Five quilted postcards sent (6 made)

This month I participated in a postcard swap organized by Sparklestash. We were to send out five cards. This was a perfect OMG for August as I had planned to take some time away with the family. In a few afternoons I made the cards. I used the instructions from Patty over at Elm Street Quilts - in 2018 I participated in a postcard swap she had organized. 

Card #1 East meets West

These are all African Batiks from Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria

Card #2 Symphony in green

Green fabrics from Mali, Ivory Coast, US and UK

 

Card #3

For this card I used fabric from African designer Woodin, this one I bought in Burkina Faso (years ago)

 

Card #4

For this card I also used fabric from African designer Woodin, bought in Burkina Faso. This is one of my favourite fabrics - unfortunately not much left of the 6 yards bundle. 

Card #5

Initially I made a card with Indonesian batik, and did not like the end result. So decided to make a new one using Tula Pink scraps. Liked the result up to the moment that I was going to use my overlocker to trim and sew the edges - she decided not to collaborate .... grrrr ....

On instagram (where we all had our "own" group of postcardswappers I raised the question which card was better .... the Tula Pink card won. One my co-postcardswappers suggested I do a zigzag stitch covering the overlock stitches. Still not convinced with this card, just could not make a third card as card #5 ....

Card #6 the not-sent-card

One card stayed at home .... not sure yet what I will do with this one ....

Linking up with OMG August at Elm Street Quilts.

OMG August Five Postcards

This month I am participating in a post card swap. I participated once and really enjoyed making a card. Through Instagram I found this exchange organized by SparkleStash.

I need to make five cards and send out before August 30th. This will be my perfect OMG for August.

Linking with Patty at Elm Street Quilts.

Green twist table topper

Let's twist again, like we did this summer .....

A second twist table topper finished in Green. And the good thing about this second twist? I made it all from fabric on hand. Early summer I had made one with red batics, and the second one on request in green. The end of the month this will be gifted. Before the end of the year I think I might make a third one and change the lay-out.

My green twist is my OMG for July
organized by Patty at Elm Street fabric.

The pattern is from Carole at "From my Carolyna home"

OMG July - Green twist

I hesitated on the title of my post: rhapsody in green or green twist and choose for the second option in the end. If all goes well I might travel home for a few days to visit my parents. Last year I was to make a table runner for my father and his wife, time got in the way and the table runner never happened. This year am trying again and as I was very pleased with my red batik twist dance table topper that I decided to make a second one. I asked what colour they preferred .. red ... blue ... green .... I knew the answer was going to be green ....

Second question - table runner or table topper? Table topper. I will not add batting as this will need to be taken in their camping car so the less volume the better.

I went through my stash looking for green fabric, and much my surprise had more green than I thought I had. These colours seem to go well together and the background will be white. With Covid-19 still around am not in a hurry to try to find a matching green background. For the backing most likely will use the second fabric from the bottom as still have quite a lot from that. What a great way to get some stash moving.

Linking up with Patty's OMG for July over at Elm Street Quilts

Confinement quilt backing

My second goal for OMG June was to finish the backing of my confinement quilt. Originally I was going to order some nice wide-backing ... however with the confinement going on, supplies were low everywhere and the ones I liked were not available. (Note to self to purchase some wide backing fabric up front to add to stash). In the end I ordered some Kona fabric in a matching purple colour on-line in France. I had some left overs from the rail fence blocks and I made six more rail fence blocks with black corners. The black fabric being the same as the one in the top. With left overs I made a colourful border around the purple top and finished off with a black border. I had to be creative as realized I had not ordered enough purple fabric.

When done I rinsed the backing as was full of wool from my carpet ... I definitely need a design wall dedicated to my quilts, only I have no wall I can dedicate to that. Rinsing the backing was not the best idea I had; the fabric frayed and I had to cut off all the little loose ends as the quilt was supposed to go to a long-arm quilter ... oh well .. lesson learned. I cut loose threads, checked all the seams and gave it a good press.

At first I was not happy with the backing and almost almost ended up looking online ... I took a picture and then realized that the backing wasn't that bad at all. Maybe time to be less critical of my creations .....

Both the top and backing are on their way to the long-arm quilter Rachel Hauser of Stitched in Color

Linking up with Patty at Elm Street Quilts for my July OMG.

My goal this month included two projects and happy to say that have managed to achieve both the table topper and the confinement backing.

Table topper finish

The red and white tabletopper is finished. I added the border, the backing, stitched in the ditches and done. The twist dance looks really nice and will make at least a green one ... and then one babyquilt size ......

This is part one of my OMG for June organized by Patty at Elm Street quilts.

OMG June - table topper, quilt backing ...

June is here, the start of a new month. And not the start of new projects .... there are a few I need to finish .... so what best way to make these my OMG. My mind is already on new projects .... so no ... am strict with myself.

1: Finish my tabletopper - scrap dance twist quilted table topper. Choose the fabric for the backing and finalize

2: Finish the backing for my confinement quilt. The top was finalized in April and I have left over blocks and scraps to make the backing. I discovered a mix up in the front. Spent time thinking if I really want to undo a lot ... no .... the colours still blend in very well and the secondary motive is still visible.

Bonus project

I started a baby quilt using scraps and making triangles. So far have made a few rows. Ideally I will finish the top. Not sure how work is involved in finalizing the top. Hence a bonus project this will be.

Scrap dance twist mystery tabletopper

My OMG for the month of May was to finish my table topper.

The mystery quilt "Scrap dance twist" was organized by Carolina over at From my Carolina home. I still don't know how I stumbled on her blog .... a few years ago. Each year she organizes a scrap dance and this year I decided to participate as have so many scraps and fabric and while waiting for the fabric I ordered online to make the backing of my confinement quilt.

I really like the end result, and will make a few more as they make nice gifts.

Next step making the backing - I think I will use some red fabric. Not sure if I will add batting, as this will be a tabletopper a flat top will be easier to handle.

Linking with Patty's OMG for May over at Elm Street Quilts.

A good thing my OMG was "just" the tabletopper as I ended making a bunch of masks for my kids, secondary school started last week on a voluntary basis and they go four days a week. It makes teleworking definitely a lot easier.

OMG May - Scrap Dance Twist

Am participating in a mystery quilt organized by Carolina over at From my Carolina home. First time I participate in a mystery QAL. Am making the table-topper size. Other sizes are available (crib, throw all the way to King size). I wasn't sure how much time I was going to have, so decided for the smallest size.


Am using batiks I bought last year in Malaysia.

Step 2 was sewing the little squares all together

Step 3 was making half square triangles

Step 4 (four-patch units) and step 5 (making rows of 2 four-patch units and one square in the middle) - no pictures .....

Yesterday step 6 was released and in two weeks time we should have the reveal and I will be able to finish the top.

My OMG for May is to finish the top. I might even make a second one as they make pretty gifts.

Linking up with Patty from Elm Street Quilts who keeps us going each month.

Confinement Tula Pink quilt top

There are advantages to being locked up at home. The first few weeks were difficult, adjusting to homeschooling and working at the same time required a lot of patience. There have been so many moments in my life in the last years that I was thinking that my patience was going to be tested .... and sure enough every time there is a new situation ....

I have found a great way of dealing with these moments ... I quilt. So now as we cannot leave our house, except for groceries and bread, which I do at lunch time as less people around, I end up having a lot of time in the weekends.

In March I cut the fabric for the spinning rail fence quilt and re-named it "confinement quilt" a more appropriate name. Also bringing some positive thoughts to the lock down and definitely lots of colours. The fabric used is from Tula Pink's All Stars collection

I enjoyed working on the quilt, taking step by step of sewing the strips (early April), cutting the sub-units, sewing the sub-
units, cutting 9" blocks .... and slowly the quilt came together. The blocks were sewn in diagonal strips. Once done a beautiful rainbow quilt appeared.

I took the top to the garden and hanged it in the plum tree.

I wasn't sure about the outer border, the pattern asked for 4 1/2" strips, I tried 2 1/2" strips, too thin .... so in the end I cut 4' strips. Perfect in between solution.

I will send the quilt top to a long-arm quilter in the Netherlands; Rachel from Stitched in color will do a great job.

Linking up with Patty at Elm Street quilts for my April One Monthly Goal.