creative mom

Another week has past...time certainly goes fast!
First a thank you for all the lovely comments I recieved on my last post. For those how asked me to write down the knitted star pattern; I'll think it over. You see the problem is I'm dutch and writing knitting instructies in english???? I don't know all the right words. But when I have a try at it, I let you know and will post it for sure!
I’m still busy knitting, I think I got the knitting virus real bad this time. I'm reading all these wonderful inspirational blogs, it must be contagious!




I knit star points and sew them together. I want to make a blanket out of it, a sort of patchwork blanket from wool. I'm still using soedan wool. My mother has two banana-boxes filled in all kind of colours that I'm free to use. So there's enough to keep me going for a while.
My mother is real enthusiastic about my blogging experiences. When she's at my place she always want to check out my blog and the blogs from others. She herself is a very creative woman, to bad she doesn't know the first thing about computers! Because she sure has lots of creative blogging material! She and her house, that's packed with all kind of books and crafts material keeping me inspired all the time!

These old (1958) Italian patternbooks came from a secondhand bookstore. Mom bought these a few years back and recently gave them to me. I never knew she had them! They are full with great patterns to make dolls and stuffed animals. They are made from felt and fake leather. I'm sureyou can make them in fabric too. I didn't try one out yet but I did found a little handmade doggie that looks just like the one in the book.









The four books above have instructions written in Italian. I can't read italian but the pictures are very clear and understandable.
The book below is written in dutch so maybe its wise to start with a pattern from that book first!




At last....If I ever got tired from all the knitting and wanna do something completely different..... I can always make wine! Maybe not enough for a whole bottle, I'll be satisfied with one glass!

knitted star

A few weeks back when I was doing some shopping I saw a lovely little knitted star. It was because of its bright colours that it strike my eye. I couldn’t decide if I should buy it or not, I already spent enough money that day! Yes… that’s me, can’t shop without buying. I always come home with something, usually things I don’t really need. And my common sense said I didn’t need this star! So I left the shop without buying.
But the star didn’t left my mind! I thought why not give it a try, I know the basics of knitting. So I picked up some wool and knitting needles and got started. Well, I can tell you now, it wasn’t easy at all! It took me a long time before I even had one star point knitted that could get my approval. I was trying over and over again! Did some looking up in the books how to increase and decrease. I thought I knew, But no...ehh, I didn't!
Finally I had the first star point successful finished.
The rest after that was easy and fun.
I can use this star as a pinncushion or make it a hanger.



I used soedan wool and knitting needles size 4.5
It was a long time ago since I used the knitting needles, but it felt good. I'm in for some more knitting!

found it!

Here is a Picture of the doll cradle I was telling you about in this post. I found it at last in a closet on the attic behind all the campinggear.
Sorry for the fact that it's a bit of a blunt shot. I admit.. I'm certainly not the worlds greatest photographer! And I had to shoot the photo with a mobil phone because there wasn't another camera around! That's one thing to put on my wishlist a "digital camera"!
On the cradle lays the finished little checker and stripes quilt.

I also finished the quilt for the August doll quilt challenge this week.


I sew this little quilt on the machine and hand quilted it.


For the back of the quilt I used a french fabric that is printed with birds and flowers.



The pattern is called "crazy nine patch" and it was so much fun to make.
Now that those two projects were done I was searching for something else to do. I could pick up one of my ...... ufo's, but I was in the mood for something new!
I got some inspiration by looking at my small collection of Kaffe Fassett fabrics.



And made this applique tree.



Have a nice weekend everyone!

Calico bag makeover

Underneath this bag hides a simple calico shopping bag.
The kind of bag you sometimes get for free at the store.
They often have names and logo's printed on them. If you don't use those bags anymore than this is a great way to recycle, it's easy and quickly done.



step 1.
unstitch both sides of the bag so that the bag will look like this
(photo below)



step 2.
Sew fabricstrips,lace and ribons on the right side of the open bag so that
the whole surface is covered.



step 3.
Close the bag again by stitching both sides.
Turn the bag and .......



finish!



You see it's so simple as can be !

trip around the world

We had a lovely hot, sunny weekend and therefore I don't have much to show here. I spend all of my lazy time outside doing as little as possible! It's just so nice to be outside again after a very wet July!


Trip around the world in my backyard. (Trip around the world is the name of the pattern.)

This tablecloth started of originaly as a quilt. I made the top years ago but after that was done I didn't feel much to quilt it anymore. So I choose the easy way out and sew a backing fabric against the top and .... there was my tablecloth!
Now I use it on my table outside. So when the sun is shining, like it shines today it gives me that extra summer feeling!

Have a nice day, until next time, now I'm off again for another lazy day!

found treasures

Thank you for all the nice comments on my last post. Our son is back home from the hospital and I'm happy to say that he is doing very well.


We temporary placed a bed in the livingroom for him and I practice a bit of nursing. Not that he's waiting for his mother to do so but hè, I'm his mother!


I almost finished the little quilt that my mother arranged see this post

And I've been busy sewing some crazy nine patch blocks using my lovely french fabrics for the
Dollquilt challenge August



Last saterday I went to a triftstore and found some great stuff. I was very lucky this time see pictures below.


Ribbons.... love those colors!




These hand embroidery patterns are on one long piece of fabric and originaly made as a wallhanger. I don't know yet how I will use them, maybe in a quilt?


And finally this blue plate for my blue china collection. This one has a label on the back from Petrus regout Maastricht. It cost me five euro's, don't think that was too much, do you?

knee trouble

Just a quick post today.
Today our son went to the hospital for a knee surgery. He injured his knee by playing basketball. Unlike him I was very nervous so I'm glad the surgery went oke. And if everything still goes oke tomorrow he will be discharged from the hospital. He has a long way to go with rehabilitation but according to his doctor his knee can completely recover. We just have to be patient.
The pictures are from a bag my mother made for him when he was about five years old.
I thought it would be nice to show it here. She made one for every grandchild. All those lovely bags are differend made and they all are many times used!

France fabrics

The Provence is located in the Mediterranean side of France and is one of my most favourite camping destinations because of the abundant sunshine, wine, markets and the scent of lavender. The landscape is beautiful and there are many old towns and villages to visit. And it's especially fun (not for DH) to discover places where they have fabric stores!
Two of these I want to share with you because you can buy there the most gorgeous france fabrics.

1.) Tarascon a town with a Historical town centre and a midieval castle.
In Tarascon is the Souleïado museum that exhibits the famous Provençal fabric. It is in a 14th. century building in the center of town. This traditional cloth is still being manufactured by the Carles Demery factory and is exported throughout the world. Next to the museum is the Souleïado store. Beside table and bedlinens they have a large colection of fabrics that are great for quilting.


the museum



2.) 6 kilometres of Tarascon is a little place called Saint Etienne du Grès. It's a small, picturesque village in a quiet and magnificent countryside. It's a nice place to walk around and enjoy the beautiful views.
In the little village is the factory of les olivades established. There is a shop next to the factory where they have the most pretty fabrics. Some fabrics they sell for special prizes!

the factory and store

Les Olivades
Chemin des Indienneurs
13103 Saint-Etienne du Grès
France




My purchases from last years visit. I really love those fabrics, they are so bright and colourful!
I hope to visit those stores again sometime!

finished

I finished the little quilt I have been making for the doll quilt challenge group. This really was a nice project and my first ever “doll quilt” too!
It's machine pieced and hand quilted. I used flannel fabrics because they are feeling nicely soft and fluffy. I also made knots from embroidery-floss on each point where four squares come together. The colors in the picture are a bit bland. Sorry, this was the best one! I thought it would be lovely to make a picture from the little quilt together with the doll crib that my grandfather made for me when I was a little girl. But after a search through the whole house I still haven’t found the crib! I'm certain it’s stored away somewhere. However I did found the first doll I had when I was a kid which I named “Hansje”. Remarkable coincidence my DH’s name is Hans!
The doll is wearing clothes made by my mother and is in perfect condition. That's because I didn’t play a lot with her. I never was a girly- girl playing with dolls.



But I like to make little quilts! So guess what my next project will be!
These rectangles were cut and arranged on a dish towel by my mother.
She completely forgotten all about them and doesn't want to finish it off anymore. So I will. It's the perfect size for a little doll quilt don't you think?