Crochet and Thumbquilting

Hello friends!

 Yesterday Pauline, an online quiltclub friend, came to visit me, to show and tell me about using the Thimblelady thimble, but also Ted Storm's Thumb Thimble. We had a great time, with a chat and a stitch. Thanks once more, Pauline!

That last thimble, Ted's one, is a very promising alternative for me, as long as I can't use my right hand properly for quilting the traditional way.

I bought Ted's Thumb thimble two years ago and now it is the perfect thing to work with for me, I think. I'm reading and asking for information about a hoop, with or without stand. If that's all arranged, I can start practicing; many hours and kilometres shall be spent practicing, but I WANT to learn it. 

Practice makes Perfect.

I am so happy with this new possibility.

Another new little project I am into, is making crochet ice chrystals. The pattern is from Eline's Winter Huis book . They are so cute!

 The diameter is 5cm. / 2".

 I think I'm gonna make lots of them and drop and hang them, for decoration ofcourse, all over my own lovely Winter House :>)

 Just finished cutting the fabric scraps for my swap partners in Marcha's Charm - Club fabric swap.

And I sent thirteen machine-sewn 

 

to the USA.

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 'No Impact Week' has started and I must say I enjoy being in. I am discovering that I  have lived  frugally and simply for many years; not being the diehard type with the goathair socks, though.

It is good to live that consciously for one week, finding out what one can do and leave for a better and easier, slowed down life, without having the feeling of missing much. On the contrary: life gets better, richer, more relaxed and satisfying.

 This was Mrs. Zondagssteek's Monday Preach; won't do it again.

 Have a nice day, evening or sweet dreams!

Cheers!

Sissy Day 2011 and more...

Hello friends!

 I think I told you before that I am blessed with five sisters and two brothers?
These five sisters have planned a 'Sissy Day' on Saturday 19 November, here with me, in my home. What a surprise!
We all live in different places, spread over the country, so it was quite a job to make sure every sissy can join that party :>)
 I don't need to prepare anything ( due to that hand-icap ); they did or will do, from cooking, baking, buying, bringing, sleeping and carpooling to doing the dishes after the party.
They arranged this all because a Sissy Day that was planned earlier this year had to be cancelled.
By then I could not yet travel for long, as I was still recovering from surgery for colorectal cancer in August last year.
And now they did not want the year to go by without having had our Sissy Day, so I got a phonecall a few weeks ago from Ingrid, revealing their surprising plan.
We are all looking forward to Sissy Day 2011!

~  The SissieSix ~

From top left it shows me, Ingrid, Jacqueline  and Loni
Sitting on the floor are Stella and Annelies.

 This picture was taken 1st.of November 2008, Sissy Day at my place.

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 Today I received the Thimblelady thimble  that I ordered from Quilthuis Lieselotje
That thimble promises to offer perfect handquilting, without tendon or gripping pain, and that's what I am looking for at the moment, well, months.
If my finger will not get back in its old supple shape, I want to try to handstitch with this thimble.
At this very moment my finger still is too thick to fit in ( although I bought size L ), so I must be patient for some more time. Yet it is something I look forward to!
 For now I am thinking of machine stitching a charmpack diagonally, cut the blocks and stitch the whole lot together in some kind of pattern, to make a mini quilt.
 Hope I can handle the rotarycutter or the scissors.....
Putting this Frisian saying into practice:

( If it can't be done like it should -  It should be done like it can )

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She ( Jim Shore's 'Sew Angelic') is in my Little Walhalla, watching my stash for the time being:

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 Tonight the clock will be turned back one hour, so we can sleep a little longer :>)
 Won't be of any problem for me, I took this crocheted coverlet
 this morning to upgrade my bed, making it winterproof as nights are getting colder now.
I crocheted the coverlet 32 years ago, double sized; must have been suffering from a serious crochet fever. Don't know.. I do know I was in love, we had planned our wedding and I was making this for the newly-wed's-bed :>)

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 Have a wonderful weekend!

 Cheers!

The French Connection

Hello friends!
 

 Last September a quilting friend had her birthday and fortunately I had a birthday present ready-made waiting on the shelf for her.

 She is of French origin, moved to Dokkum when she married her Frisian husband, many years ago.

 This is my birthday present for her
 

The French, Dutch and Frisian flags are all to find on this .....

 pincushion!
 :>)

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 For Alie Bahlmann, my Q-Teacher here in Dokkum when I first started quilting four years ago, I made this pincushion; it's my own design, using Dutch fabrics and adding self crocheted red  Frisian 'Pompeblêden' at the connecting points.

Pincushions showing the French - Frisian Connection.
Made in Fryslân by a Dutch non-Frisian girl :>)

 Have a nice day!

 Cheers!