My latest scrappy craze and Dear Nina

While waiting for 'Dear Nina' to return home, I came up with a zillion ideas for new projects. 

I know, of course, that only a few will be put into action! :) 

In this post I talked about the 1.5 inch wide strips I have cut from scraps, cutting some of them into 1.5 inch squares for a Postage Stamp Quilt. Looking for something else the other day, I discovered another small box with strips! Yep, I had totally forgotten about that one! More strips to play with, can't be better, can it?! 

Well, while 'Dear Nina' was 'ill', I came up with the idea to turn the 1.5 inch strips into a scrappy log cabin quilt! 

Here's the test block I did today. 

For the center, I have used a charm from the swaps I have participated in earlier and the strips are from projects I have made over the last years. The block measures 8 inch square sewn into quilt. Love the scrappy look! 

A few of the strips. I figured out I have to sort it all into light and dark fabric and cut the strips into the lengths I need for each block. A tedious job, but it will make life easier when I piece the strips together. 

'Dear Nina' returned home yesterday! Yippee!

... and here's the culprit (most probably); the L-board / power supply.

'Nina' has a new power supply now and I hope she won't do more jamming (I've learnt a new tech word!) now! If she acts up again, the next to be done is to change the S-board (motherboard). HOPE NOT! (That's an expensive thing!)

Now that 'Dear Nina' is up running again, I have a custom order to work on and several UFO's. Got the backing fabric for a baby quilt and some table toppers. 

What do you do when it's more fun to work on scrappy projects than any other things?! 

Well, I have to do that custom order! That is going to be fun too! 

Happy Quilting! 

Postage Stamp Quilt (PSQ) ready to quilt

In my previous post, I said there will be another post for the PSQ I'm working on and here it is

... it is ready to be quilted.

I took this photo before it was pinned properly and thread basted

I don't think it had happened if not 'Dear Nina' had decided 'it is no fun to sew'! 

Not sure what the problem is. Had the same problem back in December and the tech guy didn't find anything wrong after running test programs etc. I took her home and it has worked perfectly since then, for now to act up again! It could be dust on a sensor and I also believe the high humidity here has an impact.... cotton dust + high humidity = cotton 'glue'? 

Well, here she is in her 'sulking' (carrying) bag ready for the tech guy on Tuesday. 

An empty sewing table! It's scary empty!!!

This had NOT happened if 'Dear Nina' had behaved! 

What else to do when you can't sew? Quilt top, batting and backing ready! 

It is made of 2.5 inch squares and all the squares are from swaps. 

I counted the squares some time ago but have forgotten how many there are... 

UPDATE:

I did this post as a draft some days ago and here's an update on 'Dear Nina'.

The tech guy had to connect with Switzerland for support on 'Dear Nina's illness'. He called back yesterday and could tell it is the power supply and that the L-board (power supply) has to be changed. Fortunate he has one in stock, he said, and hopefully 'Dear Nina' will be home today or tomorrow! :)

Do I really have a problem?

Some days ago - after talking about boxes and boxes with squares, and that hubby threatens to move out because it's not space for him anymore - one said to me; 'you have a problem'! LOL 

... and here is my 'problem'...

Yep! Boxes with squares in different sizes!

The squares are sorted on sizes and some boxes had squares in different sizes. Spent some time today organizing and cutting more scraps. Reduced the amount of boxes with three, a good sign! :)

I think I have to show you what is hidden in some of the boxes

This one, it's the large black one to the top right on the first photo.

It consists of 5500 2 inch squares, all from earlier swaps. Still it's not enough squares (from swaps) for a King size quilt (108 x 108 inch)! :) lol I do not plan to make a King size though, even if that had been fun! The problem will be to quilt it on my 'Dear Nina'. 6400 2 inch squares are needed to make a King size quilt! 

Christmas fabric - 2 inch squares. I have no clue how many there are, I haven't counted.

These boxes consist of 2 and 2.5 inch squares. Some are for a possible next swap (it's not confirmed it will be another swap this year) and some are just for me. :) The box to the right consists of orphan blocks and HST (half squares triangles). The idea is to make a 'wild' quilt using up all those HST's. 

2.5 inch squares. No counts. 

Batiks..... need to cut more.... The idea was to cut and sell small packages containing 50 squares each. I did it 3-4 years ago and sold it all on Etsy as well as eBay.

You may wonder; 'what does she do with all those squares'? 

My answer is; 'I'm addicted and I'm working on it!' :) 

I have just finished thread basting my second Postage Stamp Quilt where I have used squares entirely from swaps. 

That will be another post. :) You can see the first one I made from swaps here 

HAPPY SEWING! 

February Finishes

Can you believe we are into March already?! Where did the two first months of the year go?? 

I haven't done a lot of sewing lately, it is too hot and too humid. OK, I promise; I'm not going to say more about that, except that the last days have been bearable. It's cloudy, thunderstorms and it has cooled down a bit. 

I have a few finishes for February 

If you read this post earlier this month, I was working on an Easter lilies table runner.

It's finished! 

A set of two placemats. Love this fabric line, beautiful summer placemats for the porch.

A nurse mug rug I finished long time ago, but since the photos didn't turn out as I wanted them, I had to retake some of them. 

A couple of Easter Egg mug rugs

A custom order popped in just before the weekend

... two 'plain' mug rugs - 8 x 11 inch - to a repeat buyer in the US.

Thank you Karen! 

I'm currently working on some Easter placemats. The 'plan' was to add the binding today. It's noon and I haven't touched the sewing machine! Not a surprise; me and plans don't work together, that's a fact! :)

I usually buy batting from Hancocks when they offer 20% off site wide. I ordered two 'Queen' bats at the end of December and I finally got it a few days ago (February 24)! It took 7 days before it was shipped, it took exactly 4 weeks to land in Mauritius, 7 days at the custom before I got the notice to pick it up at the custom. We don't go to custom if we don't have too, we get the package sent to our local PO. That again took another 7 days! I have received other packages from the US this year that have not gone through custom and it seems to me packages take longer time compared to last year, why is that? Perhaps there are more check points? Doesn't really matter, the most important is the packages find their way to this tiny fly shit in the middle of nowhere! :) (That's hubby's words!) 

Wishing you all a happy and creative March!