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

My first block

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I finally finished my first block for the Joseph's Coat quilt along. Unfortunately I can't get on with it as all my fabrics are on a boat en route to Singapore. As I wasn't able to get my hands on this wash away paper, I've done it with freezer paper. But it really is a bit of a nuisance to have to pull the papers out after sewing the petals down and it also distorts the block if it's not done very carefully. I hope to be able to find the proper product here in Singapore. It's so nice to be able just to go to a quilt shop, instead of having to order everything

Merry Christmas

After living 5 1/2 years in Shanghai we have now returned to Singapore. As we've lived here previously for 8 years, it's a bit like coming home. Although a lot of my friends have in the meantime moved on, I'm lucky that there are still a few left. I'm very much looking forward to getting back to my quilt groups.

Good byes are always hard, and it was no different this time when we left Shanghai. I've met lots of lovely people, quite a few through quilting. When I first arrived in China, there wasn't a quilt group as such, so a friend of mine a I started one. The group has grown over the years and is now well established. I'm glad that I was able to hand over the "baton" to very capable hands. I will miss the lively group of ladies from all around the world.

I wish everybody a Happy Christmas and hope that the next year will bring you only the very best.

Vreni

PS: This is a little quilt I've made a few years ago and I've called it "Looking for Santa"

New Quilts... new beginnings

This is my version of Meg's Garden by Kellie Wulfsohn of "Don't look now". I've made it for my friend Marianne in Switzerland for her new apartment and I'm happy to say that she was pleased with it. I've enjoyed doing it by raw edge applique and was amazed how fast it came together.

This little quilt I've made for another friend; I've dyed the fabric first and appliqued the tree on, also by raw edge applique.

We are in Singapore at the moment looking for a house to live when we move back in January. As it's very difficult to do any blogging in China, I've not been able to start my blog properly. But I hope to do so soon.

I've become a huge fan of Kellie's blog and work and have decided to take part in the Joseph's Coat Quilt Along. I probably won't be able to share much over the next few weeks but will try to keep up with everybody else's work.

Happy Stitching
Vreni