Nine patch quilt top

Having the day off, I took some pics of my nine patch quilt top. ...With a black bird's song in my ears.

It was inspired by a quilt shown in one of Roberta Horton's books. Of course I could not resist using a lot of colour, so much unlike the original which was made in muted, beautiful colours.
It was made by a group of ladies.


Oh, well. I tried to find the book, to show the original, but I could't find it.

I started making it in 1998, and I remember sewing one of the blocks while newly engaged to my husband in early January 1999.
Without borders it measures about 80x115 inches (205x240 cm).
Pieced by hand.

A lot of borders to be attatched...

Thank you Lea and Taryn for your kind comments! Take care.

Note to self

Ignore your fear of messing up, and get it DONE already!
I need a kick where it hurts the most - to at least start finishing this top. It has been laying in the cupboards for almost to ten years. It has been sewn by hand, and I fear sewing on the borders. From experience I know it will be a challenge to make the border and top fit, in order to lay flat. There - this helped. I am a little more determined now, thank you!
A spring gathering of small flowers from our garden. That sounded a little posh, but we are so much enjoying being able to spend time outdoors again!

Zakka fun

These last few weeks I have been in a sewing frenzy daze. Sewing small pouches is so satisfying as they are FINISHED in reasonable time - unlike my other quilting projects which feel take FOREVER. So these pouches are a result of a very inspiring evening (which turned into night/early morning) at a dear friend's house a few weeks ago. Thank you I-L! Among other things I learned how to sew in zippers and to make stoppers/embelishment for drawstring pouches.
The small pincushion is made from Trine Bakke's book.
I appliqued a thimble to this small pouch, so that I know where I keep my quilting thimble and Aunt Becky quilting tool. The pouch pattern is included in Lise Bergene's book.This is reversible and constructed of four strips of 3" cut fabrics. My friend's Japanese co-worker came back from Japan with a pouch similar to this. Her friend had made it for her. I-L had to figure out how to make one. She did and showed me how. I am thinking of putting up a tutorial here a little later. (When my sewing machine is back from holiday at the service man's) I had to make one of these. I loved making it!
... so much I had to make a bigger one, with draw string closing. It turned out to be a present for a good friend, who really deserved the gift. We always have such fun times together. A small zakka bag for a good friend... I am looking forward to making another when my machine returns.

Spring sewing

An applique block part of a sampler I have been working on for some time. Only a few blocks left.
Leftovers - I love leftovers. This top will be made solely from scraps - except for the sashing blocks. When the main blocks are ready I will have to cut more paralellograms to finish the top. The picture to the right is a photo of an old quilt I found online some years ago. It has been in my folder for quilts I (some day) want to reproduce. The paralellograms are fascinating. They can form both stars and diamonds. Such phenomenons trhill me!