Final blocks for Snowmen in the Pines

Block 3 Bottom Left

As I sit here and write this post I am listening to some of my favorite Christmas songs from Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Burl Ives, Frankie Lane, Gene Autry, Clay Aiken, Johnny Mathis and some unknowns.  We listened to everyone of these except Clay and Johnny, of course, every Christmas.  Today I am starting my Christmas baking and felt this would be the thing to listen to as I bake.  Can't wait to hear from favorites like "I saw Mommy kissing Santa" .

This will probably be my last post before Christmas so I want to wish everyone a great Holiday and/or Merry Christmas.  I'll probably be back before New Years hopefully with finish tops for both these small wall hangings.  So today I will be sharing both the 3rd and 4th block for Snowmen in the Pines. Please note that the red strip needs to be added to complete the applique on both blocks.  Sorry, no corncob pipes.  I just don't have the time to meet that challenge.  I need to finish up these wall hangings and get ready for the floral quilt I want to share with everyone.  Then don't forget that in the summer I will be sharing a new cat quilt featuring fun stuff for Christmas.  Then who knows where my imagination will take me.  If you want to share ideas please feel free. I've thought of doing a series of monthly wall quilts that are all the same size so that I could replace it every month in the same spot on my wall. They would feature things from that particular   month. Whatever comes after these 2 quilts I will try and keep it as simple as possible.  

Block 4 Bottom Right

Merry Christmas!!!!
Marjory

Santa in the Pines Final

Here is one block with the paper pieced trees added.  That's all the time I had to do this and still get it to you all in time.  Just click on the picture and it will take you to a PDF with the Paper Piecing Pattern and the final cutting instructions.

Oh, I have to tell you that I had to revise Part 3 & 4.  I had forgotten to add the shoulder pieces that I added as I was sewing them.  They are ok if you have already done them.  I just wanted to add more red.  Anyway go here and here to get the revised patterns.  Sorry for all the confusion on this pattern.  At least I've worked out all the kinks so the Snowmen in the Pines should be a breeze.  I hope!!!

This block is Part 2 of the Snowmen in the Pines version.  No special instructions for this one.  Just have fun!!!!  I will be back in a few days with the next two blocks.

Hope you are all ready for Christmas!!!
Marjory

Santa in the Pines Part 4 and a Surprise!!!

Here is the last applique block for the Santa in the Pines wall hanging. This is the bottom right block.   No special instructions for this block.  I hope you enjoy making these blocks as much as I have had making them. 

I was going to give you the PP piecing pattern and final instructions today, but I was challenged last week by a reader to make these same blocks into snowmen.  What do you think about the same Mini Wall hanging featuring snowmen.  I couldn't resist so here is the first block in the Snowmen in the Pines wall hanging.

This is the top left block.  You will need to add the red strip to the bottom of the block before the snowmen's scarf can be finished.

I will be back early next week with the second block in this wall hanging and the pattern for the trees.  I will also give the final instructions for the Santa in the Pines wall hanging.  

Hope this is a pleasant surprise!!

Marjory

Santa in the Pines Part 3

So today we start with Part 3 of Santa in the Pines.  On this block a third strip of red needs to be added in order to sew down Santa's mustache.  Cut a strip 1 1/2" by 7 7/8".  Sew this strip to the left side of a prepared background block leaving open about 3" on the bottom of the block.  This is the bottom left block.   Just click on the picture and it will take you to a downloadable PDF.

Have Fun!!!!
Marjory 

Santa in the Pines Part 2

I'm Baaack!!!  LOL.  I flew to Memphis on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and all considered it all went well.  Weather was warmer than normal but so was it here.  I had so much fun that when I got back on Sunday evening I went to bed and basically rested all of yesterday.  I'm doing laundry and catching up today.

First thing was to get my files in order for this project.  Second will be to sew the blocks.  I didn't touch a needle all 4 days and didn't miss it.  What I really missed was not having the internet for 4 days, 5 really with all the travel.  I kept telling my son I needed to get online.  I hadn't even printed my flight schedule because I thought I would have access.  But we stayed with the another member of the family and they didn't have access.  We were about 40 miles into Mississippi in the country.  Beautiful country and we really had a good time.

There isn't any special instructions for this block and I've double and triple checked to make sure it will print at the right size.  Just make sure that your printer is set at 100% and not at "Fit to Page".  "Fit to Page" almost always reduces the images even if they are within the printing area.  So just click on the picture of the Santa and it will take you to the PDF file.  

Hope you all had as great a Thanksgiving as I did.

Marjory

Santa in the Pines Update

I have been notified that my PDF file for Part 1 of  the Santa in the Pines pattern is 1/4" too small.  I have now revised the file and everyone that downloads it from now on will get the revised file.  If you downloaded yesterday or earlier today you will need to either enlarge your pattern or redownload the file.  Just click on the picture or click HERE and it will take you to the revised PDF.

I am really sorry about this.  Somehow that file lost weight while sitting in storage. My copies are the right size and they were printed some time ago.  I checked the original and sure enough it was too small.  So it wasn't the conversion to PDF.  I just checked it after conversion and it is still 6.5 inches as it should be. So somehow it lost size in the original drafting program.  I will make sure that the other blocks don't have this problem and will keep checking to make sure it never happens again.  I hope!!!

Keep on Quilting!!
Marjory

Santa in the Pines Wall Hanging Part 1

The Santa in the Pines Pattern giveaway will begin with the top right block in the wallhaning setting.  As you may be able to tell this block has been glued but not sewn.  I hope to keep up with this sewing by the time I need to complete the setting.   Just click on the picture of the Santa to be taken to the free PDF.  This file will also contain a picture of the setting along with the fabric requirements to complete the wallhanging top.

I don't have a mock up of the finish quilt with the Santa's but I do have it without. Each Santa will hang over into the borders to add interest.  If this is something that you don't like you will need to make the center block bigger and you have to redraft the pine trees or adjust the other block inner borders.

I will be flying out to Memphis for Thanksgiving with my son and his family next week so I won't be back for at least two weeks for Part 2.  Hopefully I will have all the blocks ready for applique before I leave and will be able to sew a little while gone.  If you don't hear from me until after I come back:

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Marjory

Witches Hat Pincushion Pattern/Tutorial

Last Halloween season I designed and made this pincushion for a swap I was doing on Flickr.  Today I bring the pattern/tutorial to you as a free PDF. Here are the two I made while doing the tutorial. Just click on either picture of the hat and it will take you to the PDF file.

I couldn't resist using beads to decorate at least one of them. 

Have a Spooktacular Halloween!!!

Marjory

Blogger’s Quilt Festival :: Fall 2012

It's that time again, it's time for the Blogger's Quilt Festival!!!  It's a quilt festival online for showing off all our great quilts.  What a fun way to go to a quilt show, in your jammies if you want.  We all link to a post about our quilt on Amy's blog.  Our post is to tell the story behind the quilt.  There are prizes too, but to me it's being able to share my work with a broader range of quilters.  Here's my entry for this festival:  It is machine pieced, hand appliqued and hand quilted. It measures 52" x 52". I would feature it in either Wall Quilts or Art Quilts.

                                               "Mother's Day Off"

Several years ago I was attending a lecture given by a quilt curator from the local museum.  The lecturer was lecturing on what an art quilt was.  She made several references to applique quilts not being "Art".  As an applique artist I took offense to these remarks.  I vowed to make her eat her words.  Now, I don't know if she ever saw my work or ate her words.  I just feel good that I feel I accomplished my goal. 

"Mother's Day Off"  is the third in a series of art quilts based on mothers.  This quilt is 95% dyed and over dyed fabrics.  I was in the middle of designing this quilt when, Adriene Buffington, writer of "Hand Dyed Fabric Made Easy" called and asked me if I could rethink my quilt and use mostly hand dyed fabrics. We were both in a quilt group that traveled to each others studios and helped with works in progress.  They had just been to my studio and I had shared this quilt idea and plan with them.  Adriene was in the middle of writing her book and was looking for hand dyed fabrics made into quilts to fill her book. All quilts being featured in her book had to be 95% hand dyed. The funny part of this story is that I told her I didn't think I could do it.  After thinking it over I decided it would just add a new challenge.  I love challenges!!!!   This quilt did make the final cut and was featured in Adriene's book.  

The lady featured in the quilt is my interpretation of a photo I took in downtown Denver.  She was sitting in the park with a bottle of beer.  Somehow I left out the beer. This was not intentional.  At this time in my life I and my shutter bug friend went to downtown Denver almost every Saturday to take pictures of the characters  there.  After a few months we realized we had become two of those characters.  I now live in Arizona and there is not a great place like Denver for taking pictures of strangers.

This quilt was also featured in "Quilt Art Engagement Calendar '98".  One of the ladies that curates this calendar saw my quilt in a show and contacted me about featuring it in the calendar.  I jumped at the chance. 

Thank you for stopping by;

Marjory

Tempting Thursday of the Wicked Blog Hop

I wish you a Ghostly Welcome to Tempting Thursday of the Wicked Blog Hop Week.   Today is my day to present a block for the "Wicked Blog Hop" along with several others (listed below).  Do I have something wicked to share with you.  Is it Paper Pieced?  Is it pieced?  Is it appliqued?  The answer is yes to all these questions.  That's what makes my block so wicked, three techniques in one block.  Here it is:

Just click on the picture and a link will take you to the PDF file.  The file has the paper pieced patterns, the applique patterns and the cutting directions.  The pattern will finish to a 12" block.  

Have you ever appliqued with organza.  It took some sleepless nights and some rethinking to come up with a way to make sheer ghosts.  Here is the process that I finally used.  

I used paper backed fusible web and traced my templates backward onto the paper side.  I then rough cut out the fusible web, no need to cut on the line until it has been fused to the organza.  Very carefully cut out the center of the fusible web, 1/8" from drawn line.   Place web tacky side down onto wrong side of the organza.  Following manufacturers directions fuse webbing to organza.

Cut ghost out directly on the drawn line.  Using a permanent black marker trace eyes and nose of ghost onto organza.  Do this is several steps to keep the ink from running.  Press with dry iron to set after every application of ink.  If the ink does run it just adds to the ghostly image.  Mine ran.

 Peel off paper and place ghosts onto sewn block following placement picture in pattern.  Again following manufacturers directions fuse organza to block.

Using Glow in the dark white thread and a small open zigzag stitch, stitch around both ghosts.  This small zigzag stitch will cover the fusible web so that it is not seen and gives definition to the ghost.

To further celebrate Tempting Thursday I have one other item to tempt you with.  

A pair of ghostly pincushions.  Just click on their picture and it will take you to the PDF file pattern/tutorial for this ghostly pair.   Don't forget to check out the rest of my blog.  It is full of other wicked projects for Halloween from this year and last. 

I want to thank Mdm Sam and Wicked Wendy for hosting this great Wicked block blog hop.  Check out the links below for the other blocks/blogs being featured today and don't forget to go to either Mdm Sam's or Wicked Wendy's for the full week of blogs to hop to.  Just click on the "Wicked" button to the right to get to Mdm Sam's. 

Tempting Thursday,

October 25^th

Angie’s Quilting and Crafting Place

Just Let Me Quilt

Lady Bug Lane

Debby Kratovil Quilts

Creative Obsessions

Kathy's Quilts

Loose Threads

Sew Maybe I Can

That's Sew Julie

Peck's Pieces

Aurea at That Other Blog

Boo to You!!!!

Marjory

Candy Corn Pincushion

What would the Halloween season be without Candy Corn? Though it's not my favorite candy, I love the shape and color of it.  It just screams, "Halloween", therefore I had to do a pincushion.  It's fun and easy to make.  Just click on the picture and it will take you to the PDF pattern/tutorial.  Have you checked out this wonderfully Wicked blog hop:  

It starts today and will run through the 31st.  I will be featured on the 25th.  I'm all prepared and can't wait to share my block with an added surprise.  Each day there will be a list of blogs to visit.  Each with a Wicked Block to share. To start the blog hop just click the Wicked button on my side bar or the one just above.  I will post my block here on my blog along with a list of that days blogs with links to those blogs.  So come join in the Wicked fun!!!

It's a candy corn day!!

Marjory

Spooky Hallows Wraps Up

Wow, do you believe it, we're at the end of Spooky Hallows.  We end with "Spooky Spells".  What you don't see is the word "Spells" that I will embroider on the book after quilting.  Nothing new for this block, same techniques and same fabrics.  I used cotton Lame for the candle stick using the same process as described in another post. Just click on the above picture to the PDF file.

I am also including the "Spiky" sashings 12" here and 16" here.  These were designed in EQ7 so you could easily repeat them there.  Because they are too long for the paper they come in two sheets.  I recommend that you tape them together and then take them to a copy expert and have them duplicated onto 11" x 17" known as Tabloid paper.  You will need 12 sashings of each size.  Luckily I was able to make the PDF with multiple on each page.

Now you can see the difference in the quilt between using "Spooky Flowers" or "Spooky Magic".   For some reason the quilt is much brighter with the stars versus the flowers.  I can't figure out why.  There is more yellow in the flower quilt so it should be brighter.  Maybe it is the spikes the the stars.  

I'm really going to miss coming here every two weeks to bring you another block.  I also want to thank every one that has left comments to let me know the quilt is well liked and I'm not out here alone.  LOL.  I also want to thank everyone for letting me post my blocks.  There really is a selfish reason I give my patterns away.  It gives me a deadline that I have to meet.  This quilt was designed three or four years ago and just sat there.  In my defense my husband did become mortally ill and died during that time.  I didn't work at all until two years after he died.  I still miss him.  

I have several other designs just sitting here, so I will be bringing them on as soon as I get them organized.  I have a four block small wall hanging of Santa's called "Santa in the Pines", that I will be offering starting in November.  It will be applique and some piecing.  Here is a mug rug I made from one of the Santa's.  So far the finished size is 22" x 22" but that may change.  LOL

  

Then I have a floral quilt done a little differently from my other florals.  It's more like the floral block featured in "Spooky Hallows".  I think I'm going to try and bring that out in January.  It's only on paper and I still need to pick out a color scheme for it.  Let's hope for the best.   So start looking for "Floral Dance" sometime in January (I hope).  

Then starting sometime in July or August I am going to try and bring out a Christmas quilt that came to mind and I was working on "Spooky Hallows" it will be called "Snowy Christmas"  featuring the same cat in white and some of my favorite Christmas decorations and toys, like tin soldiers and a Jack in the box.  It will be a 9 block quilt and the same size as this one.  I really can't wait to start this one.  It will be so much fun and cute to boot.

Applique is best!!!!

Marjory

Spooky Hallows Surprise Block

This block, "Spooky Magic" is as much a surprise to me as for you.  About a month ago a nice lady, Lynne, left me a long message telling me how much she loved my designs.  She really wants to make "Spooky Hallows" for her 13 year old son.  She also told me that she was going to have to change "Spooky Flowers" as she didn't feel her son would appreciate flowers in his quilt.

I originally designed "Spooky Flowers" because I needed more yellow to balance the quilt.  I just couldn't seem to come up with a good Halloween idea that would be simple enough and have lots of yellow, except flowers.  Now I have to admit that I just love flowers so it wasn't hard to come up with that block.  When I read Lynne's message it just put my mind in a spin.  This block is so important to the color balance.  Just give me a problem to fix and I have to fix it.  LOL

Well, I didn't sleep for two days, mulling over the problem.  Then suddenly I came up with the design for "Spooky Magic" in the middle of the night (3 am) when I was sleeping but awake.  I had to get up right then in order to put the idea on paper or lose it.  When I say paper I really mean my graphic program.  But what better way to show magic than with a Crystal Ball???!!!!  I also needed to design the right stand for the ball because it needed to have green and it needed to be tall.

This whole block is made with the same fabrics as in "Spooky Flowers" to keep it in the same flavor.  When I first finished it I thought, "It just doesn't pop enough". Then I was showing it to my male BFF and he asked me to place it on the finished top so he could see it in the quilt.  When I did, his comment was, "Wow!!"  He thinks I need to take out "Spooky Flowers" and replace it with "Spooky Magic".  Now he's not a quilter, he's a contractor, but I've made him see everything I make any way.  He's been very patient with me.  Now he knows the lingo and keeps up with what I say.  He told me, "The quilt now POPS."  When I stood back and looked I noticed he was right.  The stars just make the quilt so much better and fits the theme better too.  So I may have to do some unsewing.

Oh, I almost forgot!!!  I made this block backwards from the pattern.  My mistake and I was too lazy to correct it.  I didn't want to remake my templates and I figured this was just going to be a pillow anyway.  When placed on the top it didn't seem to matter that the cat is on the other side.  Just click on the photo to go to the free PDF file.

Now this is the 9th block but it is not block 9.  Does that make sense.  Block 9, "Spooky Spells" is a great block and will come out next week.  I will also give you the sashings at that time.  My top is done (unless I replace that block) and boy if I do say so myself, does it look great.  Can't wait to show it to you.

So Lynne, thank you for making me rethink this block.  This one's for you!!!!

I love surprises!!!
Marjory

Mumbly the Mummy Pincushion

Today I am being featured on Howl-oween Tricks & Treats Craftathon over on Rhinestone Beagle; http://rhinestonebeagle.blogspot.com/.  If you haven't had a chance to check out this blog please take the time to now.  Just click on their button above. It is run by a couple of fun ladies, Anita and Kelly. They are hosting this great Craftathon for the whole month of October so be sure to check back often.  I am being featured as the first guest presenter this year.  What an honor!

So here is the post, pattern and tutorial that I created just for their Craftathon:

It's that time of year again!!! I want to thank Anita and Kelly for hosting this great Howl-oween Tricks & Treats Craftathon again.  I am so excited to have been invited back to share my craft with you for the second year of this great adventure.  

While deciding what to do this year I thought of my doll,  Mumford and Friends.

Mumford and Mumbly together 

He's an 18 inch doll I designed several years ago.  Do I want to do another doll or do I want to do a pincushion version of Mumford?  I've really been interested in designing pincushions lately so that won out.  He stands 4 1/2" tall and is stuffed with crushed walnut shells.  What's great is that he's so easy and so are his critter friends.  Just click on his picture and it will take you to his PDF file which is a tutorial and pattern.

Surprise!!!  Since I so love to share and Halloween is my favorite Holiday I've decided to share Mumford with everyone too.  Just click on his name above and it will take you to his PDF pattern.  No tutorial on this one but he is made very similar to Mumbly.  The biggest difference is that he is stuffed with fiberfill.

Happy Halloweeeeen!!!!!!

               Marjory Peck 

                                   at   http://peckspieces.blogspot.com/

Spooky Hallows Continues with Block 8

Wow!!! Here we are on block 8, "Spooky Ghosts".  Can you believe it? Almost done, just one more block to go.  That block will be posted on Oct. 17th and somewhere along the way I will be posting for the paper pieced spiky sashing. 

I've almost completed that sashing for my quilt.  In fact I should have the top done by tomorrow.  Cross my fingers!!!  It will not be quilted by Halloween as I do not do machine quilting.  At least not very well.  So it goes into the pile of unquilted quilts.  Ugh!!!!  Or I need to start practicing my machine quilting.  I keep meaning to but time never seems enough.

During this great month leading to Halloween I will be posting more.  I will have at least 1 new pincushion every week and some great surprises too.  So be sure to come back and see what's going on.

There is no special instructions for this block.  Just remember to increase the size by 159%.

29 Days to Halloween!!!

Marjory

More Skullduggery as Halloween Approaches

October is finally here.  For me this means cooler weather and it's almost Halloween, my favorite Holiday.  So to start the month off right I am featuring a pincushion a week, or maybe more.  Let's wait and see.  The first one will be a skull pincushion.  He's very simple but really fun.  Just click on the picture and it will take you to the pattern and tutorial.  

Don't forget we will be finishing the last two blocks for Spooky Hallows, one this week and one two weeks later.  I've been busy sewing the spiky sashing and I will be offering that PDF soon.  I also have a special surprise for later in the month pertaining to this quilt.  Boy I'm so excited I want to post every thing now.  I learned early in life anticipation is half the fun.

30 Days to Halloween!!!

Marjory

Apple for the Teacher Pincushion

When I was young, school always started the first week of September.  No matter if that was in the middle of the week or the end.  Not on the 1st of September because that was Labor Day.  I'm dating myself because this was before Monday's became the national day for holidays.  Back then it was a date no mater what day it fell on. I think that was why you took the teacher an apple.  It was the fruit that was picked in September.  So to celebrate September and back to school days I am offering a pattern and tutorial of an apple pincushion.  Just click on the picture and it will take you to the PDF file.   Hope you all enjoy it.

An Apple a Day.......
Marjory

Pirate Hat Pincushion Tutorial and Pattern

                      
Avast me Hearties!!!  Today Sept. 19th  is a very special day!!!  It's talk like a pirate day.  Here is the official website just in case you want to check it out: http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html  So in celebration of this very special day I'm giving away a pattern and tutorial on how to make a Tricorn Hat Pincushion.  Also included it a Bicorn Hat.  What is the difference you ask?  A Tricorn hat is 3 sided and a Bicorn is 2 sided.  A Bicorn is what Napoleon wore.  Just click on the picture above and it will take you to the pattern/tutorial.

The tutorial (just click on the picture above) also includes the directions/tutorial on the beaded lace edging.  I hope you will all enjoy my newest pincushion. 

Here are 2 other sites that can help you celebrate "Talk like a Pirate Day"

http://www.diamondsfordessert.com/2010/06/jack-sparrows-tricorne.html

cookies shaped like a tricorn hat.  What fun!!!

http://www.diamondsfordessert.com/2011/06/sand-dollar-cookies.html

Then here from the same site Sand Dollar Cookies.  I haven't tried either recipe but they sure look good and they are on my list of recipes to try.  They sure look good.  

Keeping Pins is Fun!!!!

Marjory

Spooky Hallows Continues with Block 7

Wow!!!  I remembered to post this early. Pat, Pat.  That's me patting myself on the back.  LOL   Spooky Hallows continues with Block 7: "Spooky Witch Pumpkin".

So for this block I again used cotton lame for the buckle.  See the post listed below for how I handled the lame: http://peckspieces.blogspot.com/2012/08/spooky-hallows-continues-with-block-5.html  The only other thing to say about this block is that I used reverse applique for the pumpkin face.  Don't forget to increase the pattern by 159% and enjoy.  I'll be back with another pattern on Oct. 3 and then the final applique post will be on Oct. 17.  I hope to have the paper piecing pattern for the sashing available for everyone at that time.

Keep on stitching!!!
Marjory

Spooky Hallows Continues with Block 6

Well, I've done it again.  I'm late!!!  Sorry about that.  This post would have been delayed even longer if an avid follower had not emailed me asking why it wasn't posted yet.  She's afraid she will miss one.  Isn't that great!!!!!

This isn't the only thing I've forgotten or really mixed up.  I called my friend today asking what the agenda for the day was.  He patiently explained everything he was doing today.  About ten minutes into the conversation I realized I had the wrong day.  You see I am supposed to accompany him to his doctors appointment on Friday the 7th.  Today is Thursday the 6th.  He must have thought I was crazy to be asking his schedule for today.  Actually he knows I'm crazy, he's a very old friend.  The only excuse I have is "ragweed".  It blooms starting is August.  I won't be able to think again until it cools off in October.  I did explain to my friend that I had the wrong day and he just laughed.

Now for today's block.  Here is Block 6: "Spooky Moon with Bats.  There really isn't anything that needs special attention on this block.  I just want to state that I kept the "man in the moon" subtle so that the main subject would remain the cat.  It also keeps the moon as one subject and not two.  

I will be back on the 19th or maybe before.  I have a special post for the 19th and I don't want a conflict.  It's going to be a great post!!  So how about Friday the  14th.  That will give everyone a few extra days to catch up if needed.  The next few blocks are fairly easy.  Then comes block 9 and it's as complicated as blocks 1, 4 and 5.  Don't forget to increase the pattern by 159%.  

Happy Quilting!!

Marjory

Bow Wow Pincushion for the Dog Days of August

Wow, I barely made it in time for August.  I've been trying all month to get this one done.  But, I kept on changing the design and having to start over.  Well, that's the way it is sometimes.  Here it is at last!!!  Click on the picture above and it will take you to the PDF file.  I not only did a pattern for you but a tutorial.

August is known for being the Dog Days of Summer, at least up here in the northern hemisphere.  So what better way to celebrate August than with a dog pincushion.  I have done two versions.  One with a long snout, short tail and short ears.  The other with a short snout, long tail and long ears.  What fun it would be to mix and match.  I noticed that if I had shortened the long ears just a tad, he would look just like my Chihuahua.  I may have to do another just for her.

Hope you had a happy August!!!

Marjory

Spooky Hallows Continues with Block 5

Spooky Hallows pattern give-a-way continues with block 5, "Spooky Potions."  Please note that the pattern has numerous bubbles that I didn't include in the final block.  I may end up putting them on at embroidery therefore I left them on the pattern.

The eye from the frog is still not on because it may be a button which will be applied after quilting.  The only thing else of note is that I used Cotton Lame for the gold sections of the bottle.  Because cotton lame is very sheer, I decided to interface it.  What better to interface it with than fusible light weight woven interfacing.  This added just the right amount of stability to have the lame act just like quilting cottons.  Here is a small tutorial on how I did this:

I used my freezer paper template and a teflon pressing sheet to accomplish interfacing my fabric applique pieces.  The teflon sheet prevents the fusible to stick, it just peels right off after cooling.  Do not touch while hot because it may cause a burn.  The freezer paper has a plastic shiny side that I use to attach by presssing the template to the wrong side of the fabric.  In this case I used small pieces of fusible light weight woven interfacing.  I placed the teflon ironing sheet down on the top of my ironing board.  With fusible side of interfacing down and shiny side of template  down on top of fusible interfacing light press template in place.  After cooling, cut interfacing to exact size of template.  Press interfacing/template unit to the wrong side of you cotton lame; fusing in place.  Cut lame 1/4" from edge of template.  Continue with applique method to apply to block. 

The eyes and nose of the skull are reverse applique, as is the white bottle top.  I think that's it for special instructions.  Don't forget to increase the pattern by 159%.

Happy Appliqueing!!!!

Marjory

Spooky Hallows Continues with Block 4

Spooky Hallows continues with block 4, "Spooky Flowers".  Not so spooky really just a fun flower to help the quilt have enough yellow but not too much.  Yellow is a strong color in any value and it is very important that it is balanced.  So consider this when choosing your fabrics, these flowers really need to be yellow to balance a yellow moon.  I also used white for the vase to balance the white of the ghosts and the skull.  Quilting is really a balancing act all around.

There are no other special directions for this block.  Just remember to enlarge the pattern by 159%.  I hope everyone is enjoying these patterns and I can't wait to see some of your work.  I will be investigating how to run a Flickr group so we can all post our pictures of our finished blocks and quilts there.  I'll be getting back to you on that soon.  

So happy Applique and I'll be back on the 22nd as promised.

Marjory

Spooky Hallows Continues with Block 3

"Spooky Pumpkins" is the third and next block to be released.  This is one of my favorites.  I just love the orange pumpkins next to Spooky the black cat.  There isn't any special directions for this block.  It's actually very simple.  Just remember to increase the pattern by 159% to make it the right size.

I will be back on August 8th and 22nd.  Then again on September 5th and 19th.  October will see us with the last two block patterns on the 3rd and 17th.  I will then supply the paper piecing for the sashing that I used in my design.  Hopefully I will actually have mine done to that level at that time.

Spooky Hallows Continues with Block 2

The second block is called "Spooky Skull".  What is not shown in this picture is the spider web that will be embroidered in the upper left corner.  That won't be done until the quilt is quilted. Please note that the eye sockets on the skull are reverse applique but the eyeballs aren't.

Just click on the picture and it will take you to where the PDF file is available.  Don't forget to enlarge the pattern 159%.

Have fun and enjoy!!!
Marjory

Last Swap and Pincushion Tutorial

One of the things I haven't shared with you is the swap I was in when my sewing machine decided to go crazy.  I think it needed a vacation.  LOL  Last spring I was invited to a new Flickr swap group, Fab Little Quilt Swap (FLQS).  It was a great honor to be asked because it is a "by invitation only" group.  The swap rules are very much like some of the other groups I belong to.  You receive a secret partner that you scope (Spy/stalk) out on Flickr.  Then you design something just for them.  You then receive a small quilt from another member that has your name.  Very fun!!!!

Here is the quilt I sent my partner, FlossieBloosms.  She has a love of anything related to the beach and flamingos.   I named this little quilt, "Spooning on the Beach"  It was a joy to make until my machine went out in the middle of quilting it.  To say the least I was very late and missed the deadline.  Luckily they have laid off for the summer.  Here is the pincushion I sent to go with this beauty.

Click on the picture of the ball and it will take you to the pattern and tutorial to make your own beach ball.  

Now for the beauty I received from my partner, ShapeMoth.  She creates the most wonderful paper pieced creations ever.  This little beauty came all the way from Germany and I love, love, love it.

She named it "Dream Pond".  The colors are very true in the picture and it is a beautiful quilt.  I have hung it with the others I have received.  I now have a wall full of frog quilts.  What a joy to behold every morning when I wake.  

Happy Quilting!!!

Marjory