JUST HOP ON OVER!

...and its been waaaaay to long since I have been
invited to participate in a blog hop...
and now I am involved in two.

First up will be in February



Hosted by Carol over at Just Let me Quilt...

A sneak peek of my scraps that are in my project

In April you can find me hosting a block project for

Carla, over at Creatin in the Sticks has 30 peeps/30 blocks

all lined up for your enjoyment!

I am undecided on this one as to my project
and the fabric I will use...stay tuned.

I have missed the blog hops and if  YOU are hosting
please keep me in mind as a blogger who luvs the challenge!

GHASTLIES SEASIDE MOMENTS

If the Ghastlies lived by the sea...

this might be Widows Peak!

Or maybe this might be acceptable for them

with the fence that could enclose 

the Ghastlies' Cemetery?

I was lucky to stay down the beach 

from these exquisite private homes.

 I selected the Ghastlies Moment Panel to make this quilt top

during my winter hiatus at Ocean Isle Beach, NC

"Ghastlies SeaSide Moments'

30 large Economy Blocks (11" unfinished) 

make this 54" X 68" lap size quilt.

The Ghastlies Moments panel was a new to my stash

but I pulled the setting fabrics from my stash.

One goal is to use up a bunch of stash this year!

I can never resist a beach photo shoot!

The weather was warm and a bit overcast, which 

allows the great colors on the quilt to shine brilliantly!

If you know me at all...I take chances and break rules.

And when necessary to get that perfect photo

I trespass on private property!

"It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission!"

This rocking chair HAD TO BE holding my quilt!

What a view...worth every law I broke!

But the beach offers many photo ops...

like fences that need repair...

But wait, I did get caught at this gazebo

....the owner came out to ask... 

"can I help you"?

 I don't think she meant can she hold my quilt!  

She was polite, we chatted a bit, she asked if I was an artist?

(dah, no I just play around with fabric making beautiful quilts) 

She did like my quilt but also told me

this is  "private property" (dah, I knew that)

I may have gotten away with it like last year,

 but her dog saw me and barked!  (dah)

Guess I won't stop there again...

I love a good set of stairs for capturing a photo

.

Giant sandbags offer a unique background.

I liked the mustard color house behind these....don't you!

The sign here said, "Stay off the Sandbags"

nothing about laying a quilt top on it! 

Low tide gives an aura of what was....

Across the way is Sunset Beach, NC

known for its stunning sunset vistas!

As I left the beach on a public access board walk...

I turned to look back and had to capture this!

and this

Behind the beach homes

the Intercoastal Waterway runs thru...disconnecting 

Ocean Isle, NC from the mainland.

Here, the sign read  "For Hotels Guests Only"

Yet, I ventured onto the platform to snap this photo.

My second project at the beach this winter

A Ghastlie Sea...is done until I get home

 to make a backing and quilt it.

Sew if I am arrested for my daring and sneaky photo ops...

will you send $$$ to a GoFundMe account?

ECONOMY BLOCKS TUTORIAL

Yes, I know the "Economy" block is nothing new.
Actually its been around for a very long time aka
"Square in a Square" block.
When I saw the Ghastlies Moment panel...
it was a no brainer..cut and make Economy blocks.

I pulled lots of Ghaliness like the weaves and brambles
as well as some solids from my stash to find colors that work.



and the Ghastliness began!

All fabrics were cut into sizes I needed to make
LARGE Economy blocks. I like to kit up a project when I travel...or in this case
when I winter at the beach.

I made 30 blocks, one at a time and used the numbered straight pins to get them in some kinda design order.
You could chain piece blocks, especially if more scrappy.

I also press to the dark side
Press seams open if you prefer that method.
Don't be stingy with your starch...I use Best Press.

Lets take a closer look at cutting the fabrics 
for an 11" unfinished economy block.

Center Ghastlie squares are trimmed to 5 1/2" square
2, 5" squares / cut once on the diagonal (pink)   =  4 triangles  
2, 6" squares / cut once on the diagonal  (b&w) = 4 triangles

Lay the pieces out for color coordination....yep, looks good!

Its important to get the pieces lined up correctly to sew
Sew try folding all the triangles in half and press creases.

Crease the center block as well in both directions.

You can see here how easy it is 
to line up the two creases for sewing!
Line up the creases and line up the raw edges...
Sew 1/4" seam

Sew two smaller triangles to 
the top and bottom of the center block.

Trim off the dog ears on both sides.

Sew the other two pieces on remaining sides.
Trim to an 8" square.

Repeat using the larger triangles.
For a good placement see how the crease lines up with the 
intersected point of the block.

Sew triangles on opposite sides of the 8" blocks
and trim dog ears

Repeats sewing other two triangles on the remaining sides
Trim to an 11" square
You can use washi tape to mark you ruler or I have
these vinyl strips I have had for years.

And there you have it!
A very large economy block!

Often, there is no reason to re-invent the wheel.
Just google economy block sizes and you will find info..
like this cutting chart from CatBird Quilts Studio
She also has a tutorial and the math for sizing.
My 5 1/2" center square was not on this chart
sew I just guessed...and was right.

A. size of your finished block

B. size to cut your center patch

C. size to cut two interior squares; sub-cut each square on the diagonal

D. size to cut two exterior squares; sub-cut each square on the diagonal

The dimensions for C and D are oversized to allow for imperfection. You will still need to trim after these steps.

Sew here are a couple sneak peeks of my blocks.

Stay tuned because the finished
Ghastlies Economy Block Quilt top is almost done.
If you are on Instagram...follow me there too!
@kwiltypleasures

SLOWER THAN CHRISTMAS

Sometimes I am slower than Christmas 

posting timely blog posts...Sorry

SEW before I get to next Christmas...

I gotta little Ghastliness for ya!

(surprise, surprise)

This Ghastlies Christmas quilt began at 

a 2017 Spring Quilt Retreat 

using all the colors of the line that I had in my stash.

and I waited and waited for a snow fall...

to capture a Ghastlie Christmas moment!

NOT my first Ghastlies Christmas Quilt...I made this one

for a customer a few years ago.

And I love my Ghastlies Christmas Apron!

Made these Christmas pouches for a swap a few years back...

And yes, my Christmas stocking is very Ghastlie!

DO YOU LIKE IT SCOT?

Any Outlander fans out there...

and exactly what is a Sassanech?

Sas·se·nach

ˈsasəˌnak/

SCOTTISHIRISHderogatorynoun 

...nickname for an English person.

a term used by the Gaelic inhabitants of the British Isles to

refer to the English inhabitants.

---------------------------------------

More important it is the name Jamie Fraser (Scotsman) 
lovingly calls Claire Fraser (Englishwoman) in the series.

Cherie's ringtone is set to Jamie saying this!

I believe that makes Cherie, a bit more obsessed than me

about all things Scottish.  

And that would also include her sister, Terra!

She asked me to make them both an Outlander bag.

She came by to pick out patterns and look for fabrics.

Found some Outlander prints from Hawthorne Threads

and the Outlander plaids from 

Here is the beginning of a Supertote Bag for Cherie!

This turned out beautiful.

The tassel was made by Cherie and she wanted me

to include the "Coach" key ring, a gift from her sister.

Here is a close up of the tassel, with lots of leather, beads 

and charms that represent something from Outlander!

Inside the front pocket section...a custom cell phone pocket.

We selected the "Juliet Bag" pattern 

by Me and My Sister designs for Terra's bag.

 It came out amazing too!

This bag has two interior pockets.

Closeup showing the awesome tassel!

and I did a bit of fancy decorative stitches on the handles.

And here is Cherie (left) and Terra (right)
styling like all Sassenach women should!

All in all the bags were a huge success and

the we all have to endure DroughtLander til next season!

If you don't watch Outlander, may I suggest you

grab yourself a bottle of wine and binge watch til

you can't stand the heat!

It's a love story that goes waaaaay beyond love!