Archives for October 2013

Totally Boy Crazy {Baby Quilt}

AmysCreativeSide
I am entering this Totally Boy Crazy quilt in the Blogger’s Quilt Festival in the baby quilt catagory.    If you are new to my blog, welcome!   I love so many things about this quilt – the scrappy-ness of it, the yellow submarine, and of course the fabric!  This is an original pattern I created for Riley Blake Designs using their “Boy Crazy” line of fabric.  The pattern can be found here.  It measures 41″ x 48″. 
This quilt has piecing and appliqué.  I machine quilted the quilt on my Bernina.  

Amanda

Ella’s Fish Quilt

AmysCreativeSide
Hi, I am Ella!  My mom is Jedi Craft Girl.  Today I am writing a blog post about my fish quilt.  I am entering it in the Blogger’s Quilt Festival in the “Throw Quilt” Category.  Thanks for stopping by to look at my quilt.


I am 14 years old and I have been sewing since I was 8 years old.  I love fish!!  I just got back from Hawaii where I got to spend 2 weeks in the ocean.  I found this quilt pattern at the Long Beach Quilt Festival.  The pattern is called Huki Lau by Beyond the Reef.  I got to meet the designer, Natalie Barnes.  I loved this pattern because it uses tropical prints and batiks and the appliqué fish are actually outlines of real tropical fish!  The quilt measures 54″ x 70″.

I made patterns out of paper and hand cut each fish.

I used Spray n Bond to attach each fish to the background fabric.  Then I sewed around each fish.

I had my quilt professionally quilted.  I love how each fish is outlined by squiggles – it looks like real water!  This is my favorite quilt and I sleep with it every night.

Amanda

Fancy Halloween Soiree

I just finished helping with my church’s annual Halloween Party.  It is such a big undertaking – but so much fun!!!!  The theme was “Frightfully Fancy”.  Here are the invitations – I printed them on burlap colored paper:
This is the finished cultural hall – it turned out amazing especially considering we didn’t really have a decorations budget!!

This is a little vignette by the front entrenace
Groups of paper bats guiding people down the hall – spooky!!
A spooky collection of old art and vintage frames.
(A little before picture of putting up all the lights)
My friends and I emptied our houses and pulled all our decor accents together.  It was a little shocking to see all we had – this is just a sampling!
One morning my friend and I were at an estate sale and the estate’s owner had an intense doll-making hobby.  They were selling all her doll-head molds.  They wanted $10 a mold, then they said $8, then said $5 if we bought a bunch of them.  When we went to leave I offered $3 a head and they took it!  I am now the proud owner of 10 spooky doll-head molds.  They were absolutely perfect accents to the centerpieces on the tables!
Each table was decorated differently – vases, candle sticks, crows, birdcages, owls, clocks, vintage pictures, black pumpkins, etc.  Then we put a spider web treatment on it all and it looked amazing!  Everyone kept asking where we got all the decorations!  It was a little embarrassing admitting that we owned it all!!  You should see my garage!!
During dinner we had all the piano students play halloween piano pieces for the background music. 
This is the long serving table where we served the food.
And the food was AMAZING!!!  This guy spent the entire day smoking ribs in a smoker he built just for the party.  He also made his famous BBQ chicken.
Best ribs EVER!!!!

We had a photo booth where families could get their pictures taken.  We also had 6 different carnival-type games, a cake walk, and trunk-or-treat!

Our annual pie contest:

My daughter made this key lime pie and won an award!

Then we had a spook alley – and not just any spook alley.  Our Young Men age 12-18 arrived at the church at 8am with lumber and tools and began constructing walls for the spook alley.  They stayed and worked the entire day – best spook alley ever!

 They framed walls then attached black plastic.  There was an outer maze for older kids and an inside maze that was less scary for the younger kids.

I think the boys had a little too much fun!  It was too hard to photograph when it was finished because it was pretty dark!
 It was ALOT of work but so worth it.  Everyone had such a great time!!!  

Amanda

Tricks and Treats Halloween Tote Bags

I love sewing for Halloween and can’t seem to get enough Halloween fabrics!  My tutorial for these fun bags is over at the Therm O Web Blog.   I used Fusible Fleece to make these bags – it is quick and easy and it makes the bags soft.  I love that the bags can stand up on their own and don’t flop over.  They are perfect for carrying LOTS of CANDY!!!
I designed these “Tricks” and “Treats” bags for the Therm O Web fall advertising campaign!  I am pretty excited!!!  
 I found the ad in this magazine – it has such cute ideas!!!
For more Halloween Tutorials click :

Amanda

Halloween Table Square

This tutorial was featured on the Ginger Snap Craft blog a few weeks ago.  I thought I would post the tutorial here as well! 

 I wanted to make a smaller Halloween item for my table.  I like to leave my centerpiece on the table even when the kids are eating or doing homework.  I love table runners, but sometimes they are too big.  I just need a little spot of color!  This accent table square works perfectly!  Here’s how you can make your own!

Supplies:
1/2 yard of cotton fabric (chevron) you can also use a “Fat Quarter”
backing fabric, the same amount as top piece
18″ square of lightweight fusible stabilizer
1 package jumbo black ric rac
Heat n Bond lite or other fusible appliqué
small piece of black fabric
Bat pattern, click HERE

Directions
Cut the chevron and back piece 18″ square.  I used a heavier weight solid fabric on the back.  You can use a different print and make it reversible if you want.

 Iron the 18″ square of fusible stabilizer to the wrong side of the chevron fabric.

Trace the bats onto the Heat n Bond.  Cut out around the bats and iron to the wrong side of the black fabric.  Cut along the drawn lines.  Peel off the backing.

Position the bats where you want them and iron into place.  Using black thread, stitch around the bats to secure.

 Baste the ric rac along the edge of the square.  I do this on the machine using a larger stitch.

 This is how I start and stop my ric rac:

Make sure the ends are off the edge of the fabric.

Pin the top and bottom squares right sides together.

 Follow the basting stitch and use that as your seam guide.  Leave a 3″ opening to turn the square.  You kind of have to curve the corners.

 Turn right side out and press.

This would also make a cute pillow.  You would sew it exactly the same way.  Only you would stuff it at this point.  Or, you can leave a larger opening and insert a pillow form.  In this picture I laid it over a pillow.  You would want to put the bats a little higher so they don’t get lost when the pillow sits upright.

Continuing with the table square, pin to hold the fabric in place and topstitch around the square.  This will also close the opening.

 I like to use my “blindstitch” foot and put the needle over for topstitching – it works great.  You can totally use a regular foot too!!

After you finish topstitching, you’re done!!  I had fun playing with my new table accent!!

Amanda

A little sewing…..

I have been a busy little sewer bee this week!!  I sewed these cute half aprons for my friends at Therm O Web to wear at Quilt Market.  Half aprons are my favorite!  And they are so fun to sew!
The theme of their booth is aqua, pink, black and white.  Super retro colors – love ‘um!
 

I also sewed 40 of these little ice cream cone key chains.  I used Heat n Bond fusible appliqué and Heat n Bond fusible fleece.  I used the Sizzix ice cream cone die to cut them out.  They are really fun to make!

Amanda

Halloween Murder Mystery Dinner Party

This weekend we were invited to a Murder Mystery Party.  My friend hosts one every year in October and it is so much fun!  We received an email with a synopses of our characters and what we were supposed to wear – this is us – yes, funny!!

I purchased this dress at a garage sale only hours before the party for $2.  (Who has a garage sale at 6pm at night?)

 The party began with appetizers and clues.  Then it moved to dinner with more questions and clues.  Then to dessert and accusations!  It was so much fun!  Everyone looked great and we had a few people with really cleaver accents.  

 Here you can see we are deep in conversation and deep into character!  If you want to host your own party, go to Host-Party.com.

Amanda

Halloween Black Cats

 I love black cats more than anything else at Halloween.  I think it might have something to do with the fact that 19 years ago we adopted a little black fur ball of a kitten.  He was the best kitty ever.  Life just hasn’t been the same since loosing him this past June.   So, in memory of Toonces, here is some fun Black Cat inspiration!
I love this fabric from Blend’s Spooktacular line.  I am hoping to make something with it this week.
I am so in love with this painting by Lyn Estall.  It looks just like my Toonces 🙂
These 2×4 black cats from Clover House look super fun to make!!
This is a magazine cover from 1895.  You can find the image at Saving More Than Me blog
I love this vintage picture from the Graphics Fairy of a little girl holding her black cat.  
This is my “Miss Kitty” doll with a black cat Halloween dress.
A little Pyrex love mixed with Black Cat love in my kitchen.

Amanda

Spooky Potion Throw Pillow

I can’t believe how fast October is flying by!  There are so many projects I want to make, and so little time!  I thought this pillow was super fun.  The spooky bottles are from Blend’s Spooktacular line of fabric.  The tutorial is over on the Therm O Web blog today!

Amanda

Fishy Fourteen Birthday Party

This weekend I threw a surprise party for my daughter – we totally got her and she was totally surprised!!!!  It was worth all the stress and planning for sure!  She LOVES fish so the party had a fish theme.

 I ordered all these funny blow up fish to float in the pool.  My dear friend let us use her back yard for the party – it was perfect!  It feels like a resort!

The fountains and the pool lights change colors!

We had a nacho bar for dinner.

 And our FAVORITE “Nothing Bundt Cake” for the cake.

For the party favors, I sewed 15 of these little fishy zipper pouches.
I filled the zipper pouches with Swedish Fish, Aqua Blossoms B&BW hand sanitizer, a piece of fish jewelry, a fish keychain, and a blue elastic ponytail holder.
I think all the girls liked them.  It was a fun party!!

Amanda