Coming Down to Earth...

Having Nadine around was like having a 'Quilters' Party in a Box'.

And we did swoon and lose our breath over our new shared fabrics like Moda's Breath of Avignon, amongst others (Thank you, Thea and Gin!).

So "Coming Down to earth" ;) is taking a bit longer than I thought.

But a softer landing was provided by the the Lovely Sandy of Vintage Sandy when I received her lovely Valentine Give-Away. Thank you so very much, Sandy!

While finding my feet again and figuring out what how to tackle my next projects, I have been keeping busy with my Klosjes.

Another dozen joining the group! I am really loving the scrappy look of them...

That makes 38 all together.

This morning the sun is out so I will continue washing my new beauties and dream...

Don't you just love the smell of fresh laundry in the sun?

These pictures are dedicated with lots of Love to all you suffering cabin-fever in the snow and rain... Come dream with me!

Have a great weekend!

Valentina

Two peas in a pod... and Klosjes

...Who's coming?

...From Belgium?

...And you have NEVER MET IN PERSON?!

... and she's staying at your HOUSE?!

What a joy it has been to Finally meet Nadine. We have not stopped laughing, stitching, exchanging ideas and then laughing some more.

So many, many projects are being planned, some are being started and some agreed upon for later. Much fabric, tips and impressions being shared. And she is showing me the ropes when it comes to blogging as well.

Ingrid, Thank You! I have had quite a few inquiries regarding the "Klosjes" or Spools. Please, go and see Karen's Klosjes! So cute! So you see Ingrid: Klosjes are spreading all over the world!

Happy stitching!

:)

Tumbler Quilt

Here is hoping everyone had a lovely Valentine's!

Today, as we celebrate Green Monday here in Cyprus (the beginning of Great Lent) I wanted to share with you my Blue and White Tumbler Quilt. I made this last summer (June 20o9).

I loved making this quilt.

I was very much taken with Kathie Holland's former Header on her blog. Kathie's blog Inspired by Antique Quilts is just such a joy to visit and such a source of constant inspiration. Kathie, you are the best!

The simplicity of the design allowed me to play with the fabrics, even though I was working with a 'tight palette'. I just loved the sparkles provided by the periwinkles, lilacs and the shy turquoises. I kept the hand-quilting in the ditch to really make the tumblers pop.

This is a quilt I really would like to make again.

This time in reds and whites, perhaps?

Have a wonderful start to your week!

Valentina

Olympic Fever!

Oh Canada!

Some proud Canucks around here today...

:)

Klosjes update: I managed to complete another 6, and mark quite a few more. I have only been using scraps, but I really like how the colours are coming together

This is my Olympic challenge for the next 2 weeks: To embroider the 14 names I have left to do on my Sept. Potluck 09 Hexies, assemble them plus that stack of hexies!

Robyn, look what arrived just in time! Thank you, sweetie!

I hope everyone has their own Olympic quilty dreams that they will accomplish in the next 2 weeks,

Valentina

Has it been a week?

Oh, My! And What a week it has been!

I never expected I would meet so many new friends and be so inspired in my first week blogging. Thank you.

I am slowly figuring it all out and finding my pace. I also feel so much more focused in my own work, because I have your support. Thank you for you comments and for believing this little blog is worth following.

These are for you!

And here is another quilt that I have made:

I called it 'Dotty for Spring' and it is a simple traditional Lattice design I teach beginners at our local Quilt Shop. But for me, personally, this little quilt reminds me not to be afraid of Spontaneous Saturated Colour!

This morning we had preparations for a fancy dress party at school... So today I am the proud Mama of a baby Elephant and a Baby Giraffe...Oh, How happy I am that my sewing machine came to the rescue! Instead of those nasty elastics for their masks I sewed on some matching scrap strips, and they looked cute, even Ellie the Elephant wanted in on the action!

Tonight I am getting ready for Sharon's Olympic Challenge: No watching Olympics without Hexagons in hand... Thanks Sharon!

Gin's Quilt

Thank you all for the happy wishes!

This is Gin's quilt: Flying Cranes. I made it for her wedding in the summer of 2008. It's an elongated flying geese and I used the Darlene Zimmerman and Joy Hoffman's EZ quilting Tri-Rec templates.

I Loved quilting it, and delighted in the ribbons of corals and rusts woven through the ribbons of Turquoise. This picture remains with me, as it encompasses what I love about hand-quilting.

Have a joyous day!

Valentina

St Valentina of Ceasarea in the year 308 under Emperor Maximian II Galerius

It's My Name-day!

Made extra special because I share it with my Mami. Feliz dia de nuestro santo, Mami!

As an Orthodox Christian I celebrate St Valentina today.

The story goes like this:

Ennapha was being humiliated and abused in public, persecuted and tortured for being a Christian. A crowd started gathering, and not being able to withstand the injustice a voice in the crowd was heard shouting out: What are you doing to my sister?!

St Valentina was apprehended for standing up for this stranger, and forced to offer a sacrifice to the pagan altar. Now there are different versions: she either threw a stone or (my favourite:) she kicked over the altar and the whole thing caught fire. Yes, Ennapha and Valentina were beheaded or burned together, anyway, but it was a glorious exit!

:)

Now that's a Superhero in my books!

Holy Marthyrs among the Saints, Valentina and Ennapha, pray to God for us!

Iconography by the hand of Matthew D. Garrett