Beary quilts

Life...

2012-02-14T01:07:00.005-08:00

Last Sunday my mom phoned us up to let us know that my sister-in-law's brother died in a car accident. The tyre burst, the car rolled, he fell out(not wearing his safety belt) and they think the car rolled over him and he died...only 37 years old...his girlfriend survived the accident with only a few bruises....also not wearing a safety belt. So tragic, unexpected and severely final... nothing one can do or say to turn back time.....

Saturday we went to his memorial service and this beautiful quilt was behind the pulpit! It inspired me tremendously to make one for our church. Well, it might take me 5 years(since handwork is NOT my strongest point!) but I can do it! After my exhibition last year @ church we decided anyway our church needs some color... so this might be a good start!!

When someone dies, and you have the assurance that the deceased was a believer in Christ, at least one has the peace of eternal life in heaven for that person...which is way better!♥

Anyway, sewing wise I was busy with a special project: I finally plucked up all my courage and started presenting workshops this year. So I also thought of sewing a little ironing board, pin cushion and thread catcher for each student to use, so class could just be a bit more streamlined! Finally done, so relieved! Now I can do all those mundane jobs of hemming a pants, fixing a zipper etc AND THEN get on with something fun for myself!

Today is Valentine's Day, and this morning I read the most precious piece of Scripture @ http://odb.org/ Our Daily Bread! Let someone know they are special to you!

Have a blesssed day

Work in progress...

2012-02-06T06:19:00.000-08:00

After finishing the sewing machine cover I was quite amped to start working on the spider web quilt! So last week I was sewing away and after completing all the triangles, I started the layout.... and realised I made a huge calculation error: every block consists of 4 triangles and NOT 2!! So my quilt is smaller than I planned... but the upside is a finished block is bigger than I thought! So all in all it will work out, because I will be adding an inner, a wide and a small outer border. My backing fabric is pre-chosen; so that also plays a big role in determining the quilt size.

We had a hectic weekend, so today I was just to tired to do ANYTHING, this morning I slept for almost 2 hours on the couch and then I fiddled with the pincushion for a bit.....now I am back on the couch.... but supper doesn't appear magically on the stove top, so I better get a move on!!

OPAM 2012

2012-01-31T23:11:00.000-08:00

What a good start to a new year...now to keep it up.....

The make-up bag I made from the leftover fabric that I used to make the cover for the overlocker(serger). I started this a year ago; I made it for my mom. I made the sewing machine cover last year January and now the cover for the seger.... now she has a set!

The memory box I made from memorabilia from my granny that passed away August 2010. It is my mother's mother and was VERY dear to me!! My mom thought I did it for myself, but last night I could present 2 gifts to her!! I am so happy!

Now I am so motivated, I am going to sew on my son's spiderweb blocks this morning!

I'm on a ROLL !

2012-01-22T10:50:00.000-08:00

I am so fired up! After posting my machines' house I just couldn't sit down in front of the TV and relax. I started digging for my fabrics for the Blogger Block of the month and easily made Pat Sloan's block! Another interesting one! Now I can't wait for Wednesday because then John Adams from Quilt Dad should have his block available... only 3 sleeps!

First project done!!

2012-01-22T08:44:00.001-08:00

I made this little house for my sewing machine to live in when I am not using it!!

I had so much fun, creating every single element. And I used so many techniques: raw edge applique, needle turn applique, blanket stitch applique,wool applique, bobbin work, thread painting, hand quilting, my machine's decorative stitches and some hand embroidery!

Well, now that this project is done, I can catch up with my Blogger's Block of the month project.

Happy sewing!

Sorry!

2012-01-20T03:35:00.000-08:00

There is something wrong with my computer: every time I click on the "Comments" button to see the comments left on my post, my screen goes completely clear(well white I mean).... So I am so sorry if I do not reply on any comments, I CAN'T!!

I'm working VERY hard on a new project and it should be done by Sunday, so then I will post some pictures!!

Good news!!

2012-01-17T00:06:00.000-08:00

Just an update on my previous post! My brother-in-law had a brainwave!!
Since Malaysian Airlines cancelled their flight and just re booked him on a SAA flight, he decided to ask them to change that departure date! So that means he will still be flying on his original LAN flight to Buenos Aires, spend 2 days there, THEN fly to South Africa on the next SAA flight! At no extra cost except 2 night hotel accommodation in Buenos Aires!

So it ends well and we're all smiling and can't wait!!

Sometimes life sucks...

2012-01-12T00:30:00.000-08:00

My brother-in-law(who lives in Santiago Chile) and his daughter(Chloe age 4) were going to come to South Africa for holiday and bringing his wife ashes home to her family for a final good bye ceremony....

Then Air Malaysia cancelled the flight from Buenos Aires to Cape Town; they did compensate though by booking him on South African Airways, BUT then the problems started. His LAN flight from Santiago to Buenos Aires would arrive to late to make the SAA flight.... and LAN plainly refuses to change that flight UNLESS he pays in US$1300...off course, money that he does not have! And Malaysia refuses to help him, because he did not book at a travel agent( which he did enquire about...they were US$2000 more expensive!!)

So he cancelled everything. And if I feel so depressed about His trip cancelled, I wonder how depressed he must feel??????????

Crafts @ Church

2012-01-11T00:10:00.000-08:00

In the beginning of December we had a women's evening @ church where we talked about sharing the Gospel through your craft, and my quilts were exhibited. The first picture is my scrappy Bargello. I used 10.5 meters of fabric just in the squares!! I cut my strips 1.5 inches wide and I used ANY color - the only method in the madness was: every fabric touching the next one had to match. I think it worked! The quilt almost have a 3 dimensional effect hanging on the wall. It usually lies on our bed.

The other ones are just a few wall hangings I made through the years....but no more - since there is no more space on the walls! From left to right: my Storm @ sea made with beautiful Jim Shore fabric featuring Noah's Arc, my Christmas log cabin " Let the angels sing: Christ is born"; my ugly fabric challenge quilt (I won 1st prize!), my "Love is..." and lastly my quilt called "Keep the home fires burning".

I also had to give a talk (my first ever!) and you knew: it is actually so easy talking about what you really enjoy doing!! Not that I wasn't nervous: my left leg felt as if it was doing the shake,rattle and roll...I was so glad I was wearing a shirt to hopefully hide that!!

2012 Goals...

2012-01-04T12:14:00.000-08:00

I am so busy reading other people's blogs, seeing collages of their finishes for 2011 and goals for 2012, that I started thinking about my UFOs and goals for 2012...

Well, first up, I am working on a sewing machine cover that I want to present as a workshop very soon. I'm trying my best to make it a real heirloom, so I am not rushing it!

Secondly, I started a spiderweb quilt from all my scraps in blue and green, with a funny sort of greenish purple blue as my accent fabric - I'm so looking forward to see the end result.

Not to forget the Bloggers Quilt along that I got myself into!

Then, I have already loaded a quilt on my Bernina frame that needs quilting, but I also don't want to rush it, as I want this quilt to be VERY special - I just love the colors I used!

Last year my daughter sewed some log cabin blocks, I put them together, added borders and applique, sandwiched it and now it is just waiting to be quilted....

I saw some people (like Pat Sloan) piled up all their UFOs and photographed them.I am too lazy for that!

I can easily think of a few...
1.Lindie (my eldest daughter)'s quilt...maybe I should give it a try again: I have lots more experience now!
2.Hexagons... tricky project, but I loved it when I started
3.Charm quilt... more done than undone...
4.Chickens... do I really want to finish this?
5.Pink Piglets...actually, I can finish this in a week if I try
6.Dresden quilt.. still need to figure out outside border's applique...
7.Two Christmas quilts...on the one I've done quite a bit, the other one I still need to start!

I met my match!!!!!!!!

2012-01-02T23:34:00.001-08:00

Punctuation !!!!!!!!!! ??????????? etc is a issue in our household! Can you believe it????? My husband is forever complaining because I use !! (the exclamation mark!?!) way too much...in his opinion....

On Facebook, in e-mails, in text messages... everywhere I use them. And my reason... I am excited to say something, or it is really important to me to say it or I'm very serious about it. So, I use punctuation.

This morning I went onto my blog to have a look at the blogs I follow and what everybody around the globe was up to; and I noticed some new followers. So, I click on their picture and saw Ariadne was a new follower. Here is the link... http://tecendopatchwork.blogspot.com/

Ariadne, your a girl right after my heart!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-12-18T22:56:00.000-08:00

Wow!

2011-12-10T07:09:00.000-08:00

Can you believe this beautiful give-away?
I saw this over @ http://donna-sugarspicesouthernlife.blogspot.com/ and was so touch be what she said she would do with it, that I actually felt: Wow, I hope you are lucky(blessed) by it!!

So I actually feel to bad to enter...

Donna, good luck!!

I wasn't going to...

2011-11-24T22:10:00.000-08:00

start anything new... I was working on finishing UFO's... but then temptation knocked on my door, and I threw all self-control overboard! Here I am, taking part in the

I decided to just use my scraps in cream blue and red!
Now I can't wait for the next block to be launched today over @ Loft Creations http://www.designsbyloftcreations.com/

off course I live in South Africa, and America is still sleeping so I just have to wait........

Blogging.....

2011-10-04T23:24:00.000-07:00

I am a diligent follower of Bonnie Hunters blog: /a>http://quiltville.blogspot.com/. I read it every morning just after I read http://odb.org/ (Our Daily Bread) What does it say about me???? Reading my daily devotionals and my favourite blog in one sitting??

Well, it compells me NOT to skip my Daily Devotionals...that's one way of looking at it... because it is so easy to do what we want to do...but to do what is good for us...the greater challenge of the two!!

I was over at Marie's blog http://machineembroiderybyaquilter.blogspot.com/ this morning and she has taken on the challenge to blog everyday... and in her blog she makes a noteworthy statement...to blog on something meaningful everyday... and I think THAT ia a art!! To write something everyday that is interesting to other people!! To NOT be boring!!! I don't think I can do it (and I'm not even going to try!) but I do admire those who succeed!! You go girls!!

Keukenhof

2011-05-01T12:06:00.001-07:00

Well, the wind was chilly and my mom is sick, but she didn't want to spend her day in the hotelroom so we went to Keukenhof! First we took a tram, then a bus, then another bus and we were there. All I can say is God is the perfect creator! What beauty we experienced today! What amazing colours, shapes, sizes AND smells!!
I took a few photographs purely as an example of colour combinations one could use in a quilt! I saw so many amazingly beautiful tulips and everytime I tried to memorize their names... but to no avail...I can't recall even one!! To much beauty that my brain HAD to soak in; I couldn't remember their names as well! But I promise I did try.........

Amsterdam!!

2011-04-30T11:50:00.000-07:00

My mom and I arrived in Amsterdam just in time for the Queens Day celebrations!! And what a party it was! Our hotel is situated right on the Thorbeckplein where a stage was set up for the DJ and 2 huge beercanteens was built on the day of our arrival! Our hotelroom window is right above all the action! The party 36 hours of loud party music, singing, dancing and drinking! What spirit the Dutch people have! They played quite a few Dutch songs and the whole crowd would be singing along!! I loved it!!

My mom and I both have a bit of a cold, but tomorrow might be a very pleasant day so we are planning on going to Keukenhof.... al depends on how my mom feels - her chest is quite sore today!

On Wednesday we rent a car and then we go to the Open European Quilt championships in Veldhoven!! I'm really lokking forward to it!

But the real reason we came to Amsterdam is to pay final hommage to my dearest grandmother who past away last year August. We will do that on Tuesday.

2011-02-05T09:15:00.000-08:00

Today I noticed for the FIRST time the spelling error in the heading of my previous post!! Busy Busty??? Bee??? It sounds weird?? and I never noticed!! Busty is an acknowledged word so spelling checker won't throw it out!! But spelling checker is NOT a GRAMMAR checker.............

Anyway, life is still continuing at about 100 miles per hour and my personal sewing time is down to almost ZERO. On Wednesday we had a workshop on how to make chenille and mine will be turned into a basket since I am not that fond of a handbag( I am forever looking for my stuff in a handbag so I found the ultimate solution ......a Z Becky Brown Bag!!) It is just big enough to hold my essentials! And I can change the insert to go with my outfit!!

Hopefully by next Wednesday I will be able to post a picture of my first finish for 2011! The other workshop that I did was called "The Pink Piglets" which I actually wanted to finish this week but I just didn't have a chance! The week ahead doesn't look very prosperous timewise but I will try!!

Anyway I also signed up for the blog "Sew it Finished" and I would really like to post there as well!! I just need a finish!!

Busy busty bee

2011-01-28T11:07:00.000-08:00

What a week! Tomorrow I will take a picture of what I was so busy with this week! The workshop was called "The Pink Piglets" but mine turned out very bright! A lot of blanket stitch applique is left to do!!

My main project for the beginning of this year is the reproduction of the Dutch Quilt. Well, I have laid out a quarter and managed to piece half of it before this new workshop. I have lots of work to do! The bad news is that my back is killing me! i don't know what went wrong but I am constantly in pain! It is very difficult to sew in so much pain.... but I am so determined!!

I am actually suppose to cycle tomorrow morning at 6 am but with my back I am not sure if it a good idea!

sleep???

2011-01-19T10:13:00.000-08:00

I must say I was sleeping better until last night! Yesterday I started piecing the half square triangles together and enjoyed it so much! I eventually stopped because I was tired... but do you think sleep came? Eventually I started reading a novel from our church library and about 3 chapters later I fell asleep...only to wake up just past 4! I tried to stay in bed but 20 past 5 I got up and made myself a cup of coffee and finalized all the claim forms for the insurance company that I really needed to do asap.... but I rather spend my time piecing yesterday....

I am SO excited about this quilt I am making! I am actually contemplating entering it into our National Quilt Festival which takes place first week in July this year. So I am holding back pictures in case I do enter.Today I received an e-mail from Embroidery Library with $1 designs - a whole collection of Dutch Deflt Blue designs. And last night when I couldn't sleep I was wondering what designs I would be quilting on this Dutch replica quilt and today I had the answer! The most beautiful picture! Now my excitement level is even higher!!

So after sending off all the information for the insurance I went for breakfast with a few friends. Our one friend Hettie had her birthday today and we started with breakfast! Antoinette (her dearest friend) then took her out for a day of leisure and picnic!! Friends are so precious!

Here is a picture of the front of a bag I am making! My friend Zelda from Zelda's Stitches had the pattern and wanted to make the bag. A week before Christmas we both started this one (plus another! why make one if you van make 2?LOL). Well this coming Friday we will be stitching together again to try and complete the one bag. Hopefully... if we don't talk sooo much!

I am the one on the left, our friend Aiza in the middle and Zelda on the right! Off course Aiza was not impressed when she saw we were making bags without her but she caught up quickly! In fact, I asked her to finish the hand embroidery on mine since she does it beautifully!!

Good night, sleep tight..don't let the bed bugs bite...........or so I hope!

2011-01-11T12:23:00.000-08:00

When I was a child I could never understood why my grandmother didn't sleep well - I love sleeping and never had a problem with fallen asleep with the blink of an eye........ but for some reason I just can't sleep these days. By late afternoon I am an walking zombie dragging my feet around the house...and then when I go to bed my mind starts racing about my to-do-list for 2011.

So I decided to make a list: maybe seeing it black on white will give me peace...and then hopefully sleep!

1) I made up 6 kits to sew up a reproduction of a Dutch Quilt I saw in Ann Moonen's book The History of the Dutch Quilt. One of them I am sewing up as a sample. It is very time consuming and I am very impatient. I want to get it done but I am just so busy with the kids and organising our house that I don't get enough sewing time. Today I counted my blocks and divided it in quarters - so my goal is to sew a quarter a weekend????

2) Tommorow morning 2 friends are coming over and we will be stitching our bags. I will post a picture soon. But we are making 2 bags each - fully lined and PVC coated to keep it clean.

3) After my grandmother passed away last year, I started embroidering around photos to make my mom a memory quilt. I would like to finish it in August to present to my mom - will publish a picture of my work done as well!

4) My daughter is stitching up 20 log cabin blocks for me to make up kits as well. She has completed 11 blocks and the other 9 needs to be done by Sunday as Monday school starts again. (we had our long summer holiday now1)

5) Quilt the border of my friend Lisa's quilt

6) Thde cats quilt need to be basted and quilted....and binding

7) My friend Karin made a quilt for her daughter and I need to quilt it. King size I think. It must be done by 12 March because that is the wedding gift!!

8) Need to add the border to the quilt I posted on in December, quilt and bind!!

9) Stitch binding to 5 placemats and ask my friend Zelda to do handstitching.

How about that? Think I might be busy?

This is how I feel...

Goodnight

Karin

2011-01-08T12:32:00.000-08:00

I have been away from blogland quite a while!

Well, firstly I would like to wish everybody a blessed 2011! May you and your families have a year of love and laughter!

We spent almost every Christmas with my parents at their holiday house in Lambert's Bay - it is on the West Coast in South Africa ( the first picture!) The second picture is Christmas lunch... unfortunately one cannot see my mother: her face is behind my eldest daughter Lindie.

I took the picture.....so I am not on it either!!

Can anybody help me please? I am not that computer literate so bear with me please! How can I load an image on blogger, write a paragraph or two AND then upload another image beneath everything I have typed all ready. Every time I upload a new image it goes right to the top of my draft and I don't know how to move it! It really frustrates me! I have tried twice to write a new post but with all the struggling I gave up! I have loads of stories that I want to share and I like to add an image to make it more interesting!

Anyway, my dear husband is snoring away and I think I will drift off to dreamland soon as well!

Go over to Cornfield Quilter and see her result from Roll Roll Cotton Ball (the mystery from Bonnie Hunter....Quiltville's Quips and Snips) ... I just LOVE her end results....well she still needs to add the final border.....BUT it is stunning! Well done girl!

Good night from a sunny South Africa!

2010-12-17T14:39:00.000-08:00

This is the entrance at our front door! The little quilt is my Candle mat received from Marit in Sweden, the lovely Amish family is a gift from the USA (Rockford Illinois), the tin I bought at Walmart in 2007 when we went to the Spring Quilt Festival in Chicago, the lovely little house is a handmade gift from a friend (all Japanese fabrics we bought in France when we visited Patchwork Europe and the birds nest the kids found in our garden! And the beautiful Singer we bought at a auction a few years ago. The lady that sold it came to me afterwords to tell me it was recently serviced and in 100% working order. They just didn't have enough space anymore. I sensed the departing was somewhat emotional for her. I could sense that.... shame....

Anyway, yesterday a friend came over and as if I don't have enough UFO's we cut not one but 2 bags to make during the holidays. I will post pictures later today, now I want to go to the shops EARLY (to avoid the mad rush!) for last minute Christmas gifts!

2010-12-14T06:07:00.000-08:00

I can't believe the time I spend reading blogs! My favourites are Quiltville and then the Dutch blogs! I just can't get enough! It is almost like looking forward to my soapie for the day! My heart is broken for Supergoof who lost her precious Yeppe last week..... this morning my one dog had like a fit and I realise it can happen so quickly! But I am glad to report that Frodo is fine lying under my quilt frame!

I have also been busy stitching for a change! I saw last year on a blog and worked out the pattern on now I am stitching the third quarter of the quilt! I am really trying my best to finish it before Christmas!

A lot of my light fabrics was what got this project started! In January a lady from the country side phoned me to ask if I would buy over her stock because her shop was too quiet and she couldn't afford the financial outlay any longer and she was pregnant with her third child. A lot of her fabric was older designs and that was just what I needed!! So I had a huge sale to sell most of the fabric immediately and I kept quite a bit for myself and this project was born!

We are experiencing a hot summer and today is no exception. My son and his friends were swimming until ten o'clock last night playing Marco Polo! What a racket!! But they were enjoying themselves and because it is school holidays the noise didn't bother the neighbors.....I think

2010-12-02T03:21:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I received this beautiful Candle Mat all the way from Norway! I love it! Thank you very much Marit!! Her blog is named maitshobbyblogg.blogspot.com. Have a peek - she has some beautiful pictures there!

She labeled my Candle Mat with the name of the swap, date, her name and origin......... and it hit me that I completely forgot to label mine. So I do apologise to my partner.

I also joined a pillow swap and that was not a secret like this one - I didn't realise that so I posted a photo of my work in progress so my partner knows more or less what to expect. Rule no 1: (to myself!!) read carefully the instructions!!

2010-11-24T23:38:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture of my work in progress for the pillow swap that I also signed up for on the Dutch Sisters blog!

I am NOT usually a handwork person but for some reason the crazy patchwork bug got hold of me and won't let go. I am having a ball and the Internet is absolutely amazing. I found a wonderful blog where the lady teaches a new stitch a week and I found brilliant ideas there. Her site is bookmarked on my laptop so I will post that link later!!

Every minute I have free I try to stitch over another seam. I am really having fun and my creative juices are just flowing!!

2010-11-21T23:28:00.000-08:00

Finally I managed to upload my finished candle mat! Mine is going to.........Europe!! I have to confess my sin: I posted it on the morning of the 16th only!

My daughter was in an accident the Saturday and needless to say I was a bit distracted! But I am happy to say that she is okay; nothing broken, a badly hurt ankle and a few places where skin came off which might leave scars but that is the worst. We are very grateful that she is fine. She is a bit shaken emotionally which one can understand.

Anyway I also entered the Pillow swap on the Dutch Sisters blogspot and I decided to do crazy patchwork and lots of embroidery on it!! Handwork is not really my forte but I am having a ball!! My swap partner choose blue as one of her colours and I don't like blue at all - so what a challenge!!

I'll post a picture soon!!

2010-11-03T08:37:00.000-07:00

What are the chances you visit a Quilt Festival halfway around the world to see your quilt chosen to be displayed on the banner??

In August 2 friends and I decided(on the spur of the moment!) to visit Europe Patchwork in France in September. When we looked through the brochure I saw that the MY PLACE travelling exhibition would be on display. I knew my quilt was part of it ... but HUGE was my surprise when we finally got to France and saw that my quilt was chosen to be published in the Festival booklet PLUS on the banner of the venue where the My Place exhibition

took place!

My quilt is the one with the chicken on the lady's back. I called it "Piggyback". It is a black woman piggybacking a chicken somewhere in South Africa!

We first went to a Quilt Exhibition in Deventer (Holland) for a week and then we went to France. We had a ball of a time in Deventer! We met up with my folks who were there as well because my gran use to live in Amsterdam but she passed away in August so my parents were there for the funeral and to finalize her earthly possessions.

Because my roots are Dutch I love Holland! We saw a beautiful Dutch Quilt on the exhibition and my mom and I both bought a stack of Dutch fabric! I managed to work out a similar pattern on EQ5 and my mom started making the quilt today.

Today I finished the top of my Candle Mat fot the swop! Hopefully tomorrow I can quilt it!!

2010-10-06T12:30:00.000-07:00

I signed up for Candle Mat Swap at Quilting Gallery and Sani Andersen!

Very excited!

http://

I tried to get rid of the http:// but no success.
My quilting skills are slightly better than my computer skills!

2010-07-22T03:03:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of an UFO that I completed last year!
I finally learned how to upload my pictures from my cell to the computer!!

December last year I bought the 820 plus the quilting frame with dreams of all the quilting fun I was going to have......... unfortunately to say things turned out differently. Poor tension and uneven stitches demotivated me. My other machine is a Artista 200 without BSR and I think my quality of work was much better!!

Earlier today I read Mercia's blog Tropical Applique and saw that she also had some problems with the needles, thread and tension. Well, I just finished unpicking a quilt because of very poor tension.

I did go and see my dealer and we did spend a whole afternoon playing with thread and tension, but I still am not completely satisfied with the results. The BSR does not give me a desired result either.

I have an extra bobbin case for my 200 (As Diane Gaudynski advises) and was quite comfortable playing around with tension - but on the 820 I just don't seem to get it perfect! I own both her books and love the free-motion process. On the 820 it is a total different ball game..... which I am struggling with!!

2010-04-01T12:33:00.000-07:00

Almost to the day, 3 years ago my friend and I flew to the States to visit our first International Quilt Festival. Flew into JFK in Washington DC and then on to Harrisburg PA where we rented a car. Travelled up to Mountain Top to visit Quilters Quarter, a shop I use to buy from via the Internet! Sadly they closed down recently. From there we drove down to Intercourse to visit Amish country side and buy some fabric! We were delayed in Harrisburg for7 hours before flying to Chicago because of snow... we missed our first lecture at Quilt Festival!! We made it just in time for Caryl Bryer Fallert's lecture!! We spent 3 days at Festival and the beauty and quality of the quilts was simply fasanating!

2010-01-10T11:59:00.000-08:00

This is a quilt I made for my mom's birthday in 2005 or 2006(I'm not sure!) to hang in her kitchen. Her theme is ducks and the one wall was still bare.... so it needed a quilt!!

Sorry for the poor quality picture. I took it with my cell phone...

I am trying very hard too organise (neaten) our house. We just had a huge cupboard built in for all my fabric and sewing stuff. We had to move all the furniture out and all my sewing stuff........we then went on holiday with our house in that state. I wasn't afraid of a burglary - I think they would recon they are too late because the house is in shambles all ready!!

Well we are back and somehow order needs to be created.
After 2 days of packing, my cupboard is organised and I am ready to start my first project! 2 friends are having a birthday in a weeks time. For the one I am making a mug bag and for the other a sewing mat for her machine. Pictures to follow soon!!

2010-01-06T09:58:00.000-08:00

This is the quilt that started me off!!

We went to Disney World Orlando for a family holiday in 2003. My mom has been to Orlando twice previously and she discovered Jo-Ann store in Kissimee. Back in South Africa she went to a quilt exhibition and saw this quilt. She found the owner and asked if she could have the pattern and then asked me to buy the fabric In the States!

I spend almost half a day in the shop and just couldn't get enough!! I bought all the fabric my mom needed plus a few extra pieces for myself. Back in South Africa I didn't have enough fabric that went together to make anything........I went to our local shops to buy some additional fabric but the prices was way more pricy than in the States.

I started looking on the Internet to buy fabrics in the States and so my business started. That means my business is 6 years old allready!!

My mom made this quilt and it is now hanging in her holiday house for all to admire!!

2009-03-15T07:13:00.000-07:00

Everyday I spend literally hours in front of my computer reading quilters blogs from all over the world in stead of working on my UFO'S !! And boy, do I have a lot!! I can show you something I have completed in January! I think I worked on this one almost 4 years! In my defense I would like to say that I don't really like handwork.........I would much rather sew on my machine.

I would like to share a tragic experience that I had on Thursday. I have a dear friend who I pray with every Thursday morning before we both lead our separate Bible study groups. She always comes to my house @ 08h15 and we have a cup of tea together and chat before we pray together. This week was no different and we had a very special time!! I walked her to her car and she got in and even stated the car. Then she said:" I suddenly feel dizzy!" And within minutes she past away from this world to her heavenly home! I phoned the doctor up the road and the ambulance but sadly she had such a huge seizure that nothing could be done to save her.
The reality was that she was a healthy person. The doctor gave her a clean bill of health just 6 weeks ago!
We suspect it was either a stroke or an aneurysm.
my life will never be the same again, but God gave us that very special time together and I will cherish that as long as I live!!

2008-12-17T21:30:00.000-08:00

Today is my first post! I don't consider myself a very keen writer, but I will surely give it my best!
My kids are on holiday( a stay at home holiday mostly) and keeping them busy is my goal. We have an arrangement where they get a day to do whatever they want to and the next day is my day off! That gives me time to do what I enjoy as well! I am busy quilting a quilt for a friend, She made a beautiful Noah's Ark. A African Noah's Ark! As soon as I am done (maybe today) I will ask her permission to show a pic! I am just stippling so it is going fairly fast!
Than I would really like to start finishing 2 of my own UFO's! Both has a house theme and both just needs quilting and binding!!
Well, I think I will start stippling right away!