just nature photos

Over the last few weeks I did not have time to work on patchwork and quilting projects. So in this post I want to share a few photos. With morning impressions when walking the dog and a some flower closeups. Enjoy!

The nearby park where I go sometimes walking with Dotti in the afternoon.

And a few closeups of the flowers growing in the park.

Hope you have enjoyed browsing through my small photo gallery! Have a wonderful start in to the summer – at least for all us living in the northern hemisphere. Or a wonderful start in to the winter for all down under.

flower small skalabara quilts

barbora

hst scrap blocks make a quilt

New year – new challenge? Yes, a little bit. I always wanted to make quilt with a diagonal or on point block layout.

chair cover quilt 1 - skalabara quilts

I decided to use my scraps or small rests of diverse fabric collections and I wanted an easy pattern. I like to work with half square triangles or hourglass blocks, but always used these in a “normal horizontal” layout. The hst got preference!

The block on the left is 6″ x 6″ finished, the same block turned 45 degrees – on point is now approx. 8,5″ x 8,5″

chair cover quilt block settings - skalabara quilts

I had strips approx. 4,5″ wide and this determined the hst size. To be on the secure side, I cut my squares for the hst blocks 4″ x 4″, i.e. each hst is 3″ x 3″ finished and the blocks are 6″ x 6″ finished size.

chair cover quilt 5 - skalabara quilts

The quilt is actually for a chair that the cat uses as his daytime bed. As he didn’t want to pose with the quilt, the dog got photographed instead of him.

chair cover quilt 4 - skalabara quilts

I have quilted this piece with the walking foot in straight lines following the pattern on the diagonal and horizontal.  Backing material is plain cotton calico from IKEA (extraordinary quality and price balance).

chair cover quilt back 1 - skalabara quilts

chair cover quilt detail 1 - skalabara quilts

Because of the diagonal/on point block design, the quilt has turned out bigger than I wanted. But never mind – the cat won’t mind or even notice it!

chair cover quilt 3 - skalabara quilts

And a block in detail

chair cover quilt detail 2 - skalabara quilts

chair cover quilt 2 - skalabara quilts

I have used a Kona Cotton solid in Corn Yellow with a matching thread from Mettler Quilting 40 color 500. Nearly the same yellow color as the flower with a busy bee.

chair cover quilt bee - skalabara quilts

chair cover quilt 6 - skalabara quilts

Quilt size : 26″ x 51″  /  Block size : 6″ x 6″

Block quantity : 28 hst / 14 side setting triangles / 4 corner settings triangles

Wadding : Bosal Acadia Premium 80% cotton / 20% polyester Autumn weight in white

Quilting thread : Gutterman Sulky Cotton 30 in variegated red/orange/pink color 4061

 

Happy quilting, until next time enjoy life!

barbora flower small skalabara quilts

table runner for Irena

My friend Irena has done some house refurbishing and asked me if I could make her a table runner. So last week we got the colors sorted, I bought some fat quarters by Moda Fabrics and found a nice pattern on the web by Modify Tradition. This is how my design wall looked earlier this week :

my design wall in may - skalabara.com

I am preparing a Dresden Plate design for patchwork classes and shall make a pillow cover out of it. Following the finished table runner, size 21″ x 36″ :

table runner for irena 1 - skalabara.com

Quilted with the walking foot, straight lines in diagonal and some squares, detail :

table runner for irena 2 - skalabara.com

table runner for irena 5 - skalabara.com

There is some more work waiting for me – pieced units for a new quilt :

units for a new quilt - skalabara.com

and leftover half-square triangles ready to press from the Swoon quilt for Mary :

hst ready to press - skalabara.com

Something for the belly – I have opened the jam making season with medlar or loquat and the first apricots :

loquat preserve - skalabara.com

apricot preserve - skalabara.com

And something for the eye – my flowering orchids :

orchids - skalabara.com

Happy sewing, thanks for stopping and till next time,

Barbora

my first quilt in 2014

The almond trees have started to show their pretty white flowers. This means that spring is not far away. We can still have some cold nights in February, but the sun rays are getting stronger even in the morning hours.

almond blossom - skalabara.com

almond blossom 2 - skalabara.com

So – I have finished my very first quilt in 2014 and it is called “Picnic with Bella”! This one is staying at home and is for my hubby Helmut for his everyday siesta on the sofa. I am planning to make a few matching pillow covers with the fabric rests.

picnic with bella 1 - skalabara.com

The fabric I have used is from the “Bella” collection by Lotta Jansdotter for Windham Fabrics. It came out at least a year ago, but I never had time to make a quilt. I have made another quilt with an earlier collection by Lotta Jansdotter : Abstract Dreams. I like her fabric designs and her color choice – modern, bright and fresh. There is a new collection arriving soon “Mormor” – you check it here at Hawthorne Threads.

A few weeks ago I have received a parcel from the UK from Cottonpatch with a new (for me) wadding type : Quilters Dream Cotton in Select. This is a mid loft thickness and it was wonderful to quilt. It is not too thick, but very soft and smooth. I think this will be my favorite wadding (or batting?) for my future quilts.

picnic with bella 3 - skalabara.com

Quilt size : 54″ x 84″ / 137 x 213 cm – Finished block size : 6″ x 6″, one block with 4 half-square triangle units and the other block with log cabin units with mitered corners.

Free-motion quilted with meanders using Gütermann Sulky machine quilting thread in light grey, #1328.

picnic with bella 2 - skalabara.com

I was so happy to find the fabric for the binding in my local shop Kate’s Craft and Quilting – a yellowish-green from Moda Fabrics that matches exactly with the Bella colors.

icnic with bella 5 - skalabara.com

picnic with bella 4 - skalabara.com

This all for the moment, thanks for stopping and looking forward to read your cheerful comments! Have a great week, Barbora

spring is in the air (at least today)

We have had some stormy and rainy weather over the last few days. But today is full of sun, clear blue skies and no wind. The other day I have also seen the first almond trees in blossom (but no camera with me). Just a moment ago I had a nice cup of coffee in the garden. From my chair I could see all the busy bees working on the bright yellow flowers of aeonium arboreum. So I got out my camera and took some photos :

aeonium arboreum - skalabara.com

 

aeonium arboreum - skalabara.com

 

And the pretty white flowers of eriocephalus africanus. This hardy shrub is originally from South Africa, but grows also well the Mediterranean climate.

eriocephalus africanus - skalabara.com

Sewing is high on my list for the weekend, so maybe my next post will be with photo with a pieced patchwork top.

Thanks for stopping, have a nice weekend, Barbora