RSC Week 21 - Orange

Another week has passed (how did that happen?).

What has happened in your sewing room?

This is the only orange that happened in my sewing room - one 9-patches from 2" squares

In between working on my UFOs - mostly quilting - I've been piecing some scrappy 16-patches. As I've mentioned earlier; I have thousands (I'm not exaggerating!) of 2" squares from swaps as well as my own. Some are used, but there are still a lot. I just have to start somewhere, right? I've yet to decide what to do with these blocks.

Seven 16-patches (2" squares) from swaps

Now that I have 'Dear Nina' back home and in perfect working condition, I uses it for piecing and 'Helena' is set up for quilting. That way I can alternate between the two. It's good to take breaks from quilting big quilts, and piecing together squares is a no-brainer.

Daily life in Mauritius

Quatre Bornes fruit- and vegetable bazaar

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Linking up with

SoScrappy - RSC 2026

Melva Loves Scraps - Sew & Tell

Small Quilts & Doll Quilts - DWM (Design Wall Monday)

 

RSC April 2026 - PINK / Dear Nina is back!

It has been some busy days since my previous post.

It has been yard work and decluttering. I've gone through lots of papers, tossed or shredded most. I couldn't believe how many quilt patterns I've collected; 2 big ring binders! I've kept one stitchery pattern! It has 12 cute snowmen motifs, how could I toss it?! It would make a fun winter / Christmas quilt. 

Last week was 'sewing week'. 

Yes! Dear Nina (Bernina 440 QE) is back from the spa in South Africa! She had a total breakdown and the dealer here nor Bernina Switzerland, did have the spare parts to get it repaired. A DF offered to take it to SA for repair. Now she's back! The S-board (motherboard), L-board (circuit board), and a buttonhole sensor had to be replaced. I've been 'test-driving' and so far so good! 

Since the RSC color for April is pink, I decided to sew some 9-patches. I don't know how many 2" squares I have, it's a lot! I just have to start somewhere! I was into 2" and 2.5" squares swaps for 2-3 years (?). I have made bed quilts using all (almost!) 2.5", but haven't done much to the 2". 

I got carried away and made 10 blocks using 2" squares

Pink is not amongst my favorite colors, but I have to admit these blocks look good, don't they?   

I'd been lurking at Pat Sloan's '182 Day Solstice Challenge' QAL (first block posted Dec 2016). 

I made the first blocks in May 2024. All blocks were done, except block 8/25; 'Never ending love'. 

I wanted to make the heart(s) pink, but ran out of that color. I gave in and purchased 10 pink/red FQs (Fat Quarters). I didn't like the 3 layers (original pattern) of hearts, instead I added one pink heart. 

....and when that last block was made, I decided to assemble the quilt! It's big; 86 x 86 inches (approximately 220 cm square). I'm almost done! 

Another RSC BOM I didn't finish last year, is A Quilting Life BOM 2025. 

I have most colors, but a few missing, like pink

This is the February block 

I used bits and pieces of pink for the centre block. The pink used for the log cabin, are some from the FQs I purchased. 

and May block in red and green

I'm also doing A Quilting Life BOM 2026, in red, blue and white

March block

April block

I'm currently assembling the Basket quilt. The centre is done, but I ran into a problem with the second (pieced) border. It turned out too long to fit the first border, so I have to come up with a solution. UGH! I'm below zero in math, but I can't let the quilt win and let it become a UFO again! I'll make it work! lol 

Together with our DF Allan, we went for a hike in the Black River Gorges

One of the view points; facing the west coast

Linking up with Angela and the RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2026) 

and Sew & Tell at Melva Loves Scraps

  

Coffee With Dad - An RSC Flimsy, Another WIP

As the title says; Coffee with Dad is a Flimsy!

Viola at Familie Barwitzki challenged me to work on my UFO #26, since 26 is her birthday. Now that Swirling Stars is on hold, waiting (forever! due to shipping error from the online shop!) for ordered quilting thread, I accepted the challenge. 

In my previous post I mentioned I had too many blocks for one quilt. 

That is absolutely not true! I don't know where my head was, or better say brain (it must have melted in the heat these days!), when I figured out I need 36 coffee cup blocks! I had 64 blocks and thought I would use the 'leftovers' for another smaller quilt. 

OK, it didn't turn out! After re-reading the pattern, I noticed I misread. It reads; 'make 36 sets of 2 matching'. It's there I made the mistake; I must have read '36' only. LOL

The idea was to make it a lap quilt size; approximately 60 x 72 inches. It grew bigger! lol Instead of the intended size, I made it 60 x 84 inches. 

A pieced backing is done too. (Photos later).

The chosen RSC color for March is RED

I did part of A Quilting Life's BOM 2025 last year (RSC colors). I'm doing the rest of the blocks this year

One of them is the block for March, in red

Next up to work on: UFO #5 - Basket Quilt.

The pattern is called 'Retro Baskets' by Chris Jurd, published in Marvellous Machine-made Quilts magazine. I can't find any date/year this magazine was published. I got it from an ex-pen friend in New Zealand, in May 2008. Some pages are missing, she kept patterns she wanted to make. 

I don't have any records of when I started working on this quilt. I believe it was in 2020, since it is on my UFO list 2021 (#10).

After making the first two blocks (whenever that was), I got a bit discouraged. I didn't like the blocks; they looked dull and lacked contrast (here). Great suggestions from my dear quilting friends, I ripped off the outer border and changed it to low volume fabric (here).  

I've spent hours (over)thinking what fabrics to use on the next blocks. I pulled out this, that and fabrics I could think of. I didn't like any of them! After sleeping on it, I came up with the idea to use leftovers from 'Over the River and Through the Woods'. It may not work either.... together with the fabrics I chose when I decided to make the quilt. I'm NOT going to buy any new fabrics for this one! What I have, has to work! lol

More pondering... SIGH! 

Then, looking at the blocks for the umpteenth time! 

There's something with them I don't like, but what? Then I saw Melva's beautiful basket block and knew right away this is how I want to make them look like a basket with flowers, if you follow what I mean

Years ago, for unknown reason, I decided I needed to add basket weave fabric to my stash. Don't ask me why, because they are still there! LOL I don't remember how many I bought, I have 6 half yards left. I also have one in bright blue that will be used as part of the backing on True Blue. Another one was pink. (YIKES!) If I remember right, most of it was used to make Arreli's pink quilt and RSC blocks. 

I made another block, using basket weave fabric for the 'basket'. 

Doesn't this one (to the left) look more like a basket with flowers? 

Which one would you prefer? I think I'd go for the one to the left. I don't want more overthinking! lol I've already spent 3-4 days pondering about this one. The few blocks I've already made can be used for a pieced backing.

It's still hot here. We are not much outside, except yard work / weeding (when the weather allows) and grocery shopping in early mornings before it gets too hot. 

Yesterday we decided we have to get out for a longer walk. Layer of sun protection, bottle of water, and out we went. We went to the neighbour town Rose Hill and back, about 6.2 miles / 10 km. It was hot, about 89.6F / 32C with a nice breeze, it was bearable. 

On our way home, we discovered a breadfruit tree with fruits 

(click on the photo to enlarge)

Although it is classified as a fruit, it is used as a vegetable; like potatoes

 

Lots of fruits on this tree

The trees become monsters and usually have a lot of fruits

Linking up with Angela and RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2026)

 

RSC Week 5 - February is BLUE and a Squirrel popped In

Happy February!

Where did January go?!

February; it means a new RSC (Rainbow Scrap Color). Angela at SuperScrappy has chosen BLUE for this month. 

Three blue cups are made. 

I'll make maybe two or three more.

I didn't expect the squirrel to visit! It was good in a way, I needed a short break from quilting ten place mats for a customer. 

This is what the squirrel got me to do:

 

5 scrappy blocks using pink (January RSC color) in the center. 

...and three blue. 

Do you see the pink and blue cats? 

I got to use a few more pink (5" squares trimmed to 4.5"), a variety of 2.5" squares and bits and pieces of white and cream. Everything counts to reduce stash!

Does this block have a name?

My idea is to use these together with some of the 36-patches I've already made.

UFO / WIPs #2 - UFO list 2025 

I have made so many 36-patches using 2.5" squares, now I'm running out of variety. I had a lot from swaps (all used up after making bed quilts!) as well as my own cut squares. I have cut squares from 1.5" to 5". This was March 2016, and I'm happy to say quite a lot has been used!

Linking up with Angela and RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2025) 

Linking up with Melva Loves Scraps for Sew & Tell Monday

This photo was shot a few evenings ago. Fog rolls in at Corps de Garde mountain.

I never get tired of watching clouds / fog, especially during the rainy- and cyclone season when it can be quite impressive.  

 

Mindless Sewing, RSC, and BOM 2024

 First of all, to those of you who commented on my previous post; THANK YOU for your comment! I was not able to message all of you, because you were set on 'noreply comment'. I know I haven't had that problem earlier, unless you have changed the setting recently? Or is it Blogger that has a problem/change? Does any of you face the same problem? 

Are you done making Christmas items? I am! Almost all Christmas fabrics are stored away for this time, although I do have a Christmas Card Holder (UFO!) I may finish this year (she said optimistically!). And there's another UFO; a snowman wall hanging. OK, when I feel for it! 😀 You can see them here. The card holder is #5 and wall hanging #17. As you can see, almost NO progress on UFOs at all this year!!! However, I have 3 finishes; #8 (pineapple quilt), #10 (Irish Chain) and #20 (Bases Loaded purple quilt). I finished them earlier this year, but have not got around taking photos! Oh, and that Norwegian Flag TR is finished too. That makes it 4 finishes, out of ..... YIKES!!!! Good, but still too bad! 

I've done some windows and house cleaning. My goodness, that was needed! Now the neighbours don't look foggy! I have left to do one kitchen window. To do that one, I have to climb on the countertop. It feels so good when it's done, doesn't it?! 

A couple of weeks ago, we got rain and a little bit wind from 'Bheki'. We welcomed the rain, it was dry. But of course, after the rain and heat, the garden looks like a jungle! Yard work has been done too. I got sore, as expected! I have a tendency to overdo! 

A few hours sewing in the evenings, it has been. There was an accumulation of 2.5" squares I want to take care of. (They DO multiply during the nights, I'm sure!) 

36-patches

9-patches / 16-patches

So far, 810 squares pieced together; 2 36-patches, 27 16-patches and 34 9-patches. Mindless sewing is good for some days, but needless to say I got bored after some days! 

A month ago or so, I cut fabrics for black / grey zipper blocks. They were moved around on the table until I got tired and got them done. 

10 blocks

I'm caught up on all RSC blocks I've been working on this year. 

This is #12 and last of Sherri McConnel's A Quilting Life BOM 2024. Doing the blocks in RS colors, I ran out of colors. I was thinking I make it in a color I have the most of; red, blue or yellow. I already have one red block, but going through already cut red squares, I could make the block in red with only one duplicate fabric. 

Together with block #12, the quilt assembly was published. 

I needed fabric for the sashing... Since the blocks are made in Rainbow Scrap colors, any of those color could have been used, I think? Then my DH suggested black... Hm... Yardage in black is not what I have the most of. Going through my stash, I ended up with tiny white dots on black and cornerstones in bright colors. 

I had to go into the city again yesterday for some paperwork. People have got their salary and there are chaos everywhere! I have to admit I do like the hustle and bustle, but only for a short time! 

Caudan Waterfront usually display a huge decorated Christmas tree. You can see last year's tree here. 

This year's 'tree', or should I say star?! 

Somehow I expected a huge decorated tree, what can I say about this one? I like the modern look, and I'm sure it looks nice in the evenings. I'm a 'big tree' fan, I got a bit disappointed. lol

Pont Lakorite, the bridge between Shopping/Restaurants and Caudan Arts Centre

'This bridge dates back several years and its name was coined in August 2013 to symbolize connection; the strengthening of ties of friendship, love, fraternity, sharing and solidarity. 

To seal all these relationships, the public was invited to hang padlocks from the railings. In fact, the term 'Lakorite' is translated as Harmony.

As one of the bridges on our site, Pont Lakorite bears the identity of Le Caudan Waterfront, enabling visitors to move from one experience to another. As our tagline puts it so well; 'Le Caudan Waterfront, Bridging Experiences' 

(Courtesy by Le Caudan Waterfront).

RSC Week #16 - End of Yellow... Almost

...at least for me!

I have a small finish

The table topper got black border and binding, Grunge Onyx Black

The hot pads, placemats and coasters are quilted and binding added to the front.

Round hot pads and coasters

Square placemats and hot pads

Both fabrics have some blue / turquoise and I found this Moda Marbles Key West Blue 9880-49 in my stash. I had a look at the new Moda Marbles color chart and it looks like it has been replaced with 9863 Turquoise.   

The bindings need to be hand sewn or machine sewn to the back. I do not have matching thread at all, either too light or too dark. 

Need to purchase a small spool, but that has to wait some days. Usually parcels to Mauritius transit through Dubai Airport. A few days ago, Dubai got rain worth of 2 years, in about 24 hours! Streets flooded, airport flooded, flights cancelled, everything to a standstill. Airport is still disrupted after the storm. Parcels are usually shipped UPS, I wonder if the company is redirecting flights to other airports. 

Yellow yardage and squares are stored away for this time. 

This weekend I'm actually working on a UFO! Part of it is quilted and before I continue, it's time for an afternoon CUPPA. Thunderstorms this morning and torrential rain expected, meteo says. Perfect sewing weather! 

Fascinating scenery this morning. If you look closely to the right, you'll see a faded

 second rainbow.

Linking up with Angela and the RSC - Rainbow Scrap Challenge