Who sent the Squirrel?!

Since last Saturday I've been doing a little bit tidying on the sewing table. 

Before I packed away the red fabrics (RSC April), I made these two small hot pads. Aren't they cute? 

The rectangle one measures a bit shy of 6.75 x 8.75 inches

The round one is 8.25 inches across

But that was not what I was going to talk about! 

I had finished some items for my Etsy Shop, the hot pads, and the 'plan' was to sandwich another UFO (my goal for May)

After a delicious morning cuppa, I was going to start working on that UFO.

Update (one week later): the UFO is under the needle!  

SQUIRREL DISTRACTION!!!! 

While my DH was preparing tea, a squirrel disturbed my UFO preparation!!! I've made some place mats for my shop recently, and that squirrel reminded me I have place mats panels in the (fabric) buffet upstairs! 

Of course I went to have a look, and this is what came with me to the sewing room; 

8 Paris place mats 

+ backing 

Last year I ordered 2 Advent Calendars from a well known online shop in the US.

This is what they sent me; 2 Place mats panels!!! LOL 

8 cupcakes / birthday place mats!

Eventually I got the calendars and where told to keep the place mats. What to do with them? Not exactly what I would have chosen, but I ended up purchasing backing and binding from the same fabric line. After all, I think they are quite cute and great for cupcakes party or birthday. 

I have a big (I think?) selection of Coffee fabrics and I just love these small mug rug size panels! 

I even made one mug rug! (Forgot to take photo!)

What else came with me to the sewing table?

A UFO! A small wall hanging

I don't know how many times (and years!) this one has been pulled out of the shelf for so to go back in again! I know how I want it, but.... I'm worried I'll mess it all up!

The background is black & white squares pieced together, from light to dark. My idea has always been to fussy cut the poppies and applique to the background, using the raw edge quilting method and maybe add seed beads to the poppy centers. 

Any tips / suggestions?  

A fun chicken / farmhouse panel

I had to laugh out load of these chickens, they are really fun! 

Maybe some potholders? Or mug rugs?

Fun chickens, what about these? 

What can I make of these hilarious cats?? Each panel measures 7.25 x 11 inches, I have two panels. Place mats with some coordinating fabric ( I have only the panels and busy background fabric from that fabric line), or small wall quilts? 

Any suggestion is welcome! 

I'm currently quilting 'Tomten's Quilt' and hope to get it done by the weekend. 

A glorious morning today, however meteo has issued a 'heavy rain watch' for this afternoon. I'd better get ready to do some yardwork before it gets wet! 

RSC Week #18 - GREEN for May

Happy May!

It's the first Saturday in May and new RSC color (Rainbow Scrap Challenge)

Angela at SuperScrappy has chosen GREEN as the color for May. 

I spent last weekend catching up on red by making 

one half circle 

and one quarter circle for 'Eclipse'. Here I have used red and green.

The pattern (layout) is still a bit confusing, but I should not bother or overthink about that at this point! I'll make the blocks and 'worry' about the layout when the time comes! lol 

I had sew much fun making two green blocks for Pat Sloan's 182 Day Solstice Challenge!

Block 12/25 - Jacob's Ladder 

Measures 18.5" x 18.5"

It even has a red butterfly!

 

Block 6/25 - The Crosswalk

Measures 12.5" x 12.5"

It was a challenge to make these two blocks in green, because I'm running out of green! How is that possible, you may ask? Because of this quilt! Lots of green fabrics were used up. What I have left of green (today's date) are a few pieces of yardage (less than half yard each) and same with a few green Moda Marbles. 

I have quite some green squares though, in different sizes. Enough to make some blocks.

4 Scrappy blocks

Finally I was able to use those green squares I do not like at all! To me they are ugly! You may see that some of the squares are blue-yellow-greenish, it's those! I had a couple left I cut into 1.5" squares, and still I found them ugly! LOL I have to admit they don't look that ugly together with the other lighter and brighter squares.

Note that I didn't buy these fabrics, they were given to me!

 

7 Hollow 9-patches

My favorites; Coffee with Dad

4 coffee cups

All green blocks are done, except 1-2 blocks for 'Eclipse'.

Now I can concentrate on other projects, like UFOs.

Linking up with Angela and RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge)

 

Dwellings - A Finished UFO

Warning: Photos heavy! 

Click on the photos to enlarge.

 My goal this year is to finish at least one UFO each month. 

'Dwellings' was my goal for April, and yes, I did it! 

The border is a fun houses design. It looks a bit overexposed and I was not able to correct it in the photo editing program. Not the best quality photo, you can see a better photo of it here. 

Pieced backing

I used up the house fabric, a piece of Stonehenge and various Moda Marbles

Moda Marbles are also used for the scrappy binding

Closeup of the quilting. 

This is the best I could do on 'dear Nina'

Each house is custom quilted

Size: 61 x 86 inches / 1.55 x 2.18 meters

Fabrics: Moda Marbles, Country Houses, batik, Stonehenge

Batting: Quilters Dream 'Select'

Thread: King Tut, MasterPiece, Aurifil, Yli, Mettler (52 colors used)

Fabric used: The pattern calls for approximately 16 yards 

(9.75" front and 5.75" backing)

All fabrics, except 'Country Houses' (purchased) are from my stash.

Batting was purchased for this quilt

Quilting: Each house is custom quilted in straight lines. Background, sashing and border FMQ.

Total hours of quilting: approximately 96 hours (17 days, average 5 hours per day) 

First block: December 2022

Flimsy: March 2025

Thread basted: March 2025

Started Quilting: March 21, 2025

Finished: April 10, 2025

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Next up: 

UFO #19 - Too Many Men (Snowmen Wall Quilt)

UFO list 2025

Compared to the quilts I have finished so far this year, this is a small one. I needed a break from wrestling (arm exercise!) big quilts. I'm currently quilting this one and hope to get it done this month.