Last Catch Up on RSC Monthly blocks 2025 / Potholders to a Friend

 As the title says; these are the last RSC blocks for 2025

'Coffee with Dad'

I love these blocks! They are so fun and fast to make

7 brown blocks

As you can see, two of them have more red than brown.

8 black blocks 

Corrected to 7 blocks

Hm... How did that happen? Do you see it? Cup #3 first row and #1 second row are the same! I made one only! Messed up when I took the photos. 

Eclipse

I'm a bit lost when it comes to it. How do I explain that? I have an idea how to assemble the blocks. With that idea, I don't think I can make all blocks beforehand. When the time comes, I will lay out the blocks I have already made, see what other colors fit in and make them. 

15 quarter circle blocks - purple / aqua / turquoise / brown

Half circles

1 aqua / turquoise

3 brown / teal

More of these blocks. I've lost count; a lot of 2.5" squares used up. There are 20 in each block. These blocks are going together with the 36-patches I've made earlier

8 brown blocks

6 black blocks

Hollow 9-patches

2 Light blue blocks 

4 Brown blocks

1 Black block

Do you have any plans for RSC 2026? 

It's so easy getting carried away making blocks, I have lost track of what I have made! I need to put all those blocks together, that would be my main goal for 2026. For RSC, maybe only one block, I'm thinking of the Friendship block. Still some months to go to decide. 

These are the potholders I made for a DF in Norway

I couldn't post photos earlier because he wanted them to be a surprise. The package is now delivered.

HAPPY QUILTING! 

 

Linking up with Angela and RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2025)

Christmas and a few finishes

Christmas came - and went.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. We had a nice Christmas Eve together with our dear SA friends. Lots of chatting, laughing, eating and more eating! I'm sure I have gained some kilograms and there are still more Nidar marzipan in the fridge!!! As we say; 'it's Christmas once a year only'! 

This little fella got a new home and some new friends on Christmas Eve!

Isn't he cute? :)

I had to empty my sewing table (the dining table)  for lots of quilting stuff and the sewing machine, or else we had nowhere to have our Christmas dinner. Four days after Christmas Eve and the table is full again! :) I'm currently working on some Valentine's place mats... 

I haven't done much sewing this month, just a few, small items.

A blue and silver gray table topper. 

If you look carefully, you will see four hearts sewn together.

Cute snowman coasters

More coasters

Floral trivet / hot pad

Floral Candle Mat / Small Table Topper

It's time to take stock of my UFO's... will do that today. 

Custom order off to Canada and two finished UFO's

Over the last couple of weeks I've been working on a custom order and now its on the way to Canada.

The lady wanted a teapot cozy and four matching placemats. I didn't have more of the fabrics she wanted, so I suggested some other fabrics that I had to purchase from the US. If she was willing to wait for the shipping time etc? Yes, no problem. 

Fortunate the fabrics arrived in reasonable time (less than 3 weeks). Gorgeous country themed fabrics with roosters and plaids. Immediately I fell in love with these fabrics, which made it even more fun to create something. 

The lady wanted me to use my creative skills (gasp!). The teapot cozy wasn't a big deal, easy to make.

The lady decided on four fabrics and wanted four different placemats. 

Since the shape of the placemats are rather rectangular, I suggested a pocket for cutlery on the right side and a band for a napkin on the left side. 

I had the idea in my head for some days before I drew it on paper. I know! I know! I could have done it in EQ7, but..... 

Since the roosters are the focal points on two of the fabrics, I fussy cut to make them fit the best I could. 

Love these colorful roosters! :)

When the placemats were done, I suggested I make matching lined napkins; one of each fabrics using the same backing as for the placemats. 

I just love the country charm of these items. I hope the lady will love them as much as I loved making it all. 

I've been working on a couple of UFO's...

A pair of whimsical dancing snowmen potholders

... and a teapot cozy! :) 

I have a Christmas / winter table topper (UFO) that is not finished. It's ready to be quilted, but I'm not sure how to quilt it... Forgot to take a photo...

I made 'healthy' muffins a couple of days ago. Turned out very yummy.  :) 

WIP's and UFO's

Do we ever get rid of them? I don't think so!

I admire - no, better say I'm in awe for those quilters who start a project and work it all through to the finish without starting a new project before the one they work on is finished. Tell me, are you able to do it? Tell me honestly! :) 

Speaking for myself, I tend to work on one project at a time. That said, I have several other WIP's and 'f course' those famous UFO's that sits there forever. Does it sound familiar?! I'm sure it does! :)  I can work on one item only, but seldom do I work from start to finish without working on another project - or two - in between. 

If you read my previous post, you know I have been working on a custom order - a teapot cozy and four placemats. They are finally done this morning and should go in the mail one of the first days. (That will be another post). 

Last week was not without a little 'drama'. First I realized I didn't have enough batting to finish the custom order. To purchase batting from the US (don't get cotton batting here), minimum shipping time is about 2 weeks and it may take up to 5-6 weeks. Got in touch with my dear (quilting) friend here and luckily she had the batting I needed! Thank you dear Elzaan, you saved my day! :) 

The day I got the batting, my dear 'Nina' decided enough is enough and refused to sew! :( I'm not very technical, but I understood something was wrong with the feed dogs; everything worked, except it didn't want to sew. The feed dogs worked up and down, but not forward or backwards (not sure if these are the right words?). Had to get in touch with the dealer in Port Louis and he said most probably it is a broken spring.... 

Poor hubby had to take that heavy monster - by bus - to Port Louis the next day! Luckily it was only a broken spring and the dealer managed to fix it temporally and has ordered a new spring from Switzerland. Phew! Relieved it was just a minor issue!

Not much I could do while waiting for 'Nina'... I cut some coffee fabrics for a table runner...

Love those coffee fabrics!

... and tread basted 4 placemats, now ready to be quilted.

I've done 4 more blocks for the PSQ.

Now I have 18 blocks - 36 2.5 inch squares per block - 648 squares sewn together. 

These UFO's were suddenly staring at me!  I know! I know! Christmas in March! Haha! 

A pair of potholders I didn't finish last year because I didn't have enough insul bright. Now they are quilted and ready for the binding. (Wonder where that fabric is??) 

A teapot cozy I was supposed to finish last year too, but for same reason; not enough insul bright. 

I'm not sure what I will work on today. If I find the fabric for binding the potholders, I think I will finish them and then perhaps continue with the teapot cozy... I shall see. Usually I get sidetracked.... :) 

Craving for cranberry muffins..... Think I'll have to do something about that.....

Some blue items

I don't know where to start! 

My previous blog post is dated Oct 30 and since then I have been quiet. I felt pooped after all the sewing for the Culture / Christmas Fair in Norway end of November. When all items were shipped end of October, I didn't feel much for sewing or blogging. I needed a break!

The Culture / Christmas Fair is already history. I didn't have any expectations at all, believe me... It could have been worse - it could have been better. All in all, as a Craft Fair newbie, I'm happy! :) It gave me some extra money to buy and hoard more fabrics - LOL! No! Seriously! Now I buy what I need... almost! :) 

Not only did I sew for the Christmas Fair; I had to keep in mind my Etsy shop too... 

Cute snowman mug rugs...

Blueberry coasters

Blueberry pot holders

These items are for sale in my Etsy shop. 

I had a break from sewing.... and blogging.... and what I did, you can see here. 

Rustic Retreat - last projects

Can anyone tell me where the days, weeks and months go?! It feels like it was Christmas and New Year only some days ago and now - 'suddenly' - Easter is here!

Since it is already end of March, and I haven't done a blog post for three weeks, it is time to show what I have been doing this month. :)

 

Yes, I have been working on the UFO's mentioned in my previous post!

The coasters are done and 'of course' did I get carried away by making the most out of those fabrics; 'Rustic Retreat' - Debbie Mumm.

 

The first set of coasters - those I promised to make for my dear friend Johnny last year.... 'Sorry dear,  for the delay - they will be on its way next week!' :)

 

 

I have more of those log houses, so decided to make another set of coasters...

 

 

I had more of the loon / duck stripes left and couldn't resist making some mug rugs...

Isn't that loon beautiful?!

 

 

...another one...

 

 

... and two more...

 

 

If those weren't enough... a wall quilt too! :)

It all started with the log house in the center... and the first idea was to make a table topper... After some debating with myself as well as emails to/from Johnny, we decided to make a wall quilt.... I added the loon/ducks and feather stripes and the cream sashing... then came the idea to add the canoes... Then I got stuck for some days.... until I one early morning remembered the bed cover I made for his four-poster bed.... I knew I had to add log houses around this one too! :)

 

 

The quilt top is done... I have the backing and batting, but don't ask me when it will be completed! :)

Making these small projects, I used up almost all the fabrics! Hurray! What is left is a small piece of the cream, small pieces of the stripes and log houses... Perhaps there will be enough for two more mug rugs... (got an idea just now...) :) What is left I will cut into 2 and 2.5 inch squares for a postage stamp quilt... :)

I love the idea of using up as much as possible of fabrics and I think I succeeded very well making these projects! :)  

 

   

Father Christmas Pot Holders

YIKES! Closer and closer to Christmas!

I have been so busy piecing quilt tops that I hardly have had time for anything else! 
In between piecing all those quilt tops, I needed a small break to make smaller items...
Here's a pair of pot holders... featuring Father Christmas riding on a polar bear instead of the usual sledge and reindeer's.... Oh my! The reindeer's  surely are mad now! :)
Here I have used Debbie Mumm fabrics; 'Arctic Holiday' and '12 days of Christmas'. 

 

I couldn't just leave the center pieces as they are... I have outlined all the details using navy quilting thread. Tedious job, but I love the result.

 

 

Back to my dear 'Nina'... I hope to have photos of the finished quilt tops one of the first days... :)

Have a nice day!