a move....

July 1st Google Reader will be gone.
In order to keep up with my favorite blogs, I've decided to join Bloglovin' and give them a go.

So if you haven't done so before, you may want to consider joining so that you too can keep up with your favorite blogs and that your readers can follow you too!

Keep following my blog with a click on this link:

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

There are other services out there, but I haven't gotten 'round to reading about them and sorting all the facts out, and joining Bloglovin' was fast and easy.

It hasn't been much of a summer here in Holland and I've stayed away from the computer for a long time because, life demanded my fullest attention, but soon I hope to make more time and share my quilting efforts with all of you again.

...I'm off to so some utility stitching....

lollipop tree block #3

This one was ready quite some time ago.  I just forgot to post it.....

Another project has taken all of my attention and time.  It also has a deadline, so I've spent very little time behind the computer.  Get a lot done that way though...

At least I have a new block to bring to the Bee tomorrow!

Have a lovely weekend.

lollipop tree block #2

prepped and ready to stitch.

I had made such a mess with the first one, I figured, why not continue?  

This one went much faster, and I thought much less about the fabrics, fussy cutting and placement.

Much more fun and much more relaxing that way.

These trees are addictive and fun to make, but alas, I tidied up so I can begin stitching on tree #.  Don't think it will take long before I begin on number 3....

Lollipop Tree block #1

prepped and ready to be stitched.

It wasn't easy!  Although I've worked with Kaffe Fasett fabrics before it was in a different context, for a different sort of project.  Now I had to look at them in a new way, to try to see new things.  New color combinations.  Fussy cutting is fun, but....I like surprises too and just letting the quilt happen.  So lots to think about as to the approach to this quilt.  Still not sure about the peach large leaves.....

When all the pieces were complete and I saw the block in its entirety, I decided to glue the pieces down rather than to baste them onto the background.  The leaves are pre-basted, and for the circles I used Karen Kay Buckley's Perfect Circles.

At least I'm ready for Saturday's Bee.

Now back to my clamshells....

Lollipop Trees

Yep, a new project.  And one that I've been excited to get started on.
The Lollipop Trees Quilt by Kim McClean.  Some of you may remember that I had begun preparations on the Roseville Album Quilt, but other projects with deadlines got in the way.  In the meantime,  priorities have changed, and the "to do" list has been re-drafted.  Working on the Lollipops is a way for me to work with wonderful colors, and it's an easy quilt to applique, leaving some energy over to work on some other projects  ( or so she thinks...)

6 background blocks are prepared and stitched with a central cross done by machine to help with placement. I'm starting with block #1, and using the starter pack I purchased for the Roseville Album quilt.  Just a few minutes of play and I already know that I'll be adding to this pack!

...and now the hardest part of making this quilt I think....

color selection!

warm and cool?

oh my, low contrast...hmm...now what?

let the texture do the talking?

Lots to think about, lots to play with.  Easy?  Hmmm...nope!  Fun?  Yes!

Just hope I can get at least one block prepared so that I have something to bring to the Kim McClean Bee in Haarlem's De Sampler's next session.  I've missed two meetings and can't wait to finally join these kind and creative ladies again and share in the fun!

In the meantime, I'm off to ponder some more colors.....

Something to do...

It's been a while now since I've been home from surgery.  Still not allowed to do much, just taking little walks, and lots of rest.  After a few weeks my fingers began to itch and I missed the needle and thread in hand, so I began a totally new project, one that doesn't require too much thinking....(ahem...she said...)

Luckily my closet is organized, and the stacks of fabrics short enough, and at the right height for me to pull out ( I'm not allowed to do practically any lifting).  A perfect opportunity to dive into my stash and use almost a bit of everything.....

Mind you, there are fabrics in there more than 10 years old....doesn't make them less nice though!

This is my new "little" project.  A 3 inch clamshell that I drafted myself.  I've made a template and am drawing the lines on front side of the fabric, and basting only the top of the clamshell down. 

Like quite a number of bloggers I came across, this was a quilt on "The List" for me too.  Normally I would just dive in and get started on a bed-sized quilt, but in this case, and to make it a bit easier to handle while spending most of the day on the couch, I would do a smaller, baby sized quilt.  There's still plenty in the closet should I be moved to make a "real" size...lol!

Anyhow, here's a picture of what amounts to be 2 days' worth of cutting and preparing on my design wall.  Looks like a few more rows are needed.  I just threw them up there randomly, and perhaps, I'll leave it just like that.

Another Hiatus

No quilting for a while.
Had to go into hospital 4 days ago. All went well, and progress is good.




Once home, I'll have to put my hand quilting aside, the quilt I'm working on is just to heavy now to lift and shift in the hoop. A bit of a bummer, because I was really getting into it!
The upside is that some piecing is waiting for me, and it will be nice to work on the Double Wedding Ring quilt.

In the meantime, it's nice to amuse myself with other things like my beloved New York Times Crossword puzzles, and the company of my dear friends whose amazing, positive energy boost me. You know, that stuff really works!! Lol!

See you when I get home,
Heidi

a UFO finish.....

It's been a quiet and difficult time here lately trying to deal with the loss of my best friend.
How life changes!  A whole new routine has to be created, and you miss lots of the old routine, the things that brought comfort, the passing of time, the rhythm of things..

I can't tell you how grateful I am for having something to pour my thoughts and focus into during troubled times.  Quilting is that for me without a doubt.  There's a baby quilt waiting desperately to be finished as baby Nova is already here, but I won't work on it.  Energies and all that.

So I took it out on a UFO that's been hanging around taking up valuable closet space.  Looking back at my project notes the top was completed in a weekend during December 2009 (!!) I didn't put too much effort into it, it was just something to finish and get it out there to live on the couch or bed during this cold winter.  I finished it Sunday afternoon, and tossed it straight into the washer and dryer.  It didn't ravel as much as I'd hoped, but I'm sure with progressive washings it'll look more "loved".

So there you have it.
Bullseye quilt.  Done.

Now back to the quilt waiting patiently folded on top of a standing quilt hoop.  Two-thirds of the quilt is done and then I can check this one off the list too....see a pattern here?

Dear Sweet Darwin, or should I say,
Rumour Rio Blue,
My Big Bear,
Oh you Big Stinky!
My Mud Puppy,
My little Prince,
My Dancer,
Mon chou-chou
Mijn Poempeloentje......

There are no words.
Farewell, my beautiful, beautiful friend...

first 2013 finish...

Yep, it's been a long while since blogging, but the hiatus was good and needed.

The fingers did stay busy and here's the sampler that Jovita and I created for my beginner's quilting class.  Check out her blog for two different versions she's been making of this same quilt.  

The colors were so unlike anything I've used in a quilt before, and I think it has set the tone for me as to how I will look at fabrics from now on.  

This quilt was hand-pieced and hand-quilted.  The fabrics, the colors were just so cheerful and really made me smile every time I worked on it.

It was also the first time I really enjoyed hand quilting as well.  I just stopped fussing and fretting about every stitch having to be perfect and got on with it.  It just got better and better, and easier and easier.

As for the rest of the year - no real quilting resolutions made, except that I'll be finishing up a bunch of UFO's and adding only one new project to the list.  

This was so much fun to do though, that it will be hard not to make another sampler....!

just chillin'....for now

our Binah

I've been on "take it easy" mode, doctor's orders, until further notice.
Discovering whole new worlds through my iPad in the meantime, and decided to go back to some old loves and passions, that have lain dormant for too long...

Excited to share that with you soon....

collaboration

Things have been really up in the air.  So many changes, an uncertain future.  Makes for exciting times, and exciting prospects.  It's been brewing for a while now, and as a result of a series of fortunate and unfortunate events, I decided it was time to really work on finding my own voice in my quilting.  Instead of one foot in the box, step out of it completely and just go for it.

Funny that when you actually make a decision, things begin to change, things begin to happen.
Cool things, exciting things!  No idea to where they'll go, and perhaps I'll  make horrible things, strange things,  things that may make me say " what was I thinking?" but you know it's part of the process, it's just a piece of fabric.  We're not talking world peace here.  At some point, things will settle down and my voice will emerge.  For now, it's great to take a ride on this unknown road...

One of the cool things that happened is my collaboration with Jovita.  With a wink and a tease, and knowing that I have an hour and a half to start running before she's at my front door to give me a whack ,  I can say that we have a few things in common.  First, we're both Americans living in Europe, I live in Holland, she in Belgium.  We have apples in common.  She's from Washington State, their official fruit is the apple.  I'm from the Big Apple.  We're both ex-pats.  We both love fresh cornbread.  We both share a passion for quilting.  But that's where the similarities end, and the fun begins.

We are very different.  Very different.  Good different.  Like peanut butter and jelly, honey and mustard, tomato and basil.  Two very different flavors that make a great combination.  We fire off ideas and images that leave us both with more ideas and heads spinning.
Fast forward to me telling Jovita how I have to manage to make a sampler quilt for a beginner's patchwork course I'll be giving this coming September.  I know I want to make something different, want to move away from obedient blocks standing neatly in a row....
Really?  Jovita says, explaining that she too is wanting to design something for her students, and perhaps a mystery BOM!  Really?  I say, and before we knew it we were collaborating on a design together!  Hours on Skype.  Lots of drafts, yes, no and maybes, but we came up with something, well actually, two things.
Remember I said we were different?  So are the projects!  I had to design with absolute beginner's in mind,  Jovita didn't, having the freedom to change the purpose of the quilt design.  You can see that it's a collaboration, yet it is different.  That's the cool part, and the fun part to work together and still maintain your  own voice.

Here's a sneak peek of my first block:

She's making hers in three ( yes, an overachiever..wink!) versions, I'll stick to my one.
My friend Els has been kind/crazy enough to be the guinea pig and make this quilt as well, offering critiques and questions that will help me to edit my lesson plan and if necessary edit the design.
She's fearless, will try new things, flying through the assignments, and doing great stuff!

Mixing things up, using different fabrics, experimenting with color, new friendships, absorbing ideas and trying out new things, and not being afraid  - and who cares what "they" think?  Not bad things to come out of uncertain times, are they?

Looking forward to starting another collaboration soon, but more on that later.....

Got to get back to the sewing table.  There's lots to be done, and little time to get it all done in!

It's a beautiful sunny day here,
enjoy yours.


ps: anyone know how to get my "Followers" gadget back?  tried removing and replacing it, checked out forums, but nothing...Help!

It's flat!

My greatest concern with this Double Wedding Ring project is that after all the tracing, cutting, pinning, and sewing this thing will lie flat.....

It is!  Phew!

I was asked about the fact that I hadn't ironed anything yet.  Before taking the photograph I gave this piece a light pressing, to see if it really was flat and although the jury isn't out yet, for now, I've decided to let the pieces fall where they may.  

When stitching the melons to the large background sections, I've found it easier that they are not pressed because I can easily manipulate all those seams in one direction or another depending on how the melon lays.  

Six interlocking rings are complete, and many more to go.

Just musing how I'm going to continue - work in lengths, row by row?  work in chunks?

Something to think about while at the gym....

Follow the tortoise...

It's not difficult,







It takes a lot of pins....








...and a lot of patience.....

The weather is warm, the air is heavy, so I follow the example of The Tortoise. Slow and steady, and I'll get there....

a little color...

Just needed to dip into my stash and grab some color, make something happy.

You have that sometimes?

It feels good.  Changes perspective.  Refreshes...

Double Wedding Ring update...

This is what 73 melons looks like.

I've been working on them steadily, completing a melon (and sometimes two) everyday.   Once in a while I stop to prepare the pieces and make packs, but there hasn't passed a day that I wasn't working on some aspect of this quilt.

Here's my melons' temporary abode.  Kept safe and dry from tea, a constant clear and present danger in the sewing room.  The pets I don't need to worry about, they know better than to even look in the direction of quilt fabric!

I love making this by hand, and focusing on the process. It takes my mind off the few thousand pieces that are being sewn by hand, one stitch at a time. 

...and yes, I plan on quilting it by hand too.

40 out of 112 to go.  Now that doesn't sound too bad, does it?

Veldhoven 2012

Some impressions of what I saw....

Didn't spend as much time as I normally do there, but then again, there's lots going on at the "homestead" that needs my attention, so priorities, priorities.  Did get some lovely little fat quarters for a new project, to be started as soon as I get this sewing room tydied....

All in all a good visit!

early morning mist

I'm still here, just really focused.






It is so restorative to walk with Darwin very early in the morning. No one around, just us and the birds...

- from my iPhone

Bits of color

on a Sunday afternoon......




Decided to complete making 112 packs in total for the Double Wedding Ring. There are 15 more to go. One pack (a very small zip lock bag) contains the pieces for the arc and the corner stones which will form the melon. I was making them and then sewing them, but I got tired of doing that. Too much energy to pull all the bits of fabric. This way the packs can be stored neatly, and I can put the fabrics away, making my sewing room a bit neater!
About 140 fabrics I counted that I used- didn't think it was that much, and then I didn't count the ones that were used in the beginning.
It's just nice to be able to sit and sew, and think it will go much faster this way.

Anyway, time to go watch a movie with Mr. B.stitches, complete with munchies.....
Hope you are enjoying your Sunday afternoon.....



- iPad Reports

the ides of march...

Gosh, how time has passed!

My fingers have been moving all that time, but now they've come to a stop because there is no more to sew and many more pieces need to be prepared so I can continue my quest for finishing this Double Wedding Ring quilt.  While I've fallen into a rhythm making these packets and sewing at least one melon every night, other projects have been silently waiting for my attention.

I'll get to them, I haven't forgotten them, just want to get some good headway on this. Ever have that?
In the column of my blog I've been noting how many melons I've made out of the 112 that are needed.  35 is the current number.  A few days work and then I'll have enough packets to work on for a while.  It's a bit tedious to have to stop and do this, but it's also a nice break, and well, necessary.

In the meantime, I've been quietly collecting fabrics to make the Trick or Treat basket quilt, and searching for certain kinds of fabrics for future projects, and also have three baby quilts to make!  So while I make lists, sketch drawings, and make calculations, mull things over while sipping tea, my fingers keep moving on this Double Wedding Ring.....
Another good thing while sewing, I'm catching up on movies and shows missed - finally saw all the  Twilight movies, and episodes I missed from Stargate Atlantis and Sanctuary.....:-)