Christmas in July

Have you ever thought from where Christmas in July originates?

To be honest, I have always thought it came from the Southern Hemisphere. Recently, I did a search and according to this link, it originates from France! Did you know? I didn't!

The month of July is usually the time I start making Christmas items for gifts etc. 

Last year, I prepped some dogs and cats themed mug rugs, using scraps from my stash. (I forgot to add them to my UFO list). I have finished quite some big quilts (so far) this year, it feels good working on something small, like quilting the mug rugs (even if that can be a bit tedious).

I have three Christmas UFOs I hope to finish / make progress.

The first two, I hope to finish before Christmas so that I can display them on the wall.

  Kris Kringle Kit - Teresa Kogut (UFO #19)

Christmas Card holder (UFO #4)

The pattern is in French - UGH! I'll get it done, eventually! 

Scrappy Christmas Stars (UFO #3)

Or should I say ongoing project? I have done 3 blocks only. I shall see if more can be done this month.

It's raining this a.m., showers with gusts up to 56 miles/h (90 km/h) is predicted today. I hope there will be some dry spells so I can do some grocery shopping later. 

 

Who sent the Squirrel?!

Since last Saturday I've been doing a little bit tidying on the sewing table. 

Before I packed away the red fabrics (RSC April), I made these two small hot pads. Aren't they cute? 

The rectangle one measures a bit shy of 6.75 x 8.75 inches

The round one is 8.25 inches across

But that was not what I was going to talk about! 

I had finished some items for my Etsy Shop, the hot pads, and the 'plan' was to sandwich another UFO (my goal for May)

After a delicious morning cuppa, I was going to start working on that UFO.

Update (one week later): the UFO is under the needle!  

SQUIRREL DISTRACTION!!!! 

While my DH was preparing tea, a squirrel disturbed my UFO preparation!!! I've made some place mats for my shop recently, and that squirrel reminded me I have place mats panels in the (fabric) buffet upstairs! 

Of course I went to have a look, and this is what came with me to the sewing room; 

8 Paris place mats 

+ backing 

Last year I ordered 2 Advent Calendars from a well known online shop in the US.

This is what they sent me; 2 Place mats panels!!! LOL 

8 cupcakes / birthday place mats!

Eventually I got the calendars and where told to keep the place mats. What to do with them? Not exactly what I would have chosen, but I ended up purchasing backing and binding from the same fabric line. After all, I think they are quite cute and great for cupcakes party or birthday. 

I have a big (I think?) selection of Coffee fabrics and I just love these small mug rug size panels! 

I even made one mug rug! (Forgot to take photo!)

What else came with me to the sewing table?

A UFO! A small wall hanging

I don't know how many times (and years!) this one has been pulled out of the shelf for so to go back in again! I know how I want it, but.... I'm worried I'll mess it all up!

The background is black & white squares pieced together, from light to dark. My idea has always been to fussy cut the poppies and applique to the background, using the raw edge quilting method and maybe add seed beads to the poppy centers. 

Any tips / suggestions?  

A fun chicken / farmhouse panel

I had to laugh out load of these chickens, they are really fun! 

Maybe some potholders? Or mug rugs?

Fun chickens, what about these? 

What can I make of these hilarious cats?? Each panel measures 7.25 x 11 inches, I have two panels. Place mats with some coordinating fabric ( I have only the panels and busy background fabric from that fabric line), or small wall quilts? 

Any suggestion is welcome! 

I'm currently quilting 'Tomten's Quilt' and hope to get it done by the weekend. 

A glorious morning today, however meteo has issued a 'heavy rain watch' for this afternoon. I'd better get ready to do some yardwork before it gets wet! 

RSC Week 15 - Purple Progress and a Few Finishes

 It's Saturday again and time for RSC

I completely missed last Saturday and now we are already halfway through April! How did that happen?! Cooler days (beginning 'cold season') although the last days have been HOT and humid with thunderstorms. 

Slow progress on the purples. First I did was to make the blocks for the Swirling Stars quilt 

The small blocks (not very clever to photograph white on white!)

The big block

Do you remember the bunny fabric? 

A little purple here too and part of the bunny stripes has become placemats, mug rug and tea cozy. I used Moda Marbles 'Iris' for the binding, just enough for these items. 

Set of 6 placemats

Mug rug

Insulated tea cozy, same both sides

When I purchase fabric (from the US) I usually add one or two quilt magazines. What caught my eyes was Quiltmaker's cover photo in the May/June '22 edition; the blue and white coffee cup quilt, hence I bought the magazine. Don't you love quilt magazines? I do! What's better to snuggle up on the sofa enjoying a cuppa and reading a magazine? I love that! 

So, now you may believe this is the quilt I chose for the purple? Nope! I chose 'Bases Loaded' by Becky Rico (scroll down to the green / cream HST quilt). I thought that would make a nice purple and white/cream scrap quilt, using up some white/cream scraps too.

I have 5 blocks (16 inches finished), and a little helper today! I realized there are some purples I won't have enough and I don't want to end up with several HSTs in the same fabric for the last blocks. I ordered a charm pack with a variety of purples, should get it in about two weeks. I needed thread to finish binding on a few pink items too. The thread I have is not even close to matching.  

Linking up with Angela and the Rainbow Scrap Challenge RSC

This, That, a Finish and Christmas in May

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a good week and got some quilting done. Since my previous post, I've been busy with several projects. I usually work on one project at a time, although not always get them finished. That's quite normal, isn't it?! :) 

First of all, I have a finished UFO! 

Yep! Another Postage Stamp Quilt! This is #9 (my UFO list). It's the same size as the other PSQ I finished recently; 72 x 95 inches / 183 x 241 cm. 

This is the one I struggled to get the 108" backing straight. We (with help from DH) did manage to stretch and pull making it a little bit better, but still.... UGH! The colors are pastels on almond colored background. I didn't really like it when I prepped the quilt, but after finishing the quilt, I'm in love with it! :) So soft and cuddly! For the binding I have used a dark teal fabric that has been in my stash forever! 

Do you give your quilt a name? Usually I don't, but after spending hours quilting the 'flying geese' blocks for this UFO (that was meant as backing on another quilt), I've named it 'Migration to Africa'. 

It consists of several 'Flying Geese' blocks and dancing African ladies. There are groups of triangles on the dancing ladies fabric. Interpretation; groups of migrating birds. 

Quilting 'Migration to Africa' is time consuming and for not getting bored, or worse; getting fed up with it!, I've done some smaller items in between. Going through my stash, I decided to make a few 'Golf Ladies' mug rugs

Aren't they cute?! 

The Advent Calendar is done! 

While searching my stash for backing for the Advent Calendar, I pulled out some other Christmas fabrics. I had enough to make a card holder, small wall hanging and scrappy table topper. I even found backing fabric for these projects! 

Is searching my stash for fabric good or bad?! LOL Earlier this year (or was it end of last year?), I made this tea cozy. At the time I made it, I intended to make a matching teapot mat, but that did not happen at that time. I pulled out these fabrics again and from what I had left I prepped a teapot mat, 6 mug rugs and 6 place mats! 

This blog post has been in draft mode for some days. I have a few updates: teapot mat is done, all mug rugs are quilted and 2 (out of 6) are done. I'm working on 'Migration to Africa', about half the border is left to quilt. Why on earth did I decide to do diagonal straight seams with 1' in between each seam?! My-O-My! It takes F-O-R-E-V-E-R!!! I love how it turns out though! :) 

HAPPY WEEKEND & 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! 

Going Patriotic and Christmas

To all Norwegians worldwide: 

HAPPY MAY 17TH! 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/233095321/norwegian-flag-mug-rug-quilted-red-white

The last two weeks have been very busy. I've been out of the house almost every day, running errands here and there and only had time for sewing in the late afternoons / evenings. 

The Patriotic Mug Rugs in our shop sold out and I made a few new. For the back, I chose a red fabric with tiny flowers instead of the mottled flag red I've used earlier. 

I thought I was done with Patriotic quilts for awhile, but after searching the net for new ideas, I found this block worth trying. Norway's National Day, May 17th is today and July 4th in the US is approaching. These would be great table toppers on these special days. 



I prefer to use white cotton batting on white fabric. I ran out of white and more is on the way. I should get it by next week (she said hopefully!). 


https://www.etsy.com/listing/652698029/advent-calendar-quilt-gingerbread-house

I've been working on some Advent Calendars as well. Even if these are easy to make, it takes its time. 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/254308142/advent-calendar-gingerbread-cookies

I'm taking a few days break from Advent Calendars and this is what I'm currently working on

Yep! Christmas stockings! Aren't these cute? I cut the panels last year, but figured out it was too near up to Christmas to get them shipped abroad. Since I took the photo yesterday, I've quilted all the backings (12 in all) and almost halfway quilting the fronts. These are really cute and would put a smile to everyone's face. 
Soon to be listed at RedNeedleQuilts 

I bought some meters satin ribbons (sold per meter) the other day and got the clever idea to reuse empty Superior Threads cones for the purpose.

Custom Order, Small Items and a Treasure Box

It's Sunday again and time for an update on what I've been up to lately. 

In my previous post I mention I had a custom order to do.

The customer wanted the name 'Lisa' added to it and more hair on the nurse. 

The hair was not a problem, just some FMQ. I don't have an embroidery machine so had to hand embroider 'Lisa'. It's a long time since I've done this kind of embroidery, some ripping, but I think it turned out OK. 

I made a couple of mug rugs from a panel last year and both sold in my Etsy Shop.

What was left of the panel has been sitting on the sewing table for some weeks, actually since middle March. I made a few, prepared some, but got bored with them and put it on hold. After I finished the drawstring bag I didn't know what to sew so decided to finish more mug rugs.

These are maybe small as a mug rugs, but big enough for a mug and a small snack. 

These are bigger and cute as summer mug rugs and great as a gift or Holiday memento. 

A small wall hanging. 

These items will be listed in my Etsy Shop.

(I don't think I have to mention the relief I felt when the last one was done?! lol)

After I finished these mug rugs, I decided to try something new.

This pattern caught my eyes and I had to try it. 

The pattern is in centimetre and I should have known better than trying to convert centimetres to inches; IT DOES NOT WORK!!!  Lots of trial and error before it ended up in the bin! :( From there I decided to do my own pattern (measurement) in inches and I had no problems. 

NOTE: Please do not look at the color combination!!! lol This is a TEST and I have used different fabric quality; chintz, bed sheet, thin cotton and cotton mix. I didn't dare using my quilt fabric just in case it ended up disaster (as the first try did!) Now that I'm confident in how to make it, I'll make one for my shop, just have to decide on colors.  

My 'insanity' quilt blocks

Accumulation of 1.5 inch squares turned into blocks. 

I made 8 36-patches blocks this week; 288 squares sewn together! 

In the treasure box:

Look what I found! :) 

When I was hunting high and low for a embroidery hoop (drawstring bag) I ended up looking in a plastic container hidden under other containers. I had totally forgotten about these log cabin blocks I made in 2010! Yep, that long ago! I made a log cabin quilt for my friend's mother and you can see it here. (Love that quilt). I have nothing left of these pretty Nancy Halvorsen fabrics and I think they are OOP. I'm not sure what to make of these blocks, not enough for a quilt, maybe a table topper. Also rediscovered some patterns and other things in that treasure box. :) 

Birthday and Christmas in the mail box this week! :) 

Poppy fabrics for a UFO (wall hanging). The idea is to fussy cut the poppies and do an applique wall quilt. It's the first time I'm doing something like this and it need some serious brain work! :) 

Batting and backing for 'En Provence'

The black and white charm pack is for the same wall hanging where I'm going to use the poppy fabric and the blue charm pack is for the Irish Chain UFO. 

This should keep me busy the next weeks! :) 

Meteo predicts nice and sunny today; time to start our hiking season! 

HAPPY QUILTING! 

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