A Quickie

So sorry ladies, I've been very busy finishing up the Red Queen's gown and baking. I have just enough time to say a quick "Hello" and to wish you all a Happy Halloween.

Now I must get back to the bowls of flour and bags of frosting.

Take care, Brandie

Witchy Wednesday

Have you ever been afraid to cut into a fabric? Well it's happening to me. I'm afraid of making a mistake and having to start all over. Last week when we bought this fabric, it was half price. So if I make a mistake today, I'll have to pay extra to fix it. So I'm stalling.

That deep ruby red is a beautiful piece, even if it's just a polyester knock-off of velvet. The main dress will be made of this, with accents of the beige fabric. My Daughter sure knows how to manipulate me into doing things outside my comfort zone. That girl...

In other news. I made a new hat for Witchy Poo last night. She use to have a beautiful hat with a big metal buckle that made all others envious. Then she did a stupid thing and loaned it out (to a better witch than she). Well she never did get back that perfect hat so she asked me to make her a new one. This is all we have come up with. She wanted this new hat to be even better that the last hat.
Sorry for the bad pics. We are trying out that sparkly brooch. But we may have to come up with another plan.
There may be too much black. Witchy Poo thinks I should add another color and she adds that it needs to go with her gorgeous lavender hair and not clash. So I've got my work cut out for me, Witchy Poo and Bridgette and both breathing down my neck for the completion of the outfits, and soon! What prima-donna's!

If you have any idea's, let me know and I'll run them by Witchy Poo.

Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

Take care, Brandie

More Pillows

A pillow pile. This is how I sent my evening, making a pile of non-matching pillows. Well almost non-matching. There were 2 dark purples and 2 periwinkles. That second purple one doesn't seem to be in the pic. I think PugsLee was using it. I think she was a wee bit jealous of her sister getting more attention and all theses pillows.
PugsLee is a princess. Her little bottom does not, I repeat, does not touch anything but carpet. Also her blanket has to be laid on top of a pillow, even on the couch. If a pillow is laying flat, she claims it as her own, which is probably what happened to Bridgette's purple pillow. A true princess. She could probably even feel a pea under that pillow! Or smell it!

The next few days will be sent making costumes. Bridgette has decided that I need to make a full on gown, hurray! And because we couldn't find an exact pattern, I'm making it up as we go, so wish me luck! The fabric we picked is Fabulous, tomorrow I'll show it to you.

So take care for now,

Brandie

Not Your Average Pillows

I'm so glad to be back. I still have a mild soreness or achyness in one thumb, but that is much better. I've babied them long enough. It took me all weekend to complete my pillows. Two days to cut the fabric and two evenings to complete each pillow. Even the stuffing was taking forever. Who knew that pulling the stuffing apart would take so much thumb strength. And sewing up the hole! That I put off till last night. It looks terrible, but who's going to turn these beautiful pillows over?
The big pillow measures at 19" and the small one at 13". I've been try to figure out a unique pumpkin pillow, but my thumbs are just not into it. Maybe next year. These sunflowers may not be true halloween decorations, but I love them! I just wish I had more yellow-gold fabrics to make more. But I'm trying to use things up, not collect more!
Of course I quilted them. They are each two layers. That's just the top and batting, then filled with stuffing. I love this dot fabric as a sunflower middle, so I quilted around each and every dot to enhance the seed look.
Even the little one has the same treatment. I can just see an entire bed covered with these. OK, maybe a twin bed. What little girl wouldn't love that? (I need grandchildren!)

Well I have more pillows to make, just the regular kind, you know, the square kind. I made a mistake and meet my Daughter at the fabric store, and now I have about 6 pillows to make for her studio. KIDS!

Take care, Brandie

2 Thumbs Down

Sorry Ladies, I don't have much to say and no pictures to show you. I did complete one of my accent pillows, but I want to wait till I have the others done before showing you.

I'm taking a little break, just till Monday. You see, I have very sore thumbs. I think I may have stained them with the power tools. I don't think power tools were made with women's hands in mind. All I know is that they have been very sore and painful since last weekend.

So come back Monday and I hope to have pillows done to show you, taking it quite easy of course, not using my thumbs.

Take care, Brandie

The Big Reveal

A big finish! I'm so happy with it. Last night I finished the last cushion, which of course is the best one. After practicing on the other two, the last cushion is perfect. I applied 5 coats of clear coat. It is now smooth as butter! The only problem I have with it is, that the wood on the bottom isn't as high a quality as the birch on top. I'm telling myself that the bottom will be covered by those leather boxes and over-sized books. So no one will know, except that I just told you.
Now to make those accent pillows. They will probably take just as long as these cushions did, you know Murphy's law. So that's my plan today. Pillows! Plus a cousin gave me some fabric to make her a couple of pillows, so I might as well make a day of it.

(Just to be on the safe side, I'm going to wait at least a week before putting any quilts behind those doors. I don't want all my hard work smelling or heaven forbid, get stained)

Take care , Brandie

Yard Art

I didn't get a lick of sewing done yesterday. Shame on me! I was fooling around in the yard. I planted about 20 bulbs and have about 30 more to plant. I thought that the little rain we had would have softened the ground, but no. So I had to water the yard before I could dig in it. Of course I came up with this idea after digging half the holes. So while I waited, I played with my pumpkin friends. I tried stacking several different ones together, but I think this is the best stack. I told Hubby that I didn't have enough pumpkins and he said, 9 was too many.
I don't think 9 is too many, I still have bare ares that could do with a little orange pop of color.

Years ago I "borrowed" this little wheelbarrow from our church. Don't worry, my Grandpa told me I could, borrow it anyway. We over the years, it has become a rusty eyesore that couldn't hold water of even the deer food is was suppose to. I thought about taking it back to church, but never got around to it. What do you think of it's new job? At least these guys can't fall though the rusted bottom.
It's a good thing that I watered, do you see how bad my mums look?
I love this guy! It was seriously, love at first sight! A blackish-green pumpkin! Oh My! And just look at all his warty character! Beautiful!

I do feel a little guilty, because I know that pumpkins are meant to be eaten, but I keep my so long, that I sometimes have to use a shovel to remove them. When I look at this guy above, I think he must taste wonderful!

Oh and yesterday, I stained and added the extra supports to my "pew". That is what Hubby has been calling it, specially now that the stain smell is permeating the house. But I'm going to make you wait to see the finish, after I add the clear coat. It's worth the wait, it looks great!

Take care, Brandie