What Shall I Make Today? Creepy Cobweb Coasters!

Here's a last-minute Halloween decorating idea for you!

Draw lines like this on a piece of graph paper.

My finished design will be 4 1/2" square so the cross-lines are at 2 1/4".

Make little marks at 3/4" down and across from each corner.

Draw an arc between the lines on the top half of the diagram, like this:

Fold the paper in half and cut out along the arcs.

Unfold the paper and pin to a double layer of muslin, with a piece of batting underneath.

Make sure to leave about 1/2" around the shape.

Sew around the shape, leaving one arc open.

Remove the piece from the machine and cut out 1/4" outside the stitching.

Cut straight across the points.



Turn the piece right side out through the opening.

Use a chopstick or other pointy thing to get into the points.

Hand-stitch the opening closed.

Place the piece between 2 single layers of cheesecloth.

Machine-stitch with contrasting thread across the shape from point to point,

making sure to intersect in the center.

After you've stitched the 4 lines across the piece,

move your needle about 1/2" toward the center.

Following the arcs, stitch around the shape.

When you get back to the beginning,

move your needle another 1/2" toward the center

and stitch again around the shape, following the arcs.

Repeat once more and remove from the machine.

Trim any long threads and the cheesecloth loosely around the shape.

If you like, you can brush some stiffener onto both sides of the shape and let dry.

Your creepy cobweb coasters are finished!

If you want, you can loop a length of thread through a point and hang them around your house.

Happy Halloween everyone!

A Great Weekend for a Quilt Show

This past week was grey, dreary, and rainy on the west coast--perfect weather to attend a quilt show, I think. I was a vendor at the Piecemakers Guild show in Chilliwack, BC, a show I've done for several years now.  Here are a few pictures of my booth in the Merchants' Mall:

And here are some pictures of my favourite quilts in the show.

I LOVE the machine quilting on this one!

Isn't it gorgeous?

The quilting designs are original, done by Darlene Epp.

This 76" square "Barn raising Log Cabin" quilt by Sandra Lounsbury is all pieced with 1" wide strips.

Another quilt by Sandra Lounsbury, measuring 90" x 102", each block about 4" square, constructed during her commute to work each day.  Now there's a good use of travel time!

Another quilt by Darlene Epp.  This one is paper-pieced and took over a year to create. 

A mystery quilt created by Lisa van den Brink.

I love the colours she chose.

I forgot to get the name of the creator of this masterpiece.

I'm always amazed by anyone who has the talent to make so many precise points!!

And finally, this 36" x 61" quilt by Ursula Yeo, called "60 Little Houses".

Isn't it charming?

With all the work involved in preparing for a show, I often find myself thinking, "Maybe I'm getting too old for this."  But when I'm there and get to meet amazing, talented women like these and get to see their beautiful creations, I'm reminded again of why I love quilting.

Thanks, Piecemakers, for including me in your wonderful show!

Springtime Sampler - A New Pattern

Hot off the press--here's a new pattern for you to work on during those long winter nights that are heading our way.

It's called "Springtime Sampler" and is a mixture of patchwork and applique, made up in several sections and then pieced together.  By the time spring comes, you'll be ready to display it!  Go to the New Patterns page on my website if you'd like to order it from me, or ask for it at your local quilt shop.

Book Blog Tour--A Surprise Ending

A trip to New England in fall has long been on my bucket list and this year hubby Ben and I decided to finally do it. I booked our flights and planned our agenda way back in spring, including a few days in Boston around the weekend of September 23.   When September rolled around, I found out that Suzanne, the winner of the book giveaway (week 6) worked in Boston and wanted her book mailed to her at her workplace. I figured, why not drop it off in person and surprise her?  This is how my devious little mind works. The opportunity was just too perfect to pass up. 

So on Monday morning we showed up at her office and the receptionist called her down and I handed her her gift.  What fun!

Suzanne works on the 35th floor and invited us up to her office for a breathtaking view of Boston harbor.

After we'd said our good-byes, it was time to walk around this beautiful, historic city.

First, to the site of the Boston Tea Party.

And then to Paul Revere's house.

He's a pretty big guy around here--there are statues and plaques about him everywhere.

Watching a game at Fenway Park was a highlight for Ben this weekend.

And stopping here for a drink was a highlight for me!



So the moral of the story is... be careful when entering one of my giveaways.  I just might drop in at your place when you're least expecting it and surprise you!