Halloween Fabric Boxes

While there is a definite chill in the air today, fall has been slow to come to my corner of the world. The view from my sewing room window shows the trees are still largely green with some color starting. I like gazing out there while I sew.

 

After a very long work day yesterday, that didn't end until 1am this morning, I was feeling tired this morning, and lazed in bed scanning Facebook. Politics, ebola, flowers, fall, crazed killer on the loose, crazed killer caught, all were in my feed. And then an intriguing little photo of "quick fabric boxes" appeared on one of the quilting groups I follow. I just needed a little bit of sewing to recharge before beginning my workday. So I quickly checked out the Seaside Stiches Fabric Box Tutorial  and grabbed some 12 inch squares of Halloween themed fabric and batting and off I went.

 

Step one sew the two 12 inch squares and the batting rights sides together, leaving a gap to turn. Press when turned right side out and remember to clip the corners before turning so the points are crisp.

 

The tutorial showed this type of quilting so that's what I did!

 

I followed the steps to stitch the corners to make the box shape, and then followed the direction for finishing with a French seam at Free Motion by the River.

The French seams seemed to give a crisp rib to help the box stand up straight and hold its boxy shape.

 

The fabric box sews up quick...but of course in this hoard of sewing supplies I don't have four Halloweenish buttons to finish the flaps!...ugh. So I will have to go somewhere to get some buttons later after work. That fact now turns this into a WIP...a work in progress Wednesday. Hopefully by Thursday it won't be a UFO any longer!

 

I know for sure I will be making these from Valentine fabric for a sewing retreat I will attend in January for some quick little gifts for the girls. For now however, off to work work work!

Saturday Sewing

We were back at it on Saturday. Pat continued working in these Omigosh! blocks. For perspective below, that is a DIME! She is braver than I for sure!

 

 

 Ellen had just finished her Art and Soul Retreat-Virginia Beach and hadn't even unpacked, so she was working on some hand stitching some fabulous embellished pants she had begun on the retreat.

 

Kathie and Betts turned to some DIY whipping up a portable ironing surface with a tray table and a staple gun.

 

I finished piecing the baby quilt after having to unsew half the alternate blocks because I sewed them all backwards....grrrr!

 

Sue's center medallion is really coming along. Love the two color urn.

 

My "SPOOOKY" banner is just missing the "Y."

 

Got to FMQing a Christmas Chiweenie wall-hanging for my oldest daughter.

 And with the zillion strip sets and orphan spider web blocks I still have after assembling 2 quilts, I turned out this table runner. (needs squaring up)

It was just a very pleasant non-dramatic 2 days of quilting that made me happy!

Friday Night Quilting

It's Friday night quilting with some of my favorite quilters at a local church activity house. What a relaxing and pleasant evening of stitching and solving world problems.

 

 

Betts is working on car quilts for some of her special kiddies.

 

Pat is working on insanely small Omigosh! by Sue Garmen blocks. You can see some examples on this Pinterest page Sue Garmen Quilts Pinterest

 

 

I am working the Spanish Mosaic pattern for a baby quilt.

 

Sue is preparing applique pieces for a center medallion.

Kathy is working some applique too!

My baby quilt taking shape, though I didn't cut enough to finish the last two rows...so I will be back to cutting in the morning.

 Betts has an impressive finish pile already.

 

Can't wait to get back to it this morning!

Done and Hung!

It's such a nice feeling when you get your project to it's intended destination. For my fall leaves wall-hanging, now bound, it's the wall behind my chair in the family room. A good spot to enjoy it through the season. 

 

 

Quilting with some of my favorite quilting peeps this weekend...can't wait to pack my loot after work.



Work in Progress Wednesday- Puss in the Corner

 

Working on honoring time to create, time to fill my tank back up rather than working, working, working all hours of the day and night. So a bit of vacation with a bit of quilting was in order.

 

 

I agreed to participate in a Civil War fabric block exchange with a group of quilting friends, so last Wednesday, during my stay at Wrightsville Beach I began cutting out 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 squares and the rectangles that go with. Some in the group will be doing Fons & Porter Butterscotch Pudding with these 4 1/2 unfinished blocks.

 

I am not sure yet what my final project will be. But I do know that cutting this precise is a bit of a challenge, especially since I have been working on less conforming art quilt pieces lately. I am doing my best to get into a Zen cutting place with this challenge.

 

 

I like that varied combinations that I pulled from my stash and I think the overall scrappiness will be pretty in the finished project.

 

 

It is satisfying to have a little pile growing. I have until November to finish.

 

Twenty done....about 64 to go!

Leaves on the Brain

Fall arrived unusually early here in Southeastern Virginia- Northeastern North Carolina with a low temperature of 45 this morning! I have had this obsession with applique leaves going for a month or so and this thought of an almost bare tree with some of those leaves was my mission yesterday.

 

I had no pattern, but did have this great dark brown fabric for the tree trunk and branches. I wanted it to look a bit beat up from the weather, so I decided to tear the edges of the fabric for the tree so it would look rough.

 

I laid the tree form down first attaching it with free motion wood grain on well pinned fabric. I looked at a few free motion quilting sites for wood grain. This one gave me courage that I could actually do it! Woodgrain Free Motion Quilting on Pinterest

I realized that no matter which way I stitched it would look okay, that was liberating!

The leaves are so fun and again, the lack of "rules" is very liberating!

 I wanted the look of leaves blowing in the wind around the tree, not necessarily of the tree. The wind proved more challenging...I wanted swirls and my inexperience with FMQ definitely showed through....but these little pieces are my trip into building skill in FMQ so all good!

 

Today during football, I will calm my nerves and stitch on the binding while watching the Eagles play the Rams. Fly Eagles Fly!