Houses and a new Teddy

Still building houses, here are my latest, 

they are all built with tiny scrap.

"HI there, I've just been knitted but haven't got a name yet".

This Classic Teddy Bear is only 11" tall,  

was designed by Mary Ann Gebhardt,

 they say her teddy bears have been featured in museums in England, 

Japan and Switzerland.

It would be nice to see some of them one day. 

This one was easy to knit, and I might do another one.

Until next time,

happy stitching and knitting

Paula

Sweet Nostalgia

Just finished today "Love's Young Dream". 

It is the February block of Sweet Nostalgia (from 2009), 

designed by Dorothy Baker

I also found a Strip Roll from The Cotton Patch 

called Nostalgia. It is perfect to use for my blocks. 

Now I'm off to prepare March block

I really enjoy stitching these blocks they are great design and not at all difficult.

Before I leave you I want to share with you a small story I got from a friend.

An old Cherokee told his grandson,

"My son, there's a battle between two wolves inside us all. 

One is Evil. It is anger, jealousy, greed, resentment, inferiority, lies, & ego.

 The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, empathy, & truth." 

The boy thought about it & asked, "Which wolf wins?" The old Cherokee replied,

"The one you feed."

Until next time, happy stitching.

Paula

Farmhouse finished

Today I just wanted to share with you my Farmhouse quilt

it is all finished at last, and I quilted it myself. 

This is a close up at the back where you can see my quilting,

 not perfect but finished.

Today I received this lovely "siggy" from Chris in The Netherlands.

And I prepared some "siggy" blocks 

to be ready for a future swap.

I can see a little top, when I look at this picture

maybe I should turn this into a small quilt!!!!!

Until next time,

enjoy your stitching.

Paula

Hexagon

Just got them all together last night, 98 flowers, 50"x72" 

Now I need to fill up the border, with my "salmon pink" hexies.

That will take some time.

I bought half hexagon paper pieces, 

I don't know how that works, has anybody tried that?

Or is it better to appliqué  the top on the border?

This is my first hexagon quilt, so I'm not quite sure how to end it.

Just typical me, start something and then, think how to end it.

Nice little "siggies" arrived this week. 

Now I have collected 48 blocks from all over the world

and I will continue until I have enough for a quilt top. 

Yes, one more Sweet Nostalgia block finished, this one is for January called "Snow Days".

Until next time,

happy stitching.

Paula

Sweet Nostalgia + Three houses

Three more Houses Built from Scraps.

I like making them, but I have to be careful not to neglect my Dear Jane.

Must try to divide my spare time between these two.

That my friend can be difficult.

And also I finished my December block for Sweet Nostalgia

"Naughty Or Nice?"

This song has been going through my head for some time now:

"The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky Are also on the faces of people goin' by I see friends shaking hands saying, "How do you do" They're really saying "I love you." I hear babies cry, I watch them grow They'll learn much more than I'll ever know; And I think to myself, What a wonderful world; Yes, I think to myself, What a wonderful world. Oh yeah! - Louis Armstrong"

I just love that text.

Until next time, have a wonderful stitching time.

Paula

Building Houses From Scraps

Hello friends, long time since my last blog. 

I went to Iceland to celebrate Christmas with my family. 

It was nice, lots of snow.

Started my first block there

"Building Houses From Scraps"

I'll not be making one a day, just when I feel like it.

I have so many other projects going, 

I really should not start this one - but I did.

I'm still working on "Sweet Nostalgia" December block,

My Flower Garden is growing,

The Civil War Bride is resting, I have 9 blocks done,

Still working on DJ and I'm quilting The Farmhouse. 

Yes, and I'm still collecting "Siggies",

two were waiting for me when I came back home.

The newest family member is Kolur, German Shepherd four months old puppy,

belongs to my son, isn't it just gorgeous????

Some pictures from Reykjavík, this is Hallgrímskirkja

the largest church in Iceland,  (74,5 meters (244 ft))

The church is named after the Icelandic poet and clergyman Hallgrímur Pétursson.

This is just a small street called Lokastígur near the church.

And this is the Einar Jónsson (Icelandic sculptor) Museum, 

just opposite the church.

I wish you all a Healthy and a good Stitching-Quilting New Year.

Paula

Basting

The Farmhouse quilt is being basted.

I use Sharon's Schamber's  technique. 

She used to have a free class on her website, but I'm sorry to say, not any longer.

Quilting is easy with this basting, you don't have to start in the middle, just start at the top or the bottom, or just where ever you want.

 I have used this technique many times and it is perfect.

No crawling on four feet on the floor.

Sweet Nostalgia, November is done.

It will be nice to work on December block now,

sipping good cup of tea and a slice of chocolate cake.

Until next time, 

Happy stitching,

Paula

Cardigan

Finished cardigan for my son, he came last weekend for a visit, 

so I gave it a little speed, and finished before he came.

He was very happy with it.

Knitted myself a little warm hat.

When I lived in Iceland I almost never wore hats,

but here in Luxembourg I need a hat in the winter,

it can be so humid and cold.

(Or maybe it's  just that I'm older now)

From the Grinch fabric I made two christmas aprons.

I have been listening to this audiobook:

Forgotten Garden

by Kate Morton

A woman on a quest to find out the truth about her family, 

a mysterious Victorian authoress,

 a book of dark fairytales and a long-hidden secret.

Very interesting and a good company while stitching.

Until next time

Happy stitching.

Paula

Teddy Bears

I'm a big teddy's bear fan, I have them all over the house.

They are so warm and comfy.

These two Teddies are joining in with Melody's Teddy Bears Picnic.

Melody is hosting a picnic.

I'm sure they are going to have fun and they will have 

Banana cake in the picnic basket.

 3 eggs, 

150 g raw-suger, 

2 ts vanille, 

125 g spelt flour, 

1 tsp  winestone baking powder, 

5 tbls isio4oil, 

1 or 2 mashed bananas. 

Baked  for approx 50 min. 

Chocolate on top.

 Sweet Nostalgia

October,  is my fourth finished block.

Now I will have a look at the Teddy's Bears.

Until next time,

Happy stitching.

Farmhouse Quilt

Finished top, Farmhouse Quilt, made from scraps.

It is 62"x62". Just needs to be quilted. 

The Grinch

I'm a big admirer of Dr. Seuss, 

so when I saw this Kaufman fabrics on sale at Fort Worth Fabric Studio

I just had to buy some. 

I'm going to use it to wrap up Christmas presents this year,

and make myself a Christmas apron.

I'm still working on that cardigan for my son, one sleeve remaining.

To little time to work on my hexies,

 and I'm planing another quilt from scraps either Spools or Trees, have not decided yet.

I also finished three DJ blocks.  

An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.

Henry David Thoreau

Thank you for stopping by,

 Happy stitching.

Paula

EQA

I went to the "The National Quilt Happening" in Belgium last Thursday, it was fun.
I saw some beautiful quilts and one Dear Jane quilt done by Fernande Authuys. 

To my surprise there were some small quilts from EQA (European Quilt Association) 

9 from each country. 

I took some pictures:

Iceland

Denmark

Britain

Finland

The Netherlands (This one I liked very much)

Luxembourg

Norway

Sweden

Germany

All of them very pretty. 

And of course I bought  some beautiful fabrics

I needed some brown for my planned tree quilt.

Now I'm off to play some golf, it is such a fine weather today.

Until next time

Happy stitching

Paula

Farmhouse Quilt

Now the strips have turned into houses, 

I'm machine appliqué this quilt with raw ends.

It is fun but I wonder how it will last.

Can anyone tell me?

I use "Lite Steam-A-Seam2".

12 houses are done, 

now I will have to work on the blocks in between.

My third block for "Sweet Nostalgia" was September block "Back to School".

I want to share with you a link to Edyta's video,

where she shows her fantastic quilt small/big bag

Have a look at this:

Bag/purse

You can find the pattern at her blog if you scroll down.

Until next time

Happy stitching

Paula

Have been making strips from fabrics I ordered from

 Patsy Thompson long time ago.

When I got this "Friendship Strips & Scraps" book by Edyta Sitar 

I found an opportunity to use that fabric.

I'm going to do this quilt on the cover. 

Actually I would like to do every single one in that book. 

The book is just great.

I have all hers books. 

She recommended Aurifil threads, so I ordered a kit,

to give it a try, and what a difference.

I have been having problems with what I thought was my sewing machine,

but it turned out to be the thread I was using.

This is what I'm knitting at the moment, a cardigan for my son.

Lovely Italian yarn from Lana Grossa,

 Merino Wool / Baby Alpaca / Cashmere. 

So soft and nice to work with.

I tried to get dye from that seaweed I told you about, but without success,

will keep trying.  

This yarn was dyed with dye I made from birch and mint.

Have also done some DJ blocks.

Thank you for stopping by, I would love to see what you are doing.

Until next time,

happy stitching.

Paula

It's Wednesday, that is the day we FG ladies meet at Karen's blog 

and admire and encourage each other.

If you like to see some beautiful hexagons

pop over to One Flower Wednesday

You might like to join in.

My Flower Garden is still growing, 

one could say 

"at the speed of a snail".

Isn't it a cute little fellow?

Thank God we don't have to carry all ours belongings on our back.

One more block finished for "Sweet Nostalgia" 

Hide and Seek, August block.

I just love doing these blocks.

This is a scarf (comforter) I knitted and was very easy,

you just cast on 3 sts. increase one st. at the end of every other pin until you have ca. 130 sts. on the pin, then you start to decrease one st. at the same end until you have only 3 sts. left, you cast off.

It is nice to have multicoloured yarn.

I also made two more blocks for my DJ this week.

Thank you for stopping by,

Until next time,

Happy stitching

Paula