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.

A FRIDAY FINISH and more

Yes, I finish! And I was really in need of one. This is made from a layer cake and a charm pack of Flurry by Kate Spain. I followed this tutorial and it was quite easy. 

The top is done and it needs to be basted and quilted, which I'll start today. Haven't decided how to quilt yet: stippling or straight lines.

I bought the same solid light green for the backing yesterday.

Christmas quilt top ready and displayed on my mobile designing board in our hall.

Kati from the blue chair has made me paused to think.
Her last post on blogging realling made an impact on me.
I'm sometimes reading more blogs than actually getting any sewing done. I was following 72 blogs!
That just takes too much precious time! Yes even though I don't work my time is precious too (I just don't always realise it). Even now: I just missed going to Pilates class because I'm stuck on some of those blogs. It's sometimes getting in the way of life and that's not what this is all about!
I want to sew, have fun, a finish every now and then and some inspiration.
So I've ended my subscription (through Google Reader) for a lot of big blogs: they won't miss me. I now follow 25 blog and that's enough.
That feels good!

On a personal note (as if the previous wasn't personal).
Yesterday I was talking to a dear friend about this song we heard on the radio; I wrote about that song before. Well it was played at my father's funeral.
He died 8 years ago today and I can still cry my eyes out (but not all the time).
I'd just brought back my mum from hospital after she'd been through quite a tough spell in (the operating) theatre. He was so happy to have her back home.
That night he had a massive heart attack and died instantly: quick and at home, just like he'd wanted it.
Life goes on and a lot of things have happened since: good and bad (such is life).

As we're speaking of dates: my one year blogging anniversary is coming up in two weeks. I'll have to think of something nice to all you followers. A party at my home with cake (a cupcake party)? Or we all meet for a drink in town? Or something less strenuous on your part?
I'll think of something.

I'll be trying to link up to a Sew and Tell somewhere, but on the other side of the ocean everybody's still asleep.
Yes, linked up to Amylouwhosews here:

And she's back!
Crazymomquilts Finish it up

Wishing you a wonderful weekend: have fun whatever you'll be doing!

I've been cheating ...

Last week I was busy making an extremely quick quilt for my in-laws.
They spent the weekend here and they love sleeping under a quilt. They're used to sleeping in a forrest. Well ... it's not really a forrest but a part of Eindhoven where the houses were built in the forrest; so a forrest with plenty houses.
So I thought after 'Orange, Rosa, Blue' I could make a really quick quilt by cheating.
I bought this:

Annie's Patchwork in Yellow, from Annie's Farm Stand by Hollie Holderman for Lakehouse Dry Goods, 100% Cotton Fabric, bought here

A backing from Ikea + batting from my local shop.

I usually buy the Hobbs iron-on batting, because it's so easy to work with.

I was working along nicely, had time on my side. But then I had another migraine: in bed, on the couch, sleeping and not sleeping. Taking pills that take ages to work ....

And I wanted to Quilt this Thing!

I finished it Saturday: quilting, binding, washing & drying it.

The tent in the garden was for my youngest daughter who turned 19 yesterday: Hurray!!
She wanted some privacy with her boyfriend, perhaps?
Anyway, the weather was good and the guestroom was taken by my in-laws: so GREAT!

This is my first day without medication and tomorrow (hopefully)  my head wil be clear again.

Have a great week!

Orange, Rosa, Blue

Once upon a time ... the queen of the swamp (our lawn is so soggy) had an idea: 

let's make a quilt for Rosa:

As she's in the navy, riding the waves (not a the moment,but still), let's  make this a quilt with lots of waves! Or bottles, it depends on your view:

Unfortunately, the queen of the swamp didn't manage to put her theory to practise, so she thought of something else: another design which would be (much) easier!

Rosa only had one wish: she wanted anchors on it.

A beautiful set of (12 green and blue) fat quarters of Kaufmann Batiks were waiting to be transformed into a quilt.  So the QofS started working, in secret.

In spite of many setbacks later .... she finished the quilt.

pinwheels

stained glass or Pojagi

blogged about this

Anchors!
Actually, at our local second hand shop I found this (shynthetic) duvet cover.
It's one from the Navy; how it got there I don't know ...
I will never use synthetics again, EVER

washed & tumble dried; pattern here

I chose a blue and green batik for binding.

So glad it's (finally!) finished.

We gave it to Rosa yesterday evening and she was pleased.

And very surprised about the duvet cover.

My husband thought of the name: Orange, Rosa, Blue

Orange: the colour of our royal family

Rosa: in the middle

Blue: one of the colours of the sea.

At the same time somewhere else in the garden of the Swamp:  the while our hydrangeas (Lime Green) are so beautiful and smell lovely!

And our pond is nearly overflowing; well, we've still got 40 to 50 cm left before that cup runneth over ...

The world at your feet

You may have missed me and I've been working very hard on a project, or rather more than one.
But first the news: (not about quilting)
our youngest son has made it through his final exams!
This means he can A start studying  B live on his own.
The world is at his feet! And now his life has really begun (not counting all the other events in his life).
He wants to study business economics, but this could change before school starts again in September.

What I did this past fortnight:

I took pictures of Blauwe Deuzzies/Blue Boxes, which I hadn't done yet. It's for a dear friend who loves blue and a little red. But then I ran out of blue and used more red than I had intended.
Pattern from Empty Bobbin. Fabrics used: Changing Seasons by Classic Cottons; wonderful fabric!
I machine quilted some circles in the squares.
I'm not very good at that yet; I'll just have to persevere!

This is a table runner I made for friends: she like neutral colours, I like loud colours.
She loved it! She said she'd use the floral side if she didn't have any flowers on the table.

Well now for my last project.
It's a gift, so I can't show anything yet.
What a clif hanger for next week!
I'm linking up to Sew Fresh Monday
Have a great week

Blowing in the wind

First of all: there's a great giveaway over at "from the blue chair"!
If I don't win, I'll have to order that colour card from Kona.

Here's my latest creation "Blowing in the wind", thank you for the name Lynn

 I hope you can see the quilting too: I just followed the lines of the pinwheels.

In the very end I decided which way was up, hence the backing is upside down. 

But who will notice once it's hanging on the wall!

What's waiting to be done is the map for my father in law ...

After that I have a bed size quilt (my first biggie) lined up with these fabrics:

Then the postman arrived!!!!!!!

These are perfect for my Soul Blossom FQs.
Although, some of these are a perfect match to my first big quilt project ...

I'm so glad I bought these: Unafraid of Colour Bundle (Sew Fresh Fabrics)

Love it!

Gorgeous!

Wowzers!

Would I have chosen this one? I wonder ... but I love it!

This is the star of the show!

Have a wonderful week!
(I know I will!)