Saturday, 22 August 2026

In The Sewing Room ...

Started the week by turning this finished applique into a table runner. As I had yellow scraps for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge already out, some light coloured fabric was perfect as the backing.

 
I used some scraps to make a place mat - that now gives me a set of 8 different coloured mats.

I then moved on to a block designed by Jennifer at The Inquiring Quilter  for Block Mania. The theme for this month is the night sky. Jennifer's block was a sunset over the mountains and I had some sunset fabric - but couldn't find it so I changed my block to include water. I have this scrap that I found in a scrap bag some years back, and it was perfect for the water.

I machine stitched the applique on, as this will be a wall-hanging rather than be included in a quilt. I then hand stitched the rough looking stars 😀in the design in the Cancer Constellation - my birth sign.

I really liked this block and I think I will make some more variations of it for the family, maybe with things they like - cruise ships, something Japanese etc.

I have been wanting to make another postcard block for a trip we did to Norfolk Island back in 2020 so with the left over water and sky fabric I made it.

 
It is roughly 6"x8" and I machine stitched the tree and over the foreshore. I hand stitched us in the water. Beautiful Emily Bay, Norfolk Island.
I took a close up of the tree and was surprised at how the close up makes the scene look stormy.
I have one other photo I want to make from this trip. This was the first postcard block I made. It is a scene from K'Gari (Fraser Island), Indian Head, and I think I'm getting better.

Link Up Parties for Inspiration

Finished(or Not) Friday – Alycia Quilts

Off the Wall Fridays - Creations - Quilts, Art, Whatever

Wednesday Wait Loss - The Inquiring Quilter

So Scrappy 




Friday, 14 August 2026

Future Projects

What a busy four months! Sold our car and caravan, repaired and prepared a house for sale, sold it, and started renovating our back yard.... AND planned our next holiday. No wonder I haven't been able to spend much time in the sewing room. Maybe this week.

I tend to do the same challenges / sew alongs /projects each year, with the different one offs in between. This year I planned to finish off some  tops that had been on the shelf for a while - of which I did finish a few. The first sew along of the year for the past 6-7 years has been the Focuscutting Sewalong. This year the shape was a square. Usually the shapes make a hexie, and a square (above) doesn't fit my 'hexie' quilt, so I'm not as enthusiastic about it this year. I've made a few, and have a few more to make - they will be holiday sewing. 

Another year long project is the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I really enjoy using up scraps and 'crumbs' to make little bits and pieces. I usually make them as leaders and enders when sewing different projects. This month the colour is yellow.

Block Mania is another monthly project that I like. I don't do a lot of the blocks but when something comes up that I like, I make it. This month the theme is 'Night Sky'. I subscribe to The Inquiring Quilter and I really like the block that Jennifer has designed. I found this fabric, but might go a little darker for the sky. I can see me making a number of these blocks, each one a little different. But for tomorrow, just this one.

A FaceBook Group I follow, Moda Blockheads, is starting a new project the end of September, so I'll be making some or all of those blocks. A new block comes out each week. I'll start this after the holiday.

And last, and probably my favourite, is Bonnie Hunters Quiltville Mystery. I love sewing pieces each week and seeing how the pieces all come together. I've made this mystery every year since Orca in 2011. This starts in November.

Link Up Parties for Inspiration

Finished(or Not) Friday – Alycia Quilts

Off the Wall Fridays - Creations - Quilts, Art, Whatever

Wednesday Wait Loss - The Inquiring Quilter

So Scrappy 

 


Friday, 7 August 2026

This Week in the Sewing Room

Another week of bits and pieces, although I didn't really have a lot of time in the sewing room. I still had my aqua blue scraps out so made a few pineapples. They are about 5" x 7.5" and I designed them myself - an easy design, as my daughter wanted a pineapple wall print and I thought it would look good as a wall hanging - or lap quilt, or something else entirely.

I also did some more hand stitching on one of my many fussy/focus cutting projects from years ago hosted by Naomi. One project at a time - right! 

As I was spending more time doing paper, well really computer work, I also finished the hand stitching of table runner that my Auntie had started.

I'm toying with the idea of stitched sayings pennants, but that is still a work in progress.

Link Up Parties for Inspiration

Finished(or Not) Friday – Alycia Quilts

Off the Wall Fridays - Creations - Quilts, Art, Whatever

Wednesday Wait Loss - The Inquiring Quilter

So Scrappy