No matter how old you are...whether or not you have Children or Grandchildren...Trick or Treating is a Favorite pastime.  What better way to celebrate the season than with a Super Cute Ghostly Trick or Treat Door Pillow...hanging at the front entry of your home?  It's a WIN WIN type of situation!

I found this Adorable Ghost Banner Applique Design at one of my FAVORITE places to shop for Appliques...i2s...and I paired it with the so cute Jack and Jill Font...also from i2s!  In the MANY years I have been embroidering and appliqueing using an Embroidery Machine...I can say with most certainty that i2s has some of the absolute BEST and well executed Designs and Fonts!  Be sure to check them out...you will NOT be disappointed!

Find them here...

www.theitch2stitch.com

On to the project at hand...

I combined the 5x7 size of the Ghost Banner Design with the 1.5 Jack and Jill Font for the words TRICK or TREAT in my Embrillance Software and then sent it directly to my USB Stick so I could open the design on my Brother PR655...Matilda Jane!

I wanted the Ghost Applique and Bright colored threads to POP...so I chose to stitch the whole design onto a piece of Rich Black Cotton Twill.  Cotton Twill has a "heavier in hand" kind of feel to the textile...it's PERFECT for pillows and such!  I also used a pieced of Fusible Fleece on the backside of the Black fabric for a permenant stabilization and it also helps make the pillow more like a pillow when you stuff it later!

YAY...for a well executed plan! 

I added a cute Orange and White Ribbon to the top to hang it from the door knob and filled the pillow using fiber fill.  I also fused a pieced of the Fusible Fleece on the back panel of the pillow so that it would be "even" on both the front and back.

I hope you take a moment to visit the i2s site and see what they have to offer...it's one of my Favorite Go To's for designs and I am sure it will be yours too!

Happy Halloween!

Kathleen

I ask...

Who doesn't LOVE them some FALL Quilty Projects?

Can I get an Amen?

I designed this Super Adorable Fall Table Runner...about 8 years ago for my Sister in Law...Ann.

She's a seamstress too...so it had to be "just right"!

LOL!

Since the "original" prototype  is now beautifully displayed in Ann's home...I decided it was time to make another one...or two or THREE...

HMMM...

Quite possibly some Fabulous Christmas Gifts?

I am certain I have plenty of fabrics to choose from!

Here's the Skinny...

First I came up with a simple block...designed in my EQ Software and then went to work!

I just LOVE all the Beautiful Fall Fabrics I was able to find in my own stash...

Can you BELIEVE it?

I made a total of 24 blocks in order to make the Table Runner a nice size without overpowering the room...and it fit nicely on her Coffee Table!

Now...there's a plan!

Here she is...all put together and ready to quilt...

Don't you just love the Mottled Cream and Tan Fabric I used for the background...it was simply PERFECT for this project!

When I quilted it...I used my Walking Foot for my machine...and did repetitive rows of straight lines in ALL of the Background fabric sections...

Here's a CLOSE Up Picture of the Center...so you can see the quilting better...be sure to double click on it so you can enlarge the photo too!

I just LOVE the way it turned out...

How about YOU?

Kathleen

Fall is officially HERE...and you know what that means...get out those super cute Halloween Decorations and bring on the season at hand!

It's CLEAR...I am obsessed with the Movie "Hocus Pocus" staring Bette Midler...it's a timeless CLASSIC!  So..when I saw this adorable Wooden Sign that said "Welcome My Pretties" at my local Michaels Store...I knew I had to have it so I could add a little extra BLING to it!

These cute applique designs are from the Baby Kay's Website...be sure to check out my List of the Tools of the Trade (at the bottom of the blog post) for all the details of where to get everything I use to make this adorable project...

I just LOVE these little guys...or gals...whichever the case may be!  LOL!

I combined the two designs in my Embrillance Software...fit them accordingly to the size of the area I wanted to fill for the "added on" sign to the bottom of the actual wooden cauldron.  I had my Houston (aka...my Husband) cut me a piece of luan (because it is a thinner wood and I didn't want to it be too heavy) and then sanded it smooth and painted it black...

This piece of wood serves as my "backdrop" to adhere the actual design onto...

is that as clear as MUD?

I digress...

I am sure you have noticed by now...after staring at the picture above, that I reverse flipped the little ghost trick or treaters applique...so that they sat nicely (and symetrically even) on either side of the PUMPKIN kiddo applique!  

YES...my OCD is in control here!

Can I get an AMEN?

This is a fairly large design...finishing at 10.5" wide X 6.5" tall (approximately)...with a total of 27,296 stitches in it) and because of that I wanted to be sure to stabilize it "just right"...

So here is what I did...

I ironed a piece of "fusible fleece" to the backside of a cute Black with Orange Dots cotton fabric I got from my local Hobby Lobby...both the fabric and the fusible fleece are cut at least 5-6 inches larger than my finished design piece...I do this for two reasons...

ONE...so I can cut it down to the PERFECT size for my sticky board application...

AND...

TWO...so I have enough "extra fabric" to cover the front of the sticky board...plus around to the backside...to give it a nice "finished look"!

Once I have the design stitched out...removed from the frame...I cut the design down (centering it perfectly) and then adhered it to the front of the sticky board and then around to the backside.

I used Stitchy Tape on the backside to adhere the fabric to the backside of the sticky board...

You can use a HOT Glue Gun for this part...however...it's NOT my favorite method...

Apparently, I do not possess the skill it takes to handle a Glue Gun without burning my fingerprints right off!

LOL!

Let's MOVE on...

I then tore some 1.25" wide strips from the Purple with Black Dots Cotton Fabric (also from Hobby Lobby) and gathered it...using a long "doll making" needle and heavy thread...to make it fit nicely around the framed design.  I did use the "Stitchy Tape" again on the backside of the sticky board to stick the gathered "ruffle" to...as it gave me time to manipulate it in place without burning my finger tips off...once again...Glue Guns and ME do not get along!

Once my design with the ruffle was complete...I adhered the whole thing to that piece of Black Painted Luan...that Houston cut for me earlier.

I simply used a thin black wire...curled...to connect it to the bottom of the cauldron from the top of the Luan piece...so it hung nicely...

as if it had always been there from the "get go"!

Now...how is that for FABULOUS?

Kathleen

TOOLS OF THE TRADE...

-Kid Behind the Pumpkin Applique Design(5x7 size) www.babykaysapplique.com

-Little Ghost Boy Applique Design(4x4 size) www.babykaysapplique.com

-Fast Frame (I used the Full 8 x 12 inch size)

-Fusible Fleece (Hobby Lobby and Joann's)

-Perfect Stick Stabilizer (I used Floriani Brand)

-WSS (off Brand)

-Heat and Bond Lite Fusible (Hobby Lobby, Joann's, Walmart and On Line)

-Flat Flower Head Pins (used to hold the fabric down onto frame for an extra hold) (Hobby Lobby and Joann's)

-Fabric...Black with Orange Dots for Background of Design (Hobby Lobby) Purple with Black Dots for Ruffle (Hobby Lobby) Orange for Pumpkin Kid and Pumpkin Candy Buckets (Colorworks by PB Textiles) Yellow for Pumpkin Face (Big Pinwheel #LH04025 for Lakehouse Direct Fabrics) Blue for Pants (Blue Batik...Unknown) Purple for Shoes on Pumpkin Kid (Mottled Purple...Unknown) Lime Green for Pumpkin Stem (Zig Zag S#N7700 by Hoffman California International Fabrics) White for Ghosts (Swirly tone on tone...Unknown)

-Thread-Exquisite Brand...Purple #390-Orange #650-Green #983-Blue #413-Yellow #4117-Black #020 and White #010

-Sticky Board (www.fatquartershop.com)

-Stitchery Tape (www.fatquartershop.com)

-Large Doll Making Needle (Hobby Lobby)

-Luan for Base of Design (Home Depot-Lowes-Hobby Lobby)

-Black Spray Paint (Hobby Lobby-Home Depot-Lowes)

-Water Soluble Pen/Pencil for Marking Center of design

Are you looking for a cute and simple gift you can make for your child's Teacher, your next door neighbor or your favorite hairdresser?  Perhaps you have a special lady at the Post Office who ships your packages, helps you with customs forms and answers your bazillion questions about shipping overseas? 

Oh wait...that last sentence might just describe ME!

No matter who is on your gift list this fall...today's project is sure to please EVERYONE!

Let's get started...

While scanning the “canning supplies” section of my local Wal-mart...I came across these adorable squatty style wide mouth glass jars with lids...you know...for canning jams and jellies. 

A light bulb went on over my head...

The tops of these jars would be PERFECT for one of my many Halloween designs I have in my files and then I can fill the jar with candy and give it as a super cute gift!

I needed the “perfect” sized circle with a beautiful satin stitch outline...and I found it in the center of the Monogram Patch Clover Applique Design.  This finished circle (from the 5x7 design size) with it's beautiful satin stitch finish was the PERFECT match for the lid of my cute squatty jars!  I could not have planned it any better, if I tried! 

I then took the “Pumpkin” from the LOVE Pumpkin Applique design (4x4 size) and the “Candy Corn” from the Love Candy Corn Applique design (4x4 size) and centered them inside the circle from the Monogram Patch Clover design.  This way...I could make two different toppers for my jars!

 I did the above steps in my software (I used Embrilliance Essentials).

I put sticky stabilizer on my 4.5” X 5” Fast Frame and centered a 4” square piece of Peltex Stabilizer on top of the sticky.  The Peltex will give the circle “body” to allow it to stand alone...just like a patch does.

Here's my loaded Fast Frame all ready to go...

First things first...

I ran the circle design and trimmed ONLY the actual fabric for the circle...not the Peltex Stabilizer.  You will trim the Peltex Stabilizer AFTER the design is completely done...including the stitching of the candy corn OR pumpkin applique.

Here is what she looks like once the circle fabric panel is tacked in place and trimmed...notice the 4” square piece of Peltex Stabilizer is still in place.

REMEMBER...Do NOT trim the Peltex until the design is complete!

Now...run the satin work around the circle but eliminate the triple bean stitch (as it will “peek” out around the edges of the jar lid).

***TIP...use the thread color that closely matches your fabric circle...as the final outcome is better visually...once the circle is in place inside the jar ring.  In my case...I used BLACK thread on the Black Circle and Purple thread on the Purple Circle.

Once your circle is complete...go ahead and run the complete Candy Corn OR Pumpkin Applique inside the circle (I centered it).

And here she goes...

And because I am making TWO of these adorable jars...here is the Candy Corn design!

You can see in this picture how I matched the thread color CLOSELY to the circle fabric panel...which is purple.  Isn't this adorable spider fabric for my circle background just PERFECT?

Be sure to check the Tools of the Trade at the bottom of this blog post for all the details of what I used for this project and where to get them!

It's how I roll!

Once your designs are complete...remove them from the frame and trim CLOSELY around the circle satin stitching...leaving about an 1/8” of Peltex Stabilizer around the outside.

BE SURE NOT TO CUT THE SATIN STITCHING OR YOUR THREAD WILL COME UNDONE...AND YOU WILL CRY!

Ask me how I know!

I used a couple pieces of double face tape to HOLD the design “patches” onto the jar lid before I put them in the ring and on the jar itself.  

***No worries about the outside edge of the circle where the peltex is showing...the ring of the jar lid will conceal it! 

YAY!

Halloween would NOT be Halloween without some sweet treats added to this cute little jar...so fill her up with some yummy candy corn and pumpkin candies!

I finished it off with a cute ribbon that was simply tied on to the front.

OMG...they look adorable with my Trick or Treat Halloween Decor Bag from a Blog Post I wrote a couple weeks ago...

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together?

Let's make a dozen!

Kathleen

TOOLS OF THE TRADE...

 -Monogram Patch Clover Design(5x7 size) www.babykaysapplique.com

-LOVE Pumpkin Design(4x4 size) www.babykaysapplique.com

-LOVE Candy Corn Design(4x4 size) www.babykaysapplique.com

-Fast Frame (I used the 4.5x5 inch size)

-Peltex Stabilizer (Hobby Lobby and Joann's)

-Perfect Stick Stabilizer (I used Floriani Brand)

-WSS (off Brand)

-Heat and Bond Lite Fusible (Hobby Lobby, Joann's, Walmart and On Line)

-Clover Wonder Clips (Hobby Lobby, Joann's, Amazon and Quilt Shops)

-Fabric...Black Sketch for Pumpkin Circle Background (Joann's) Orange for Pumpkin (Colorworks by PB Textiles) Green (Zig Zag S#N7700 by Hoffman California International Fabrics) Purple Stripe with Spiders for Candy Corn Circle Background (Halloween Magic by M'Liss) Yellow for Candy Corn (Big Pinwheel #LH04025 for Lakehouse Direct Fabrics) Orange for Candy Corn(Be Creative by M'Liss) White for Candy Corn (Unknown)

-Thread-Exquisite Brand...Purple #390-Orange #650-Sage Green #950-Black #020 and White #010-Brown #841-Yellow #4117

-Halloween Ribbon (Hobby Lobby and Michaels)

-Squatty Canning Jars (4pk from Walmart...I have also found them at Target)

-Double Stick Tape to adhere the Patches to the Jar Lid

-Water Soluble Pen for Marking Center of design