Jinny Beyer workshop in Sebaldeburen, The Netherlands

I am back!

:)

Okay I was back sunday night but it took a little longer for all of me to come back down to earth.

It was fantastic, it was exhausting, it was overwhelming, it was everything and more I had hoped for...

Imagine my delight when I got seated next to Inge, a fellow quilter who was  returning home to Holland after spending a few weeks vacationing in Cyprus. She was giggling when she introduced herself saying: I knew you were a Quilter the moment I saw your bag. Huh? But when you took out your Hexies... LOL
Inge, it was so wonderful meeting you, and I know we'll see each other again. And I can't wait for you to start blogging!!!
:)

I even got to make some hexies in the train!

Spending time with my Sis & my nieces was so much fun...
What is it about girls!
:)

I loved the signs of spring everywhere, but that didn't stop me from feeling soooo cold!
:)

Star-struck... Jinny Beyer really is a Master-teacher and Master Quilter.
I felt so honoured to be in her class.

the presentations and the classes were so incredibly professional.
 As a teacher I learned just as much about teaching, as I did as a student.

we were kept busy-busy-busy
Right, Ria?

And by Saturday afternoon I was begging for mercy!!!

the classes were extremely hands-on,
and I will share with you what I got from them when my head stops spinning...

I actually cried when I saw Day Lillies.
This quilt has to be one of my all time favourites.
and yes, I was allowed to touch it!
:)

Still star-struck, but at least we were able to joke about it!
:)

One of my dreams going to the workshop was to see Jinny stitch.

... and I got my wish!

:)

Bliss...

Thank You, Jinny, It was really an amazing time.

Thanks Tineke, you're the one who got me here!
And thanks to Trijntje for doing such an amazing job organizing it all.

My roommate Danielle
:)
Can't wait to do this again!!!

And an unexpected delight: On the way back to the airport, I got to spend 5 minutes in Ria's sewing room, and meet her Josephine...
I had to take this picture for my Wilhelmientje!

My little trip to Holland was wonderful, and really felt too short. I would have loved to spend more time and meet more blog-friends. But the time was so limited and I never expected to be so overwhelmed and exhausted by the workshop. I have to say though, that being in a room with 30 plus other quilters, learning and sharing in that experience, was almost too much for little me to handle. I really kept pinching myself... :)
I hope to share more of the workshops themselves with you, with as I start assimilating them and applying them to my work.
Ok, back to Klosjes. I have to say it has been difficult to get my nose back to the grindstone...
Hoping to have another corner stitched together in the next few days!
xox,
V.

Please visit Stephanie and support her in her effort to raise money for the relief effort for Japan. Every little helps. Thanks, Stephanie, I hope we surpass your expectation!

Happy

I am stumped. No words.
:)
..but happy!

This is not just any ordinary Klosje, this little one is my 700th!
...and coming to the realization that this week was my last week making Klosjes was a bit overwhelming!
I made 83 and that means 713, :) happy happy dance!

...but for now, I will need to take a little break, because tomorrow morning bright and early, Mama is going on a little trip to Holland. super happy!

Jinny Beyer is coming to give a workshop and I just could not pass this opportunity to see my nieces and meet someone who I admire so much. I consider Jinny Beyer's book Quiltmaking by Hand  the one who taught me and led me to fall in love with hand-stitching. HAAAPPY!

almond blossoms

You know this first part of the year has been a bit challenging for me, and I have to admit that I am really looking forward to a few days to "fill the well". I am looking forward to taking lots of pictures and share these workshops days with all of you.
My littlest one is back to his happy bouncy self and my friend Elena is over the moon by your support and encouragement! Thank you!!!

So are you ready to come away with me for a little break?

I leave you with a few images of Spring in Cyprus, today the beginning of Great Lent, also known as Green Monday.

I will be thinking of you!
Valentina

Introducing my friend Elena

Hello friends, Spring is definitely in the air here in the eastern Med!

Those of you that read my blog regularly, have heard me mention my friend Elena. And many of you might even remember the many pictures taken at her beautiful shop Giving Tree.

 I knew she'd be a forever friend when she first described me, to my face, as 'a sandwich short of a picnic'! :)

So, while I sit here this very springy saturday afternoon, keeping an eye on my littlest one who has had a fever since yesterday, and stitching the last of my klosjes, I am delighted in her sharing her quilt with you.

Hello everyone!

Valentina is a very special friend of mine, we spend many mornings together quilting and chatting (Valentina the former and I the latter, if i'm to be honest!). The other day she suggested that I make a 'guest appearance' on her blog. The reason being that I have finished my first hand quilted quilt.

 I must mention that this quilt has been a labour of love for many reasons. I started making it for another very dear friend when her fiance proposed to her, as a wedding gift to them. Most of its making up time was made at home with Valentina and the quilting part at my home or in between my children's activities. ( v: she has 5!!!)

I hope it brings a smile to your faces as much as it has to mine, humble as it is I feel a huge sense of achievement having made it. Thank you dearest friend for your patience and kindness.

Warmest wishes to you all

Elena

xx

Elena, may this quilt be the first of many many more! :)
And my Klosjes update will be following tomorrow.
Have a lovely weekend, enjoying your loved ones and stitching,
Valentina and company.
:)

Saturday night Klosjes

Spending some lovely quiet time with my Klosjes, tonight. I have 20 finished and a bowl full of 'partials', which I will get through by tomorrow night.
I am feeling like my old self again, and have been celebrating that by having a deliciously busy week, which included a 'play-date' with Tineke and a visit to the indoor park with the boys. Klosjes continue to be my constant companions and they really are moving along nicely. Tineke and I even managed to make some together amidst the catching up, planning and giggling.
I have also had some sleepless nights dreaming of new projects... :) Isn't it fun how we start dreaming of our next project just as we are finishing what we are working on? :)
I am missing my charm-hexies, but know I will be more inclined to work on them when the summer heat arrives. In the meantime, I had the joy of meeting Liz, and order a beautiful pattern from her achingly beautiful blog.
ooooh, life is good!
thinking of you, and trying to sneak in some visits a day, looking forward to catching up soon!
V.
:)

Sunday night update: yeay! after finishing the 'partials' in the bowl I now have added an extra 25, making my week's total 45. This added to the 585 I had makes it... 630! Happy dance!!!
Oh oh, even better: I only have 90 more to go!
wish me luck!
:)

Klosjes update

Not much going on around here apart from Klosjes being marked, cut, stitched--- at breakfast, in the morning, in the afternoon while the boys play, evenings... Ok you get the picture!
It's hard sometimes, as I am getting a bit bored and miss my sewing machine, intensely. And yet, I am convinced that I am making them faster than before. And seeing them piling up is kinda fun, :).
So for the last week I have added 61 new ones, a new record for sure. :)
Anyway, I suspect I will not be stitching much tonight. Today 19 years ago, on the 22 of the 2 of '92, when I was 22 and my love 24, we went out on our first date... and the rest has been a beautiful history. I hope he feels better from the stomach bug that has been pestering him and we can go out.
Keeping my fingers crossed.
...ok maybe I can squeeze in stitching another Klosje before he gets home...
:)

and sending my love and prayers to our blogging sisters in New Zealand.

silver lining

Despite the misery of a lingering cough, I have been really enjoying the unexpected silver lining: Klosjes!

I don't know if this happens to you, but when I am sick, my horizon shrinks and my focus tends to shift inward. The blessing of this is that I have been very aware where I am choosing my limited energy to go: into getting better, into keeping my kids nurtured and happy and into stitching a bit.
Well, bit by bit I ended up with 52 new Klosjes, a flower border, and a clear idea as to how my Klosjes Quilt will look at the end.

These were the only two that were stitched in Aruba,
 but became the first of the new 52 that have been added since.

I had been struggling for months with many lay-out ideas for my Klosjes and finally decided to go with simple. I like simple. And I like that it will show the Klosjes in all their glory without distraction. It just means that I need a lot more Klosjes: 198 more... and that will bring my grand total to 720.

The first of the completed corners! :)
120 Klosjes per corner = 480 plus the 240 already in the centre makes 720! What?!

Had I known this last February, when I first started this love affair with my Klosjes, I might have had some trepidation. :)

Now, I do not regret it, and feel extremely happy that now I know where we are going. However, I know that my time with Klosjes is coming to an end and have decided to put all other projects on hold until I bring this quilt to fruition.

For me this was always a quilt worth making, and seeing it coming together now,  is really exciting...

So don't you agree this is a nice silver lining? 

:)

taken from the plane on our way back home to Cyprus

Missing you, and hoping you are well, enjoying your stitching, and finding your own silver linings,
Valentina

And yes, Happy Valentine's Tomorrow!
:)

  

view of the Mediterranean yesterday morning,
just for you!

I have been battling the worst flu I can remember. It started with the boys and Hubby, and then I succumbed. Don't know how much jet-lag played into it.  Don't know where January has gone.
I am worried for the people of Egypt, I pray for the Queenlanders. I carry my friend and her imminent adoption in my heart.
I stitch and read and try to get better.

This scrap quilt was made with so much love for a little girl in Aruba, that has had to survive more ugliness than I can even comprehend. In her young life the climb ahead is still so hard and almost disheartening.
She couldn't believe someone would have made something specifically for her: she kept asking me: you did this for me? did you work on it everyday, for a long time? For me? ...
and she was fascinated by the tiniest scraps... You don't throw out even those small ones?...

and then my 8 year old niece said:
"God uses everything, even the smallest things, and the pieces no one thinks of as important, to make something beautiful..."