Bring out the sled

It snowed today!

painting by Grandma Moses 1960 

Outside my window the snow coated everything white.  

Inside it's cozy and warmIt's time for some hot chocolate.Enjoy your evening too!

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

 Things are a little busy here at dutch blue's place. But never the less..we still decided
last Saterday to get out the Christmas decorations and give the house a Christmas makeover.First the tree...and as you can see...i love color!!

 A very sweet angel ornament
 Cute familie wearing red hats


 Red felt heart

 Santa claus and his (wife?)
 I believe December is the most busy month of the year. But it is also by far the most cosiest.I love to lit the candles in the evening and the smell of the Christmas tree.I love to do some handsewing projects while listening to Christmas music. The red/ orange quilt is done. I used a charmpack "recess" from moda for the nine triangles blocks.
 On my quilt hoop now....Dutch folklore.

Happy stitchingEnjoy your day!
 

Trees, coasters and a before and after

I think its a bit early yet but I've got a tree waiting outside...
Maybe (if I can wait that long) I put it up next weekend.



This little tree is already decorated...


  This one too..
 a tree from Hema(and snowman)......



Look what came in the mail! Aren't these coasters lovely! It was a giveaway I won, held by Heidi from " all my scattering moments " Thank you so much Heidi!



And to end this post,
remember the before....



Here is the after...



And notice.. the laundry is all done!
groeten,

Sunday inspiration

Here are - cute- sweet- gorgeous-  ornaments I found on Flickr.
Click on the links below to go check them out.



1. ornament swap, 2. ornament inspired by matte stephens charlie bird prints, 3. Christmas ornaments, 4. felt bird ornament, 5. ornament, 6. House ornaments, 7. Ornament swap, 8. small scented house ornaments, 9. Robin_ornament, 10. bird wreath ornament, 11. Knitted Elf Shoe Ornament, 12. Tree Ornament 2, 13. Felt Christmas Ornament Tutorial and Pattern, 14. étoile patch, 15. christmas ornament swap, 16. Felt bunny ornament

I'm trying to make an ornament myself by using an old Christmas card, cotton and a crochet hook.

 Outside it's cold and wet.  So, I better stay in and try some more of this ornament making!   Update on the "knitted star tutorial";
Barbara made a perfect translation of the pattern in German language.
You can find these German instructions by clicking on the link in the sidebar. Thank you Barbara for your kindness! Groeten,

cross this one off of my list.....

Hip Hip Hooray! Not only do we celebrate DD birthday today. I also have my Christmas quilt finished in time...!!
I gave myself a little pat on the shoulder (thought I deserved one).



It seems I can't get the whole quilt sharp on a picture.
The daylight is terrible today for taking pictures. And I don't use flashlights. So, this is the best I can bring you today!



I quilted large stitches in straight lines. The binding is done by folding the back fabric to the front of the quilt and sew with the machine.

 Just finished in time to enter the contest!

this and that

Is it really December already?? I can't believe how fast this year has flown by. This is also the last page of my 'Lot van den Akker' calender. Next year I'll come with a new calender and new pages.



I had a small leftover block from the red and white quilt and turned it into a pincushion. I think by now I have more pincushions than pins!
Notice the two vintage fabrics, aren't they lovely?



A few weeks back I told you about a small renovation going on here.



Well, the plaster and ceiling are done.
Now all we have to do is paint the walls and do the floor.
(And do the laundry!! )  To be continued ...



And before I go ending this post I happily put some flowers on the table. Specially for you,  hope you love roses!



Thanks for all the nice feedback about my angel pattern.

angel pattern

So, I finished the angel pattern. Here it is. Feel free to print the pattern and instructions if you like to make one yourself.





UPDATE: If you have trouble with downloading or printing the pattern please send me an email. I will send you the pdf file in return.
Pattern Angel  Enjoy!

ps: If you have any questions please let me know.

drinking tea

Enjoy your weekend!



See you again on Monday.

not an exciting post

There's nothing exciting going on here. I'm still making stitches on the Christmas quilt.
Almost ready for the binding and then it's done, yes!!



Today it's grey and dark outside. Not the perfect light to make pictures.
And to leave this post not completly whitout photo's,

I thought I would show you some that were already on my camera.
These are small cross stitch motives made by my mother in law.
I have them hanging in a frame. Heleen used these motives for making ornaments.
Oke, not exactly the same but they look alike!





I love old cross stitch motives.
Here are more gorgeous pictures (found on flickr) where I didn't have to use my camera for.
In this mosaic are beautiful projects made by other talented people.
See the links to go and check them out.



1. p i n c u s h i o n, 2. Leaves and berries papercutting (40cm x 55cm), 3. Crocheted hearts blanket, 4. Bottle Cap Pincushion #317, 5. Colorful Crafting with Jen: SnoBuddy Family from Knitting at KNoon, 6. mary jane stockings, 7. first quilted cushion, 8. petit cross stitch, 9. Detail, 10. Bracelet, 11. Buck, 12. Christmas Fairy Bunny brooch, 13. HOUSE BAG FOR A SWAP, 14. Embroidery details, 15. Itty-bitty quilt, 16. Button for the "o"

To end this post here's a photo from a project I'm working on with  my own two hands.



Not the best picture, but as I told you it's grey and dark outside!

Sunday inspiration

I went shopping yesterday and brought the new Marie Claire idees back home.
This issue is really, and I mean really beautiful. It's packed full with the most wonderful inspirational idees.



I've taken some pictures to show, so you can see for yourself.



I love the paper made ornaments.
They look so simple and yet so very pretty.



Cute deer ornament.



And don't you just adore this sweet crochet pink teacozy!!



There's so much more. I better hide this magazine from 'moi' before I start making more and more ufo's! I'am the queen of ufo's, you know!
 I start machine quilting the Christmas quilt. And as you probably see it looks terrible. So I removed all the stitches and decided to hand quilt.



But I make large stitches with a large needle so that works real fast!This way I hope to be on time for the contest.


Groetjes,
ps. If you like 'speculaas' go over to my sisters blog. she is holding a yummie giveaway!

touches of red

The border is just about done and I found the right
fabric for the back that matches perfectly.



I made another gingerbread heart.
This one is a larger version of the ones I made last year.



It so much fun to create something new out of old stuff! The brown piece was originally a small table cloth with four embroidered corners. It came from a triftshop. I'm making  the last heart from the last leftover corner.
So, that was one small, old tablecloth well used, I would say!



Because of a few days off from work I can get a lot of sewing done.
Here is another red angel bag. The same as last years angel bags, only this time I used a pink and red roses fabric for the lining and added a silk rose.



To end today's post I show you what came in the mail yesterday.
It has nothing to do with today's post title but I'm so happy with this Mary Engelbreit 2010 calendar. I bought this at Amazon.



I'm off now, have to get my Mexican flu shot this afternoon, brrrr!

A contest, a box and another log cabin

When I got the quilting gallery newsletter from Michele,  
I read about the Holiday Traditions Quilt Contest. I love to enter this contest but to make a quilt on such short notice!?? Still working on the fall quilt.



But then it came to me. I have a quilttop, almost done, hidden somewhere.
This will be a perfect opportunity to finaly get this one finished.
So I took a dive into the cupboard and found this box



Bits and pieces Christmas fabric, most are from the the eighties and nineties.
Probably also the last time this box was opened.



Here's after I neatly folded the fabric swatches.
Isn't that a lovely pile?



Here is the quilttop. It's a log cabin (again). I stitched the stripes on a background for this one. It needs borders, a back and quilting.
Final submissions to enter the contest is December 7, 2009



I think best thing is to use the machine for quilting.
So I can hopefully finish just in time.
Keep my fingers crossed!

Monday's quick post

Just a quick post today. I spotted these yummie fabrics over here.
'Lorenza' from Alexander Henry fabrics.



I played a bit with this site photoscape, just to see how these lovely ones would look in a design.



Yes, just as i thought...these fabrics would look lovely indeed.
I put them on my wishlist.
- Better write a note to Sinterklaas!-



Have a good start of the week!

thinking Christmas

The top is almost done.
I try to find matching fabric for borders and the back...



Meanwhile, despite my best efforts to avoid...
I have Christmas on my mind!



What shall I make this year..



I love to make ornaments..



And I love making these angels..



Well, first things first. Back to my fall quilt!
I go for the red flowery fabric and the solid brown for the border



Groetjes,

under construction

My house is having some renovations done, new window frames, new plaster, new ceiling. So my weekend was filled with all kind of other non quilting work. -Wipe off grey concrete dust is not one of my most favorite jobs to do-. Let's just say it's all for a good cause!



But today the dust is gone and there are no workmen in the house.
So, I can quietly withdraw myself back into my cozy room upstairs
where the fall quilttop is still waiting to get finished.
I hope to show some pictures of it soon.
Have a good start of the week you all!