HOCUSPOCUSVILLE

I just received a question on Hocuspocusville. With the embroidery, it calls to back the top fabric with a piece of muslin. I did back it with muslin and am really happy with the result. The reason they have you do this is to alleviate the stitches and knots and thread carry overs from showing. It leaves a very nice result. I previously stitched the Over the River and Through the Woods and it had the same requirement to back it with muslin. The finished product is so much nicer when you do this that it is worth the extra time and money spent. Good luck on your project!!

The ECONOMY quilt...

Wednesday evening, the Red Rooster taught a free class called the Economy Quilt. Great concept. We were to come prepared with out blocks cut out and ready to trade. We needed to have 98 6" medium to dark blocks and 98 6" light blocks. These blocks will yield a 63" x 63" center and you can adjust that by making more or less blocks and adding borders. When put together, it resembles a checkerboard. The technique calls for 2 blocks, light and dark. You put these together right sides together and sew on each side of the blocks a scant 1/4" seam.

When you have the seams sewed, you cut apart the blocks starting at the one side of the seams and cut 2" strips across to the other side of the seam. You will have 3 segments with 2 segments sewn. You sew the left over 2 segments to the blocks to resemble this.

You then sew at the two edges right side together another scant 1/4" seam. You then cut this new piece into 2" segments from seam to seam. You will have 2 partially sewn nine patches and you will finish sewing the other units to this.
You end up with 2 nine patch units from the 2 blocks.

For some reason, I am really used to the full 1/4" seam allowance and this whole technique is based on a scant 1/4". I've yet to turn out a perfect nine patch. They all have issues being off a couple of threads here or there. This technique is definately a learning process and maybe I'll have it down by the time I do the 98th block. It is a great stash buster to use up all your old fabric scraps. The light portion is a 3 1/2 yard piece that I probably would never use in a month of Sundays, however, I am using it in this quilt. Because I lack the precision I would like to have with this technique, this will probably be a utilitarian quilt hahahaha.

Progress Update....Frankenstein comes to life

For the first time in at least 100 years, I did not leave my house on Saturday and I cut out squares for an economy quilt class for this Wednesday at the Red Rooster and while I was cutting out squares from my scraps, I went ahead and prepped and sewed up Frankenstein. This was one fun project and I really enjoyed making it. I'm making one more and then I move on to something else....

Projects--both underway and in my thoughts...

Meet Freakinstein---I mean Frankenstein. Can't wait to make this to hang on my front door this year. The pattern is by Country Threads and is so adorable. A good scrap quilt.This cute little wall quilt is designed by Sandy Gervais by Pieces from my Heart. I love how she uses a charm pack to make the quilt. I'm in the process of making 2 of these....His name is Brrrrr by the way.

These little jewels are the square in a square blocks for the Hocuspocusville quilt. I hope the actual quilt turns out as good as the design in my head....I'll post further progress...

Hocuspocusville stitchery now complete!!

Block 11: Spooky Lou's Quality Pre-Owned Brooms--what witch could not use a great deal? Block 12: Bristle Lube while U wait...with the added service of warped handles, splinters and flats that can be repaired. What economy minded witch could pass up the Used Brooms?

Don't you dare touch the quilts....

AJ at my work put this picture on my screen saver. I laughed so hard....so, if you happen to be Sunbonnet Sue, you better not be touching those quilts!! You will end up in the chain gang (tied together with paper clips of course...)

Julie and Julia...

My daughter won some tickets for dinner and a movie for 2 in Young Women's. She chose to take me with her and wanted to see Julie and Julia. It was absolutely endearing. Julie in the movie loved Julia Child and set out to cook her entire cookbook in one year. It reminds me of my sewing quilts. I am setting out to try to sew up every pattern that I love when the mood strikes me. I LOVE to sew and I LOVE to sew quilts. Absolutely a must see movie. I LOVED IT!!!

The Stitchin' Post--Sister's Oregon

We went to Eugene, OR last weekend and Sisters, OR was on the way. My dear husband agreed to let me wander in and see all the fun. This store is owned by Jean and Valori Wells. They are designers and famous quilters. The store had a lot of Kaffe Fassett fabrics, Valori Wells fabrics and a lot of solids and batiks. It was really fun to have a look around.

The children's clothes were adorable...

The bags were a lot of fun...

I really like the graphics of the white and red quilt...

The fish and other wildlife patterns were cool...

I thought this log cabin village was fun...

This was my most favorite quilt...it was made to sell at one of their last functions...

these were some quilts made by Jean Wells....

The following wool applique quilts were by Sue Spargo...

Don't you love this market bag quilt???

Fun quilt out of Wonderland fabric...

Love the circles, dots and fabric on this one... Hope you enjoyed these like I did in person...makes me want to get busy and quilt...

Block 10--Complete at Last...

Hagatha's Dirty Laundry--with water stains added. It must add that special effect to black. It's all the rage... Don't you just love the clothes line?

Family Reunion, fun vacation and what else....Sisters, Oregon...That's right, I got to go to Sisters, Oregon today!!

These are just a few fun shots of some quilts that were for sale next to the little quilt store we went in. I will post some more pictures of the quilt store tomorrow. Right now, I'm pooped and ready to turn in.