Ever after kids’ panel – Part 7

I’ve been rather lost for applique ideas on the last border and opted to go with stems and leaves, printed and fuzzy cut from fabric.  I don’t think it looks too bad.

I started the quilting and found the centre panel extremely satisfying to do seeing that I could simply outline the pictures and just added some cloud shapes at the top.  For the border I used a technique I read about on another blog where the quilter traced a quilting motif onto Glad Press ‘n Seal, stuck this to the fabric and stitched through it.  Although removing the plastic afterwards was a major pain, it did give me the result I hoped for.  One should just remember to keep your stitch lengths extremely short otherwise these might pull when removing the press ‘n seal.

We are looking after our almost 6 month old grandson while mom and dad took our granddaughter to the Disney on Ice show in a another city, so I don’t think any quilting will take place this weekend.

Ever after kids’ panel – Part 6

It has been a very cold weekend in central South Africa so cold that even our furriest cat couldn’t resist being covered with a blanket.

Knowing hubby has a golf game planned for Sunday I got up early Saturday morning, did the household chores, went shopping and then got into my quilting.

I decided to tackle the next round of this quilt which entailed satin stitch applique again….. I just cannot force myself to like this but occasionally it is needed to finish a quilt off. The stems of the flowers are chenille strips but not brushed or washed yet.   So I am this far and I still haven’t found a perfect spot for taking a good picture….. Basically trying every spot in the house now.

Scrappy strips 11 – Completed

We’ve had a long weekend in South Africa with Friday being Youth Day, so granddaughter came to stay over and she always says or does something to make us laugh.  So Thursday granddad could sleep with her and then on Friday she chose me to sleep with her.  Now winning the contest is really not a happy occasion as she kicks you all night long but we do pretend.  Got into bed with her to wake up later and find that I was all alone.  Checked and saw the youngster fast asleep with granddad in the main bedroom and this was what apparently happened.

She must have gone to the toilet and saw granddad’s light still on, walked to him and proudly said:  “Okay grandma is asleep, you can go switch off her TV and light, I’m sleeping by you.”  Never thought I would grow old enough for my grandchildren to put me to bed!

I’ve been rather slow in getting the second quilt done; it was just as if I didn’t have my quilt mojo with me last week.  It is however finally done.  I still however need to find a spot in my house/garden where I can take proper photos.

Scrappy strips 10

Our wine auction on Friday evening was wonderful with a 3 course meal and a young host making sure the wine on the table was ample.  Hubby bid on a golden oldie and we have no intention of letting these become any older.

I started quilting my first of the two quilts and got that done however with the cold weather, a heater, 2 sewing machines, a computer, an iron, TV and light table I overused the electricity for my sewing room, so I had to seriously rethink what I really needed to have on at the same time.

This is what the quilting on the fleece, used for the back, looks like.  The bad part about making two similar quilts is that I now have to repeat this process AGAIN!

Scrappy strips 9

To everyone in the north enjoying warmer weather, it is freezing cold in central South Africa and along the coast our cities are burning with people and animals losing lives and possessions.

With my two single bed tops done, my mind started wandering to another new project, in fact 2 new projects.  These too will be part of working through my stash and scraps to make it less.

The one will be done with foundation piecing and I take a block pattern to the office and copy a couple every day and I also try to sew a couple daily.

For the next one I will only be using strips.  Whenever done with the foundation piecing pattern and I have fabric left, I cut these into 2,5” strips ready to use when I start the other strip project.

First and foremost though is that I have to get my Scrappy Strips quilted and I think apart from attending a wine auction tonight, I should stay indoors and quilt!

Scrappy strips 8

I finally have enough strip sets to finish these two quilts and even though the strips are not sewn into place yet, I feel like the end is nearing.  I also realised that I will never be able to work on only one quilt at a time.  I get bored with the same pattern or colour scheme fairly easy and then I need to take a break from it and do something else.

So with this up against the wall and ready for when the next scrappy strip mood hits me, off to do something else…. eating with friends.

Found a fish soup recipe and seeing that friend Karin’s husband supplies us with fish, they would be the perfect guests to invite.  I made us a fish soup with orange and baked peel and a stuffed cheesy mushroom with prawns as a starter.  Karin supplied the ciabatta and good company.

Dinosaur rag quilt completed

There is just something about a Sunday that makes it extra special for me.  Whether I have people over for lunch or having an extremely quiet day like yesterday, it just feels like the only day for regrouping my thoughts, planning my week and just getting organised in general.  

To have a completed quilt along with this makes it even more special. This is my completed Dinosaur quilt for little grandson, Logan.  I am pleased with the outcome although my pictures aren’t that good.

Again I used most of what I have in my stash.  I only bought the flannel and the dinosaur print.

Dinosaur rag quilt – 4

I had my first appointment at 10 am on Saturday morning visiting a French market held locally.  This gave me enough time to ready myself, run through the house to tidy, start the laundry and I got a little quilting done too.

Then to the another side of town for a brunch at a local art gallery/restaurant and they even exhibited a quilt from someone I know but being an art gallery I was not allowed to take any photos.  Stuffed to the brim I tackled my third appointment...… sale shopping for fleece at an annual fabric (non- quilting) vendor.  The service was poor but the prices good and I use these as backing for kids- or winters’ quilts for either extra softness and/or heat.  I think I did well.

Had a little of what was left of the late afternoon and rest of the evening to quilt and I now know why won’t ever ONLY make rag quilts.  All went by so quickly until I got to snip the seam allowances.  What a job and I ended up with a blister where the scissors repeatedly pressed down on my finger

Laid the quilt down on the table and tried to double-check that I’ve clipped all the seams.  After a while staring at these at night, you do not really see anything anymore.

Then dearest Dinosaur rag quilt went right to the washing machine.

Dinosaur rag quilt – 3

I had a lovely Friday afternoon; lunch with my daughter at a local cake & coffee shop with the weird name of Koekela.  There were several vendors set up but apart from a bib for grandson and a bottle of pure honey, we didn’t buy anything else.  The food was however amazing and I so enjoyed my salmon and avocado sandwich with fresh pineapple, apple and mandarin in the salad.

Back to quilting after lunch and this must have been the fastest I’ve ever cut and quilted 70 blocks.  I now wonder why I ever made any other quilt instead of a rag quilt.

Then the joining according to my EQ layout stated and I used a ¾” seam allowance to join the blocks.

Dinosaur rag quilt – 2

The next step was to cut my flannel in 9½” square blocks too and sometimes I amaze myself.  When I went shopping for flannel in our dearest city, with very little to offer, I bought 3 meters, not knowing how big my blocks would be or how big the quilt I plan to make would be and low and behold it turned out just enough for 70 blocks with a teeny weeny bit to throw away.

With this done, it was time to start cutting my top fabric in the amounts of each colour I would need. These then got layered with the backing and flannel

Then pinning the sides followed

Using my trusted laser light I stitched edge to edge to form an X (or giant cross) in each block through all 3 layers.

Owl – Yellow dots added

I had to babysit the grand terrors yesterday evening while their mom went to a pole dancing class.  This is the first time after having broken my jaw that they were allowed to come visit, simply because they tend to get excited and jump into one’s face.  They did however behave rather well last night

With them chewing on whatever they could find and lovely tennis from Roland Garros on TV, I sat down and hand stitched the tiny yellow circles (some look more like hexagons thought) to the Owl.