Monday, October 28, 2013

I Love This Time of Year and Book Pages!


I thought I'd share a fun project I found on Pinterest a few weeks ago...I pin so many things and actually execute very few...I decided it's time to start trying some of the ideas. This project caught my eye because it's a pumpkin that won't rot and it has text!! I LOVE TEXT!! Old book pages are my fave...this project is purty simple.

I bought two boxes of mason jar rings for each pumpkin any size will work, as long as they're all the same size, I got mine at Walmart, where I also purchased a can of heirloom white spray paint. 


I spray painted all the rings and applied the book page strips with mod podge and let each process dry well between steps and before you assemble the pumpkin. 
This step is messy for your hands, but I think it's all worth it! Make sure there's mod podge on the ring and then put a coat over the strips, it dries clear and is a great sealer.
The directions I found for this project didn't use the same sequence of assembly, I had to use a little brain power to figure it out for myself, so if you try this fun project you are ahead of the game! I used a neutral colored twine to string all the rings in the same direction and then gently nest them all into each other and pull tight and tie. It takes a little finagling to get them just right, but when you do it looks so nice! I used cinnamon sticks for the stem, a wired twine for the tendril, and hot glue to secure them. I made one for a friend and one for myself, I think they are adorbs! 



Happy Halloween!
Nini~

Friday, October 25, 2013

Long Arm Services!


Our good friend Helen just started her website for her long arm quilting business and we couldn't be more excited for her!  We highly recommend her as she has many years of experience and cares for your quilt as if it were her own.

You can find her website here:

Helen Ernst Long Arm Quilting


Good luck Helen!

~Chelsey & Nini

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Wicked Blog Hop and Give Away!



Welcome to the Wicked Blog Hop! Chelsey and I have two fun projects to share!

 We are excited around here!  We love this time of year! Our family celebrates Halloween and the harvest season in a big way. About 8 years ago we started a tradition that all our friends and family look forward to every Fall: a harvest party complete with a campfire, food, drinks, and fun for the littles!

I chose to make a table runner for the banquette in the dining room as my blog hop project. A recent remodel in our kitchen gave us a 6 ft banquette that needs some fun embellishment. I found the cutest fabric while on a fabric shopping trip our quilt guild sponsored in September and I knew right away it would be perfect for the Wicked Blog Hop and my table runner.

How fun is this fabric?


 I designed the table runner myself! I wanted to fussy cut the scenes on the fabric and border them kinda wonky, but after putting the squares together I realized how busy it would be if I didn't break it up with something more subdued. So that's where the black cat came in, he's the place to rest your eyes…cuz there's a whole lot of color and crazy going on!



 I added the quilted spider webs for a  little extra fun and halloween flair.


Without further ado, here's my wicked table runner…I hope you like it!!! Chelsey's project is right below mine, make sure you get to see her project too!!


Nini's table runner.
It is 4ft long and really hard for me to photograph the entire quilt!!



Chelsey's Wicked Blog Hop Project!


I made this as a wall hanging but I do believe it could be used as a table runner also!  The design was mine with some help from Nini on the technical end.  This is my first attempt at quilting something other than straight lines and as you can see I need to practice.  However it was fun to make and design and boy did I learn A LOT!

                  Pumpkin Details
Spider Web Details
Reverse Applique Moon

Thanks for checking out our Wicked Blog Hop Projects!

GIVE AWAY!!!!


One lucky follower will win a Snowman Gatherings Moda Charm Pack to help get you started on the next season's projects!



This give away is for new and "old" followers alike! Please follow us and leave a comment letting us know!  If you already follow, let us know that too!  The Wicked Winner will be chosen at midnight on Halloween and announced November 1st!


Make sure you hop over to the other blogs posting today for more Wicked projects!! Here's the line up for today!!

Have a Wicked Week!
~Nini & Chelsey

Monday, October 21, 2013

Wicked Blog Hop Starts Tomorrow!!!




The Wicked Blog Hop starts tomorrow over on Sew We Quilt Blog! All the participants are busy getting their wicked creations completed and ready to inspire you! We are putting the final touches on our projects here at Nini & the Sea. My table runner is "purrrrfectly" wicked and Chelsey's is "on the fence" between wicked and fun! Stop by on Wednesday the 23rd to see what we've scared up to delight you!



Please stop by Wednesday to see what we've conjured from beyond!

Happy Haunting...

Nini~



Thursday, October 3, 2013

Subway Tile Ironing Pad

This is my sewing and ironing area:



I use an old towel over the table as an ironing mat.  I'm sure it's not a great idea and sometimes the towel is stuck to the table and leaves chunks of pink fuzz behind.  It's lovely really.  On my last fabric shopping trip to Lancaster, PA I found this iron carrier/ironing pad and thought it was a great thing for me to make!


However once I got it home I realized it's for a travel size iron not my regular size iron! So I decided to just make an ironing pad, no iron caddy and use it instead of the old pink towel.  While in Lancaster I also bought this mini jelly roll just because I liked the colors.



I ended up with a subway tile pattern ironing pad!  And I love it!





It really makes my sewing/ironing area look like less of a mess and better yet there are no pink fuzzies left stuck to the table after I iron something!





Have you made anything to help clean up/organize you crafty space lately? I'd love to hear about it!

Wishing you big waves and an artful day!
~C