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!

Home

We came home yesterday from a lovely vacation in Zeeland. After 10 days living a relax lifestyle it's back to reality today. Our washing machine is working overtime, I have to do grocery shopping to fill up the empty cupboards, think about what we gonna eat for dinner tonight...
I have some serious pruning to do in the backyard, green is taking over!
The wisteria is a beauty though.



And so is this clematis.
Sadly there is no activity seen in and around the birdhouse lately so I think the tomtit has build his nest somewere else.



I turned over a new page on the calender almost half May! Oo, this reminds me..almost time for my dentist appointment..AchHHH!!



I joined a mini quilt swap and just before I got hooked on the granny's. I made this ohio star. I'm not sure if i will use it for this swap. The mini quilt has to be spring inspired so maybe some spring flowers?



At the moment granny squares is all I do to fill up the free minutes.



Before I end today's post I want to show you this cute childsgame I found on a fleemarket last week. I believe it's from the '60.



Inside are these lovely dolls waiting to get dressed. Isn't this cute!



I believe I hear the ' i'm ready signal' of the dryer, so duty calls!
Have a great start of the week!

learned new skills

Hello again,



It's very windy in Zeeland..but we have sun!!



The weather is great for making long walkes on almost empty beaches.



I discovered another "Zeeuws meisje".
She is bleached out of sitting in the sun for to long.



I purchased some cotton yarn in a wolshop in Westkapelle



And thanks to this great tutorial from Lucy of attic24 I learned how to crochet granny squares. Thanks Lucy for your clear pictures and instructions.



That's it for now, the sun is calling to come outside.
Have a wonderful day!

Happy Monday morning greetings...

from our campsite. This lovely "Zeeuws meisje" is looking down the street from behind a window in Veere , a pittoreske small city.

In case you wonder what is she doing with a laptop on vacation? Well..now I finaly have time to do some blogging in between bike rides and late afternoon beach walks, visiting beautiful places, eating wonderful diners and of course making stitches. I'm off again....see you later!

A message..

In case you missed me… I’m camping in zeeland.
So far the weather is lovely.
Yesterday I wore my pink bathing suit to the beach and you know what?
You were so right…it wasn’t too pink at all!
Today we’re having a lazy day. I found these pretty ones in a local shop.

And just couldn’t help myself I had to start sewing immediately.

Isn’t that what they call being addicted?

Things that made me happy today...

Sunshine....lots of lovely warm sunshine.
Different shades of green in the garden

Dicentra spectabilis or in Dutch "gebroken hartje" (broken hearts).

The Wistaria that is about to bloom

Hanging the laundry outside to dry. I love the fresh smell!

Plastic polka dot cups and plates for camping

A bit of spring cleaning, wash up all blue things in the kitchen

Paper roses..a gift from my mother

May's issue of Country living

And finally..my new swimsuit...what do you think, is it to pink?

Happy Easter

Sometimes life gets in the way of things i've got planned.
Plans to spend time on quilting. Plans to read all the wonderful blogs and leave comments to all of you. I'm so sorry but i'm way behind...seems I just can't drag myself behind the computer. I had big plans to do some stitching, finishing of projects........etc, etc.

We're going away for the Easter weekend to the seaside. Lots of fresh air and windy beachwalks so hopefully i can reload my battery.
Really looking forward to that!
Wishing you all a Happy Easter and see you next week!

building a nest and sunny yellow

A new month...a new calendar page!

A new color for inspiration.
Go check out flickr for many more amazing yellow stuff.


1. Yellow Daisy vintage fabric tote, 2. Yellow Squares Quilt Block 7, 3. yellow gingham lunchbag crafting 365 day 51, 4. aunt millies garden-2, 5. Yellow Squares Postcard - August Coloriffic Swap-O-Rama, 6. yellow rabbit and carrots - pincushion, 7. yellow canvas , 8. Yellow Fabric Roll, 9. Measure-Up Brooch, 10. Mushroom House: Yellow (side view), 11. ATC Traded - Trying to Stand Out in a Crowd - Applique and Embroidered Chick #2, 12. crafting 365, day 282, 13. vintage fabric hearts in golden yellow, 14. crafting 365/day 52, 15. Yellow Tomato Pincushion, 16. RJR Fabrics everything but the kitchen sink 1930s reproduction fabric

A new nest
Sorry, the photo is a bit blurry but I couldn't get any closer.

The happy couple finally made the decicion on which house they would move into. And as two real construction workers they fly in and out all day with pieces of straw and moss to build their nest.
And do you want to know what I do all day?
...Well I sit in the sun and watch those two busy birds from an appropriate distance. All that activity is a joy to see!
Untill next time!