CHOOKSHED Challenge April # 4 is already done…..

 Yes,, that’s right..

I have done the backing, prepared and delivered to Judy for quilting. 

Linking up with

 https://dreamworthyquilts.blogspot.com/2025/03/chookshed-challenge-april-number-is-here.html#comment-form

I have a free month to finish up some other projects that are on my radar..

CHOOKSHED challenge finish.. Bookcase quilt

 Wow. I can’t believe my progress.

I have quilted a flower pattern around the border. FMQ different flowers. I have not done these before so don’t look too closely.

Then I tried a wood grain effect on the actual book case. Not too bad. Although I had trouble with my glide thread fraying. But only when I was going backwards. Obviously I couldn’t get my hand movement to match my foot speed.

I have trimmed the quilt

This was an international block swap organised through QATW. ( quilting around the world)

One of the blocks I received was a cat. Mmm how could I use this block. At first, I thought of putting it on the back as a label. As time and my thought process progressed this block will now be on the front.

I decided to remove the background pieces of the block and adhered vliesofix and iron on wadding.

Turned it over and ironed on to the front. I have already quilted the area behind where the cat was placed. This cat now sits in front of the book case.  Very pale and hidden though.

So I appliquéd a fancy stitch in a darker thread  to make it stand out. The stitch looks a bit like fuzzy fur.

I added google eyes and embroidered a face.

Next up was to finish off the quilting around the books.

The binding is attached. As is the label.

And hanging sleeve.

It is now all hand stitched and completed.

Here is the start date of when I joined all the blocks.

Now, how will I add the finish date?

The only thing I last added was a finished date embroidered. 

This quilt was started in 2019. The top done in 2020. Quilted started in 2021. And completed in 2025.

My quilt is done and I am so happy. Thankyou Deana for getting me inspired.

Have a look here  https://dreamworthyquilts.blogspot.com/2025/03/chookshed-linky-for-march-maureens.html  to see what else has been achieved by others linking up.

My yellow Kawandi placemat is finished. RSC yellows - placemats, pin cushions and potato chips.

My comments are back. For some reason they were going in to my spam mail.. argh!!!!

 My Kawandi placemat is done. I am loving making these.. They are very addictive.

Continuing with yellows and RSC scraps, strings, potato chip blocks and crumbs.

Out came the yellow box.. using up the crumbs and strips on placemats.

The leftovers sewn on to purchase receipt papers. I know many people use adding machine tape rolls but the receipts are free and a good width.

I also cut lots of smaller scraps into the rectangles for my potato chip blocks.

3 more placemats completed. Total now 25 out of the hoped 50.

Using up the receipt tape lengths into pin cushions.

Enough to make 8 more.

So 8 pin cushions completed.. Total. 29 out of 40 needed.

I have now used up all the little pieces of yellow. That tub is cleaned up.

Linking up with Angela. RSC.

https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2025/03/scraphappy-saturday-homeward-bound.html

Part 6 of Mystery Chaos - cutting… Part 7 - the block layout

 This week was an easy one. Cut, cut and cut.

Out came my green tub. 

Easier to tip them out on the floor.

I sorted out pieces that I could cut 4.5” squares & 4.5” * 8.5” rectangles.

All parts laid out ready for the block layout.

Part 7. The block layout.

Sewing the block together. Next week there will be a video showing different settings of putting the blocks together. There are 16 blocks measuring 20”. This will make a queen size quilt.

With the smaller pieces I used my go cutter to cut 2.5” * 4.5” to use in the border and the leftovers to be used as a start for my potato chip blocks.

The left over strips and crumbs have been packed away. Brenda has a string quilt sew along coming up in April so hopefully some of the greens will be used.

I celebrated a birthday and caught up with friends

 I celebrated my birthday a few times this month. I had a lovely lunch with Maxine who bought me some flowers.

 We had a good catch up.

Tony and I had a good day out meeting up with Judy, Barry, Pat and Allen.

We met half way at Murrayville. Had lunch in the little Cobb n Co cafe.

It was a great catch-up all be it very warm. BUT.

I handed over my quilt, backing and wadding for Judy to do her magic.

Placemats Galore.

 These placemats only measure approx 10” * 13”

It all depends on what size wadding scraps I have.

Out comes the yellow scrap 

Choosing which ones to use first.

Start sewing them to the wadding.

2 yellow done

Now for some aqua/blue

Plenty of binding

And 6 more aqua / blue.

So my total is now 22 out of 50 goal done…..

Linking with https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2025/03/scraphappy-saturday-sunny-day.html

I have passed these over and now I’m told they are too small. Next ones are to be a bit bigger so I’m going to try 11” * 16” and see how I go.

 

Time to start quilting & NO COMMENTS are coming to my email

 Apologies if I haven’t got back to some of you if you have left comments. Blogger is not sending them through to my email again. Why do they keep changing things? It is so frustrating. I am checking every couple of days but it is more time consuming. So SORRY.

NOW FOR THE SEWING STUFF…..

Before I could start quilting I needed to give my machine some love

Look at that dust

I was in an international swap with some ladies in the USA back in 2019. We each had to make multiple book blocks and another item on a bookshelf block. In return I received many blocks from other people. I managed to finish the top in 2020. It was basted in 2021 and started quilted in December 2022.

I will have to do another label to show the completion date.

I had done more quilting on this quilt than initially thought.

Trouble was the bobbin thread was coming through to the front on the black fabric. The thread kept on breaking. This was probably the reason for putting it in the cupboard. 

So I got started.

Took my time and the sewing went much better. I have nearly finished the black background areas.

I am using glide thread which is very slippery. I found these little clips that fit onto bobbins. They keep the thread from unravelling 

I wound a couple of bobbins ready for a sewing session.

I tried a few flowers on the border. My machine was sewing well. I am not the most even quilters but I am happy with what I do. There are a mix of flowers. No set design. Just whatever happens.

This quilt might see a finish…

More scrap placemats, pin cushions and a little zipper coin purse

 I have another placemat to add to the pile. This makes no. 14 I think.

I have been asked to make them a bit smaller. I have been doing them 12”*18”. 

So I now am going to do them 10”*16”….

After finishing the backing for my large Bordertown B’s quilt I have use the last of the crumbs up.

I made 3 pin cushions making a total of 21.

And a cute little zippered coin purse. Of course, you can use it for anything. I might use it for my thimbles.