1200 inches binding in less than one month - part 2

Since I have some finishes and quite some photos, I thought it is better to do two posts instead of overloading you with photos in one post! :)

This morning I got DH to stretch a line from the coconut tree to the neighbor's wall, for easier taking photos of the big quilts. This side of our garden faces East, and since the sun has to "climb over a small mountain" to reach this area, it should be one of the more convenient places to take photos out of the strong glare from the sun.

Second UFO finished is the Star Burst mystery quilt.

Brave enough to do FMQ on this one too! :) I have chosen Superior Thread's King Tut #1003 for the quilting, and I just love the effect the black & red thread does on the charcoal background! The reds look like small worms - lol!  To enlarge, click on the photo.

Third UFO finished, is the Pinwheel quilt...

I wasn't sure I liked this collection when I bought it, but after adding it together with the white tone-on-tone for the pinwheels and the light, narrow border, I changed my mind; I do love it! :)

More practising on FMQ...

I have quite a bit to go before all the stitches are even, but as I have mentioned earlier; it is all about practising!

Fabrics used in this quilt is "Evening Mist" by Sentimental Studio (Moda). I've used one layer cake and some extra fabric for the border. For the pinwheels and narrow, light border, I have used fabric from my stash.

I still have an "Evening Mist" jelly roll, but have yet to decide on that one...

The baby quilt is not a UFO. I began working on it just after New Year, if not mistaken.

It's a scrappy quilt, all fabrics from my stash.

I've used blue, pink, green and white tone-on-tone for the background.

No fancy FMQ on this one; quilted in the ditch.

The last days I'm working on another UFO; the Jiffy quilt, which I hope to finish within 1-2 or maybe 3 days. :)



Busy Sewing Weekend

First of all I apologize for not reading and commenting on blogs I usually do. The I-net connection is horrible, due to rain! Yes,  heavy rain = no connection!!!! To do this blog post seems to take me several  hours (if not days) and I'm near to go insane! I'm half-insane already (lol), and I think one day I'll throw that darn RABBIT (modem) out of the window!!! I'm not able to read blogs - well, I am able to read them if they load properly - but photos are not loaded at all! Emails go fairly OK, but often I have to reload and reload emails without any success! Often I get so ...... that I go away and do something else!

Friday last week - or was it Thursday - was one of those days I tortured myself in the garden. Due to the heat and humidity these days, the grass and weeds grow with record speed, and before you know you have to start over again!

I was forced to take it easy for some days - my body told me - and what was better than sit in front of the sewing machine?! :)

I have started to quilt the Star Burst quilt.

I intended to hand quilt it, but as a "hand quilting newbie" I realized a 60" square  (150cm firkant) will be a bit overwhelming, so I decided against it. I decided to quilt inside the stars and squares - phew - what a job! :) I have used Superior Threads King Tut #917, to brighten up the quilt even more. The background fabric is marbled "charcoal". I have purchased thread from the US, hopefully I'll get it within the next 2 or 3 weeks, so this quilt is put on hold until I get the thread to finish it.

The pillowcase is done! :)
I've used batiks. 

And another mug rug! :)
I'm afraid I suffer from "mug rug virus"! :))

Yesterday I started quilting the pinwheel quilt.
It's big - it's a mess - as you can see! :)) Difficult to get it through the harp... I wish the harp had been bigger.... A lot of pushing and pulling... But I'm determined to finish it now! It's not so visible on this photo; I have quilted around (in the ditch) all the pinwheels, now I have to decide how to quilt the rest...

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A very warm welcome to my new followers;

Susan M -  over at Sew Sue  
Mercedes - over at Mi Rinconcito
Lainee - over at A bit of a Novice Quilter's Life
Bev - over at Quilton's Doings
Sunbonnet Sue - over at Patchwork Agul'inhas

I hope you all will enjoy my blog!

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I made "Callaloo Quiche" for the weekend, take a look here.
It turned out so yummy!

Accumulation of quilt tops and a win

How many quilt tops do you have that is waiting to be sandwiched?!

Just say it - I know you have some, don't you?! :))

I have too many at the moment! By "too many" I mean four that are done (the tops);

1) Split Hourglass quilt

2) Hello Betty

3) Marion's quilt

4) Mystery quilt

5) Pinwheel quilt*

6) Polar Bear quilt*

Those marked with the *, the tops have yet to be finished.

These days I'm working on the Polar Bear quilt. It's a challenge, because the blocks are four different sizes, and if that is not enough; the fabric is limited and I don't get more. I had to purchase approx 0.50 yards of some of the fabrics that are still available. Hopefully I'll get it at the end of this week...

My intention is to start sandwiching one of these quilts already this week...

I should not be tempted to start another project before at least half of these tops are quilted and finished!!!! :) If I do - please remind me - lol! :)

This is how it looks like now... I have added together some of the blocks. I'm not sure how to proceed, need to take the fabric into consideration...

I fell head over heal for this design!

A while ago I bought a layer cake and jelly roll; "Evening Mist" by Sentimental Studios (Moda). It has bothered me - lol - that I didn't find a suitable pattern for it, but some days ago the pattern was just there, in front of my eyes - in a magazine.

This is just part of the quilt. I had to purchase fabric for the inner- and other border, so this one is "on hold". :)

While waiting for the purchased fabrics, I hope to get my *** moving and start sandwiching - the most boring part of finishing a quilt - isn't it?!

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I never win - and I'VE WON!!!!

I'm the OPAM 2010 winner for the month of July!!!! :)))

OPAM - One Project A Month - is hosted by Kris and Peg.

Peg sent me a Timeless Treasures charm pack; "Hampton Blues" and a darling

Lynette Anderson pattern; "Beehive Home". I LOVE IT ALL!!!

Peg, how did you guess my favorite color is actually blue?! :)

Thanks a big lot!!!

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Yesterday I made yummy carrot- and ginger bran muffins....

Yes, I was greedy; had three of them yesterday itself - and more today! :)

Interested? Click for the recipe here.

Love the taste of ginger!

Mystery Quilt revealed and WIP's

The mystery quilt "Sun Burst" by Susan Claire at Gourmet Quilter, was revealed on August 1st. It consists of 6 parts - done over 6 months.
This was the first time I've done a mystery quilt... The quilt turned out much better than what I had expected. When I worked on the first parts, I thought it would be too many stars! I got tired of them! But what to expect when the quilt is called "Star Burst"?! :)

The photo isn't very good - of course it had to start blowing when I got the quilt top out on the porch - but you get an idea how it looks like.

It was the first time I've done a mystery quilt. I don't think that's going to be my craze. I enjoyed doing this one, but I'm not sure I'll do other mystery quilts.

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I have some quilt tops ready to be sandwiched - yes, I know - should have done them - but that does not prevent me from starting a couple of new projects - does it?!

Last year I purchased fabrics from the "Arctic Adventure" collection  The fabrics have been sleeping in the closet ever since - almost... I don't know how many times I got it out of the closet for so to get it in again, simply because I couldn't decide on any pattern or what to make.

The fabrics had been on my sewing table for some weeks before I finally decided to cut out the pictures from the panel. Thereafter I decided on two blocks I'm going to use. Here's one of the blocks and one of the pictures from the panel. I believe it's going to be a bed size quilt, but have no idea about the size yet...

I have some Tina Givens fabrics from different collections I wanted to use for something.  I used two of her fabrics making this quilt, and I do love it! It has become my snuggle-quilt! :) I came across a very easy pattern in a magazine and started cutting fabrics right away! :)

The first block I made - 10 inch square.

 

Here are a few more....

It's going to be a bed size quilt. I need 24 blocks for the center and 40 smaller blocks  for the corners - hope I have enough fabrics for the blocks, but I believe I'll have to purchase a couple of yards for the top and bottom as well as the binding...

NYB, Mystery Quilt and Scones

First of all, please welcome Elzaan to blog land!

Elzaan is a friend of mine, and after nagging (her word!) her :), because she makes beautiful quilts!,  she has taken the first step into blogging. :)

Once again; a very warm welcome to blog land, Elzaan! I'm sure you will enjoy it!

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Ever since Monday we have thought of going to the south coast, but the weather is so nasty; local showers and strong wind. Dependent on buses, none of us are tempted to venture out in such weather. This is typical Mauritian "winter", with temperatures varying from +20C (68F) on the plateau to +26C (79F) on the coast. I know! I know! It's not cold, but when 90-95% humidity is added - BRRR!

The best to do on such days is to snuggle up in front of the sewing machine (if that is possible!) with a hot cocoa and do some cutting and sewing.

I think Birre-Liten feels that he doesn't get enough attention! Why does he have do sit on the cutter?! :)

Actually I was working on part 4 of the "Mystery Quilt". This part was released June 1st, but I have been busy doing other things and put it on wait.

Part 4 required quite some sewing, which took most of the day.

Part 5 was released on July 1st, so I cut and started sewing these small stars too.

Part 6 will be released August 1st and then the quilt will be revealed too.

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Yesterday I did two more New York Beauty blocks. I've used the same fabrics as the first one... I struggle a bit with the curves, but I believe that's part of being a NYB newbie?! :)

ARGH! The small curve doesn't look like a curve, does it?! Not on the top left one.... :( 

I paper piece the middle part, then pin - with millions of needles (it looks like that!) - and then sew them together... Is that the right way doing it? 

Well, not that bad after all... Huh? :)

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There's a cooking program on local TV every Monday, and this week scones were made. I didn't pay much attention to the recipe, because there are so many of them on the net.

When I googled "cheese scones recipe", about 201 000 recipes are available on the net! I picked the first recipe - very simple - and done in a jiffy! I think it lacks a bit of taste, so next time I'm going to add cayenne pepper and mustard powder, as I saw in another recipe.

Click here to go to the recipe. 

Even the dogs like the scones! Here they are asking for more! :)

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I'm currently working on some cross-stitched Christmas/Winter ornaments, which I can't show due to a secret swap later this year.

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I'll have to change the blog background now. I've just got the message the current background will disappear this coming Friday...

Log Cabin blocks and Mystery Quilt

It has been a while since my last post about the log cabin block I made and didn't feel confident with. Since then, I have made approx 40 blocks. The first plan was to make a lap quilt for my dear friend Johnny's mother (in Norway). She's moving house soon, so I thought a lap quilt would be nice...

This is how my sewing table looks like these days! I know I have blocks enough for one lap quilt, but while I was sewing, I decided to use all the 'Cider Mill Road' fabrics I have. That means it will be blocks enough for two lap quilts - one for me too! :)

To those of you who said I shouldn't unpick the first block; I did unpick it! We didn't become friends! :) After sewing quite some blocks, I'm becoming more confident in how to make the blocks. The photo above shows how I do it now; decide on fabric, then cut the strips and sew. It makes it much easier this way.

I wasn't friend with the blocks on the top right corner on this photo, so after I took the photo I unpicked and rearranged the last two strips.

I've ran out of 3-4 fabrics already and had to replace them with other fabrics from 'Art to Heart'. I'm not sure how many more blocks there will be when I've used most of the fabrics... It should be enough for two lap quilts and perhaps a table runner too... :)

I wonder how easy - or how difficult it will be adding the blocks together, so that they make a pattern....

Do you remember this? The Star Burst Mystery Quilt by Susan-Claire over at Gourmet Quilter.

Part 3 was published May 1st. Here they are; 12 star blocks. They are the same as part 1, but smaller.

Now I'll have to wait until June 1st for part 4...

Star Burst Mystery Quilt

I'm doing a 'mystery quilt'!

Susan-Claire at 'Gourmet Quilter' is doing a 'mystery quilt' called 'Star Burst'.

I have never done any 'mystery quilt' before, so I thought I'll give it a try. Susan-Claire suggests black background fabric, but I have chosen charcoal - kind of marble - and 12 contrasting fabrics. She suggests olive and dark blue as two of the contrasting fabrics, but I found them not contrasting enough to the charcoal, so I'm using dusty blue and chartreuse insted.

The 'mystery quilt' started in the beginning of March, but since I've been busy with other projects, it was first a couple of days ago I did part 1 - the stars - 12 blocks.

I did part 2 over the last couple of days. PHEW!!! That was a lot of cutting! If I've done the mathematic right, part 2 consists of 336 pieces!

When I had done part one, I was a bit 'worried' the quilt would concist of stars only, but then part 2 came with a nice surprise! I do love this block - quite untraditional - if you ask me. Now I can't wait for part 3 that comes in the beginning of May! I've never done any quilt with black background, but after doing part 1 and 2, I find it interesting and I'm sure it's going to be a nice quilt! I'm quite excited about it! :)

Thanks to Sigrun who introduced me to it! :)

During the weekend I did - basted - the binding to the 'disappearing 9-patch' quilt. When I intended to sew the binding, Birre-liten decided the flannel (backing) is just so soft and wonderful to sleep on! He'd spent the whole day outside - must have been exhausted - so I let him sleep there and did some tidying instead. :)