Potholders

At last I finished the potholders I made for my partner in the Potholder Swap #11 and my first one.
The fabric I had chosen didn't do the SUMMER theme for me, beautiful, but not sunny enough.

I thought and halfway designed potholders in the shape of yin and yang but my heart wasn't in it. I just wasn't sure how I could execute the idea I had. It'll take a little longer to distill.
These are the 'try out' ones.

I was working on the granny squares and loving it.
As I had the 2" square Accuquilt die, I thought I'll give it a go, and now: a new addiction was grabbing me! And then I thought of the fabric that has SUMMER printed all over it!
They remind me of sunny days and Brighton rock in all colours.
So here they are and already off to my Scottish partner, hope she likes them.

Granny Squares

I've been captured doing the Granny Squares, tutorial by Jolene and I'm sure you've already seen hundred of Granny Squares. The funny thing is: they're all beautiful. I've been postponing making these because I wanted to finish the Siblings Together quilt first.
But alas, I'm only human.
I'll finish it next week.

The colour I've chosen for the sashing is not white. I'm not a fan of white in a quilt, if you really want to USE the quilt. So no Red Pepper solutions for me like shown here or here.  But then there's nowt so queer as folk!
Here's what I've done so far

 I think I've cought that bug ...

There's something else I'd like to share with you. Ellison Lane posted this yesterday and I agree: so much is all about the money. About advertising on blogs or Facebook, about making money.
About peer recommendations like when one blogger mentions a product to another: I've done that too, BUT (and that's a big but): I don't get money mentioning a product, that's because I'm really enthusiastic about it (Oakshott fabrics). I've only mentioned my Accuquilt once, because I think Accuquilt is a nice but very very expensive toy!
So .... Before I get carried away (LOL), here it is: (even though this is an advert as well ...)

 

And on this thoughtful note, I'm wishing you a wonderful, sunny and relaxing weekend!

Giveaway at Bente's

I hope I'll be giving you a tip by letting you know about this giveaway at Bente's blog: I like to Quilt (blog): the quick curve ruler + 1 pattern.
I'm sure you've heard or read about it lots of times by now and I couldn't really get interested until I saw this pattern

 

Can I just copy this picture on my blog? I hope I can because it's all about selling that ruler, isn't it?

So I hope you'll all hop over on to Bente's blog: I like to Quilt and enter the giveaway!

It's also very good for your German!!

As for my sewing during the weekend: nil, nothing, nada, nichts.

Hope to be back at the machine tomorrow and then I can show more progress!

STQ: so nearly finished

Last Tuesday I showed you this finish

Now a sunny picture.

And I want to show you my quilting progress on the coloured one for Siblings Together. My husband had the idea of quilting it with waves. They're a bit organic sometimes.

I hope to finish it this weekend (sigh) but there are a lot of other things to do as well (sigh)

I'll be linking up to Amanda Jean's Friday Finish and Amy's Sew & Tell Friday.

Wishing you all a great weekend sewing or whatever your plans!

Potholder Swap

I signed up for the 11th ! potholder swap. Acutally it's my first ...
The theme is summer and my partner asked for something bright and summery.
Yesterday I went to my LQS and bought this:

It's from Robert Kaufman, on the selfedge it says Imperial Collection Screen Print.
But I cannot find anything like this on the www, so I can't tell you anymore.
The ones on the left I will certainly use; the other two I don't know: the one on the right looks like a dark thunderstorm, but you have those in summer too sometimes.
And this morning I woke up with a pattern in my head (and it didn't hurt LOL).
So I have to get cracking: finishing it during the weekend and sending it off on Monday?

Hopefully, but it's the Mister's birthday this Sunday.

Many WiP's

Lately I've been working on my first commission, which is finished now:
Size is about 41" sq (=1 m2), made in the same way as this one.


Siblings Together:
I wanted to make Granny squares and I still might, but I thought of a much better solution. I have a few WiP's lying around and thought this was THE opportunity to finish at least one, this one (look at that date!). I wanted to make it bigger, but didn't know how.
This week I got an idea: add a piano border!

I pinned the pieced top to a duvet cover (with trees)

I've also cut backing (so soft and deep burgundy) and batting (bamboo, also very very soft).

The man in the shop called it 'a little mouse' (muisje) and said it was the official name. He could have told me any story and I would've believed him. Does anyone know how it'll look after washing?
I'll have to test the quilting myself. If you know/recognise this stuff give me some details please.

I hope to finish it this week and maybe I can take it to London and give it to Lynne at the Fat Quarterly retreat. But the postman is always happy to get more work.

I will be linking up with Lee at WiP Wednesday

Hope to see you again this week.

Happy Easter!

Yesterday the postman wanted to deliver these:

 

but I didn't have any cash at hand (as usual). Two deliveries from the USA and I had to pay import duties. Dûh! Don't like that, but there's no choice, is there?

And I really wanted what I ordered, which I collected this morning.

Black & blues from Peg & Becca for my City Harbor quilt. (Yes, Bea!)

And the greens are 2 Radiance bundles: cotton + silk from "Mom".

No more ordering from the USA for me (for the time being).

Especially with this great offer from Michael Oakshott:

Have a lovely Easter in the snow or basking in the sun!

PPS 11

I joined up for a swap where you actually have to make something for someone else: love that!
The Potholder Pass Swap nr. 11
My inspiration is mainly to be diverse (anything goes LOL)

1. Baby Geese, 2. Potholder Swap, 3. Potholder, 4. Potholder Pass, 5. Potholder Progress, 6. Potholder Pass 5 (received), 7. MUGRUG RECEIVED FROM NEEDLEDMOM, 8. Potholder Pass, 9. Flower Fairy Mugrug...

And I also love Nicolette's inspiration board
There are so many beauties on Flickr!!

OK back to circular quilting; hope to have a finish tomorrow ...

Back to normal

I've just returned from a weekend at the seaside in Langeoog, Germany.
With my friend Rika, we had many laughs and talks.
We didn't do anything, except walk, sit on a terrace; yes, we braved the cold! To get warm in the sauna at 85 degrees C.

On every beach in Germany you can rent a beach chair. It sits 2 people and you can move it around to get out of the wind (into the sun); there actually were a few with real people in them!

For me, today, it's back to normal!
My head's fine, so I'm happy I can do some work!

I joined up in the Siblings Together Quitling group, started by Lynne and I want to make Granny squares and perhaps even more. Let's just see where this takes me.
The reason for joining is that this initiative lies close to my heart, very close.
I don't think I should be putting any of these details on the internet ...

Hope to see you again this week (with a finish).