Need a bag in a hurry?

My daughter who has recently moved to Beijing to teach has asked me to make her a bag to take to work. I've found the pattern here and it's called the Lickety Split Bag . Not only was it very easy to make (it only took a couple of hours) it is also reversible.

To make it a bit more special I've put some velvet ribbon around the top of the pockets. DD asked for muted colours but this bag would lend itself for bright and funky fabrics as well.

I've also been practicing my free motion quilting on my new machine. After a few hick ups I think I'm getting the hang of it.

Happy Stiching

Vreni

I'm a winner!

Would you believe it, I've won this fantastic bundle of Lynette Anderson's fabrics called "Snowmen make me smile". Lynette had a give away on her blog and I was the lucky one.... yay....! Now I have to think of a lovely winter project to do these beautiful fabrics justice. Thank you Lynette!!

Photo by Lynette Anderson

I needed to make a block with a tropical feel so I thought of a coconut tree. I hope it's obvious what it is meant to be! I've hand appliqued the trees using the "invisible applique" technique by Ami Simms. I've been doing it this way for a while now and I love it. No more faffing around with freezer paper.

And I finally got this quilt back. I've started it a long, long time ago but lost interest and gone off it. Last year I decided to dig it out from the bottom of my UFO stash and made new blocks to replace those I didn't like. Once I had it sewn together I sent it to Indonesia where it was hand quilted.

As you can see, the quilting is quite exquisite and it would take me several life times to get it looking like this. I'm not really cut out for hand quilting as, unfortunately, I'm much too impatient.

Happy Weekend everyone!

Vreni

I'm finally satisfied!

with my sewing/craft room that is! I've been arranging and rearranging it for the last couple of month as the room is rather small so I had to make the most of the space I have.

Look at this Chinese medicine cabinet which I bought just before we left Shanghai.

Isn't it beautiful? And it's perfect for all my "bits and bobs". It's quite astonishing how much stuff I was able to put into all the little drawers. Now I just have to remember where I put what so I don't have to open all 48 before I find what I need.

Then there is this new piece of furniture (I had it custom made in China). It's for all my papers and box making tools. It's the perfect height so I can use it as my cutting table as well.

On the rather big windowsill I have a small "exhibition" of some of the boxes I've made.

Before I go I have to show you what the postman brought this week. The Kaffe Fassett is self explanatory!


I love "The Gentle Art of Quilt Making" by Jane Brocket; the photos are gorgeous and the quilts simple yet stunning. If you like Kaffe's book, you will love this one too.

Jane Brocket has written books on other subjects but as far as I know it's her first quilting book. Check out her blog here. And here is where I've ordered it from! I can highly recommend them as the service was very speedy and they deliver free of charge WORLDWIDE!

To all mums out there

Vreni

Christmas came early this year!

Actually it was meant to be my last year's Christmas gift from my dear husband, but it doesn't really matter, as I promised I wouldn't need another birthday or Christmas present for many years to come. Good thing he has a short memory span when it comes to things like this. Anyway, last Saturday my new Bernina 820 was finally delivered, set up and explained to me. This has been my bed time reading for the last couple of evenings:

The 820 can do quite a number of new "tricks" my 440 couldn't do like automatically thread the needle, cut both threads at the push of a button (just to name a few) and of course I love the much bigger working space.

What a perfect excuse to start a new project, don't you think?

If it turns out the way I picture it in my head I will use it as my contribution for this:

Please excuse me now, I have to get back to my new toy ;). Enjoy the rest of your week.

Vreni

Yesterday I hosted the quilt group and I made these little Easter treats for them.




Although we were a very small group this week, due to the Easter holidays, we had fun as always and talked "quilt" as well as exchanged tips for apps for our iPhone and even managed to make a few stitches. I also had them help me choose a background fabric for my hexagons. Should it be the small blue or the bigger red spots?









The consensus was definitely to go with the the white and red spotted fabric. I was leaning toward that one as well, but it's always good to get a second opinion.

I finally have made a bit of progress with my Joseph's Coat quilt. I have decided to do it a bit differently and also a bit smaller than the original. I don't know why but it seem I can never follow instructions exactly, be it when cooking, quilting or anything else. Oh well, I just hope it won't back fire on me ;)....




Happy Easter

Vreni

A friendship tree plus a "no"progress report!

Do you remember this little quilt I've made for my Dutch friend? I gave it to her when I visited her in Holland last October.



Now, look what she gave me when she visited me in Switzerland while I was there. Isn't it lovely? Now we each have a little friendship tree hanging in our respective homes.




I'm glad to be back home now and after travelling a lot during the past few month plus moving house (and country) I am very happy to stay put for a while. I really don't mind if I don't see (the inside) of another airplane for a long time.....

That's also my excuse (and I'm sticking to it) for not making more headway with my Joseph's Coat quilt along. I've only been able to make a few pedals while away.



While in Switzerland, I had to go see what my favourite quilt shop had to offer http://www.cotton-color.com/. I'm proud to say that I stayed firm and kept my promise not to buy any more fabric. But of course I couldn't resit these:

That's it for today. I hope you are having a good day, wherever you are.

Vreni

Too much Fabric?

I always thought one can't have enough fabric but I think I have changed my opinion. After having a sewing room plus a crafts room in Shanghai I had to squeeze everything into one room, and not a very big one at that. But I am finally finished and I'm quite pleased with the result. My fabrics are organized by size and colour as well as themes and this is how it looks now:









Mind you, that's not all I have. There are several more plastic containers stored under various beds. I really have to start making lot of quilts, otherwise I can never buy new fabrics (and how sad would that be?).

So I had finally some time to be creative and I made this glass topped box. I love box making as it satisfying to finish something in a day or two (and not to add to the ever growing number of UFOs).





Till next time, take care.

Vreni