Gingerbread Houses Complete

The little houses are completed - very cute! I wasn't sure about the buttons, but they are from Just Another Button Company - how can you go wrong?!

What will be next??

Down in the Valley - Halloween - Finished

Yippie!  It's done!  This is my completed Down in the Valley - Halloween/Fall version wall hanging.  It seemed like there were so many (too many) buttons.  It doesn't look like so many when the quilt is done -- I like it.

Yes, it did take much longer than I anticipated but I finished it today.  This was another learning process --  as my first completed wall hanging / small quilt there were a couple of glitches. 

First, I have learned that just laying the completed top on the batting / backing creates some bunching as it is quilted.  Next time I will smooth - but not stretch - more aggressively as I pin. 

Second, I have always attached binding using the E. Burns method -- attaching as you stitch and slightly pulling the binding to keep from getting lettuce edges.  Well.... After attaching the binding by machine, I had sewn down about 1/3 of the binding -- when I held it up it looked like the start of nice wash basin -- guess I stretched just a little too much.  Off came the binding for a redo.  

The clothesline is linen thread that was couched down with 60 weight thread.  I also used 60 weight thread to sew on the buttons.  If you are new to using the buttons from Just Another Button Company, be gentle.  I broke one while fastening the thread.  The good news .... super glue works great for repairs.

Down in the Valley Update

Here is the Halloween wall hanging that I have been working on.  All three blocks are complete -- the borders will be really fast since it is so small.  The finished size will be approximately 18" x 31.5".



These are the buttons from the  pack that will be used to embellish the little quilt.  Just Another Button Company makes such cute buttons and when they are coordinated into a fun pack like this it is hard to refuse!