Wednesday, September 10, 2014

HALLOWEEN - WIP WEDNESDAY

   
You have probably seen this Amy Bradley Design Pattern

 


My blocks began as rectangles, done as part of a quilt guild swap  
12 kwilters, each made 12 of the ONE block...then we swapped.



I held my breathe and began to cut and sew the wonkiness
into these blocks!  Making it my own quirky design 

A few more blocks to add the black fabric around,
Square them up and sew them together. 



Are you working on any Halloween projects?
Linking up to WIP Wednesday and 
Lets Bee Social...links on sidebar.




Monday, September 8, 2014

AROUND THE WORLD BLOG HOP


TAG...I'M IT....


Erin who blogs at "Sew at Home Mummy" tagged me for this hop. Sounded fun and hey...isn't that what blog hopping is about?  Erin was one of the first bloggy friends and we have shared some great pokes, jokes and laughs.  She has helped me with techy-bloggy design questions and took time to make my Ghastlies Swap button. Her blog oozes inspiration, ideas, interaction and it, like Erin,  will captivate you!   


1. What am I working on? 

My big project now is hosting a "Ghastlies Swap".  It's my first swap and so far...so good.  I opened a big ole can of Ghastlie worms and the participants are really engaging the "spirit" of this hop.  I am making random Ghastlie items (because I can't help myself) and I share these with the participants on IG and my blog to keep the worms crawling.  Wonder what I will send my partner?  If you are on IG you can find me @kwiltypleasures and check out #kwiltypleasuresghastliesswap! 



Sweet Ghastlies Holiday Pouches



A Nested Churn Dash  (NCD)
Center piece  -  8 1/2" square
and built out to a 24" square


This NCD has the 4 1/2" square in the center (sew tiny)
 I'll build it out to the full 24" square



Have you figured out yet that I luv the Ghastlies.  Some day I will make my own Ghastlies kwilt.  In the past couple years I have made 7 commissioned Ghastlie kwilts. Here are a couple of them. 




I am working on 5 projects for the Sew We Quilt "Rush Hour" blog hop. I can't show those today but come back on Sept 25th.  I have used almost every inch of these beautiful fabrics and you can participate in the "giveaway(s)" I will offer during the hop.



I make a lot of kwilts for my Etsy shop, some bags 
and you'll find some "destash" fabrics as well. 
Hope to get some Vintage Christmas items and 
Vintage Sheet fabric selections added soon!


An example of the modern kwilts in my shop.
These are for twins...
  

I'm working on these wonky blocks for Halloween...
gotta set them in black


Halloween pillowcases are sew quick and easy!






2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Well..as you can see from what I have shown you here genre is not a term I like to adhere to.  My feet are planted in traditional kwilting, I have dabbled with "art kwilts" but today my heart belongs to some of the modern aesthetic.  When my traditional background collides with my modern adventures...Kwilty Pleasures happen!  

3. Why do I write/create what I do?

Blogging gives me an outlet to write/talk about my passion(s) and I continue to use fun technology (I had a career in IT). Now that I am retired, blogging keeps my mind sharp, except for an occasional senior moment.  The "creative gene" is in my DNA!  


4. How does my writing/creating process work?

The creative process continues to change and grow thru the years.  I used to pick a pattern, then fabric and worried myself sick about the kwilt police. Today, I am a fabric fanatic, with a stash to prove it. Never know what I will make with it when I buy it. The fabric will eventually tell me what it wants to be. And who the h3ll are the kwilt police!

I always like lots of projects going on at one time.  I have NEVER done a project from start to finish!   I am an electronic hoarder on Pinterest, luv all my new IG friends and the bloggers out there make me wish I was a sponge...so I could soak up every ounce of inspiration!

Today I am tagging Carol at Just Let Me Quilt - I met Carol through blog hops and I think we have a similar sense of humor and are friends with the over achiever bug. 

Michelle at Quilts From my Crayon Box  She is personal inspiration and a good bloggy friend.  Someone who has helped me with many bloggy questions and encouraged me to do my own swap!  Please put your crayons back in the box now and head over to Quilts From my Crayon Box!

The 3rd tag goes out to YOU my readers!  Tell me what makes your creative juices flow!



Saturday, September 6, 2014

MY SECRET SISTER BAGGED IT!


Michelle, who blogs at Quilts in My Crayon Box 
is well known for hosting a lot of great blog swaps.
This summer I participated in...




and lemme tell ya...my secret sista bagged it!

Heidi who blogs at Red Letter Quilts 
made me this FA.BU.LOUS tote bag!!!



LOOK AT THE BIG STITCHES 
she added to highlight the design
OMG


The extra goodies I found inside are wonderful.  
2 1/2' squares, a tape measure and BOO buttons 
just in time for a Halloween project!

Heidi took the time to find out about me and what I like 
via my blog and Pinterest.
IF you want to be in swap, and are NOT on Pinterest
get over there now!   
 Heidi saw my pins for the bag and all my Buckeye 
 The Ohio State Buckeyes (football) team
and used the team colors (scarlet and gray) in the bag!


I'll need some good defensive moves 
to keep my Buckeye girlfriends away from this
TOUCHDOWN BAG!


Thank you Heidi and thank you Michelle.
This was the BEST swap ever!

Linking up to the party that shows all
the great projects the lucky participants received
Over at Quilts from my Crayon Box 



Wednesday, September 3, 2014

A SECRET SISTER STALKING and SWAPPING!

 

I was stalking Tina Albright
over at Sew Sassy Quilts during this swap!

Michelle at Quilts from My Crayon Box was the host
AND she is Tina's sister...so with lots of inside info
and poking around her Tina's blog...here's the result.

A Noodlehead Supertote
With City Scenes Fabric by Jane Dixon

The Front



Inside -lots of pockets and a key fob


and the back



I also included a couple extra goodies inside the bag






Tina received this in time to take on her "cruise" vacation!


Thanks Michelle...what a fun time.
Later this week...I'll show you 
what I received from my "wonderful" secret sister!
 Saturday there will be a BIG linky party
where you will be able to see everyone's goodies

Another "unexpected yet fun" 2014 Finish!




Tuesday, September 2, 2014

50 YEARS of HAPPY!

Siblings...if you have them...I hope you cherish them.

My big sister, Ruth and me in the early 50s
Don't we look sweet and like we are having fun!  


Well, very few people have had as much fun as  
Ruth and hubby Roger have had through
50 years of marriage! 


They married when Roger was in the Navy
but traded in that ship for cruise ships that have taken 
them all over the world!



I love their sense of humor here as "White Trash" for Halloween


They are now LINE-DANCING their way around the world! 




 They took a trip of a lifetime for their 50th Anniversary.  
38 day cruise from the West Coast USA to Australia!
(I think she won the lottery and hasn't told me)

Ruth and Roger in front of the Sydney Opera House



I was reading blogs one day and found the perfect gift for them.  
Quilt Jane over at Want it, Need it, Quilt it had a post for the 
 BIG CITY GIRLS QAL
Her city...Sydney, Australia
 And she offered this free pattern!



and my version...their gift...
at the 50th Anniversary Surprise Party
   her daughter, Melissa, and I pulled off!
  

I seldom do any appliqué but how could I resist?
   


I used a Frixion erasable pen to drawn the bridge by hand. 
Then stitched over it by machine



On the label I used a photo they posted to their FB feed.


 It was a fabulous day filled with lots of family, friends,
anniversary memories and surprises!





Love you both!