Halloween Haunts 2015 Blog Hop

Greetings & welcome to Ravelly1 otherwise known as Rhonda's blog.
 Many thanks to Marian from Seams To Be Sew for inviting me to join this fabulous hop!!

Make sure you also check out the other bloggers who are presenting today. They are listed below, just click on each name.

A Stitch In Time

Marjorie's Busy Corner

Words And Stitches

Quilted Delights

Ravelly (You are Here)

I'm sharing my own design, House Haunters with everyone. I started the blocks a couple of years ago but Marian lit a fire under me when she invited me to be a part of the Hop. Thanks again, Marian!!

This photo is looks a bit fuzzy but that's the beauty of it, I think.
Each block measures 8 1/2" by 11 1/2" but you could easily enlarge the designs to your desire.

Below are the free designs that you are welcome to try out! The trees are not included. I added those the  other week before machine quilting everything.

This quilt measures 24" X 33".
This post is a little long but if you stick with me, there's a neat little surprise or two at the end!!!

Tutorial

After printing off one of the designs, I use a light-box, pencil and Steam-a-Seam fabric adhesive. Placing the design "face down" I trace off each piece.

All traced off and design is now face up.

I now start the fun process of auditioning fabrics. McKenna Ryan's gradated  fabric is going to be my background......love this fabric.

Here are the other fabrics I chose. I may not use all of them but this is a good start.

In the above and below photos, I wanted to talk about small designs that need to have the "inside" cut out before you cut around the outside. This makes for easier cutting.

Everything has been cut and laid out on a pressing sheet that allows you to iron on it without the adhesive sticking to it.

It's starting to take shape on the pressing sheet.

Here's how it looks before quilting begins.

Free Designs

To receive each house, just right click on each design, copy each one, then save to a folder for later use. As I said earlier, I used a light-box to trace each design onto my favorite fabric adhesive....Steam-a-Seam! With some of the designs, I decided "NOT" to use all the parts, which is up to you, as well. 

I love Jack O Lanterns

so I whipped out this guy!

I used orange, black, brown and green scraps from varied fabrics then machine quilted everything.

He measures 13" square.

If you've made it thus far.........hang on because.............

It's Give-a-Way Time

If you've made it this far, it's time for the give-a-ways!!!!
I love to make little goodies to give away.
All you'll need to do is leave a comment making sure that I'll be able to contact you should you win this cute little guy or the House Haunter. 

This applies to the Non-responders especially. Should I not be able to contact you, the next place person(s) would have a chance at these cute mug rugs. I'll announce the winners on my blog on the 18th around eleven PMish.
Good luck everyone!!!

Jack O' Lantern mug rug

7 1/2" by 8 1/2"

House Haunter mug rug 

10 1/2" by 11"

Remember to leave a comment in order to get in on the mug rugs give-away.

Also the Fat Quarter Shop is doing a $25 Gift Certificate each day. Yeeeppie!!!! Just click on the link below to get your name in the "hat" for the gift certificate.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If my link for the gift certificate doesn't work.....pop over to
 Seams To Be Sew for a better opportunity.

Mug Rug Thursday

I can't believe that it's October already.
This month is going to be very busy for me, so I'll be taking another break from the rugs.
With that said, here's the winner of the letter "C"

#4 - Suze!

Congratulations to you!

Just leave a comment so we can talk.

Remember, if we can't connect within a week or so, I'll do another random pick.

Mug Rug Thursday

Oh dear I almost forgot to post the winner of the teapot mug rug.

Ayden helped to draw a name. The winner is .............

Tammy!

Congratulations to you!! Again, sorry it took all day to even think about it.

The next next rug is....

Letter "C" done in variegated orange on a blue background. Just leave a comment to be counted. I'll announce a winner on October 2nd.

Mug Rug Thursday

Can you believe that it's already September? Wow, this summer is zipping by quickly.  I have been so lazy these few days after doing a lot of canning, baling hay and other farm stuff....I've worn myself out. All I want to do is read and sleep. I haven't even been motivated to blog and that's a big surprise to me. I love blogging....I must have a fever....LOL
The temperature has been divine. Here where I live in central-ish Texas, we have yet to reach 100 degree weather and I doubt we will at this point. This is a first in quite some time.
Enough chit chat.

The Random Picker number is Five!

Congratulations to Jacque! As usual, just leave a comment so that we can communicate via email.

The next mug rug is a teapot. This is made from one of my machine embroidery designs.

I'll announce a winner on September 18th. Leave a comment to be counted.

Mug Rug Thursday

We have a winner for the Java "J" mug rug.............it's

The Calico Cat!
 Congratulations!!
 Just leave a comment and we'll talk via email.

The next mug rug to give away is.....

I'v been playing around with machine embroidery and discovered this little bunny.

Leave a comment to be counted. I'll announce a winner September 4th.

Mug Rug Thursday

Wow, I'm back from hay baling, canning and battling wild, crazed birds!!! (see previous post for details)
I am very excited to get back to mug rug give aways. It's much safer and not hard work at all.
Here's what's I've chosen for the first give away of August.

"J" is for Java!

Just leave a comment to be counted.

I will announce a winner on August 21st.

Mug Rug Thursday

The winner of Froggy is #15 Lefuntz. 

Congratulations to you!!! Just leave a comment so that we can talk!!

Wow, my summer is in full swing what with gardening, canning, cutting and baling hay and many other happening that life has thrown my way so I'm going on a hiatus from Mug Rug Thursday for awhile but I'll be back after life settles down. I should be able to post once a week but who knows!!

I hope everyone is having a great month of July. I say that instead of "summer" because some of my blogging friends are experiencing fall and winter in other countries. I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends who bring a smile to my face each time I get to sit down for a few minutes to read your blogs.

Anyone else busy with life's wonderfulness????? I'd love to hear what you are doing.

Mug Rug Thursday

I can't believe that June is almost gone. We're having unusual rain here in central Texas. Yesterday, in a matter of three hours we got 2 1/2 inches of rain. My garden loved it.

Speaking of gardens, I've already picked my first batch of cukes (AKA - cucumbers) & made 9 pints & 2 quarts of sweet pickles.

Now for drawing for the birdhouse. 

The winner is

Chantal!!

Congratulations to you. Just leave a comment so we can talk.

The next mug rug in the give away is "froggy".

Leave a comment to be counted.

I'll announce a winner July 10th.

Mug Rug Thursday

The winner of Letter "C" is Bonnie.
 Congratulations to you. Just leave a comment so that we can chat via email.

Next mug rug up is another birdhouse. I used fabric from my stash of landscape scraps. I can just imagine a little birdie nesting in the birdhouse.

Leave a comment to be counted and remember to read my NON-reply note near the top of my blog to allow me to contact you if you are a NON-reply-er!!

I'll announce a winner June 26th.

Monday, Monday

First........

Don't forget to get counted for my "big give-away" by commenting HERE!

It's Design Wall Monday, again and I've been cleaning for the give-away but I did get in some design work for a mug rug that I'll be giving away one of these days.

I love making silhouettes.

Can you tell it's a dog??

Next, I did a silhouette of "The Duke" John Wayne.

On this particular one, I worked from the bottom up.

Remember, I'm using my favorite fabric adhesive, Steam-a-Seam, which

 I should have bought stock in.....LOL

It's easy cutting the tiny pieces because I using small scissors.

The dark handle scissors at the bottom 4th from the left, is my favorite but I'll use any of the smaller one at any given time.

I also use straight pins and tweezers to aid in placement.

I know this will be hard to believe but working on projects like this is therapeutic to me. I can't think of anything but what I'm working on and when I get my favorite radio station going, well it doesn't get any better than that. Plus, it's just plane fun!!

So far "The Duke" measures about 9 by 11 inches. I don't know if I'll add a border. This is one of those times I'll need to think about it.

All fabrics came from my stash. I haven't shopped for fabric is months. I can't believe that myself but it's true.

Make sure to pop over to Judy's to see what everyone else is doing.

Mug Rug Thursday

First, a bit of canning news. I got my hands on two pounds of fresh strawberries.....stuffed my face with alot of them and canned the rest into a delicious jam. 

BTW...I tried some of the jam on a fantastic slice of loaf cake I made over the holiday and OMG, it tasted just like strawberry shortcake without the whipped cream. I probably gained several pounds but I'm not getting on the scales to check.....hehehehehehe

Now

The winner of the Emu is............Kathy L.

Congratulations to you. I'm sure you know the drill, just leave a comment so we can talk via email.

The next mug rug for the give away is another Letter "C". I love this one because of the blue plaid fabric I used. The photo doesn't do it justice. I'll announce the winner on June 12th.

Can you believe it's almost June??

Remember, if you are a non-reply-er, please read my little note near to top of my blog which will help you, especially if you are a winner of one of my mug rugs.

Mug Rug Thursday

The winner of Ms. Giriffe is #20 Linny!!

Congratulations to you. Leave a comment so we can chat.

Next mug rug give away is "Stepping Emu."

Just comment to be counted. I'll have a drawing May 29th.

I've been gardening, baling hay & watching the baby calves running around with their tails in the air.

I hope everyone is enjoying Spring as much as I am!

One of these days I'll get back to the old sewing room and all that fabric.

Mug Rug Thursday

I'm back to my old self finally....whew! It was a struggle but I managed it.

So here's the latest give away. 

"Ms. Gariffe" is up for grabs. Just leave a comment to be counted. I'll announce a winner on May 15th.

To Commenters.......

If I don't respond to your comment about this post, it means you are a non-replyer & that means if you win the mug rug I'll have no way to contact you.

I know this is frustrating for everyone involved so please read the "Reminder note" near the top of my blog on how to leave your email safely in the comment area!!

Mug Rug Thursday

Greeting everyone!

I'm going on break for a little while but please keep watching for my mug rug give aways.

Life is just spinning around me & I need to get things in some sort of order.

 Does anyone know what I'm talking about??

Hope to come back soon with most of my ducks in a row.........hehehe

The winner of the birdhouse is

Gene! Congratulations to you. Leave a comment so we can talk.

Grandma, The Early Years - A True Story

Scampering up the trunk and branches of a China Berry tree to the roof of the house, "They're gone," Hertha (my grandma) shouted to her brothers and sisters as her parents rode out of sight in their wagon. Hertha jumped from the roof and ran to the chicken coop where her mom's setting hens were scratching around for corn kernels. Kenchion grabbed the axe while Clark (Stewie), Hertha and Rosa moved slowly towards an unfortunate hen.

In a cloud of dust plus a few scratches Stewie managed to grab the hen, placed her on the stump.... Poppa Abe used as a chopping block, and Kenchion swung the axe.

Quickly, the girls poured hot water over the body and began to pluck the feathers, loading said feathers into a bucket to be buried somewhere in the field. The job was messy and the smell of wet chicken feathers lingered in the air.

The hen was plucked, washed and cut up, Rosa began to melt the lard, season and flour the bird parts to be fried while Hertha (my grandma) got a big bowl down from the cupboard to bake a cake. Grandma had seen her mom make cakes on many occasions so she figured it would be easy. While the boys held the bowl Hertha (my grandma) began to add flour, eggs, salt, milk and a little too much sugar. "You put too much in, Hertha," Kenchion whined as his arms began to shake from the efforts of holding the bowl. Hertha shooed him to silence and carefully poured the too stiff mix into the cake pan.

Annie B. looked on in disapproval not liking the fact that she was too small to help. She couldn't understand why nobody would let her help and boldly stated that she was going to tell. Not a wise decision on her part as the other siblings turned to glare at her. Threats of being locked in the chicken coop or out in the barn with the horse and even worse locked in the outhouse convinced Annie B. that telling was not a good idea at all.

Rosa's chicken was frying up nicely while Hertha's cake smelled sweetly from the oven. Everyone's mouth began to water as the table was quickly set for the meal.

The kids all gathered around the table with Stewie heading the table. The chicken was tasty but the cake was way too sweet but no one complained, not even Annie B.

Bones, lard and any remains of the meal were fed to the hogs, slopping as it's known here in Texas. The kitchen was aired out and Annie B. was warned to keep her mouth shut once more as Poppa Abe and Great-grandma Dollie rounded the corner for home.

The next morning Great-grandma Dollie (Hertha's mom and my great-grandma)  was out in the coop rounding up eggs when she missed one of her setting hens. Puzzled, she asked the children about the hen's whereabouts...... with blank looks......no one knew anything, not even Annie B.

My grandma....

My grandma....

My grandma.......look at that innocent face...who would have guessed that in her youth the mischief she and her siblings got into.

 

If you've made it this far, you are in for a great give-away.

The other day I was looking through my UFOs and came across this rooster and nine chickens from my "Yard Birds" design.

 I'd already made a couple of quilts from my pattern so I don't remember what or why I had prepared these. They are only glued down with my favorite adhesive....Steam-a-Seam so all that's needed is for them to be sewn down.

Now, here's what's required to win them......you "must" be a FOLLOWER of my blog or become a FOLLOWER of my blog. That's it.

 Leave only 1 comment to say what you thought of grandma's colorful adventure in the kitchen & also in that same comment mention that you are a FOLLOWER or that you have just become a FOLLOWER.

I usually don't require that you follow when doing a give away but this is a special post for me.

I'll announce a winner at the end of the week.

 

One more thing.................

 

 

And finally, I've had to do another random pick for the "Kitty Cat" mug rug due to a non-comment, which means I had no way to notify the winner.

Here's the new winner

Guilitta!

Congratulations to you. Just leave a comment so that we can get together via email.