Rainy and Windy Weekend Sewing

How was your weekend? I hope you had a good one. 

Here, it was 'quilting weather'; intermittent rain, strong wind and cold. With high humidity, it feels colder than it is. BRRR! While writing this (Monday morning) it's pouring rain.

Two quilts (UFOs) were thread basted;

A Quilting Life's BOM 2025

Pat Sloan's 182 Day Solstice

It measures approximately 87 inches / 220 cm square. It's a monster to quilt on my domestic sewing machine, but it will be done, eventually. My goal is to finish it by end of September (this year!). I forgot taking a photo of the flimsy and the pieced backing. It will all be revealed when finished. Patience, please! 

After spending some hours prepping and thread basting these two quilts, I was not ready to start quilting any of them right away.

Instead, I pulled out the box containing 5" squares and made two 99 Charms Quilt tops! You may remember I made some earlier this year (here and here).

 I had squares of some odd 'red'. I don't know exactly what colors they are; they are not red, not pink, not purple, but something in between. 

I came up with the idea to mix them with purple, black and brown. Most squares are from the box, I just had to cut a few to get enough. I don't know how many times that grape fabric has been in and out of the shelf, same with the floral William Morris fabric (left and right side of the quilt). I'm so glad these two are out of the shelf forever! lol 

This one I have just added rows in the same colors. I had to cut 2-3 squares of some colors to get enough. There are still squares in the box, a mix match of colors. I'm quite sure there are still enough squares for one quilt, whenever I feel for making another one.  

As you may have noticed, a few purple squares are added to these two.

Tuesday Update:

Currently quilting 'Solstice'

I started quilting 'Solstice' today. 

I'm custom quilting each block (25 blocks!). If I can do two per day, I should reach my goal this month. 

Wish me luck! 

Linking up with 

OMG - Stories From My Sewing Room

So Scrappy

Sew & Tell - Melva Loves Scraps

Small Quilts & Doll Quilts

RSC Week 35 - Yellow

The RSC color for August is YELLOW.

Not much yellow has happened in the sewing room,

except two Scrappy Irish Chain blocks

81-patches blocks

White, cream and yellow squares are from my stash, the others from swaps (here). I started this project to use up some of my 'zillion' 2" squares. The pattern uses 2.5" squares and finish at 90" square. Using 2" squares, it finishes at 68", that is IF my math is right!  

What else happened in the sewing room this week?

My Secret Sewing quilt is done. I can't show any photos until it is delivered (end of September).

Jolly Tree Farm has been tread basted and is ready for quilting

We've had nice weather most of the week, which we took advantage of and did some never-ending yard work.

Our two bougainvillea are in full bloom

My DF Kari figured out the name of this flower

It's called Walking Iris, native to Brazil

I posted about it here

What are your plans for the coming week? 

I seldom make plans, they almost always fail. What I would like to do, is to prep A Quilting Life's BOM 2025 for quilting. I'm not doing a pieced backing for this one. I have a piece of 108" wide backing I'm going to use. It's washed and drying on the line. 

I also have Pat Sloan's '182 Day Solstice' flimsy (+ pieced backing) to prep for quilting. I don't have any photo of the flimsy. 

Weather wise; A cold front is approaching from the South (Antarctica), causing intermittent rain, strong wind and drop in temperature by 4 degrees Celsius, from this (Friday) afternoon. BRRR! 

Is it still hot where you live, or is there any sign of fall? 

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Linking up with 

So Scrappy

Melva Loves Scraps

Small Quilts & Doll Quilts

 

 

Basket Quilt Binding - Opinion Please

The last days I've been working entirely on finishing the Basket Quilt (#5 on my UFO list)

I quilted the last piece yesterday, trimmed the sides and added a sleeve. It's ready for the binding, but I can't for my life decide what color to choose. ...and since I don't buy unnecessary fabric (strict fabric diet!), I don't have anything that fits. I have to purchase fabric for this one, to be able to finish it.

Can you believe I'm out of black?! I had a small piece I tried, but to me it looked too dull. Dark green or dark red? Don't have! SIGH! 

If I had had more of the black with purple and teal, I would have chosen that one.

Something low scale black with tiny flowers? Dots? 

I'm having a hard time to decide! 

What had YOU chosen for binding? 

Your opinion, please!

 

 

RSC Week 34 - Yellow / Christmas TRs

The RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) color chosen for August, is yellow.

After finishing BIG BLUE (Got the Blues, #8 on my UFO list), I felt for working on something smaller. What's better than piecing together some 2" squares to 9-patches

I got 8 9-patches

A mix of my own cut squares and swaps. It didn't make a dent in the box containing 2" squares, but at least 72 squares are out of that box! 

I did some Christmas sewing for my DF in Norway

Placemat

Small table topper

Skinny table runner

These are made from upcycled Christmas curtains (cotton). They belonged to my friend, but when he got tired of them, he gave them to me! I rediscovered them when I was decluttering and decided to make something to him - to remember his curtains! LOL, as well as to myself. His items are on the way to Norway. I have yet to make something for myself. I have yet to decide, it may be some placemats. I love the bullfinches, they are so beautiful. We always saw them on the bird feeder during winters in Norway.

Earlier this week, when we went shopping, we came across this cute little guy

He was sunbathing on a wall.

I believe this is the Mauritius Lowland Forest Day Gecko, which is native to the western coast of Mauritius. It's not often we see them, I was really happy getting a photo of this beauty. 

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Linking up with

So Scrappy

Melva Loves Scraps

Small Quilts & Doll Quilts

A Quilting Life's BOM 2025 is a FLIMSY

 UFO #27 (UFO list) is finally a Flimsy!

A Quilting Life's BOM 2025

The quilt consists of 12 blocks. I did 10 of the blocks in RSC colors (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) last year. Somehow I dragged on the last two - see my previous post. 

I couldn't decide on what color to choose for the house block. For the Dresden Plates block; I was not veeery eager to do it since I had never done any before. As I can recall, I think an alternative block was suggested. I 'survived' doing the Dresden Plates block! LOL 

It always takes me some time deciding on sashing and border fabrics, when needed. Suitable fabric (from my stash) is usually not enough and I'm not purchasing fabrics this year unless strictly necessary to finish a project. 

I dived deep into the fabric shelves and pulled out a red fabric I had totally forgotten about it! Not easy to see on the phot, it has black cherries and tiny white dots on dark red, from STOF France, 100% cotton. I bought this fabric in Port Louis some years ago. If I can remember the name of that shop, I'll go there again! I know that shop has moved to another location and right now I can't for my life remember the name of that shop or the location it moved to. 

I'm pondering about backing. I may do a pieced one? I have a piece of 108" backing in my stash, I may use that one? I'm sure there are fabrics just sitting there that are waiting to be used. You know... Those 'ugly' fabrics! I shall see.... 

In the garden

I don't know the name of these. We picked up a few wild plants on one of our hikes some years ago and now it has spread beautifully. I love it, because it prevents weed from growing.

The flower bud

The flowers stay for one day only. 

Amaryllis in full bloom. It has a beautiful red/orange color.

Linking up with 

So Scrappy

Melva Loves Scraps

Small Quilts & Doll Quilts

  

Jolly Tree Farm QAL / A Quilting Life BOM 2025/2026

 Hello everyone! 

First of all: THANK YOU to those of you who have commented on my previous posts! I'm sorry I've not been able getting back to you. 

I'm online again! After two weeks off due to the PSU on my desktop PC failed. Long story short; DH managed to fix it (install a new PSU), by communicating with our DF and data-guru in SA! Thank you so much, A! I hate using my mobile phone for 'computer work', it is way too small and I tend to lose patience (very fast!)! 

Sewing, cross-stitching as well as decluttering have been done. 

The RSC color for August is yellow.

I did finish the last two blocks for A Quilting Life's BOM 2025

This is #27 on my UFO list 

BOM 2025 - January

BOM 2025 - November 

This is the very first time I attempted a Dresden Plate block! What a pain! 

It didn't turn out that bad though. I have yet to applique the 'plates' to the background fabric. 

Those of you who have made Dresden Plates, do you applique by hand or machine stitch? I've never attempted hand applique, not sure how that will turn out. 

A Quilting Life's BOM 2026

BOM 2026 - July

BOM 2026 - August

Jolly Tree Farm Mystery - QAL 2026

Rejoice Fir-ever block #2

Block #1 - Spruced Up 

Block #3 - Feelin' Pine & Dandy

Block #4 - Tree-Mendous Holiday

This weekend I 'plan' working on assembling these two quilts. Let's see how that pans out. 

UFO #8 (Got the Blues) has to be finished too. I got the fabric for the binding about a week ago. 

And... my 'secret sewing' is done, except for the binding. I can't show it until the recipient has got it (maybe not before October). 

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Linking up with: 

Angela at Super Scrappy

Melva at Melva Loves Scrap

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

My Treat: Jolly Tree Farm Mystery QAL

After all the sorting / decluttering I've been doing the last couple of weeks, I need a treat, right?

Good progress on my 'secret project' too, ....and not to forget the UFOs I have finished so far this year! (I still need to take photos!!).

I think I have deserved to have fun with something new! 

I couldn't resist FQS's 'Jolly Tree Farm Mystery QAL'! 

Any of you quilting along?

I've printed all the released block patterns

I'm not purchasing the recommended fabrics, I'm using from my stash. 

I remembered I have a Christmas half yard bundle (Nose to Nose - Susan Winget), but it does not contain any green and it has only one dark red/black. Hmmm.... no, I don't think so.

That means I have to dig deeper into my Christmas stash! GOSH!! I'm so tired of my 'old' boring fabrics! There should be some green, red, gold, and white/cream fabrics, I'm sure. 

Later in the day

These are what I pulled out; white on white background, green, red and brown for the trees and gold for the star blocks, all scrappy

My 'plan' was to pull weed today. This is what happened instead: 

Block #1 - Unfinished size: 11.5 x 18.5 inches / 29 x 47 cm

Yet to trim to size

I took this photo after dark in lamplight, not a good idea. The background fabric is white, not 'cream' as it looks like on the photo. 

 

Christmas in July Sewing / Going Through Stash

 Well, not much 'Christmas in July' sewing has happened since this post. However, some already prepped dog and cat mug rugs have been quilted, that's all. 

I got sucked into decluttering accumulated fabrics and other crafts.

Some of the jeans will be donated and some are cut into useable pieces. I'm not going to use the most worn areas, and I see there are some spots too that won't be used. I will get to that eventually.

My goodness, jeans take up a lot of space!  

Flannel shirts from a DF are also cut into pieces

The small heap with quilting cotton is sorted and some small pieces cut into squares. 

(I forgot to take a photo before I put it away)

I rediscovered this beautiful bullfinch Christmas fabric. Originally Christmas kitchen curtains (cotton). Too beautiful to be donated, right? 

I'm going to make some placemats and two table runners.

It looks like there is a color difference, actually it's shades.

I'm also doing 'secret sewing' that can't be revealed until it's delivered. 

We discovered this guy in the garden the other day

If not mistaken, this caterpillar (about 4.7 inches / 12 cm) is the Death's Head Hawkmoth. 

It's an impressive moth and we don't see them often. We saw one closeup some years ago - here.

Take a look at this YouTube video if you would like to see them hatch. An amazing process. 

Linking up with:

Angela at So Scrappy

Melva at Melva Loves Scraps

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

 

Forgotten Treasure Boxes - Decluttering

The last week I've been going through my fabric/craft stash/wardrobe.

Particularly one big box mostly containing fabrics not suitable for quilting. The box once contained a 21" bulky television, was filled to the brim with stuff! I don't remember how many years it has taken up space at the bottom of the wardrobe. Every time it annoyed me, I postponed doing anything to it, until beginning this week! 

(forgot to take photo of that box)

Most of the fabrics were cotton mix, pieces from curtains and other things I've made, old jeans, flannel etc. 

Most of it will be donated. I still have three heaps to go through; jeans, flannel and fabrics suitable for grocery bags. 

My intention was to make a denim quilt from old jeans... Well, not anymore! I may make a floor rug, or grocery bags.... I shall see...

Some of the flannel I can use for donation quilts 

and we always need grocery bags. 

Not the most interesting fabrics, but suitable for bags.

A small heap with cotton quilting fabrics I can use.

The greenish/white fabric to the right is furniture fabric, I may use on a chair where the seat badly needs a new cover. 

To my surprise, I discovered these two boxes!

I had totally forgotten about them! 

They date back to 2006!! I had many pen pals and I got the idea to ask each of them to send me two 5-1/2" fabric squares. Some were very generous and sent me even more. As you can see from the labels on top of the boxes, there are fabric pieces from Brunei, Germany, Sweden, New Zealand as well as from my DF Kari in Norway. Most pals have stopped writing, but Waltraud in Germany is still a very dear pen friend to me. 

I have yet to go through these boxes. I even have the envelopes! What a treasure! 

After all the years stored away, I notice some pins have rusted (always high humidity here), I hope the fabrics are not too damaged. I will definitely make a quilt using these treasured squares! 

Linking up with: 

Angela at So Scrappy

Melva at MelvaLovesScraps

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts 

Christmas in July

Have you ever thought from where Christmas in July originates?

To be honest, I have always thought it came from the Southern Hemisphere. Recently, I did a search and according to this link, it originates from France! Did you know? I didn't!

The month of July is usually the time I start making Christmas items for gifts etc. 

Last year, I prepped some dogs and cats themed mug rugs, using scraps from my stash. (I forgot to add them to my UFO list). I have finished quite some big quilts (so far) this year, it feels good working on something small, like quilting the mug rugs (even if that can be a bit tedious).

I have three Christmas UFOs I hope to finish / make progress.

The first two, I hope to finish before Christmas so that I can display them on the wall.

  Kris Kringle Kit - Teresa Kogut (UFO #19)

Christmas Card holder (UFO #4)

The pattern is in French - UGH! I'll get it done, eventually! 

Scrappy Christmas Stars (UFO #3)

Or should I say ongoing project? I have done 3 blocks only. I shall see if more can be done this month.

It's raining this a.m., showers with gusts up to 56 miles/h (90 km/h) is predicted today. I hope there will be some dry spells so I can do some grocery shopping later. 

 

Coffee with Dad - RSC Finish

...as the title says; Coffee with Dad is finished! 

UFO #26 on my UFO/WIP list 2026

Actually I finished it in May, but didn't take photos at that time.   

An easy and fun quilt to make! 

Drums, daffodils, black cat and colorful gecko

Yellow cat

Geckoes and sunflowers

The pink cat, and favorite coffee batik

Yes, I love cats! It was fun to rediscover some of the fussy cut fabrics for the cups.

Pieced backing

It was difficult to get the colors right. I took the photos in the shade on the porch. The bottom looks a bit washed out compared to the top that have more the right colors. 

I've had this teapots / teacups fabric for years. The idea was to make some table quilts (table runners, placemats, tea cozy etc) which never happened. I had saved it because it was 'too pretty to cut'! lol Well, I just had to trim it a bit to fit the backing.

...and yes, I did incorporate the broken handle cup to the back! 😃

The binding is an 'old' black and white animal print I found in my stash.

First blocks made: January 2025 (RSC)

Flimsy: March 2026

Finished: May 8, 2026

Size: 60 x 83 inches / 153 x 210 cm

All fabrics from my stash

Pattern: Quiltmaker May/June 2022

Other UFO Finishes 2026, take a look here