PILLOWS FOR CHRISTMAS!

My son loves pillows for his sofa and he loves 

American Indian motifs.

Guess what he's getting for Christmas!

This one is envelope style.

The back with the envelope colsure.

And these two are my first attempt at 

Zippers for the closures.

Lord, why have I not tried this before?

Probably because I didn't have an excellent video tutorial to follow.

Thanks to Kim Hensley for sending me this one from

Sheri from a Quilting Life's tutorial link.

How to Put a Zipper in a Pillow Back (youtube.com)

I didn't do the binding finish.

Just made the pieces about an inch larger

and sewed them RST with 1/2" seams.

Easy Peasy!

Give it a try...I'll never do an envelope style again!.

GEMMA.MY.GEM

I am so blessed to have this cutie pie in my life.  

She is my great-niece and she loves her Aunt Kathy!

 and Aunt Kathy's sewing room!

Just before school started (first grader here)

we worked together to make a fabric bracelet.

She picked the fabric from the scrap bin and the thread

She kept the rows pretty straight

while learning to keep her fingers away from the needle area!

Also gave her a bamboo skewer to use as a stylus...

making sure those fingers were safe!

I added the Velcro for the fastener.

During Thanksgiving break she came to stay the day



and I had a project ready!






Gemma's Momma and Daddy were married on Halloween.



They love everything skulls, skeletons...



I found this Chillingsworth Christmas fabrics.



Just perfect for pillowcases!























Gemma is very good about doing exactly what I tell her.

It took all day, cause 6 year old girls need breaks.

She did most of the sewing for 3 pillow cases.

Well, yes, Gemma needed one too!

She promises not to tell her Mom and Dad...



but that face...may not be able to keep a secret!

OHCRAFT RETREAT!

Last October I attended a fun retreat with #OHCraft  

a group of fun sewists, mostly from Ohio, in Kentucky

making merry, creating, eating, 

and why yes, there was some drinking,  

Necessities packed!

This is how the sunrise greeted us each day at

General Butler State Park in Kentucky!

The weather was incredible...reached almost 80 degrees!

There was a  Secret Sister Swap

My partner was Clarie @crimesagainstfabric

Small gifts delivered all weekend and

On the final day we swapped the big gifts.

  I made her this Noodlehead 257 bag

out of one her fav fabric collections,

Doe, by Carolyn Freidlander.

Absolutely love this color combo!

and inside was this tiny "flying geese" pincushion 

@meigheyburn spoiled me with these fun gifts.  

and this was my gift on Sunday

A Ghastlies Knitting Project Bag w/Yarn

   She designed this bag with a clear vinly pocket for the pattern
and two snaps loops inside to separate two different yarns,

for one project...keeping them tangle free!

GENIUS!

The pillow swap participants 

received some amazing pillow covers!

photo by @karasews

The Columbus Modern Quilters

could not decide if their "jazz hands" should quilt 
or do a Broadway Show!

While the Cincinnati Modern Quilt Guild
decided they wanted to build a human pyramid...
sorta!

Then what to our wondering eyes should appear
but two of Santas favorite 
Cbus elves, Leigh and Katy
....pouring wine of course
Walmart Fashionistas!

All in all it was a fabulous weekend with kwilty peeps
enjoying well...just everything!

LAY YOUR HEAD ON THIS GHASTLINESS!

I got it done...in time for Halloween.

The RING OF COFFINS using my Ghastlie fabrics!

Isn't it great!

A peek at the quilting design from the back side of the batting.

Found a decorative stitch to outline the coffins.

And a few close ups...

My post about the Paper Piecing/ English Paper Piecing 

for this project is right click here.

RING OF COFFINS!

Got your attention didn't I?

I found a great pattern on Craftsy called 

"A Ring of Coffins" 

 Jesse, Art School Dropout designed the original EPP pattern
 Heidi Kenney of My Paper Crane came up with the PP pattern.   
Stop over to get your pattern today, just CLICK HERE 

You know exactly where my "Ghastlies" head went!

It's been a very long time since I have paper pieced.
like before...it was trendy and cool!

Ever hear of Carol Doak? 
Well, she pioneered this technique many moons ago! 
Apparently, PP papers have stayed buried (no pun intended)
in my sewing room for 15 years

 I cut out Ghastlie faces...

Pulled larger scraps for the coffin fabrics.  

Now...will I remember how to do this?

I have!

and my Ghastlie family of coffins...grows!

The pattern also includes a template to use for completing the 

coffins. 

Printed on a heavier card stock and trimmed...

ready to sew on the PP coffins

I will do these later when traveling and 

show you when all is said and dead! oppps done!

Handmade Christmas - October

I have really enjoyed making Holiday gifts all year 

and sticking to my commitment  for 

 Ghastlies zippy pouches. This time using their holiday fabrics.

Fronts 

Backs

I have some family members who luvvvvvvv Halloween.  

So these pillowcases are theirs.

Use 5" scraps or left over charms 

Fabric coasters for last minute gifts!

 See my tutorial here

Just one more month to honor the pledge.

Linking up to Insights From Sew Cal Gal

Lots of handmade goodness over there!