Happy Mother's Day!

Wishing you joy

and some play time!

:)

with Love, Valentina

(who's being spoiled rotten!)

Charmed by Camelot

Yes, I am. And I am really enjoying each and every block... 

:)

We had a lovely stay in the mountains after Easter, and while the boys played, biked, ran, and had fun splashing, uhhm, sorry, washing the car, I had some time to piece, which has become my favourite Camelot block to date.

 We also made it to the sea-side and it was so much fun seeing the boys being boys, hurling endless pebbles into the ocean, while mom and dad were able to catch their breath from all this unbridled energy 4 year old boys are oh-so notorious for... ex*haus*ting... (*they*were*driving*me* krayzee!!!) Love them. oh yes, I do! :)

 This block had some challenging curves, but thanks to my now intimate relationship with my seam-ripper, it all came together beautifully at the end. Phew!

Thanks to my favourite british friend, I was able to enjoy the Royal Wedding in style. Of course there was tea! And cucumber sandwiches- and Victoria sponge cake with strawberries and cream...

And I was delighted to finish this block while waiting for the wedding to start... a fun way to mark the day. And what did you think of my little flag? Will become my commemorative pincushion!  ok, but did you see that dress! and he looked so handsome, and please can I have some more Victoria sponge? :) Thanks Elena! Unforgettable.

 This week was so nice to have the boys back at school in the mornings. Catching my breath and trying to get back to some kind of routine. Ok- I could have done without the burning/itchy eyes from allergies... but what to do... Stitch! :)
It has been much worst in years past, so I am counting my blessings this year. okay- I stabbed myself once to many... LOL but how could I resist, when there are such blocks...

 This one even has a bit of Den Haan & Wagenmaker Dutch Chintz among all this Liberty of London. Love them...

 I have been enjoying a bit of Jane, Jane Austen, Persuasion this time- while I prepare myself to start Dear Jane... :) I found a great Audio version, which is a lovely companion as I cut and prepared the final Camelot blocks. But I can't resist to stop working at times, and reading along... :) Something so soothing to be read to, isn't it?

And V, your little block is in the mail! Hope you like it--Thanks for thinking of me!


xx V.

Klosjes and Camelot 'in my Garden' with Dear Jane

What a week: 'Klosjes' got basted, more Camelot blocks got prepped, Charm hexies got dusted off the shelf, I received my long-awaited first BOM (ever!) from Dorry in Holland and my backgrounds for Dear Jane arrived... and we had 2 kiddy birthday parties to attend. ( and my quilt for Japan!)
I'm tired.
:)

and happy!
and I think this is going to be a long post. (while 'they' take a nap...)

Ok, Klosjes. I am so happy with how it has turned out. And reading your comments was like pinching myself- realizing what it all means. Thank you again for being such a HUGE part of it!
This morning I finally set up my quilting station ( at the back of the arm-chair) and put it the first few stitches in. Oh- it feels sooo great to be quilting again! So this is where I will be in the evenings. :)

I decided on Natural colour quilting thread, lightweight cotton batting, and a lovely Delft Blue backing. It will be quilted 'in the ditch' outlining the Klosjes. I will let you know how it goes.

In the meantime, there has been Camelot. Oh, swooooon...

I got the this Trish Harper pattern from Liz. Visit her to see some exquisite pictures of this quilt.
I am still not sure about my background, but love what Shirley is doing with hers...
Una has been drafting her own blocks from the George III quilt that stole our hearts last year at the V&A exhibition.

picture of the original King George III quilt found here

Please visit Una for a much better explanation and to admire her blocks.
I also found out this week that Marta has been drafting the blocks in their original tiny size.
I have resisted jumping into this delicious temptation... so far... :)

I am enjoying my Camelot so very much. I have been struggling with the curvy parts, but I have been learning- while enjoying myself tremendously. I am making mine using my little stack of rainbow Liberties.

(My first ever purchase from Purl Soho, which was a dreamy experience in and of itself!)
So, block 1 got carefully hand-stitched using the first Liberty in the stack, ect. I am enjoying the challenge of picking the colours and well...

Meet block 1

It has been quite hazy today and so I promise better pictures when the blocks are nicely pressed and stitched into their background. I can't wait, :).

On wednesday afternoon I spent some quality time with my hexies. I will report on them next wednesday.
On thursday I got a package in the mail from Holland. My Anni Downs 'In my Garden' BOM that Danielle has been stitching for Dorry. I am so happy to be doing this with Daan and Ria. One of my quilting resolutions this year is to get over my irrational fear of applique. I believe that the relaxed design of this quilt is going to help me to focus and get comfortable with the stitching. I have been enjoying the early morning light to do this... :)

Oh my dear, Jane...
Years ago I started a Jane Stickle Quilt. But I had no real plan or vision, and dropped it after only a few blocks.
Now the time seems right to try again. But I have been struggling with Dear Jane. Settling on one particular style or colour scheme is proving to be very hard. And yet, knowing that this time around I would like to get past the first row, I am savouring this challenge as part of my Dear Jane Journey. I have  joined Jovita and a group of her friends to make a Contemporary Jane, and am really looking forward to all the things that Jane is going to be teaching me. Any suggestions from those of you that have gone through this Journey already, are very welcome!

Sorry for the long post. But it was now or never. The boys are on Easter holidays for 2 weeks, and so I don't know how much I might be able to post in the weeks to come between church services next week and a possible stay in the mountains after Easter. But I will do my best to be back as often as I can.

I have to let you know that I am finally getting this post done as my kids are entranced watching Fantasia for the first time! I had to share that bit of magic with you! :)

Hoping you are enjoying your stitching as much as I am,
Valentina
:)

With a little help from my friends!

I am flying right now, my heart is beating soooo fast: I just finished basting my last corner unto my quilt...   had to tell you, right away...Okay it isn't finished: I need to actually stitch those borders together, but I couldn't  resist taking a picture for you... O my Goodness: I have a Klosjes QUILT!
This week has been a roller-coaster ride: It all started with klosje number 720. I was hoping to savour the moment and decided to make it special:

The moment was fleeting, but I found myself really smiling remembering all the funny places where I have made Klosjes over the past year... 

Klosje 720!

Last one attached to Corner number 4...

Celebration!!!

... and immediately rewarded myself with by starting Camelot! More on that to come... :)

 That means I had to find the right red for the border: Okay. I went for the one that gave me goosebumps as opposed to the one that was just perfect... Now, how to proceed...

Basting the corners was hard because of all that Bias stretch from the halfsquare triangles. So  with resolve I decided to "fake it till I make it" ( my heart was pounding, I felt so unsure, period cramps, coldsweats and feeling like running away and hiding in a cave and take Camelot with me, of course! LOL) so despite all that, I tried to keep calm and carry on... I placed the pieces on my kitchen floor (which happened to be clean) and the floor tiles helped me to make sure it was square. I guessed how big the red border had to be, cut it and then realized that machine basting would be best (needle at 5.0). I found the centers of the each corner and matched it to the borders and machine basted from the centers out: and I couldn't believe my eyes, 

it was actually working...

and so: voila!!!

Here she is! All 3688 pieces of her!

It all fits! the quilt is a bit shy of 2m square, and now I have to focus on actually hand-stitching the corners down... once I come down back to earth... and then we'll get a better picture! :)
Yippie!

Wanted to keep you guys up to date, because I LOOOOOOOVE you! And cannot thank you enough for all the support and encouragement you keep giving me...
xox
V.

Spring has sprung!

the poppies taking their rightful place in the olive groves
:)

Corner #3!!!

And there was cake!
:)

Hoping your week was a happy as mine!

Klosjes!

After being at odds with my Klosjes last week, this week we kissed and made up. I kept being lured away by all the new projects dancing around in my head and haunting my dreams since the inspiration binge in Holland. :)

Our love is back and stronger than ever, and we were inseparable again this week. 

The result is that I finished my second corner and am well on my way to finish the third.

:)

This week we enjoyed a lot of fresh air as a family-yesterday was a national holiday- and had fun finding the first spring blooms in the fields. And we even managed to convince our kite the go up (long enough to get a picture!) despite the little whispers of breeze.

My heart jumped at finding a wild grape-hyacinth and spotting the first of the wild poppies among the tall grass.

 

The wild Thyme bushes filled with new growth

 

I had to take a break from machine quilting my quilt for Japan as I felt strain on my shoulder and wrist earlier this week. I am not happy with how it is turning out, but keep telling myself that comfort has very little to do with aesthetics. So I decided to put my walking-foot on my machine and finish quilting it in straight lines. You'll let me know what you think.

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend and that it includes some happy stitching. For us, our 4 year olds' social calendar is booked solid until tuesday with kids' birthday parties "Cyprus-style". Wish me luck-- I plan to break protocol and sneak in some stitching!!!

:)

Valentina

And it seems my new allergy meds are doing their job!
:)

Quilts needed for Japan

Please, friends: if you haven't already, visit Janet. She has information on how we as quilters can help the relief effort in Japan.
I will be putting my Klosjes aside for a little bit and start making one. They need our quilts; new or used.

while searching for fabrics I came across this lonely top
and just knew her time had come to shine and bring comfort.
Now it is basted and I will start machine quilting it this afternoon.