Custom Order, Small Items and a Treasure Box

It's Sunday again and time for an update on what I've been up to lately. 

In my previous post I mention I had a custom order to do.

The customer wanted the name 'Lisa' added to it and more hair on the nurse. 

The hair was not a problem, just some FMQ. I don't have an embroidery machine so had to hand embroider 'Lisa'. It's a long time since I've done this kind of embroidery, some ripping, but I think it turned out OK. 

I made a couple of mug rugs from a panel last year and both sold in my Etsy Shop.

What was left of the panel has been sitting on the sewing table for some weeks, actually since middle March. I made a few, prepared some, but got bored with them and put it on hold. After I finished the drawstring bag I didn't know what to sew so decided to finish more mug rugs.

These are maybe small as a mug rugs, but big enough for a mug and a small snack. 

These are bigger and cute as summer mug rugs and great as a gift or Holiday memento. 

A small wall hanging. 

These items will be listed in my Etsy Shop.

(I don't think I have to mention the relief I felt when the last one was done?! lol)

After I finished these mug rugs, I decided to try something new.

This pattern caught my eyes and I had to try it. 

The pattern is in centimetre and I should have known better than trying to convert centimetres to inches; IT DOES NOT WORK!!!  Lots of trial and error before it ended up in the bin! :( From there I decided to do my own pattern (measurement) in inches and I had no problems. 

NOTE: Please do not look at the color combination!!! lol This is a TEST and I have used different fabric quality; chintz, bed sheet, thin cotton and cotton mix. I didn't dare using my quilt fabric just in case it ended up disaster (as the first try did!) Now that I'm confident in how to make it, I'll make one for my shop, just have to decide on colors.  

My 'insanity' quilt blocks

Accumulation of 1.5 inch squares turned into blocks. 

I made 8 36-patches blocks this week; 288 squares sewn together! 

In the treasure box:

Look what I found! :) 

When I was hunting high and low for a embroidery hoop (drawstring bag) I ended up looking in a plastic container hidden under other containers. I had totally forgotten about these log cabin blocks I made in 2010! Yep, that long ago! I made a log cabin quilt for my friend's mother and you can see it here. (Love that quilt). I have nothing left of these pretty Nancy Halvorsen fabrics and I think they are OOP. I'm not sure what to make of these blocks, not enough for a quilt, maybe a table topper. Also rediscovered some patterns and other things in that treasure box. :) 

Birthday and Christmas in the mail box this week! :) 

Poppy fabrics for a UFO (wall hanging). The idea is to fussy cut the poppies and do an applique wall quilt. It's the first time I'm doing something like this and it need some serious brain work! :) 

Batting and backing for 'En Provence'

The black and white charm pack is for the same wall hanging where I'm going to use the poppy fabric and the blue charm pack is for the Irish Chain UFO. 

This should keep me busy the next weeks! :) 

Meteo predicts nice and sunny today; time to start our hiking season! 

HAPPY QUILTING! 

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En Provence and other UFOs

JEEZ! Where did the last 3 weeks go?! I must have been busy! 

First of all, THANK YOU EVERYONE who left a comment on 'which color on border' to choose on my scrappy UFO! You can see the UFO here. All good choices! I have yet to decide, but I'm leaning towards black or the dark blue.... 

Yes, I have been busy and I have worked on some of my UFO's.
I have a flimsy and that is Bonnie Hunter's 'En Provence'!

This is the very first time I do a Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt. My goodness!!! All those small pieces! lol It took me almost one week (marathon sewing) to do 'unit 2 - 7' before assembling the quilt! Color combination outside my comfort zone, but I do love how it turned out! 

I had already done 'unit #1': 221 scrappy 3 inch (sewn into quilt) neutrals 4-patches (beginning last year, I think it was?). I did the required 221 4-patches because I thought I was going to make it the original size. At that point I didn't continue, because a) I got bored with it and b) I didn't have many purples and the 'right' greens. I purchased a few fabrics (last year), but didn't feel for working on it. It was put aside, and yes, it became a UFO! 
Bonnie's original 'En Provence' measures 87" x 87" and consists of 16 blocks, that's huge! I decided to shrink it a bit and made 9 blocks and it measures about 70" x 70". This size, it will be much easier to quilt on 'dear Nina'. Batting and backing is ordered and I hope to get it in about 3-4 weeks. Yes, shipping takes that long from the US to the middle of nowhere in the Indian Ocean! 

I finally got the backing for Pat Sloan's 'Grandma's Kitchen' . 

 I took several pics showing the backing, but clever me managed to delete those pics before they were transferred to the computer! DUH! Thread basted and ready to be quilted. 

Red and white #2 is also thread basted and ready to be quilted.

Have you ever tried the 'Bloc Loc' ruler? It is said to be 'the best quilting innovations since the ruler'!

 I purchased 2 different sizes; 2.5 and 3.5 inch (they are available in different sizes). 
I'm using the 2.5" one for the pinwheel blocks I'm making for this scrappy quilt 

I made some blocks this weekend and after getting used to the Bloc Loc ruler, I'm convinced I 'can't live without it'! lol More to trim, as you can see! :) 



UFO's are put aside this week since I have a custom order to work on. 

A set of 4 blue and white place mats are done

and available in my Etsy Shop
https://www.etsy.com/listing/590524364/quilted-placemats-blue-yellow-place-mats


WISHING YOU A WONDERFUL WEEK AND HAPPY QUILTING! 

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Follow Red Needle Quilts on Social Media:

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- Blogger: https://grandmasredneedle.blogspot.com/

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Busy Quilting Week

It's Palm Sunday, it's Easter, how did that happen? It feels like New Year's Eve was yesterday, doesn't it?! How are you going to spend the Easter days? For us it will be just normal days, nothing special. 

What have you been up to the last week? I have spent quite some time sewing and happy to say I have some finishes, even a UFO! :) So where do I start? 

I think I'd better start with a UFO where I'd love to hear your opinion, please. 

I've been working on this UFO off and on and come to the point where I need to decide on which color the first border should be. 

I've had the orange in mind for quite some time, but after hearing hubby's opinion, I'm not sure anymore. He prefers black, not the orange. What do you think? The other photo shows flag blue. Black is not my first choice, maybe flag blue? Any other suggestions? 

I have a heap with pinwheel blocks to make for this one. Lots of work, but I think it will look great when it's done. Whenever that will be?! :) 

More 1.5 inch squares cut from leftovers and I got 3 more blocks done

I wanted to finish the red and white lap quilt this month, but that won't happen. 

If you read my previous post, you know the top is already done. This is the back. I had quite some squares already cut and decided to use them for the back. 'Of course' I ran out of fabrics for the last two rows, ugh! Good thing more is on the way, but it will take 2-3 weeks until I get it. 

I've made some table runners lately and this week I finally got around to hand sew the bindings. These will be listed in my shop soon.

Power outage today made me finish the last one and a pair of place mats. 

DRUM ROLL, please!!!

Another UFO finished!

Set of 4 Christmas place mats. Merry Christmas! :) 

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Updated UFO list per March 25, 2018 

#1 - Log Cabin Table Topper (orphan block) – FINISHED!

#2 - Table Topper Purple Pansies - FINISHED! 

#3 - Wall Hanging Hawaii Dancing Girls – FINISHED!

#4 - Christmas Place Mats - set of 4 – FINISHED!

#5 - PSQ - Squares and Pinwheels

#6 - PSQ - Scrappy Squares

#7 - Scrappy Irish Chain in Blue and White

#8 - Bonnie's 'Provence'

#9 - Sunbonnet Sue - NNC block swap

#10 - Lap Quilt in Red and White – FINISHED!

#11 - Pat Sloan's Grandma's Kitchen

#12 - Scrappy Log Cabin

#13 - Got the Blues

#14 - Nifty Nurses

#15 - Scrappy Flannel Quilt

#16 - Scrappy Christmas Quilt

#17 - Lap Quilt

#18 - Scrappy Black and White Wall Hanging

#19 - Scrappy 1 inch squares (sewn into quilt)

#20 - Bag

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Another Red and White Lap Quilt and some Small Items

Yesterday was Sunday and 'blog day', but I was too pooped last night to even write a single word. Early Monday morning, cuppa in hand and here we go! :) 

In my previous blog post, I had started working on some mug rugs, finished one as well as a couple of trivets. Monday came and the plan was to hand sew binding on the table runners that have multiplied lately. The goal was to do one each day for one week and they should be done. That never happened, except one small table topper. Progress! Haha!

I got carried away with another big quilt! A lap quilt size this time.

Ever since I made the red and white custom order lap quilt earlier this year, I have wanted to make another one for my shop.

I have used the same fabrics as the first one I made and some squares were already cut. This one has a different design. I finished the quilt top yesterday. For the back I want to use bigger squares, but not sure I have enough fabrics left for that. 

As I already have mentioned; one table topper is finished! 

Don't you love these poppies? It's so summer!
The table topper will be added to my Etsy Shop soon. 

Drum Roll please!!! 
I have a finished UFO!!!

A small wall hanging or table topper, can also be used as place mat.
This item will be added to my Etsy Shop soon. 

A couple of new trivets. Feels good to use up some bits and pieces. What are these flowers called?  These trivets will be added to my Etsy Shop soon. 

...and a couple of Hu LaLa mug rugs

This item will be added to my Etsy Shop soon. 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/586095276/quilted-mug-rug-orange-red-snack-mat

This was my creative week, how was yours? Hope you had a good one! 

HAPPY QUILTING! 

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Updated UFO list per March 18, 2018 

#1 - Log Cabin/Elk Table Topper (orphan block) FINISHED! 

#2 - Table Topper Purple Pansies - FINISHED! 

#3 - Wall Hanging Hawaii Dancing Girls - FINISHED!

#4 - Christmas Place Mats - set of 4

#5 - PSQ - Squares and Pinwheels

#6 - PSQ - Scrappy Squares

#7 - Scrappy Irish Chain in Blue and White

#8 - Bonnie's 'Provence'

#9 - Sunbonnet Sue - NNC block swap

#10 - Lap Quilt in Red and White - FINISHED! 

#11 - Pat Sloan's Grandma's Kitchen

#12 - Scrappy Log Cabin

#13 - Got the Blues

#14 - Nifty Nurses

#15 - Scrappy Flannel Quilt

#16 - Scrappy Christmas Quilt

#17 - Lap Quilt

#18 - Scrappy Black and White Wall Hanging

#19 - Scrappy 1 inch squares (sewn into quilt)

#20 - Bag

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Follow Red Needle Quilts on Social Media:

- Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/RedNeedleQuilts

- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redneedlequilts/

- Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/redneedlequilts/

- Twitter: https://twitter.com/redneedlequilts

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redneedlequilts1/

- Blogger: https://grandmasredneedle.blogspot.com/

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Sewing Sunday and Creative Mess

How does your sewing table look like today?
Here's my creative mess! :) 

My sewing table didn't look like this yesterday, what happened?! 

When I finish an item, or items using the same fabrics, I tidy up the sewing table for fabrics and threads used. Leftover fabrics cut into squares in different sizes and stored away in boxes. (I have to attack those boxes one day!)  Not always I know what to make next and I tend to pull out fabrics to see if I can come up with some ideas. 

As you can see from the photos above, I ended up working on some mug rugs. I've had this Loralie's 'Hu LaLa' fabric panel for some years now and every time I pull it out, it gets back to the shelf. Today I actually did make some progress; I made - and finished! - one mug rug!

Not always easy to come up with ideas for panel blocks when the size is a bit off. This mug rug is slightly bigger compared to others I've made. It will be listed in my Etsy shop later today. 

What else has kept me busy this week? 
I had some beautiful blue and yellow fabrics I bought 2 years ago... Yes, that's me! I tend to buy fabrics I love without having any idea what to make out of it! These fabrics are gorgeous (love blue and yellow!) and had to wait until I came up with the 'right' design.

After searching Pinterest as well as going through quite some of my quilting magazines, I came up with this idea for a table runner and place mats. The binding is sewn on to the table runner and cut for the place mats. 

What to do with leftover fabrics that are too big to be cut into squares?

It was enough to make two insulated trivets. 
These will be in my Etsy shop soon. 

I almost forgot.....

...remember this one? I wrote about it in my previous post 
It is finally thread basted and ready to be quilted, but that has to wait! 
I've had my dose of Sunbonnet Sue (never been a big fan), but I must say it was fun making these blocks for this quilt (even if some of the other blocks were quite a challenge!).

***Sunbonnet Sue Quilt Applique Book for sale in my shop***

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND HAPPY QUILTING!

Attacking a block swap UFO

'Hello' from a cloudy and wet Sunday evening this side of the globe! 

Surprise! It's raining! We are getting the outer cloud bands from cyclone 'Dumazile'. It is expected to pass between Madagascar and Reunion Island, but we all know how unpredictable these storms are.... We had a couple of sunny days earlier this week and we were able to do some yard work. My goodness! With all the rain we have got this year, the garden has become a jungle! Still lots to do, but that has to wait! 

What's better than to stay inside sewing?! :) It's pouring down right now!

What have you been up to this week?
I've made a few table runner tops and finished the two Norwegian flag mug rugs (see my previous post). When I remembered to take photos today, it was already dark. 

As you may remember, I have quite some UFO's. Who doesn't?! 

Friday afternoon I had a look at my oldest UFO; the 'Sunbonnet Sue' quilt. It was not my intention to work at it now, but I got carried away and have been sewing the entire weekend! 

Most of the blocks are swaps from 2010/2011. I missed the 2012 swap though and to make a decent size quilt I decided to make some Sunbonnet Sue machine applique blocks, 16 blocks altogether. I finished about half of the S.Sue blocks last year, got bored to tears with it and put them away! I did a marathon sewing yesterday morning and finished all the S.Sue blocks!

I didn't pay much attention to the blocks when I received them and I thought it would be an easy task to piece them all together. WRONG! 
The blocks are supposed to measure 12.5 inch square. Most of them do, but to my surprise - and annoyance - some blocks measured less. Attention were not paid to the seam allowance and 7 (!!!) blocks measured less then 12.5" square! The measurements were off from 1/4 to 1/2 inch!  

This is one of the 'out of size' block! Take a look at the bottom and to the left; as much as 1/2" too small and it won't fit together with the other blocks! What would you have done?? I noticed the seam allowance was way off, almost 3/8"! I decided to rip the entire block and start over again! :((

Another one that is way off, but not as bad as the first one. 

My dear helper!  I think he feels sorry for me! 'Mommy' was not happy today when he decided to do 'aerobic' on the blocks layout on the floor!!!! lol 

They look much better now. The one to the right is still little bit off, but I managed to adjust it when I pieced the blocks together. These are only a few that didn't measure 12-1/2", altogether I had to rip and re-sew 7 blocks! 

Needless to say I'm still annoyed! This was totally waste of time and it shows how important it is to pay attention to measurements when piecing blocks! I'm not saying my blocks / work are perfect - they are not! But when a block has to be 12.5 inch, 12 inch is not acceptable. There's no seam allowance and how do you make it fit together with the 12.5 inch blocks?? 

All blocks sewn together in rows. I wanted to finish the top today, but with all the ripping and re-sewing I had to do, I'm POOPED! 

It feels like it's time to get the feet up and have a glass of wine... or two....! :) 

HAVE A FABULOUS SUNDAY AND HAPPY QUILTING! 

Custom order done and more thunderstorms

Where did this week go?? Someone must have stolen it, as one said....

We got more rain with thunderstorms the past days, which caused severe flooding in an area not far from where we live. The best way to keep dry is to stay inside and keep busy sewing! :) 

The red and white lap quilt (custom order) is done! 

...and the back...

Red and white are also colors I haven't paid much attention to. I have made several items in for this customer and how can I NOT fall in love with red and white?! Striking color combination that can be used all year. This lap quilt turned out so soft and cuddly, it's reversible and it can also be used as a tablecloth. I just love it! 

...and... drum-roll please! Another UFO done! 

An orphan log cabin block turned into a wall hanging.
First I thought of it as a table topper, now I think it looks better as a wall hanging. 
It can be used as both, of course. 

Remember the 36-patch quilt blocks (made from 1.5" squares) I'm working on in between other projects? 



When an item is done, I cut bits and pieces into squares, sizes from 1.5" to 5". I try to keep up with the 1.5" and made 9 blocks this weekend! That gives 56 blocks and 2016 squares sewn together! 

I'm sold out for Norwegian Flag Mug Rugs in my Etsy Shop and I'm currently working on a few. 

Rain, rain and more rain. More rain and thunderstorms.

Cyclone- and rainy season, but THIS almost every day since beginning of January?! I love tropical rain, at least it cools it down a bit. 

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Updated UFO list per February 25, 2018 

#1 - Log Cabin Table Topper (orphan block) - FINISHED! 

#2 - Table Topper Purple Pansies - FINISHED! 

#3 - Wall Hanging Hawaii Dancing Girls

#4 - Christmas Place Mats - set of 4

#5 - PSQ - Squares and Pinwheels

#6 - PSQ - Scrappy Squares

#7 - Scrappy Irish Chain in Blue & White

#8 - Bonnie's 'Provence'

#9 - Sunbonnet Sue - NNC block swap

#10 - Lap Quilt in Red and White - FINISHED!

#11 - Pat Sloan's Grandma's Kitchen

#12 - Scrappy Log Cabin

#13 - Got the Blues

#14 - Nifty Nurses

#15 - Scrappy Flannel Quilt

#16 - Scrappy Christmas Quilt

#17 - Lap Quilt

#18 - Scrappy Black and White

#19 - Scrappy 1 inch squares (sewn into quilt)

#20 - Bag

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'See you' next Sunday!
HAPPY QUILTING!