Happy Happy Halloween Children's Quilt Free Pattern

At a recent Quilting Ministry meeting I stumbled upon some baskets of donated fabrics.  While sorting through all the scrumptious goodies, I discovered some scraps of Halloween themed remnants.  Some were already cut to a specific size and I got to thinking.  What if I pull [...]]]>

Happy Happy Halloween Children's Quilt Free Pattern

At a recent Quilting Ministry meeting I stumbled upon some baskets of donated fabrics.  While sorting through all the scrumptious goodies, I discovered some scraps of Halloween themed remnants.  Some were already cut to a specific size and I got to thinking.  What if I pull the scraps together into a quick quilt for say the kiddos?

I remembered how every October my little brothers and I would make Jiffy Pop and snuggle together on piles of blankets and quilts, for our sacred tradition.  We would watch the holiday classic “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”  while planning out home-made costumes.

Costume Club Collection

The quilt is a very simple design, nothing complicated.  I created a free download PDF pattern with instructions.  I recommend  perhaps Costume Clubs collection…they’re just the cutest…and the little ones will love the really happy colors.  You can download the FREE QUILT PATTERN here.  You might enjoy the experience…it was really very easy and a whole lot of fun to do.

If you’re not interested in sewing, you might consider heading over to the Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church Thread of  Life Quilting Ministry’s Second Annual Quilt Show/Sale, October 2nd from 5:30pm to 7pm and October 3rd from 9:30am to 1pm.  The Happy Happy Halloween Quilt pictured above will be on display and for sale.  All proceeds from the sale go towards the ministry outreach at Saint John’s Catholic Church.

Happy Happy Halloween Children’s Quilt Pattern by Christina Tierney is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

It's Official!

I’ve got it all wrapped up…the quilt for the World Quilt Show – Florida that is.  And I’ve got the entry ready to go.  I’ll be mailing it tomorrow.  I had to finish up the last few hand embellishments…but I’m pleased with all the little [...]]]>

It's Official!

I’ve got it all wrapped up…the quilt for the World Quilt Show – Florida that is.  And I’ve got the entry ready to go.  I’ll be mailing it tomorrow.  I had to finish up the last few hand embellishments…but I’m pleased with all the little touches.  I’m hoping I’ll be accepted just to “show” the quilt.  I’ve never done anything like this before, but you know…Nothing Ventured…right?  Keep your fingers crossed…we just never know. 

Detail Shot...Hardest Block!

My Milestone Quilt Entry 2010

First Step - A Quilt Top

When you’re trying to get healthy and running is your plan, experts say pick a race and train for it.  Nothing huge, a 5K can get you motivated to train everyday.  I’ve done exactly that.  And I have to say it’s inspired me to reach each milestone…literally.

I’ve known [...]]]>

First Step - A Quilt Top

When you’re trying to get healthy and running is your plan, experts say pick a race and train for it.  Nothing huge, a 5K can get you motivated to train everyday.  I’ve done exactly that.  And I have to say it’s inspired me to reach each milestone…literally.

I’ve known full well the chances of me winning the race or even honorable mention are slim – okay – actually there is no chance.     But I’ve done it anyway, simply because I feel great having that much confidence in my decision and willingness to go through with it.

So tonight I have a similar feeling, only this time, it has nothing to do with running.  Not unless you consider the trips back and forth to Sunshine Sewing Company and JoAnns the last 7 months a marathon.  I know – enough with the suspense what am I talking about.

Tonight I decided I would enter my very first “ever” quilt into the World Quilt Show – Florida.  I had no idea these shows/conventions even existed until last year.  A part of me – the naysayer – is trying to figure out how I think my work could be show worthy. But for me, this feels an awful lot like the “running” thing.  Give myself something to train for, something to inspire me onward to the next challenge.

My Inspiration

I shared last night that I was “tricked” into going to a Quilt Show and walked out “born again.”  I’m not being dramatic or funny, I’m being honest.  I had just been through one the roughest experiences of my life personally and my family was reeling from my dear Brother’s illness and passing.  I felt like a zombie.  I could NOT move myself to run or practice yoga.  I was glued to the couch in a fog just managing to get through a days work.  The grief I’ve felt has been beyond description.  I was getting to a point where I’d had enough and was really struggling to care.  The Quilt Show last year gave me just enough of a push out of the sadness to feel something positive.

When we followed up our day at the show with my first trip to Sunshine Sewing Company I stumbled upon a “Jelly Roll” Pattern Quilt Book.  There it was…a design that spoke to me.  I “HAD” to make that quilt.  Never mind that I only had a vague understanding of how you did this.   The book I speak of is Strip Lovers by Suzanne McNeill.  The design is called Friends & Flowers.  The concept of Jelly Rolls, fabric strips intrigued me.  I could immediately see how a quilt could be something more than the “blocks” repeated over and over again.  This was similar to the ideas I’d seen, the work of so many inspiring women and men.  I’ve shared the pic above from when I just finished the “quilt-top.”  Talk about giddy and proud of myself.  I’ve since added some embellishments, like applique flowers, birds, hand crewel stitching.  I’ve had it “long-arm” machine quilted with a butterfly pattern.  I picked out each and every fabric, I did not buy a kit.  The binding is done, it’s in the black pin dot.  I’ll share another picture of the completed peice once I get my pics ready for the entry.  I have until September 23, 2010.  I’m going to do this!  I have zero expectations.

I have something interesting to note here.  I’ve been told that each quilt is given a name by the quilter.  I know that this quilt was inspired by and for the most part the design came from the book I bought.  But I could not “name” the quilt Friends & Flowers, that’s the design pattern.  I’ve decided to name this quilt My Milestone because that’s what this represents for me.  It’s hard to describe, but this isn’t just a compilation of fabric strips, threads, buttons or batting.  This is my broken heart, my grief poured out into hope and joy.

I’m talking about my new obsession with Quilting. Yes…I said Quilting. And I know what [...]]]>

So recently I’ve been “gettin” the red-eye from all my late night addiction issues. Hold on…don’t get all freaked out and plan the intervention. Not unless you’re really concerned that an addiction to fabric is tragic.

I’m talking about my new obsession with Quilting. Yes…I said Quilting. And I know what you’re thinking. You’re envisioning a group of gray haired ladies all gathered around or better yet hunched over an old fashioned quilting frame. These ladies of refinement and classic southern charm (Barbara Bush immediately comes to my mind) must be sewing each stitch by hand going blind, crippling themselves with arthritis as they go. Don’t feel bad for thinking this…I did too. I immediately cringed when my Mother suggested I attend a Quilt Show.

So in November of last year, as I was dragged (gently but yes dragged) to the Palm Beach County Convention center.  I decided I would keep an open mind. And besides…how bad could it be? I mean it was just a few hours and we’d be out of there. That is if I could whine enough to my Mother and friend Karen how “bored” I was.

Ha!… I’d been had…I was stolen away to a transforming magic fairy land.  Okay…maybe that’s a bit much, but it was intense.  First we walked through aisles of some of the most amazing fabric and machine vendors.  Patterns, stripes, threads, ideas…my head was spinning…the buzzing sound was either the hum of dozens of Long Arm Quilting machines being demonstrated or I was getting ready to swoon.  I think it was a little of both.

Pat Kumicich out of Naples FL. Freedom Is Not Free. War and the woman left behind.

And then…we walked down a magic corridor where I was thrust into a traveling hand crafted Artist Studio.  I literally mean “ARTIST!”  I mean it with the utmost respect and admiration.  I was immediately humbled by the talent and skill on display.  I took over 100 photographs that day and posted many to my Facebook account via my iPhone.  I felt like I HAD to let the world know this amazing group of talented artisans existed.  It’s really funny to me, since I’ve known about traditional quilting having grown up with my Mom.  The Amish quilts she’s purchased on her vacations to Pennsylvania Dutch Country and her personal passion for the craft have been on display in the home I grew up in for years.

But what’s so fantastic about what I experienced, was how far the “Quilting” scene had come since I was a snot nosed teenager in the 80′s.  These quilts were funky and cool!  Bright mind blowing colors.  Creativity that was whimsical, fantastical, somber, emotive.

ICandy made by Robbi Joy Eklow

I wound up spending the entire day…and only till around 5pm or so, did we walk out together.  I was personally wiped out…but not from walking around begrudgingly all day.  I was emotionally spent from all the magnificence I got to experience.  I had never really understood how deep a passion for something could go.  I didn’t understand how inspiring this craft could be.

I purchased a few items.  A pattern or two…a sewing machine cart, some fabric.  However, I had no idea what I was really walking out with.  I was bestowed the gift of renewal.  My passion for art, and creativity had been revived.  I’ve been cutting fabric, sewing, stitching, batting, drawing, designing, ever since I left that day.  I’ve been going late into the evening on week nights after I’ve finished a full agenda on the “day job.”  I’ll close myself up for the entire weekend and whip out lap quilts, bags,  baby quilts for friends, a quilt topper for a wedding gift for another.  I have never been happier.  I’m reconnecting, regenerating, re-energized!

Thank You Mom!  Thank You Karen!  Thank You Thread of Life Quilters!  I love you all!

This is actually a Thread Painted Landscape by Nancy Prince. It's called Life in Holly Ridge.

P.s. If you notice the sites a changing…it’s cause it is.  I’m adding a basic shopping cart feature.  Might someday look to a custom design, etc.  But for now, this will do.  I’m starting to run out of room in my little apartment with all the Midnight Creations coming out of my heart, head and hands.  If you like something, and want to purchase…by all means do.  I won’t be taking special orders, and every peice is one of a kind.

P.s.s.  I’m hoping to find a way to purchase my own Long Arm Quilting setup.  This is a mighty tall order for me, especially since how much something like that costs.  Please think of the purchases you make as a donation to my new obsession for this craft.   Honest…It’s not enabling at all.  

Mousecar Parade - Beep Beep!

What a day!  It was tremendous fun!  In addition to being honored as a Brand Ambassador for the day, and getting to ride in the Truly Nolen Mousecar, I got to meet some amazing people.  I genuinely enjoyed my day [...]]]>

Mousecar Parade - Beep Beep!

What a day!  It was tremendous fun!  In addition to being honored as a Brand Ambassador for the day, and getting to ride in the Truly Nolen Mousecar, I got to meet some amazing people.  I genuinely enjoyed my day sharing smiles and some laughs along the way.

Our day began with our orientation in the Mousecar Headquarters.  All 10 contestants were introduced to their Drivers.  I was releaved that I would have a driver…seeing how I would never be able to share the days events while Tweeting/Facebook/or Texting while driving! 

I had the pleasure of riding with Rafael Rodriguez.  Rafael is an amazing gentleman with a true entrepreneurial spirit!  It’s clear that he’s passionate about the work he does.  You can follow him on Twitter @rrodriguez1967.  After our day in the parade…I could tell he saw the power of Twitter, and other Social Media channels, like Facebook and LinkedIn.

As we were on our way to I95, I took the opportunity to Vlog (Video Blog) about the trip, and to get to know Rafael and Truly Nolen a little better.  The video is longer than 3 minutes…but I do believe it’s worth sitting through all “6.”