A "Kwilted" GHASTLIES CHRISTMAS

Ghastlies are NOT just for Halloween...
'Tis the season for Ghastlies Christmas!

RED

After I decided on the coordinating colors
the design wall became my best friend.  
For the layout of the improv blocks

added solid black to join the blocks

I wanted to capture "scenes" for each block 

and  due to the way the fabric was printed.  

each block is a different size.

Let's start with some FMQ close ups!

I did change thread colors throughout the top

and used black thread for the back.

Ahhhh.  Sebastian, the Ghastlies Cat

Overlooking the Christmas Festivities.

Ms. Ghastlies dress was fun to highlight with gray thread.

Great head of hair!!

 FMQ using a small stippling with red thread 

on the red backgrounds in each block

 A creamy thread made the wavy lines on the first frame/border

  I like to use a meander when there are so many straight 

seams joining at odd intervals.  It softens the look.

 Finished size is 48" x 54" (lap or wall kwilt)
 

 Binding is a solid black 

Backing was a gray/white small print on black

This kwilt was a FUN challenge!

I knew in my head what I wanted BUT designing it
was NO "piece" of cake.  

I walked away from it for a couple weeks.

Then settled on 3 coordinating fabrics to frame the red focus prints and give the eyes a place to rest. 

My customer likes it...makes #5 Ghastlies kwilt for her.  

I just got the other color ways..sew I'll be designing
something with these for next year.

SMOKE

HEADSTONE

MAUVE

Sew from me and my Ghastlies family.

Merry Christmas!!!

Sunday Stash

First...a congrats to Kathleen at Pelican Key blog, 
who won my Loralei Fabric giveaway 
last week in the Sew Mama Sew Hop.  

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The Holiday on many minds right now is Christmas 

but I am still scaring up some great Halloween stash.

I met my kwilting partner in crime, Kathy Guenther, in 

Waynesville, OH for a Holiday lunch and of course 

a stop at The Fabric Shack was in order.   

The "Oddities" Family
by Andrew Pinder for Elizabeth's Studio 
caught my attention.  
The just "might" give the Ghastlies a run for the money!

"Ghoulish Family Portrait"

"Ghoulish Family"

"Cauldron"

and how about this fun spider web print 

"Who's Watching" by Marcus Fabrics

Linking up over at Finding Fifth for Sunday Stash.

There will be more fun stash later this week when 

The Ghastlies (and me) wish you a Merry Christmas!

Remembering Mom...

Two favorite kwilts I designed 

came from deep inside me 

and were part of a healing journey.

My Mom passed away, December, 2006 

as a result of Alzheimer's complications.

Cora Clayton, was 92 years old and the one, well only hobby,

she enjoyed was hand piecing scrappy quilts.
We are talking scrappy, before scrappy was cool. 
No design, just one uneven piece sewn to the next, a 
thrift store blanket for  batting, a sheet for the back.

From the hills of Venia, Virginia, down the holler on 
Grissom Creek...Mom only made utilitarian quilts...
quilts that would keep  you warm while snuggled
in a real feather bed. 

As I sorted thru her belongings...I found the perfect

things to help me through a very difficult time.
Her aprons and house dresses! 

Scissors, needle and thread helped me 
mend my broken heart. 

The APRONS 

 "Sunday Dinner at Mom's"

I made the apron appliques in likeness of Mom's aprons, 

 Then, FMQ-ed her name "Cora Clayton" in the top border. 
You can't see it...but it is there. 

Sunday, was the day of the week Mom lived for.

Her family came home to enjoy her wonderful Sunday dinner

"FRIED CHICKEN" yep "FRIED CHICKEN"

 The HOUSE DRESSES 

I found a box of Mom's house dresses.  

I remember her wearing many these when I was a little girl.

No way would I leave all those memories in a box.
Sew I began to cut and sew and designed this kwilt.

"House Dressings"

I entered "House Dressings" into a local guild show. 

 My BFF, Shirley, who also grow up living next door to Mom

hand kwilted it - and it won
FIRST PLACE, Hand Quilting

I made a small kwilt one for one sister
"Dresses for Cora"
and sent fabrics to my kwilter sister, 
sew she could make one.

The final pieces went into a small kwilt for my niece, 
who Mom raised.
"Remembering Grandma"

Mom would be so proud that I had made these kwilts,
but she would be mad as hell 
that I cut her clothes up to make them!

I miss her sew very much, but
 I know she's hanging out in my sewing room, 
my fabric angel, guarding my stash!

Love and miss you Mom!

Cora (Hess) Clayton
1914 - 2006

SEW MAMA SEW - GIVEAWAY

This contest is now closed.
Thank your for commenting,  


Welcome to Kwilty Pleasures 

and thanks to Sew Mama Sew for this hop opp!

If you are a first time visitor...sew nice to meet you!

I have "almost" as much fun blogging, as I do 

in creating fun things with my fabric obesssion.

Take a look around and maybe 

you'll jump on myfabric wagon and

You don't have to be a follower to win this giveaway

but I'd love it if you are!

My giveaway is a Holiday package of

 Loralie Designs

from Quilting Treasures

1 yard panel of Holiday Angels

1 yard coordinating print

Add reds, greens, golds, white from your stash

and think of the fun possibilities...

A quilt, tote bag, pouches, journal covers, baskets!

Just in time for the Holidays!

Giveaway is open to all and will close Dec 13th at 5:00 p.m.

And hey, I didn't forget my current 550 followers!

I do appreciate your support as there

are a ga-zillion blogs you can choose to follow.

I am happy you find my blog worthy!

Sew, to enter the contest...leave me a comment with the

Title of your favorite kwilting book and WHY it is!  

Now click here to fly on....to your next fun stop!

SUNDAY STASH - SCARLET AND GRAY

If you know me, you know I love college football,

in particular, The Ohio State Buckeyes.

Here's a post all about my NUTTY FUN!

On Thanksgiving my BIL and SIL stopped by

for some turkey and trimmings.

However, I was the one who got the best treat of the day.

A bag full of BUCKEYE FABRICS!

7, one yard cuts and 3 yards for a backing.

Thank you Gary and Lea!

This is...

Linking up over at Finding Fifth for Sunday Stash

And if you like blog hops and great giveaways, 

then catch Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway Day.  

The fun starts tomorrow, Dec 9th!

Kwilty Pleasures will have something for ya!