A few of my favorite things.

Lucy

Sally

Finally I can show you my quilt which I finished a while ago. It is published in the Spring special of Quiltmania.  

 I quilted the pink alternate blocks with a freehand feather. Which Gwen Marston showed me how to make these at her retreat I went to a few years ago. As soon as I have my quilt back I will take a close up picture of the quilting for you to see.

The backing

The front. 

I'm very happy with the way how Quiltmania photographed my quilt for their magazine. 

Lucy

Blue and white

Phyllis asked me on which quilt is my applique block pinned. That is the backing of this 'blue quilt'  (I'm not so good in naming my quilts.) I made it years ago. I still love it and I use it often on the couch. 

I love blue and white quilts. I'm working on this quilt. I am using two fabrics. All blocks the same blue and ecology cloth. Boring to sew but I know when it is finished it will be very decorative and very peaceful in my living room.

I found a nice border fabric in my stash. Because working on my blue and white quilt is a bit boring I started cutting and sewing htsts. Maybe it is becoming a king size quilt with hsts ?? I don't know. I just will start and will see what will to do with them. 

Lucy

Flowers

Last weekend I felt like appliquéing. It's been a long time ago since I have appliquéd.

I just love the progress. 

This was my idea to start with. And what do you think?

I like the basket but somehow it wasn't 'perfect' to me.

Too light? Too much?

So I tried another fabric. A print. 

hmm no. I like the check more.

  

Another check. I thought this is better. But is it still too much?

A smaller check...

A more masculine check...

In auditioned several fabrics to choose this one :-) 

Now I have to think about the next step to turn this block into a quilt.

It was good to appliqué again. It always feels like 'coming home' to me.

Lucy

Vintage crochet and a 'forgotten project'

After crocheting some vintage coasters I made these vintage potholders. 

I think they hung in every kitchen at the 50's ;-)

I was digging in some baskets with UFO's and found this project. A blue and white quilt. Inspired by Kathie's blue and white quilt I decided to work on mine again. I will show you soon my progress.

Have a nice day.

Lucy

Crochet coasters

I made from some left over yarn from my dish cloths these cute vintage coasters. They are so is so easy to crochet. Within a few minutes a coaster is finished. What a great 'take along project'  for in your bag. Great for when you have a few minutes. Or just in front of the TV. A nice small project in between the bigger projects to actually finish, we all know some of these projects take a long time!

You can find the coaster pattern here. My next coaster will be made with red yarn and I also blue yarn leftover so I may have to make a blue one too..

Lucy 

Cardigan

I tried to knit a cardigan for my little bear. But I'm not satisfied. I think I will try again. 

although he looks so cute in his not so perfect cardigan.

Lucy

Knitting

Why is knitting so addictive when the weather is getting cold :-)

I knitted a new hat, a cowl and mittens for my daughter.

(Yarn: Lana Grossa Royal Tweed.)

and a friend for Rainier. 

(Yarn: Drops Alpaca.)

Lucy

Batting

So far I can tell that I LOVE the Mountain Mist Cream Rose Batting.  The needle slips easily through the batting and the quilt feels so soft already!

Lucy

Backing, basting and a nice walk.

Since I like the backing fabric for my quilt so much I decided to sew a row in the middle of the backing this will create a big left over piece which I can use for another project.

What a surprise to find that printed line next to the selvage.

When I finished my backing my DH and I went out for a nice walk.

Doesn't this look like a dream house?  

Can you imagine these Dutch clogs on the shelf?

And this view inside the barn?

I love everything about this house except..... the front garden :-/.

This picture is taken at the same place I took the picture of the farm. I only turned 180º

The clogs and nice view inside is not taken at that farm, I took them inside my favorite windmill 'De Zandhaas'.

When I got home I laid my backing, batting and top on the floor and I basted and basted till it was finished.

Done! I used Mountain Mist Cream Rose. Thank you so much for your response on my post before. I will keep you up posted about my experience with both battings.  

This is the same picture as above but the focus is on the background. There is my knitting project. This time a cowl for my daughter. The hat and mittens are already finished :-) 

Lucy

In love with some new fabrics

I'm so in love with this fabric. It is for the backing of my quilt. It's so sweet. Even looking at it makes me smile. Can't wait to start hand quilting it :-)

 I found two different pieces of batting in my closet which I bought years ago in the US. It is Mountain Mist cream rose and Quilter's dream cotton request. I have never used these batting before. Do you have experience with them? Which one do you like better? I would love to hear your opinion. The batting I usually use is 100% cotton from Hobbs/Tuscany.

Just a pile with lovely fabrics ... 

Lucy

Two finishes

Knitting feels to me like discovering a new world. This time I knitted a hat for my daughter. My other daughter likes it so much so right now I'm having another one on my needles.

And I finished my quilt. Yes! Right now I can't show you the whole thing. It is a little secret because Quiltmania is going to publish it. I don't know which issue but as soon as I know more I will let you know. 

Lucy

Almost a finish

I'm so proud on another publish.

Working on a binding means .... that I almost finished  a quilt, yeah!!

Lucy

Mittens and Quiltmania

A while ago I bought this booklet: I can't believe I'm knitting mittens.

Thought it was perfect for me :-) 

Indeed I was able to knit a mitten with the help from the book and the second one was even much easier. 

I lined it with a soft thin fleece so they are really warm.

Last week we went for a few days to Germany/ Eifel. It snowed and it was pretty cold. Perfect weather to try my new mittens !

The weather got me in the mood to knit christmas balls like I made last year.  I would love to have my tree full with knitted balls like Carlos and Arne have.

Have you seen the Quiltmania agenda 2013? 

I am pleasantly surprised that two of my quilts and one needlecase is published with a beautiful picture.

The agenda is lovely and has very cute small size.

                            

Unfortunately it is raining cats and dogs here in the Netherlands right now. 

Not so nice for being outside :-/ 

So I will end this post with a picture I took in Germany/ Eifel with lovely cold weather.

Lucy