Halloween Candlemats!

I've been sewing this last couple a weeks. I mean really sewing. I've cut down on my computer time and spent more time at my sewing machine. I've also spent time at my cutting table and have had a lot of fun with my fabric. I needed some sewing therapy really badly and I got it. Here are two results from my sewing fun...............
I know that some of you are participating in Michele's Quilting~Gallery swap. I designed the candlemat for her swap and had so much fun making the samples for the swap. With Halloween just around the corner, I decided I had to make one for a "candy dish mat". :-) I also wanted to simplify the project and that's what I did in the mat pictured in the photo above. If you compare the top candlemat to the original made from an "Adoring" charm pack from Moda (go here for the introduction post on the candlemat project), you can see these differences........
*I used only three fabrics in the candlemat pictured above.
*The narrow border that surrounds the center section is a solid color. I cut 1-1/2" x 8-1/2" strips instead of two 4-1/2" strips sewn together.
*Instead of 1-1/2" strip sets on each side of the mat, I cut a 2-1/2" x 8-1/2" strip for this section.
*I rounded the corners on the mat.
*I added rick-rack to the edge of the mat and then sewed the top, batting and backing together and then turned it inside out through a small opening on the edge of the mat. I slipstitched that opening and you can't really tell. I pressed the entire mat and then machine quilted it.

By simplifying the pieces involved, you can make a candlemat like this one in just a couple of hours. :-)

In the photo below, you'll see that this mat is very similar to the original mat. There are some differences........
*I used Halloween fabrics from my stash instead of a charm pack.
*I "fussy cut" the fabric that says "boo!" so that it would be on all the outside triangles of the center section.
*I used a single strip 1-1/2" x 8-1/2" of striped fabric for most of the border that surrounds the center section. For the corner sections of that border, I did some more "fussy cutting" and put a screaming ghost in the corner of each of the 3-1/2" corner squares.
The rest of the candlemat was made like the original. I machine quilted the piece and completed it in an afternoon of sewing time.

This mat will be for a Halloween pumpkin. They are both for me. :-) I signed up for the swap and have to make the candlemat for my partner but it won't be in Halloween fabrics. I can't tell you what fabrics I'll be using, though, as if she were to read my blog, she would know that I am her partner. It's got to kept a secret!! I won't be able to show the mat I make for her until after she receives it. I'll be making her candlemat next week and then I'm going to start on some as gifts for friends. Some will be Autumn Harvest themed and some will be in Christmas prints. I've pulled fabric for them and can hardly wait to start them. That's for next week. This week I am still sewing Halloween. Tomorrow, I have a Halloween table runner to share, one you can make quickly from stash and scraps. Plus there is other fun stuff I am stitching so that I can make my dining room/entry "boo-tiful" for the trick or treating kiddies. :-)

I am really enjoying this sewing fun!!! Back to the sewing machine for more therapy!

Sandi