Something Spooktacular

Now that we're getting ready to head back up north I've been making a push to finish up all my WIPs.

I've slowly been getting my Sewjo back and as Halloween approached I realized I didn't have any of my Ghastlies to put out.  I'd picked up this cute little bundle of Art Gallery fabrics at Portsmouth Fabric Co. and thought it would be perfect to whip up something spooky for the holiday and when I saw Prairie Quilt Co.'s Nocturna block for the Soul-a-long hosted by Mija Handmade it sealed the deal.  

It was an ambitious choice given that I'd barely set up my quilt space and I have almost none of my quilting tools.  If I did it again I'd definitely get a log cabin ruler, this is a bit wonkier than I'd hoped.  The blocks are basically just a courthouse steps block with some pieced logs.  I found it easiest to piece all my logs and then assemble the blocks.

It also was a mental challenge to cut and piece the inverse blocks where I swapped the colors.  Having these block buddies definitely helped me keep my sanity!  Thank you Aimee!!!

I originally planned this as a table runner but after playing with a few different layouts I decided to make it a square.  For the quilting I started by just doing a stitch in the ditch around the bats but then I went a little wild and did these FMQ bats.  Some are definitely better than others and it helps that they're very subtle on the busy background but I love the effect!

I just love to relax and hand tack my bindings.  It's such a nice way to slow down and appreciate all the little details.  I can't wait for Halloween to roll around again so I can put it in action!

Quilt Stats:
Finished quilt is 24" x 24"
Pattern: Nocturna by Prairie Quilt Co. for the for the Soul-a-long hosted by Mija Handmade.
Fabrics: Assorted prints from Spooky n' Witchy and Sweet n' Spookier by Art Gallery Fabrics
Batting: Quilter's Dream Orient Bamboo
Thread: Aurifil 50wt in Blossom Pink (2530) and Pale Pink (2410)

We're All Ghastlie Here

I just couldn't let it go!!!  I was inspired by shamelessly copied Sew Jess to make yet another Ghastlies/Spellbound pillow cover to add to my collection.

The pattern is based on the one provided with the Mini Quick Curve Ruler with the blocks turned to create a bat link shape.  I'm not big on specialty rulers but this one is pretty versatile and very easy to use. 

I tried to fussy cut a few of the Ghastlies motifs with varying degrees of success.  It definitely helps to have a template to audition fabric placement but I have to say I got really lucky with this one.

For the quilting I followed the linen arcs which doesn't really work since they are offset but I like the irregular empty spaces it leaves and the sense of motion it gives the piece.  Also it was quick;-)

For the back I decided to use this directional stripe.  Since I wasn't about to try to pattern matching for my usual zippered closure I decided to try an invisible zipper installation but with the twist of adding a bound edge.  I've been noodling on how to do this for awhile and it turned out pretty well so look for a tutorial coming soon.

And here they are...  all my pretties together.  Having a Ghastlie time with this week's Finish it Up Friday by Crazy Mom Quilts.

Pillow Stats:
Finished pillow is 14" x 18"
Pattern: Modified QCR Mini Ruler table runner pattern by Sew Kind of Wonderful
Fabrics: from the Ghastlies collections by Alexander Henry, Spellbound by Cotton + Steel, Essex Yard Dyed Linen in Steel
Batting: Quilter's Dream Orient
Thread: Aurifil 50wt Grey (2605)

Ghastly Beauty

What can I say, I'm still feeling rather Ghastly...  I was totally inspired by Natural Born Quilter's Nightshade Emperor's Wheel quilt and since my Ghastlies stash was still strewn all over my studio I just kept on going.

For the construction I adapted this NY Beauty Circle of Flying Geese pattern by Better off Thread.

I had a couple of options for adding the center section.  My initial thought was to turn under the edges of the flying geese and applique my ring to the center panel.  I also could have used my favorite circle technique and done the opposite.  Instead I decided to challenge my skills and sew an inset circle.  I'm pretty pleased with the way it turned out and I definitely liked not having the extra bulk to quilt thru.

I had the haunting feeling someone was watching me quilt this;-)

Since I was challenging myself I decided to test out quilting with Aurifil's Lana wool.  As the website recommends I used coordinating 50wt thread in the bobbin and I switched to a 90/14 needle.  I love the extra definition this gives the rings!

Making this pillow was great therapy, despite it's 101 pieces, but in the final analysis I don't love the result -  there's not enough contrast.  All those flying geese and they just don't pop.  If I use this pattern again I'll definitely try for something bolder. 

That said, it's a lovely addition to my ever-growing Ghastlies collection.  Still feeling Ghastly with this week's Finish it Up Friday by Crazy Mom Quilts.

Pillow Stats:
Finished pillow is 21" x 21"
Pattern:Adapted from NY Beauty Circle of Flying Geese pattern by Better off Thread
Fabrics: from the Ghastlies collections by Alexander Henry, Spellbound by Cotton + Steel
Batting: Quilter's Dream Orient
Thread: Aurifil 12wt Lana Wool/Acrylic in Faerie Pink (8464), 50wt Victorian Rose (2445)

Excuse Me While I Swoon

As I've mentioned before I'm really not that in to the whole fall thing.  Those "crisp" autumn days put me in a ghastly mood so quicker than you can say pumpkin spice latte I escaped to my studio, dug into my stash, and got sewing...

There really isn't enough space in my house for yet another Ghastlies quilt but there's always room for pillows.  I've been on a bit of a Swoon pillow jag lately.  It started started with my Christmas version and then spread to a patriotic version so obviously a Halloween one was in order.  Most of the Ghastlies focus prints are too spread apart for these smaller pieces but the Ghastlie Web print was perfect.

For the quilting I made a free form spider web.  This is such any easy and forgiving pattern and perfect for Halloween decorations!  Lori Kennedy has a great spider web tutorial if you've never tried quilting one.  Next time I'll try adding the spider.

For the back I had a little fun and used this colorful 9 Ghastlie Lives print.  As always, I used this zipper closure tutorial by to S.O.T.A.K. Handmade.

Feeling Ghastly with this week's Finish it Up Friday by Crazy Mom Quilts.

Pillow Stats:
Finished pillow is 20" x 20"
Pattern:Adapted from Swoon by Camille Roskelley - Thimble Blossoms
Fabrics: from the Ghastlies collections by Alexander Henry, P&B Basics, Onyx Grunge by basic grey.
Batting: Quilter's Dream Orient Bamboo
Thread: King Tut Rosetta Stone (978).

The Perfect Storm!

Halloween may be over but I had to share this one before I put it away for next year.  This quilt is the convergence of my current obsessions...  pineapple blocks, circular quilting, and the Ghastlies.

It started with this awesome Pineapple Variation by my insanely creative friend Alexis and suddenly everywhere I looked there were pineapples.  Psych!  I used this amazing pineapple block tutorial by Crazy Mom Quilts to make my blocks and then played with the layout until I came up with this.

I probably would have tucked the finished top away to quilt next year if Alexis hadn't come to the rescue again.  This was the perfect thing to work on during our quilt camp weekend at her fabulous beach house in Scituate.  A Nor'easter raged outside but we rode out the storm in style stitching away with snacks, wine and lots of laughter.

I may have gotten carried away with the pictures but we had a perfect fall day for a photo shoot.  I had a blast driving around Concord with the top down looking for spooky locations...

I promised myself no more trips to the graveyard but how could I resist;-)

Linking up to the fabulous Finish it Up Friday by Crazy Mom Quilts.

Quilt Stats:
Finished quilt is 36" x 36"
Pattern: Variation of a traditional Pineapple Quilt.  Blocks made using this amazing pineapple block tutorial by Crazy Mom Quilts.
Fabrics: from the Ghastlies collections by Alexander Henry, Onyx Grunge by basic grey, stash.  Binding Blush Grunge by basic grey.
Batting: Quilter's Dream Orient Bamboo
Thread: King Tut Rosetta Stone (978).

Blogger's Quilt Festival:Gathered Ghastlies

I'm just dying to share my latest Ghastly creation for the Blogger's Quilt Festival.  I have been obsessed with this fabric line since it came out.  With each new release I add more to my collection so I have to keep coming up with creative ways to use it.

I've had this one in mind for a while...  it's sort of a mash up of my Cracking Up quilt and this Beachy Wave quilt.  I started with a simple strip pieced quilt using the fabric repeat to determine the width of the strips.

I pieced the strip quilt and quilted it using a simple broken glass pattern before adding the ruffles.

The ruffles are a little tricky.  I cut two strips 5" by the wof and joined them end to end then sewed them right sides together along the long side to make a really long tube.  When gathering I find it easiest to set my stitch length to the longest length and turn my top tension all the way up to the highest setting.  I sewed two rows of gathering stitches down either side of each ruffle.  The key for easier gathering is NOT to catch the seam allowance in your basting stitches.  I pinned each ruffle to my quilt adjusting them so the gathers were fairly even and then top stitched down the center of each ruffle using coordinating thread.

And I got to indulge my other obsession, Tula Pink!!!  The Absinthe colorway of NightShade coordinates perfectly with the Ghastlies:-)

It's the perfect addition to my absolutely Ghastly foyer:-)

My undying admiration goes to Amy for once again organizing the Blogger's Quilt Festival!!!  I've entered this in the Small Quilts category.  The end is near, today is the last day to enter your quilt.  Don't be left behind!

Also linking up to the fabulous Finish it Up Friday by Crazy Mom Quilts.

Quilt Stats:
Finished quilt is 40" x 68"
Fabrics:  from the Ghastlies collections by Alexander Henry, Heath. Backing: Absinthe Spider Blooms from Nightshade by Tula Pink.  Binding: Architextures by Carolyn Friedlander.
Batting:  Quilter's Dream Orient Bamboo
Thread:  King Tut Rosetta Stone 978, Aurifil Victorian Rose(2445)

Haunted Hexies

Things get totally Ghastly around here in October and while you'd think I wouldn't need another quilted Halloween decoration last year I started working on even more.  I got this table runner completely pieced but then Halloween came and went and I never got around to quilting it...

My original plan was to FMQ spiderwebs across the whole runner but after looking at it awhile I decided the quilting would just get lost.  Instead, I just outlined the rows of the hexagons and then did spiraling triangles on the connectors.  I love the effect, it almost looks 3D!

Of course the minute I put it on the table I realized I should have added another hexagon to each end:-(  Maybe this one will be gifted and I'll have to make another one for myself...

 Linking up to the fabulous Finish it Up Friday by Crazy Mom Quilts.

Quilt Stats:
Finished quilt is 28" x 60"
Fabrics: Haunted Mansion by Sanae Jellyroll.  Green Grunge by basic grey.
Batting: Quilter's Dream Orient Bamboo
Thread: Green Olives, King Tut #990

Undone

I had big quilting plans this Halloween...  

When I was digging through my stash of Halloween fabrics looking for Ghastlies I found this Haunted Mansion jellyroll.

Inspired by My Quilting Journey's Cute and Spooky Spiderweb quilt, I decided to use my Hex 'n More ruler to make Spiderweb Hexagons.  

After playing with a few different arrangements I pieced them together to make this table runner.  It's basted and ready for some spiderweb quilting.

I also started this Ghastly strip quilt but didn't get it quilted either...

But I did manage to finish this Ghastly pillow, which looks fabulous with my Ghastly Coffin quilt:-)  I guess there's always next year!!!

See more fabulous finishes at Finish it Up Friday by Crazy Mom Quilts.

Ghastly Games

I don't know which is more inspiring...  seeing all the fabulous new fabrics making their debut at Quilt Market or seeing all the absolutely amazing Blogger's Quilt Festival quilts!  Either way, I just want to barricade myself in my studio and quilt my brains out:-)

I had the idea for this quilt last year but never got a chance to make it and it's been haunting me ever since.  As soon as October rolled around I started having all sorts of Ghastly thoughts:-)  I pulled out my stash and immediately got to it.

There are tons of great tutorials on how to make a circle quilt out there.  Mine is loosely based on this Liberty Mini (which I'm totally going to make someday) by Purl Soho.  I used the Easy Circle Cut ruler to cut my circles out of sheer fusible interfacing (Pellon 906F) then pinned this to my printed fabric so the fusible side is facing the right side of the fabric.  Stitch around the circle using a 1/4" seam allowance and then trim your circle using pinking sheers so you don't have to worry about clipping the curves.  Make a small slit in the fusible and turn the circle right side out.  DO NOT IRON!!!

Once all my circles were made I assembled the checkerboard background, basted it, and quilted 1/4" on either side of the seam lines.  Once I arranged the circles the way I wanted I fused them to the quilted top and then quilted around each circle.

You'd think I'd have learned my lesson but I used this leftover binding from my Ghastly Coffin quilt without measuring it first...  it was THAT close but I made it:-)

I was totally inspired by the fabulous presentation by The Story of Kat at our October BMQG meeting on hand-embroidered quilt labels.  My text is a little too tight and I definitely need to work on my stitches but I'm learning to embrace imperfection.

This perfectly captures my vision but those Ghastlies may still be haunting me;-)

Go find your inspiration at the Blogger's Quilt Festival!!!

Quilt Stats:
Finished quilt is 40" x 40"
Fabrics: The Ghastlies, Ghastly Family Reunion, and A Ghastly Night by Alexander Henry, Onyx Grunge by Basic Grey, Fairy Frost Glow White by Michael Miller
Batting: Quilter's Dream Orient
Thread: King Tut 978, Rosetta Stone