Leaving It All On The Table

I have started out the month by finishing up a couple of table toppers for fall. Both of these were done from charm squares. The first, shown left, is called "Split Square" and came straight from Country Threads' book: "Sew Charming". This was the small quilt that I hurriedly pieced together before the all-important block "trim down" stage. 🙄 As a result, it touched down in the bottom of the trash can for a period of time. A cooler head prevailed; rescued it, took it apart, trimmed it down and finished it. I am SEW happy that I did!

The second table topper to land on the table where we eat our meals and play our daily Cribbage matches is this one, below. Also made from charm squares but this time assembled as nine patches. I used the "Charming Nine Patches" approach to stitching up this one from the Country Threads blog  linked here. 

 This one has an antique-y feel withe the blocks joined one to another without sashing. The squares in each block finish to 1"; giving it also, a sort of woven appearance. I quilted it with the same pantograph (Paisley Max) and same tawny gold thread color as the Split Square above.

These two have given the kitchen table a bright and welcome face-lift for the new season. Grab yourself some charm squares and see how you might brighten up your space by leaving it all on the table. 

Now-- a PSA: I got my annual screening mammogram done this morning; yes, it just happens to be breast cancer awareness month. I celebrated with a Pink Ribbon bagel from Panera afterwards. These cherry vanilla bagels also just so happen to be my very favorites! Available only in October, I buy them up by the dozen and freeze them for the rest of the year. Our local Panera happens to be observing 100% of Pink Ribbon bagel sales for this week only donated to breast cancer research, check your local store for details (I believe the remainder of the month it's a portion of the sales); either way it's a true win-win!  If you like cherry-vanilla, this treat WON'T be left on the table! I promise. 

Life is Good!

It's The Count That Counts!

I pieced this second table topper over the weekend, it's done from a pattern found on the Moda Bake Shop and aptly named "Christmas Table Topper". The pattern requires two charm packs (prepackaged 5" squares representing a full line of fabrics by Moda, the manufacturer) and additional fabric for setting the blocks. Now, this is may be common knowledge to most of you, but it wasn't to me: charm packs don't all contain the same number of squares! Be sure and double check the number that you need before you assume that a charm pack (or two) will be enough! (The number of squares contained in the pack will be clearly marked on the reverse side of the pack.) I purchased two packs containing 40 squares each and needed eighty-one squares for nine 'Disappearing 9-Patch' blocks. Groan. I did have backing fabric purchased and cut a five inch square out of that to complete the top but will have to scramble now to buy more backing fabric. It only makes sense, now that I know not all charm packs are created equal. A word to the wise, from the now wiser: it's the count that counts!

Life is Good!