W.i.P Wednesday: A Rather Ghastly Halloween

I hope you're having a Ghastly good time this Halloween!!!

  

Hurricane Preparedness Plan

I got some extra sewing time this week thanks to Super Storm Sandy.  I was ready in case the power did go out cutting out stacks of hexies for the Hexy MF Quiltalong.  Better late than never:-)  I started with this stack of Emily Taylor's new line Avignon but I'll be adding lots more things to it.

We were lucky, our power stayed on and our worst mishap was running out of popcorn.  Since my machine was still running I finally got back to my long neglected Victory Garden Quilt and started sewing on the sashing.  I can't wait to see this one all together!!!

Today is the final day to link up at the Ghastly Gathering!  Everyone who joins is entered in my trick or treat giveaway.  I will draw 3 names.  One lucky winner will receive this vintage Unhappy Hour panel...  the other 2 will receive a trick or a treat;-)  And there's still time to enter the Ghastly Giveaway at OCD: obsessive crafting disorder.

Blogger's Quilt Festival: Cracking Up

I always love the Blogger's Quilt Festival.  There is just so much creativity in the quilting world and it is fabulous to see it all showcased in one place.  With it wrapping up on Halloween the timing was perfect for me to show off my latest Ghastly creation.

I'm absolutely obsessed with the Ghastlies but I thought I was really cracking up with this one... This quilt started out as something different but the Ghastly Angle fabric reminded me of how in the "old days" the TV signal would cut out and that lead to me cutting up a perfectly good strip quilt:-)  You can check out my tutorial for more about how I did it.

I also planned (and made) the back as something completely different but then I found this fabulous Alexander Henry City Stars & Lights fabric and had to use it.  Technically it not Ghastly but it coordinates perfectly and I just ♥ the little pink hearts!

I didn't want to detract from the prints so I just did simple outline quilting around the panels.  If I'd seen Kristie's awesome spiderweb quilting tutorial in time it would probably be covered in cobwebs right now;-)

For more Ghastly inspiration check out my Ghastly Gathering.

Quilt Stats:

Finished quilt is 54" x 60"

Fabrics:  From the Ghastlies collections by Alexander Henry.
Batting:  Quilter's Dream Orient
Thread:  King Tut Rosetta Stone 978
Best Blogger's Quilt Festival Categories : Throw Quilt, Home Machine Quilted

Gaga for Ghastlies- Now with extended bonus hours!!!

Today brought a cold, wet end to this year's cheerleading season.  Luckily, I had my Cracking Up quilt to keep me warm while I tacked the binding.  As you might imagine, quilting in the rain at a football game invites a lot of questions.  I was talking about how much I LOVE the Ghastlies and realized I wasn't ready for the fun to end so I decided to keep it going until Halloween. Which means...

You can still go comment on OCD: obsessive crafting disorder's awesome spiderweb quilting tutorial and be entered to win this amazing collection of Ghastlies fabrics.

AND there's still time to add your Ghastly thing to the Ghastly Gathering.  There just might be another giveaway coming for those who do;-)  I'm also offering a bounty to anyone at Quilt Market who can get me a sneak peak of the next Ghastly collection.  I'll make it worth your while!

Spiderweb Quilting Tute by OCD: Obsessive Crafting Disorder

Photo courtesy of OCD: obsessive crafting disorder

Today the awesomely amazing Kristie of OCD: obsessive crafting disorder has a fabulous tutorial on spiderweb quilting.  I think Kristie might be as obsessed with the Ghastlies as me;-)


You know you're going to check it out anyway but while you're there leave a comment on Kristie's blog and be entered to win this Ghastly quartet.  There are 3 fat quarters of Ghastlies prints plus a half yard of the Ghastly Family Reunion print.  Comment by midnight Sunday, October 28th, winner announced Monday.

It's not too late!  You can still join the Ghastly Gathering and share your Ghastly creation!!!

W.i.P Thursday... 'cause sometimes that's when it happens

This has been a week where nothing goes as planned...

I did manage to finish those 3 top secret quilts.  Unfortunately I still can't reveal them but if I don't blog about it it's like it never happened.  I promise not to mention them again until I can show them off! 

I planned to baste my Cracking Up quilt at this month's BMQG meeting with bonus extended sewing time.  I was so careful packing up everything I would need...  batting, scissors, masking tape, safety pins, safety pin closer.  The lovely Lia even offered to help me, now that's a good friend!  Only problem, I forgot the quilt at home on my design wall where it wouldn't get wrinkled.  So I had to roll up the rug again and do it myself.  At least it's done now and I can get quilting!

Speaking of Ghastly things, be sure to stop by tomorrow for a surprise guest post and more chances to win. There's still time to link up your Ghastly creations at the Ghastly Gathering! I'm dying to see what you've made;-)

Ghastly Portraits How-To

One of my favorite ways to use the Ghastlies prints has been to frame them like pictures and use them to decorate. Last year I made this set which I stuck to these quilted covers I made for the pictures in my entry way.

At Quilter's Way they had the brilliant idea to attach them to Lucite frames.

And lately I've just been sticking them up around my house.  Here are some tips if you want to make your own...

I'm addicted to Decor-Bond (Pellon #809).  I find these are just a bit crisper if I start by fusing some to the wrong side of my fabric.  Then I layer it with batting, a great way to use up scraps, but don't bother with a backing.  When you cut out your image remember that you will lose about 1/4" on all sides to the seam allowance. 

I cut my bindings in a variety of widths between 2" and 3".  If you are going to make round or irregularly shaped pictures you will definitely want to use bias binding and a thinner binding will be easier to turn. 

Fold your binding in half and attach like you are binding a quilt, mitering your corners.  With a wider binding you can increase your seam allowance to make a thicker frame.  Turn your binding to the back and tack but don't worry about covering your sewing line.

Make a few more... you can never have too many family portraits!

One week left to link up at the Ghastly Gathering.  Halloween will be here before you know it so finish up those Ghastly things:-)

And the winner is...

Congratulations to the fabulous Kristie at ocd: obsessive crafting disorder.  Her quilt is stunning, the yellow really pops!  I'll be sending her the Ghastly Fat Quarter pack so she can create even more Ghastly things:-)

There's still time to link up at the Ghastly Gathering and more prizes to win!