Pumpkins and Spiders and Ghosts--Oh My

Preparations for the move are coming along. I have packed my last box (until the house sells anyway)! Decluttering really isn't a fun process; not only is it a lot of tiring work but "clutter" is a large part of what makes your house your own. Buyers might like to see a neutral canvas, but I definitely don't like living in one. Oh well. Everything's being moved into storage now in anticipation of cleaning, staging, and (finally) listing. Meanwhile Nova Scotia beckons tantalizingly and I have to resist the urge to run around in circles like an idiot because I'm so overwhelmed with excitement.

I've also made and listed two new buntings for my Etsy shop :) And I re-took some of the earlier photos, which I wasn't happy with. What do you think? (Click on photos to go to the listings, where you can also see more photos.)

Part of the new Pumpkins and Spiders and Ghosts (Oh My) Bunting

Moon button detail

Star Button detail on the new Poe-inspired bunting

New photos for the Bats and Spiderwebs bunting

New photos for the Pumpkins and Ghosts bunting

 Photos ©Whimsy Bower

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Halloween Bunting

I've made another Halloween bunting, this one with a bats and spiderweb fabric. I think the larger bats have a bit of an Art Deco look to them.

The hanging loops are decorated with black cat buttons :)

Front

Back. The bunting looks good from both sides, so it can be hung anywhere.

And it's available in my shop :)

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Making a (Pillow) Case of It

My latest sewing project had me learning all kinds of new things: how to make a patchwork, how to change the presser foot on my sewing machine, and how to add a zipper. Nothing special to any seasoned seamstress but pretty exciting for a relative newbie like me :) The patchwork and zipper became part of a pillow for my office. I'm really pleased with how it turned out. Can't wait for my next challenge!

The fabrics I used for the patchwork

Putting the pieces together to figure out placement

Each row of pieces is sewn together to make three strips

Then the strips are sewn together to make the patchwork.

The fabric on the left (a bonus fat quarter generously sent to me with my order by Jennifer at Dragonfly Fabric) is what I used for the back of the pillow.

 

Photos ©Whimsy Bower

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Bye Bye, Bunting

Since reacquainting myself with a sewing machine I've been mainly working on simple projects--variations on rectangles and straight seams. But as satisfying as making a tea towel or tablecloth is, it's not really much of a challenge. Which is why for my latest sewing adventure I made bunting! Practical--no. Fun--definitely. And nowhere near as simple as a tea towel.

Some of the fabrics I used. I wanted a vintage feel but still bright and colourful.

I got the template and instructions from Get Started Sewing, the book that inspired me to get back into this craft.

One piece cut out.

Ready for sewing

My favourite part was pivoting the needle when I reached the triangle's point. It's the little things.

Snip excess fabric to make a sharper point

After turning triangles inside out, you need to use something like a knitting needle or crochet hook to gently push out the point.

Before ironing...

...and after. If you don't like ironing then sewing is not for you.

Once all the triangles were done I got to make the bias strip they would all be attached to. That was not a fun process--next time I'm buying my bias strips ready-made. Here I've attached the first triangle to the strip.

After a lot of pinning and ironing and sewing and more ironing, the bunting is finally complete!

I made a loop on each side for hanging and fastened it with a button.

That is a lot of bunting.

My bunting ended up quite long. So long I could only hang part of it for this photo.

The best place to hang it without putting nails in the walls ended up being the hedge, which looks like it has a toothy grin.

Here it is with a peony. I'm very tempted to get some waterproof fabric and make bunting to festoon my entire yard. Also, I finally have a reason to use the word "festoon."

I'm really happy with how the bunting turned out, even though there were some frustrating moments (mostly involving the bias strip) and minor problems. If you read the captions, you know it also turned out much longer than anticipated. But I plan on making more bunting (definitely some holiday-themed ones, and maybe some waterproof bunting for the yard) and hopefully I'll avoid making the same mistakes again (and, fingers crossed, won't make any new ones).

Sadly, the bunting is back inside now, folded and put away. Much as I'd love to hang it up permanently, right now is not a good time to add more nail holes to the walls. We've decided to move, a decision that has me half excited and half overwhelmed. Now that I'm finished the two big projects I was working on (the bunting and my blanket) I get to focus on preparing the house and garden to go on the market. Not a fun time, as any of you who have been through it know. But I am looking forward to having a new (hopefully a little bigger) space to decorate and craft for. And I can't wait to take my bunting out of storage and set it up in my new home.

Photos ©Whimsy Bower

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