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!

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 8 - Blue Cups and Curves

Last Saturday in February already!

 

More blue blocks have been made for the RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) hosted by Angela at Superscrappy. 

Curves for 'Eclipse'

3 big blocks

...and 3 small blocks

Cups for 'Coffee with Dad'

I LOVE the gecko fabric and I had just enough left for one cup! 

Two scrappy blocks

These will go together with the accumulation (!) of 36-patches (made from 2.5") I've made earlier. You can see some of them here (UFOs/WIPs #2) 

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

RSC Week 10, GREEN all over

 GREEN and wet outside - GREEN and cozy inside!

It's week 10 of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge - RSC hosted by Angela over at SOS Scrappy. March is the GREEN month. It has been more rainy (and h*** humid!) than sunny days this week hence no venture out (except grocery shopping).  

I've been working on green, trying to reduce some of the approximately 30 yards measured. Where did all that green come from?! Someone must have done some purchases! LOL 

After making the pink quilt (left to add binding) for the little girl, I decided to make a GREEN quilt for her brother. 

The first idea was to make a Rail Fence quilt but decided against it. Curious to what block I've chosen? Scrappy Churn Dash! This block would make a more fun scrappy quilt, IMO. (A Rail Fence quilt is still on my bucket list). 

I have 22 blocks, each block 12" finished). I'm aiming for a 72 x 96 inches quilt. The kids' two uncles are 6.56 feet / 2 meters tall, the nephew may take after them, who knows? 

The first I did this week, was to make the blocks for the Swirling Stars Quilt

This is the big block, 22.50" square

Two small ones, 11.50"

They look pretty in green, don't they? 

Slow progress on my UFO; two more 'trees' made. Now I have all the 'trees' needed. It's going to be a Christmas Card Holder. 

A dear friend in Norway has asked me to make two throw pillows and a table runner. We decided on 'Granny Squares' for the first pillow and maybe reverse the colors for the second one. Two different greens (Moda Marbles) will be used. 

I began this post with 'Green and wet outside', and that is exactly what it is right now!

Taken from our porch less than 30 minutes ago. The mountain in the distance (west) is covered in clouds and rain. Not sure if you can see it; the berries on the trees in front are coffee beans (berries). Click on the photo to enlarge. Then there's some banana trees and in the background a palm tree, known as latania palm by the locals. 

Bananas! Fresh from the garden! No pesticides or herbicides. We usually get the bunches off the trees before they are ripe to prevent birds eating them.

Linking up with Angela and RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge)  

HAPPY SCRAPPY WEEKEND! 

 

Basket Quilt UFO back in the closet, or not?

 Does it happen to you? You pull out a project / UFO from the shelf or closet for so to get it back in to where it was? Yesterday was my turn! Why?

I don't remember when I decided on fabric and made two blocks for this quilt. 

Photo from the magazine

What I know is I received the magazine (Marvellous Machine-Made Quilts) from an ex-pen pal in New Zealand in 2008. The magazine does have some great quilts and I have made these; Colorado Star (made two quilts for our sofas) and Split Hourglass quilt. It was sew fun making these quilts (even if it took some time! lol). I'd love to make the latter again, super for scraps. 

Well, back to the Basket Quilt. I'm not happy with the fabrics I chose when I started making it (whenever that was). 

I find the two blocks I made a bit dull and lack of contrast. What do you think? 

These are the fabrics I had chosen for the blocks and borders

...this one for the outer border. I'm not going to purchase fabric for this one, except backing, maybe....

I may have to change colors/fabrics? Or get in more contrasts? I spent half of yesterday pondering what to do. I'm going to use the background I've chosen; a very light green on white, toile looking. Now that I've joined RSC, make the baskets in RSC colors? ...or just scrappy using more contrasts compared to the already made blocks? 

I'd love your suggestions! 

Migration to Africa (UFO) and Other Finishes

Hello everyone! I hope you're having a good week and get lots of quilting done. 

It's winter on the Southern hemisphere. We're having a cold front from Antarctica; rain, wind and 3-4 degrees (Celsius) drop in temperature. (Actually no rain the last days!). This morning we have +14C / 57.2F and 65% humidity. The cold gets into my bones! BRRR! Never in my life did I imagine I have to wear wool clothes in the tropics, but that's what I'm wearing!

To keep my fingers warm, I've been working on my list from my previous post and I think I've done pretty good! After finishing 7 items in about one week, am I allowed to work on something else?! My answer is YES!!! ... but what?! The Pineapple UFO? A bit bored with that one. I have more UFO's to finish, but none of them are tempting. The Cardinal Tea Cozies? Maybe... I shall see...

I happy to finally show the finished 'Migration to Africa'! (A UFO from last year).

It started out with the 'Flying Geese' blocks and the 2 blocks in the center. Those are leftovers from this quilt I made for my dear childhood friend in Norway in 2012. I had totally forgotten about those blocks and rediscovered them (last year) in a box when I was looking for something else. The original plan was to use the blocks for a pieced backing for another quilt (can't even remember which one!). I had no design in mind when I started out. I had the blocks and searched my stash for 'ugly' and 'never-going-to-use' fabrics.  

I pulled out some orange pieces, mottled black (for the stained glass look) a small piece brown checks, dancing African ladies and some other small bits and pieces. 

The last piece I decided to use is a not-so-ugly brown and green fabric. For the border, back and binding, I have used my favorite Stonehenge wide back. I just love this beautiful fabric! I had enough for the border, but had to purchase more for the backing. So you see, not all fabric used in this quilt is 'ugly'! lol 

Quilting: All the 17 'Flying Geese' + 2 other blocks are quilted 'in-the-ditch', and to repeat the triangles, the borders on each side of the 'Flying Geese' I've quilted in a 'Chevron' (triangle) pattern and so are the orange rectangles. The 'Dancing Ladies' and brown/green rectangles are quilted in triangles too with 1' in between each seam. 

For the border I've done diagonal straight seams, 1' between each seem. 'Of course' it didn't match up at the end! I pondered about that for awhile, then decided to rip part of the seams and do horizontal straight seams on each side (top) instead. It turned out as if there's never been done a mistake! lol For the quilting I used Superior Threads King Tut #983. Binding is machine sewn to the back. 

I usually don't note how many hours I spend on an item, but for fun I decided to see how many hours went into quilting (only) this one. Any guess? 56 hours!

Size: 69 x 98 inches / 175 x 249 cm. Maybe an odd size, XL Twin?

I managed to stick to my to-do list (without starting anything new) and here are a few more finishes (not UFO's)

Using up bits and pieces, had enough for a Christmas Card Holder

a small Wall Hanging

...and just enough squares for a table topper. The border is from another fabric line and just enough too. 

3 Advent Calendars finished. I don't have to show all 3 of the same, do I? :) 

... and 9 more blocks for a PSQuilt. These blocks are easy to make, a 36-patches takes about 30 min and fun to do in between other projects. 

This is how my list looks like today:

 - Migration to Africa (UFO) - binding - DONE!

- 3 Tea Cozies, Cardinals - all pieces cut - no progress

- PSQ blocks 36 patches - ongoing project - 9 blocks done

- 3 Advent Calendars - quilting/binding - DONE!

- 3 Advent Calendars - purchase backing fabric - DONE!

- Christmas Card Holder - quilting/binding - DONE!

- Christmas Table Topper - quilting/binding - DONE!

- Christmas Wall Hanging - quilting/binding - DONE!

- Pineapple Quilt (UFO) - make a pieced backing - not done

HAPPY QUILTING!

 

Lock-down sewing: Pineapple scraps

 It's Saturday afternoon already and I haven't done half of what I intended to do today! Some days are like that and I don't think I'm alone?! I've been glued to the sewing machine almost every day this week. Some weeks ago I made a Christmas table runner and four place mats that needed to be quilted. That's done! Yesterday I added binding and have left to do two of the four place mats. But that was not what I was going to write about today. 

Isn't it amazing what can be done without I-net connection? I'm one of those who can't sit idle, I have to do something. I read, I always read a book, but that is limited to after I'm in bed. If you wonder what I'm currently reading? Hillary Jordan; Mudbound. During daytime, I do other things; housework, grocery shopping, yard work etc. Boring routines! Hahaha! 

During the lock-down and no I-net connection I did a lot of sewing. I had (still have) a lot of 1.5" strips that could be used for other blocks than log cabin. I decided to make some scrappy pineapple blocks. I had sew much fun, but all the strips got a bit tedious.

I printed the pattern from EQ7. The block is 11" (sewn into quilt) and it consists of 53 strips (corners included). The strips measure 0.75" (finished). 

Birre-Liten the cat is almost always eager to help! At least he did not try to 'kill' these blocks! 

I have 13 blocks. I'm not sure how many I'm going to make. I may make a couple more for a rectangle wall hanging, or four more for a square one. 

Did you know pineapple quilt blocks is believed to have emerged in the mid-1800's during Lincoln's presidential campaign? A symbol of opulence and hospitality. Read more here. 

HAPPY WEEKEND & HAPPY QUILTING! 

Lockdown Day 10 - Log Cabin Blocks

In this uncertain time, I hope you all are feeling well and that fabric, needle and thread keep you busy. What have you been working on this weekend? 

If you read my previous post, you know I'm busy with the log cabin quilt. I've decided on a double/full bed quilt and I needed to make more blocks 

Chain piecing, 10 blocks at a time! 

I've made 20 blocks this weekend, to be added to the top and bottom.

Thursday & Friday I made 16 blocks, 8 for each side.

This is Log Cabin Quilt #3 where I have used 1.5 inch strips and it looks like it has not made a dent in the boxes! LOL Of course it has, but as you can see, there are still plenty! 

The lock-down continues; bakeries, grocery stores and supermarkets still closed, to reopen April 1, 2020. (We are waiting for an update on this). 

I used to make bread, but I must admit I've been lazy and haven't done it for months. To go to the bakery adds in a little bit exercise (walk) as well. During the lockdown, either we make paratha (Indian flat bread) or bread. These were out of the oven late last night, I haven't tasted it yet, but they look delicious. :) 

HAPPY QUILTING!

STAY SAFE!  STAY AT HOME! 

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!