Our stitching get~together ~ part one

I am only just now starting to feel a bit more rested after our Holland get~together for a couple of members from my online stitching group. It was a fun week in which I think we all became school girls again. I wanted to show them a little of Holland while they were here. I know they themselves as well as others are waiting to see some photos. I only took one photo of us together which my mother already shared so I will share things we did together. This is part one which happens to be the second half of the week they were here. Sorry everyone, but this is a long post.


On Thursday morning, we left to drive up to Cranberry Cottage. We stopped at the village of Staphorst to have some lunch, shop at a place selling Dutch souviners and see the typical Staphorster farms with their distinctive blue and green paint work.


Milk pails and cans drying on a rack at the farm.


The countryside in the north of Holland is exquisite! The people are very friendly and there are so many wonderful things to see. We picked a manor house and went there one morning to sample the atmosphere.





Being truly addicted to handwork, we examined this beautiful patchwork quilt for quite some time. It has left such an impression on me that I have decided to try and replicate it when I get a couple of my UFOs completed. I will begin to plan the size I will use for the triangles and can cut some of them each time I need to get some fabrics out of my stash cupboard. This is going to be an exciting project for me as it will, in a way, be a special rememberance of the get~together.



I love paying attention to details which is why I enjoy manor houses. It is a wonderful way to peek into the past and things like the pretty card above and this table of portraits and silhouettes really caught my eye. If you read my CelebrateTheSeasons blog, you will already know that I love silhouettes so much that I have begun making aged replicas myself.


We stood for a good while admiring these adorable little black sheep and lambs by the roadside.


Off to Brugge on Monday morning to enjoy the sights and shops. Again my readers of the other blog will know that I love wrought iron. This was in a church we stopped in to view after having a delicious three course lunch at a tiny restaurant on the edge of the city.


The stained glass window really explodes with color like a magical quilt or piece of embroidery.


Even though it was 28C and we were all so very hot, I had to take them to experience the special hot chocolate served at The Proverie. It is something not to be missed in Brugge. This lovely picture was hanging over the fireplace behind the table we sat at. I think we were all so busy talking that we did not think to take photos of things we did but you can see it on this link.


There were many swans on their nests by the Minnewater. How sweet to see these mothers with their young.


I took them to a shop I go to each time I visit Brugge where there are many vintage laces, trims and buttons for sale. For anyone who enjoys these things, it is like going into a candy shop as a child and hard to leave again. Right Angela??? This little tea house was just outside of the shop. I was standing at it dreaming I could own such a pretty place to sit and have some tea while stitching or quilting.


We came across this mermaid during a walk and I had to take a photo of it for our friend Margaret. You, Britt and Francoise were with us in spirit dear Margaret!


And with a final glimspe into a beautiful little lane with its historic houses, we walked to the station to pick up our cars and head back home again...