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This post I want to share some interesting and fun links I came across the www lately. First I thought it was time for a new blog banner.

I made this banner with the photo editing site Picnik. It's an easy and fun program to use, even for me, a knownothing on computers. Although I must say, since I became a blogger I've spent more and more time behind one and learned new stuff here and there.
Did you ever heard of "favicons"? Well I didn't but now I have one too. It's that little icon in the url bar. I've changed the orange blogger icon for one I made with the help of this site. After your photo is turned into a tiny icon you get a code wich you copy and past on to the html page of your blog. And that's the most "scary" part! I'm always afraid to go to that page...what if I accidentally changed some of the code and there isn't a blog visible anymore, don't want to think about that thought!

One thing I certainly do want to think about are these gorgeous red cashmere fingerless gloves from 'the purl bee'. You can find the pattern on their site....if only I had more time on my hands!!


And how about this cute little mouse house & family from pottery barn kids! Wish we had a pottery barn store over here.

Another store where beautiful wishlist items easily can be found is; Clothkits


I especially adore this skirt with the papercut pattern on. And the little red dress would be so lovely for Luca. Ooh and before I go I've to show you these four beauties from Modern Nursery
These Jess Brown tea dyed dolls are so adorable.. one of them belongs on my wishlist for sure! My birthday isn't before next year and Santaclaus and Sinterklaas are not in town yet..so I better stop dreaming and drag myself away from this computer and go do the grocery shopping otherwise the husband find empty pots and pans (again) when he comes home!

reusing treasures

Mix up a small brown seventies cross-stitched tablecloth, an old blouse not wearable because of its wrong collar but yet with a gorgeous pattern and add some new red and white gingham lace.

And voila....a heart is made.

back

I bought the brown tablecloth at a fleemarket so it was someone else who put all the love in the stitches. I like to make new things by reuse old objects and materials and give them a second live. The blue dishes (photo below)were also found at the fleemarket and are in the kitchen kabinet now for daily use.

And so is this small glass dish.

Isn't thrifting just great, you never know what treasures you'll find!!

nine patch & birds

As this picture shows...all squares ended up into nine patches which on their turn ended up in a bigger quilttop. And now this quilttop is in need of a border and some fabric for the back of the quilt. So time to ask mom what fabric she has in mind for this purpose. When this quilt is sandwiched, Heleen, mom and I are gonna handquilted it together. With six hands making stitches it will be a quick job!

Instead of finishing old projects which are desperatly waiting to get finished I made birds. Sorry I can't help myself!

I'm not so happy with the eyes of this one below, maybe I'll change them for button eyes instead. If you have another suggestion on what to use or how to make the eyes please let me know!

Till next time

jolly spotted bird

Just a short post to show you this little birdie and to tell you that sewing the nine patches is going fine!


Do you see the shadow in this photo? We have sunshine, really lovely weather outside. So than, what am I doing here behind the computer???
Help.. I'm incorrigible..!

it's squares again

To make a quilt for someone special ( in only four weeks time!) you will need:

1.) Squares, lots of squares!
note: Fabric and color arrangement plus the cutting is done by "mom".

2) A pattern that is both simple and delightful. So nine patch it is!
3.) TIME! Hopefully upcomming weekend?
I'll keep you posted. Have a nice day!

and the winner is....

Today its time for the custom random generator to do its random work and pick a lucky number. Many thanks to each of you for stopping by and leaving those lovely comments.


So one number was picked from 1 - 85 (wow!!)
And the lucky winner is comment 10 ...Mette from Erleperle.
Mette congratulations, please mail me your address and I'll sent you the angelbag soon as possible!
And talking about angels.....see this sweet little girl "Luca".


She's now two months old and brings so much joy and happiness in our lives.
Look...she almost says the words "I love you oma" (lol).
Being a grandmother is so much fun and I like to spent lots of time with her.

On the crafty front its a bit slow this week, I'm still making cross-stitches though...


This is a gray hema pillowcase and I'm using white thread for the x-stitches.

And yesterday this lovely fabric came with the mail. I bought this fat quarter bundle from Fat quarter shop



These are Cotton Blossoms Aqua and Autumn from the Bonnie and Camille collection for Moda fabrics. I don't know what to make of them yet but for now they are making me happy just to look at!

giveaway

In Last post I was just teasing you... ofcourse it's an angel!
I stitched a few...Two are on the front of a small bag and will go into the shop.
Two are still in progress....



And this little red angel bag likes to go travel.....She has not found a destination yet and so she´s looking for a place to stay. Maybe you can help her out by letting her stay at your place? If so please let me know by leaving a comment on this post. She will draw a name somewhere next week and I will happely send her off. You would make her sooo happy!



Have a wonderful weekend!

looks like an angel

Just a quick post on something i'm working on. It has to do with the color red, white, stitcheries and some sewing. Curious? I'm too...not sure yet how to make these ingredients to a good ending!
Keep you posted!

Corry

warm heart

Look at this wonderful suprice that was waiting for me to come home to on Friday.
A beautiful heart made by Elizabeth. She is a very creative woman with a great eye for detail. Look at the tiny little bird the tulip and that lovely red heart, so preciosly embroidered! And she used red, blue and white my favorite 'dutch blue' colors! Elizabeth and I have just met each other recently on Flickr.
She's so talented and makes great pictures of all her work. She also started a blog.
So go check out her photostream here and maybe you would like to welcome her as new blogger on "Creative Breathing" here.

cross-stitch cushion

We've got some lovely sunshine today. It's so nice to sit outside put my feet up and rest from a day at work. And to take my mind of things...there's nothing better than making cross-stitches. I only had a few left to do, so now this cushion is finished.
And it fits perfectly in the bedroom next to the Billy bookcase!



I'm really pleased with the result. Thanks to the Hema, I'm thinking of buying more pillowcases in other colours.

quilting in circles and an early Christmas card

I start quilting in the white open spaces, making circles to fill them up.
I use light blue thread for contrast. More work than I thougt it would be...turning, turning and turning the hoop around!



And here is a Christmas card I'm SO excited about!
It looks better in real life than on a photo though,(bad light).



A few months back I was asked by Susan O'Hanlon, how is a card publisher in England, if she could use my photograph "holiday season ornament" for publishing it on one of her Christmas cards. These cards are sold in stores in the UK and also in major stores in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, France and Switzerland. Sadly not in Holland.
Also these Christmas cards are published in support of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and 20% will go to this Charity.



I wonder how they look in a store next to all other Christmas cards?
So, if you spot one please let me know!

Cover update

It's pooring down rain right now and more rain is coming.
So a good excuse to stay in and work on the cushion covers.



Hope you all have a creative weekend too!

making stitches

Most off you sugested hand quilting for this quilt and I totally agree, that would look best. But as you can see I started quilting with the machine. Reason??...just wanted immediately result!
Well, fast it goes... although I'm not so happy with the open spaces.
There's an idea in my head how to fill those spaces up, so probably there will be some working by hand after all!



Another new project I can hardly wait to start are these pillowcases.
I found them at one of my favorite shops the HEMA.
They are 50 cm square and made from 100% cotton. The woven threads are easy to count so perfect for doing cross-stitch on. They also sell these cases in red. That would be a lovely color for Christmas combining with white thread.



And finally a picture of Noah's ark free Bom, I love doing these little stitcheries.


I've a few more strips to sew on, so see you later!

what's in the box

I found an old project that was hidden in a box



It's a beginning off a quilt I made from a picture I saw in the book below.



It's a variation off the snowball quilt and it's great to use scraps in.
I was planning on making it a large quilt for a double bed. I always start new projects with great enthousasme but usually that enthusiastic feeling fades away quickly.
So today Thinking on all the work that still needs to be done, UGH!!... it just gives me a headache!
I need a new plan!



Well, that was simple just making a dolls quilt instead!



Next dilemma, quilt by hand or machine? What kind off yarn do I use for machine quilting?
Would anyone like to offer some opinions or advice? It is always welcome!