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

RSC Week 12 - More Yellow Blocks and a few Finishes

I thought I was done with yellow for this month's RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge). 

Nope! 

Those of you who have followed my blog for some time, know I'm cutting scraps into squares in sizes from 1.5" to 5". 

I'm trying my best to use those squares, but it looks like some sizes are less used, like 3.5". 

This box containing 3.5" squares were overflowing and it was hard getting the cover on. 

Something had to be done! 

I got the idea to make 9-patches in RSC colors! I started with yellow.

I got 3 blocks 

2 blue blocks

5 pink blocks

I may change the bottom right square in the pink block #2. I can't decide which color it is. To me it looks like something between pink and orange. 

Where on earth did I get all that pink from?! Not even among my favorite colors! 

10 blocks x 9 squares = 90 squares left the box! 

There are more of these squares/colors in the box, but I didn't want to make any duplicates and it doesn't harm to keep a few for further blocks.

It made a tiny, tiny dent! Now it's easier getting the cover on! 

Place mats and hot pads from previous post done

14 inches round place mats

13 inches square place mats

10 and 8 inches hot pads

I think they look spring-ish with the green binding. 

I forgot to take photos of the back, which is all yellow too, all from my stash. 

Do you have any creative plans for the weekend? 

I've started quilting 'Dwellings'. I'm almost done with the second house. Custom quilting those houses take even more time than what it took to quilt the New York Beauty! My goodness! Hope I don't get bored with it! 

Linking up with Angela and RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge)

and Melva Loves Scraps

 

RSC Week 11 - More Yellow

Where did the week go? It's already middle March, which means we are heading towards cooler days! Hot and sticky today. 

Beginning of the week was wet and thundery. We got almost 4" rain. Not much, but every little drop counts. Mauritius is in drought (it's the rainy season and almost no rain!?) Water restrictions are put in force. Water reservoirs are about 40% or less. 

Enough of weather, whatever it is, we can't do anything about it! 

Over to sewing!

The RSC color for March is yellow. 

I made most of the blocks at the beginning of the month (here), but I needed to make a few more blocks for 'Eclipse'. 

I love this warm yellow fabric so much. It's not easy to see, it has tulips, daffodils and other flowers with silver accents. Unfortunately it doesn't show very good on the photo.

I made a full circle! The sun! 

I made two half circles and pieced them together. 

Difficult getting the color right, it is a bit warmer than the photo. I tried to adjust the tint too, as you can see the pink background, to no avail. Sigh! 

Using up more yellow fabrics; placemats and trivets. 

Over the last weeks I've made 4 Norwegian flag table runners for my shop. I've finished 3, the last one to be quilted. (No photos). Last year I made some flag mug rug tops, which I quilted yesterday. I'm running out of red for the flags and bindings, I have enough for either the mug rugs or the TR. I have to purchase more, but before I do that I'll see if there is other things I really need. Remember I'm on SSD (Strict-Stash-Diet) this year! 

I also finished 'Keep the Home Fires Burning' (my goal for March) this week. I need to sweep the porch before I can put the quilt on the floor and take photos. 

Linking up with Angela and RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) 

 

RSC Week 10 - Not Much to Show

As the title says; I don't have much to show today.

I haven't made more yellow blocks (RSC for March), as I intended to.

I got busy quilting 'Keep the Home Fires Burning' and I'm happy to say about 3/4 of the quilt is done! I'm quilting it in straight seams only, rather tedious, but I like how it looks. 

And there are some yellows too! I have quilted a few yellow blocks, which should count?! lol

Can you spot Mini-Bug? He fell asleep after helping me choosing the right area to quilt and to be sure the seams are straight!  

My goal is to finish it by next weekend. 

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

  

 

RSC Week 9 - March is Yellow

HAPPY MARCH!

It's the first Saturday in March and many of us are ready for RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) show and tell. Angela at SuperScrappy has chosen YELLOW  for spring! 

I prefer doing the RSC blocks at the beginning of each month, after Angela has chosen the color. When they are done, I'm 'free' to do whatever. 

My goal this year is to finish some UFOs, so let's see how that works out his month. 

I had almost forgotten I'm doing Pat Sloan's '182 Day Solstice Challenge'! 

I started the BOM in May 2024, and you can see the blocks here, here, here, and here. 

The blocks are different sizes; smallest are 12-1/2", biggest is 32-1/2", and a few other sizes in between. There are 19 of the smallest size - 12-1/2" - I made 13 last year. 

I have put off the bigger blocks, waiting for the 'right' color. 

Solstice, what color comes to your mind? I'm thinking Summer Solstice; YELLOW! 

The center block is called 'Among the Stars'. 

Summer Solstice & Stars = YELLOW! 

Among the Stars - Block 9/25

Block measures 32-1/2" / 82.5 cm square

I kept it to SPRING

Spring fever - block 17/25

Other yellow scrap blocks

Coffee with Dad - 4 blocks

...and it happened I had a yellow cat too! 

5 Scrappy blocks

Does any of you know what this block is called? 

2 blocks for Eclipse

(House cores are calling, I'll make a few more later)

Linking up with Angela and RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) 

Rainy and windy all week while cyclone 'Garance' was in the area. We got 'cyclone warning class #3', which means most of the island were shut down. Its center passed about 136 miles / 220 km to the west on the nearest point. Yesterday the cyclone warning was lifted and we had the most cyclonic conditions with gusts up to 62 mph / 100 kmh with heavy rain and thunderstorms! Go figure! The neighbor island Reunion got it very bad as it passed very close to the coast with gusts at 142 mph / 230 kmh.

 

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

RSC Week #15 Yellow continues

First of all, as Chantal pointed out in my previous post, that I sewed three of the four bowtie blocks the wrong way! I was a bit cross-eyed after making all those blocks that day! lol Mistakes happen when we are tired. 

I had to make them the right way, or else it had haunted me forever!

 Here they are! Redone!

Thank you Chantal for pointing it out! 

Yellow Scrap Jar blocks done

...and finally; Zipper blocks

The small yellow table topper has got a black border. I used a piece of ... well, not really 'ugly' fabric, but... a bit too yellow to my taste, for the back. (Forgot to take photo of the back). The black border is 2" cut, I may trim it down a bit after the quilting is done. 

Currently working on some hot pads, placemats and coasters.

I want to do as much as possible on these this weekend. Monday is already middle April and I so, so, so need to work on UFOs! 

The last days have been HOT. April, it is supposed to be cooler. The last couple of days we've had +32C / 89.6F (+34C / 93.2F in Port Louis and along the coast). Meteo says +3-4C above seasonal means! It feels like it's February! Not April! 

More yard work was done the last couple of days. 

This is the 'Rodrigues Lemon' tree I wrote about here. 

The leaves are looking healthy and I hope it stays like that! 

Linking up with Angela and the RSC - Rainbow Scrap Challenge

RSC Week #14 - Yellow for April

 HAPPY APRIL!

Easter came and went, I hope you all had some relaxing and nice days. For us, it was all normal days. In Norway, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Monday are all public holidays. None public holidays for Easter in Mauritius. I never get the feeling of Easter here, except seeing the odd chocolate Easter bunnies and Easter eggs in the supermarkets.

New month and new color!

Angela at SoScrappy has chosen YELLOW for April's RSC - Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

I don't know about you, but I prefer doing the RSC blocks the first week(s) in each month. When the blocks are done, I can concentrate on my 'to-do' list. No, I don't make a 'to-do' list for every month. That had freaked me out and I hadn't been able to do anything! LOL I don't even make plans for the next day. 

April's BOM block from Sherri McConnel , 'A Quilting Life'

All the blocks for 'Keep the Home Fires Burning' are done 

6 four-patches

2 Pinwheels

4 bowties

3 friendship stars

2 nine-patches

2 nine-patches

Split-9 blocks in yellow. These are fast and fun to make

...and I had all these (already cut) 2.5 inch yellow squares. 

A box containing quilt shop samples were gifted to me some years ago. (Quilt shop in Norway that had to close). I didn't like these yellows, a bit too modern for me. I cut the samples into squares and I have used some in scrappy 36-patches and there were still a lot! 

First I thought of making two placemats, but 'of course' there were not enough (by one square!) for making two! 

I was playing with the layout and this is how it turned out

...a small bright sunny table topper! 

I think it needs a narrow black border, what do you think?

I still have the Scrap Jar and Zipper blocks to make.

The green table quilts and coasters are finished and off to Norway they fly next week! 

I have neglected housework for ..... I don't dare saying for how long!!! It's long overdue and I have to get to it soonest. 

But first; COFFEE!!! 

Second: Housework (ugh!) 

Linking up with Angela and the RSC - Rainbow Scrap Challenge

 

RSC Week 37 - September is Aqua + RSC August was Yellow

 Hello, dear readers and followers! 

Days & weeks seem to keep me busy with other stuff than blogging. The last months have kept me busy making Advent Calendars for my Etsy shop. I've made some new calendars this year and some that sold out last year. I'm almost done! I was not going to make any fall items this year, but ended up making some small items.

In between making Advent Calendars, I've kept up with the RSC, the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

RSC color for September is Aqua. I knew I don't have more then a few aqua. What to do? I figured out I can use a variety of aqua, turquoise and teal. That is how the blocks for the Swirling Stars Quilt were made

The big block

The small blocks

(OOPS! I forgot ironing before taking the photos!)

The RSC color for August was Yellow, and here they are

Big block

The small ones

Now I have all the blocks for the Swirling Stars Quilt, in the following colors: purple, green, blue, pink, orange, red, yellow and aqua/teal/turquoise. 8 big blocks and 16 small blocks. They will be set aside for some time while I'm working on more items for my shop. 

Linking up with Angela and the Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC 2023)