Monday, November 28, 2011

Christmas Tomato?


Every year, from Thanksgiving to New Year's day, my hometown has Avenue of Lights set up in one of the parks.  Last year, when we went through, I saw some of these Tomato Cage lights.  How awesome is that?  So simple and so pretty.



Mr. Inspiring has an aunt that lives in Kentucky, and we only really get to see her at Thanksgiving.  She is so crafty and always, ALWAYS makes something for all us girls.  That's usually 7 of whatever it is she's making for that year.  Other than my mother-in-law (her sister) no one makes and gives her something back.  Well, I started returning the favor a few years ago and it's so much fun! 

This year I made this Christmas tree for her.  All it is is a tomato cage, 200 mini lights, a ribbon and some jute.  I wrapped the lights around the cage.  Then I wrapped the ribbon around it and tied it off with jute.  She LOVED it!!  She plugged it in as soon she got it!  Yay!! 

This is a SUPER EASY project and inexpensive.  The tomato cage was $3.50 and the lights were purchased on sale for $2.00 a strand.  So that's $7.50.  I already had the ribbon and the jute!!

(I'll have to take pictures of the adorable snowman she made me and post them up for you!!  I'm telling you - - She is T-A-L-E-N-T-E-D!!)

Thanks for looking! 

Hugs ~~ Suz

I'm linking up here:

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Counting Christmas Candy

I just wanted to post what I've been busy working on lately. 

I've got 3 quilts in the works, and have another one and a blanket in mind.....  It's official - - I just simply lose my mind this time of year.

First up ~~ Counting Christmas Candy





I was inspired by this quilt that Heidi made and is now available over at the Moda Bake Shop!



I am using the Sweetwater Countdown to Christmas fabric.  When I purchased the fabric, I got 2 jellyrolls - my first jellyrolls I ever purchased.  When I saw this pattern, I thought that I could do it....  I love sewing the strips together and then cutting out the shapes and sewing them back together! 

When I first laid it out, I laid the blocks out like she has them and I just wasnt' sure if I liked it.  Then I spun each triangle, and voile!  Counting Christmas Candy!  They remind me of peppermint candies...... Ok - so I don't know why, but they do....... 

I'm also working on a t-shirt quilt for #2. 



There are shirts on here from when he was just a little guy playing t-ball, some football, some soccer, all the way up to his men's baseball league shirt from last year.  Ms. C has a t-shirt quilt that a friend of her's had her grandma make, so I'm making this one just like it - no sashing and hand quilting.  I used Crayola washable markers to make my lines.  Hopefully it will come out!!

Ms. C's quilt has flannel on the back, so I had Mr. Inspiring take me to HL last weekend and got some black flannel for the backing.  Then, when I was hunting around in my craftroom, I opened a box that I hadn't opened for a while and found this:



This fabric has a 'copyright' date of 2000 and that sounds like the year I would have purchased it.  I was going to redo his room in all baseball and Cardinals.  I only made him pillowcases with this fabric.  I had almost enough  to do the back so I just made a strip of the black flannel and ran it down, off-centered.

When I found the fabric, I knew I HAD to use it.  He's always loved the Cards and now that they've won the world series....  well..... I just HAD to!!  The quilting is going rather quickly and I should have it finished up this week.  I think I'm going to use some of the flannel for the binding and call it done!

I've also got my first jellyroll quilt basted and it's ready to quilt.  I think I'll end up machine quilting it - stitch in the ditch.  I've been practicing stippling, but I'm not comfortable with it yet.

That's what I've been doing!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs ~~ Suz

Linking to these parties......


Funky Junk's Sat Nite Special


Saturday, November 5, 2011

Winner! Winner! Winner!!

Thank you everyone for all of your wonderful comments on my post for the Ghastlies Blog Hop!!

With Mr. Inspiring's help, I have a winner for the book cover:

Kelli from Kelli Bear Haven


Kelli - please send me an email with your address and I'll send your book cover to you!!

Also, as an extra surprise, I'm going to give away the Ghastlie Casserole Cover!  I'm making more for Christmas and no one in my family is really into Halloween.  So - - what do you think?

Anyone interested in winning this?



Leave a comment today, and I'll pull a winner tomorrow morning and let you all know who won!!

Have a super wonderful Saturday!  Mr. Inspiring and I are going to the FABRIC store today!!  I'm stocking up on some Christmas material needed to finish some quilts!!  YAY!!!

Hugs ~~ Suz

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

My Post for the Ghastlies Blog Hop

Hello, welcome, and Happy Halloween!!  Today is day 7 of the Ghastlie Blog Hop!  I hope you've been visiting everyone's blogs and checking out all the absolutely wonderful projects!!

I made a couple of paperback book covers for my first project.  I think they turned out cute!!




I love Sebastian!  He's the perfect Halloween Kitty!!

I also made a casserole cover and a hot pad.  Ok  - - So I KNOW the binding around the hot pad is not a very good job....  I was getting so tired.  I have soo learned - - DON'T SEW WHEN YOU'RE TIRED!!





I followed the tutorial posted over at 2 Little Hooligans.  You can see that post here!

Be sure to leave a comment - I love comments!!  AND ~~  I'll be picking a name from the comments Friday night for someone to win one of the book covers.  And I'll be picking a name tonight at 10 pm and sending it over to Madame Samm Ghastlie and the name will be entered for a big prize!!!  Here's what you can win!


DAY 7 Giveaway





These wonderful Auriful Threads
from IHAN...Kelly at I Have A Notion
is sending 1 winner this collection
of some pretty colorful threads.
Looks like we have a thread cutter
too...see his sharp knife lol


Here is the list for today's Ghastlie Posts:

ON Tuesday November 1st 

Mrs. Gramma Sheri Ghastlie
Ms. Suz Ghastlie  (That's me, and you're here!!)

Thanks for stopping by!  Go see the other posts - - I'm sure you'll find some Ghastlie projects to work on!!

Hugs ~~ Ms. Suz Ghastlie


I'm linking to these parties, too!