RSC Week #16 - RED for April

 It's the end of the third week in April and finally last week I did some blocks for the RSC. Angela at SuperScrappy has chosen RED as the color for April.

First up is Pat Sloan's 182 Day Solstice Challenge

Block 22/25 - Weather Vane

Measures 24.5" x 24.5" / 62 x 62 cm

Block 25/25 - Summer Rose

Measures 12.5" x 12.5" / 32 x 32 cm

Out of 25 blocks, I have 8 blocks left to make in RSC colors.

Coffee with Dad

4 blocks

I didn't have any red fabric to fussy cut in this size (3-1/2"). I thought the red chilies is a fun one, for chili lovers! 😀

5 Scrappy blocks

...and I had a RED cat! (Top right) Isn't it cute?! I wanted to use it for a coffee cup, but it was too big.

Hollow 9-patches - 5 blocks

You may notice 'Eclipse' blocks are missing? 

I have yet to make one or two. 

Linking up with Angela and the RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge)

Wishing you all a wonderful Easter Weekend!

Keep the Home Fires Burning - A Finish

I reached my goal for March!

(I'm late in posting my finishes)

'Keep the Home Fires Burning' is FINISHED! 

This quilt was started when I had a squirrel moment in February 2024, and also a result of the RSC - Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2024. 

In December 2024 I made a pieced backing, using up more bits & pieces of fabrics I know I'd never use for anything else. I got two leftover blocks I added to the back.

Deciding on a quilting design is always a challenge. I do all quilting on my domestic sewing machine; Bernina 440 QE. The throat size is 7.5", not a big space for big quilts. It involves quite some wrestling (arms exercise!) and usually a bucket of swear words! Does it sound familiar?! 

This quilt wasn't the worst to quilt. I did straight lines and there were not much wrestling! 

Straight lines on and around the Heart, half inches between the seams. 

(Click on the photos to enlarge)

Pinwheels, 9-patches and an interesting border

Friendship Star blocks, Bowties, 4- and 9-patches

9-patches, Friendship Stars and Bowties

4-patches, Bowties, Friendship blocks and border

Size: 72 x 72 inches / 183 x 183 cm

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Fabric Requirements (Pattern):

 

Top: Approximately 9-1/4 yards 

Back: 4-7/8 yards - pieced back requires more

Total: Approximately 15 yards (all from my stash)

Progress: 

First blocks made: February 2024

All blocks (except the border block): August 2024

Pieced backing: December 2024

Quilted: March 2024

Thread: King Tut 961 and 997 front, Masterpiece 152 back

Total hours to quilt & hand sew binding to the back: 46 hours

Finished: March 12, 2025

Pineapple Quilt Finish (last year)

The Scrappy Pineapple Quilt is one of the few quilts I finished last year (June 2024)

It all began during the Covid lock-down (March 2020) and no I-net. 

The blocks (42) are paper pieced and made entirely from my strips 'collection'. 

Each block has 53 pieces. The strips finish at 3/4" / approximately 2 cm. 

2226 small pieces pieced together.

The quilt top was finished in May 2021,  and  thread basted January 2023. 

I couldn't come up with a way to quilt it and it was set aside. 

I was searching I-net for ideas and came across this design and knew that is what it has to be! More about that (my frustration!) here. 

The quilting is easier to see on the back.

Just admit you've noticed the puckering! I ensure you they are from folding the quilt and not from the quilting! LOL 

For the back I've used a floral piece I've had for a while. It has red/pink/cream flowers on teal. The outer border is mottled brown. I did not get the right color on this photo, the brown shows warmer than it actually is. The photo below shows the colors better.

Closeup of the back.

Size: 77-1/2 x 66-1/2 inches / 1.97 x 1.69 meters

Fabrics (front and back): All from my stash

Batting: Frankenbatting  (from my stash)

First block: Covid lock-down (March 2020)

All blocks / Flimsy: May 2021

Thread basted: January 2023

Finished: June 2024

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)

and Melva Loves Scraps

 

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'. 

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) 

 

RSC Week 10 - Not Much to Show

As the title says; I don't have much to show today.

I haven't made more yellow blocks (RSC for March), as I intended to.

I got busy quilting 'Keep the Home Fires Burning' and I'm happy to say about 3/4 of the quilt is done! I'm quilting it in straight seams only, rather tedious, but I like how it looks. 

And there are some yellows too! I have quilted a few yellow blocks, which should count?! lol

Can you spot Mini-Bug? He fell asleep after helping me choosing the right area to quilt and to be sure the seams are straight!  

My goal is to finish it by next weekend. 

Linking up with Angela and RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge).

  

 

New York Beauty Quilt is Finished!

When the weather calls for 'no venture out', what do you do?!

SEW! EAT! Drink COFFEE! SLEEP! REPEAT! 

Well, this apply to all rainy days, not only last week when 'Garance' passed close by. 

My February goal was to finish the NYB quilt, and I did! 

It has 48 blocks + 4 corner blocks.

It measures 74 x 58 inches / 188 x 147 cm

All batik from my stash, except the backing (batik too) I had to purchase. 

Once again thank you to those of you who suggested thread color and design!  (here). Much appreciated!

You may remember I'm on SSD (Strict Stash Diet) this year. I didn't want to purchase thread and pay a fortune in shipping! I went through my Aurifil, King Tut and MasterPiece. I kept in mind some of the suggestions were 'light lime green'. 

The only suitable thread I had, and enough for the quilt (except grey), were two light green Aurifil. I used Aurifil 2902 Light Laurel Green for the top and Aurifil 2912 Platinum for the back. It blends in perfectly. I forgot to take photo of the back, but you can see it here. I'm not a big fan of pastels, but I think this one suits the quilt.  

Closeup of the quilting. Click on the photos to enlarge.

It took me 'forever', but I'm so glad I decided to custom quilt each block. It took me about 60-65 hours to quilt the blocks only. 

This is the corner block. Isn't it cute?! 

It measures 4.25" / 10.5 cm

It was a cloudy day, not the best light for photos. 

First block made 2020 (no records, maybe during Covid lockdown and no I-net connection) 

All blocks done March 2021

Thread basted January 2023

Finished February 18, 2025

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Next up to quilt: 

'Keep the Home Fires Burning'

It's a big quilt, but should be relatively easy to quilt, depending how I decide to do it. 

This is my goal for March. 

Updates to follow. 

RSC Week 9 - March is Yellow

HAPPY MARCH!

It's the first Saturday in March and many of us are ready for RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) show and tell. Angela at SuperScrappy has chosen YELLOW  for spring! 

I prefer doing the RSC blocks at the beginning of each month, after Angela has chosen the color. When they are done, I'm 'free' to do whatever. 

My goal this year is to finish some UFOs, so let's see how that works out his month. 

I had almost forgotten I'm doing Pat Sloan's '182 Day Solstice Challenge'! 

I started the BOM in May 2024, and you can see the blocks here, here, here, and here. 

The blocks are different sizes; smallest are 12-1/2", biggest is 32-1/2", and a few other sizes in between. There are 19 of the smallest size - 12-1/2" - I made 13 last year. 

I have put off the bigger blocks, waiting for the 'right' color. 

Solstice, what color comes to your mind? I'm thinking Summer Solstice; YELLOW! 

The center block is called 'Among the Stars'. 

Summer Solstice & Stars = YELLOW! 

Among the Stars - Block 9/25

Block measures 32-1/2" / 82.5 cm square

I kept it to SPRING

Spring fever - block 17/25

Other yellow scrap blocks

Coffee with Dad - 4 blocks

...and it happened I had a yellow cat too! 

5 Scrappy blocks

Does any of you know what this block is called? 

2 blocks for Eclipse

(House cores are calling, I'll make a few more later)

Linking up with Angela and RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) 

Rainy and windy all week while cyclone 'Garance' was in the area. We got 'cyclone warning class #3', which means most of the island were shut down. Its center passed about 136 miles / 220 km to the west on the nearest point. Yesterday the cyclone warning was lifted and we had the most cyclonic conditions with gusts up to 62 mph / 100 kmh with heavy rain and thunderstorms! Go figure! The neighbor island Reunion got it very bad as it passed very close to the coast with gusts at 142 mph / 230 kmh.