Witchy Cat Treat Sack

My studio has been buzzing lately and I have been working on an assortment of designs and samples for AccuQuilt - including some new pieces for Halloween and autumn/Thanksgiving. Today, I thought I would share my new GO! Witchy Cat Treat Sack...a trick-or-treat tote with a fun witchy cat machine embroidery pocket on the front.  This tote bag utilizes the following six GO! Dies:

• GO! Square-4 1/2" (4" Finished) (55060 or 55018)
• GO! Ribbon Twist (55055) (Witchy Cat Hat)
• GO! Heather Feather #1 by Sarah Vedeler (55087) (Witch Cat Hat)
• GO! Calico Cat (55065)
• GO! Strip Cutter-4 1/2" (4" Finished) (55054)
• GO! Square-8 1/2" (8" Finished) (55058)

The GO! Calico Cat with Witch Hat Embroidery Design on the front pocket was digitized by V-Stitch Designs to coordinate specifically with AccuQuilt cutting dies - and I thought it was quite inventive to use a ribbon twist and a feather to create the witch hat! You can find these V-Stitch machine embroidery design sets (and many more) on the AccuQuilt website or visit the V-Stitch Designs Etsy shop.

The fabric collection used for this themed tote is Halloween Magic by Bella Blvd for Riley Blake Designs...doesn't it work wonderfully?? I just love the stars, pumpkins, and spider webs - these are happy Halloween prints!

This patchwork tote was quite enjoyable to design and very fun to put together! If you are not a machine embroidery fan, you could always used a cotton print for the pocket...and of course, you could make the same tote for a variety of holidays/seasons...I have even made one with a floral print and machine appliqued a flower on the pocket (I'll have to share it in a future post). For a variety of prints, you can trim down a charm pack for the patchwork...one tote needs eighteen patchwork squares, so you could make two totes from most charm packs! The pattern gives you complete instructions and a beginner can definitely handle it...and now would be the perfect time, as the pattern is FREE (for a limited time) on the AccuQuilt website ...simply visit:
http://www.accuquilt.com/shop/go-witchy-cat-treat-sack-pattern.html to download the PDF pattern...

I hope you will try making your very own GO! Witchy Cat Treat Sack or maybe use this pattern for your own special creation...and if you do, I would love to see your version!

Thanks for stopping by...and be sure to visit again soon - I will be sharing several autumn/Thanksgiving projects that you won't want to miss...

Halloween Treats...

Although we are in the midst of a very HOT summer, it looks like many of you are working on autumn and Halloween projects. I always enjoy checking out creative blogs and social media to see what my fellow stitchers and quilters are working on and I keep seeing fall projects popping up everywhere - perhaps you are all ahead of the game OR perhaps thoughts of autumn and winter are keeping you cool during the heatwave...OR maybe it is the release of the 2015 Just CrossStitch Special Halloween Collector's Issue. This annual issue is quite impressive with 55 spooky designs...and it looks like there is something for everyone - including Blue Ribbon Designs fans - yep, I have two (yes, TWO) spooktacular design sets in this issue!

You can find my "Tricks or Treats Bags" starting on page 37. This fun duo of easy-to-finish treat bags are quick-to-stitch and even more fun to fill. The idea behind this project is to fill the "bag of treats" with candy/treats (of course!) and fill the "bag of tricks" with fun printed slips of paper adorned Halloween jokes and riddles. Each cross stitch design is attached to the front of a bag as a pocket...the finishing is truly simple and I provided instructions. Each flat bag measures approximately 6.5" W x 11.5" H with the stitched design measuring approximately 3.5" W x 5" H....and the bags are tied closed with coordinating ribbon. I stitched the models on 28-count Platinum Cashel linen from Zweigart with The Gentle Art Sampler Threads...and DMC Cotton Floss conversions are provided.

Next, you can find my "Halloween Portraits" starting on page 55. This is a set of eight feather tree ornaments...each featuring a Halloween motif. They are quick and fun to stitch with each having a stitch count of 27 W x 27 H. These were stitched on 35-count Baby's Breath Linen from Weeks Dye Works with Weeks Dye Works Hand Over Dyed Floss (DMC conversions are provided)...and they were pillow finished with black twisted cord and embellished with 1/16" ribbon. I have designed several other sets of feather tree ornaments to accommodate additional holidays, so look for those in the future from Blue Ribbon Designs!     

          

Luck me, I stitched these designs in November/December of 2014, so I am truly ready for Halloween 2015!

....AND look for another special Blue Ribbon Designs Halloween project in the The World of Cross Stitching Magazine - Issue 233 (on sale in the UK August 13)...more details coming soon....

....AND I have a feature project in the October 2015 issue of Just Cross Stitch Magazine...I can't wait for you to see it...

Currently, I am stitching the model for my 2015 Komen 3-Day exclusive fundraising chart...it is coming along beautifully and I hope it will be worth the wait! I have passed the halfway point, so I will have more information and photos for you soon...

Hippity Hoppity

If you are an avid reader of my blog, then you know I am definitely still a kid at heart...which completely explains why I love the website "Mr. Printables"...it is chock full of fun, free printable downloads for kids! Check out these ADORABLE Bunny Party Favor Bags - aren't they just the cutest...and you can make them in a matter of minutes (seriously) with very few supplies. First of all you need a computer, Internet connection, and a printer...and I am guessing if you are visiting my blog, you have all three...next you need a several pieces of white cardstock or heavy paper (which many of us have on hand). Do you have your paper loaded in the printer, yet?? Okay, so now click on this link for the Bunny Party Favor Bags - you can now easily download and print four (yes, I said FOUR!) different Bunny Bags for FREE! - there is one large and one small pink bunny...one titled "Strippy Jumper" and one titled "Woolly Socks" (which are both small - meaning each fits on one piece of 8.5" x 11" cardstock). Once you have the selection you want printed, you will need scissors, a scoring tool/board (don't fret, a bone-folder or pen cap works great for scoring), a craft knife, and a glue stick...you can find all those things around the house, can't you?? Now, time for the "crafty" part, cut on the solid lines, score on the dashed lines, and use a craft knife to cut the two lines where shown (this is where the ears fit through)...fold on the score lines...and glue where it notes "glue"...that's all there is to it...easy peasy! There is also an stinkin' cute Frog Favor Bag and it has step by step directions and photos of how to put a favor bag together...wouldn't the Frog Favor Bag be fun for a stitching retreat?! The last and final step is to fill your bag(s) with treats...and maybe a little Easter grass or tissue paper. Fun, easy, and affordable...and you can make them for or with children (or a big kid, like me)...and simply precious...

A Tiny Tote of Treats

Today I want to share a bit of Valentine's Day inspiration with you. This is a gift I made recently - it is a machine embroidered bag filled with valentine treats and a couple of the "heart lollipop wrappers" I made several weeks ago. The bag was embroidered on white cotton fabric...is about 6" tall...and has a boxed bottom, so it stands easily. The bag has matching embroidery on the back side and is from the Husqvarna Viking Collection "Purse Pizazz" (#184) by Anna Haraldsson. I enjoyed picking out shades of pink thread for this whimsical little bag and assembling it...and then picking things to fill it. I have made several of these bags before and they work great for collecting orts and small snippits of thread...I also have a couple in my bathroom for cotton balls and q-tips.

...and I just *have to* share a photo of a few Valentine gifts my friend Mary gave me earlier in the week...she filled a heart gift bag with the cutest owl kitchen towel, a great piece of valentine fabric featuring vintage valentines (too cool), some fun shiny red rick rack, valentine swankie hankies, and some Hershey's kisses! This was such a sweet Valentine's Day surprise...

This evening, I am finally starting to feel a bit better, although my voice is yet to return. I just spent the afternoon printing invoices and packaging the new designs for shipments this week - and after a few hours, I am starting feel a bit rundown again...but I think the worst has finally passed (crossing my fingers). Thank you all for the well wishes and the birthday notes! I am hoping to feel well enough tonight to bake my husband a Valentine's Day treat...and to enjoy some model stitching....

Holiday Sewing Projects - Sweet Treat Bags

If you have collected an array of small gifts for a person on your list, why not try making a Sweet Treats Bag? I have been collecting gifts for my friend Mary for quite some time - instead of putting them all in a box, I wrapped them in tissue and put them inside this fun pouch with a flap. These bags are easy to put together and a good project for a beginner - pick a holiday cotton print or a fabric especially for the recipient....add a fabric covered button....and tie it closed with a festive ribbon - it works perfectly for "wrapping" gifts. This bag is made by sewing together 1-1/2" strips (made easy by purchasing Moda pre-cut HoneyBuns) - but you could use any size strip you fancy...and the pattern could easily be adjusted to make almost any size. The supply list is minimal and these sew up quickly using fusible fleece for a nice sturdy padding. Inside this treat bag I placed a handmade pincushion, buttons, a fat quarter, and a couple sewing treats I specially gathered over the past few months. Want to try your hand at making one of these?? - well, you are in luck - Moda Fabrics has posted a free pattern for the Sweet Treats Bag online!

"Halloween With A 'Y'" Framed & Smalls

As promised, here are photos of "Halloween With A 'Y'", a new design being released at the end of September at the TNNA St. Charles Needlework Market. I love the frame molding - it reminded me of a swamp when I saw it - black, green, and gold melded together - almost eerie looking - perfect for this Halloween design....and I am so very proud of these smalls - I thought they turned out SUPER cute - better than I imagined! The models are stitched on 40-count hand-dyed fabric from Lakeside Linens (Tundra) with The Gentle Art Sampler Threads. Of course, as usual, I designed this piece so each box would be perfect for a needlework small. This design will contain the charting for the entire sampler and complete finishing instructions for making the flat ornament and the treat bag!

There will be one more design released at market called "Blessed Beyond Measure" - it is the special needlework tool I designed and complementing needlework small(s) - I will share photos of this design when I return....I am really thrilled with this this unique piece and I am looking forward to giving you a special look soon...

Well, I leave for a much needed vacation tomorrow morning, so I will not be updating for about a week...but since I am going to Las Vegas, I am sure I will have plenty to post about when I return. Until then, be well, be happy, and be productive...and take a little time to stitch...