Tropical Hexies

You should have seen me and my hexies in Aruba, a bit ridiculous, they went everywhere with me! I actually think they had a really great holiday! LOL
Seriously, it was really humid and in the evenings it felt like I had to fight to survive the mosquitos. Anyhoo, you get the gist: not a lot got done. But One Flower did,

and actually, when I count all the hexies that got prepped, and the diamonds that got finished from last year, it is not a shabby turnout!

Now, the funniest thing happened: we were driving along and what do I see?

Honestly, I had to drag my hubby the very next day to take a picture: this happened last wednesday and I thought: PERFECT! ONE FLOWER WEDNESDAY! No one will believe THIS! (unfortunately the internet connection was so slow and my laptop battery leaving so much to be desired... Good thing Wednesdays have a tendency of coming along once a week!)

now, really, sometimes too much is just toooo much, even for me!
:)

I can't wait to see everyone's new blooms and gardens, I certainly have missed you all!
Valentina

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!
:)

------

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.

Back Home

Last night, we made it home after a long trip. Yes, we are back in dreary winter weather, and our vacation time in Aruba now just a collection of fond memories, wonderful pictures and reassurances that we will be back soon. The boys are heartbroken, missing their Baba (grandma) and their cousins so very much. Thankfully the traveling itself went very all: no delays and everyone and everything arrived safe and sound.

I have so many pictures to share with you, including many of quilts, which I will start uploading as soon as I can.  I hope to be getting back into the swing of things as soon as I loosen the grips of Jet-lag. I can't wait to catch up with all of you and finding out more about our Aussie quilt sisters and the many efforts undertaken to help out.

I send you my love,
a very wobbly
Valentina
:)

New Beginnings

Happy New Year!

What a thrill it was to welcome 2011 seeing Aruba lighting up the sky in fireworks. Being just as I remembered it as a child, and it was now so much more as I witnessed my kids' faces light up in disbelief and wonder... "Mama, I like the exploding fireworks e-very-where!!!"

It was an unforgettable night and a wonderful way to bring in the New Year with family, friends, food and song.

I can honestly say that the daze of jet-lag is finally lifting and I able to really start to BE with my loved ones. The boys just cannot get enough from playing with their cousins, outside in the dirt! :)

It has been raining quite a bit of late, so the island is covered in luscious greens, and any chance we get we try to sit outside and enjoy the breezes.

 This morning was especially wonderful as the sun came out from behind the clouds, and I rushed out with my camera to spend some time with the hummingbirds and the butterflies. I still cannot find the words to describe the utter joy of just being allowed to share in their goings-on.

As you can imagine, I have not been able to do much stitching as yet, although the itch to stitch is nearly making me crazy! :) ...just as the mosquitos are, actually!

So, receive my best wishes for a Creative New Year, surrounded by all the love and peace your heart can hold!

Valentina
:)

Enjoying the days

Last night was the official opening of the first ever Patchwork Exhibit in Nicosia. The Mayor Ms Eleni Mavrou was so moved, we might yet make a quilter out of her! She kept commenting about  the colours, and wanting to know about each quilt and saying things like "next year" and 'bigger'...
:)

It was all so last minute, as the hall had become available and we were invited to exhibit our quilts by the City.  We only had about 2 weeks to put it all together. But in the end, it was worth it. We are all so grateful for this honour and opportunity.

This is the first time I show one of my quilts to the public and I was excited and nervous. 

Tineke has been in town and would miss the opening as she was traveling back to Germany. As we arrived at the hall to give her a sneak-peak, I was blown away by seeing kids lining up to enter the exhibit. Tineke was a great support (helping me to stop from fainting...) and encouraged me to talk to them.

So much so, I have been invited to come to their school in the new year. ( me and my very broken greek!)

:)

For the exhibit, I chose my quilt 'Aruba' which is a double sided Batik quilt. It is the only Batik quilt I have made so far. But I wanted to capture the colours of my tropical childhood home. :) 

The reverse side is the colours of the sunsets on Aruba. The front: well, sitting under the palm trees sipping cold drinks...

:)

Something I hope to be doing in a little over a week, as we are planning to spend New Year's with my parents and Family.

In the meantime there is a lot more stitching to be done. I have been binding quilts and having fun with my hexies, enjoying how truly portable they are. More show and tell from exotic locations forthcoming! LOL

it has been a very wonderful december so far: the highlight for me was seeing my boys as the handsomest Joseph and the cutest shepherd boy I have ever seen! 

As you can gather, I have not been around my computer much, and I have missed visiting with you all. But I intend to remedy that sitting under a palm tree sipping Virgin Coladas! So bring along those swimsuits, girls!

Sending you the warmest wishes for a Blessed season. And yes, I finally got to use my winter coat and umbrella!

Valentina

I will be getting permission to post the rest of the quilts in the Exhibit, and if you are in town, come say hi. The exhibit runs until Christmas eve.

life's a beach...

While most of the Northern Hemisphere is enjoying wintery weather, we in Cyprus are having to wrap our heads around the fact that we are still walking around in short sleeves during the day and a light sweater at night. The funniest thing is how we are all insisting on wearing our winter fashions in 27 degree weather! It is not uncommon to see fashionistas wearing their boots and scarves in shorts. :)

So instead of sounding like a broken record, I decided to accept it: so we might as well hit the beach!

we took the kids to the coast for fresh fish meze

Psychologically, it is hard for Cypriots to dare go into the ocean at this time of year despite the unusually warm weather, but there were enough tourist 'polar bears' to compensate!

the four of us enjoying the ocean breezes on the boardwalk.
And yes, that is little Daisy on the right!

We had a lovely day as a family, and I came back really inspired to work on my little Clams.
I am having such fun, that I have decided to continue focusing on it for the next few days. I can see that the end is near and that I only need a few more rows to finish my Dolly Quilt.

 

The first tangerines of the season are here! They are so sweet, and the perfect snack while stitching. Want some?
;)

I have enjoyed the Clamshell club so much (Thanks again Jossie, for letting us join you!), and have learned heaps from my fellow Clammers. It has been so fabulous to share the camaraderie forged by the trials and tribulations these little ones have put us through!  LOL

However, it is amazing to me how the last few rows of clams look so much nicer and neater than the first ones, and yet, those imperfections remind me that I started this little project in Holland with my little niece in June, worked on it in Provence in August, and had my little ones fiddling with them the other day... It amazes me every time, how many memories get stitched into our projects...
Dairies written in thread...
:)

As November draws to an end, I wish you a wonderful and peaceful holidays season ahead!
Thinking of you all,
Valentina

8 klosjes and a quick Hello!

Hello, my friends! How are you? 

(Please, Tell me you are also in disbelief that November is nearly over, and that we are only 4 weeks away from Christmas! Yeay!/Yikes!)

8 more Klosjes joined the gang this week making my total 472. And I still haven't had a chance to calculate my grand total, so I will happily keep Klosjing along for now... I just don't feel I have the mental capacity left for anything 'grand' at this moment...

:)

But there is good news on the quilty-front: This week I have (finally!) settled on a setting for my Spotty Dotty Potluck hexi-flowers. It has taken a LOOOOONG time, but I am so happy and relieved that I waited for the right setting to come along!  ...it seems there are advantages to patient procrastination!

:)

This will be a project to be continued next spring. 

Also: The Pinwheel quilt is done! I had a lot of fun working on it this week and rushed to send it off in time to be professionally machine-quilted by my friend Irene. Can't wait to show you when it comes back!

I am wishing you all a lovely weekend, with some fun holiday prep with a sprinkle of stitching!

:)

xox

V.

...or stitching with a sprinkle of fairy-dust that gets the house and home prepped for the holidays... and the kids in bed...

would you believe me if I told you I started this post at least 12 hours ago?!

Oh, joy!

:)