Feel like going for a walk?

Aruba is a Dutch island in the Caribbean. This is so beautifully obvious in it's architecture as you take a stroll around town. Shall we?

This is the beautifully restored house of a national hero Boy Ecury. It is now part of the of the complex that houses the Archeological Museum. 

Sometimes you just need to look up...

The more touristy part of downtown.
Most people looking for bargains: perfume of jewelry being the most sought after.
For me, I walk around being flooded by memories of a happy carefree childhood.
We often used to walk these streets after school to get to my dad's Dentistry Practice.

I am so happy that some of these old private houses have been 'saved' by turning them into Government offices.

This is a lovely example of a restored traditional 'Arubian House'.
This one turned into a dutch restaurant.

Fort Zoutman, for a bit of  history, go here.

 Hope you enjoyed that. Now let's sit on the veranda. Can I offer some of my mom's lemonade?

 I have been so wanting to share my niece's pinwheel quilt with you.

Remember how I told in early december how easily it was coming together?

Some quilts are like that, aren't they? After simmering for a while they almost make themselves. Others simmer for years!!!

:)

This quilt was a wonderful way to end 2010. And my niece's joy receiving it and her proudly placing it on her bed, was quite overwhelming to me. 

Enjoy it, my sweet! 

 

Something struck me so deeply as I was taking these pictures. I realized for the first time (duh!!!), how much my quilts are influenced by the colours sprinkled throughout the island. I am serious, I never stopped to think that I carried these colours of my childhood with me.

I look forward to see how this new realization and acceptance translates into the quilts to come!
:)

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If you are, like me, wanting to help our Australian sisters, but so overwhelmed not knowing what to do, please Visit Robyn. She has put together a very comprehensive list as to how we can lend a hand.

Hexagons, Minis and Klosjes

This week has had its ups and downs. Sorry I haven't been around much. I am really doing quite a bit of "Fake it till you make it" just to get through.

It turned out I had a viral infection of the thyroid... That explains the lower immune-system and why I have only been managing to do things very slooooowly...

so I stayed home from work this week and played a bit in my sewing room and messed around my Blog. Which was LOTS of fun!!! hey, when Life hands you lemons...

:)

On Wednesday I distracted myself with a different set of hexies and I had a lot of fun, arranging and re-arranging. I think my niece will love it. I am still not sure how it will all come together, but I am just enjoying the process at this point.

I also worked on my minis and got carried away...

more like 'swept off my feet', actually!

I couldn't help myself and actually made some extra mini log-cabin blocks and made a little quilt. It was so satisfying to see this little one take shape, be quilted and bound. I couldn't use my quilting-hoop on it, but managed to keep my stitches even and it was fun. I cut my binding at 1 1/4 and I was really happy with the results.

I think this will be the first of many!

:)

17 new Blue Klosjes joined the fold. I have to say that I have loved working with these blues... it put me in a very Delft Blue state of mind!

Congratulations to my hexi-sister Celine who has joined us making Klosjes! Celine, I just knew you'd love them! :) Would you go say hi?

And for those of you who haven't yet been around to visit Gisele's Klosjes, please, do not miss out!

Have a lovely weekend,

Sending you my Love,

Valentina

:)