Trick or Treat!

WGN had The Munsters marathon today. What a delightful show! I had it playing in the background most of the day. Everyone kept asking me "what are you watching?" I must have watched reruns as a child [eye roll]. There really was color TV when I was a kid.

Good ol' Herman Munster was such a hoot, but Grandpa was always my favorite. I even featured him in a quilt over the summer. All the characters were so funny and it was fun seeing other stars playing bit parts. Harvey Korman, Paul Lynde, Don Rickles, John Carradine, and many more. I hope I wasn't the only 60s nerd that enjoyed the marathon. Alice Cooper hosted it, which was fun too.

We're ready for trick or treaters. Both kids are working tonight, so we're on our own. Bones will be barking until the lights go off. He doesn't like the doorbell, kids, or candy.

Or costumes.

I had a little fun with a mug rug today. Inspired by Barb's Whoville quilt featured at the Blogger's Quilt Festival, I made a mug rug version. Isn't Barb's quilt amazing? She told me to make one.

And ta-da! I made it through Octoberfest. Thirty-one posts. Woo hoo! Thank you so much for sticking with me if anyone did. You are the ones that truly deserve the ta-da! Happy Halloween everyone.

All Hallows Eve Eve

I usually prefer making wonky houses, but I needed a little project to pass some time. This recipe makes two house blocks and doesn't have that pesky parallelogram that needs a template piece. Templates frighten me.

Speaking of frightening to me, I finished this wheelchair lap robe. It sat for a week before I got up the nerve to stitch in the ditch. It wasn't too bad. I don't know why I work myself up so much on the quilting part. I much prefer buying the quilting part. The binding was finished this morning. All that it needs is a wash and dry before it's donated for our guild's charity project.

And keeping with the frightening theme, some of my better work to celebrate All Hallows Eve Eve. Everyone have a safe one. Save me the yellow Laffy Taffies.

Artist Trading Card (ATC)

Artist Trading Card (ATC)

Zombie Barbie (so fun!)

Mini Zombie

Yummy Candy Corn!

Correction to yesterday's post: The Blogger's Quilt Festival is twice a year, so it's only been going on since 2009. Head on over there and check out all the amazing quilts and stories. Sure beats housework!

Blogger's Quilt Festival

Amy is hosting another Blogger's Quilt Festival. It's the fourth festival and all quilters are encouraged to submit an entry. There's the chance of winning some really fun prizes for those who play. I joined in last year and enjoyed seeing everyone's creations and reading all the fun quilt stories. Inspiration city, I tell you.

The Story of My Batik Bargello

I started this batik Bargello quilt in March 2008 after I'd been quilting a little over a year. When I first started quilting in 2007 I fell in love with batik fabrics and started collecting them in record fashion. The pattern must have scared me to death, because I made a special folder for it, cut fabric swatches, printed out the directions, studied them for days, cleared the decks and took many deep breaths before I began. I certainly don't quilt this way now!

Here's the first strip set. No boring batiks for me. The louder the better. The pattern I used is called the Transitions Bargello by Nancy Morris. I found it free on the internet, but I can't find it any longer. If you are Nancy or have a good link, I'd love to be able to link this pattern.

Here is the bargello (and a French Braid) after I had it long arm quilted at my LQS. It hung in my laundry room for a while waiting for Mrs. Procrastinator to bind it. I dusted it every few weeks. What, you don't dust your quilts?

Here it is bound and finished. Woo hoo! And it only took two-and-a-half years. Now you know why I prefer making small quilts!

The quilt has already been placed into service. Luckily, teens and dogs have no trouble sleeping (or eating) so quilts will be used and loved.

To all my regular followers, I apologize for repeating myself with this post, but I really wanted a chance at some of those prizes! ; )

This Chick is Hilarious

Have you read these books? I mooched Stash Envy from Book Mooch and I can't remember how I got That Dorky Homemade Look. The author, Lisa Boyer is such a funny gal. I've laughed out loud reading a few of the chapters. Ms. Boyer hasn't blogged in almost a year, but I always enjoyed reading about her escapades. Maybe she's writing another book. Or busy making quilts. If you're out there Lisa, give us a shout. We miss you.

If you'd like these books, leave me a comment. I'll be happy to post them anywhere. I think any quilter would get a big kick out of them.

Blogtoberfest Day 27.

Check out this new to me blog site called Be@Home. They promoted my blog, so I'm giving them some love back. It's really a cool site. There is so much talent out there! I just love to see the creativity in blogland. I wish I lived next door to everyone so I could pop over and you could teach me something. Or I could sew or cook with you. Oh well, thank goodness for the internet.

Dutchman Visits Tokyo To See Butterflies

The Toykyo Subway Map mini is done. I'm eager to see Elizabeth's new book, The Practical Guide to Patchwork. I've heard it's awesome. A bunch o' bloggers are reviewing it soon, so I'm hoping to learn more about it and possibly win a copy.

Have you heard about the red and white quilt exhibition the American Folk Art Museum is presenting March 25-30, 2011? More than 650 red and white quilts from three centuries will be displayed at the historic Park Avenue Armory. The event is free to the public. Red and white quilts are my favorite. Hopefully, there will be lots of photos available. When I received the beautiful post card promoting the event, I had to spend my 15 minutes (more like an hour!) making this Dutchman's Puzzle quilt block. It's only 8" square.

More 15-minute playtime. The batik scrap bag was sitting there just asking for trouble.

Oh butterfly blocks, how I love thee! I'm up to 37 blocks. Not sure how many I'll make. If I only make a few at a time (when I have black thread loaded) I don't get too bored. I need to lay the blocks out on my design floor and see how they all look together and how big this quilt might be. Having a design floor is quite handy as you have to keep the floor vacuumed. Win, win. See you tomorrow. Only five more days of Blogtoberfest. Then I promise I'll be quiet.

The Story of Bottled Water

I saw this on another blog and thought I'd help spread the word. Such a no-brainer. No more bottled water. I'm usually too cheap thrifty to buy it anyway. Happy Monday everyone!

Sunday Stash #16

Somehow these fabrics found their way into my studio this week. Obviously gremlins have been using my credit card to shop online. I really love their taste though.

I can never resist polka dots. Red and white are my favorite color combo for polkas. The big ones are so fun. I thought the chicken wire was neato too. Reminds me of hexagons.

I didn't realize this print came in a black and white colorway. Home sewing keeps the home fires burning. Yes sir, it does!

I'm still loving novelty prints. Those lamps are out of sight, but not one lava lamp. Now I want lava lamp fabric. I bet someone makes it.

Halloween is a week from today. My thrifty gremlin found these at $1.49 a yard.

I made this triangular pouch this morning. Thanks for the tutorial, innocentia! I hope everyone had a fun weekend.

Eek! Pee-wee is on Broadway!

I love Pee-wee Herman. His movie, Pee-wee's Big Adventure is my favorite movie of all time. See, I told you I was weird. Pee-wee is bringing the Playhouse to Broadway. His show starts October 26 and runs 10 weeks. Here's his silly interview with Jimmy Fallon to promote the show.



Now if I can just find a way to get to NYC. I'm not sure seeing PW Herman is a legitimate business expense. Naw, I'm pretty sure it isn't. Oh well, it was worth a thought. I know you are, what am I?! Take a picture, it lasts longer.

Doll Quilts

I've been receiving some beautiful quilts from my doll quilt swap partners. I thought you might like to see them. These swaps are so much fun and the one I host each month is still going strong at 18 swaps. If you ever want to play with us, please do. We'd love to have you. On to the quilts.

Back in Black

I started this Touch of Amish BOM in 2009 and it became a UFO probably around vacation time. I was searching for solids yesterday for my Mondrian project and guess what I found? I did the August block this morning and hope to get to September later today.



More playing in the scrap bags. All the cool kids are taking 15 minutes and making these fun blocks! They really are fun and relaxing to make. Ten more days of blogging for Blogtoberfest. Can I make it?

Those Bloggers

'Mondrian', dress, Yves Saint Laurent, 1965 from The V&A Museum

Those talented bloggers get me every time. I've been floundering in my sewing this week, but I saw this Mondrian inspired quilt block yesterday and knew I wanted to try it. Thank you Chalet Girl for giving me back my sewing mojo.

I've always thought Piet Mondrian's grid paintings were kind of interesting. Obviously, others like the bold lines and primary colors as well. Love that Yves Saint Laurent dress and the Vans tennies. Mondrian coined this art form "Neo-Plasticism." He wrote, "... this new plastic idea will ignore the particulars of appearance, that is to say, natural form and colour. On the contrary, it should find its expression in the abstraction of form and colour, that is to say, in the straight line and the clearly defined primary colour." I wonder how these graphic paintings were received when he first painted them? From what I glanced over in his biography, he was a very talented artist and did abstract landscape work early in his career. I like his Cubism art too. Like me, he was inspired by other artists and movements and seemed to have fun making his art.

Edit 1/29/17: I was asked to link to more of Mondrian's art, so enjoy!

So I gave the Mondrian-inspired quilt blocks a go this morning. This piece is 18.5" x 18.5" and I'm raring and ready to go on to something else tomorrow. This type of art would be much easier to paint or accomplish on a computer.

Minnie's In The House Again

1995

2010

It's homecoming week for my little one. Yesterday was dress like a rock star (she wore a Hendrix T and a purple bandanna). Today you had to come as a Disney character. We whipped up some ears and a red polka dot bow headband yesterday afternoon. Then I remembered she was Minnie Mouse for her second Halloween and scoured the photo albums. Wonder what we'll be creating after school today? Bring it on!

I guess they don't have 50's day like they did when I was in high school. That was always easy. Rolled up jeans, socks, loafers, kerchief around the neck, button down shirt, red lipstick. Maybe they'll have 80's day? Does anyone recall the 80's? Is that when we had big hair?

I still have the colorful quilt my baby was standing on. I remember seeing this quilt in a store and having to have it. I loved the black with all the bright colors. It's really held up quite well for being an inexpensive quilt. Since it's so heavy I only put it on our bed in the winter. I've washed it a lot too. Now that I'm a quilter, I'll never understand how they can make quilts like these and sell them so cheaply. I know some are creepy, but I have several of these store bought quilts and they're all amazing. The hand quilting on this one is way better than I could do on a good day. Maybe that's why I stick to the small projects.