“…my life is like a slow train crawling up a hill…”

 Sorry for this pause, it seems I’m always catching up, right?

After that nice Sunday I got a cold, nothing so bad, I thought.

My group had a Quilt Show and I got things ready and packed. I was really glad I could spend the day there and it was another nice event (I’m showing you the pictures down below!).

But that cold turned out to be a very bad sinusitis.  I was feeling sick and dizzy, headaches were putting me down and the couch was the only place one could find me. My old quilt was a good fellow, comforting me and keeping me warm.

I went more than once to the doctor.

I hate to go to the doctor. 

I hate to get sick.

I hate to hang around and do nothing.

Do you call it impatience?

Me, too!…..Terrible…

I’m starting to get better, no headaches today, so let’s call it “improvement!”

This picture is  part of my Fall decoration,  I love the wood toadstools, I bought some of them at craft markets.

The first sneak peak of a project:

Part of the machine quilting:

You want to see the rest of it?

Then come with me, I’ll show you the Quilt Show!

Early in the morning we started to hang our quilts all around the place.

As you see, we and our treasures were safe inside!

A lot of colors and different motifs,

something for Christmas, too.

 

Blues and a little bit of red,

cheerful yellow,

flowers,

remember the Snoopy Quilt? I had a place for it:

And my Summer Stash Challenge!

Our group also had a challenge, a small piece of fabric (like a fat eighth) and we had to use it combined with other fabrics, it did not matter how big or small. The fabric was from Kaffe Fasset, in green colors, can you find it?

Here are some of them:

 

 

 

 

I decided to make many curves, mine is a small one:

That is the impression when people came in, they had to look up!

Everywhere lampshades, but not from glass, they were made out of fabric!

A closer look in blue:

Red colors:

A white one, unfortunately the photo does not show the details:

I love this one, it is a “knitted” quilt!

 

The sneak peak was from the table runner, it is on my table:

With some of the pumpkins I made:

And some of my other things:

A blue string pouch:

I also made some bright pincushions:

During the show we had another show!

A group of dancers cheerfully showed their dance, I was impressed and interested!

I hope you have enjoyed the little Quilt Show!

I’ve sent a friend something for her birthday and I’m glad it arrived safe and in time.

And I’m happy she liked it!!!

She loves greens and blues and she loves tea. What should I make for her?

Well, this is part of my collection and it gave me the idea!

A tea cup!

That goes fine with the collection, too!

Another picture before I sent it to Stephanie:

The pincushion is all hand sewn and filled with sheep wool, it keeps the needles and pins sharp.

I just HAVE to get better, there is a retreat during the weekend and I want so much to participate!!!! Please, cross your fingers!

Wishing each of you lovely, healthy and happy days!

 

A very nice Sunday

 

Hi there!

 

It is really early in the morning and the crafters (and myself) are getting the last things done before the visitors come!

A lot of fresh fruits, healthy and tasty!

What about some homemade marmalade and jelly?

 

And Brezel (Pretzel) !

Granny’s kitchen is warm and cozy, would like a cup of coffee?

 

And of course a piece of cake, right?

I recommend the Apple Pie or Cheese cake, delicious as always!

Please choose a place where you…

would like to sit down…

 

and chat with me!

Ohh, I hear somebody calling my name!

The visitors are coming!!!

I have to go to my market stall because some people are asking for me.

And then, no break at all!…

The weather was very kind to us, it was windy, but no rain and the sun even appeared for a short while!

It was incredible how many people came by, I had no time anymore to take more photos … But, that does not mean I sold everything!!! (If my family depended on that for money, we would starve to death!!!!)

I had a lot of nice conversation all the time, there were many women interested in how quilts are done. They want to know where they can take classes and how long does it take to learn ( Aren’t we always learning? I tell them it is a lifelong process, if one gets the “quilt bug” one will never stop learning!).

A nice woman came and wanted to know which kind of batting I use for wall hangings, she even brought a little piece she bought to show me if it was the right one. Another one described how she recycles old clothes to make “new” ones, but she never tried to make a quilt with them – I told her maybe it is time to give it a try!  A little girl thought that the place mats were Doll Quilts – I would think the same if I were a little girl, specially when she told me they only have “plastic” ones at home!.  And there was a man who took his time to look everything , he seemed very interested, then he said “ I can’t buy anything because my wife sews too and she would be mad at me if I did!”, that made me laugh!!! I only realized how late it was when it started to get dark and cooler. The day passed by so fast! I was lucky with my selling and I even got some orders! Some place mats with stars for Christmas, a little pouch with polka dots and a cushion.

At home I felt really, really tired (twelve hours non stop…), but I just cannot complain, it was a lovely day for me and I hope for all the others and the visitors!

Wishing you a lovely and creative week!

A season to inspire

 

 

I got one of my favorite magazines and I was reading it without a break!

A lot of ideas for fall decoration, knitting and baking, the photos were so inspiring:

 

It is time to get the needles, some yarn and feel comfortable sitting inside and making something nice to wear during the cold months!

The change in depth of colors brings a nice cozy feeling!

 

And before it got grey and breezy, we went for a walk in the woods.

The colors of the leaves are slowly changing…

Some nice (and poisonous?) ones:

 

 

And tiny little flowers : (don’t they look like butterflies?)

 

But I had a lot of things to get done for the craft market!

Every single minute was spent in the sewing room, quite some busy days I tell you! That explains my absence during the last week and the chaos here…

Everything is packed and set for tomorrow! And although it is supposed to be windy and rainy (ohhhh….)  I hope it won’t prevent the visitors from coming. It is a very nice market with a lot of different artisans who show how their work is done (turnery, pottery, glass blower, etc) . I’m with others in the old half-timbered house where the visitors can sit down and have a cup of coffee or tea and eat delicious homemade cakes and pies. The women from the “grandma’s kitchen” all wear clothes from the last century which gives a nice atmosphere like one is back in time.

I’ve made some place mats and coasters using fabric with coffee motifs. Although I prefer to drink tea, I always end up buying fabrics with coffee!

Cappuccino and coffee beans: ( but where is the chocolate?…)

I took a photo of this one, but it was still not finished ( and I forgot the table runner, it is almost like this one):

I’ll try to take some pictures of the market this time!

Some of you wrote me asking for the instructions for the potholders. It is quite simple!

Easy Potholder Directions

Materials you need:

50 gm cotton yarn for one potholder

crochet hook 4.00

 

Abbreviations:

Ch = chain

Sc = single crochet   (British = Double crochet)

R = row

Make 12 ch and join into a ring with a slip stitch. Work 18 sc into a ring, join the round with a slip stitch and work 1 ch to turn.

R1 (right side): 1 sc into each of the next 4 sc, 3 sc into next sc (center sc), 1 sc into each of next 4 sc, 1 ch, turn.

R2: inserting hook into the back loop of sc work 5 sc, 3sc in center,5 sc, 1 ch, turn.

Repeat row 2 increasing the number of sc worked and working 3 sc into each center sc until side edges measure about 20 cm. Fasten off.

That’s all! I think you’ll get “hooked” like I did!

See you!

Have a lovely weekend!

Where wuz I?

 

……Here I go again, trying to catch up once more with blogging and answers and comments….I’m sorry I did not manage to do that before, I know I’m sort of a chaotic, but life insists on getting on the way every time I think things are running smooth and coming back to the “normal” routine. But I’m NOT going to complain about it,  that’s life, isn’t it?…..

It is better to talk about nice things, like winning a lovely giveaway from René.  It was such a surprise to receive her mail telling me I had won her prize! Thank you so much, René! Please, visit her blog, she has lovely ideas and she will be very glad if you drop by!

Here is her gift:

 

So nicely wrapped!

 

 

 

 

A lovely pattern from Rosalie Quinlan with all the material included! It is so neat! The Lady bug is a pincushion and when she is not resting inside the bag, you can use the bag for your sewing things.

The black dots are yo-yos! A cute idea!

 

 

 

Before the chaos broke in (…) I was trying to finish some projects and I was also planning some new things for Fall. Well, I’m still on that stage.…Crocheting was something that I was able to do in the evenings, it helped to relax a little. On Sunday we had such a wonderful weather and that was the right time to take some pictures outside:

The colors of Fall, always warm and lovely!

I wrote I’d let you know about a visit to the Quilt shop.

Yeah, I did!

But yesterday!  A very short visit, to buy a little bit of batting,  thread,  some FQs, and new ideas.  That is the kind of remedy quilters always need, no doubt about it.

That’s all for the time being, I hope you can bear with me.

Wishing you lovely sewing days!

 

 

Lovely gifts!

Just a short post to share with you some pictures of the lovely parcel I’ve received from Melanie yesterday.

I was so glad it did not get lost, it took longer than usual and I was sort of afraid, one never knows what can happen on the way!

Can you imagine how curious I was?

Everything is so nice! A tea towel with sayings for every month, a book mark and eraser from Bank Hall, Bretherton and these sweeties:

I love this sunflower pincushion! The lady bug on top is so cute!

The wool heart has lovely applique, Melanie does it so well!

 

 

It is Thursday already!….Still trying to get more sewing finished, working a little bit on this and a little bit on that as time allows.  And  I have a decision to make, a VERY hard one!!! Should I go to the Quilt Shop and buy some fabric to satisfy my  greedy addiction?….Only a few FQs!…Or should I’d better stay at home and spent these hours with my sewing machine?….

I’ll let you know! ;-))))

Until then, have a lovely and productive weekend!

Blessings

Birthday gifts

 

Another week that passed by sooo quickly!

But I’ve finished the birthday gifts, and that is good!

These are the ones I made for a very dear friend, she likes fabric with sewing motifs :

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is place for a little cutting mat, some tools,  and a ruler.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And a pencil case for some pencils,  pens and so on.

 

 

 

 

For another friend I made a book cover using owls, her favorite theme:

 

Now I can wrap them and write the cards!

The Heart Quilt is almost ready,  it feels so cozy!

It rained during the weekend, but the beautiful late summer days are still supposed to come. I enjoy these days, it is not so warm,but it is not so cold. And when the first leaves start to fall, I love to see the rich colors, it is so nice to go for a walk. Then come home, drink a warm cup of tea and hand quilt!  It sounds like  I’m getting in the mood for Autumn!!!

Wishing you lovely sewing days!

Blessings

The joys of sewing again

Are the colors?  Or is it the pattern, or the beautiful fabrics?

Or  is is all together that makes one feels so glad about sewing a quilt?

Planning a quilt is something special,  you see a pattern that you just love, then you look for fabric in your stash or go to a quilt shop (I always have to!…), wash them and ohh, how lovely they smell!

Cutting, sewing, making some little changes here and there, planning the quilting, adding the binding and getting it done.  That is a long process, isn’t it? But it is a wonderful one!

There is love in every single step, the love for the one who you are making it for, the love for fabric, patterns, sewing, quilting.  Every time the same steps, but you never get tired of it because you know how  that makes you happy. 

It remembers me what the fox told The Little Prince, “It is the time you lavished on your rose which makes your rose so important”. To me it is not only the time spent on a quilt that makes the quilt so important, it is also the  love sewn in every stitch.  Do you feel the same?

I tried something new  this time, instead of using batting and the back side, I used fleece only.

It actually worked better than I expected, no puckers on the back and I could stitch in the ditch around the blocks:

But it needed more quilting.  When you have only these two layers, you realize that. But hand quilting, well, not a good idea, the fleece is too thick, your fingers would absolutely strike on this matter! I got the idea from Eileen,  she’s been using a running large black stitch to quilt her lovely vintage quilt. That was the solution!  Thanks Eileen!

 

I’m sorry the pictures are not that good, but when I used  flash they looked even worse.

It was a new experience, maybe I’ll make other quilts like this one, but I still prefer the traditional way! Even when my knees and back get so sore afterwards.

I’ve also finished some Preemies quilts for donation

 

Though it’s  hard to see, I’ve quilted hearts all around, there are big ones, small ones , medium ones….

 

 

 

A dear friend gave me flannel in light, tender colors and once more, hearts as quilting motifs:

For two dear friends who have birthday in September I’m going to sew something special for them. I hope to show you some sneak peak next time!

Wishing you a lovely and creative week!

Blessings