Halloween Bunting Tutorial!!

Sorry I didn't get this up yesterday.  I got sick really suddenly Friday night, slept most of Saturday except for a Target trip, and then I slept the rest of the day away.

I'm feeling better today though and since Halloween is only a week and a half away, it's about time I got this put together!

In cutting strips for my Halloween quilt I had those end of the row extra pieces that I wanted to do something with and came up with this.  There are lots of ways this can be fancied up or personalized so I encourage you, if you make this, to feel free to make it your own.  That's the fun part!! 

Here's what you'll need:

-fabric scraps (we'll be folding them in half so keep that in mind if you choose something with a design you want to feature).
-ribbon (figure out how long you want your bunting to be and cut ribbon accordingly.  For me this means, look at the wall it's going on and then guess, or hold up the ribbon and cut.  Not very scientific but that's ok).

1.  Iron scraps in half, right sides together.

2.  Stitch 2 sides closed, be sure your opening is at the top if you have an "up" to your print.

3.  Turn right side out and iron flat.

4.  Stitch around all sides.
 (I didn't follow my own advice on this one, and it probably isn't a huge deal if you don't stitch up the top first, as you'll stitch over it when sewing it to the ribbon.)

5.  Grab your ribbon and on a flat surface place, or pin, your pieces on one side of the ribbon.  This will be the back, so keep in mind when placing any pieces that have designs or prints you especially want to feature.  This is also helpful in deciding how big your bunting will be and therefore, how much ribbon you'll actually be using. 

6.  Make a loop knot, for hanging, on each end of your ribbon.

7.  Stitch each fabric piece to the ribbon in any order you want, and continue until you are out of ribbon or out of fabric, or until you come to the loop.  Just keep an eye out for the end so you don't have to unpick stitches. 

 

(I asked him to smile for me and this is what he did...But! He was a great helper and handed me each piece so I got a very random distribution and only edited so that two of the same weren't next to each other)

8.  Trim any loose threads, turn over so ribbon is on top of fabric.  Hang up your bunting and enjoy!! 

i am so excited for when i won't rent a house anymore...so i can pick the wall colors....

If you have any questions, of if anything about this is confusing, let me know and I'll do my best to help!  Hope you all have a great week!!

Don't forget the giveaway for my 100th post is open until Wednesday night so go here to enter!!

100th post!! Giveaway and discount code!

Hi everyone!!

This is my 100th blog post!  I hope you have all enjoyed some of the last 100 posts, I've had a lot of fun playing around with the whole thing!  I have some more fun stuff planned for future posts, and am hoping to get a bit more organized so I can be a bit less scattered.

I am waiting on my tutorial for Halloween Bunting until tomorrow but I do have something to share!

I made cookies today and they're my favorite (It's the recipe on the back of the Toll House Chocolate Chips).  And when a day like today comes along, they're wonderful to put together in 15 minutes.  You could just make the dough, I won't judge.

I don't feel like I am super good at tons of things, but I've been making chocolate chip cookies (from this recipe) since I was 5 years old.  That's almost 20 years of experience!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 sticks (1 cup) softened butter
3/4 cup packed brown sugar*
3/4 cup granulated sugar*
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
1 scant tsp. salt
1 generous tsp. vanilla (to be honest I don't measure this....vanilla is the best)
2 cups flour*
as many chocolate chips as you want :) (I don't measure those either)

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350.  Combine butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a med-large bowl until creamy and smooth.
2.  Add eggs and mix until combined.
3.  Add baking soda, salt, and vanilla and mix again.
4.  Add flour and chocolate chips and mix (if you like your cookies cake-y then feel free to add more flour).  Taste to be sure of it's deliciousness
5. scoop onto ungreased baking/cookie sheet and bake for 9-12 minutes.  I set timer for 9 minutes, check them and add time.  I hate burnt cookies.
6. Devour and then make some more.

*Living in Idaho I've modified the recipe a tad to get good results at this elevation.  I use 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar and 2 1/4-2 1/2 cups flour.  Basically, the more brown sugar, the chewier the cookie.  If you like crunchy cookies add more granulated sugar, and if you like cakey cookies add more flour.

Now for the GIVEAWAY!! 

I have 2 i-spy charm packs from my Etsy shop to give to two of you!!!

There are 56 5" charms in each pack and the fabric came from my stash (This is just an example of the type of charms in 1 pack).  All quality fabrics, even some Japanese and organic fabrics! 

To enter:

1. Leave me a comment telling me what book you've read lately that was awesome.  And fair warning, if you say Twilight I'll assume you're being sarcastic ; ) Or, if you haven't read anything lately, what have you done lately that was awesome!

*You don't have to be a follower to enter this giveaway!  I love having followers but that's not why I do this.  Follow me if you want to but I'm not going to make it a requirement.  That's up to you!!  

Giveaway will be open until Wednesday night, Ocober 24th and I'll pick a winner on Thursday. 

I also wanted to give you a discount code (100POSTS) for 15% off in my Etsy shop.  The discount will be good until the end of October! 

Thank you all for being such amazing supportive people!  I enjoy reading your comments so so much, though I don't always respond quickly I assure you, your words are read and so appreciated!! 

Discounted Rainbow Baby quilt in the shop!

Monday's aren't too cool with me so I wanted to show you this quilt I finished over the weekend and listed in my Etsy shop.

I used charms from a rainbow charm swap I did over the summer to make it, and think it'll be great for a little one to carry around.  It'd be great too as a playmat for a baby to roll all over and stare at and learn colors!

I've taken $20 off the price of this one because I wasn't happy with the way my "straight line" quilting turned out.  There's nothing wrong with the construction, it's just that the lines aren't straight....so I'm still hopeful that someone will enjoy it and not care that the lines are a little wavy!!!

The quilt measures 45 1/2" square and is backed with a leftover Ikea sheet that is super cozy and a great blue with red dot print. 

You can find the listing for this quilt here.

Thanks everyone!

My next post (100th!!!)  includes a tutorial for a super cute Halloween decoration and a giveaway!!  Be sure to come back soon :)

(Ok, I'll tell you, it's bunting!!)

#notgoingtosewingsummit either! And a lot of pictures

 So this week and weekend is Sewing Summit!  I'm not there, but am having fun sewing up a storm anyway (perhaps in distraction that I'm not there?)!!  I tell you what, I'm just excited to know such an event EXISTS!  and am super determined to get there next year, I'm already starting a piggy bank!

I'll be here all weekend if you need me : )

 

Will probably make more of these today...

In light of many people not being able to get to Sewing Summit there are a few things you can follow/participate in anyway!  Follow the hashtag #sewingsummit on Instagram or Twitter to see what everyone who IS there is up to!  Follow #notgoingtosewingsummit or #notatsewingsummit to see what those of us who didn't make it are working on! 

 Bee blocks I finished recently...there are a lot...

If you want some connecting time with sewing friends, Sarah has set up a Stay at Home Summit for Saturday through Google Hangouts so you can come chat with sewing/crafting friends, or set up your webcam and hangout that way!  Here's a link to the Google Hangout so you can be there! 

 More bee blocks...

Also, in tweeting with Sarah on Twitter, we were thinking it'd be fun to have an informal challenge to see how much we can get done while we're not at sewing summit!  So, this "challenge" starts today (the official start of Sewing Summit) and will go until Saturday.  I'll be intagraming (@mgriffin87) my progress all week and will probably post a bit more on the blog here too!

 Even more bee blocks...

Amy is having a link up party here so you can have yet another way to stay connected and have an extra fun and crafty and stitchy weekend.  You can link up as often as you want, a virtual sewing room!!

 I made a bunch of pillowcases over the weekend (and then I got sick and slept for a day...and then I was fine...but it was nice having a sweet pillowcase to use!) I used this tutorial, and they are so easy and so addictive! And they even have French seams!!

I decided to make Halloween decorations yesterday so I stitched this up to hang on one of our blank walls.  I'm really happy with how it came out since I freehanded it with no plan....!

So, what are you waiting for?!  Go get sewing, or stitching, or crafting!!  Go make something.  Then come show me what it is!! 


Oh, and this is my 98th post!  I think something special is in order for #100 so stay tuned while I figure that out!

Color Wheel Swap anyone??

Hi there!

I have something awesome to tempt you with!  Megan over at City Stitches (who is super awesome and talented and you should check out her blog if you don't already know it) has set up a really great swap in a format I'm sure many people have wished for! 

A rainbow color wheel swap in fat quarters!!  Isn't that the best idea? 

Here are some basics:

-Sign up by October 10 (go here for full details and to sign up!) hurry, hurry! 

-Colors assigned by October 12

-SASE needs to be included when you mail your fabric so you can get it back, of course. 

-8 fat quarters swapped (2 yards total).  For example if you get assigned to blue, you pick 8 blue fat quarters to mail in.  You can pick 8 different fabrics, or you can use 1 fabric and send the 2 yards to
make the 8 fq's.  Your choice.

-This is Megan's first swap and is open only to US residents.

-You will get back a set of 8 fat quarters in a lovely rainbow, one of each color being swapped! 

So head on over to Megan's for full details and to grab your spot!!!!!!

Hey everyone!

Just a quick hello, as I want to direct your attention here. 

I just saw this post and wanted to pass it along so everyone who might be able to help out this lovely family can do so.

Here is the original post with details.  I'm sure anything, including prayers, will be appreciated.

Hope you're having a good weekend, be sure to hug and kiss your loved ones!!

And a couple quick Instagrams from the last 24 hrs :)

 This is the scrappy chevron distraction I finished (this) morning!!  I love it.  I want to make it bigger but I don't really want to "mess with it's flow" right now.  Borders? anything?  ideas? I love it.  Didn't plan out any part of it except what solid went with what print. 

 My favorite craft/fabric store in the area is going out of business so I did some stocking up.  ALL of their fabric was 30% off so I got some flannels to make the kids some pj pants, some Cosmo embroidery floss and that super cuddly Nicey Jane fleece or something that I've already napped with today.  It's perfect.  Maybe some craft supplies to last us the long cold winter too....

 She makes lots of reeeealllly good faces. 

Happy mail from the Fat Quarter Shop.  Tip: go check out their sale section!!  right now. there's some art gallery fabrics in there, and some other awesome stuff like the one with the Snail. 

This stuff (with the exception of Snail and Daddy Bear) was all bought for specific projects.  Perhaps a Halloween shirt for moi, and some HexyMF progress. 

Happy weekending to you all!  I'll be working on Bee Blocks and all the stuff I should've been doing while I was actually doing other stuff. 

Dream Big from Simplify

I saw this contest for Craft Month and wondered if I'd even made anything from a book before! 

And then I remembered, AHA!  I have.  

One of my most favorite projects ever is the "Dream Big" pattern from the book Simplify by Camille Roskelley.

I love, love, love, this quilt!  I started it by picking my absolute favorite happy fabrics when it was gloomy and cold here in March (yeah, that long ago...).  I loved picking the fabrics because I was desperate for some spring. 

It took me a while to get back to it but I got it finished a month or so ago and I LOVE it. 

I backed it in a duvet cover from Ikea that is super soft. 

I had a bunch of binding pieces from past projects that I pieced together.

Mine measures 55" X 69" which is a touch smaller than the pattern.  my borders are a little small because of the duvet I used as backing. 

I love the look of the whole thing and how the borders in Camille's pattern even it out so it's not too busy. 

It was a great pattern to put together and one I really want to make again. 

If you're wondering about getting this book, do it.  It's so fun.  You'll want to make everything in it, and you will be able to. 

There are big quilts, table toppers, baby quilts, pillow covers....everything!  Camille is amazing, and I stare at this book all the time!  It's that good. 

Be sure to check out all the other projects that have been linked up, there are some wonderful things and it's a great way to find new craft books to buy!!!