Thanks!

Hello dear friends,

 Thank you so very  much for your kind words, wishing me all the best with my hand!

My hand that has to get on the mend, instead of getting mending.... 

Since I can't do any stitching I'll have to find a way to spend my days in another way I like. 

So I decided this morning to alter my home, bringing in a touch of Autumn.

I took out my very first panel quilt and put it on my coffee table:

 

 And what do you think of this pillow case?

 

Another thing I managed to do is grab and put some Fall stuff together, adding a bit more sense of Autumn to my home:

 .

The wooden toad-stool is a gift from my daughter, bought at a craft market and it's made from yew-wood.

It's not hard to recognise a .... pincushion (top right) and a little heart-shaped one in the centre, keeping the wise words about enjoying the little things in place.

The toad-stool gift wrap and some (artificial) fruit were added to make it a nice composition altogether.

One more stitched item I can't keep from you:

All this makes my house my home

  

 Enjoy Autumn!

 Wishing you happy days.

Cheers!

Like a pincushion...

Hello friends,

 This morning I woke up at 04:00 a.m. feeling like a pincushion that's stabbed with thousands of those nasty pins

**************    :>(   **************

Another allergic reaction, I guessed, which was becoming worse in the following hours.

Happily I had an appointment at the surgeon's at about eleven o'clock for a wound check up ( kind of Show & Tell ); I hoped he could help me out of this prickly situation too!

 I am trying to adapt to the new situation that offers me  loads of time for reading and blogging about needlework, patchwork & quilting. 

 The bees, lessons, courses I had planned to take or was already doing, all had to be cancelled.
That hurts, I can tell you!

 The more it hurts when tuition fee is not restituted. That's what I am experiencing now in one case, and I am talking about a substantial amount.

 This bad luck that came over me doesn't even seem to be  reason enough to let 'rules' go and pay my
over-one-hundred euros back.

I might sound bitter, but it truly is how I feel right now. Bit disappointed I am.

By twelve o'clock I was back from the surgeon; the four drains were removed from finger and palm, I got  medication against this new antibiotic allergy,  new and better fitting finger bandages and a letter for a physical therapist for excercises to get my finger / hand back in shape.
New appointment Wednesday next week.

I'll spend this afternoon reading and maybe do some organizing in my little Walhalla, where I want to pile up neatly the fabrics that are still in my sewing area / on my dinner table :>)
Just try and feel how far I come with only one hand available.

 Wishing you a wonderful day!
Cheers!

And The Quilt's name is........

Hi friends,

yesterday was my youngest son's 23rd. birthday and I was so happy I was at home in time!! 

 And yesterday I decided to give my 'disaster'-quilt a name. A name I want to embroider on a label when I am fully recovered and able to write and stitch again, whenever that will be.

I think it won't be of any surprise to you that I call that cloth 'Panaritium Tendinosum'... after the disease the curved basting pin pricked me with into hospital and another kind of cutting and stitching of patches and threads........

 I want to show one more photo of  that quilt, that has to wait for its final binding until Mrs. Zondagssteek can pick up the threaded needle again :>)

  

 I love all those colours; they colour my days and cheer me up!

 Well, that's it for now.

I wish you all a lovely Sunday!

 Cheers!

Quilting fever

Hi friends,

 

 eight days of silence on my blog,  rather unusual for me, but the reason is a similar unusual story that started on Thursday last week with sandwiching my batik quilt

using those fantastic curved basting pins that appeared to be S H A R P .....

because, when I wanted to pick up pin number eighty-one something happened that made the pin end up in my right middlefinger tip. Arrrgh. I took it out and finished my sandwiching job, to start the quilting.

 Thirty six hours later I woke up, bathing in sweat and suffering severe pain in that finger and a 38,6 C.degrees fever.

 Consulting the weekend doctor's service next morning at 11:30 a.m. I  was immediately sent through to a surgeon, who operated me policlinically, 'hung' me on bottles with antibiotics and kept me in hospital.

 Monday afternoon another operation (under total anaesthesia this time) was indicated as my hand was swollen, infection levels in the blood were rising and the aspect of the hand was no less than horrible.

 The surgeon did a very good job and my finger could be saved.

 After four more days filled with painkillers, antibiotics (and an allergy for one specific kind of them :>((, a problem that had to be solved as well), wound draining baths and all that, finally I could be sent home after six days.

Recovery will take a long long time, think in months............, in which I can not even think of holding a needle or using scissors, I'm afraid. So, no quilting for me for I do not know how long and that makes me feel sad, so sad.

  Really hand-icapped.

 But I keep up hope and  I will keep on blogging, as one finger is enough to use the laptop for writing updates :>)

 Wishing you all the best.

Till soon.

No Cheers for now, I am sorry.

Step by step and stitch by stitch

Hello everybody,

 A second post today, but I can't wait sharing this:

'Step by step' is what came to my mind, when I found my children's first shoes whilst searching the attic for old sewing patterns.
 

Three sons and one daughter started finding their way step by step in these dear little shoes that I  gave a place of honour in my livingroom, with the little quilt that I finished today.
 

This is what I found too
 

 a sweater I knitted for my daughter Loni, about twenty years ago...

It was not only knitted, there was also some darning to be done.

Ain't it cute?

I remember my pride and joy when Loni and her three brothers ( Willem, Hans and Jan) all were wearing their sweaters I knitted in four different colours. For the boys I sewed velveteen trousers in olive green, bottle green and black (depending on the main colour of the sweater), for Loni a nice skirt.

Today I am the happy oma of two darling granddaughters, of whom one already is walking in her own little shoes...

Good night and till soon.
 Cheers!

Soother ribbons

Hello friends,

 While it's raining a flock of cats and dogs, I am in my cosy home spending my time sewing, stitching and quilting.

 With Autumn blown into the country I feel happy at home with my fabrics and threads, patterns and the time that can be spent the way I like the best.

So I plugged in my sewing machine to make some new soother ribbons, that also can be used to take a little toy safely, because clicked to coat or safety belt it can't be lost.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two days ago I was called by a lady who works in a so-called Thomashuis, taking care of mentally limited people living there.

She told me they are planning a Christmas Fair on the 8th. of  December and she asked me, whether I would like to join that Fair. I can have my own table to show and tell, sell as well (about) my patchwork and quilting activities and products.

I am thrilled, you can imagine!

 So, from next week forward I'll be busy sewing Christmas 'stuff' for that event. Wow :>)!

 Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers!

Bagging quilter's and lace-worker's stuff

A Sunny Hello to you!

 How are you doing? Enjoying a lovely, sunny day like I do? It is so good to see and feel the sunshine, which is promised to last for the next two days here in Holland....

I have been stitching, ofcourse, what else am I busy with every day again?

To create order in quilt stuff that has to be taken to bees or lessons, I sewed these bags:

  

 Fabrics are from my little Walhalla. I bought the beads at the Kruidvat sale, enjoying 70% discount :>)); they were sewn for decoration to women's belts. I took them off to make my own new creations.

 As you can see the inside of the bag contains eight compartments for yarn, needles, scissors etc. 

And look what I made and put in the centre...

a pincushion!

 The paisley-print fabric is from the sale at Kwantum's curtain department, a couple of years ago

What would the other bag be without a pincushion for itself?
 I made the largest pincushion I ever did until now, size 5XL, using an old button I got from my old (in every way) landlady.   I think I'll use it for my many curved basting pins.

& 

 

Look at the mess in my 'crafting area', which in fact is my dinnertable :>)
 Every day I sweep the whole lot off the table to another table or the settee, so I can enjoy my dinner the appropriate way.

 One more bag I made; this one is for the lace-working lessons I am to attend, to organize and take the bobbins, etc.
I like the lace-like fabric print; think it's suitable

 Adding a(nother)............?
Pincushion!

Well, that's it for now.
 I am going out for a bikeride in the sunshine.
 Have a wonderful day!

 Cheerio!

Life and Health.

Hello everyone,

 For me today is a special day, for one year ago at the 24th. of August I was operated for colorectal cancer. And this afternoon I got the results of  this week's bloodtests etc.; they're all good, fine, positive for me!

Great news, the best I could ever wish and hope for.

I feel so blessed and grateful because, apart from serious concern ofcourse, this last year has brought me true love, friendship, help, peace, joy, attention and warmth from family, friends, doctors, nurses and everyone that was or came into my life.
 Neither Hope nor Faith I lost.
To me all that is one big Blessing.

Thanks for your visit, feel free to leave a message. I'd very much appreciate that :>)

  

 Cheers!

An apple a day and our daily bread

Hi there,
 

 Look at this freshly coloured, juicy apple that covers my bread-bin:
 

For the white part surrounding the apple I used an old linen napkin from my grandmother that was a gift from my sister Jacqueline 

 Handstitched in the ditch, except for the apple shape.

 The butterdish and the sugar-caster are (sweet(ening)) souvenirs from Norway, where I lived for some months in Oslo, when I was so much younger than today. 

I love that country ( Ja, jeg elsker dette landet...) for its nature, language, art and  folklore. And for everything I forget to mention right now :>)

 Sleep well, sweet dreams, till soon.
 

Cheers!

Stitchings, Sayings and Blessings.

Hello on this lovely Sunday morning!

 Today I'd like to share some pictures with you; pictures from things I enjoy, cherish, that cheer me up or that I feel blessed with:

 So true!

~~~~~~~~~~

And this one......

 ..... isn't it?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My kitchen window

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Last week I've been stitching these alphabet pumpkins:
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Wishing you a wonderful Sunday.

Almost forgot this one:

 

Cheers!

Old love reviving

Hello dear friends,

Since I was seven or eight years old I made many samplers and other cross stitch works. I loved it and I still do. 

 After I finished the  X-stitched centre block of my Houses quilt my old love revived! 

 Because I am out of quilting spirit for a while I started yesterday evening a new little X-stitch project, another pincushion for my collection, and it is already finished as well :>)

 Isn't it a cuty?

 I saw it on the internet and I think it is awesome.

 In the pumpkin model you can read the alphabet.

Fantastic!

 And I've made myself another cute and special pincushion.

On to the next! More pumpkins to stitch.

Bye for now, thank you for visiting my blog.

 Cheers!

Grandmother's Sampler

Good evening,

while stitching my thoughts easily go back and around......... to anyone, anyplace, anytime.

That's how I came to 'meet' my grandmother today again.

My grandmother made this sampler when she was only ten or just eleven years old. 

 It has a place of honour on my livingroom wall.

She was called 'Jeanne' and I am named after her.

It is in the genes, I think :>)

A new Sunday's stitch...

Hello visitors of my blog,

Today I added some personal words to the cross stitched centre block of my Homespun Houses quilt

  

 

  

pinned it to the wall amidst the other twenty, to get accustomed to the composition and to think about if, how or what I shall stitch in addition

  

 

This was today's Zondagssteek / Sunday's stitch (news).

 Have a nice evening and a good start of the new week!

Cheers!

 

House number 21

Hello everybody,

 after the twenty patchwork houses I started to make the centre block, house number 21, and I do it in cross stitch, using yarn in colours matching those of the Dutch fabrics I used for the other houses.

Have a look, it's just the first part, but you can get an impression:

After a cup of coffee I'll go on with the stitching, while my darling granddaughter Loni Marije (16 m.) is asleep, staying for the first time with me in my house; just for one night.  I enjoy it so very much!

 Today there was no time for stitching ofcourse, with that little sweetheart around. We had a lovely bikeride this afternoon with Loni Marije sitting in the little bikeseat on the handlebars.

Then I cooked a healthy, lovely meal of carrots, broccoli, potatoes and chicken, with custard and fresh strawberries for dessert.

A quick bath for the little lady and eight little teeth were brushed. After that she was taken to bed and fell asleep almost immediately.... worn-out as she was.

I'm tired, not really worn-out, but I can feel I've got  less energy compared to twenty years ago, when I was running all day with, for and after my children :>)

This was a very joyful day.

 Have a nice weekend, 

 Cheers!

Houses numbers 19 and 20

Hello :>)

And these are the numbers 19 and 20 of my Homespun Houses:

 Their roofs are made from a new chequered fabric, so two of a new kind can be added to  my Homespun Houses Project.

Twenty houses, all different, unique and all made from real Dutch folklore fabrics.

 It was great fun doing the sewing and it is not finished yet!

 I'll keep you updated about the continuing story of The Homespun Houses Project.

 Till soon,
 Cheers!

House number 18

Hello everybody,

 Autumn has arrived, dropping walls of water blowing them forcefully over the country. I do not really like that...

It also brought me a tough cold that makes me feel sick and sad.

 But, it keeps me inside, sewing :>) and enjoying my Homespun Houses Project, which is nearing its final patch and stitch.

Number 18 was finished yesterday:

Maybe a bit tricky, the red and green combi, but in the Zaanstreek, a region in Holland, the (historical) wooden houses are traditionally painted green and in case of tiled roof tiles are (orange)red. This may be an explanation for my tricky yesterday's action.

 There's an old Dutch saying: "Rood met groen is boerenfatsoen", meaning you better don't wear / use green and red together,   I don't care....
This Dutch House deserves a place in my Dutch fabrics Houses Project!

 Time to start sewing the final two houses!

Thanks for stopping by, have a good day.

Cheers!

House number 17

A very good day to all of you!

 Number 17 is ready:

 Cheers!

 

House number 16

Good evening,

 House number 16:

 

 

  

House number 15

Hi there,

 the more I sew, the faster it goes, delivering the 15th. House already now:

  

 Did it take half a day to sew the first ones, now I manage to finish the job within three hours. I love the work, sewing by hand, at ease, so relaxing!  But still almost flow production :>)

 Enjoy your weekend.

 Cheers!

House number 14

Good morning,

 

 Yesterday number 14 could be pinned to the wall:

 

 

 Four more houses are waiting, cut and ready-to-be-sewn, to sofar finalise the Zondagssteek Hamlet :>)

project.

 

To keep haberdashery on my sewing table organised I invented this:

 

 

A wooden rotating board. In the middle an egg-stand turned into a scissor-stand:>)

Cheers!

 

Houses numbers 12 and 13

H@llo friends!

 

Proudly presenting Houses numbers 12 and 13:

 

 

 Have a nice day, wherever you are and take care.

 

 Cheerio!

House number 11

Hello!

 Today House number 11 was delivered:

 Together with the other 10 it already makes a nice wall decoration, I think:
 

 Cheers!

House number 10

Hello everybody,

 House number 10 is a green house, or is it a greenhouse, or a green greenhouse?

 Each Tuesday afternoon my house is opened for a quilting bee, welcoming every busy quilting bee who wants to get or share ideas, joy, lessons, tea, etc.

 At today's quilting bee House number 10 was sewn.

 Have a nice evening and till soon.

 Cheerio!

House number 9

Hello dear friends,

  the first Homespun Houses nine-patch is completed by this one:

 I pinned them in the wallpaper, creating the nine-patch:

  above the settee, in my and everybody's sight when in or entering the livingroom.

 That makes me feel G :>) :>)D!

 Another little thing I sewed for my granddaughter Nine yesterday (so a real Zondagssteek it is) is a ribbon for a soother, teething-ring or little toy, that can be clicked with the brace clip to a baby's hood or blanket. 

 Today is a lovely, sunny day with nice temperatures, which means the BBQ is on duty tonight in my  backyard!

Enjoy your day, evening and meal.

Thanks for stopping by!

Feel free to leave a message. I'd very much appreciate it.

Till soon

Cheerio.