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!

 

What's on your sewing table....

...and chair, that needs to be finished? 

This is my sewing table today. It doesn't look that bad, eh? A couple of projects, right? 

The chair; overflowing! Some WIP's hiding there!  

I'm determined to work on UFO's, but in between I need a break to work on smaller projects. After doing a little counting today, I've decided to finish (most of) the projects laying on the table and chair, before I touch anything else! (Easier said than done!) I've not set a timeframe, because that won't work for me! I didn't take photos of all, here are some of the WIP's.  

- 'Migration to Africa' (UFO) - binding

- 3 Tea Cozies, Cardinals - all pieces cut

- PSQ blocks - ongoing project

- 3 Advent Calendars - quilting

- 3 Advent Calendars - have to purchase backing fabric

- Christmas Card Holder - quilting

- Christmas Wall Hanging - quilting

- Christmas Table Topper - quilting

- Pineapple Quilt - make a pieced backing. 

There are a few other finished quilts on the chair that will be available in my Etsy shop, need to take photos. 

So lets see in about one week if the list is shortened. Wish me luck! 

Since my previous post, the tea themed place mats, mug rugs and teapot mat are done! 'Migration to Africa' quilted and trimmed. (Photos later).

HAPPY QUILTING!

Before I knew I started a NEW-FO - Some finishes

Yep! I've started a new project - and that even before I knew! LOL
I saw these fabrics in a shop in Port Louis earlier this year and I knew they had to go with me home! At that time I didn't know what to make and I had not bought enough for a twin quilt. Had to go back a couple of weeks ago to get more; they had just enough left of the gray so that I could  finish the quilt top and a little bit for the backing! There are lots of fabric shops in Port Louis, but as far as I know this shop is the only one selling imported cotton fabric from France that is suitable for quilting. 

This is what has kept me busy this month; 'Irish Chain' twin quilt in gray and purple.
It 'chain' looks pink on the photo, but it is a light purple color with black cherries and white dots. The gray fabric has white hearts. 

These colors are a bit outside my comfort zone, but I have to admit I love how it turned out! 

Am I into a purple craze?? Earlier this year I started a purple and black log cabin quilt - you can see the blocks in this post. I have not worked on it since June / July. Perhaps the next project to finish?!

Well, the 'Irish Chain' is thread basted and ready to be quilted. I have to wait for ordered thread from the US though and that will take another 2 weeks or more...

Some finishes since my previous post 

A pair of coasters in batik

Christmas card holder

Nifty Nurse Mug Rug #1

Nifty Nurse Mug Rug #2

Nifty Nurse Mug Rugs #3
These are perfect for gifts; Secret Santa gift, Secret sister gift, stocking stuffers, Valentine's Day, birthdays etc.

A table runner I finished long time ago but never got around to take photos

Another table runner - finished a couple of months ago too. The fabric has beautiful grapes and leaves.

I have finished a big quilt too! I took photos a couple of days ago but have yet to figure out the best ones. That will be for the next post!

Have a great weekend! 

Some Christmas and other finishes for October

HAPPY NOVEMBER!

October went by like a whirlwind. I think that means I have been busy. 

I have been busy finishing some projects and - of course - there are WIP's. 

Warning: Photos heavy! 

First of all, I'm happy to say my scrappy Christmas log cabin quilt is finished! :)

I have quilted two 'bunting & bows' for each block. It was tedious, but I love how it turned out. 

The back has cuddly flannel depicting reindeer and trees. 

Four Santa place mats. I think they are so cute I have to show them all! :) 

I've used the same fabric line (as the place mats) to make this cute table topper.

Green patchwork / cardinal table runner

 I love this pattern and made a red one too! :) 

Cardinal table topper. Happy to say this one has sold! 

October - the month of breast cancer awareness - I made two mug rugs. 

Christmas card holder with three pockets

3 'grape' mug rugs

2 more mug rugs using the same fabric. 

Love to use up bits and pieces! :) 

You may wonder how I manage to do so many projects in such a short time? Well, most of these projects were almost done, but had to wait for batting and thread to finish them. 

I'm happy to say I have made some progress on my 2.5 inch charms Postage Stamp Quilt. A few blocks are sewn together already. I wanted to add it to this post, but it will be too much. I will do another post soonest.

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Christmas wall quilts, binding and gifts from Santa

HELLLLLOOOOOO! :)

It has been too long, but here I am again! I have been extremely busy over the last weeks and by being busy I have a few finished items to show.

I have always wanted to make a Christmas card holder, and here is the result. I'm not sure when 'I believe' (panel and fabrics) by Nancy Halvorsen went for sale in the (web) shops, but I have 'saved it' (for what?) ever since then! :)

I used one of the prints from the panel to make this Christmas card holder. It has two pockets; one for small and one for bigger Christmas cards. 

I don't have a proper hanger for it, but is now using a piece of bamboo, 'stolen' from the roadside on the way to the center of town - lol! :)    

It looks like I have been in the 'Nancy Halvorsen-fabric-mood', doesn't it?!

Here's a wall quilt, where I have used two other prints from the same panel;

'I believe in HUGS' and 'I believe in LAUGHTER'.

On this one I have used 'I believe in GIVING'...

...and finally... a mini wall quilt; 'I believe in PEACE'.

I think this one is rather cute; a cat sleeping on the back of the dog and that darling mouse on the cat's leg! :)

For those of you who follow my blog, know that I have been working on the Polar Bear quilt for quite some time... but now I see light in the tunnel! :)

The binding is thread basted and ready to be hand stitched to the back! :) I don't know whether I can do it this year.... Christmas is approaching and I have some preparations to do... Another issue is the heat.... Yes, we are into summer now, and yesterday the first cyclone of the season was named; 'Alenga'. Well, I think it will be too hot having a huge quilt on my lap these days doing the binding...

Another binding I'll have to do before Christmas, is this long, table runner.

I'm still waiting for fabrics and thread sent from the US! Most likely the Christmas mail rush has started and parcels/letters are delayed! :(

I have a secret Santa in Norway! :) Who brought me gifts today!

Nidar marzipan, red whortleberry jam (for the Christmas dinner), 'kvikk lunsj' chocolate, Friele coffee - and purple candles for Advent! The latter is a little bit late though - :) - but I'm going to put up the Advent candlelight holder tonight! :)

As if that was not enough; FABRICS!!!

If you remember the stash I got here - this is the rest of it! :)

...and finally.... a book I ordered from one of the shops connected to Amazon US.

That bookshop does not ship to any African countries, so I had to get it shipped to Norway! It's a secondhand book and I didn't pay more than US$ 5.50 - but don't ask me about the shipping! :(  :))

Any of you who has this book and can tell me something about it? I got it this morning, so I haven't had time for a proper read.

Christmas is approaching - are you all 'on time' for the festive season?

I took my camera to the garden this morning... if you want to have a look, click here.