Mug Rugs, Coasters, a win and some WIP's

Welcome March! The first month of spring for many... For us in the tropics - we are still having hot and humid days and the cyclone season is not over.... 

I've been busy over the last couple of weeks - since my previous blog post. I've not done anything to the log cabin quilt... The plan is a 'flying geese' border all around it. I prefer to do it paper-piecing - print it from EQ7 - but I don't have any printer right now. My beloved HP is dead... after almost 10 years working, so what to expect?! :( 

I'm in for a scrappy year and I have some finishes where I have used up bits and pieces. 

8 coasters in green / hunter green with 'gold metallic' butterflies

2 coasters - Easter eggs

3 coasters - cherries

... and of course, I can't avoid making some mug rugs...

Set of 2 mug rugs where I have used fabric scraps from the 'Spring Spectacular' line

Another set of 2 mug rugs from the same fabric line as above

Set of 2 Easter egg mug rugs

These mug rugs and coasters are listed in my Etsy shop. 

It's not often I enter giveaways, but back in January I entered a giveaway at this blog - and won! :)

It's a Riley Blake charm pack 'Twice as Nice' and a Quilter's Calculator from AQS.  

Charmaine - thank you so much! Love it all and I can't wait to make something out of the charm pack! :)

Check out Charmaine's blog and have a look at her gorgeous scrap quilts!  

If you are are follower of my blog, you may remember I (finally) started working on the PSQ back in January. At that time I had 7 blocks - 36 charms in one block - 252 squares. At that time I got sidetracked - I get sidetracked all the time - lol - and it took some weeks before I got into it again. Over the last couple of weeks I made 6 blocks - 216 squares. 

One block was made earlier (don't remember when), altogether I have 14 blocks - 504 squares - it's growing! :)

Don't you love how it looks? I do! :) And I love these charms are coming from different countries on the globe! What a travel they have had.... before landing on this little island in the middle of nowhere - lol!  

I have several WIP's right now and here is one of them.

A piece of beautiful (big print) Easter lilies. It's going to be a wall hanging. The idea is to add a 'flying geese' border all around it (yes, this one too!), but I don't have enough 'hunter green' fabric. You all know I'm not going to buy fabrics 'just for fun' this year, but I am allowed when there's fabric I need to finish a project. 'Hunter green' is on its way from the US! :) 

I have a few other WIP's, but I think this post is long enough as it is... I hope to finish 3 of the WIP's within a couple of days. 

It's under the needle! A win and a new project

I haven't done much sewing over the last couple of weeks.... Thinking back... what have I been up to?! Well, I have been cutting squares and jelly roll strips... I don't think I have mentioned it here earlier; I sell squares, jelly roll and fabrics on Etsy and eBay. I came to the conclusion last year that I have way too much fabrics that never will be used, so why not try to sell some of it? And for the little amount I get, I can buy new fabrics - LOL! :) Cutting and preparing those little packets with squares and jelly rolls takes quite some time; hence not much time for sewing.

  

Over the weekend I worked entirely on the Postage Stamp Quilt. Yesterday I started quilting it. I do straight seams, which I think will look best. I'm halfway through the long side. My goal is to finish it this month! She said... hahaha! :)

 

Any of you who are using these quilt clips or something similar for holding the quilt in place when quilting?  I bought them from Keepsake Quilting some years ago... They make quilting easier, because they hold the already quilted part in place.

 

 

I've started a new project! :)) An autumn wall quilt!

I bought the fabrics 5 years ago! Love the panel blocks and the stripe! :)  

 

 

I always say 'I never win'! But look; I've won! :)
Every month this year I've signed up to join 'Nothing But UFO's in 2013', hosted by Carrie at A Passion for Applique. Every month we list three UFO's to work on and at the end of the month we have to finish at least one of the UFO's to be in the draw for a prize.
I am one of the lucky winners for March 2013 draw! (Yes, I know, a long overdue post!)

Two pieces of beautiful fabrics, two skeins embroidery floss from The Gentle Arts (which I love) and a gorgeous sewing companion from KaHolly.   

 

There are treasures inside the sewing companion;

scissor, seam ripper, needle book and a cute charm 'I love to quilt'. :)

A HUGE THANK YOU to Carrie who is hosting 'Nothing But UFO's in 2013' and Karen at KaHolly for donating the sewing companion! I LOVE IT ALL!!! :)  

 

 

I have been baking too, take a look here and here. :)

 

 

 

 

 

Tea Coaster Swap, Brown Bag Quilt Contest and a WIN

Earlier this year I signed up for the NNC's Tea Coaster exchange, hosted by Usha (no blog).

There are many talented crafters in NNC, and one of them is Zarina from Malaysia. I received these lovely tatted tea coasters from her.

Zarina has used her own hand dyed thread; Aubrille & Garden's Path.

If you want to see more of her hand dyes, click here.

  

Zarina crochets too; look at this beautiful doily I received together with the tatted tea coasters. The doily can be used for the tea pot.

Zarina is a quilter too, check out her blog here.

Once again, thank you so very much Zarina, for the beautiful tea coasters & doily!

My partner for the tea coaster exchange is Usha (no blog - Usha, I'm very sorry if I do a mistake, but you don't have a blog, do you?)

This is what I made for Usha; four quilted tea coasters and an extra for the tea pot.

A big thanks to NNC & Usha for organizing the tea coaster swap 2010!

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I always say I never win... How wrong was I???

When Kris over at Tag Along Teddies launched two new patterns and a giveaway, I left a comment for the giveaway - and I won the Butterfly Hunt pattern!

HURRAY!!! Isn't it cute?! Click on the photo and you'll see it more detailed.

Thanks a lot, Kris!

If you want to know more, click here.

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Brown Bag Quilt Contest - for more information, click here.

I have signed up for the BBQC, and my swap partner is Sharon (no blog) in the US. Today I received the "ugly" fabrics from her....  GOSH, aren't they ugly???? LOL! No, I don't see the fabrics as ugly. The colors go from light to dark purple. Purple isn't my favorite color, but after I made the table runner for Alynn, I'm a bit more comfortable with purple.

After auditioning the fabrics, I have an idea what to make, but I have yet to decide on pattern. This is going to be FUN!

I forgot to take a photo of the fabrics I sent to Sharon; too much in a hurry that day. :)

Once again; thanks for the "ugly" fabric, Sharon! :)

Accumulation of quilt tops and a win

How many quilt tops do you have that is waiting to be sandwiched?!

Just say it - I know you have some, don't you?! :))

I have too many at the moment! By "too many" I mean four that are done (the tops);

1) Split Hourglass quilt

2) Hello Betty

3) Marion's quilt

4) Mystery quilt

5) Pinwheel quilt*

6) Polar Bear quilt*

Those marked with the *, the tops have yet to be finished.

These days I'm working on the Polar Bear quilt. It's a challenge, because the blocks are four different sizes, and if that is not enough; the fabric is limited and I don't get more. I had to purchase approx 0.50 yards of some of the fabrics that are still available. Hopefully I'll get it at the end of this week...

My intention is to start sandwiching one of these quilts already this week...

I should not be tempted to start another project before at least half of these tops are quilted and finished!!!! :) If I do - please remind me - lol! :)

This is how it looks like now... I have added together some of the blocks. I'm not sure how to proceed, need to take the fabric into consideration...

I fell head over heal for this design!

A while ago I bought a layer cake and jelly roll; "Evening Mist" by Sentimental Studios (Moda). It has bothered me - lol - that I didn't find a suitable pattern for it, but some days ago the pattern was just there, in front of my eyes - in a magazine.

This is just part of the quilt. I had to purchase fabric for the inner- and other border, so this one is "on hold". :)

While waiting for the purchased fabrics, I hope to get my *** moving and start sandwiching - the most boring part of finishing a quilt - isn't it?!

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I never win - and I'VE WON!!!!

I'm the OPAM 2010 winner for the month of July!!!! :)))

OPAM - One Project A Month - is hosted by Kris and Peg.

Peg sent me a Timeless Treasures charm pack; "Hampton Blues" and a darling

Lynette Anderson pattern; "Beehive Home". I LOVE IT ALL!!!

Peg, how did you guess my favorite color is actually blue?! :)

Thanks a big lot!!!

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Yesterday I made yummy carrot- and ginger bran muffins....

Yes, I was greedy; had three of them yesterday itself - and more today! :)

Interested? Click for the recipe here.

Love the taste of ginger!