RSC Week 10 - Not Much to Show

As the title says; I don't have much to show today.

I haven't made more yellow blocks (RSC for March), as I intended to.

I got busy quilting 'Keep the Home Fires Burning' and I'm happy to say about 3/4 of the quilt is done! I'm quilting it in straight seams only, rather tedious, but I like how it looks. 

And there are some yellows too! I have quilted a few yellow blocks, which should count?! lol

Can you spot Mini-Bug? He fell asleep after helping me choosing the right area to quilt and to be sure the seams are straight!  

My goal is to finish it by next weekend. 

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

  

 

Pineapple Quilt under the Needle and Other UFO updates

My 2024 goal is to finish some UFOs.

Beginning January, my UFO list looked like this! Not very uplifting, right?!

There has been other funnier things to work on and that famous squirrel has popped in off and on too! 

No more pink RSC for me (here and here)! Except a small update to be posted Saturday. That means I can concentrate on other pending things. 

Yesterday I pulled out the scrappy pineapple quilt. It was already thread basted (last year), and set aside because I wasn't sure how to quilt it. I didn't feel for doing the easy meandering or loopy swirls quilting, it needed to be something else. 

Then I came across Mary Huey's blogpost where she shows how she has quilted a pineapple quilt. Her quilt is beautiful, isn't it?!

I tried to follow her diagram, first the 'green line'. Poop! Mathematics and such have never been my thing, I could not figure out how it was done! Worst brain fart ever!!! 

Well, I did start eventually, the light areas, where I've quilted 'diamonds'. I've done the short side and two rows on the long side. So far I like it. At least I was able to do it (short side) from one side to the other in one go. It's here I messed up, so for the long side I have to quilt one 'diamond' at a time (more threads to bury! Sigh!). 

I have to figure out how I want to do the dark areas. On my domestic 'dear Nina', I'm not going to attempt the 'twist and turn' red lines as you can see in Huey's diagram! That would be too much wrestling! 

Here's an update of finished UFOs: 

#23 - Norwegian Flag Table Runner - finished January 9, 2024

#10 - Blue & White Irish Chain Quilt - finished January 2024

#24 - Small Gnome Quilt - finished May 2024

#20 - Bases Loaded Purple Quilt - finished May 13, 2024

I was going to take photos today, but the weather does not cooperate; rain showers and gusts up to 31 mph. 

...and this is 'Miss Sophie', checking out my sewing extension table and ruler! She's a rescue, feral Cat-Mama left her in our garden. I believe she's born middle January, still a crazy loving kitty! 

 

Scrap Challenge and more

Midsummer came and went, can you believe we are heading towards Christmas and New Year again?! 

I've been super busy and I'm not sure where to start. Quite a lot to share, I may share it into two posts. Why don't I post more often?! :) 
OK, let's start with the Advent Calendars.

 When I wrote the previous post, four Calendars were already quilted and the binding thread basted. A little progress; the 24 felt bags and a lined drawstring bag (to keep the felt bags) are completed. Next step is to add 'gold' metal rings (to hang the felt bags). I may do one with buttons - instead of rings - as well, IF I get the right buttons. I went to the neighbor town earlier this week, but the shop where I usually buy buttons were sold out on those specific buttons. 

The Quiltsy Team's Scrappy Spring Challenge is done

(see previous post for details)

I made a scrappy star wall hanging. All batik are from my stash. 

I love how it turned out and have yet to decide whether to keep or list it in our shop. 

2019 is my 'year of batiks'. Ever since I started quilting I have 'collected' batiks, and batiks are often too beautiful to be cut, right?! LOL This year I'm trying to use up some of the batiks and after making a few quilts it has not made a dent! 

I have made scrappy star blocks off and on. After 35 blocks I pieced the blocks together

I'm not sure about the size though... As it is now, it measures 60 x 84 inches / 152 x 213 cm. Isn't that a bit too long for a lap quilt?? If I add one row (7 blocks) to the width, the size will be 72 x 84 inches. If I remove one row on the length, it will measure 60 x 72 inches.

I'd love to hear your opinion, please! 

I've bought the most beautiful batik for the back! 

I had in mind a multi-colored backing, but when I saw this one I couldn't resist! 

I've been naughty! In spite of SFD (Strict Fabric Diet), I have bought some fabric, BUT defending myself; only some FQ's I didn't really need! Haha! 

These fabrics are for binding on some other Advent Calendars

...and here's the brown batik FQ's I didn't really need! Well, yes, somehow I need them, because I have not more than a couple of brown batik left in my stash! Always excuses to buy beautiful fabric, isn't it?! :) 

Nasty 'winter' weather these days; rain showers and strong trade winds.

Birre-Liten knows best

...the best place in the sun! 

I have more to share, but that has to be another post. 

HAVE A FABULOUS DAY AND HAPPY QUILTING! 

Nothing but UFO's in 2013 - February Update

It's that time again; UFO update for February.

At the beginning of February I linked up to A Passion for Applique and here are the three UFO's I wanted to work on.
Well, I think I should start with the one I did not manage to finish. I didn't have matching thread for the backing, which should soon be here from the US - hopefully this week. Even if I get it today, I won't be able to finish it in two days. It will be transferred to next month. What I did manage is to add all the HST (half square triangles) together and sandwich the three layers together. It's ready to be quilted - as soon as I get the thread.

 

I'm happy to say I have two UFO finishes this month.

The first one I finished is the Colorado Star quilt!

 

 

For the binding I used leftover blue fabric from the quilt.

Here's the backing. Isn't it pretty? MIL bought it for me in Port Louis (the capital). It is Indian cotton, meant for bed sheet. Their cotton is thicker compared to the quilting cotton. That doesn't matter to me, since this is a cover for our couch.

All fabrics used are from my stash.  

 

 

I finally finished the New York Beauty quilt! That was a lot of work, but I'm so happy I decided to make more blocks and make it into a quilt! Hubby suggested I should have added a border to it, but I'm happy with it as it is.... What do you think?  

 

 

One of the center blocks - one of my favorites

 

 

Another favorite...

 

 

The backing.

All the fabric used in this quilt are from my stash, except 3-4 blue Civil War fabrics I had to buy especially for this quilt. Those fabrics from my stash have been sitting on the shelf for at least 2-3 years and I decided now that I will never use them for any specific project, better to use them as backing! :)  

 

 

I have a few other finishes this month too, but they are not UFO's and will be for another post.

 

If you read my previous post, you already know we have had lots of rain this month. Yesterday and today we have SUN! In my previous post you can also see how down the clouds were at the mountain... this is how it looked yesterday morning.. Corps de Garde in sun and blue sky! :)

Guess what such weather means?! Torture in the garden! LOL 

 

 

Update on our dog, see my previous post.

First I thought it was her foot that was hurt, but after having a better check on her, it is the left shoulder. Most probably she landed on the left side/shoulder when she fell down from the roof. She improves slowly; she is able to walk a few steps on the leg this morning. She is still under house arrest, until she is able to walk properly! She makes me laugh too; it's amazing what speed she has jumping on three legs! :) Our other dog is very caring; he lays down facing her, put his leg over hers and lick her hurt shoulder. It's really touching to see how he cares.... Tomorrow is one week since it happened. I've been thinking of taking her to the vet, but since she is improving (slowly) I don't think it is needed. I'll keep an eye on her over the weekend...  

 

 



Devils or bad Gods in the air??

I'm quite sure there's something in the air this week or even this month! Don't know what the weather-God is up too; it has been raining almost every day this month! No doubt we are into the rainy- and cyclone season. Prediction for the next three days; RAIN! Yesterday was fairly OK, just a few showers, so I thought of gardening today... Forget about that!

This is how it looked like this morning... Corps de Garde covered in clouds - a few minutes later it started pouring down!  

 

 

 

Not a very good week this one... Two days ago one of our dogs slipped and fell down from the roof! She hurt her left front leg, mainly the foot/ankle. It is a little bit swollen on the joint. She jumps around on three legs and is very so eager to get out during the nights (which she is used to) to play with other dogs in the area! No way! She's under house arrest!!! We'll keep an eye on her over the weekend. If she's not able to use the front leg, we'll have to take her to the vet. She is in pain, but I believe if it had been worse, she had not been able to jump around as she does, and she had been crying... Fortunate it went as it did! It could have been worse!

 

 Our 'patient' is allowed to stay inside during the nights. I usually take her out just before I go to bed. I did that last night too. At 3 o'clock in the night she managed to come up one floor to our bedroom and 'tell' us she had to go out again. Hubby was snoring - or he pretended too - haha - so I got up and took her out.

No way was I able to sleep again! I spent some time reading blogs, emails etc, had my breakfast and coffee and started quilting. Quilted happily away and thought of taking our other dog for an early morning walk.... Five minutes later it started pouring down! :( Had to forget to venture out! I'm quite sure that weather-God - eh... DEVIL - heard my thoughts!
GOSH! How shy he is! LOL

 

 

I continued quilting and another devil made me do this; part of the backing tangled up in the quilting! :(  

 

 

I'm quilting this crib quilt yesterday and today... Nothing fancy, just straight stitches.  Almost done! :) It's a UFO from last year.

 

 

The binding is thread basted to the NYB quilt! It will be hand stitched one of the first days. For the binding I have used leftovers from the quilt.  

 

 

Since I didn't get more than 4.5 hours sleep last night, I think I will do as this one later in the afternoon...

 

 

Doesn't it look cosy?! :) 

 

  

I have been featured / I have a QI - too

I have been featured!

By nobody else than Angie Padilla in Ecuador!

Angie is doing a research about quilters in countries where quilting is not a tradition or where it is not very popular, what kind of problems we face etc. due to fabrics, notions etc we don't get in the country we live.

Angie has interviewed some women from other "not so known quilting" countries too;

Theodora from Greece - visit her blog here.

Irene from Guatemala - unfortunate no blog yet, but you can see her quilts on Flickr.

Geta from Romania - visit her blog here. Geta does amazing shadow trapunto quilts.

And here you can read my interview! :)

Angie is a quilt maker, teacher, designer and author.

Visit her wonderful website.

Thank you!

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I didn't know I have a QI (Quilt Inspector) - too - until I read Michelle's latest post!

You have already met my QI; Birre-Liten...

The latest quilts he inspected, are my finishes from this post.

First of all; the morning toilette is very important! First the right side...

... the left side....

... and after several turns...

.... quilts inspected and approved! :)

My dear cutie! :)

Sandwich, pin, baste and a couple of new projects

Yes, that is what I have been doing this week!

While I worked on the baby quilt, I saw an interesting quilt block in a magazine that I just had to try out!

I decided to give brown, green and yellow a chance. Those are colors I have not worked with before (not much) - a bit outside my comfort zone - one can say. I thought brown and green would make it look a bit dull, that is why I chose yellow to brighten it up. Each block has eight different fabrics - a great way using from my stash! When I saw the bag with green fabrics (I usually sort on colors), I didn't know I love green that much - but guess I do - LOL! I have as much greens as I have blues! :)

I have made 20 blocks, which should be enough for a good sized quilt - plus the borders around it.

I got obsessed by those blocks - LOL - but after making twenty I really needed to do something else!

I continued piecing the baby quilt, sandwiched, pinned and basted too.

I'm not a big fan of pastels, but as a baby quilt I think it is very cute!

After the baby quilt was done, I attacked one of my UFO's; the pinwheel quilt!

This is something I hate to do; the backing and batting! Fortunate we have a big dining table - 2.10 meters long - that is a blessing when working on big quilts.

I use masking tape to fasten the backing on each side, or else it is almost impossible not to pucker!

Here we go! :)

You may smile, but yes, I do use a lot of pins! :)) I have tried pinning a couple of quilts - without basting - before quilting (sewing machine), but it has always ended up too much puckering and I hate spending time unpicking! I prefer to take my time pinning and basting, instead of risk re-doing part of the quilting due to puckering!

Those photos was taken yesterday - today the basting of this quilt is done! :)

Here's the next quilt to be done; the TG - quilt.

I already have the backing, but it is not wide enough so I'll have to "cut and paste"  to make it fit - LOL!

My aim is to start working on it tomorrow.

One of the pillows badly needs a new cover. I forgot to take a photo of the pillow cover... My mom made the cover approx 20 years ago! It had a beautiful lace around it, but it is gone some months ago!

I have a lot of batiks, so I thought why not use batiks for the cover?! I have already cut the required pieces, so now it is just to get going! :)

It was raining in the beginning of the week, so where is it better to be than next to "mommy's" sewing area! :)



I've been baking today too, and how that turned out...

click here!

Potholders and FMQ Weekend

Do you have as many excuses for not doing what you are supposed to do, as I had this weekend?

I started quilting the Split Hourglass quilt in the middle of last week - I think it was - but after quilting more than half, I got tired of it and decided to make some potholders. No, it's not right to say I got tired of it - I didn't - I needed to break to rest my shoulders and arms. I worked quite a lot on it one day, and my arms don't like the pulling of the heavy quilt through the harp (?) on my dear (Ber)Nina.

I know! I know! I was not supposed to start ANY new project before I had finished some of the quilt tops!!!! To my defense I have to say I did finish the potholders!!! :))

I made three pairs. I struggled a bit with the hanging loop, but in the end - after reading some tutorials on the net - I think they turned out OK.

Here I have used leftover fabrics from the "Mystery Quilt". Colorful - aren't they?

As you may have noticed already; these are FMQ (free motion quilted).

I don't get good close-ups with my digital camera, but if you click on the photo (I think it is possible) you'll have a better look on all my mistakes - lol! I thought something small - like potholders - is a good way to practise FMQ. Well, it didn't turn out that bad for a newbie - did it - but I'll have to practise much more before I dare jump onto a huge quilt. As you can see, there are some sharp turns etc.

I bought this wonder a while ago. It's a teflon sheet for FMQ. It grips to the bed of the machine and lets your project slide when FMQ.

I tried it for the first time yesterday when FMQ the potholders, and I'm really impressed! It does work on small projects, but I can't say anything about bigger projects, because I haven't tried. The reviews are positive (do a google).

I believe it is possible to easily get hooked on FMQ. I woke up in the middle of the night and was thinking / figuring out how to quilt the TG (Tina Givens) quilt - lol!

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Enough cutting for today!!! :)) I'm quite sure that is what he's trying to say! :))

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Yummy flourless chocolate cake.

I couldn't resist making Mexican Flourless Chocolate cake. No flour, but a little bit cayenne pepper... I love the little taste of cayenne together with chocolate/cocoa.

Want the recipe? Click here.

It's not me - DH dived into it before it was cold - that's why a small piece is missing - lol! :))

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...

Split Hourglass quilt & other WIP's

I'm tired of UFO's!!!

After finishing 14 - almost 15 - UFO's since January 1st, I got the urge to do something new. Inspired by Nat and Ria (scroll down) 'Klosjes quilts', I decided to do a 'Split Hourglass" quilt. (Thanks for your inspiration, ladies!) The pattern is from an Australian magazine I received from my dear penfriend Jocelyn (no blog) in New Zealand. I have wanted to do this quilt ever since I received the magazine, but there has always been other projects.

I have used scraps. Such a quilt is perfect for using up scraps. I had to buy the very light blue tone-on-tone background fabric though.

 

The last border and binding are supposed to be dark blue, but that color doesn't suit my quilt. I intend to use a medium blue. I have so many different blues, but 'of course' I don't have enough! I need a little bit more than 1 yard, all blues I have is less than that.  At the moment I hate searching for fabric at the net - terrible slow internet connection - so instead I'm going to see if there is a blue I already have that will be fine, and I'll check if it is still available.

Ragna (no blog) in Norway - if you are reading this post - I'm sure you recognize many of the fabrics! :)) (I received a lot of fabrics from Ragna a few years ago).

OMGosh! I googled 'klosjes', and I'm surprised how popular these blocks are! Take a look at Julia and Karen's blogs... 

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Last year I promised my dear friend Johnny to make a Christmas Tree skirt...

 

I fished out the fabrics yesterday evening. When I had read the instruction, Birre-Liten decided HE needs attention - not the fabrics! :)) He was a bit angry, because DH was late in feeding him his favorite food; boiled sheep liver!

Birre-Liten got tired of waiting, and I cut part of what is needed for the tree skirt.

  

I made the star for the center piece this morning. There's a lot of applique and many small pieces to fit together on the remaining blocks.

This is a pattern from 'Art to Heart'; Star of wonder.

  

My friend Johnny's mum is moving house within a couple of months.

I'm going to make her a lap quilt, using fabrics from the 'Cider Mill Road' collection by Nancy Halvorsen - Art to Heart.