A large UFO project

Recently, an online friend and I were discussing a couple of book series that we both enjoy. Barbara was talking about the Elm Creek Quilts novels by Jennifer Chiaverini which I have been reading since the series started. Back in 2005, Jennifer Chiaverini started putting the blocks on her website for the quilt in her novel "The Master Quilter". I started working on the blocks for Sylvia's Bridal Sampler as they came out but ended up having to work on other things for my quilt group and this moved to my UFO pile after the third row.

I promised Barbara I would show her my SBS quilt so I could not resist starting it back up once again. Here is the quilt up to now along with a few detail photos...




I am using an old fashioned background of cream calico print with a mixture of autumn tones for the blocks. My border will be a floral print which you can barely see peeking out by the background fabric in my box...

The blocks completed for row D of the quilt are...

Milky Way...

Orange Peel...

And completed today, Boy's Nonsense...

It has been a good thing that Barbara and I talked about this as I now have been sparked to start working on it once again. Almost 4 years of sitting dormant is just too long.

Heartfelt handwork...

I thought it would be fun to share my handwork with a heart and/or Valentine's Day theme. I hope you enjoy seeing these stitched and quilted items...

Slow stitching.....

Have you heard of the slow food movement? You know where you go back to the old fashioned values of taking time to cook and enjoy a meal? Well, how about slow stitching? Having developed another major health problem, I am trying to slow down in 2009. I still am on a partial stash diet and working through WIPs and UFOs to get some old projects done. I found last year very rewarding when I started this and decided it should continue this year. But this year, I want to really slow down enough to live in the moment so to speak with my stitching and quilting.


I have said many times how I love anything with an alphabet on it! Well, when an online friend shared a blog I had never seen before and this SAL started, I tried to tell myself I did not need to start this new project. My focus this year was to be my Ohio samplers afterall...


But I could not resist and started this only in January so most participating were already on part two. I set a goal to try and totally catch up by the end of February so I would be ready for part four as it came out. I am happy to say that I have completed parts one and two so I can start on part three this weekend. I should have my goal completed in time. I have not rushed this and tried to really enjoy each stitch.

Those letters are beautiful but I also love the look of this little block with the lace edge. I am stitching this sampler 1 over 1 on 28-count linen. The total width of the sampler is 6-1/2 inches which gives it such a dainty look. If you want to stitch this beautiful sampler just check out Gazette94.

The blessing of a friend!

Before I start this entry, let me apologize for the quality of the photos. I wish I could get a better photo but wanted to try and capture the true color.

I just wrote a blog entry today on my other blog about a sweet surprise dropping on my doormat. I am feeling very blessed today! This evening, our packages postman (we have two - one brings the mail and the other any packages) rang my doorbell. He handed me two packages. First, I received a thoughtful box of tea from a dear friend Hazel in England. I am so touched by your sweet letter to me Hazel and thank you so very much for your thoughtfulness. I am honored that you feel I inspired you and wish you the very best of luck with your "Christmas Spice" demonstration. I am sure it will go very well and hope everyone enjoys making the little tabletopper quilt. I will think of you as I drink a cup of this lovely tea.


I then opened an envelope from a blogging friend in the US. Teresa made me a PIF gift which is just beautiful. I am wearing it now as I type these words ~ a knitted scarf in gem stone tones. It is so soft! I took this silly photo of myself wearing it as there is no one here now to take one for me. I almost thought it was too funny looking to even share it but want Teresa to see it. She said she wanted me to know she was praying for my health problems and I feel like she sent me a real hug while I wear this scarf! I love the colors in it. It reminds me of our heather fields here in Holland. Just perfect Teresa. Thank you so very much for the scarf and your friendship!

Happy Groundhog Day!

Yes, my friends, it is Candlemas Day or as it is affectionately known in America, Groundhog day. On this day, we are informed by a sweet little creature called Punxsutawney Phil how long winter will be with us. The Groundhog comes out of his winter hibernation and if he sees his shadow he goes back for another six weeks, but if the day is cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate. Here Phil would not see his shadow. I will be waiting to hear from some of you across the pond what the results are today...


And so for Groundhog Day, here is the pinkeep I made back in 2007.....


"As the light grows longer
The cold grows stronger
If Candlemas be fair and bright
Winter will have another flight
If Candlemas be cloud and snow
Winter will be gone and not come again
A farmer should on Candlemas day
Have half his corn and half his hay
On Candlemas day if thorns hang a drop
You can be sure of a good pea crop"

Love a quick finish!

I just love a quick finish! I decided to stitch up two of Stacy Nash's Ohio patterns between the larger reproduction samplers that I will be stitching over the course of this year. This is the first of the two. It feels great to stitch up these sweet little charts as they go so fast. Even for me they go fast and I am not a quick stitcher. *grins*

Now I did change the colors just ever so slightly once again because I did not have a couple of the colors and did not want to wait and have to buy new DMC. I so hope that Stacy does not mind. I am leary anymore after the last sampler. I used an overdyed linen and will frame this one instead of making a pillow. I want all the samplers to hang together on my Ohio wall.

Another finish is one I did as a little gift for a dear online friend. I have had the great fortune to meet some wonderful people online and Diane is one of them. She and I met through a Yahoo list a number of years ago and we clicked immediately.

So I decided to sew her a patchwork needlebook to send at Christmas. But this bad old elf did not get it done in time to send with a Christmas card so she got it just because instead. Just because I cherish her friendship! I was happy to hear from her last night that she had received it in the mail.

I used the patchwork block called 'Contrary Wife'. There are four wool felt pages for her needles and a tiny button and satin ribbon to close the book.


I enjoy making these little patchwork needlebooks and sharing them. It is a fun way to keep your needles and pins together when you are doing your stitching or quilting.

The charm of patchwork!

I have been wanting to tell you about my quilt groups theme for 2009 and could think of no better moment than after my last entry. I received such a sweet comment from my friend Angela and it led to a discussion about needlework being a part of daily chores in days gone by. I recommended a few journals to her which I find inspiring. I don't think woman thought of doing their patchwork as a chore. I believe from reading the journals that it was a light part of their existence. Maybe I am dreaming and looking at it all to romantically?

I know they had to have quilts to keep them warm. They were even hung at the windows. I know they did not always have time to think of the beauty of the quilt and yet look at some of the antique quilts found today. It was not only function. And in reading the journals, you feel their excitement as they discover new patterns from friends, family and neighbors.

Our theme this year is charm quilts. Nowadays we think of charms as the packets of squares you can order from quilt shops. But a charm quilt is a quilt made with a one-patch block using a different fabric for each patch. It was popular back in the Victorian times and again in the 1920-30s when times were hard. People would share pieces of fabric with one another. I love the romantic notion the Victorians held...you collected 999 various fabrics for your charm quilt and the 1000th fabric would come from your beloved.

We will be swapping fabrics from our stash this year in our group to help each other gather as many different fabrics as possible. Everyone choose a one-patch block they will use and we measured what size charm they need for it. It will be fun to share with each other. I find this fitting also in a year that the financial crisis has finally hit Holland since this is such an economical project to work on.

I have chosen to make two charm quilts. This is one of them. I am using pinks, soft brown and beige, cream, soft blue, soft green and soft yellow as my colors. All the fabrics are floral, striped, spotted or checked. I want to achieve a romantic and nostalgic look to this quilt. I picked a half hexagon shape. This past weekend, I received an envelope after having sent one to surprise one of the ladies in my quilt group with her charms from me. She asked me what I needed for my charm quilts and in turn surprised me with some too. I have been working her fabrics into my quilt. It is great fun to do and you have no idea what others will share with you.

Now for my dear friend Angela as well as anyone who loves their needle, this quote is for you all! I have always been found of this quote from a favorite novel "The Mill on the Floss" (George Eliot) as it is very amusing...

“Oh, dear, oh, dear, Maggie, what are you thinkin'of, to throw your bonnet down there? Take it upstairs, there's a good gell, an' let your hair be brushed, an' put your other pinafore on, an' change your shoes, do, for shame; an' come an' go on with your patchwork, like a little lady.”

“Oh, mother,” said Maggie, in a vehemently cross tone, “I don't want to do my patchwork.”

“What! not your pretty patchwork, to make a counterpane for your aunt Glegg?”

“It's foolish work,” said Maggie, with a toss of her mane,—“tearing things to pieces to sew 'em together again. And I don't want to do anything for my aunt Glegg. I don't like her.”

Exit Maggie, dragging her bonnet by the string, while Mr. Tulliver laughs audibly.

Old friends.....

During the cold month of January, it seems my needle and thread are old friends. I know many of my stitching and quilting friends feel the same. So I wrap up in a warm afghan that my mother knitted for me in the evenings and stitch each evening. After having spent the day with Carolien which you can read about here, I decided last night to finish the second of my two latest blocks from the Centennial Sampler. I had not quite finished while she was here. I then worked on my ABC sampler and will show you my progress soon.

I am displaying them here with some wonderful gifts that Carolien brought me ~ two wooden spools and two wooden thread winders. I love them and want to once again say a big thank you to Carolien for her thoughtfulness.

I have another Believe ornament finish to share with you. This ornament was stitched and sewn by Letty. Isn't the trim she used for the hanger just so country vintage? You did a wonderful job Letty and thank you for sharing your finish.

Believe ornaments revealed...

Enjoy a few finishes of the first primitive pillow ornament. Thanks to Susan and Linda for sharing their stitching. I would love to include your finish if you decide to stitch along with us. Just send me your photo...

Primitive ornaments SAL - Believe

Over the Christmas holiday, I was visited by my creative muse and got the urge to try my hand at designing my own Christmas ornaments. Now I am a needlewoman who believes that things become most beautiful when shared with others. I would like to share these ornament design with my blog readers. On the 15th of each month, I will put another of my primitive ornaments on my blog for you to stitch.

I have never done this before and don't have any computer programs to design with. For me, it was a pencil and graph paper. I have scanned the pattern for you. Enlarge the pattern and print it out by copying it to Word. I somehow think the idea of a hand drawn pattern fits the whole idea of these little primitive pillows.

If you would prefer a more traditional look to your ornament pillows, change the linen to a white or cream and change the threads to bright Christmas colors. Use a traditional fabric to back the pillow with a ribbon to hang.


Once your design is stitched, simply sew into a little pillow using jute string for hanging.


This design is stitched with two over two. I used 30 count Old Mill Java R&R linen. I used overdyed threads which add to the primitive look. I used red ~ Sampler Threads by The Gentle Arts "Cranberry", Carrie's Threads "Cocoa" and "Antique Gold". Choose your own favorite shades of red, brown and gold from your stash. DMC thread will also work fine for this design.

I hope you have fun stitching this primitive pillow. It is a perfect way to stitch something quick and easy between other projects. By the end of the year, you will have a dozen ornaments to use in a small tree or wreath or perhaps add to your own collection of ornaments. I would love to see a photo of your own finished version. Please email me (see my profile for my email) and I will create a gallery of finishes. Enjoy!

Beginnings and endings...

I have a finish to show you. Well, it was finished for a little while now but needed sewn to fit onto the hanger which I finally did last week. Here is my Santa from 'Winter Fairytale' by Annette Jungmann. A book by Rico Designs. I must use the "C" word again as I changed the recommended browns of Santa's coat to two browns that matched my new couches perfectly. They are a cocoa powder brown.


I had to put this aside of the holidays instead of finishing it as I started something really exciting. I will be sharing that on the 15th of each month all this year so please come by tomorrow and have a peek!


And the beginnings...

Last year, an online friend shared this wonderful blog with our stitching list and I fell in love with this new SAL starting there. I told myself I really did not need to start this and that was that! But it kept swimming around in my mind. I really love anything with an alphabet as you probably know. I planned on starting the next Ohio sampler right away but needed a break after what happened. ** Don't worry, I will be starting my next Ohio project this month too. ** So I thought I would just go ahead and do this SAL. I have planned that I should be able to catch up by the end of part three. I had done the SAL for Alter Echo back in 2006. I loved the look of the colors I used at the time and decided to use the same grey (DMC 3787)once again and this time combine it with two pinks (DMC 223 and 3721). I am stitching this one over one on Lambswool linen 26-count.

I kept trying to tell myself not to start it even as I was putting in the first stitches. *grins* I must admit thought that I am very happy to be stitching it. It is such a lovely design!