Quilt lesson - last lesson for this season

Last Thursday was the last lesson for this season. Time really flies. I'm having a hard time believing it is nearly Christmas. A couple of times a day, I'm pretty sure, that it is still summer. But when I'm caught in the rain without a coat I remember, it is winter. Still, it does give a nice feeling, thinking it is still summer.

But back to the subject. Tineke is making lots of progress. However, she is having a hard time deciding which fabric she want to use in this feathered star quilt top. She has been driving to different shops buying all that they had of the crème colored fabric. She even bought some red fabric, to be on the save side.

Here are the nine finished blocks.

An impression of the decision process, which shall she choose.

It is hard deciding, so our teacher, decided for an different approach. The fabric was rolled out.

Will it be this one?

Our shall it be this one?

After much discussion, Tineke chose the one where the red is on the outside and the green floral fabric is on the inside.  This way the focus is placed on the blocks, especially the centre block.

Don't you just love this quilt? Marja sewed on the borders, as she wanted some help with the corners.

We have a new member. Yvon is making a star quilt. This is a picture of her blocks.

Here is our new member in deep discussion with Tonny.

Tonny is making some beautiful Christmas quilts. Don't you just love the appliqué? Very skilled quilter our Tonny. I'm sure she will have at least 20 quilts done by the time she is 60.

We, the others, are a little slower. We hope to have 20 quilts done when we are 80.

Some are busy with their Christmas projects.

 

An last impression: everyone being busy.

I'm the one who is making slow progress. My work is in the front left side of the table. I only need to finish another 2 blocks after this one and I can start putting the top together.

Hopefully the new year will bring me a little more time for quilting.

New Bag

Some time ago I bought myself a new bag. Sadly, within two weeks it looked about 100 years old. So I bought it back to the store. The money I paid for it was refunded.

Last Thursday I found its replacement.

I'm happy with it.

A quick post

Here is a update. Last Thursday we had another quilt class.

Marja's feathered star quilt top is finished. At least that is what we thought. Her sister noticed a mistakes. Can you see it?

She has decided to undo a small part of the center block. This is such a difficult pattern! 'This is why I've decided not to make 9 blocks but 6. This is how it will hopefully turn out. I like this design / pattern.

Using these blocks. The fourth is nearly done.

Concentration!! Some of the quilters are busy with their Christmas project.

The rest of the group, doing their thing.

More show and tell: the black & white feathered star quilt top. Mirjam has nearly finished the top. If I remember correctly another border will be added. Then it can be finally sandwiched.

Tonny's Christmas top.

Frequency will be less next couple of weeks!!

Most have noticed that I haven't been blogging much. Why? Because I haven't been quilting much. Why? Because I'm doing an NLP training. I must say this training is giving me some new insights. I'm loving it. Some are maybe thinking now, what is NLP? Well go and Google and find out. I dare you!

NLP is giving me a whole new perspective. It is a toolkit for personal and organizational change. This course is also helping me focus on what I find important. I've decided to use my time for other things the next couple of weeks.

I want to read certain books, but I'm letting myself be distracted by things like blogging, playing FarmVille, noise, housekeeping and many other things.

Yes, I've decided not to blog as frequently the next couple of weeks. If you miss me, you will know I'll be sitting in this chair. I've created my own little quiet space. I'll be reading those books I've wanted to read for some time. I'll try to keep up with all your blogs and will post something when I make a little more progress on my quilting. But don't expect too much from me. I'll be quiet till after Christmas break. 

"The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift." (Albert Einstein)

Sad

Just found out that Mark Lipinski is no longer connected with Quilter's Home magazine. Read more here. I loved this magazine. Couldn't wait to receive the next issue. I loved his style.

Another good thing has come to an end.  I'll have to read his blog from now on.

Christmas wreath or Winter wreath

A busy day today. First I played a game of golf. That took up most of my morning. In the afternoon I started on my Christmas wreath. Still, I think that 'winter wreath' is a more appropriate name. Tonny, a quilt friend wanted to make one too. So here is an impression of our afternoon.

 

A messy and a not so messy pile.  With our coffee break, we had  some taai taai.

 

Taai taai is traditionally baked for St Nicholas' Eve in the Netherlands (which is the 5th of December). Like with everything else, you can usually buy it a couple of months before the event. What always surprises me, only a couple of days after the 5th of December it is al gone. You won't find it in any store till the end of October the next year. Spices used in this delicatessen are cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cardamom and white pepper. Other necessities are white flour, brown sugar, and butter. If you want a recipe you will have to google. But if you are ever in the Netherlands around November do try this, or maybe try some speculaas or peppernoten.

 

here is me sitting behind the sewing machine, and sewing. 

In the photo above are the fabrics that Tonny is using for her winter wreath. In the photo below are the fabrics that I have chosen to use.

 

Stuffing the little pockets and then sewing them shut. 

 

In total I will have to complete 50 little cushions. According to another quilter, I will need more than the 32 instructed. Once I've sewn them all together, and have tied them onto a wreath, it will hopefully look like this.

I hope your afternoon was just as enjoyable as mine.

Delicious!!

The postman delivered a parcel yesterday. Words can't describe how I feel, when arriving home late and finding a parcel on the table. Every time, again and again, it is a special moment, opening the parcel carefully and seeing these mags pop out.

I might not be doing much quilting, but dreaming about it is just as good, believe me!

Six American Patchwork & Quilting magazines. If you want some quiet time for yourself, you can order them from eQuilter.

I'll be drooling.