RSC Blocks turned into Flimsies

 My goal this year is to work on UFOs and WIPs.

My UFO list is long as a freight train. I just have to start somewhere. This is what I did in January. 

I got my DH to pick a number (from the UFO list) between 1 and 31:

 #16, which is the Scrap Jar Star quilt blocks.

I made 35 blocks for the RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) in 2024

First blocks made January 2024

What to do with 35 twelve inches (finished) blocks? I didn't want to turn them into a monster bed quilt. First, the idea was a 4 x 6 blocks setting with sashing in between. Then I would have 11 blocks left, to make what?? 

I started piecing the blocks and sashing together. I wanted to use white sashing, but then my DH said; 'it's too much white'! He suggested black. Do I have black in my stash? Yes, a few black/floral yardage, but far from the needed amount. More hunting for a dark color! I ended up with dark brown that has some beautiful small red roses. This is the only suitable dark fabric I have enough of. I think it looks OK.

I figured out a 4 x 6 blocks setting will make it a bit too narrow and too long. I made it 4 x 5 blocks; 20 blocks. It's a nice lap quilt size.

So, that means I have 15 blocks left. 

Pondering for some hours; I decided to make 5 blocks more, to get 20 and make the same size quilt with white sashing. 

The 5 new blocks I made are turquoise, green, yellow, orange and red. I had to dig deep into my stash and scarps to get enough turquoise! 

Fortunately, I already had the HSTs sewn together from when I started making the Scrap Jar Star blocks in 2024! They were just to be trimmed.

I'm sure I'm not the only one having some 'out-and-in-of-the-shelf' fabrics? I pieced together bits and pieces for the back on both quilts. Two of the fabrics were printed in 2004 and 2005. I must have bought them just after my quilting journey began. Now they are on the back of the quilt and out of the shelf for the last time! 

Another goal this year is to use those 'out-and-in-of-the-shelf' fabrics for backing, where it is suitable. Been there for many years, I know for sure they won't be used for anything else. 

These two flimsies are set aside. I'm currently out of batting.

OOOPS! I forgot to take photos of the pieced backings! 

I'm in full swing working on my UFO/WIP list

I got my DF in Norway to choose a number from my UFO list. 

The number is #21: leftover HSTs from RSC blocks 2024 & 2025

I could have kicked him when he chose that number (he had not seen the UFO list), because this is what I did not want to work on! Then I was thinking; yes, why not! Better get done with those dreaded HSTs!! 

Most of the already sewn together HSTs are 3.5" finished. It took me almost a day to trim them all to that size. At this point, I had yet to decide on quilt pattern. There are tons of ideas on Pinterest and when I saw a scrappy Ocean Waves quilt; that's what I wanted to make! It looks like most of the Ocean Waves quilts are made using 2.5". I came across 'She Can Quilt' where she has an Ocean Waves block tutorial using 3.5", block finish is 12" (sewn into quilt). 

Never ending triangles, SIGH!!!

 OF COURSE they multiply!!!! Look what showed up in the box with blocks for the below quilt!!! More HSTs! I had totally forgotten about these. 

If a quilt needs a name, this is Remember '70s. 

The first blocks were made May 2023. The idea was to make it entirely in brown and orange, but that didn't work out. I ran out of Moda Marbles 'Chocolate Brown 6851'. Instead, I added Steel Blue 9881-25 and Slate Blue 9882-13. I think these two colors go well together with brown. 

I can't even remember why I didn't finish the blocks at that time (May 2023). I think I was pondering about to purchase the 'Chocolate Brown', or not. When I opened the box, I found I had already cut the background fabric in Slate and Steel Blue, but not the orange for the stars. ??? 

I decided on sashing. The only fabric I had enough of (almost!), is the orange/yellow used for the blocks. I used that one, but it was not enough for the outer border. Instead, I used a very dark brown. Just enough! 

I got carried away making scrappy Zip It blocks! (RSC)

First blocks made January 2024

I had 94 blocks, which I thought were too many. I decided to make it a 10 x 12 blocks setting and needed 26 more blocks. These are fast and easy to make.

Swirling Stars blocks (RSC)

 First block was made January 2023.

Currently quilting this one. I'm custom quilting each block, which takes forever. (Click on the photo to enlarge). My goal is to finish it this month, but even with some hours quilting each day, I'm not sure.... 

I ran out of orange and purple quilting thread for this one. More is on the way, I should get it by end of the month. 

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

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From the garden/porch last week

Many of you on the Northern Hemisphere are facing extreme winter weather with lots of snow and freezing temperatures. Here, on the Southern Hemisphere, we are into the heat and humidity of summer, or rainy- and cyclone season. January is usually the wettest month, and indeed has it been wet! We've had rain almost every day/night this month. Wet and hot season also means more yard work; pulling weeds! UGH! Everything is growing with record speed, especially weeds! We don't have a big garden, but it is big enough to maintain this time of the year! We've managed to fit in (between rain showers) some yard work in early mornings before it gets too hot and humid. The perfect time pulling weed is when it has been raining, when the roots are easy to pull. The soil in this area is very glue-ish (clay) and sticks to my garden shoes. I forgot to take a photo of my shoes, it had about half inch layer of sticky clay on the outsoles.

  Many households have workers to maintain their garden, but we prefer to do it ourselves as long as we are fit to do it. It's exercise too, even if my poor old knees don't always agree! There's no correspondence between head and body! lol 

Well, be it snow and cold, rain and hot/humid, we prefer to stay comfortable inside. Perfect sewing days, isn't it?! Due to all the rainy days in January, I've been able to do a lot of sewing and I'm happy to have all these flimsies done. 

The last days have been nice and sunny and more yardwork done. 

 Cyclone 'Gezani' missed us, but has made havoc at the east coast of Madagascar as a category 3 hurricane. Another tropical disturbance is looming northeast, it may turn into a cyclone in a few days.

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

Purple Finishes

After joining RSC in 2023 - purple was chosen for April that year - and after making the monthly blocks I had chosen, I decided to make a purple & white/cream quilt.

I got a copy of Quiltmaker May/June 2022 and fell in love with 'Bases Loaded' by Becky Rico (Scroll down to the Green/Cream HST quilt). Why not make one in purple, I thought, and so it happened! 

I had to focus getting it right! lol

Using up as many purple fabrics as possible, I made a pieced backing for this one; 12 blocks + pieces of fabric. It wasn't enough though, I purchased a gorgeous floral hibiscus purple for the back, enough for both quilts.

Closeup of the pieced backing

Binding is Aubergine purple 

'Bases Loaded' measures 63 inches (1.60 m) square

Finished May 13, 2024

UFO #22-1 - UFO list 2025

My goal (previous post) was to finish 'No Name Purple' by January 15.

I did it! 

The last stitch on the binding was done January 12. 

UFO #22-2 - UFO list 2025

The centre is a fabric I bought years ago, just because.... it was pretty! lol It has soft shades of pinkish, purple and teal, truly a beautiful fabric. I had in mind to make a baby quilt, but that didn't happen. It has been one of those 'in-and-out-of-the-shelf' umpteen times. 

It was an easy one to quilt. I did FMQ (free-motion-quilting), loopy swirls, on the centre. All the blocks were quilted in straight seams in the seamlines and inside the triangles. Even if the quilting is easy, it took some days. 

Maybe it's easier to see the quilting on this closeup.

Sashing and border is aubergine purple and binding has a variety of purples.

The back is the same floral hibiscus as 'Bases Loaded'. 

'No Name' measures 54 x 61-1/2 inches (1.37 x 1.56 m)

I can't believe I made a quilt using HSTs only! Me, who has always dreaded HSTs!!! 

My feelings for HSTs IS getting better after doing these quilts! (Don't ask me how many HSTs I have after making RSC blocks for two years!!! lol)

 I didn't keep track of how many hours I spent machine quilting these two, but sure it was some! 

 

UFO under the Needle

 As you already may have noticed (if you read my previous post), my UFOs/WIPs list is long as a freight train! How did that happen, btw?? 

The RSC color for April 2023 was purple. I pulled out all purple yardage, about 12-13 yards. After making the monthly blocks, I decided to make a purple & white/cream quilt. By March 2024, all the blocks for the quilt were done + I made a smaller quilt using up more purple yardage. You can see part of the quilts here. I did quilt and finished the biggest purple quilt (yet to take photos), but not the small one. 

It was thread basted and it has been sitting on my sewing table since last year! I know why; I got tired of detail quilting all the HST in different colors. 

Yesterday I counted 1-2-3!!! Here we go, lets quilt it! lol

I did part of the free motion quilting (the centre) last night, the remaining this morning.

I have started quilting the HST, which takes time. My goal is to get it done by January 15. 

This is UFO #22-2 'No Name Purple'. 

Flimsies, Pieced Backing and Frankenbatting

 I'm happy to say I have two RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) flimsies!

Keep the Home Fires Burning

I had sew much fun adding all these blocks together! 

...and Sherri McConnell A Quilting Life BOM 2024

Finding the 'right' fabric for the border and sashing for a scrappy quilt can sometimes be a challenge. Since it has 'all' colors, any of these colors could be used, I guess. My DH suggested black for the sashing. Hm.... What do I have in my stash? Definitely not a big choice. A few strips left of Moda Marbles, one yard black Grunge is hiding somewhere... I ended up with a fabric I've had 'forever'; white pindots on black, that was just enough, only a few strips left! For the border I've chosen a gorgeous batik in dark blue, purple and turquoise.

The last days I've worked on pieced backings for both flimsies.

I've pulled out fabrics from my stash, some been there 'forever'. You know those fabrics that are pulled in and out of the shelf until you get damn tired of them, leave them and forget about them. That's the case for these pieced backings.

'Keep the Home Fires Burning' is square, approximately 73"x73" (185 cm square). I have to get the quilt (all three layers) on the table to see if the backing fits. The sides are only an inch bigger than the quilt! YIKES! (Don't ask me where the math went! ...or my brain?!!) I may not get it straight on the table, I may have to get it on the floor getting it straight. I shall see... My poor old knees won't be happy!

Fabric requirements for this quilt is approximately 8-1/2 yards for the top and 5 yards for the backing (total 13-1/2 yards) 

It was easier to do the pieced backing for the BOM. I found some half yards and FQ's hidden at the bottom on a shelf, under a lot of Christmas fabrics!!! I know why they were 'hidden' there; I had no clue what to do with them and not sure I liked them that much either. A few were a challenge win years back. 

Fabric requirements: Approximately 11 yards for the top and 4-1/2 yards backing (total 15-1/2 yards) 

For these two quilts: All fabrics from my stash, a total of 29 yards. This is according to the fabric requirements. 

Even if not visible (as I can see!), it sure has made a dent in my stash. 

Some time ago I learnt a new word; frankenbatting. 

If that is new to you, you can learn more here. 

I have done frankenbatting for years without knowing it's a word for it. lol 

Do you do frankenbatting?

A couple of days ago I had to go into the city again. On my way home I stopped at Bagatelle Mall to get a few groceries and have a look at the Christmas decor. I'm not a big fan of malls, I find them rather boring. Malls have popped up everywhere on the island the last years. 

One of the entrances

...and even a decorated Banyan tree

 I enjoyed admiring their Christmas display

Have you decorated the tree? That's what I'm going to do this weekend!

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).