Saturday, December 31, 2011

Season's Greetings



HAPPY NEW YEAR, dear Friends, receive my warmest wishes for these blessed days. I hope your Christmas was merry and bright, and surrounded by those who love you, and that you are also enjoying a few days of quiet, resting, and carefree stitching- making memories with your families and friends.


It has been a long time since I last posted, and I am so sorry it turned into a much longer Blog-break than I ever anticipated. You were never far from my thoughts, however, and I wish I could have found the time to write down some of the funnier observations I was thinking of sharing with you. Believe me, I could have used a clone, or telepathic messaging in the last few months! LOL
I found myself needing to make some hard time-management decisions, and unfortunately the blog was never making it to the top ten on my daily list.

November took me by surprise: the time-demands becoming more pressing and urgent as the days got shorter. All those things that require immediate care and attention, and have a tendency to derail the best laid-out plans. If anything, this has taught me to be a wee bit more humble: I cannot possibly do everything, the way I would like or am used to doing... a big 'ouchie' on the ego, but also a letting go of a lot of expectations... And at the end, I am happy how I invested my energy and most grateful to everyone who pitched in to help me along the way. All is good and all is well: a good place to be as I say goodbye to 2011.
:)

Realizing I had less and less time available for prepping, I started focusing on getting my Camelot half-square triangles hand-stitched, as I could have them with me as I went about my day. Well--- those teeny weenies turned out to be the most worthy of stitching adversaries I have yet to encounter... You wouldn't think they would bring a grown woman to tears of frustration, boredom and exasperation--- but they did!


I have never been so challenged, or learned more about the depths of my fickle and wicked self, as I did making these 4 HST-corners: 1764 little triangles that took over the last two months of my stitching life! It was not unusual to find me stitching them at 5 am... I couldn't let these little ones taunt me for ever...
It became an obsession to finish: I needed to have my Camelot top done by Christmas or else...



Good news. On Christmas eve the top was finally assembled and basted. The boys did a spontaneous happy 'Hopscotch' dance on the quilt, what else could you do than jump from circle to circle on the floor? :)


Leave it to them to put all things in perspective. :)

And all is getting back to normal, I am feeling more and more like myself and I am happily enjoying hand-quilting: the dragon slain and the quilt a beauty. :)
I am starting to look forward to get back to my other projects once the kids get back to school in the new year.

Thank you for all the lovely emails and wishes, hoping all was well in my little corner of the world. I rather enjoyed them, and gave me a chance to get to know some of you better. Thanks for thinking of me! :)

  Yes, all is well, and at the end of it all, I can honestly say, that sharing the load with friends is what it is all about! Thank you, for being in this with me, as I look forward to being there for you!

I raise my champagne glass to you, on this New Year's eve:
To my dear friends and Quilting Sisters,
Happy 2012! And May there be stitching! Lots of Stitching!
:)

with love,
Valentina

Cannot believe this is what all that fuss was about...
Seeing them now, they were kinda cute, actually!
:)

31 comments:

  1. Seasons greetings to you and your family, Valentina. I was wondering how you were. What a mammoth effort with the HST but you got there!! Well done - and great to see your boys celebrating with you! (you were doing the hop scotch dance too weren't you?!)

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  2. lol....after doing all that work I would be doing a happy hopscotch dance too!!! lol

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  3. Happy new Year sunshine girl, hope 2012 brings all good things to you and your family xx

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  4. Happy New Year Valentina , I sincerly hope 2012 is your best yet. I missed your posts. hugs Sheila
    ps. your quilt is amazing!

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  5. O wat heb je mooie projecten onderhanden. Geweldig om te zien en van mee te mogen genieten.
    Ik wens jouw en je dierbaren een goed, gezond en creatief 2012 toe.

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  6. Wow you are a go getter .......those wee HST are intimidating! You must be very proud of yourself.
    Happy days are returning to a normal life...whatever that is??? LOL!!!!
    Here's to a fantastic year :-)

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  7. Love your beautiful tree! I understand some of what you have been going through...let's hope we can become more mindful in 2012, and take the time to enjoy the present. It seems to be a huge struggle for me! Wishing you a wonderful year...by the way...your quilt is amazing!!!!!

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  8. So wonderful to hear from you. I so enjoy your blog and have missed your updates. Love all those little 1/2 square triangles...what a project! But the quilt top looks beautiful. Best wishes for a Happy New Year, 2012!

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  9. What a beauty. It's really wonderful. I'm impressed; so good!

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  10. Ooooooooooh isn't she just beautiful! What an amazing job you have done! I hope you look at it with great satisfaction that you conquered those little {insert appropriate level of expletive here}!!

    Great to have you back! Can't wait to see what gorgeousness you share in 2012! Happy New Year wonderful Valentina!

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  11. Happy New Year to you and your family!
    I hope 2012 will be a brilliant year for you. Your quilt is gorgeous - as usual. Well done!
    Celine x

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  12. 1764 hst's pieced by hand - you are a marvel! Your Camelot is a beauty - I bet you are enjoying the quilting now.
    I 'm sorry you've been so busy. I hope 2012 holds more time for you .. and for me :0)

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  13. The Camelot looks amazing, congratulations on getting there. It would have tested my patience.
    Here's hoping this year will bring more joy and peace in all our lives.

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  14. A very Happy New Year to you and your family and I wish you all lots of happiness, good health and prosperity in 2012!

    Your quilt is divine!!!!

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  15. Happy New Year to you as well! Hugs from Australia!

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  16. Congrats on your gorgeous Camelot and my best wishes for the new year, XXX

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  17. No pain, no gain Val and those pesky litte triangles have morphed into an amazing thing of beauty. I had no doubts that it would be anything else. I am so looking forward to seeing where this new year takes us and what we will get up to and achieve. I thank you too for all your love and encouragement.

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  18. Un Feliz Año Nuevo, querida amiga... and LOVE the quilt. It is quite obviously a labor of love!

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  19. So good to have you back in blog land! Your Camelot quilt is out of this world and I'm in awe at your determination in spite of all your family commitments. You rock, girl!!!
    Happy New Year to you and yours. Lots of Hugs

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  20. Gelukkig is alles goed met je. We hebben je wel gemist. Voor het nieuwe jaar wens ik jou en je gezin heel veel geluk en gezondheid. (en veel afo's)

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  21. What a gorgeous quilt and how nice to have finished the top before Christmas!! Happy new year to you as well.

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  22. Great to see you back on your blog again. But a blog isn't all there is in live, so true!
    Good to see, you finished your Camelot quilt. This year I'm going to start on it. I hope your year will be filled with wonderful things, lot's to reflect and talk about. Life is precious, and we need to take care of all life, included our own!
    Knuffels
    Saskia

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  23. I have thought about you often - your quilt is fabulous. I am so happy you finished the top, it will be worth all your frustration. I send you warm wishes and hope your new year is happy.

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  24. Your quilt is an inspiration and so are you dear sister, now get to it;) xx
    Love you much
    Elena

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  25. I logged off for a few days and almost missed a terrific post! Thanks for sharing this. Logging off does me more good than anything else I'm finding. Congratulations on quelling the beastie, it's a gorgeous victory indeed!I hope it keeps you and yours cozy for many years.

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  26. nice post val and sooooo well done on our heraldic friend!

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  27. Hello and Happy New Year sweet Valentina may this year bring you and your family all the best,I love the happy dance on your beautiful quilt I would join in the happy dance it is so lovely,I can't wait to see your next quilt.

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  28. o, I AM glad that you are back, I was worried about you!
    your quilt is just gorgeous, well worth all the effort.
    have a great year ahead, with lots of stitching and happiness,
    Kristina

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  29. Hoi Valentina, Heel lang niet gelezen bij je, te lang, ik zag de foto van je quilt in de Q&Z, die komt er in het volgende nummer in he? Wat leuk, en wat heb je er vrolijke kleuren voor gebruikt Ik wens je ook nog een heel creatief jaar toe en dat je maar veel mooie projecten mag maken.

    Hartelijke groetjes, Jeannet

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  30. Your quilt is beautiful! Enjoy your children. They grow up so fast! My three sons are all grown, and I miss having them at home.
    http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/02/calico-spools-quilt-block.html

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  31. Hello Valentina

    Would you be able to tell me what the grey fabric with the little cream flower you are using in Camelot is called....would love to use that for my sashing in my Farmers Wife Quilt.

    Thanks Valentina

    Adele

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Thanks for your comment! Please, feel free to write in Español, Nederlands or Papiamento if that is easier for you . And I will try to answer any questions as soon as possible, as long as I have access to your e-mail.

My Patchwork Family Through Adoption

A Bit of Africa and China
Came knocking on our door
And in a home where there was longing
Now empty rooms no more

Like a Quilt of Many Colours
Our Family stitched together into One
God's Love and Grace for us Abundant
In the Miracle of our Sons

Written by Valentina
2006