Block Swap

 I finished up my final set of blocks for the Halloween Block Swap, so they are ready to mail.  My original set of Jacob's Ladder blocks had some of the same fabric as the Crab Claw blocks, so I decided to make a new set. I've kept the other set for myself and may use them in a wall hanging or tablerunner.

Favorite new sewing notion

Numbered pins have become my new favorite notion, especially when trying to keep strip sets in the right order.  These are just terrific!

The strip sets are for a Spicy Spiral table runner with a Halloween theme.  I made a patriotic version of the Spicy Spiral a couple of years ago and just knew I wanted to make another one. Too much time on Pinterest (in the middle of the night when I had insomnia) - and I've found several color schemes I liked. But my decision was easy and I just had to pull 8 fun Halloween fat quarters.  Can't wait to start cutting the wedges from these strip sets.

Decorating with quilts

Decorating my home with seasonal quilts is part of the main enjoyment of quilting.  Last fall I made this door hanging for Halloween. It was made with the Twister ruler, fabric from my stash, and graph paper. The graph paper was because I saw this online, and knew I could "do the math" myself and not buy a pattern.  I love this quilt.  And my front door faces north, so I don't have to worry about the sun shining right on my quilt to fade it.

I hung this on my door using an expanable curtain rod and 2 of the removable hooks.  Those hooks plus curtain rods serve as the hangers for 3 quilts currently hanging in my home. Very easy and it allows me to move them without leaving hardware holes in my walls.

Pretty stitching

I picked up my Twisted Witches Hat door hanging from the quilter on Saturday.  As always, she did a great job!  The quilting is a silver thread with stars and moons stitched into it. 

Now it needs binding and a hanging sleeve.  The binding I have planned is the same stripe that you can see in the picture.  Striped binding are always eye catching.

The hanging sleeve will require some thought since I plan to use it on my front door.  My other thought is just using some purple or orange heavy ribbon and hang it from the wreathe hook. That would be quick and easy.

Twisted Hat Door Hanging

Hanging this on my front door for Halloween was inspired by a picture I saw recently of my current house taken right before we bought it. The former owner had this huge 3D fabric Santa head and hat hanging on the door.  You could see it from the street and was so cute.

Well . . . this can be seen from the street too and should be pretty cute for future Halloweens.  It still needs quilting, binding, and a hanging sleeve added so it won't meet the deadline for this year. 

I actually had the fabric all laid out for a narrow green border and then using the hat and shoes border fabric for a wider border. I was all ready to cut this morning when the inspiration hit me for hanging this on my front door. But side borders would make it too wide. So it just got the top and bottom borders and it fits perfectly on my door.

Twisted Witch's Hat

Every single piece of this project so far was taken from my stash of Halloween fabrics. I saw this online and since I already had the ruler, I just did the math to figure out how many 5" squares I needed. And I laid them out on my design wall.

Next step was to start cutting these out using the Twister ruler. I think this will be the most time consuming part. But I'm watching Vikings football while doing this.

So far I have 4 rows of twisted blocks cut from the original background.  Can't wait to start sewing on this!  This witch's hat was one of the most creative ideas I've seen these Twisters used to make.

More Halloween bags

I just had to do it! I made 2 more of these cute little Halloween trick or treat bags.  My favorite one is the "eyeball" bag on the right.  Those eyeballs glow in the dark.  I think I may have to give that one to my grandson.

It felt SO RELAXING to finally get into my sewing room on Saturday morning. And today I also got to spend some time sewing. Now I'm headed out with my husband for a hot windy round of golf.  But at least it's time spent together, right?

Jeepers Creepers!

This cute little Halloween panel just needs a little hand quilting, binding, and a hanging sleeve on the back.  It is actually a fat quarter. 

Just enough hand quilting to give it some dimension - that's all I plan to do.  And it's a perfect project to take with me in the car next time I am riding along with someone. 

Trick or Treat Bag

On Sunday I finally had a two hour window of time for sewing and I took advantage of it.  My husband left about 9:30 to play in a golf tournament, right after a visiting friend left as well.  And my daughter and granddaughter were not arriving until about noon to go to a baby shower with me. Ah - peace and quiet to do whatever I wanted. And of course I needed wanted to sew something.

This sweet bag is a pattern from our Wash Tub Club that was intended for an old fashioned shopping bag.  I pictured a Trick or Treat bag using some of the Halloween fabrics I've collected. I ended up choosing two fat quarters from a little bundle I bought recently to make the body of the bag. And the bundle was wrapped with the little black net bow - and I even used that on the bag.  And I made the whole thing in that 2 hours!

Jack-O-Lantern

On Saturday, I finished my little jack-o-lantern hanging quilt. This 12 inch block and the metal stand it hangs in were part of a kit I ordered this summer from Fons and Porter. The only real changes I made - changed the green fabric out and eliminated the 2 spiders. The simple block went together in less than a half hour. Then the machine appliqued jack-o-lantern and letters were added.

I took the finished block with me this past week while on a "road trip" for work and did the hand quilting in my motel room at night on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Saturday afternoon I put on the binding. Another project done!! I love the way it looks on my hearth next to my painted pail of fall foliage.