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

  

Catching Up on RSC July / August / September continues

It has been a lot of catch up on RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) over the last couple of weeks. I have made a lot of blocks and I'm happy to say I'm all caught up (almost*!) on RSC 2025! Sewing table is cleared for squares and fabrics (for RSC), ready for something new (coming soon). 

 *There will be two more blocks from Sherry McConnell's BOM, that's it for this year.

 For not to make it too photo-heavy, I'll make it into two posts. 

 What took the most time, was four blocks for Pat Sloan's BOM '182 Day Solstice Challenge'  I'm happy to say, out of 25 blocks I have only one left to do. Yet to decide on color for that one. When it's done, I can start working on the settings. The blocks vary in size from 12.50 (smallest) to 24.50 inches (biggest). There will be squares and strips as 'fill-in's' between the blocks. I'm excited getting the top done, but that has to wait. It's already past middle October and I have a couple of Christmas quilts to do. 

182 Day Solstice Challenge

Block 19/25 Board Games - Purple

Measures 24.50 x 24.50 inches / 62 cm square

Block 14/25 Honey Bee - Purple

Measures 12.5 x 12.5 inches / 32 cm square

Block 15/25 - Precious Fabric - Light Blue

Measures 20.5 x 20.5 inches / 52 cm square

Block 5/25 - Gramma Anna's Basket - Light blue / Brown

Measures 12.5 x 12.5 inches / 32 cm square

Sherri McConnell's BOM 2025 for October is done

I love how this one turned out in brown

Over to 'Coffee with Dad'

I love these blocks! They are so fun and fast to make. 

7 purple blocks 

8 aqua / turquoise / teal

8 light blue

Hollow 9-patch

Isn't it amazing how many shades of purple there are?

5 purple blocks

2 aqua  / teal blocks

OF COURSE I got carried away with these blocks! 

8 blocks in light blue (centre)

These are going to be used together with 36-patches blocks I've made earlier

This is all for now

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND HAPPY QUILTING! 

Linking up with Angela and RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge)

 

RSC Week #23 Orange for June / Last of Green for May / Not Getting Rid of the Squirrel

How come it's June already?! Before we know it's Fall and Christmas again!

Been busy quilting, I know I have missed a lot in blog-land. Hope you all are doing well and enjoying summer, or 'winter' on the Southern hemisphere. 

Over the last days, I'm caught up on RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) for May, which was Green. Orange is chosen for June and all blocks done! I have mentioned earlier I prefer to do the RSC blocks beginning of the month. By doing it that way, I can work on anything I fancy the rest of the month. 

In my previous post, it was about that famous mischievous squirrel. I thought it would leave after getting me to pull out those panels and UFO, but nope! It was still hanging around some days ago and got me to do this!!! 

Last year (2024), I did Sherri McConnel's BOM. She's doing a BOM this year too, which I decided not to do due to all the other projects I have. 

It lasted almost 5 months! LOL. I've been following her monthly blocks and I think they are really cute. 

Squirrel asked; 'why haven't you put away the green fabrics?'

Me: Hmmm, not sure, I was thinking I make 1-2 green blocks for 'Eclipse'

Squirrel: 'Just admit you won't do it'! 

Me: 'Hmmm... I think you are right'

Squirrel: 'You like Sherry McConnel's BOM 2025, don't you?!'

Me: 'Yes'

Squirrel: 'Go ahead! Make it!!!'

...and so she did! LOL

Since the RSC for May was green, I decided to make the block for April in green. It was an easy choice, since the pattern is printed in green! 

The centre block is 6-1/2 inches (6.5 cm) unfinished / block is 18-1/2 inches (47 cm) unfinished. 

As I've mentioned earlier, I'm almost out of green. Then I remembered I have that teapot fabric somewhere.... and found it! 

The June block in orange 

Squirrel update: The squirrel is kicked out!!! I've sent it to someone else! lol

I ran into a problem quilting the UFO (more about that in another post). I needed a break from it and instead I've done most of the RSC blocks in orange and caught up on green (RSC May).

Last month, I made only one block for 'Eclipse', in green and red (here). I wasn't really motivated to do circles and left it there. Now that I needed a break from that UFO, I got to it again and made these

A mix of green and orange

...and of course the cups! 

Coffee with Dad

Don't you love that black cat?! I do! 

6 Scrappy blocks

I dived into my 5" squares box and found a cute pumpkin and oak leaf in orange. 

Not a big variety of orange, 

just enough 3.5" squares for 2 Hollow 9-patches blocks

I have 6 blocks left to do on Pat Sloan's "182 Day Solstice Challenge". I have the finished blocks in RSC colors (2 of each color). I've run out of colors! I'll make another one in orange, yet to decide which one. There are 2 blocks having applique. I'm not so eager on those. I shall see...

Update: Block #20/25 - Hugs & Kisses in orange

I made a mistake on this one! I had just finished the six scrappy blocks where I used up 120 2-1/2" squares. I was still programmed on that square size when I started working on this block; I didn't read the cutting instruction properly. The squares (white) should have been 2" instead of 2-1/2"! I discovered the error after I sewn together one block! I didn't bother to change it, who will notice? I'm happy with the block as it turned out. Do you see the error?

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

RSC Week #18 - GREEN for May

Happy May!

It's the first Saturday in May and new RSC color (Rainbow Scrap Challenge)

Angela at SuperScrappy has chosen GREEN as the color for May. 

I spent last weekend catching up on red by making 

one half circle 

and one quarter circle for 'Eclipse'. Here I have used red and green.

The pattern (layout) is still a bit confusing, but I should not bother or overthink about that at this point! I'll make the blocks and 'worry' about the layout when the time comes! lol 

I had sew much fun making two green blocks for Pat Sloan's 182 Day Solstice Challenge!

Block 12/25 - Jacob's Ladder 

Measures 18.5" x 18.5"

It even has a red butterfly!

 

Block 6/25 - The Crosswalk

Measures 12.5" x 12.5"

It was a challenge to make these two blocks in green, because I'm running out of green! How is that possible, you may ask? Because of this quilt! Lots of green fabrics were used up. What I have left of green (today's date) are a few pieces of yardage (less than half yard each) and same with a few green Moda Marbles. 

I have quite some green squares though, in different sizes. Enough to make some blocks.

4 Scrappy blocks

Finally I was able to use those green squares I do not like at all! To me they are ugly! You may see that some of the squares are blue-yellow-greenish, it's those! I had a couple left I cut into 1.5" squares, and still I found them ugly! LOL I have to admit they don't look that ugly together with the other lighter and brighter squares.

Note that I didn't buy these fabrics, they were given to me!

 

7 Hollow 9-patches

My favorites; Coffee with Dad

4 coffee cups

All green blocks are done, except 1-2 blocks for 'Eclipse'.

Now I can concentrate on other projects, like UFOs.

Linking up with Angela and RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge)

 

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!