Island Batik challenged us to make a table topper that includes appliqué. I did the witch cupcake for the Halloween Hop but wasn’t ready to commit to the project as my table topper for the month. I was working on my first catalog quilt for Island Batik (spring 2020) and am so excited but so stressed. So, in the end , I decided to make a second table topper and finish the first and call them a pair! As usual, I did some mock ups in Electric Quilt 8* to get them going.
As our challenge said, table toppers are perfect for creating your statement piece for your home decor. I don’t do a lot of decorating and I thought the placemats would be perfect – or I could use them on a table or near the entryway or even on the door (as the first picture shows).
Disclaimer: Island Batik supplied fabric for this project.
I have to laugh as one of my internet commenters (Roseanne) said there’s not a lot of commitment in your 4th quarter projects. You can see in the top picture this piece didn’t have the words “Ding Dong”. One of my other commenters brought that to mind and I knew it had to go on the placemat.
I had a lot of fun working on this month’s project. I did two pieces – I am calling them table toppers – even though they could wind up on the door or as placemats. Somehow, two felt like the right number as I can have one on the door or one on the table or both on the table. They were really fast to make once I set my mind to it! For some reason this whole project fought me, as I thought I would have this posted days ago, but sometimes the easiest things are the hardest.
Now, I am letting you in on a big secret. I did not cut those letters with my hands. I used my Scan N Cut* to cut the darn letters and the bat for this project. Can I say excited???!!! I purchased a used Scan N Cut as I wasn’t convinced, but I am now. In the past year I have learned a fair amount about creating files in Electric Quilt 8 and now I am adding the Brother Canvas platform (the software that runs the Scan N Cut) to my skills. It is so fast now that I understand a few basic things. Much faster than me cutting it out.
I know most of you don’t have one, so I thought I would give you the files for both the Happy Halloween table topper. If you do want the svg files, let me know. I made 12″ blocks and put them on those and then added border. I know you are up to the challenge.
This fabric I have been saving forever and yes, the placemats can be used for the Day of the Dead….even more excited. Usually I don’t show backings when they aren’t Island Batik, but I couldn’t resist using this one I had hoarded saved for years (1999 – yikes)! And, this is both a finish for my OMG and 4thQuarter!
You may still see another one from me, maybe in November, as I really wanted to do a fall one but just couldn’t get going. Jonathan had this beer the other night and said this would be a fun quilt block. Well, I don’t think I can copy it but I might write to them and see if they mind. Will this squirrel nag me to death until I do it…only time will tell.
Meanwhile, watch for an annoucement Monday on a sew-along that I am doing. I need a baby quilt for a special girl and I want to do this pattern. It won’t be ready for her arrival (I don’t think) but for soon after. Join me. Watch for Mondays fun.
Coming up
A SAL (sew along) announcement
Tutorial on Converting Picture to Mosaic in EQ8
Barn Quilt BOM #3 – 11/6
Island Batik Challenge November
Island Batik Challenge December
Linking Up:
UFO Busting #79
OMG October Finish Link Up
What I Made Monday
October UFO & WIP Challenge link up
Wednesday Wait Loss
CLever Chameleon
TGIFF
4th Quarter FAL
Cle
Disclaimer: *Links with asterisk indicate an affiliate link. Your price is not any different, but a small percentage of the sale will go to supporting my blog.
Love your table toppers, Kathaleen. They turned out really cute. My DH got me a Scan-n-Cut DX for Christmas last year and I’ve enjoyed learning to use it! It makes cutting letters so much easier, though I must admit I have not learned a lot about it. My LQS is having a class next Saturday on it and I plan on being there. This time we are making cards!
Hi Kathleen! Amen to the easiest projects being the hardest. LOVE the addition of Ding Dong. I’m humming the song in my head you know – ding dong, the witch is dead . . . HAHA! Now you are, too. WHAT?! A Scan N Cut for the perfect letters?! Now that is right up my alley. Dione at Clever Chameleon uses something similar and has lots of suggestions – just FYI. LOVE that design on the cup of the leaf. Yes, please figure that out (in EQ8). That is just a pattern waiting to happen. I’ll be back on Monday for sure – I love SAL. ~smile~ Roseanne
Ding dong sure helped complete it. It would be fun to go something like that. I’ll have to try but I think I’d have to ask too – copyright? See you in a few hours
These turned out so cute! I can’t imagine hand cutting the letters. What a great find used. I may need to keep my eyes open.
The scan n cut is fun. I need to design more things to use it more!
These are too cute!
Thank you.
What great Halloween and autumn projects. Thank you for the files downloads also.
Thanks, Danice. Hope you get to make one!
Your halloween table toppers are great!
Thanks for linking to TGIFF!
These are so much fun! Thanks for linking up with Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal and congrats on your finish!
Thank you!
You made two too!! These are both terrific Kathleen, and the addition of the words Ding Dong is PERFECTION! I love it when our commenters/readers/friends give us ideas like that: I changed my Bear Paw Dance (well it’s on the label, but when I put out the pattern I will) to Waltzing With Bears thanks to a reader. Great finishes and that back – love.
It is so much fun when things like that happen! I do love the new name of your quilt…and thanks for the love of the back..one I have held on to for a very long time.
What cute runners, the one DIng Dong is so humorous..love it.
Thanks, Barb! A readers comment sent me in that direction and I am grateful.
Pretty mini quilt! I’m looking forward to see what your QAL will be 😉
Thank you Frederique! I did post the SAL and it is here…. https://kathleenmcmusing.com/2019/10/awesome-ocean-sew-along-sal-with-me.html. Hope you are enticed to SAL….it really is a fun pattern and more fun with friends.
Being a lover of Halloween, I was thrilled to see your fun table toppers, and tickled orange to see patterns. Thank you. I just bought a Scan n Cut and am looking forward to playing once we are settled into our new place and I have furniture in my sewing room. I used to use a Wishblade for lettering on etched glass while cutting the designs by hand. The company never bothered to update their software so I was happy when hubby showed me a local store had the first Brother machine on at a screaming deal. May I have the svg files, please.
Such cute placemats/table toppers! Love the idea of the scan and cut. Hmmmm. Is one in my future? Thanks for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss.
The scan n cut does make some things joe pretty darn fast. Always happy to link when I can!