|| Tricked Out ||

Jefe & I celebrated our 18th anniversary by taking down the ceiling & walls in the kitchen to start the rewiring of the electrical.

Romantic, no. Togetherness, yes.

Considering the project list, the additional layer of dust mixed with dog hair, and having no clue where anything is I decided it was another year to enjoy the Halloween decor virtually.

I’ll happily work on my new paper pieced improv triangle quilt, Trick or Treat bags and some napkins in the warm cleanliness of the studio instead.

Annually, I’m easily swayed into purchasing some Halloween prints. I loved this wee waving skeleton so much, and the physical feel of Art Gallery fabrics that I preordered it. AGF also put their name on the selvedge of their solids, something I wish the other companies would do so it wasn’t such a pain to figure out what brand a color is.

My friends across the street celebrated their birthdays and Trick or Treat bags came to mind when brainstorming gift ideas. I loved the colors in this line.

I wanted to use the whole panel since cutting them down meant losing some of the design. I thought the size of the bags was a little odd because of it, but no one except me seemed to be bothered.

I made three bags. Each has a different panel for front and back.

I constructed them using some of the bag techniques I teach in Open Studios to beginner sewists.

Essex linen is one of my go-to fabrics for handles.

I did dig out my straight line quilting samples to have a little Halloween spirit in the studio.

And I scheduled a bin & napkin making workshop in December since they make such nice containers for holding gifts or using all around the house. You can stick with placing some napkins in or get creative with a plant, mail, socks that have lost their mates, dryer balls, fabric scraps…. they make great baby shower gift containers as well.

My favorite make year after year is my paper pieced hanging treat bag. Some of the middle school kids and I had been making hanging locker bags, and I thought to merge it with this paper pieced Skully pattern from Twiddletails. I need to get a new photo of it on my new front door when I pull it out next year.

Last year I finished up my spiderweb quilt. With Boss around this dark color way should become more of a staple. It needs a hanging sleeve for the space in the entryway.

Never enough pillows right?

Or Ghastlies fabric.

I’m always amazed what a professional finish an invisible zipper adds to a pillow. The finishing technique is on the list of projects one can learn in Open Studios.

Sewing for Halloween is fun, but I also really enjoy scavenging and displaying unique decor that I’ve collected or been gifted over the years.

Morticia was a gift from my MIL.

As was my glittered skull.

The Pumpkin Heads are actually from Safeway grocery. I don’t go in often, but I keep my eye on what they have in their floral department when I do.

Crate & Barrel used to carry some really high quality serving ware for Halloween. It’s a good thing I don’t need any more, cuz they’ve drastically scaled back. I love how I can mix and match it with my Fiesta Ware and other kitchen eye candy.

The same holds true for Target, not much quality anymore. I got my brain cookie jar there years ago.

We’re still doing plenty of cooking, but baking hasn’t been as abundant. I love doing the cut outs and scattering cocoa or powdered sugar over them to nod them to the season.

Be aware that powdered sugar disappears quickly on pumpkin pie;). This could be useful if you really want to say something to the people you’re serving it to, but can’t. Only you’ll know the message was there. Just kidding, not kidding.

Since I could fit them in my little convection oven the last few years have been all about pie and cake, but now that I can bake more than 5 at a time I’ve added cookies back in.

The brain was happy enough with almond kiss cookies. Take these cookies anywhere and I guarantee you’ll be asked for the recipe. These gluten free Monster cookies are a big hit here as well.

I miss my bat plates and this photo reminds me to make some sweet potato and sausage hand pies,

and some sort of muffin.

Being inside hasn’t been much of an issue since Seattle has some serious air quality problems. Yesterday we were actually worst in the world.

Regardless the zinnias kept smiling.

I’m currently enamored with them so much I’ll likely always start them from seed in the spring to enjoy them late summer and fall. Same goes for the marigolds I tried out this year.

Lacking a good drench of rain for awhile now, the echinacea and dahlias always surprise me by partying on.

Minimal, but still somewhat functioning here.

Boss turned two and is still getting by on his good looks. Dogs sure give you something you never knew you were missing.

Cheers xoxo, Katie

P.S. Anyone know of a big classic teddy bear pattern one might be able to make with old quilts?