Amazing colors!

Aren't colors amazing? If you have a look at my previous post, you'll see the start of making the red table runner. As I mentioned there I struggled a bit, but when I finally understood the cutting direction as well as the making of the Y-blocks - I got hooked! So hooked that I made another runner too, in one day! :) The previous post is a bit misleading; it shows some fabrics and the red runner. I intended using these fabrics - "Peppermint Cottage" by Diane Knott - but changed my mind. I'm using "Cookie Cutter Christmas" by J. Wecker/Frisch, which is gingerbread people fabric too. As you can see, I chose different reds for the first runner, and different greens and blue for the second runner. It never stops amazing me what small fabric pieces of different colors do to a project! These two runners are identical; the same pattern - but don't they look so different? I think... the red one looks very "Christmassy", while the green & blue one looks more.... sophisticated.... if I can say it like that? It is not very visible on the photo, but for the red one I have used beige mottled as the background fabric. For the green runner I have used beige too, with white snow crystals, which "lifts" it up a bit - I think. Also the contrast between the two green fabrics I have used are more visible compared to the two reds, which actually are the same fabrics; only the colors are different. It struck me the green and blue runner blends in with the colors in our kitchen/dining-room... I don't have many tablecloths and runners, so I thought it would have been nice making something new for the coming Christmas?:) Sadly I bought 1/2 yard of the beige snow crystal fabric, and I don't find it at any web shops anymore. I would have loved more of it... Oooops!!!! I had forgotten I'm on SSD!!! (Strict Stash Diet). :))

Christmas in July

I bought these gingerbread people fabrics some weeks ago. Aren't they yummy?! Ever since I started this great hobby I have mainly made bigger quilts and not many smaller projects, so I decided to make a table runner. Some months ago I bought a book about different blocks, and one of the blocks described is Y-blocks. An Y-block uses both half- and quarter-square triangles. The pattern calls for specific placement to achieve the design, which took me a little while to understand - it needs some brain work! :)) What got me a bit confused is the mentioned size of the Y-block. It says "finished block size 3 inch", but I thought "finished block size" was before the Y-blocks were added together.....

Actually these Y-blocks are 3.5" - before added together. When I finally understood that, it went quite fast making the 3 blocks for the center piece of the runner.

Here's the center piece with the inner border. (The Y-blocks are 3"). Now I'm going to make rows of Y-blocks for the outer border. It's fun working with Christmas fabrics! I think I'm suffering Christmas fever!!! LOL

Gifts from friends

Ain't I lucky having such good friends as Kari and Majka?! Both of them sent me surprise gifts; books. From Majka I received Kaffe Fassett's "Glorious Patchwork". I know Fassett from his knitting designs and have read he is into patchwork too, but never had I seen any of his patchwork books. I received this book yesterday - once again a big thank you Majka! First today I had time for a better look. I love the simplicity of his quilts; made by squares, triangles, strips, diamonds etc. They are bright, colorful and vibrant. Stunning quilts - quilts I'd like to decorate the walls and staircase in my house with... The quilt on this photo is made of four sizes of triangles - doesn't it look great?!

Some weeks ago I received this lovely book from Kari; "Tildas Landsted". Once again - a big thank you to you! :) I'd been searching for a quilt pattern by Tone Finnanger (Norwegian author of the Tilda books). Kari did some research for me, but I never expected her to gift me the book! :) The book has some very cute projects from the seaside as well as the countryside. I know there's a "Tilda Craze" out there and if you would like to see more of her works, take a look here.




"Winter" weather in Mauritius; rain. No, it doesn't rain all the time, but the last days have been quite nasty with local showers. We went to Port Louis (the capital) a couple of days ago. While raining & a bit chilly this side it was hotter and nice there. Rain & sun bring beautiful rainbows too; like this one we viewed some days ago.

Another fantastic giveaway

I came across another fantastic giveaway while reading some blogs this morning. This time it is Chris at Dye Candy who gives away some of her hand dyed fabrics. Each winner can choose one of her hand dyed fabrics at Dye Candy Store, or a piece of her Quilt Block Jewelry from Shady Grove Studios. Take a look at her blog for details and deadline. Look at these beautiful fabrics!

Giveaway - Subscription to TGOS

Lody has a great giveaway; one year subscription to the cross-stitch magazine "The Gift of Stitching". If you are interested in cross-stitching and would like to win - visit her blog here for details.

My first quilt

Camille and Carrie are holding a "parade of quilts". They want us to tell about our first quilt and the recent quilt we have completed, as well as to tell a little bit about what we have learnt along the way. Just follow the links where you can see the rules.

Yes, I have a first quilt... Errr... I don't have photos of my very, very first attempts; a couple of coasters and small, square tablecloths made from strips and no matching fabrics - just to get some training what quilting is about. I want to call this one "my first quilt", because it was the first bigger one I made after the coasters and tablecloths. The center piece is part of an old salt sack, which I believe is from my grandparents. I had some fabric that looked "old" and decided to "play" around the center piece. It was fun making it, and it has become one of my favorite wall hangings - displayed in the kitchen. As you can see our cat Birre-Liten - at that time still a kitten - helps me holding the quilt. :)

I've been quilting for the last four years, I am self taught, and what I have learnt is from books and magazines, trials and errors. I have never attended any courses. I am more patient now and don't rush completing a quilt. My new Bernina 440 QE is an eye-opener - with the features it has, like the BSR.

The first photo shows my first quilt. The second photo is my recent completed quilt; a chest cover. It is a Debbie Mumm design; Rustic Retreat. It was completed in June this year.

Another great giveaway

My quilting friend Karen has a great giveaway. You can visit her blog here. Leave a comment on her blog post by Wednesday (July 8th). You'll see the rules and what you can win on her blog post.

Birre-Liten and the zigzag quilt

The other day when I displayed all the blocks on the floor, I was worried Birre-Liten would go crazy playing with the blocks in the night, but fortunate he didn't. As you can see of the photos I had sewn together some of the rows, but yet to finish. This morning - when I was working on the quilt - something got him and he decided to dive into the quilt and play! I couldn't help it but laugh! He was so funny turning somersaults and "killing" the blocks! Fortunate only one row of blocks were not sewn together, so it wasn't much "damage" for him to do! It must have been so fun playing with the blocks! :)) You may suggest I should make a quilt for him too... I've done that - when he was still a kitten - but he seems not to like it that much anymore... He prefers sleeping on an old feather pillow - I guess that one feels warmer than the quilt.

Zigzag quilt progress

I've been sewing like crazy the last couple of days - and here's the result! This is how the zigzag quilt is going to be. I have done all the diamond blocks, small triangles for the top- and bottom and the bigger triangles for each side. As you can see I have displayed all the blocks on the floor (I hope Birre-Liten behaves during the night!) - perhaps I'll reorganize and exchange some of the blocks... I intended using scraps only, and I did manage - almost... I had to cut one strip of new fabric, but that was all. I'm feeling proud by using that much scraps! :) Next step is adding all the blocks together and then the border. I have yet to decide color for the border, but most probably it'll be something dark. What do you think?

A fantastic giveaway from Quilt Qua

Win: 1 Frosted Memories Fat Quarter Bundle by Holly Taylor for Moda Fabrics ! To enter simply "tell a friend" to spread the word about Quilt Qua. You can send an e-mail to people, post on your blog, comment on someone else's blog, put info in your guild newsletter, etc. Then send an e-mail to: quiltqua@gmail.com and let me know what you did. Enter as often as you wish. Random drawing for the winner will be at 10 pm July 31st.

Zigzag quilt progress & mischief

Over the last days I have worked like crazy on the diamond-shaped blocks. (See my previous post). I have completed the total of 38 blocks. Today I started with the small triangles for the top & bottom, which requires a total of 12 blocks. So far I am very proud of myself, because I have used scraps only. I can't afford using new fabrics, but I guess I have to because I'm running out of colors now. This kind of quilt is perfect for using up scraps.

If Birre-Liten is not outside, he uses to sleep on the pillow on my sewing table. Don't tell me he is spoilt rotten - he is! I always keep an eye on him - and the pins - when he jumps up on table - I thought! This time I missed! He jumped up and when he walked the few steps to the pillow, he stepped on the side of the pin box - and you can see what happened! :(( There were pins on the table, under the sewing machine and on the floor! Poor Birre-Liten looks a bit surprised - doesn't he?! I don't think he was aware of what happened and why I shouted to him. Fortunate it all went well, but he should be a little bit more careful next time! :)