Working on UFOs

My oldest (quilt) UFO; Got the Blues,  (#8 on my UFO list) is currently under the needle! 

I made the first blocks February 2012! It's time to get it done, isn't it?!

I don't have any other updates on this one. It was thread basted last year, and since then; just sitting there waiting for thread and decision how to quilt it. 

Yesterday I quilted about 1/4. It's a big quilt to maneuverer even with the 10" working area on the machine. The quilt measures about 84 x 96 inches / 213 x 243 cm 

My goal is to get it done by end of this month (June). 

That reminds me; I have to check if I have enough fabric for binding! 

A Little Progress on This and That

 'Nina' returned home Monday! Nothing wrong, just a good cleaning. She's happy now, I can hear it!  A lot of dust accumulated of course, after the last service, about 5 years ago. (Shame on me for not doing it earlier! Have to improve on that!) 

While 'Nina' has been at the Spa, no sewing has been done of course since I don't have a spare machine. The last days I've made a couple of blue blocks, that will be for the Saturday RSC post. 

I enjoy working on 'Over the River...' stitchery. It took some stitches before I got into it again. I try to get in 2-3 hours each day; early mornings and evenings.

 No progress on 'Bits of Blue', see my previous post. 

I've gone through some of my fabrics, sorted on colors. I still have some to do. While doing that, can you believe I found two forgotten UFOs?! Two handbags, this time! (Photos later). 

Another UFO on the table for basting.

Update: Thread basting done last night.

I also thread basted the spring wall hanging (previous post)

HAPPY QUILTING! 

Sunday, Torrential Rain and Progess on a UFO

 It's the end of the rainy- and cyclone season, or 'summer' as the locals call it. We have had a couple of cyclones that came pretty close (the eye). Fortunate not much damage to our property, except some banana trees that went down and a huge branch off a tree in our garden. Lots of rain which is very good for the water reservoirs. At the second half of March we got some sunny days and we were able to spend four days doing some long overdue yard work, before it started raining again! Since Thursday we've had heavy / torrential rain, which has caused floods and roads closed in some areas. One place recorded 241.8 mm / 9.5 inches in 24 hours. Not so much where we live, but still a lot. Right now (Sunday morning) it looks like it's going to clear up a bit, but heavy showers are still expected. Just read we've got one months rain in two days. 

In such weather, what else to do than hunker down in the sewing area (dining room) working on a UFO, other items and my ODG (one-day-goal). I don't remember if I mentioned it earlier; one of my goals this year is to make one 36-patches quilt block (2.5" squares) each day. 

So far, so good; I have accomplished January 31 blocks, February 28 blocks and March 31 blocks. From earlier I have December 2021 31 blocks. I've already done 4 blocks for April. Did you do the math?? 125 blocks x 36 = 4500 squares pieced together! It HAS made a dent in the boxes; reduced from 5 to 3 and soon there will be 2 boxes only. I have also made two twin quilts using 2.5" squares. I'm beginning to run out of red squares - as if I don't have more uncut! LOL   

Here they are, Dec 2021, Jan, Febr & March 2022.

I drafted the above paragraphs yesterday (already Monday morning). Now I'm going to tell you what I did yesterday; I worked on bindings! Not my favorite thing to do, but it has to be done. The one to the left is the UFO; vegetable wall organizer.

Binding is tread basted to the table runner and the two kitchen organizers. The backing is from my stash.

I love using up fabric (these from the same fabric line), which resulted in eight place mats! 

There will be four round place mats. Isn't this fabric yummy? 

..and four square place mats

How come there's one orphan tomato panel left?!

 

What can I turn it into? I think I know; a small wall hanging? Any other suggestions appreciated.  

Attacking Another UFO

 To those of you set on 'noreply commet'; thank you for your comments on my previous post!

So, I hope I'm on the right track with my UFO's. After finishing the Advent Calendar, I pulled out another UFO. This is #1 on my UFO list; Vegetables Wall Organizer

It was also on my UFO list 2021, but since I was struggling to make it my way and not what the pattern said, it was put aside. 

Bright and colorful fabric I bought.... when? Can't even remember! lol

After almost breaking my brain to figure out how to add pockets (my way!) to a kitchen wall organizer (#1), I gave up and that is why it remained a UFO. 

Working on it again, after more brain work, I gave up and followed the pattern instruction; make the pockets and turn them inside out. Now they have to be quilted before I stitch them to the background.

These are the first pockets I made (wall organizer #2). This is how I wanted to make #1, but with two pockets to the left and one to the right, I couldn't figure out how to do it without messing up the text on the fabric. Perhaps I'm silly?! lol

In addition to the two wall organizers, I made a table runner too. 

Another goal for 2022 is to use up fabric from my stash and only buy fabric I need to finish items. I have more left from this fabric line and I want to use up as much as I can. Not sure what I'm going to make, but I'm leaning towards 2-4 place mats.

The last week has been so hot and humid, hopefully the last scorching days before it gets cooler. Can't wait! Feeling drained just to go grocery shopping down the road and back. We took advantaged of a couple of sunny mornings (no rain during the nights) and did some long overdue yard work. It's way too hot working outside after 11:00 a.m. More needs to be done, but it has to wait, we need to 'recover' a few days. 

Oh, and we have two helpers in the garden; two feral kitties, who are not so feral anymore!

This is Tikk-Tikk

... and here is Tokk-Tokk

Cat mama moved them (they were four) from somewhere to our garden, under some tin sheets (Dec last year). I didn't have the heart not to feed them. Cat mama moved the other two from our garden and I don't know what has happened to them, they may be gone. These curious ones have already explored the kitchen and the lower ground floor! Tokk-Tokk allows me to pet him, while Tikk-Tikk is more shy. We lost our beloved old cat last year and I love having cats again, even if they are outdoor cats. 
   

UFO list 2022

 Hello everyone! Have you missed me? I have missed you! 

We are already at the other half of March 2022! How did that happen?!

I fell off from blog-land last July, after our beloved Birre-Liten (the cat) had to be put down, 16-1/2 years old. I never got back to blogging, not even reading your lovely and interesting blog posts. 

Back in January, I started counting UFO's to prepare for a blog post. I did a draft but never published. The beginning of the year; the heat and humidity of summer in the tropics make many of us not feel for doing anything, except what we have to do. Slow motion, I've not been an exception! I have been sewing, just not felt for working on big quilts (UFO's). 

You don't have any, you said? How is that possible?! LOL Last year I finished 6 out of 15 UFO's. Better than nothing, but my goal was to finish at least one each month. That didn't happen!

OK, so I'm joining APQ's UFO CHALLENGE 2022! Anyone else? The number for January is #12, February #7 and March #3. This year I have decided I will not work on the monthly chosen numbers, because I know myself well enough there will always be that one, or two I will not work on that specific month! When that happens, I can pick another one of course, but this year I'll work on the UFO I feel for and the goal is to finish the 15 UFO's I have listed. There may be a few more hidden somewhere, who knows?! lol

Here we go! 

1) Vegetable wall hanging

2) Scrappy Basket Quilt

3) No name, 4 inch squares

4) Pineapple Quilt

5) Crumb Quilt

6) Irish Chain Blue & White

7) Got the Blues

8) Poppies wall hanging

9) Flannel PSQ

10) New York Beauty

11) Scrappy PSQ 2.5 inch

12) Wedding Ring

13) Scrappy Christmas Stars

14) Advent Calendar

15) Christmas card holder

As you can see, many of them are lap / bed quilts which takes time to finish. I'm currently working on a table runner, table topper and place mats. When they are done, I'll see which UFO to attack! 

Do you have any other goals, except working on UFO's, this year? My other goal is to use fabric I already have and buy only what I need for finishing items. So far so good - until I saw some Coffee fabrics I just had to have, even if I don't need them! lol 

 

Lockdown Day 11 and 12 - More Scrap UFO sewing

We've had some rain over the last couple of days. I almost wrote weekend, because that's the feeling I have every day now. It feels like the weekend; very quiet on the roads, only those with permit are allowed out. It's Wednesday and April already! Lockdown is extended until April 15, then to be re-evaluated. Boutiques (small grocery stores) and supermarkets reopen tomorrow morning with very strict protocol. Shopping will be in alphabetical order and for us that means we are permitted to go shopping twice a week; Wednesdays and Saturdays. Other strict measures are put in force as well. 

I'm happy in my quilting world.

I've finished the scrappy log cabin top! 

It measures 80 x 96 inches. Is that an OK size for a full or double bed? 

I think I'm never going to understand American bed quilt sizes! LOL 

I've also been working on another scrappy UFO

This is row #5, almost done. I'm not sure what to call this one? Coin Stack, maybe? 

This is NOT going to be a big size quilt, rather a lap quilt / sofa throw. 

I still have lots of long strips, but not many of this size; approximately 1.5 x 3 inches. I don't think I feel for cutting more! :) 

Now that we have to wear a mask while grocery shopping, I made two yesterday

I love these gecko batik! I hope the person at the supermarket's cashier is not scared of geckos! lol  

RES OU LAKAZ!!!   STAY AT HOME!!!

Curfew UFO Sewing

Hello everyone! 

I hope you all are safe and staying at home sewing in this crazy CoVid-19 times. Mauritius has been on lock-down for some days (except grocery stores, supermarkets, bakeries etc), then curfew and from today there's a 7 days complete lock-down (curfew) all over the island. 

I've been stuck at home since last Thursday (when I had to get some groceries). I've been busy with this and that, finished a few items for my shop (no photos yet). 

As most of you know, I love log cabin quilts. Recently I have finished two scrappy log cabin quilts, you can see them here and here. Yesterday I worked on UFO #1 (13) I've been piecing the blocks for some time, can't remember exactly when I started, maybe 1-2 years ago.

1-2 weeks ago I decided on a layout and yesterday I first pinned the blocks together and marked each row

.... and voila! 

Here it measures 64 x 64 inches (162.5 cm square). After I took the pic, I added one row to the top and bottom (64 x 80 inches / 12.5 x 203 cm). I've yet to decide if I want to stop here or make it larger? 

I think this one is going to be another favorite! I just love, love, LOVE this design, and of course; it looks even better when scrappy! :) 

I've made my very first wedge place mats! 

This is the fabric that has been in and out of the shelf umpteen times. Earlier this year I finally decided what to make (link) From the fabric I had, I've made 1 tea cozy + coasters, these and four other place mats. 

This is what is left of those fabrics, cut into squares, strips and rectangles. 

More squares for scrappy quilts! :) 

I'll never get tired to this view, every day is different 

(Sunday, March 22, 2020)

Such a glorious morning (Friday, March 20, 2020)

HAPPY QUILTING - STAY AT HOME! 

Scrappy Log Cabin Under the Needle

If you read my previous post, you know I - at that time - have a flimsy. 

Monday this week, I received the batting and backing for this quilt and since then it has kept me super busy! 

I took this photo two days back and last night I finished the quilting! Phew! 

There are some thread tails to be taken care of before I add the binding. 

Clear sky this morning and no rain during the night, which means it's time for some gardening / yard work today. 

HAPPY QUILTING! 

Scrappy Log Cabin WIP and other stuff

It's February! That means another UFO to finish!

APQ UFO Challenge for this month, is #9. For me, that means 'Log Cabin Blocks #2'. 

There are so many possible patterns for a log cabin quilt, difficult to choose. I had to decide, and ended up with this: 

When you are reading this, I've already pieced together these blocks and a few more. I started working on these scrappy log cabin blocks in March 2016! The idea was to make one block each day. It worked pretty well the first 3-4 months, but then I got bored. Last year I did some blocks off and on and the result is now 122 blocks! (8 inch sewn into quilt). I think I have enough blocks for a double/full bed quilt, yet to calculate. 

My little helper! I just had to go away when he came to 'help', because I know what he would have done; 'killed' the blocks or made a mess out of the block layout!!! This time he behaved! LOL

Since my previous post, I've been working on another UFO and a couple of Easter Table Runners

I've added another row to this scrappy quilt. It needs another row to make it a decent size.

These hip chicks are soon to be listed in my shop. I've left to hand sew the binding and add 'eyes' to the chicks. 

Oh, and I almost forgot

Last year I got a custom order for 24 Norwegian Flag Mug Rugs!!!

I ran out of red for the flag as well as backing fabric and had to order more. The backing fabric was sold out from where I usually buy fabrics so I had to hunt for it. I found a seller and the package was caught up in the Christmas Mail Rush. I finally got the package about 2 weeks ago and was able to finish the last 3 mug rugs. The mug rugs are now on the way to the US! Thank you Mark! 

In between sewing and rain, we managed to do a little bit in the overgrown garden last week. I was thinking I do some weeding today, but it's already hot and stuffy. Better stay inside and work on the log cabin UFO! 

HAPPY QUILTING! 

WIP's and another UFO

It's early Wednesday morning, I'm enjoying my first cuppa of the day and listening to the birds' chirping (before the traffic sets in). 

It's time to update what I've been up to since I counted UFO's! :) You can see that post here I forgot to add one UFO though, the updated list is posted below. 

My creative mess this past Sunday! 

I've been working on so many things I've almost lost count

Close to my heart are mug rugs. They are easy and fast to make. I've had Loralie's 'On the mend' panel for ages and decided it's time to turn it into mug rugs. These are ready to be quilted.

Ran out of a yellow fabric for a couple of Easter table runners. More is on the way, not expected until beginning of February. Are you able to spot the pattern in the tray? It resembles 'orange peel' quilt pattern! The latter has been - still is - on my bucket list. :) Has any of you ever made an orange peel quilt? 

I've made a few Easter table toppers, hand sewing the binding is on the to-do list this week. The black one is one of my many UFO's; the Advent Calendar, almost done! 

I haven't bought a quilting book since as long as I can remember, but when I saw this one, I couldn't resist! It has some really cute pillow patterns. If I make any of them? Time will show! :) 

Updated UFO list #2. I've added #18, which I posted here

I'm currently working on #10; FMQuilting. It's almost done; a little bit quilting left to do and then the binding. 

Time to Count UFO's

HAPPY 2020 EVERYONE!

It's January 3 and time to count UFO's! 

Do you have any NY's resolutions and do you stick to them? Years ago I gave up on resolutions; they failed all the time. I'd rather call it 'to set goals'. 

That said; my goals for 2020 is to blog more often and of course to finish the UFO's - at least some - that have accumulated over the last years.  At this point, I'm not sure how many I have, maybe 8-10? So let's see.. 

#1 - Got the Blues
#2 - Irish Chain in blue and white
#3 - Nifty Nurses Wall Hanging
#4 - Scrappy Flannel Quilt
#5 - Lap Quilt
#6 - Scrappy Christmas Quilt
#7 - Scrappy Black and White Wall Hanging
#8 - Snowman Wall Hanging / Attic Window
#9 - Snowman Village Wall Hanging

#10 - PSQ/Pinwheel Lap Quilt
#11 - Advent Calendar 
#12 - Scrappy Star Quilt Batik
#13 - Log Cabin (#1)
#14 - Log Cabin (#2)
#15 - Scrappy 2 inch strips
#16 - Scrappy 1 inch squares
#17 - Deer Log Cabin TT

YIKES!!! 17!!! How did that happen?! I'm certain they multiply overnight!!!

I'm currently working on #11 (Advent Calendar). 

I was going to finish it last year, but ran out of backing fabric. I was busy with other items when I got the fabric and it was put away. I did quilt the calendar yesterday, now to add the small pockets. 

HAPPY QUILTING! 

En Provence and other UFOs

JEEZ! Where did the last 3 weeks go?! I must have been busy! 

First of all, THANK YOU EVERYONE who left a comment on 'which color on border' to choose on my scrappy UFO! You can see the UFO here. All good choices! I have yet to decide, but I'm leaning towards black or the dark blue.... 

Yes, I have been busy and I have worked on some of my UFO's.
I have a flimsy and that is Bonnie Hunter's 'En Provence'!

This is the very first time I do a Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt. My goodness!!! All those small pieces! lol It took me almost one week (marathon sewing) to do 'unit 2 - 7' before assembling the quilt! Color combination outside my comfort zone, but I do love how it turned out! 

I had already done 'unit #1': 221 scrappy 3 inch (sewn into quilt) neutrals 4-patches (beginning last year, I think it was?). I did the required 221 4-patches because I thought I was going to make it the original size. At that point I didn't continue, because a) I got bored with it and b) I didn't have many purples and the 'right' greens. I purchased a few fabrics (last year), but didn't feel for working on it. It was put aside, and yes, it became a UFO! 
Bonnie's original 'En Provence' measures 87" x 87" and consists of 16 blocks, that's huge! I decided to shrink it a bit and made 9 blocks and it measures about 70" x 70". This size, it will be much easier to quilt on 'dear Nina'. Batting and backing is ordered and I hope to get it in about 3-4 weeks. Yes, shipping takes that long from the US to the middle of nowhere in the Indian Ocean! 

I finally got the backing for Pat Sloan's 'Grandma's Kitchen' . 

 I took several pics showing the backing, but clever me managed to delete those pics before they were transferred to the computer! DUH! Thread basted and ready to be quilted. 

Red and white #2 is also thread basted and ready to be quilted.

Have you ever tried the 'Bloc Loc' ruler? It is said to be 'the best quilting innovations since the ruler'!

 I purchased 2 different sizes; 2.5 and 3.5 inch (they are available in different sizes). 
I'm using the 2.5" one for the pinwheel blocks I'm making for this scrappy quilt 

I made some blocks this weekend and after getting used to the Bloc Loc ruler, I'm convinced I 'can't live without it'! lol More to trim, as you can see! :) 



UFO's are put aside this week since I have a custom order to work on. 

A set of 4 blue and white place mats are done

and available in my Etsy Shop
https://www.etsy.com/listing/590524364/quilted-placemats-blue-yellow-place-mats


WISHING YOU A WONDERFUL WEEK AND HAPPY QUILTING! 

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