a happy treat to share . . .

I am living in the land of candy corn goodness.

I did it!! I was so enchanted by the thought of a candy corn table topper using the same process that I used for the Leaves & Acorn Table Runner, that I just did it!

Voila!!

I think it's really cute -- but then I have a thing for candy corn!

Do you remember that it started here, with me playing with my food?

I went to Microsoft Publisher, found a clip art that suited me best, and turned it into a template.

I printed it out, measured it, and figured out what fabric I needed (including 1/4" seam allowances).

Then I traced my candy corn onto my template material and cut it out, making sure the horizontal lines were in place.

Those horizontal lines are important for lining up the template to the fabric.

Next, I cut six strips of three different colors . . . yellow, orange, and white. I suppose if you wanted to make Autumn Corn, you could substitute brown for the yellow. It tastes better, but it's not as pretty. LOL!

The yellow rectangles were 3-3/4" by 7-1/2"; the orange rectangles were 3" by 7"; and the white rectangles were 4" by 6".

Then, I lined up a yellow and orange rectangle, right sides together, with the orange base centered on the yellow base.

Pin and stitch with a 1/4" seam.

I pressed the seam towards the yellow. I know, normally, you want to press your seam toward the darker color, but in this case, press it towards the yellow.

It helps give the appearance of fullness. You'll see!

Next, line up a white rectangle to the base of your orange rectangle, centered. Again, right sides together.

And pin and stitch, with a 1/4" seam.

This time you'll press your seam up to the orange fabric.

Flip it over . . .

Are you starting to see candy corn?!?

Now you're ready for your candy corn template.

On the back or seam side of the piece, line the top horizontal line of your template with the thread line of the yellow/orange seam. Make sure it's even all the way across. The bottom line on your template should be close to the orange/white seam. It may not be exactly on it -- this is OKAY!

Holding the template still, trace your candy corn onto the fabric. Make sure your line is visible -- this is your sewing line.

Remove your template and make sure your line is sewable.

Next, you'll need six pieces of fabric for backing, cut into approximately 8" by 10" rectangles. You'll need the same number of rectangles in of batting, the same size.

I chose an autumn corn fabric for the backing, and used a really light weight batting. I had scraps I'd saved from an larger project. Use whatever batting scraps you have on hand!

Next, you're going to layer your candy corn piece; on top will be your pieced fabrics. Make sure your sew line is facing up. Then your backing fabric (right sides together).

Last, your batting goes on the bottom. Pin into place

I know it's sandwiched a little oddly, but trust me, this is the way to do it!

Now, starting on a straight line on the side of the candy corn, straight stitch along your sew-line.

Leave an opening large enough for you to turn the candy corn inside-out. I left openings approximately 1-1/4" long. It's very important that you back stitch both at the beginning and the end. This will help keep your opening from not pulling wider.

When you've finish stitching, cut away the excess fabric from your stitch line.

I cut down to just over 1/16" of an inch, leaving a little extra fabric at the opening (see the left hand side of the orange).

Now you're ready to pull your candy corn shape inside out!

I used blunt-nosed scissors to push out the curves and the point of my candy corn. Once it's all turned out, press down the open seam. Iron your candy corn flat, and hand stitch the opening, closed (I used tiny stitches, almost like I was appliqueing).

Then, repeat the process five more times!

Note: with six candy corns you can make the topper as I have. Add a seventh and you can make your circle a little bigger, with your candy corns touching all the way down the sides, instead of just at the base.

Next, you'll want to quilt your candy corn pieces.

I simply stitched-in-the-ditch along my two seams. Again, this helped give dimension to my little candies!

Finally, from the back side, lay out your candy corn pieces and arrange them in the manner you want. The points need to be touching the pieces on either side of them.

Pin them together, then hand stitch them, using tiny stitches.

Now flip and showoff and enjoy your darling candy corn without the worry of addiction or calories!

Mine is already on display, of course!

Candy corn makes me smile almost as much as . . .

. . . my Sawyer-boo! 'Cept he's definitely cuter!

More on his first trip to the Pumpkin Patch tomorrow.

For now, enjoy the candy corn goodness. And since this is the first time I've ever tried to tutorialize something I created, please feel free to comment or e-mail me if instructions aren't clear. Also, I'd be happy to share the .pdf of the candy corn for the template!

:)

playing with food = creative process . . .

I was sitting at work, playing with my food-- which I'm apt to do--and I arranged my candy corn like thus . . .

I don't know why; I just do things like that. It's worse with M&M's, because I have to arrange them in lines (and pyramid shapes) by color. Anyway, I digress. I was playing with my candy corn and for some reason, thought about the little leaf table topper I'd just finished.

If leaves and acorns made a cute, quilted table topper, how much more fun would a quilted candy corn table topper be, especially if your secret pal *loves* candy corn?!?

So I opened up Publisher and found a fun candy corn clip art, and created a concept picture.

Folks, I have the fabric. I can create the template. I do believe I know what I'm going to be working on this Saturday, at our stitch group's stitch-in!

And finally, because my day isn't complete without a new photo of my precious grandbaby . . .

:)

a wall cloud and a finish . . .

Yesterday was an exciting weather day! We were on tornado watch/warning for the better part of daylight. At one point, late in the afternoon, a particularly nasty storm passed through our county. From work, we were able to watch the wall cloud move past us, and I caught a pretty good shot of it . . .

I don't know that I've ever seen a wall cloud so clearly as yesterday. You could actually see lightning and rotation up in it.

All the storms were moving fast -- this one was going along at about 55 miles per hour. While it's reported that it did sport tornado touch downs a couple of times, there wasn't any extended damage in our county. I understand, however, that there were other areas in North Alabama that did get hit hard.

On a happier note, I did finish my Leaf & Acorn Table Topper last night!

This was such a fun little project. I'll give this one to my SP, but I believe I will go ahead and make a second for me. When I was cutting fabric for the leaf tops, I went ahead and cut the fabric for a second!

Instead of making it the same on both sides, I gave it a definite back by using a single fabric, the mossy green.

So there's the back, and following is the picture from the Art to Heart book that I used for the pattern.

This was the Easy Does It For Autumn book. There are *several* projects in here that I'd love to make -- such cute things!

:)

almost . . .

Lots of rain, wind, and storms here overnight Sunday and yesterday morning. This means lots of trees falling . . . almost.

The water at the big creek was up, moving fast and muddy! Todd had cleared the path so he could take me down in the golf cart. Yay!

It was really loud. And not the pretty, sparkling clear water I remembered from the last time I saw it!

I also almost finished my cute (says me) little leaf & acorn table topper.

The individual pieces are finished and pinned together -- I've just got to finish attaching them all together. It's so cute -- it makes me smile!

I did get to spend some time with Sawyer last night. He's so very ticklish now, and laughs such wonderful belly laughs!

Remember these trees from the other day? Good thing I caught those photos when I did . . . as you can see, after yesterday's storms, the leaves are almost gone!

:)

design wall monday; autumn style . . .

Today's design wall [table] Monday is inspired by the beautiful colors all over the place out here at Camp MACOBA!

Leaves and acorns -- and all in fun fall prints!

I'm not quite finished . . . I was easily distracted with views like this:

It's hard to stay inside when the crisp autumn air beckons!

Three more leaves to stitch, cut out, and turn right-side-out, then I can quilt the leaf veins and figure out how to put the pieces together.

Hopefully the little table runner will be a finish this afternoon or tomorrow. And hopefully the brilliant fall foliage will give us a couple more weeks of eye candy!

To see what other inspired projects are going on in the quilting world, head on over to Judy Laquidara's Patchwork Times and check out her Design Wall Monday posting!

Happy Monday, happy fall!

:)

lazy saturday . . .

It's absolutely lovely today -- I have the windows open to let in the most glorious autumn breeze!

Todd's on shift, so after making a run to the post office and securing the camp after the RA group left, I pulled out one of the new books I got for my birthday. Actually, my dear friend gave me a gift certificate to Patches & Stitches for my birthday, and I spent it last week! I got two Art to Heart pattern books. I really like their stuff. The books always have a nice variety of projects (from simple to more intricate), clear, easy-to-follow instructions, and good templates. The two I got were Tidings and Easy Does It For Autumn.

Anyway, I pulled out the Autumn book and started perusing the pages. There are so MANY cute and relatively simple projects in this book! One in particular caught my eye . . . it's just darling . . . I have the fabric already . . . let's DO it!

Aren't these guys cute? And then pair them with this group . . .

Just a teaser, for now. If it turns out nicely, it'll definitely be a Secret Pal gift!

I'd love to spend the afternoon working on this project, but I got a call from my son (whom I love even more), and they want to come up to the camp and take pictures of Sawyer and spend some time with me!! How lucky can a girl get? Plus, I hear that Sawyer is saying "Daa-daa" now! Can't wait!!!

And can you guess what kind of pictures will be on tomorrow's blog?

Life is GOOD!

:)

autumn . . .

candy corn . . .

One of the MANY things I really like about autumn is candy corn. And not necessarily to eat, but because it just looks so - fun! It's orange, yellow, and white -- happy colors! And it's triangular -- happy shape! It makes great turkey beaks, nicely fills a clear glass candle votive, and, evidently, makes a great wreath, too!

I happened upon the latest Woman's Day on the newsstand this week, and this was their cover photo:

Cute, non? And since my Secret Pal *loves* candy corn, I figure this may be my next project AND secret pal gift! I'll post pictures when I've finished.

Instructions are easy and can be found on the Woman's Day site, HERE.

They also had great instructions for preserving the candy corn and/or the finished wreath HERE!

Bon appetit...errr...Happy crafting!

:)

loverly weekend . . .

Truly, it's been a lovely, long weekend! I do adore having Mondays off. It gives the weekend lots of depth, and makes the work week far more bearable! ;)

Plus, we get to pack a lot of stuff in! Saturday, Todd and I headed to South Huntsville to pick up a golf cart for Camp MACOBA. We got a *sweet* deal on this baby, and it runs great. It handles the trails out here very nicely, which means Todd was able to take me through the woods and all around -- places I haven't been able to get to since the accident. It was wonderful!!!

We also purchased a large (20' by 10') screened tent. This will give us a place to have both sets of kids and their families over to eat, and have bug protection, too!

All it needs is to have one of the picnic tables brought over. Todd's going to do that sometime soon. I even grabbed my red-checkered tablecloth from Hunter Road for use here! We've got our lawn chairs, too, that we'll put under there for coffee in the mornings. Fun!

Saturday afternoon I made chili and put it in the crock pot, then I made Todd and I some sugar-free gourmet hot chocolate. We took it up to the bedroom and watched the Alabama game on the flat screen up there. We rarely watch TV up there (I watch it up there when I'm alone), so it was like a party.

The hot chocolate (with whipped cream piled high) made it feel like a party too!

This morning, I asked Todd to bring me some Coffee Mate on his way home. What a darling ... he also brought me some flowers!

He said the orange just looked happy -- I have to agree! And perfect for autumn!

I found a pair of shoes at the Dollar Store that I can wear on BOTH feet!! You can't know how exciting this is for me. Never mind the fact that I had to buy a size larger so that my right foot could fit into it! I DON'T CARE!

They aren't the most glamorous of shoes, but they're functional and look halfway decent and they're the SAME! I'm smiling! You can tell there's still swelling in the right ankle, too, but I really think the Mobic is making a difference. It's been a lot easier to walk since I started taking it.

This afternoon I decided it was time to decorate with some fun, fall things!

I think I kept a good balance of fun and pretty things. This is my second fall to decorate in the RV; we moved in early in November last year, and I did put my fall things out (for just a little while). I can't believe that *I* didn't take any pictures -- Camera Queen that I am!

Finally, as I often do, I'll end with a little reminder of one of my favorite things in the whole, wide world . . .

He really *is* such a happy little dude!

:)