New York Beauty blocks #2 and #9

YIPPY!
They are all done and here are the two last ones.

Block #2 - has Amy from Amy Lou Who's tutorial. Click here for the tutorial.


And finally, block #9 - the last one.
This block has Lindsay from Lindsay Sews' tutorial. Click here for the tutorial.


The New York Beauty Quilt Along is hosted by Kim from My Go-Go Life.
There are lots of New York Beauty photos in the Flickr Group.

Since I now have sewn all the blocks, time has come putting them together. I have 40 blocks - 8 inch sewn into quilt. I have no idea how I'm going to do it... I think I will have to spread all the blocks on the floor and play with a pattern.... One idea is to add the four blocks of each pattern together and then add a narrow sashing around it... But that is just a thought right now...
What I have learnt by making all these blocks, is how important contrast is. I would love to make more NYB's, but right now I need a break! :)  

Nothing But UFO's in 2013

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday Season and that 2013 so far has treated you well. This side of the planet, tropical cyclone 'Dumile' paid us a visit, but it was never a threat. I have more about 'Dumile' here.

Do you make New Year's resolutions? Do I make New Year's resolutions? No, never! Because they last not more than 3-4 weeks, so there's no point.

Ever since before Christmas the only (almost!) thing I can think of, are my UFO's! Resolutions or not; I do want to finish as many as possible. My sewing machine and I have taken a break from quilting over the Holidays and in about one week my sewing machine has to go to the dealer for service. I hope that won't take too long, because I know I will be eager to start sewing again after - then - 4-5 weeks 'holiday'.

Carrie over at 'A passion for Applique' is hosting 'Nothing but UFO's in 2013'. You will also find all the info by clicking on link.

If you want to finish at least three of your UFO's this year - come and join!

My oldest UFO is the 'Colorado Star' quilt, the second one for our couches. The first one was finished back in April 2012 - you can see it here.

 

The second UFO I want to finish, is the NYB QAL It started March 2012. I decided to make 4 blocks of each pattern... PHEW! I must confess I got fed up with them and tucked them away - didn't even want to see them - LOL! I don't have many left to do.



This is also a project I started early in 2012. The plan is to make a baby quilt, but didn't have enough fabric to proceed at that time. I had to buy more and when I finally got it, I was again occupied with other projects and the HST- blocks were tucked away.

 

Since my sewing machine has to go in for service later this month, there's no chance I can sew. Therefore - when the Christmas decorations are packed away - my goal for January is to start sandwiching the 'Colorado Star' quilt. I have batting and backing, so it is just to get going - but not until next week. :) I don't think I will be able to finish it this month, it all depends on when I'll get my sewing machine back so that I can do the quilting.

 

Quilt tops finished in December - #2

The second quilt top I finished, is the Blogger's BOM 2011/2012, hosted by Jackie over at Canton Village Quilt Works. When the BOM started in September 2011, I decided to make two blocks of each to end up with a bigger quilt. I think 13 blocks of 8 inch square is a bit too small to my liking...

It took some time before I decided on the setting. I wanted to set the blocks diagonally, but couldn't decide on blocks in between. The only thing I knew is that I wanted it to be a bigger quilt.

 

 

The most difficult was to decide on the design of the 'in-between' blocks and sashing. I tend to buy half or one yard fabrics, and I didn't have anything suitable measuring 1.5 yards. In the end I decided on two different greens on the sashing and using the white tone-on-tone fabric for the extra blocks, the cornerstones for sashing and triangles. I had just enough left of one of the greens I used for the sashing, for a narrow first border and then I've used a yellow floral fabric for the outer border.

 

 

I've noticed after the top was finished that I've made a mistake; I'll have to turn one of the blue-ish blocks in the center... If I don't do it, I know it will haunt me forever - LOL!

You can see Jackie's finished quilt top here.

 

 

 



Quilt tops finished in December - #1

I know that some of you have noticed I haven't been much online this month, which is true. I have been busy, busy sewing! :) I have finished some quilt tops, which feels very good! :) The first one I finished some weeks ago is a Postage Stamp Quilt - a QAL we do in this wonderful group. To avoid punishment (swords etc!), I finished the quilt top in time before deadline December 31st! Don't know what will happen to those who have not finished theirs?! LOL

 

 

Closeup of the fabrics I have used...

 

 

The full size quilt...

 

 

Some of us are making the quilt using jelly rolls, while others are cutting and piecing squares together.

I had a jelly roll - 'Evening Mist' from Moda sitting on the shelf for months, which I had no plans for. I added one solid jelly roll - Bella Solids Natural. I love the fabrics, even if they are a bit outside my comfort zone.

I have yet to decide if I'm going to add a narrow border - or not.... I think I won't - it looks good as it is and I'm not sure I want it bigger....  

 

 

 

Blogger's BOM #9, 10 and 11 and progress on BD-quilt

As you know, I have been - still am - extremely busy completing Johnny's birthday quilt. Victory to me; the quilt top is done! :) Some days ago I decided on backing; flannel and today I started the sandwiching, pin basting and thread basting. The quilt takes up the entire dinning room table - a good reason to tidy up a little bit of stash, sewing equipment etc. I'm not going to tell more about it now, it has to be a secret! :)

Well, being busy with visitors (June) and thereafter the birthday quilt, I have not had time for the Blogger's BOM blocks - until some days ago... After working weeks on a big project, it feels good to rewind with a few blocks only.

I thought it was time to do Blogger's BOM block #9 first of all. Jacki over at Canton Village Quilt Works is hosting Blogger's BOM quilt-a-long.

Block #9 has Cathy from Cabbage Quilts tutorial

Since the start, I decided to make two of each block, alternate the fabrics I'm using. I'm not sure about the colors I have chosen here... perhaps a bit too bright to my liking...
Anyway... they are OK... :)

 

Block #10 is from Pam over at Pam Kitty Morning and you'll find the tutorial here.

Block #11 is from Victoria at Bumble Beans Inc. Click here for the tutorial.

Block #12 will be out August 25th and has Amy Ellis at Amy's Creative Side direction.

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It's weekend and I think I'm going to continue working on Johnny's quilt. I have started quilting it, it will be a mix of FMQ and stitch-in-the-ditch. I've started with the latter, but - sigh - it goes slow... I had a break from it yesterday; I was fed up! :( That is how it should be, isn't it, a love & hate relation to a quilt?! :)
This is all I can show.... Be patient, it will be revealed in a 3-weeks time...

Dear readers; have a wonderful and crafty weekend!
  

700 charms in the mailbox! PSQ QAL

Yesterday was like Christmas, birthday and I don't know what else! As the headline says; 700 charms in the mailbox! Yes, at one day! I was busy cutting more squares when DH returned from town / post office with all those treasures! They all are from my swap partners in the US. Last week I received 300 charms, from the US and Australia.
Yes, cutting more squares for the July swap! These are all fabric swatches from that box I was gifted last year. They are too small to be used for other things, so they are all cut into 2.5 inch and a few 2 inch charms. 

2300 charms flew out of Mauritius to the US, Canada and Australia earlier this month. It's so true, so true what one swapper said; 'Excitement all over the world'! :)

It's not too late to join the fun! Mary over at The Curious Quilter is hosting the PSQ Charm Swap and Challenge. You can read more about it here.

NNC is hosting a PSQ QAL (Postage Stamp Quilt - Quilt Along) this year.

Some of those participating are cutting charms, while others are doing it the easy way; jelly rolls. When the QAL was decided, I already had one jelly roll; 'Evening Mist'. I needed one more jelly roll and ended up with Moda Solids 'Natural'.

So far I have sewn the strips together and they are now ready to be cut.

Days are cooler and 'winter' is approaching. Our first hike of the season took place last Saturday, and you can read more about that here.

  

Blogger's BOM #8

The blocks for Blogger's BOM #8 - April 2012 is done.

Blogger's BOM is hosted by Jackie from Canton Village Quilt Works.

The April block #8 has Amy Lobsiger from Mrs. Schmenkman Quilt's  tutorial. Click here for the tutorial.

 

  Block #8 (May) will have Cathy Underhill from Cabbage Quilt's tutorial.

Check out her blog on May 25th for the tutorial.

 

Scraps, Charms, Swap - Postage Stamp Quilt

Do you have in mind - some time in the future - to make a Postage Stamp quilt, but today you don't have charms (squares) enough? Perhaps you are a newbie who doesn't have enough charms to swap? As a newbie, you can now request a gift pack of 50 charms. Or perhaps you have many matching squares (from the same fabrics) and want to swap some with other quilters around the world?

This year, Mary over at The Curious Quilter, is hosting a Postage Stamp charm swap. There will be four swaps this year and the second round is open now - April 6 - 22, 2012. Click here for all the details.

I knew about the swap this month, but do you believe I got around to prepare the charms in time?! NO! I will be punished for that over the next couple of days! LOL. Well, I am a bit organized; for every project I finish, I do cut leftover fabrics - what is suitable - into 2 or 2.5 inches, but sort them, that's another story! :)

Yesterday I pulled out all the boxes with 2 inches and 2.5 inches squares, to sort them into colors. Most of them were already organized on size, but not on colors.

Two boxes; 2 inch and 2.5 inch charms

Yesterday I attacked the 2 inch charms, sorted into colors

Matching charms sorted on colors.

Now I'll pick 100 charms (matching sets) for the swap. 

Today I shall see if I'll attack the 2.5 inch charms.... Still have to make a few more 2 inch matching sets for the swap.

Come join the fun!

New York Beauty QAL block #8 and #7

If you never have sewn any New York Beauty block, I'll tell you; ADDICTIVE!

We had 3-4 days of continuous rain this week, which meant no gardening. What was the option?! Snuggle up in front of the sewing machine and get going with two more NYB QAL blocks. Well, snuggle up... exaggerating! If you count all the seams these blocks have, you can imagine how many times I was up and down from the chair - between the sewing machine and the ironing board! Good exercise! :)

The NYB QAL is hosted by Sara from Sew Sweetness and you can read more about the QAL here.

Kati from The Blue Chair has the tutorial for block #8.  

  

Jeni from In Color Order has the tutorial for block #7.

(There's no link yet for the tutorial, since I made the blocks days before the tutorial will be published. The tutorial is due April 2nd).  

For block #7 I have concentrated on more contrast in the arch (is that the right word?). I'm not that very happy about the two 'dark' blocks (#8), but they'll have to do! :) I'm running out of light colors, hopefully I'll get the purchase earliest next week.

 

New York Beauty QAL block #5 and #1

Over the last couple of weeks I have finished another 8 (I make 4 of each) of the New York Beauty QAL blocks. I have decided to make four of each block, which should give me a decent sized quilt as well as good practice! :) The blocks are 8 inch sewn into quilt.

Each week, from March 7 (first block) to May 7 (last block) there will be tutorials by different bloggers. It's not too late to join! :)

The QAL (quilt-a-long) is hosted by Sara over at Sew Sweetness and you can read more about the QAL here. 

The second block (block #5) has Sew Sweetness' tutorial. To see the tutorial, click here. 

Block #1 has Canoe Ridge Creations' tutorial.

I'm struggling a bit with the curves, but I think the trick is to cut them on the bias for maximum stretch - or am I wrong? Do not get me wrong; I don't overstretch them - lol! I always cut the edges 1/4 inch bigger, because it is easier to trim the block to the right size. I don't know about you, but for me the pieces added together tend to shrink somehow when pieced together. I also add the pieces together without removing the paper and using lots of pins! :)

What about you, how do you make the blocks and what works best for you?

Next block - #8 - is on from tomorrow - Monday 26th, tutorial by From the Blue Chair.

I want to continue the remaining blocks using Civil War/reproduction fabrics, but I ran out of light fabrics. More is on the way, but I won't receive it until 2-3 weeks. Not all of the fabrics I have used so far are reproduction fabrics, I think, but that doesn't really matter as long as they fit together! :)  

  

New York Beauty Quilt-A-Long - Block #1

As you may have noticed I haven't blogged for quite some days... That doesn't mean I have been lazy... I've been rather busy and I have quite a few projects to show.

I'll start with what I did today; block #1 (block 0) for the New York Beauty QAL, hosted by gogoKim. The block was 'published' March 5th, but no way could I decide on fabrics, not until this morning...
I was supposed to make one only, but look what I did; I made four! :)
Warning: Addictive!!!   

I have used the same four fabrics for all four blocks. It's amazing how fabrics/colors change a block, isn't it?

I haven't sewn the blocks together. I'll do that - I think (lol) when I have all the blocks.

This was the first block, easy to make.

The next block (block #5) is by Sara from Sew Sweetness (March 12). This one is a bit more tricky... Don't think I'll manage to make four in one day! :)

I have some finished UFO's too, but that will be for another post. I'll have to take photos first of all...  

 

New York Beauty Quilt-A-Long

What have I done now?!?! I just commented on a blog post - (Teje, it was too tempting!)  I won't have time for this, but... then I thought;  one block per month is manageable!

Kim over at gogoKim is hosting the New York Beauty Quilt-A-Long - and I have joined... :)

What about you? Want to join?

  

For more info: New York Beauty Quilt-A-Long



Colorado Star - progress / Swap / Featured

It feels like I'm on slow motion when it comes to quilting... Must be the heat and humidity these days... 

Perhaps I'm not that slow after all; it's just me who feels like that...

Earlier this month I was busy cutting 2 inches and 2.5 inches squares for the Postage Stamp Quilt 2012 - Charm Swap & Challenge. A few days back I connected with my swap partners in the US and Australia and I hope to get the charms in the mail today.

I had a little 'stocktaking' of my UFO's earlier. It took me awhile to decide on which UFO to 'attack'. The Colorado Star quilt is my oldest UFO - from April 2009. Not that bad - huh?! :)

Can't remember how many blocks I had already done, but it was not enough for two couch covers. 16 blocks are required for one couch cover. Yes, not more than 16! The blocks are 18 inches squares (sewn into quilt), that's why not more are needed. 

When I had enough blocks - 32 - I discovered four of them were not the right size; they are almost 1/2 inch smaller than the other blocks I had made earlier so they can't be used for the covers! :( Don't know what happened at that time, but I've surely scamp (?) the work and not paid proper attention to the 1/4" seam allowance! Excuse! Excuse! I was a newbie at that time! :)) I can still use those blocks; I'm going to make a table topper to match the couch covers.

I've been featured - again! :) Well, not me, but a bag I made from a pattern in the Australian Homespun Quilting magazine. Take a look here - top right - Dec 2011 issue.  I'm sorry I don't know how to enlarge it... If I had had the magazine here I could have scanned it, but here the magazines are in the shelves 3-4 months after publishing date in Australia. I guess the magazines are sent by ship since it takes that long... You can read more about the bag here.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention I've made a Friendship bag for a swap. I can't show it now, because it is a secret swap.

I've been cooking too, which you can read about here and here.

Blogger's BOM #4 and NYB blocks

Canton Village Quilt Works - Blogger's BOM block #4 is done!

Block #4 is designed by Pat Sloan over at The Voice of Quilting.

I'm not sure I like my color choices - only myself to blame for that!!!

Next block - #5 - will be designed by John Adams over at Quilt Dad.

As you may remember, last year I tried my hands on New York Beauty blocks. Piecing those blocks are not the same as piecing squares together; they have scary curves!!!

These are the first ones I made... I'm far from happy with them; they are wonky and no way they turned out the size they were supposed to be; 6.5 inches square. :((

I decided to make them different, by omitting the two curves at each side of the center/points, cut the two pieces a little bit bigger for so to trim the block to the right size later. This is how they turned out;

Still a bit wonky, but I should get some good practise working on those, before I proceed to the more complicated ones - like those I made first... :)

To those of you who makes those blocks; do you prefer hand- or machine piecing?  

Cut till you ..... what?? Drop??

The festive season is already history, and I have finally packed away all Christmas decoration. Well, not exactly - still some Santa's to be packed away, but I have been busy with other - more important (lol) - things over the last days. When I say 'more important', I have 'tortured' myself in the garden, did quite some weeding, trimming branches and cutting grass. I'm happy we did it 'in time', because yesterday we had some wonderful thunderstorms.

Gardening is important, but can you guess what is 'more important'?! If you read my previous post, I'm sure you'll get it! :)

I've been cutting squares - 2 inches and 2.5 inches - for the Postage Stamp Quilts 2012! I have saved strips over the past years, but never got around cutting them into squares. When The Curious Quilter announced the PSQ 2012, I decided to attack the treasure boxes! Since then I have cut, cut, cut! Phew! :)

2.5 inches squares

2 inches squares

I have yet to count how many squares I already have. Hopefully I have enough for a swap.

If you want to join the Postage Stamp Quilt 2012 - be sure to sign up before January 18th.

Last year - Christmas present in advance - my dear friend Johnny gifted me a 10 kilos (22 pounds) box of different fabric swatches. (Closing-out sale at a quilting shop). 

After I signed up for the PSQ 2012, I thought of cutting some of those swatches. I haven't had a close look at all the fabric swatches, but what caught my eye are two bundles... 

This is one of them; swatches in cream, purple, two different browns and two different greens. It consists of 39 pieces, where the smallest piece is 7" x 12,5" and the biggest 13" x 13". I want to make something out of it, but what? Perhaps if I add some tone-on-tone cream it should be a reasonable sized quilt?

Here's the other one; roses.

27 pieces; smallest 7" x 14" and biggest 13" x 16". If I add some creamy fabrics to these too... 

Any suggestions what I can make out of them?

I was going to add a few more photos, but the I-net connection is shit, so I'll save that for another post - coming soon.

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Postage Stamp Quilts 2012 - Charm swap & challenge

Would you like to have some fun this year?

Do you have a lot of scraps?

Have you always wanted to make a Postage Stamp quilt?

If your answers are YES, hop over to Mary - The Curious Quilter - for much more information!

I plan to participate and would love it if you do too!