Pumpkins and Leaves

A new Fall runner for me.

My quilt guild handed out patterns for the pumpkins as our block of the month.  Please don’t tell my guild, but I liked these blocks so much that I kept them for myself.  It took me another month to decide what to put with them and how.

I finally decided on these paper pieced leaves.  Pattern by Full Bobbin Designs, on Etsy.   I adjusted the pattern very slightly.  Just to break up the larger leaf sections on each side.  I think they still need a little more division...next time.

It was a toss up on which way the outside leaves should face.  Facing inward won out.



Also a question of whether the pumpkins faced the same direction or opposite directions.  Opposite directions won out since where it is placed has entryways on both sides of the island.

Something most likely will always be placed in the center of the runner, so the pumpkins are divided in that way.

The moral of this quilting adventure is that I’m glad I was selfish and kept these pumpkin blocks for myself.  

Fall Raven

I’ve revisited making a denim raven art postcard.

I’ve stitched the raw edge applique a bit farther into the bird with hopes of getting a more feathered look for him.  I’m much happier with his look this time.  Of course some areas will not fray as much but that is to be expected with fabric.

I love those Fall leaves die cut from that Tim Holtz Eclectic Elements fabric.

Again I used Miracle Fabric for the correspondence side.  A rubber stamp and archival ink for the words.

The two postcards together.

Dies used:

Rachael Bright Sizzix Bigz die Birds

Tim Holtz Sizzix Thinlits dies Leaf Fragments

Fall Postcard Sewing

It’s that fun time of year for sewing!

Fall!

I’ve made a few Fall fabric postcards

This design is a pattern from Bloomin’ Minds called Online Company

I shrank the design to fit a postcard.

This design is a pattern from The Whole Country Caboodle called Scarecrow & Friend

I shrank the design to fit a postcard.

A quilt on Pinterest inspired these next postcards.

I cut bits of scraps and then treated it like a puzzle fitting bits and pieces all over a base fabric.

That was somewhat tedious to do so I tried just cutting strips and weaving them together over the base fabric.  While it turned out similar, I don’t think it looks as creatively fun.

Hmm...maybe these two are more on the Halloween side than just Fall with the purple added in.



My September calendar journal...

Happy Fall!

Dinner Place Cards

I was asked to make place cards for the Thanksgiving dinner table.  My hostess was going to send me an oak leaf pattern.  There would be 12 holiday guests.  I thought about my lack of interest in mass production and how I was already dreading tracing and cutting each leaf.  

Tim Holtz and his Layered Leaf Die and Embossing Folder to the rescue!  I added some inks to the leaves, and cut tags with the Tim Holtz Tiny Tabs and Tags Die.  I tied the leaves and tags together with Hemp strings and gold thread.  

Pinterest inspiration came to my rescue again with these.  

Happy Fall

xxx

Annie

Fall Leaf Tutorial

It's only been a year since I was asked for a tutorial for my Fall Leaf.

 

 

Not bad, eh?  Except that I forgot and was inadvertently reminded that I wanted to do this for Fall. 

(Thank you, Joelle, for the nudge)

The photos are not great, but they are clearly instructional.

 

First off, draw, trace, or photocopy a leaf to the actual finish size you will want.  Be sure your leaf can be divided nicely.  Then trace the outline to the paper side of Wonder Under.  (Or any fusible you choose).

 

 

Next, mark the dividing lines on the fusible and slice/cut the pieces apart. 

 

 

Trim around the outer leaf area.  Also separate one lower leaf section from the stem as shown below.

 

Fuse each leaf section to your fabric selections.

These leaves can be any coloring you choose ... orange, red, yellow, green, brown ...

Next, trim each section right on your traced lines.  Lay the pieces together as close as possible on your background fabric.

Fuse them in place.

First stitch closely around the outside edge of the leaf design with a short-ish straight stitch.

 

When you begin to sew the sections, with bating, they will want to separate slightly.  I filled this space first with a row of straight stitch. 

 

I then go back along that row stitching next to the first stitching and add the leaf veins by stitching out several stitches then coming back along side the first stitches.

 

Once the veins are sewn, I shorten the stitch length and I stitch the leaf sections together with a narrow zig zag stitch just wide enough to catch both fabric pieces of the leaf sections and give them that heavier looking main vein.

 

 

Now, if that isn't as clear as mud, I am more than happy to clarify anything that might be confusing.

 

 

 

 

 Happy Fall

 

xxx

Annie

 

 



Stripey Squares Halloween Pillow

I've been seeing some quilts made with what I call stripey squares.  I already made a quilt like that a few years ago, but I was inspired to make some more stripey square blocks.  I decided to go small for a pillow cover.  And to use my Halloween stripes.

 

 

I even put on my modern brave girl panties and mixed some stripes within a few of the blocks.  I sit on the fence about that design idea.  Sometimes I like it, if the block, as a whole, blends pretty well.  Otherwise, it's not a favorite for me. 

 

Finally my Halloween quilt has a Halloween pillow to go with.

 

  Halloween fabrics are the MOST FUN to play with for me.

 

Happy Fall

xxx

Annie 



Happy Halloween!

I have been sewing for like, ever, but only blogging for a couple of years.  So, I thought I'd share some of my older Fall and Halloween themed projects.

My most favorite Fall wall hanging.

 

 

A fun skinny wall hanging 

 

 

A mug rug to test the spider pattern before the wall hanging.

 

I couldn't seem to get enough of those spiders...a postcard too.

 

 

My Halloween Squared quilt

 

A friend of mine made those gorgeous pumpkins for me.

 

From the quilt scraps I made this table mat.

A mug rug for a swap.  I don't think it was appreciated but I thought it was pretty fun.



 

Another wall hanging

 

and another

 

A couple of small accent pillows

 

 

 Wishes for a beautiful Fall and a wickedly Happy Halloween!

xxx

Annie