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!

KNITTING...over the DUNE!

DUNE yarn is a a beautiful, soft, double strand of yumminess!

A blend of many fibers and the colors ....mmmmmm

I decided to make a "cowl"  -  90 stitches in the round

Sometimes I need to knit something mindless!

All done...and it's gonna be 80 degrees today in Ohio!

I PAID IT...

PAID IT FORWARD...

At the February C-Bus MQG Meeting 
there was a "heart" block challenge

Members who participated...made two heart blocks.

One participating member won half the blocks

The other half were designated for a charity quilt
for Nationwide Children's hospital.

Blocks magically appeared on my design wall.  

and later I received 2 more blocks

I needed to fill in space..how bout a couple solid blocks

The pink didn't speak to me...

Sew I tried white blocks...much better!

and the quilter will have some space for her designs!

 Turned out pretty cute..
and the cutie behind it...well he has my heart!

Meanwhile, over on Instagram, someone tagged me 

to help make "Polaroid" blocks for an "I Spy" quilt 
going to a little tyke being treated for cancer.

A very sad story, but I jumped all over this one.

I had never made the "Polaroid" blocks

but they turned out just fine!

 NOW...my most exciting "pay it forward"

 I have worn pop-bottle thick glasses since I was 5 yrs old.

Recently, I had cataract surgery and 

new refractive lenses inserted!

NO MORE GLASSES!

I donated 4 pairs of glasses to The Lions Club who recycle

them and provide sight for someone less fortunate! 

For me it's the "little things in life" that make me happy
...that, and Ghastlies fabric!

Something Ghastlie This Way Come, 2016

A GHASTLIE BLUSH COMES MY WAY!!

I am gonna step out of character and "toot my own horn"
Because its about the Ghastlies...I gotta go there!

Alexander Henry Fabrics (AFG)
 ....well...likes me!

First AFG started following me on Instagram (IG)

Then they "liked" a bunch of my Ghastlie posts!
I even ranked one "stunning" approval!

Call me silly... but I'm one Giddy Ghastlie Girl!

As if that wasn't enough

AFG left me this comment, sending me over the top!

When my Ghastlie  friend and I were wishing for a 

 Ghastlie "emoticon"  to use in IG posts...

Here is how AFG responded...

I want you to meet the minds behind 

Alexander Henry Fabrics...and all thing Ghastlie

Phillip and Nicole deLeon!

I just got a stockpile of new 2016 Ghastlies' Fabrics!

I have some project ideas running thru my head and
as soon as it stops swelling...I'll start sewing!

SEW KINDA WONDEFULl...MESS!

Welcome to my Sew Kind of Wonderful-mess!

I signed up for a corporate sponsored class with my former

co-workers/guild peeps.  The goal here was to save $7.00

I had issues getting into the class...and getting on-line

to sign up...but that is boring and annoying stuff!

I got the Pattern and Quick Curve Ruler for Christmas

($35 my hubby bought it)

I had been hoarding a Zen Chic "Figures" Jelly Roll ($42)

and bought the rest of my fabric. ($40)

Class Fee $27.00 + $5.00 corporate dues ($32)

I am at $149.00 

I sewed my strip sets before class...I was ready!

In the class...instructor provides a QCR cutting demo 

to help us understand the ruler / cutting lines

She says cut the curve lining up the SOLID LINE 

Cutting and sewing away...then hmmm

  the end pieces of the blocks don't fit...1/2" smaller

I ask the instructor why?  

"Don't worry...sew it on that way and when we 

square up the blocks to 10" and it will be fine"

?

 I finish a 4-block square...Looks OK...
So...I cut some more curved pieces...

Later at home...someone in our group gets her ruler 

and pattern out and discovers we were using 

the WRONG DAMN LINE to cut the curves!

Instead of the LARGE DOTTED LINE - - -

we were told to use the  SOLID LINE ___ 
as the reference line which ends up being 

Exactly 1/2" too big (see next photo)
and why my pieces were not working!

 5 curved strips cut "per strip set" instead of the 7 needed!

 WTF!!!

Fortunately I had a couple strips of "Figures"strips left over.  

I mixed them up with other strip sets and FINALLY 

had enough fabric to make the number of blocks I need!

I had to fuss with my background fabric and 

made a curved template to cut the curves I needed 

out of my scraps to finish the blocks

Lesson Learned...

EVEN if you have an instructor...who is supposed to know

what the hell they are doing...

make sure you understand the technique and ruler

before going to a class!

Many will not have enough fabric and some will

finish it to the best size this mistake will allow...sad story!

The shop has admitted their error, apologized and those
attending will probably receive some small store credit.
Guess its better than nothing...
My hope is that the instructor will
"review her materials" before she teaches any class again!  

 I will name this quilt...

"Some Kinda Wonderful-mess"