Thursday, October 22, 2015

Halloween Haunts Blog Hop and a Giveaway!

It's Time for Halloween 
and 
Halloween Haunts Blog Hop

Halloween Haunts 2015

Thanks to Marian over at Seams to Be Sew for organizing this awesome blog hop and to The Fat Quarter Shop for their DAILY giveaway! 

And of course, thanks to all the wonderful bloggers out there who have created some tremendous eye candy for us all.  

Be sure to make your way over to all of today's participants and be prepared to be amazed at their creativity and talent.

Featured Haunts On Thursday October 22



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So what does one do when it Halloween time?

She decorates!





And she makes a Halloween quilt, of course!


Here's a not-so-great picture of the entire quilt, as the wind was not cooperating with me!


I love all these pumpkins!






Why not throw in a witch's hat for good measure?


This fabric is all quite old. 
When I decided to join the hop, I took a quick look at my stash and saw the pumpkin fabric. I didn't have very much of it, but knew that I wanted to use it for this project, and there was enough for a wall hanging. After a little more extensive search, I found all the coordinating fabrics and got right to work. 

I've always preferred to decorate with pumpkins for Halloween instead of ghoulish things (like the first picture, which is actually at my daughter's house) and here are some of my favorites from years past.

This pumpkin wall hanging was made using an Eleanor Burns pattern and is a family favorite. 


The pattern includes instructions for making some placemats, which I made, but I changed it up to better fit our needs. 


I made the basic pumpkin the same, but made the face parts separately and backed them with timtex.


The placemats are now an interactive game and the face changes constantly, depending on who's here.

With the changes I made, the placemats have become one of our family's favorite Halloween decorations and traditions!. :-)

 


This is one of my favorite pictures of all time!
Sadie, Lynn, and Mom had such a good time playing while I was fixing dinner that night. 

I look at this picture often because it makes me smile. As a matter of fact, I just showed it to Sadie last week and was so pleased that she still recognized Mom, who passed away 12/1/12.

These placemats are getting pretty worn out and I had thought about making a new set for this hop, but alas, time got away from me. Maybe next year. :-)

I mentioned a giveaway, didn't I?

The Fat Quarter Shop 
is giving away a 
$25 gift certificate 
each day of the hop. 

Enter below for your chance to win, and I'd love to have you comment about your favorite Halloween traditions.

October 22 expires October 23 a Rafflecopter giveaway

77 comments:

lefuntz said...

I love those placemats. What a great idea. I have that pattern somewhere. Hmm. I had to pin that too.

Anita said...

The Halloween quilt is great-looking, but the placemats are ingenious!

Lisa said...

Such great Halloween projects! I love the quilt fabric! Somethings are priceless! Happy halloween!

Julie said...

Love your Halloween quilt :)

Rhonda said...

What awesome projects. Love your mailbox eyes & the placemat face changer is a wonderful distraction for family members!! Two thumbs up!!!

Elizabeth Coughlin said...

Your quilt is a great use for that Halloween fabric, and it turned out beautifully!

Dorian said...

Oh thats really cute. Those pumpkins look perfect in the stars.

Emily C said...

Love the quilt. I had a good chuckle with your mailbox. THE EYES! priceless.

Marjorie's Busy Corner said...

Just fantastic!!!!

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

I think that pumpkin fabric is the same fabric that I found in my stash to base my Crazy Quilt blocks on for this hop. I love it and wish I had more. Cute placemats too. I like your picture too. Funny how cerain pictures touch our hearts.
xx, Carol

Betsy said...

I love the Alexander Henry fabrics used in the top quilt. Gives it a mysterious look

Patty said...

Love your quilt with those fussy cut centers of the stars. An interactive pumpkin placemat is a great id!

Jill said...

Great pumpkin fabric. And your placemats are adorable! Great idea!

sewlost said...

I love your quilt. I'd like to make one myself. Did you make up your own pattern?
Sandy

Amanda Best said...

Your new Halloween quilt is great! The fabrics are perfect, and I like to decorate with cute things rather than scary and ghoulish, too. Hope you have a Happy Halloween!
My email is: bestbelle2010@aol.com
Thanks!

Quilt n Queen said...

I have some of that 'old' fabric too...after sitting in my stash all this time I still love it!! Your quilt is awesome...the placemats too!! Happy stitching, Pauline

AlidaP said...

Amazing projects! So inspiring! thanks for sharing!!

Jocelyn said...

Very cool quilt! This is such a fun blog hop!

allthingzsewn said...

Can't say enough about the quilt, I have never seen an elegant halloween quilt before. I've seen cute, scary, funny,and imaginative but you have managed to add elegant to the list. Absolutely love it.

Alcea Rosea 31 said...

I love the pumpkin projects.

Carol Swift said...

I love the spooky eyes on the mailbox and those place mats would be a real hit with my grandsons. Your quilt is absolutely beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Great idea for the placemats. I have grandkids now that would enjoy playing with them. We decorate with pumpkins, ghosts etc. but I like the friendly looking ones, not scary.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I remember the placemats - very cool idea. Love the new quilt and great way to use up those cute bits of pumpkin fabric.

Needled Mom said...

I love your quilt! That Jack fabric is perfect in it.

I, too, remember the fun placemats. That is such a good idea for the little ones...and big ones.

cjmont said...

love your placemats and what a sweet family memory.

Linda said...

Cute placemats, I made a nine block quilt of pumpkin faces this year!

Lori said...

what a fun and interactive idea for family table time

ferne said...

Well, living in the mountains I don't get trick or treaters, but I do love to celebrate fall by decorating with pumpkins and a few other decorations and quilts from the past. I always cook a pumpkin the day after Halloween to be used for Thanksgiving pies.

mumbird3 said...

The placemat is a great idea -thanks for the inspiration!

dcargill said...

I like the idea of fun & cute Halloween decorations as opposed to the ghoulish, also. I love the eyes on the mailbox - so creative!

Vicki H said...

I love how you showcased the pumpkins in the quilt. Thanks for sharing.

Oneoldgoat1962 said...

I love the placemat! I'm finding so many things I would love to make on this blog hop!! We don't really have a tradition for Halloween but regardless, I love it :)

Thank you for sharing your very special photo with us!

Beth

oneoldgoat1962 at gmail.com

Calicojoan said...

You know...I think I have a piece of that "old" pumpkin fabric myself. Now I know just how to use it! Thanks! ;-)

Anonymous said...

THANK YOU for your Blog+Giveaway!
msstitcher1214@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I have a Halloween quilt top my mom made that I need to finish. It was one of her favorite holidays💗

Brenda said...

The jack-o-lanterns in your Halloween quilt just glow as though they were truly lit by candles. But I really have to love your placemats. Such a fun idea -- I may have to make some for my nieces and nephew with young children. Or maybe a Christmas variation, with trees and ornaments? And the family picture is beautiful.

Sandy said...

I Love Your Pumpkin with Witch Hat Quilt!

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

What cute Halloween projects!

Lisa England said...

I love decorating with pumpkins too! When my son was young we had a big time dreaming up costumes that I would make for him. Now that he's grown I haven't made one in several years. I'll start up again should I have grandchildren though.

Julianne said...

They are all Spooktacular!

quilter said...

Very cute, thanks for sharing!Only tradition is to eat candy!
cork@pa.rr.com

Sally said...

Nice quilt--I have those pumpkins somewhere (used it to make a bunch of pot holders one year)--need to see if I can find it! Great idea on El's placemat design, may have to make them again!

Anonymous said...

I love your quilt and especially the fussy cut centers! We don't really have any Halloween traditions - unfortunately. Thanks!

Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

3Dogbones said...

I love your usage of the pumpkin fabric in the quilt. I have some of that fabric as well but haven't found the right use for it... until now. I especially love the fun placemats and, of course, the photo of them in use!

teachpany said...

Very cute, and love the interactive placemats. I do enjoy decorating for Halloween, and I've made a few of the Eleanor Burns pattern, too. I also love baking special treats for family.

Kathy L said...

When the kids were young, it was fun making their costumes, no store bought ones for us.

Sharmond said...

Great Halloween ideas!

Kwilt Krazy said...

Beautiful quilt! What a cute idea with the placemats. My granddaughter's would love that.

DebraKay Neiman said...

Love your quilt, but those eyes on the mailbox are the bomb.

MaryBeth said...

Your quilts are very cute. Thanks for sharing.

Jane's Quilting said...

Your quilt if beautiful! Perfect use for that fabric! I also like your placemats, I can see why everyone likes them. So cute! Happy Halloween!

Sarah@123quilt said...

I love the place mats with interchangeable faces and the sweet memories that go with them.

MoeWest said...

I love the glowing look of the pumpkins in your quilt! The placemats are a great idea for young and old alike. Did you make the eyes on the mailbox? I'd like to make my mailbox look spooky like that.

Cecilia said...

Cute quilt and I love the placemats. That might be something my grand children would like. Thanks for sharing.

Sewgirl said...

I have several quilts that I put out for Halloween. We usually just give out candy to kids in the neighborhood now. Used to go around with ours when they were little, but they're all grown up now! Love the interactive place mats. Thanks for sharing!

Nancy A: rangerer@sbcglobal.net said...

Love your quilt, and those place mats are fabulous.

claire ross said...

What a stunning quilt. It looks great x

Anna brown said...

pumpkins are the best and ty for sharing your fuzzy cut quilt.....happyness04431@yahoo.com

smreusser said...

Love the placement idea, you are so clever. They would be great to take to restaurants to entertain the kids til the food arrives. That pumpkin fabric was a perfect fit for fussy cutting.

Bobbie said...

Great projects! Love the Placemats - ooh you could do a snow man tooo

Quilting Tangent said...

Cute projects and decorations. Like the mailbox. 24Tangent@gmail.com

Teatime Creations said...

Loving all your pumpkins especially the prints in the quilt. Happy Halloween.

Audrey said...

I love the fussy cut pumpkin squares of the quilt. Pumpkins are my favourite Halloween decoration. Just love those orange orbs.

Siouxzq64@gmail.com said...

Love that fabric you used in the quilt. Sweet memories for the placemats.

Rina Mason said...

Looking at the mail box I wonder how many time the mail person jumped back before they got used to the eyes. I think your quilt is so cute and after seeing your placemats I need to get out my pattern and make some. Rina

Marian said...

Well that quilte is adorable, and such beautiful coloring, I love the fabrics you used for it.

I'm also liking the Eleanor Burns placemat, but I thought it was pretty ingenious how you made a game of the faces, that's pretty darn cool and sew fun!!

What really caught my eye tho today was the eyes on the mailbox, that is pretty scary for a pumpkin lover. :)

I'm sew happy you participated with us in Halloween Haunts and I look forward to more fun with you in the future.

pizzaeater said...

I like the idea of changing pumpkin faces on the place mat. I might have to copy your idea.

Rhonda Best said...

I really love your quilt, very well done. That pumpkin fabric is so cute.
mtmom57@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

The pumpkins are all great, and I love the pic of your mom with you and your daughter. Your quilt is adorable, too. The classics are always good, aren't they?

GranChris said...

Great placemats I need to make a set.

apple blossom said...

lovely project.

Kathy E. said...

I love your placemats too. And your quilt is swoon-worthy! My favorite holiday tradition is dressing up to greet the trick or treaters at the door with a huge bowl of candy. What fun!

Beth said...

That's a sweet story about your mom and Sadie. Love the interactive placemats, too.

Angelia Lanouette said...

I like pumpkins too! I love your quilt and the placemats are so clever! I love your daughters mailbox! Trick or Treat!

Charlene McCain said...

Beautiful quilt! Gotta love those colors! I like to decorate with pumpkins, too.

Mary Ann said...

Ok, clever doesn't even begin to describe your placemats. What an awesome idea. I love it! Your wall hanging is gorgeous. Love those pumpkins and thanks for sharing your family memories, so sweet.

Michelle said...

Well your fabric may be older but it's still just as lovely and made for a beautiful quilt/