GoofingOff's Very First Halloween Pumpkin Challenge

Inspiration comes in the strangest places. Magazines, Pinterest, and Etsy are all good places to find great ideas to inspire but this time a trip to the dollar store got my creative juices going. 

I found this cute foam pumpkin....12 in a pack....8 inches wide by 6 inches tall. I thought Templates! OK, templates. What to make with the pumpkin template.......How about a quilted wall hanging? Why not? A wall hanging would be fun when the grands come over before Halloween.

While walking around I also found bats and thought I could incorporate the bats into the design. 

I decided to leave the pumpkin orange...like a coloring book....and make him (her?) a jack-o'lantern. I used some black scraps for the face....in triangles as if I was cutting a pumpkin. I used a piece of green fabric for the stem. 

I made a few bats in different sizes to give it dimension. After making myself crazy about what color background to use I decided on a white print. I machine zig zagged BOO on another fabric scrap then backed it with black and white stripe. I found a stitch pattern on my machine that looks like bats (at least they look like bats to me) and sewed the sign in place.  The sash and binding were made with spooky eyes on black. The eyes glow in the dark. How cool is that?

I overall machine quilted the quilt. The bats and pumpkin were thread painted with machine embroidery thread. 

Not fancy but still cute enough to bring a smile to the grandkids faces. 

So, here's the challenge. Use the pumpkin. The pumpkins are available at the local Dollar Tree or use the picture and copy it. Make a wall hanging, table runner, pot holder, mask, or anything that you want to do. Any color. Let your creative juices run wild. When you get them done we will post the pictures on the blog and Facebook to show them off. 

The challenge will run until Halloween. 

Have fun!

Post by Eileen Patterson of GoofingOff Sewing. 

Food Fun for Halloween

Halloween has always been a challenge for me……not only what costume to wear or make but how to keep the fun in Halloween and control the amount of sugar in my house. When my daughter was little I made special Halloween candy and had fruit available but admittedly, the fruit was plain and no fun at all. Check out these easy to re-create ideas from the  Eat Smart blog. 

Vegetable skeleton….good for adults, too! A spooky take on the vegetable platter.

I love this guy! Great idea for the kids and grown-ups. Serve with salad dressing for dipping. Great for a Halloween party table.

Clementines are yummy and sweet. Great for the kids.

There’s lots more to make and a thousand ways (or so it seems) to add sugar to the diet…..just the same, I don’t need to eat more sugar and having little ones jacked up on sugar isn’t my idea of a great time. Offering something healthy and yummy is a way to make a change.

Post by Eileen of GoofingOff Sewing….who cooks, too. The kitchen is just another place to Goof Off.

Create Magic With Every Stitch!

Almost September

What is it about September? September is always a big deal for me....when I was young it was the first day of school and all that goes with that....the new clothes, school supplies, and meeting new people.

My sisters and I. I'm the one in the middle...with the necklace. Oh, so fashionable.

It was, and is, the anticipation of the Jewish New Year....wearing your best and getting together with family.....and hearing the shofar blown at the synagogue.

Man blowing shofar 

In NY September is the return of cool air and the smell of apples in the air as the first of the apple crop came in from upstate.

NY State produces lots of apples, like Cortlands and MacIntosh, two of my favorites and they are very good for you. Love them.

It's still special now. The kids are back in school and the buses are on the road with their precious cargo.

First day of school courtesy of School Bus Driver.org

 It's hurricane season in this part of the world and the hubby watches the weather faithfully (old fisherman).

The remnants of Tropical Storm Erika....we dodged that one. Good thing because we've had a lot of rain....almost over the road. Picture courtesy of the Weather.com

So...Halloween is about 2 months away and the 5th Annual Costume Sewing Pattern Sale starts Tuesday. All costume sewing patterns at GoofingOff Sewing will be 40% off for the month of September. There's over 100 to choose from with more being listed. The patterns will already be marked down.
See, September is still a special month.

Post by Eileen of GoofingOff Sewing.
Make Magic with Every Stitch

Get an additional 10% off your purchase with the coupon code BLOGGIN

New Fabric Listings in GoofingOff

I do a little sewing, usually a pillowcase or two for do-good work. Making something for little girls comes pretty easy to me....something pink, a little bit of lace, and a ribbon or bow (or two...or both) and Voila! perfect for girls. Boys, on the other hand....hmmm....that's a bit of a stretch for me coming from a family of 4 girls and having a daughter...an estrogen-enriched atmosphere if there ever was one.  So I did a little looking around and found some fabric suitable for everybody. 

Moon Owls 100% Cotton fabric. By the Half Yard. Owl circles are 2 3/4 inches across. These little owls are so cute!

Halloween Stache Fabric 100% Cotton by the Half Yard When I found this fabric I couldn't stop laughing. Vibrant colors, nice weight. 

Race Cars fabric by the half yard Vroom, vroom!

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Alexander Henry Fabric Route 66 By the Half Yard Get your kicks..... This is really nice fabric. Good for pillowcases, passport holders, journal covers....

Alexander Henry Aloha Girls by the 1/2 yard  Beautiful fabric.

So there's a few ideas to work with. Make magic happen.

Post by Eileen Patterson....who is GoofingOff!

Costume Patterns are at GoofingOff Sewing

McCall's 7218 Yaya Han's Original Peacock Costume

Make believe....for me make believe conjures up images of capes and masks, swords were really sticks, bicycles magically became horses. My crinolined dress made me a ballerina if I twirled fast enough. A costume took make believe to a whole new level...I really was a princess or a fairy when I wore the costume. It was magic.

McCall's 4887 Girls Fairy Costumes UNCUT These aren't just cute, they come with wings, too. Totally practical.

McCall's 7212 Girls' Princess and Fairy Costumes UNCUT

McCall's 7211 Dog Costumes...Frozen UNCUT  
 Imagining Miss Boxer singing Let It Go...

McCall's 7213 Girls' Sleeping Beauty Costume UNCUT

McCall's 7214 Kid's Ninja Turtles and Minion Costumes  UNCUT

McCall's 7216 Southern Gentleman's costume pattern UNCUT

McCall's 4139 Capes UNCUT

The Annual GoofingOff Costume Sewing Pattern Sale starts September 1. I'm getting excited already.

Post by Eileen Patterson.....who is GoofingOff.
Use the coupon code BLOGGIN to get your 15% discount.....only for blog readers.

New Costume Pattern Listings At GoofingOff Sewing

The GoofingOff Annual Costume Pattern Sale is coming up....August 15th through September 30....and I'm getting patterns in order. I found some new (some new, some new stock) to supply the shop. Here's a peek.
Some of the costumes are cut but complete. I'm still in the process of listing but if there's one you want just send me a message and I will set it up.
No coupon codes necessary. Just pick out the ones you like and get started.

 For the wizard.

All costume patterns will be 30% off for the sale but the cutest and coolest sell out fast. 

A rare pattern, child size.

For the lord of the manor.

A little sexy look for the party. 

Is this not adorable?

Imagine your own little Dream of Jeanie. 

Post by Eileen Patterson @GoofingOff

Costume Sewing Pattern Sale 2013

Darn, August went by fast. Seems like the older I get the faster the months fly past me. It seems like I was in the middle of the long hot summer when BOOM!!! September's here and Halloween is just around the corner which means…….(a little fanfare here) the annual Costume Sewing Pattern Sale is here!!! Whoo hooo! All costume patterns are a big 30% off until Sept 30. All of them….and theres a bunch. Here's a few:

Simplicity 0601

McCall's 3663 Medieval Costumes size 6 - 12

Simplicity 3847 Soda Shop Girls

McCall's 3789 Witches and Wizards in kids' sizes 

Butterick 6386 Toddler's  and Children's Costumes: Shark, Dinosaur, Batman, Tiger

There's a lot more in the shop so stop by and check them out. The sale will continue to September 30.

Post by Eileen Patterson….I'm GoofingOff!

Costume Sale

Announcing the Annual Goofing Off Sewing Supplies Costume Sale!

All patterns are 30% off until October 15. All of them….toddlers, children’s, adults. Everything, even these:

I feel like the white rabbit….late for a very important date.

If the costume pattern isn’t marked down yet just convo me and I’ll fix it. I’m a work in progress, still not perfect yet.

Post by GoofingOff

GoofingOff Halloween Sewing Patterns on Artfire

Check out this fun collection of sewing patterns on Artfire!

I Sew, I Sew, Ill...

  Curated By: ChristieCottage

ArtFire.com

Handmade Gifts

A Bagful of Etsy, Picking Out the Good Ones MissEileen’s Etsy Picks October 28, 2011

Halloween weekend is upon us with the cute little trick or treaters out in their adorable costumes, mom and dad trailing behind. By the time the kids make it back to the house they are all sugared and caffeined up, jabbering about the loot in their bags and the fun they had. I remember going through the candy with my sisters. We would dump the candy in piles on the kitchen table so Mom and Dad could check it out, then pick out our favorites. My favorites were anything chocolate. Anything, just had to be chocolate. That was long before I tragically became allergic to chocolate. I didn’t know other flavors existed. I didn’t understand why Baskin & Robbins had 32 flavors of ice cream; they just needed to make one as far as I was concerned.

Sorry, got carried away. Today is Friday and time for Miss Eileen’s Etsy Picks. Like a bagful of Halloween goodies, I’m picking out the good ones and I’m in the mood for my forbidden treat, chocolate. Here’s what I’ve found this week:

      Vanilla and Chocolate Wreath by Charisma Gift

                      Baby booties little loafers cream and  chocolate with gift box by Cath94170

      Coffee Liqueur Chocolate Metallic Gold Circle Necklace by Roe Design

   6 Caramel or Chocolate Covered Apples by Sweets Fairy Bakeshop

                       Friendship Bracelet - Chocolate Brown Leather Woven with Swarovski Turquoise Crystals by Kes T Designs

  Chocolate Brown Knit Fingerless Gloves by Woolmint

       Klimt and Starry Night Gold Pendant by Creative Art Center

    Chocolate Linen Rayon Pleated Jacket by Carey Dion

OK, those are my picks. What do you think? I love the colors in each item. They all look so rich and yummy. Voting starts today and ends next Thursday. Shop with the most votes wins a feature interview with me, Miss Eileen.

Shameless plug…..new fabrics in the GoofingOff shop, new and vintage patterns, too. I found some amazing Pyrex and other fantastic vintage, too. I’ll be listing those in the Miss Eileen shop. Stop by when you get a chance. Coffee’s always on, served in vintage cups, of course.