big blue plans!

Since the pink hexagon one is almost done, it's time to think about a new handsewing project. I like to sew by hand, it's soooo relaxing. Of course it takes lots of time, but when you've accepted that fact, there's no stress (for me) in finishing it.

So here's a first idea: I proudly present (trrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr) the blue stars!

very basic design method with colourpencils of the kids and a piece of paper

and a little overview of the patterns of the stars and the fabrics I want to use, on a background of plain white cotton.

I really really want to make the first star. It will be my holidayproject, so in fact it's gonna be a French blue star quilt!

Have a nice day!

Anita

Little crochet trip

Last week a friend and I talked about crochet blankets. I tried it myself a few years ago:

I used different left-overs, 2 different patterns (no granny squares!) and quilted it, because I used it as a playmat)

I found more crochet-inspiration here, lovely coulours!

I go back to the fabric-patchwork thing, more my cup of tea...

Have a nice day!

Anita

Hexagon fever

I'm not the only quilting lady in the family anymore... my mother is infected by the hexagons too!
I love the fabrics she has choosen, different blue patterns.

I/m very curious about the way all this blue hexagons will come together in one quilt.

Have a nice day!

Anita

time for pink paper piecing

Tweede Pinksterdag, druilerig buiten, binnen gezellig aan de slag! Sinds lange tijd de serviesdeeltjes weer uit de kast gepakt. Ik ben er vorig jaar in Denemarken mee begonnen, om deze techniek uit te proberen. Het leverde leuke blokken op waar ik er zo af en toe eens wat bij maakte. Vandaag heb ik er nog een paar bij gemaakt en ze aan elkaar genaaid. De eerste contouren van de kast worden zichtbaar!

De quilt-in -wording hangt even op mijn ' echte' servieskast. Leuk plaatje!

Fijne dag!

Anita

a little pink progression

So much to do in this last weeks before the summervacation... but today some stolen minutes brought me a little step forwards:

Hope to be back soon with more news!

Have a nice day,

Anita

Danish hexagons

We are back home from a familytrip to Denmark. Lots of time together, sun&see ánd a little sewing!

The plan is to finish the pink hexagon one soon, I want two borders of hexagonsflowers on each side.

It's the first time I've done this kind of sewing, thanks to all the quilting-experts on you-tube!

When I started I just wanted to make a row of flowers, but of course there must be a connection between the flowers... I used parts of the hexagons and I like the effect.

Have a nice day!

Anita

happy easter

Today it's Good Friday, and in the Netherlands it's a custom to have easter branches with little eggs, chickens or other easter-ish things in it. Today I took some branches out of the garden, and made little hearts to hang in it. I used thick felt (left-overs from Christmas :) ) and different colours of embroidery silk.

Here in the Netherlands we have the highest temperatures ever in april. I guess there will be lots of bbq-ing this weekend!

Have a good, happy easter,

Anita

pink news

This weekend I bought some fabric for the pink hexagonquilt. I want to make some quilted binding in the same way I made the hexagons. It's gonna take some time, I sew it all by hand, but it's quite relaxing...

Here's a little preview, lotssssss of stiches to make!

To be continued,

have a nice day!



Big Quilted Bag

Next time I go shopping at the market, go to the library, beach, swimmingpool, or other place where you need lots of stuff (or will buy lots of stuff):

And to show you that it is really a BIG bag here's a pic with my favorite topmodel:

Als je heeeeel goed kijkt zie je de lente in de tuin: de rodondendron staat in bloei!

 

Have a nice day!

Anita

trying to sew

After a flu-ish week I had no courage to sew a camel or a king, so I did some free-seewing today. Months ago I made a few blocks, sort of  log cabin, and today was a good day to use those blocks for some freestyle practise with the sewing machine!

The plan is to make a bag of it, I'll show you when it's done, here's a collage (yeah my first Picasa-collage!) of the quilting:

I tried different patterns (and sometimes it felt more like surviving to synchronize hands and feet, I'm quite sure I'll feel the muscles in my arms tomorrow, no gym for me anymore!). Practise makes perfect I guess....

Thanks for all your comments and emails about the Nativityproject, it really helps me to go on with it!

Have a nice day,

Anita

Stars in spring

Today I had a few hours to spend with my Singer and my Nativityproject! Outside it really felt like spring, inside I worked on the starry night. I wonder if this is what Bianca Ryan means with "Why couldn't it be Christmas every day...

and in the overview of the sky:

I love them!

Next part to handle: the shepherd and his sheeps, here's a little preview:

I promise next picture of this group will be more interesting :)

Have a nice day!

Anita

The pink hexagons so far

Today I have a pic of the pink hexagonquilt so far. I made lots of the quilted hexagons, I stopped counting it....  Now it's time to make it a square, and then I have plans with little triangels and stripes.

En voor de oplettende kijker: zie je dat ik één half zeshoekje klaar heb? Het was een puzzel dus ik hoop dat de volgende sneller gaan!

Have a nice day!

Anita

little time for a little block

We had a busy weekend with a birthdayboy, so very little time for sewing - but much familytime, also very nice!

 And what a coincidence: the block of ec 18th is a very small one, a little candle in the stable.

And although this little flame is quite cute, it's more interesting to see it with another blocks:

I'm looking out for a whole day of nothing else but sewing Nativity-blocks... or at least a few hours and one big block!

Have a nice day,

Anita

The little angel of Dec 17th

Today I made the block of Dec 17th: a little angel and a palm tree. In fact this block contains 2 blocks, but I guess that has something to do with the idea of 25 blocks in this quilt. This block and the block of Dec 12th belongs together, and I had to sew the 17th block in parts to make them fit.

Sounds a bit fuzzy, I'll show you the pics:

So forget about which part belongs to which day, don't you love the result?

And since I really wonder how this quilt is going to look I sewed this angel and tree together to the first block I made, the Star of Bethlehem. I'm very glad with the overview so far!

I can't wait to make the next blocks... if only a day had 36 hours!

Have a nice day,

Anita

Learn young...

This sunday afternoon we had a family moment with fabrics, needles and fun! My boy is making little flags with his name on it at school, and my daughter just likes to make something with fabric and a lot of fantasy.

This boy is always busy playing football, I never saw him like this before! He made 3 blocks with letters of his name:

And here is his sister, also very concentrated with all my leftovers. I was working on the Nativity-block of Dec 17th, but I like her 'block' also very much:

Next step is teaching her how to use the Singer. She really wants it, but I don't know, she's only 7 years...

Have a nice day!

Anita

Quilted birthday present

Today we had a little birthday party for my mum. Since she made lots of handmade presents for other people, I made her something today. Here it is:

I used the pincushiontutorial from Abyquilt (click here) but made it a little different. The card is made by my daughter!

This is the inside of the cover (don't know how to call it), contains a little needle book and a notebook.

It was so much fun to make!  And we had a great day together with the family.

Have a nice day!

Anita

More Nativity: Dec 16th- Donkey

Since I really start believing in this project, I've more energy to work on the blocks. So today I proudly present you the Dec 16th-block: Donkey! My daughter, who doesn't speak English yet, asked me why this animal was called Donkey, like the one in Shrek. She was really surprised that "donkey" is the english word for this grey little horse with long ears! And here he is:

The legs of the donkey are also part of another block, so here's the overview so far:

I'm so excited, because the contours of the cave with the cow and donkey are visible now. Of course, Joseph, Maria and the Child are the objects of the last blocks, supposed to sew at Christmas Eve (as if anyone ever has time for that at that moment...)

Have a nice day!

Dec 15th: a dog (or wolf)

Yeah, today I made the block of Dec 15th! It's supposed to be dog, but by using grey-ish fabrics it looks like a wolf.

I only made the dog today, but since it belongs next to the cat, I sewed them together.

And all the blocks I made so far:

I have to admit: today is the first day that I think it might be really nice when finished.

So I'll keep up the good work and will be back soon - 8 blocks to go.

Have a nice day!

Anita

Big pincushion

Today I have an interesting picture for you, my very big personal pincushion:

I use my chair ... very easy

Tomorrow it's time for Dec 15th!

Have a nice day,

Anita

Back on track: Dec 14th

I saw some snowdrops (the flowers, not the icecold stuff :) ) in de the garden today, spring is in the air!

Inside our house I took my box with Nativityblocks and fabrics. Time to go on with the christmasquilt, there are lots of blocks to make for it! I made the block of  Dec 14th, a king, sitting on a camel, but the camel is another block so you need some imagination to admire him.

I'm very glad that I'm back on track, hope to show more blocks soon!

Our silver-medal winning little lady!

Okay, so this has nothing to do with quilts, but isn't she cute!

Tweede plaats in de clubkampioenschappen van turnen!

Have a nice day!

Anita

pink&red one: last post

In march 2009 I visited an exibition of quilts at the Fries Museum Leeuwarden. I was so impressed by all those beautiful quilts that I bought some fabrics, a book and I started to make different blocks. I had no idea what to make of those blocks, I just wanted to try to make different blocks - all by hand, I didn't know anything about quilting and all the quick techniques there are.

And today, 2 years later, I show you the quilt I made of all those blocks. It's a real trying-to-quilt-quilt, because it's a mixture of all those blocks I wanted to sew! So with some sashings and a little fantasy, it became a pink&red quilt.

And here are a few details: my favorite combination of 4 blocks with a star :

So I sewed all the blocks by hand, and used my singer for the sashings. The quilting I did by hand. There were lots of moments when I thought that I could never ever finish this project, and I'm soooo glad it is right now! I read other blogs of ladies who make a quilt every month...

 So one final picture and I'll go on with my other projects.

Have a nice day!

Anita

handsewing: more pink flowers

Vandaag even een kleine tussenstand van de roze bloemenhexagoontjes. Aangezien het allemaal handwerk is (snijden, tekenen, strijken, vouwen, naaien) schiet het niet zo snel op, maar het is een leuk klusje wat altijd wel even tussendoor kan, zelfs in de auto...

 Ik ben begonnen met het aan elkaar naaien van cirkels, maar nu overgestapt in banen, dat werkt makkelijker, en uiteindelijk wil ik graag een rechthoekig kleed hebben!

En om een beetje variatie te houden in de blokjes hier wat nieuwe aanwas van bloemetjesstofjes.

Fijne dag!

Anita