Two Finishes! Tomten's Quilt and BOM 2024

How come I've forgotten to take photos of these two finished beauties?! 

 I think the distraction of my faulty Bernina (in June) is to blame. 

Now, for about two weeks, I've been waiting for nicer weather to take photos, but 'of course' the weather went worse. Today (Jan 1, 2026), the sun is shining from blue sky.

Tomten's Quilt (Keep Believing), #14 on my UFO list 2024 / #16 UFO list 2025

6 blocks were done in 2024 and the remaining 24 in 2025. 

My intention was to make it into a flimsy at that point, which didn't happen. 

 I ran out of the red fabric (Moda Marbles Brick Red) and had to order more. When I got it, I decided to finish it.

There are 9 duplicate mini panels. I wanted to make the blocks all unique, but that meant buying a coordinating panel and that was no-no! As many of you know, I purchase fabric from abroad. International shipping has become extremely expensive. Sometimes the shipping cost comes to more than the item price! From this year (2025), I'm on SFD (Strict-Fabric-Diet)! That doesn't mean I'm not going to buy anything at all, it means only buying what I really need to finish a project. So far, so good! 

How to quilt it, is always my question. Depending on the design, it doesn't always fit the quilt to do FMQ. For me, that is meandering or loopy swirls design. I decided to custom quilt the blocks. It takes time of course, but is well worth it for the final result. 

Aren't these guys too cute?! 

First, I quilted in-the-ditch (in the seamline) around the star spikes, then the snowflakes background. The four cornerstones got an X and I did another seam half an inch inside the HSTs. 

I needed to do something with the small panels (star centers). I did in-the-ditch around the star center panels and from spikes to spikes. Quite a lot of quilting, AND wrestling (arm exercise!), for not to forget those not so nice words! LOL

The backing has small gnomes on dark blue. 

First blocks made: 2022 (or maybe 2021?)

Flimsy: April 2025

Thread basted and quilted: May 2025

Finished: May 17, 2025

Sherri McConnel's BOM 2024

I was not going to do any BOM! 

...and see what happened! 

I couldn't resist Sherri's BOM 2024. 

I had sew much fun making these blocks in RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) colors. 

I like how it turned out in RSC colors. 

You may notice there are two red blocks. I ran out of RSC colors and decided to make one more block in red.

Each block is custom quilted. 

The sashing has white dots on black and small corner stones in a variety of colors

The border is a batik I've had for years. You know the phrase; 'too beautiful to be cut'! lol 

I did a pieced backing for this quilt.

First block made: January 2024

Flimsy: Dec 2024

Finished: June 8, 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

Pineapple Quilt under the Needle and Other UFO updates

My 2024 goal is to finish some UFOs.

Beginning January, my UFO list looked like this! Not very uplifting, right?!

There has been other funnier things to work on and that famous squirrel has popped in off and on too! 

No more pink RSC for me (here and here)! Except a small update to be posted Saturday. That means I can concentrate on other pending things. 

Yesterday I pulled out the scrappy pineapple quilt. It was already thread basted (last year), and set aside because I wasn't sure how to quilt it. I didn't feel for doing the easy meandering or loopy swirls quilting, it needed to be something else. 

Then I came across Mary Huey's blogpost where she shows how she has quilted a pineapple quilt. Her quilt is beautiful, isn't it?!

I tried to follow her diagram, first the 'green line'. Poop! Mathematics and such have never been my thing, I could not figure out how it was done! Worst brain fart ever!!! 

Well, I did start eventually, the light areas, where I've quilted 'diamonds'. I've done the short side and two rows on the long side. So far I like it. At least I was able to do it (short side) from one side to the other in one go. It's here I messed up, so for the long side I have to quilt one 'diamond' at a time (more threads to bury! Sigh!). 

I have to figure out how I want to do the dark areas. On my domestic 'dear Nina', I'm not going to attempt the 'twist and turn' red lines as you can see in Huey's diagram! That would be too much wrestling! 

Here's an update of finished UFOs: 

#23 - Norwegian Flag Table Runner - finished January 9, 2024

#10 - Blue & White Irish Chain Quilt - finished January 2024

#24 - Small Gnome Quilt - finished May 2024

#20 - Bases Loaded Purple Quilt - finished May 13, 2024

I was going to take photos today, but the weather does not cooperate; rain showers and gusts up to 31 mph. 

...and this is 'Miss Sophie', checking out my sewing extension table and ruler! She's a rescue, feral Cat-Mama left her in our garden. I believe she's born middle January, still a crazy loving kitty! 

 

Pin in the Quilt - YIKES!

Finally! A UFO is under the needle!

This quilt was a result of the RSC - Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2023.

I had all those purples I wanted to use and ended up making two purple quilts. 

After the tops were done, both were put away. The main reason I wasn't sure how to quilt them. 

2-3 weeks ago I pulled the tops out from their 'hiding places' and got both sandwiched. The biggest one, the one I'm currently quilting, has a partly pieced backing (to use up more purple). It wasn't enough for the backing (no other fabric in my stash suitable), I did purchase a 108" wide backing, just enough for both quilts. 

To get a pieced backing straight can be a real PITA! 

Fortunate I have a big dinner table turned into my sewing table. I tape part of the backing to the table, mark the center and the four sides. I mark the backing center with a long pin, then add the batting and top. Since I always thread baste quilts before quilting, I have figured out long pins are much better (for me) compared to safety pins to hold the three layers together before thread basting. 

I don't have any photos from the preparation for this quilt. However, I did a blog post some years ago, for another quilt. To get an idea how it works for me. 

I'm very careful to remove all the pins after the quilt is thread basted.

I thought I had removed all pins on this one, but to my surprise and horror (!), the pin in the center of the backing was overseen! Yikes! It was between the batting and backing!

I noticed the pin when I started quilting (I start quilting from the center). Thank goodness I discovered it before the quilting was done at that specific area! 

I had to open up some of the thread basting from one end to the center, put my hand between the backing and batting to get that darn pin out! 

(the photo shows the pin after it was removed from inside the layers).

This quilt seems taking F-O-R-E-V-E-R to quilt! 

I decided on straight seams, which I think suits the quilt. It is made of HST (Half-Square-Triangles) in scrappy white / cream and a variety of purples. All the white /cream is quilted.

 I decided to quilt inside each purple HST! My goodness me! Why did I decide on that?! Because I know it'll look good when it's done! 

Variety of purple Masterpiece and King Tut being used for the HST.

(Sneak peek of the backing).

Threads to be buried by hand, because I don't like the look done on the sewing machine. 

My goal was getting it done by April. That didn't happen! New goal date; middle May! 

 

 

RSC Week #12 - Purple UFOs and Green Split-9s

How did it happen it's weekend again?! I hope you all had a good and creative week.

The week started with more rain (as if that was a surprise!), but got better midweek. What's better staying warm and comfy inside playing with fabrics?! Purple and green, that is. 

Not much playing with purple since all the blocks I needed to do are done. If you missed it, click here and here. 

However, I did cut the backing for the two purple UFOs (from last year).

When I made the big quilt, I had enough purple to make a pieced backing, but needed to purchase more for the sides, top and bottom. 

For the smaller quilt, the backing is one piece. 

Both quilts are thread basted and ready to be quilted. I went through all the purple threads I have and 'of course' there's not enough of the color that matches the backing! More is on its way, should get it within two weeks. 

What else have I done this week? 

I sold an XL Norwegian Flag table runner (Etsy Shop) and since I have all the fabrics, I decided to make another one. Thread basted too and ready for quilting. 

I'm working on two scrappy green and white/cream table quilts to a dear friend in Norway. Green is his favorite color and I think these 'split 9' blocks look great in green. Here's the table runner

...and the table topper. I love the scrappy look! The blocks are made using 2" and 2.5" squares, all from my already cut squares. To use up more green; the back and binding will be Moda Marbles from my stash. 

I'm writing this post early Saturday morning. Coffee mug is almost empty, I think that means 'get to it', which means add border to the table runner!

 

Afternoon update: added border to the table runner, went grocery shopping, had lunch. I needed a short nap, woke up two hours later! I guess I needed it. We took advantage of the nice weather (from midweek) and spent three days long overdue yard working. So glad we did, today we have rain showers off and on. Same weather is predicted for tomorrow = sewing day! Happiness!  

Linking up with Angela and the RSC - Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2024 

HAPPY  SCRAPPY QUILTY WEEKEND! 

 

 

FF-UFO 2024

 First Finished UFO 2024! 

I had this Patriotic Table Runner already thread basted (last year). 

Last Sunday, I decided to sew all day and I did all the quilting! Straight seams take time and are a bit tedious, but to finish an item, it has to be done, right?! The binding was done the next day, and voila! Finished!

Available in my Etsy Shop 

....and don't you think this little bugger showed up?!

It was hidden on the chair, in between other projects.

It's a small wall hanging I started last year. It's almost done; the gnomes need a nose each. Why on earth does that takes months to fix that?! Another UFO to the list!

I've just finished a custom order 

 1 table runner and 2 round table mats, on its way to the US.

You may have seen on the news Reunion Island and Mauritius were hit by cyclone 'Belal' some days ago. This is from Port Louis Monday this week; torrential rain caused flooding

...and the clean-up started two days ago. 

Fortunate, no damage to our property, except water in the lower ground floor, but that happens every time we get heavy rain. 'Belal' passed about 90 km / 56 miles to the south of the island, highest gusts 124 km/h (77 miles/h) measured here in Quatre Bornes. 

Cyclone season is officially from Nov 1 to May 15. Fingers crossed there won't be any hits to any of the countries in the Indian Ocean! 

 

January 2024 - Time (again!) for UFOs

 HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! 

So, here we go again; UFO's 2024! 

I was a slug last year! Out of 18 UFO's (quilts), I finished only one! And that was an Advent Calendar. I also finished two small cross stitched wall hangings. 

Did I make more UFO's to add to the list in 2023? Of course I did! 

Thanks to the RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2023), I can add 4 UFO's to the list! Plus some scrappy blocks I started and a Patriotic Table Runner I had forgotten about. That makes it a total of 23 UFO's! YIKES! 

 My GOAL is to finish at least 12 UFO's this year. Will I manage? I have to do better than last year!!! LOL

1) New York Beauty Quilt

Progress: blocks pieced together, thread basted, ready for quilting

2) PSQ 36-patches

Progress: more blocks added

3) Wedding Ring Quilt

Progress: Zero! 

4) Scrappy Christmas Stars

Progress: Zero!

5) Christmas Card Holder

Progress: Decided on fabrics

6) Basket Quilt

Progress: Zero!

7) Scrappy 4" squares

Progress: Zero

8) Scrappy Pineapple Quilt

Progress: thread basted, ready for quilting

9) Crumb Quilt

Progress: Zero!

10) Irish Chain Quilt, blue & white

Progress: thread basted, ready for quilting

11) Got the Blues Quilt

Progress: all blocks done

12) Poppies Wall Hanging

Progress: Zero! 

13) Scrappy Flannel

Progress: Zero! 

14) Tomten's Quilt

Progress: Zero!

15) Granny Squares Quilt

Progress: Zero!

16) House Quilt

Progress: Purchased fabric for sashing

17) Snowman Wall Hanging

Progress: Thread basted, ready for quilting

UFO's added 2023:

18) Swirling Stars Quilt

Latest: all blocks done

19) Star Streams Quilt

Latest: Zero!

20) Bases Loaded, Purple Quilt

Latest: Purchased fabric for backing

21) Patchwork Potpourri Scrappy

Latest: Zero!

22) Orange/Brown Star Quilt  

Latest: Purchased a few orange FQ's / buy fabric for backing?

23) Patriotic Table Runner

Progress: Thread basted, ready for quilting

Knitting / Crocheting / Stitchery

24) Shawl (knitting)

25) Open Finger Gloves (knitting)

26) Santa (knitting)

27) Gnome (knitting)

28) Bed cover / Tablecloth (knitting)

29) Granny Squares Blanket (crocheting) 

30) Over the River and Through the Woods stitchery - here - Finished Dec 14, 2025

Progress: Nothing since the above photo was taken

WISH ME LUCK!