Saturday, March 22, 2025

RSC Week 12 - More Yellow Blocks and a few Finishes

I thought I was done with yellow for this month's RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge). 
Nope! 
Those of you who have followed my blog for some time, know I'm cutting scraps into squares in sizes from 1.5" to 5". 
I'm trying my best to use those squares, but it looks like some sizes are less used, like 3.5". 


This box containing 3.5" squares were overflowing and it was hard getting the cover on. 
Something had to be done! 
I got the idea to make 9-patches in RSC colors! I started with yellow.


I got 3 blocks 


2 blue blocks


5 pink blocks
I may change the bottom right square in the pink block #2. I can't decide which color it is. To me it looks like something between pink and orange. 
Where on earth did I get all that pink from?! Not even among my favorite colors! 
10 blocks x 9 squares = 90 squares left the box! 
There are more of these squares/colors in the box, but I didn't want to make any duplicates and it doesn't harm to keep a few for further blocks.
It made a tiny, tiny dent! Now it's easier getting the cover on! 

Place mats and hot pads from previous post done


14 inches round place mats


13 inches square place mats


10 and 8 inches hot pads

I think they look spring-ish with the green binding. 

I forgot to take photos of the back, which is all yellow too, all from my stash. 

Do you have any creative plans for the weekend? 
I've started quilting 'Dwellings'. I'm almost done with the second house. Custom quilting those houses take even more time than what it took to quilt the New York Beauty! My goodness! Hope I don't get bored with it! 

Linking up with Angela and RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge)



 

Thursday, March 20, 2025

A Flimsy and Pieced Backing

'Dwellings' is a flimsy!



'Dwellings' was born Dec 2022, after drooling over the pattern in Sept/Oct 22 issue of Love of Quilting
I can't believe I haven't posted updates on this quilt! There's only the post linked to above.

I've been hoarding Moda Marbles as long as I've been quilting. I had a good selection and realized it is unlikely I'd use those MM any time soon. Using them in small projects don't make a dent! Then I decided 'Dwellings' is the perfect quilt to use some of the MM. 
I have used MM for all the houses, background and sashing, approximately 8 yards. For the roofs I've used grey batik as well as dark pink/purple batik for the cornerstones. I ran out of MM grey and had to purchase more to finish 4 blocks. 
Moda has discontinued a lot of their MM and many I have used in this quilt is not available anymore, sadly. I.e. I had just enough of MM 'wine' for the sashing and inner border. It's a beautiful fabric, and sadly it is one of the many that is Out of Print. 


I wanted something fun for the outer border and came across this colorful houses and trees fabric. Since it is directional, I had to purchase the full length of the quilt. 
That is what I thought I did! My mathematical skills failed (again!); just too short! The fabric is very busy and I think one has to look carefully to see where the two pieces are joined. 


I had a big piece of the house fabric left (approximately 44" x 63") after the border strips were cut. Enough to make a pieced backing without too much (brain) work and measurements! I went through my stash and found a leftover piece of 108" Stonehenge used for backing on another quilt. It was just enough for the top and bottom. Don't you just love those Stonehenge fabrics?!
I had to add more to get the right width. More MM were cut into wide strips and pieced together. 
Most of the time (!) I listen to DH's suggestions. In this case, he suggested I cut the house- and Stonehenge piece into two pieces and add the pieced strips in the center. 
So said, so done! I did listen, but not sure I agree 100%! lol 

I think this will be my goal for April; to quilt and finish 'Dwellings'. 

Saturday, March 15, 2025

RSC Week 11 - More Yellow

Where did the week go? It's already middle March, which means we are heading towards cooler days! Hot and sticky today. 

Beginning of the week was wet and thundery. We got almost 4" rain. Not much, but every little drop counts. Mauritius is in drought (it's the rainy season and almost no rain!?) Water restrictions are put in force. Water reservoirs are about 40% or less. 
Enough of weather, whatever it is, we can't do anything about it! 

Over to sewing!

The RSC color for March is yellow
I made most of the blocks at the beginning of the month (here), but I needed to make a few more blocks for 'Eclipse'. 

I love this warm yellow fabric so much. It's not easy to see, it has tulips, daffodils and other flowers with silver accents. Unfortunately it doesn't show very good on the photo.


I made a full circle! The sun! 
I made two half circles and pieced them together. 
Difficult getting the color right, it is a bit warmer than the photo. I tried to adjust the tint too, as you can see the pink background, to no avail. Sigh! 


Using up more yellow fabrics; placemats and trivets. 

Over the last weeks I've made 4 Norwegian flag table runners for my shop. I've finished 3, the last one to be quilted. (No photos). Last year I made some flag mug rug tops, which I quilted yesterday. I'm running out of red for the flags and bindings, I have enough for either the mug rugs or the TR. I have to purchase more, but before I do that I'll see if there is other things I really need. Remember I'm on SSD (Strict-Stash-Diet) this year! 

I also finished 'Keep the Home Fires Burning' (my goal for March) this week. I need to sweep the porch before I can put the quilt on the floor and take photos. 

Linking up with Angela and RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge)