BACK HOME ... FINALLY !

Well, it's been a long time , Indeed  :))

We enjoyed Spain very much,

yet we're now delighted being back

in our little Belgian cottage...

Autumn is here, and although some rain

is coming our way, the colours are splendid

and very inspiring...

I'll post some more pictures next time

(soon, I promise)

but I wanted to show you, at least,

an applique work that I completed recently.

It's inspired from the book "Dear Hannah"

by Brenda Papadakis

and I love it very much.

I was also very pleased, having completed

a big crochet blanket

Making it was a total blessing and very relaxing.

Of course, I'm now full of projects,

including much handquilting,

but there's that special quilt that's haunting my mind,

it really becomes an obsession.

The quilt name is "Sweet Surrender" 

by Sue Coddy.

and it was originally issued by "Material Obsession" Web site

I waited some time, having so many UFO's on my working table,

but now I'm ready to make it...

Unfortunately, this pattern is no longer available.

I have searched the Web, yet unsuccesfully  (sigh)

My only hope now would be that some quilter friend

would have it and would accept to help me.

Of course, I'm ready to buy it second hand.

I really, really would be so grateful !

Crossing my fingers (and toes),
"with a little help from my friend"

I'm wishing you all happy quilting times

In stitches,

NADINE

SOME PROGRESS (UNDER THE SNOW)

Indeed, winter is still bringing frost and snow, here

But we're also enjoying some lovely white landscapes,

as well as our warm chimney inside,

for which we are so grateful...

This cold weather also helps making some progress

on the quilting front

:)

Baby Julia's quilt is taking shape,

with 7 strips out of 11, hand pieced and embroidered.

The baby is due by mid April, so I think I'm on Schedule

...up to now!

I'm also making a crochet blankie for the baby,

and managed to add a cute little owl 

(thanks to a You-Tube video)

(aren't we lucky we these clever tutorials ?)

Four "Hartjes" joined the stack in their box.

Not much, but it's better than Nothing.

I'm not in a hurry, it's my side-portable project

and I made them while waiting at the dentist's.

And that's it for now, my friends,

THANKS for your visit,

Take care,

ENJOY YOUR SEWING !

HERE WE GO AGAIN...

Beginning a new year is always a time of introspection,

a time of projects, of hopes and décisions...

Well I've been thinking, dreaming, pondering,

rumaging through my stash, including my Ufo's,

and decided to list some reasonable goals,

hoping I'll be perseverant,

and will achieve them heartfully...

DUTCH TREAT

***

This quilt, started in 2013, in loving memory of my mother,

who was of Dutch origin,

has been left aside long enough.

I've reached 62 blocks, up to now,

and I'm planning to make 2 blocks a week.

HAND QUILTING

***

I'm planning to put "Les Sœurs" into the hoop,

and handquilt 3 threads a day.

Not much, but one stitch at a time, I'll get there.

EMMA MARY QUILT

***

A new handpiecing project (pattern by Judy Newman)

All pièces are traced and cut

(272 blocks in total + an applique center medallion)

I'm more than ready to start that beauty,

and I'm planning 5 blocks a day.

GLITTERS

***

Another new,  handpiecing, scrappy project (pattern by Jen Kingwell),

yet I'm ONLY cutting some pièces for the moment,

stacking them into a nice tin box, for the future,

in case I've been a good girl and meet my goals  :))
But this will be a 2018 project.

CROCHET

***

THE MOORLAND BLANKET CAL

(starting today, until end of February)

Our dear Lucy ( "Attic24 " Blog -clic-) had done it again,

with a gorgeous blanket, bringing you into the Yorkshire summer Moorland

atmosphere, with those heathers and heavenly colors.

Moreover, as usual, Lucy is guiding us step-by-step in her

weekly tutorials.  How could I resist ??

EMBROIDERY

***

"La Route des Epices"

("Spices Road")

A very old Ufo (traditional embroidery),

that I really, really want to finish this year.
It makes me dream of those times,
when the ships sailed to far away countries,
and brought back such strange and tasty spices...
Spices are cooking's treasures,
and I'm planning to hang this in my kitchen.

I'm half-way through it.   I'm aiming one item a month.

(6 more to go)

***

Well, it looks like my basket is full of blessings, doesn't it ?

One stitch at a time, with love and perseverance ...

Last but not least, I've also promised myself to be a better blogger,

and to post on a more regular schedule.

I'm taking so much pleasure and inspiration in reading you all,

it would be nice from me to send you a smile,

and give you some news from my little corner...

Wish me luck !

In stitches,

Nadine

NEW PROJECTS UNDER THE SUN, AND A FINISH ...

This summer is SO hot, it was sometimes difficult to hold a needle, not to mention any handquilting ! Yet, all quilters know that the weather cannot stop us making projects, and this is for the BEST...

So what's been simmering in my head, lately ?

Inspired by Petra Prins & Ann Monen beautiful book "Promenade dans un Jardin Hollandais" as well as by Juud's gorgeous quilt (visiting her blog is a MUST for the inspiration, See my Bloglist, on the left) "LES SOEURS" touched my heart, as well as my best friend's, Valentina.
So we've decided to start that wonderful journey together, and so we're  now "zeuren", as Dutch quilters say.

 Since then, we're tracing and cutting loaaads of half-square triangles, in order to piece lots & lots of Hourglass blocks, choosing among our treasured fabrics.

We're also dreaming about the JANE AUSTEN QUILT (sooo romantic!) and collecting/exchanging special fabrics for the purpose...

I'm still pondering whether I'll make mine close to the original ....

OR

OR  making it "à la Brigitte Gibblin", like this one ???  

(I love hexies, and I love breaking the rules, too)...

Going next month  to Val d'Argent (Ste-Marie-Aux-Mines) for the big European Quilt Show will certainly help making a choice (as well as find lots of lovely fabics, HeHeeee....).

*********

While in Spain, I fell for CROCHET and decided to make a colourful blankie for the coming cold winter (yes, of course, winter will come!).  I was inspired by the talented "My Rose Valley"(clic)

and her Gipsy Blanket"

(pattern available on her Etsy Shop)

It's almost finished,

The border still needs a few additional rounds to get the right size

(as soon as the weather allows it)

I'm very happy with the result...

Last but not least, I fell in love with a very cute, handy Sewing Caddy, and with the kind help of a very nice quilter friend (THANKS again, dear!), I'm gonna make it in-between all my projects...

What are your next projects ??  I'm always curious... And maybe some of you are coming next month  to Val D'Argent, as well ??  I'd be very happy to meet you !

ENJOY YOUR SEWING !

Nadine