka Cinderella)
 wanted to tell us a Halloween "tail"

Sorry 'Ella...no time for spooky stories today...
but I give you "paws UP" for your effort!

Sadly I didn't get to play with the fabulous Black Cat Crossing fabrics...
(Oh My...have you been following along? So many wonderful projects made!)

Not to worry...
I played all the same...
There's still lots of fun things to see!
Pillowcases...why not make some this year for your "Trick or Treat" bags?
They would hold a ginormous amount of loot, dontcha think?

My absolute all time favorite black cat fabric used above 
is from Elizabeths Studio...


I used that along with fabrics from Andovers "Chillingsworth" line for the
 braided section of this fabulous tablerunner!

I love Julie Herman - Jaybird Quilts -...and her Hex N More ruler!
This pattern has has been on my 'to-do list' for some time now.
Very easy to make...very! Julie provides directions to draw your own template
in her "Tasty" pattern...but I'm a firm believer that if there is a ruler or tool
to help you get the job done...then splurge...get it...use it...you won't be sorry!

Here's a bit of the back....
I pieced together some great Chillingsworth typed motif with
that fabulous retro orange and black from Alexander Henry.

It's not a blog hop with a mug rug...
Sip...Hop...Hop...Sip...Mmmm
If you love this design...
you can get the original larger wall hanging version in pdf form
from "Mad Creek Designs" on Etsy. 

Next up....

I totally fell in love with Alexander Henrys' 
"Witchy Women"

So of course I had to play....

Here's a couple of the "girls" close up...


As luck would have it...
a new kitteh arrived just in time to help me
show the rest of this little quilt.


Meet Little Zeekster...isn't he just the absolute sweetest thang you've ever seen?
As my friend Nessa said...he's "total adorbs"
How could I not invite him to be in the pic...look at his heart...my borders...coincidence?
I think not.
Purrrrfect match!

True...he's not a black cat...
then again...neither are Ella or Marvin...
but unlike our little tuna traps above...
we don't have to feed him
because he's already stuffed!
(yeh...you KNEW that was coming)

Little Zeekster kept me clickin' my camera...
He found pumpkins!

And then...he wanted to play with my scraps....
so I showed him how to make strippy potholders...
Ok...I helped a little...ok...A LOT...
but he's doing wicked good on the binding!

There will be more about "Little Zeekster" in blog days to come....
(he was a b'day gift to me on Thursday...bought by me from
"Sweet Poppy Cat" on Etsy...
- I let the the dear Spouse know he was off the "shopping" hook this year! lol)

Oh No....I knew this might happen....
eeeek...
Yes...since the Little Zeekster showed up...
there's a certain orange cat with his nose out of joint....
Not a cat I want to meet in a dark alley!
Relax Marvin...Little Zeekster says you can have ALL his tuna!

Time for a group pic!
The fun thing about having an antique shop behind our quilt shop...
they put the nifty-ist things out back and I can play...
I think I had more fun setting up the picks then maybe even stitching them...
maybe....

Speaking of pics...those of you who have set them up...know it can be quite a test...
I often use the camera on my iPhone...so I know my quality could be better
(my real camera is usually hidden away...those darn cats!)

Here's one more pic to share...
I'm sure we've all been there...
You line things ups...
You think you have the perfect shot...
You focus on your subject(s) only....
and you never see it until it's too late...
but....


Thanks so very much for hopping today...
don't forget to flap those little bat wings over to:

Just Let Me Quilt
Buzzing and Bumbling
krislovesfabric
Quilt Doodle Doodles

Oops...
speaking of treats....
those of you who have been following awhile have probably already seen this...
hopefully made this...
but just in case you're new...
a few Halloweens ago I did pay homage to our black cat Midnite...
Look for her story 
HERE
You'll also find the links
to download this free foundation pieced pattern.


Don't forget...
the hop continues for 5 more fantastical days!

                                    Monday, October 27                                     
Ridge Top Quilts
Dancing Moon
Kwilt Krazy
Lydsfire Sewing
Grandmama's Stories

Tuesday, October 28
Selina Quilts
Jane's Quilting
Quilted Delights
Words & Stitches
Seams To Be Sew

Wednesday, October 29
That's Sew  Julie
Elizabeth Coughlin Designs
Quilting Queen Online
Sew Peace To Peace
A Stitch in Time     

Thursday, October 30
On the Banks of Frog Creek
How Art You?
Cucki Stitching Cove
Dancing Moon Farmstead
Life in the Scrapatch 

Friday, October 31
From My Carolina Home
Mammy Stitches
Bumbleberry Cottage
Just Because Quilts
Sew We Quilt

Ok Marvin...
One more time....
Wish everyone Happy Hopping!

Ok...Close enough!









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Thursday, October 31, 2013

WicKeD!

Welcome to the last day of the 
Wicked 3 Blog Hop!

Thank you
and 
for brewing up such wickedly good fun!

I have been a little lax in the blogging department
 as of late....
But it's time to dust of the cobwebs
and zoom up my broom....
and show you the happenings...
from my sewing room!

I have had this panel since last Halloween.
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays
and yet it seems to take me by surprise every year!
Well...
this year is no different
but I'm so glad I had a chance to make something for this hop.
At least now I have a head start for next year!

Using the panel above
I decided to make placemats.
I think they came out pretty dang cute.

The little hexie mug rugs were made from
a coordinating fabric
and can be found here.
They were made for a dear friend.
(oops...I wonder if she's noticed they haven't arrived yet
 - guess she'll be ready for next year too)

The placemats were easy to make.
My panel blocks were trimmed to approx 15-1/2"x 19".
(Trim yours according to your panel choice)
I centered each block Right Side Up on a large piece of batting.
I added simple border frames - sewing thru the batting as I attached sides, top and bottom.
(see above for the size strips I cut)

As you can see above...sometimes I measure and pre-cut
(first two pictures)
and sometimes I just sew it on and cut later
(yep...that would be the "don't worry" pic)

Once the borders have all been sewn on and pressed...
I square it all up
and run a machine basting stitch around the edge.
This keeps the batting and top fabric together nice and toady tidey.


Now press your top,
then flip it over and center over your backing fabric

With a rotary cutter and ruler, trim backing even with top edges.
(no matter how hard I tried...I couldn't take this pic
without a reflection....
and then...
I got a little silly....)

Ok..just one more...
I just couldn't help myself...
but you have to find humor wherever you can....

Speaking of witch which
I promised Marvin I would share his Halloween picture
Humor
 MeOwHaHa

Ok...back to biz....
The hardest part for me is sewing those openings closed
so that they are nice and straight 
(NO..you are NOT allowed to go back and look at the pic
of the finished mats to see if  my edges are straight...
Unh Unh...Don't Do It!)

So now when I trim as shown above...
I leave a little extra 
(if there is extra to leave)
when I trim near the opening....
It's probably mind over material matter...but I think it helps.

Don't forget the corners!

Now turn Right Side Out and PRESS!
Sew opening closed and quilt as desired.
(well darn...I forgot a close up pic on one finished placemat)
I'm sure you get the idea!

If you're looking for more Halloween Ideas
(you know...for NEXT year...lol)
click here for a really sweet
foundation pieced wallhanging
inspired last year by Ms Midnite.

Thanks for visiting...be sure to visit all the
"Haunts"
Today!
Thimblemouse & Spouse -you r here

Why-Knot-Kwilt  (Princess Wicked)

Sew We Quilt (The Queen of Wicked)

Lynn ~ The Thimblemouse

PS...sorry to be a wee bit late in posting...
midnite struck and of course...
I turned into a
ok...
you know I'm making that up...
the truth?
I was almost ready by 10pm...
but dear Spouse kept asking
"WHEN????"
As in When were we going to partake in one of our favorite traditions...
some call it
"Dinner"
LOL

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Tuesday, August 20, 2013

I've Been Hexed!

It's official.
Either I am truly A.D.D
or...
I've been Hexed!

Somewhere along the way I just know that some evil quilting demon fairy
spirit...
has cast a spell that causes me to start a project....
work like a crazy person on the project...
then when it's almost done...

ZAP!

I'm suddenly struck with a New Idea....
and right then and there....I can't resist...
I'm 
compelled
to switch gears!
Seriously?
Hexed?
That's gotta be it!

Speaking of Queens....the real deal that is...
Please if you will...raise your hand for a Queenly wave
(don't forget - a bow or a curtsy will do....it's only proper)
 and join me in saying
Thank you to our crown jewels!
First, her Majesty
Thank you
for making my hexie crown curl
for the inspirational moments I encountered getting ready for this
Hexie Blog Hop!

Cheering us on is her lady in waiting
She has been a most exuberant and sparkling cheerleader.
Debby gave us some very good tips about posting...
as in
show your stuff...
keep it short and sweet...
make it FUN!

I love to show my stuff and it will be FUN!
I'm pretty sweet.
Keep it short?
If you've been here before...
or if you're brand new...
Not.Gonna.Happen.
I tried..haha
It's not in my DNA

So get comfy...you can get up now...no bowing necessary
(tho I sure do enjoy a sweet little curtsy)

When the hop was announced I thought it would be the perfect time
to make my BFF from first grade some potholders.  
She only asked me for them
about a year ago  
about 2 years ago  
awhile back.
She said the ones I made her years ago were worn out.
(they have to be vintage by now...it was years...I didn't even remember them)
She even sent me a picture...
I have searched high and low for that picture...
but alas...
no can find...
(which is probably a good thing...they were pretty very extremely sad)

I started designing with fabrics I thought she would like...
they would match the 'tablerunner' I made her...
the tablerunner that I made instead of potholders when she asked...
the tablerunner I still have because I don't want to send it until I make her potholders...
(it's a vicious circle)

I've worked on these English Paper Pieced Potholders for a couple of weeks.
I love the hand work.
When I arrived at work on Monday 
(as in Monday about 14hrs BEFORE I'm due to post..haha)
I just had to layer, quilt and bind two potholders.

That's all.

I love what I've done so far....
but to tell you the truth...
I wasn't really jazzed up!


I should have walked straight back to the classroom....
But oh no....
I spotted some Halloween fabric...
and had an idea.
Would I be crazy to start something
NEW?

I struggled.
The little voices in my head had quite the debate....


 Even the potholders to be knew they were doomed...
I love them so much, I want to make them into something a little larger...
okay...

In all honesty....
I wanted to
PLAY!

So there went the Halloween fabric...it just scurried into the classroom and begged to be cut....
Out came the
Hex N More ruler by JayBird Designs...
(I've been anxious to try it out for months!)
I cut a strip....

I made a little 20".....
candlemat?
tabletopper?
Does it matter?
It was FUN!

But wait...I wasn't done...I still had 4 hours left til closing....LOL
What about Mug Rugs?
Hexie Mug Rugs?

These oh so cute little goblins were just too cute not to use...

So I cut cut cut.....


And then cut some more....


Then I stitch stitch stitched....


batted...and turned....
And now we have just the cutest little table ensemble.....

...a sweet spooky mat and 6 mug rugs....just needing a wee bit of quilting.

Wonders of wonders....
it's only August and I have a birthday gift ready for October!
My friend Nancy in Wyoming and I share the very same day....
She LOVES Halloween - in fact she made the wooden "BOO" you see above.
Oops...drats...I think she might also read my blog...
just pretend you're surprised Nancy, OK?

Meanwhile.....
Poor Doris....
by the time I ever 
when I finish her potholders...
I hope she'll still remember how to cook.

And would you believe...I have another...
Yes!
Another
cute little Hexie Mug Rug that completely missed the photo session.
(and those potholders thought they had problems...)

Thanks for stopping by.
Please be sure to visit the Madame and Debby
as well as all the great
Hexie-Queens
holding court today.
Below you will find the full schedule.
Be sure to give them all your royal attention.

Today!






    
  
    
   


Wednesday, August 21
  

    




    
    
   
    

Thursday, August 22
    
    
    

    
    
    
    
    
   
       
   
    
   
   
    
    
   

Monday, August 26
   
    
    
  
    

    
   
    
    
   

Tuesday, August 27
    
   
    
    
    
    
    
    
   
   

    
Marjorie's Busy Corner   
    
Quiltscapes 
Livinbluequilter     

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