busy fingers

Things are back to normal over here. I've tried to stay in vacation mode for as long as possible but after a busy schedule at work.... I wish I had vacation again (lol)! Though I did manage to work some more on the quilt for the summer swap It's a quilt with cut out fabric flowers and stitchery stems and leaves. I'm almost done with the top, just have to add the borders.



These two I did in France. I always have something to do, a nice small work, with me on holiday.



Like this Ohiostar pincushion, I made it last spring vacation.



I just love to keep my fingers busy. Notice the tiny quilt in the back, it's a perfect match with the new polkadot teaset, my last purchase.



How about you, do you take your projects with you while on holiday? I'm curious, do you feel the need to keep your fingers busy all the time?
Well, I think I do.....off now....there are borders to sew on. Have a wonderful day!

a month later

Here it is almost a whole month later, No..it is a month later, and I am just now catching up on reading blogs. My family and I had a wonderful summer vacation in france. We had have lovely weather, the most delicious barbeque dinners, some wine and done a bit of sight seeing in the area. Luca made her first steps on the beach and we celebrated her first birthday. I’ve started on my project for the summer quilt swap, show you some pictures later. For now I go back reading your blogs…I’ve a lot of catching up to do! Can't wait to see all the wonderful things you are working on and writing about.
Hope you are all fine and enjoyed summer too!

she's the cutest

It's getting darker outside...we're gonna have some rain soon I'm sure!
So a quick post before I go take the garden cushions inside. Here is me and my new dollie. I made her today.



I loved how she came alive soon as her face was embroidered on.
Isn't she the cutest dollie?



Ahhh..I hear the sound of thunder..I better start running!

Sunbonnet Sue

Some days you don't feel like doing anything. And today is just one of those days. Due to a lack of motivation I picked-up some magazines from the shelf. You see, browsing true old magazines always works for me! It gives me new inspiration and new inspiration means I have to do something. So, while browsing I came across these sunbonnets



The magazine is a Japanese quilt magazine from 2002. It contains an article about 'Sunbonnet Sue'. To bad I can't read Japanese. They refer to the book A meeting of the Sunbonnet children by Betty J. Hagerman. I also found an illustrated history of Sunbonnet Sue here.



This quilt is so beautiful, i love the flowers in the border.



Oh, wouldn't this bag be a pretty one for carry all my stuff around?



I believe some creative sparks are bubbling up inside of me, time for some action!
Have a wonderful day!

Friday again..

Friday again...and boy, last week was 'HOT'! The forcast for today predicts a weather change with lots of rain, Thunder and lightning and possible hail. But right now it's hot, sticky hot! No complaints from me though, I love summer and July is a wonderful month, I rather have sun than rain.



Some of you asked me about these monthly drawings, did I made them? Wish I did, but no, I haven't, there is no hidden drawing talent inside of me. These lovely drawings are made by Lot van den Akker and printed in a calender with for each day a saying.



The calendar is hanging in my craftroom. One room where I didn't spend much time lately because of increased temperature on our top floor. I rather sat outside in the shade enjoying the pretty flowers.



I also managed to hand quilt and finish the binding on the crazy red and white mini quilt. I used cotton batting and I've washed and dried the quilt to give it the puckered, hand quilted look.



I love how this mini turned out. I also have a lot of blue fabric bits piled up so I might think of make a mini in blue and white!
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

swap surprise

Yesterday I recieved my mini quilt, beautiful made by Kathy.



I absolutly love, love, love this quilt! And as you can see...I have "the" perfect spot to hang this pretty one!



Perfectly made details!



It was certainly worth waiting for. Thank you Kathy, you made my day!

red and white

What do you do, when high piles of red and white pieces of fabric, blocking your view on your sewingtable?? You make a quilt!



Needed red and white scraps
an old white sheet for the stripes
an old tablecloth for the back.



Ready to quilt.
Have a nice day!

the very last minute

Pffff...the mini quilt for the "spring blooms mini quilt swap" is on its way to my secret swap partner. Just in time before the very last mailing date! Why do I always have to wait till the very last day to finish a project??
I’d think to myself, "I’ve got plenty of time, it’s not due for weeks!" Then, before I know it...I hit the deadline!



I used an embroidery piece (found in the thrift store) for the center, I machine pieced the nine patch blocks and hand appliqued the green hearts. The minimal quilting is done by hand. I like how this mini quilt turned out and hope my partner will too! I can hardly wait to recieve mine.
A big thank you for Michele from quilting gallary for organizing this wonderful swap. If you go to her site jou can join a new swap she's organizing "In the Good Ol’ Summertime Mini Quilt Swap". The deadline to mail is September 21st...so plenty of time!!

pink in June

A new month



A new color



A new mosiac



1. Crafting 365, day 173 - pink teacups, 2. Pink and patchy, 3. pink and purple poppies, 4. House Softie, 5. Pink Too!, 6. Funky dots pink pincushion, 7. Rosy Button ~ Page in my Happy Quilt Journal ~ for no particular reason other than I can, 8. pink lady plush, 9. 'Strawberry Sundae' wall art closeup, 10. Pink Brooch, 11. Pink Button Love Bracelet, 12. Pink and Orange Stackable Cloth Blocks, 13. Abstract #4, 14. Pink Birdie (C365: day 22), 15. Wee Porky, finger puppet, 16. pink patchwork tote

New inspiration!

A finish, squares, hearts and some doubt

Thanks so much for all your compliments and wonderful comments on the "dollie blankie" from last post. Crochet these little squares is such fun. It's also a lovely little work to cary along in my bag. I can crochet in the car (on the passenger seat ofcourse), out in the sun or while having a break. I can even watch tv and chrochet at the same time. Once I've enough squares I sew them into a blanket, maybe a larger size this time.



According to the weather forecast this weekend will be sunny and warm. Perfect weather for doing some work in the garden. I bought this hydrangea for on the terrace. Perfect pink!



More pink... I'm not sure yet how to make this mini quilt. Are the green hearts to green...should I add more color, blue maybe?





Oo and before I go..here is another finished project....
The Dutch checker and stripes nine patch!





Have a wonderful weekend!

proud

I’m not a very good, adventurous or fast crochetter, but TADA!!!...See here I finished the afghan I made for Luca's doll stroller.
I know the crochet squares seems a bit crooked here and there. Still I can't care less and love it anyway! Now I'm on the look out for fabric that goes well with the afghan to make matching bedding.
Luckely I don't have to hurry, Luca can't push the stroller yet. Instead she love to sit in it and let herself pushed around by someone else...in high speed that is!


Have a wonderful day!

never enough time

The nine patch quilttop is finished and even though I have not much experience with machine quilting I thought to gave it a try anyway! Sometimes I see people do free motion quilting, that's so great...wish I could do that. I stick to straight forward lines, hard enough to keep it straight!



I'm sewing on a dark blue mitered quilt binding.



Next time I'll show you the finished (small) quilt.
I have an idea in my head of what I want to make for the mini quilt swap. I'm gathering bits and pieces, combining colors and fabrics. Hope to show you more about that next post too.



In case I have extra free time left, yes right..haha, how about this lovely teapot cushion! I really love to make this one day. I found the picture in a Japanese quiltmagazine. I believe it's an issue from the '90s, not sure..don't read Japanese language that well. The colors red, blue white...just my favorite.



Okay, so I'm off to sew on the binding, make a mini quilt, crochet granny's and finishing of all my other wip's. Maybe I'll have free time then!