Hitting the ground running!

After missing our connecting flight and an unplanned 24 hours in Doha, we are now home again. We had a lovely time in Switzerland over Christmas as well as a quick side trip to Malta with the kids. I was pleased to see how well mum had settled into her "assisted living home" and how happy she is there. I can't tell you what a huge relieve that is! It was a busy time with clearing some of mum's house, entertaining the whole family over Christmas and visiting with friends but somehow it was just enjoyable. And I loved to be in the fresh winter air, although there was no snow, at least not where we were.

When I got home I had exactly one day to prepare for the Kaffe Fassett lecture and workshop I had signed up for. Both were very interesting, although my jet lagged brain was pushed to its limits!

The quilt we were working on is from his book Quilt Grandeur and is called Shadow Pinwheel. This is the original from the book

And this is my version. I wanted it to be completely different and since I had planned to make a blue and brown quilt for a while, I thought this would be the ideal opportunity. Not as easy as you might think to work while Kaffe and Brandon were "breathing down our necks"!

Here's what Kaffe hat to say to my design attempt:

And a few more examples from my class mates:

Now it's back to my sewing room. Although I had brought lots of hand sewing I didn't make one stitch while I was away. And I had such good intentions. 

Cheers

Vreni x

I'm back

After a lovely week in China, we are home again. It was great to be back in Shanghai and to catch up with friends and go to the markets as well as having foot massages!

In Beijing we mostly spent time with DD and her young man! We got to see their new apartment as well as DD 's classroom; very new and high tech. When I went to school, we had a black board at the front of the classroom. My kids had white boards but now they apparently have smart boards, which - I had it explained to me - are interactive white boards. 

It was nice to see my Dr. Seuss quilt again

and DD was happy with the quilt I brought her.  

As we've been in Beijing several times, we didn't do any touristy things. But on Sunday we had a lovely breakfast and then a stroll through the Hutongs. Although it rained, it was a blessed relieve as finally the air was "breathable" again after three days of very heavy pollution.

Just to give you an idea of how bad the pollution was. Take a look at these photos. This one I took from the hotel window when we arrived 

 and this one - as luck would have it - on our last day. It's mid morning in both pictures.

It seems "the kids" have settled very well in Beijing. In any case they do eat like the "locals"!!

How about a little scorpion for a snack? Not for me, thank you very much,  although they tried very hard to convince me to try one. Apparently they taste like potato chips. Then why not eat potato chips, I ask you?

I hope your week is going well too.

Vreni x

Just in the nick of time

We're going to China tomorrow; first to Shanghai and then on to Beijing to see our daughter (and her young man). Initially I was going to bring her this quilt, it only needed the binding put on.

But after seeing the orange sofa in their new apartment in a photo she sent me, I had to rethink, and fast! I decided to give her the quilt which was intended for my MIL for Christmas instead. I can sort out what to give MIL later on. That left me with exactly two days for sandwiching, quilting and binding the quilt.

With time being scarce I stitched the binding by machine to the back. I usually do that by hand as I hadn't had much success on earlier attempts. But using the blindstitch foot really helped and I only needed to stop and go back because the stitching didn't catch the binding on the back a couple of times. I will need a bit more practice, but I will definitely do this again.

All ready to go. Can't wait!

Talk to you when I get back.
Cheers
Vreni