Happy Zombie

There’s only one thing more fun then being in Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks issue… and that’s being featured with lots of friends and rock-star quilters - and I’m so honored to be amongst them!   I kind of fudged a little… I’m using the alternate cover image that features Camille, Laurie, Elizabeth, Pat, Pam and me AND ME!

You can follow along on the 100 Blocks Blog Tour, and even have a chance to win prizes and an issue. Tomorrow (9/13) is my day on the tour, so leave me a comment - and for jollies tell me your favorite 2-color combo. Or tell me whatcha makin’ for dinner.  I’ll draw a name from all the entries posted by 12:01am PST Nov. 14th, 2009 (that’s right, mmmm-hmmmm… I’m not messin’ around with Friday the 13th), and the winner will be sent a copy from the nice folks at Quiltmaker.  It’ll be so fresh off the press you’ll be able to sniff it like a ditto.

Is it a coincidence that Pam’s block (#90) and my block (#89) use the same fabrics (Sweet, by our pals the Urban Chicks)? Is it a coincidence that Pam’s block and my block are great companion blocks and look Sew Happy Together?

Only time will tell.  It’s very possible we’ve been cookin’ somethin’ up.
Yup.
It’s possible.

Howard Marcus’ Collection for a Cause Collections for a Cause - Legacy by Moda

I don’t know who the genius is who thought up the QAYG method and I learned this second, maybe even third hand - but this is how I do my QAYG. Previous post about the stitchery is here.

1.  For my 4-block quilt, I used two 1¾” strips (then folded) and two 1⅛” strips - the length of the backed and quilted block to make my rows.  To join my rows, I have one long 1¾” strip (then folded) and one 1⅛” strip.   After I measure my completed rows I will cut the strips to that length.

2.  Join a 1⅛” strip, rights sides together on top of the block and the 1¾” folded strip the back of the block (raw edge to raw edge). Join by stitching a ¼” seam.

3.  Flip top strip over. Press.

4.  With right sides together, I join the next block to the top strip.

5.  Raw edges together, join by stitching a ¼” seam.  Flip block over and press.

6.  On back side of row, flip over folded strip and stitch with a slip-stitch.  If you love stitching binding down… you will love this.  The technique is the same.

7.  Join your rows in the same manner as joining the blocks into rows.

8.  Press front.

9.  Flip back over and repeat step 6.

Bind it and it’s done!

I’ve been to do a Quilt As You Go demo at a quilt retreat this weekend and decided to embellish my little QAYG project with some stitchery.

Natalie of Cinderberry Stitches has some ADORABLE free projects on her blog (check out her sidebar), and I used her Sweet & Spotty Needle Wallet birdie (ie, I only used partial of the drawing for the sake of time).  So cute are Natalie’s drawings I couldn’t make just one.  No… I had to make four and use them for my blocks on my QAYG demo/tutorial in my next post here.

Tomorrow’s the big day! I always love seeing the H’ween costumes on the Today show, Jimmy Kimmel Live and Frosty, Heidi and Frank - and seeing what clever ideas they come up with.  This is the ONE DAY it sucks for me not to have a job to go to.  I so miss the work dress-up day - so I’m gonna have a little trick or treatin’ office party on my blog tomorrow.  It may just be virtual nonsense… but I’m giving away pretend candy at my pretend party thrown by my pretend party planning committee.  And I’m not handing out that fun-size crap… I’m pretending to give full size candy bars.  And if you leave a comment that you’re dressing up too… you get TWO pretend full size candy bars.   Here’s a peek at my costume - it’s almost done.  Any guesses?

I had so much fun with making my Poochie Bag pattern… I decided I’d make some Itty Bitty Poochie Bags too.  Pee wee fun size bags.

Itty bitty Trick-or-Treat bags filled with treats.  H’ween fabric used is from my stash cupboard - it must be 5+ years old and I have no idea who/what it is.

Originally I was going to call them Poochie Bagettes… but my mind thinks in food - and it looked like “baguette” - and all I wanted to do was stuff the bags with feta, basil, balsamic vinegar and tomato slices.  Thanks to Jenny for helping me with the name.  Messy food crisis averted.

While I was sewing my Itty Bitty’s… I had a visitor just outside my window.  This is Frank.

Frank alerted Frosty and Heidi that I was on to them.

Side-show over, back to sewing.  Giving the Itty Bitty’s some “pooch” is easy.  Just pin up the bottom corners - and tack with a few hidden stitches.

Ready to be filled. And not just for kids! The Itty Bitty’s interior measures at about 4½” square (4″comfortably).  What to put inside… any treat filling ideas?

I have a tutorial at the Moda Bakeshop for the Itty Bitty’s.  I’ve used Moda Layer Cake sheets of American Jane’s Happy Campers and fabric ribbon to make the Itty Bitty’s.  Very yummy harvesty vintageishy looking fabric - I just love it.

My favorite thing about the Itty Bitty’s… they’re the carrier for Ding-Dong-Ditch.

Edited in:
GASP! Look at Kimberly’s Itty Bitty’s! So darn cute - she’s a fabric whisperer!

I’m late to the Blogger’s Quilt Festival (thank you Amy!)… but hey, I was making everyone pancakes.  What a night… I don’t think anyone slept last night.  But then, who sleeps at slumber parties?  Really.  I need a nap, and it’s only Day Uno of the party - and there’s lots more room for lots more NMG peeps.

So last Festival I cheated and showed two quilts.  This Festival… I’m showing one.  I’ve turned over a new leaf and am playing by the rules - and today I am good and on my best behavior (tomorrow I go back to my old disobedient and risqué ways… and don’t be surprised if you find zucchini in your apple pancakes - which of course I will deny).

Not just because I love the colors, or the fabric, or the quilt pattern… it’s because it’s my “Wonder Twin Super-Powers Activated” quilt.  About 2½ years ago Pam surprised me with the cutest little bundle of some Windham fabric from her stash…

and unbeknownst to each other - we were each making a quilt from the SAME quilt pattern from the SAME little Japanese quilt book called “Square Patchwork” at the SAME time.  Photo above is right after I made it - at my previous home - and apparently I was a much neater and organized person back then.
Book info: Square Patchwork ISBN4-8347-6441-9

It was all very Gift of Magi like - but Pam’s and my watches and hair survived unscathed.  I have very, very, very little wall space in my teenie weenie studio… but this is one quilt that I will find space for so I can look at it every day.   Everything gets moved around this quilt.  What’s in front, beside, above and below is dictated by the quilt (like the birdie branch a friend made).  Yup… WTS-PA rules the roost.  At least the wall roost.

Ok… apple pancakes are just about ready!

Wow, that’s a lot of f-words in my title.   I’ve always gotten a kick out of “fat quarter friendly”… very District 9-ish.  Like the fat quarter is either allowed or not allowed to mingle with the other fabrics.

Three fat quarters.  Three different versions for three different “pooches”.

I call the bottom corners “milk carton corners” to make the bag “pooch” out. A poochie corner. I know there’s an official sewing term (boxed corners), but this is what I like to call it. Plus I love milk, and milk in a little carton is just plain cute… and I highly doubt the official sewing term is going to be something cute.
- Moda’s Aviary bag has no boxed corners and is poochless
- Sandi Henderson’s Farmer’s Market bag has 1″ boxed corners to yeild a 2″ pooch
- Lecien’s Flower Sugar bag has 2″ boxed corners to yeild a 4″ pooch

Milk carton boxed corners not only alter the pooch of the pouch - but the height as well.

I like a chubby pooch.

“Baby Happy” is the quilt under the poochie bags and my PDF pattern is available here.   A freebie from meebie.  And fat quarter friendly.

You can get my PDF pattern here. My little pattern is fast, fun and a good use for one’s ever growing fat quarter stash (they’re like bunnies - seriously… WHAT is going on in my cupboards!?). I’ve started a Poochie Bag flickr group - I think it will be fun to see all the fabric combos and what’s put inside the bags. And where the bags are going. And who are they for. And so on and so forth.  Hope you have fun!

PLEASE NOTE:
This pattern that is for someone who knows how to sew. If you’re interested in learning how to sew or quilt and don’t have access to a quilt shop or community college that teaches sewing and/or quilting - here are some good online resources and books to help you get started on the sewing quilting crack.
INTERACTIVE/ONLINE:
– All People Quilt
– Sew,Mama,Sew! Forum & Book Shop
– Threadbias

BOOKS:
– The Practical Guide to Patchwork by Elizabeth Hartman
– Complete Guide to Quilting by Better Homes & Gardens
– Quilts! Quilts!! Quilts!!! by Diana McClun & Laura Nownes
– Start Quilting with Alex Anderson by Alex Anderson

Yesterday in the Pacific Northwest - the weather was hot, sunny and A/C worthy. Herr Zombie and I took a little trip inland to Battle Ground, WA for Barn House’s 2009 Fall Harvest and for Beyond the Garden Gate’s Vintage Gathering (also in Battle Ground). My mini sequel to last year’s adventure (Part I & Part II).

A sweet day with just hubby and me - a nice drive, seeing my friend Karen from TheCityWho’sNameICanNeverSpell and buying some of her incredibly awesome Cardamom Bread, hoping to see my friend Laurie and finally getting to meet her IRL (please notice that I typed that in a non-stalker font)… and for seeing all the harvest goodness and getting my harvest groove back on.

This vendor (The Olive Kat) at Vintage Gathering had THE most beautiful Pyrex display I’ve ever seen - and I wanted it all to come home with me (and I brought my husband with me why?).   I sucked at taking good shots, but I found some photos of their booth here (along with gobs of photos of the entire event).

Next stop… Barn House.   The weather was sunny and beautiful, but I was jonesing me some rainshine.

Sudden craving for some baguettes, balsamic vinegar, basil…

I wish this was my barn.  And I’d live in it.  And I’d hang my hat here.

Of course I’d have to have my TV hidden behind it. I may be able to live in a barn - but I do need my TV. My fantasy barn comes fully wired.

Continuing on with my living in a barn fantasy… this would be my spa slash bathroom. My fantasy barn comes fully plumed. And with a housekeeping and kitchen staff.

This would be my craft slash sewing room.

Oh beehive.  Shout-out to Nanette and Lori!

I know the actual arrival of Fall is still weeks to come - but I could really give an ess what the calendar says. Why?
1) My friend The Queen of Cuteness, aka Jenny - has released my long awaited dream blog, where I can live in AutumnLand year round at Owlsorts. Three words - Ooooh. Emmm. Geeee!

2) Fall at Casa de Zombie starts when I take a certain someone out of the closet and recycle him.

Jack’s coming out of the closet (again)- from 2006’s Halloween.   I know… it’s kind of like handing out stale left-over candy from last year.

No dust, no rot, no seeds, no funny smell.   Just Jack.  For your own recycled Crayon Jack, click here.

Tingle on Wayne… tingle on Garth.

Not too long ago I became the caregiver to three new darling books.  Not just darling darling… but vavavavoom DARLING DARLING.   Quilting in No Time, The Perfect Apron and Super-Cute Crochet remind me of Japanese craft books, but with one notable difference… I CAN READ THEM! Either they’re written in English - or I’ve gained a super power over-night and am now fluent in Japanese.

My crocheting history is that of some granny squares I had to try (remember the Granny Along?). I’ve had my eye on amigurumi ever since I discovered it a few years ago. But I didn’t know how, and crochet instructions/patterns might well have been penned by Tutankhamu. Super-Cute Crochet promised me, “Learn the Japanese art of amigurumi or how to crochet cute small animals”. I’m in.

I had the same feeling when I learned to drive a manual transmission - that I had when I learned the mysterious crochet code. The secret handshake known only to crocheters. Euphoria. I learned something I’ve been yearning to learn.  And now I can make eggs.  I feel like the world is my oyster now.  Meh, now I can make oysters if I want to. I’m drunk on empowerment.

But for now, I can’t stop making eggs. Where ever I go… I’m making eggs. I have my little tote that Lisa made me a few years ago - my official hatchery 2-go.  Road delays? No problem.

Come to think of it, I don’t know why I’d want to make snot in a shell oysters… when I have Pickle the puppy at my finger tips.

I think I can.
I think I can.
I think I can!

Bunny Hill Designs/Anne Sutton’s uber darling “A Tisket, A Tasket” blocks of the month for May and June.  MAY and JUNE!  I’m late AGAIN to the party.  I’m somewhat prepared for the delights Anne gift’s us each month, but I don’t really know what Swell/Sweet fabrics I’m going to use until I see the block. A part of me imagines myself in a beret and looking at the block pattern through my thumbs and index fingers, glass of wine near-by. But that would be way too pretentious. So I opt for just the wine.

My lighting is sucky and makes the Moda Dotty butter yellow look like some funky seafood chowder yellow. You’ll just have to trust me, IRL the colors are FANTASTIC.

Each of my months with more info… January, February, March, April and May & June.