RSC 2026 Week 4 - January is BLUE

 A new year is here, and so is RSC - Rainbow Scrap Challenge - hosted by Angela at SuperScrappy

I have yet to decide how much I'll participate in the RSC this year. Definitely not as much as the previous years.

I'm drowning in RSC blocks from the last 3 years and my goal is to make those into flimsies (some are done already, it has been some busy weeks sewing). It's even better if they can be finished, at least some of them! 

Last year, I did part of Sherri McConnell's BOM 2025 in RSC colors. I did 6 blocks; orange, green, purple, turquoise/teal, light blue and brown. 

There are 6 more blocks to do and I'll start with the December block in blue.

It's a log cabin block with a small star block in the centre. 

I've done the star block only. Do you know why?? I'm almost out of white fabric! I've used a lot of white lately, that's why. More is ordered and on the way, I should get it by the end of the month. 

I've been going through two plastic bags with HSTs (leftovers from RSC blocks and other projects). They are now trimmed and stored in smaller plastic bags and marked with the size (for another blog post).

What also showed up were 9 blue and white HSTs. I can't even remember what they were meant for, I remember they didn't fit and I put them away. 

A small table topper, measures 16.75 inches / 42.50 cm

I'm working on my UFO/WIP list and happy to say I've finished two UFOs! 

This is #23 on my UFO/WIP list

 I had leftover blocks from 'Keep Believing/Tomten's Quilt', 

enough for a tea cozy and teapot mat

 The other side of the tea cozy

I also finished the wall hanging (UFO #24) 

I had the blocks, it was just to add them together with sashing

Measures 36 x 36 inches / 91.50 cm

I've said many times already and trying to convince myself I'm NOT going to do any BOM this year! Why are there soooo many temptations out there?!

I have sew enjoyed Sherri's BOM's 2024 and 2025. She's doing a new BOM this year, in red, blue and white. You can see the first block (January) here. 

...and here's mine!

 

Blue and red are the colors I have the most of, so why not? It's a chance to use up some of those fabrics. Isn't that a good excuse?! ...and one block a month that won't take much time! 

Fabric requirement is approximately 7.75 yards for the top and 4 yards for the back. That should make a small dent in my stash.

'Star Streams' (UFO #12) is quilted!  

It was thread basted last year.

I got it out earlier this month and discovered THIS!!! 

The highlighted block is the wrong way! 

It's fixed now. I had to undo half of the thread basting, remove that block and turn it the right way. Good thing I discovered it before I started quilting! 

(the photo was taken when it was a flimsy, before thread basting).

....my little helper! 'Helping' me quilt 'Star Streams'! 

Linking up with Angela at SuperScrappy and RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2026) 

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

Weekend Sewing and Updated UFO / WIP Lists

Happy Wednesday!

(I started writing this post Monday, some paragraphs are updated)

After working hard on WIP's and actually finish some of them  (previous post), it took me a day or so to decide what's next. 

I decided to work on the tea cozies. They are quilted and ready for binding.

Update: 2 tea cozies are done, just have to fix the loop on each. 

I've this one left to do. Insulated tea cozies are a bit tedious to make, especially to machine sew the binding through four layers cotton batting, 2 layers insul bright + the front and lining. For this, I use needle #18/110, slow, and lots of P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E, and COFFEE!!! lol

While hunting for the binding fabric, I pulled out a small piece of poinsettia fabric, just enough to make a tea cozy in a different design. This one is done, I have to bias cut binding for the small teapot mat. I think this tea cozy turned out really cute. 

Well, my to-do list consists of WIP's already on the table and chair. What I didn't count, are the WIP's on the bench next to the table! HA! Guess what I found there?!

40 arcs for a Double Wedding Ring quilt

I'm a member of the Quiltsy Team on Etsy and one of the challenges this year is to make something we've always wanted to do but never made before. For me, that's a DWR quilt! I'm making it in scrappy batik.

 

48 New York Beauty blocks

These were put aside when I decided to work on UFO's. 

Christmas Stocking Kit

I never buy kits. This kit is a gift from a quilter in the US.

Update: Working on these. Stockings, batting and the back are cut. Have to go hunting in my Christmas stash for lining fabric. 

During lockdown (beginning March 10, 2021) as well as recovering from a surgery, I couldn't move much around. To stay sane, I did counted cross stitching. I used to do it some years ago and really enjoyed it. I made these ornaments more than 10 years ago. For the 'Coffee Menu', I had one color missing and due to the lockdown I couldn't go into the city getting it. Eventually the lockdown was lifted, I got the floss, and no more progress.

 Seriously, I should work on this one too, because I love it! 

The 'What's-on-the-Table' list has shrunk considerably, from this, to this:

- 3 Tea Cozies - quilted

- PSQ blocks 36 patches - ongoing project - no new blocks

- Pineapple Quilt (UFO) - make a pieced backing - not done

NEW to the list:

- Double Wedding Ring quilt (2021) - arcs done 

- NYB - 48 blocks done (2021) - layout

- 2 Christmas Stockings (kit / UFO)

- 'Coffee Menu' Cross Stitching  

Updated APQ UFO list: 

#1 - Blue & White Irish Chain

#2 - Black/White Poppies Wall Haning - FEBRUARY

- #3 - Got the Blues

 #4 Christmas Lap Quilt - APRIL - DONE!

#5 - Pineapple Quilt - JUNE

#6 - Christmas Stockings Kit

#7 - Log Cabin Blocks (Nancy Halvorsen) - JANUARY - DONE! 

#8 - Scrappy Quilt / Migration to Africa - DONE!

#9 - PS Quilt - MAY - DONE!

#10 - Basket Quilt

#11 - Kitchen WH / Vegetables - MARCH

#12 - PSQ Blocks -JULY - DONE! 

#13 - Crumb Quilt

#14 - Scrappy Flannel Quilt

#15 - Scrappy 4' Squares

5 big quilts finished in 6 months. Not that bad, eh?! 

HAPPY QUILTING!

 

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 Flimsy and Tea Cozy

First of all; THANK YOU  EVERYONE for your comments on my previous post! 

Currently I have an email problem, which I hope to sort out soonest.  

I got so excited and almost out of breath about the scrappy log cabin quilt (UFO) that I couldn't stop until it was done! 

Well, I did eat and sleep in between! LOL

100 blocks later, this is how it looks like. It measures approximately 80 x 80 inches (2 x 2 meters). In my previous post, I said I have 122 blocks. That's wrong and I don't know how I managed to miscount?! The quilt flimsy consists of 100 blocks and I have 12 left, how can that be 122?! Not sure what I'll do with the remaining blocks, maybe add them to the back? I shall see when I receive the backing fabric. 

I love how it turned out! Log cabin is one of my favorite blocks/patterns; so many possibilities. 

I've been working on and finished some Easter items lately (yet to take photos). 

I had a little bit of this fabric left and decided to make a tea cozy.

Isn't this the cutest bunny? 

Last night I quilted the tea cozy (no photos) and I may finish it later today. 

Don't you just love it when this is all that is left from a fabric? I have a few squares already cut from other projects and this is all that is left after I cut the pieces for the tea cozy.

I've enjoyed first cuppa of the day while writing this blog post. Cuppa is empty, a sign I have to get off from here and do some house cores. 

HAPPY QUILTING! 

Advent Calendars and Tortilla Warmers

WELCOME JULY! 
Where on earth did the first part of 2019 go?! I'm sure someone stole it, as one said! 

I'm busy as ever and determined to finish some Advent Calendars. 

Over the last days I have quilted, added pockets and sleeve to four of these. I have one left to do, I ran out of fabric for the back! UGH! More on the way, expected to arrive end of July. 

There are 24 single small pockets, measuring 2 x 2 inches. They are tedious to add and I must say I was relieved when all 96 pockets where done! 
This calendar is one of my favorite. It's a Debbie Mumm design; Jolly Christmas. 

The four Snow Village Calendars are done as well

The brass rings are sewn to the calendar. I hope to get a photo of the complete calendar - brass rings and felt bags - one of the first days, if the weather permits. 

Currently working on a tea cozy. Love those cardinals. 

I have new table runners listed in our shop

https://www.etsy.com/listing/704644280/quilted-table-runner-daisies-turquoise

https://www.etsy.com/listing/704769706/quilted-table-runner-turquoise-daisies

I've made a few tortilla warmers (cozies) for the upcoming Christmas Fair in Norway

These are easy to make and a fun addition to the table

Made of 100% cotton, the tortillas can be heated in the microwave oven.

Last night - after being in limbo for a few hours, lol - I pulled out one of my scrappy UFO's. Yes, there are more than one! :)  

It has been put aside for more than a year because I couldn't decide on light or dark sashing (first border). Last night I decided on a dark brown scroll fabric after trying a few light ones. Black is suggested by some, but I'm not a big fan of black. Not brown either, but definitely better than black, in my opinion. :) After all, it is scrappy, right?! :) All the squares (centre) are from swaps. The pinwheels are fabric from my stash. 

HAVE A NICE JULY 4th AND HAPPY QUILTING! 

UFO challenge update and a few other finishes

Where did January go??

Every time I do a blog post, the intention is to be a better blogger. My plan is to do a blog post at least once a week, but it fails all the time! My previous post was 3 weeks ago... too bad! I hope February will be better!

THANK YOU EVERYONE for your lovely comments on my previous post(s)! 

We have had a lot of rain since middle December, but that's the season. We are into the rainy- and cyclone season now. Five cyclones have been named in the area and two big ones have missed us. With all the rain, what is better than to stay inside sewing?! :) 

If you read my posts, you know I took stock of my UFO's at the end of 2014. I have two UFO posts; one post for the Quilts! Quilts! Quilts! on Etsy UFO challenge, where I participate with 8 UFO's. 

This month I have finished UFO #7 - a wall hanging for a dear friend.

I have used fabrics from Debbie Mumm's 'Rustic Retreat'.  Actually these fabrics were leftovers from a bed quilt I made for him in 2009, you can see it here. It's time he gets the wall hanging too, isn't it?! :)  

Over the last week I have been quilting the 'disappearing pinwheel' quilt. 

Happy to say I made progress...

.... until....

..... YEP! Ran out of bobbin thread! More on the way from the US and I will get it middle February - earliest! 

I have a few other finished UFO's - from my other UFO post

UFO #9 - Table runner - finished! 

UFO #10 - table topper / candle mat - finished!

UFO #11 - Table Topper / Candle Mat - Finished! 

In between working on UFO's, I have made - and finished - a few other items

For Valentine's Day

Table Runner

Teapot cozy

Set of 2 table mats in red

... and a set of black Valentine's Day table mats

From the 'Rustic Retreat' leftover fabric...

... a mug rug

I'm almost done with another UFO, but that will be the next post. Stay tuned! :)

I've finished another mug rug too, but can't show it now. It's for a swap and not received. Don't want to spoil the fun! :) 

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January: 4 finished UFO's - 18 UFO's left

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