WORDS...

So, here we are again, starting a new year,

with new goals, some challenges,

in HOPE, FAITH and LOVE...

Beginning December was quite stressful,

with our baby grandaughter JULIA (20 months old)

in a state of high fever and breathing distress.

She was diagnosed with double pneumonia,

and stayed for 3 days in intensive care,

and then another Week at the hospital...

She's now perfectly fine,

just as if Nothing happened,

but I must say it was quite a shock for us,

and we needed some time to get over that...

Needless to say, I was very far from sewing,

or doing anything crafty,

and even our Christmas tree was deorated at the last minute.

Yet, we had a lovely, quiet and grateful Christmas time

in familly, as well as a nice New Year's Eve...

I won't start this New Year with résolutions,

rather focus on special WORDS throughout the year.

GRATEFULNESS

For my dear, loving husband of 47 years,

For our 4 children, and 3 grand children,

For our family and dear friends,

For my quilting, that fills my soul,

and keeps giving me wonderful projects... 

CONTENTMENT

Being happy with what we have,

making do, and measure how Lucky we are

to live retirement together, and in health...

PERSEVERANCE

Focussing on daily handquilting,

slowly progressing on my current projects,

e.g. my "Sweet Surrender" quilt,

but mainly finishing what I started (recently, or long ago !)

I won't bother you with "THE LIST",

but it's quite clear in my head...

AND LAUGHING ...  A LOT !

HAPPY 2020, MY FRIENDS !

BEST WISHES !

2019 BELGIAN PATCHWORK & QUILTING GUILD SHOW

Three weeks ago, we headed to the beautiful

 ENGHIEN Castle

with my Quilting Bee.

It's always very special, and the 4 of us were very excited...

Such a lovely place

Right from the beginning, we were mesmerized

with all those gorgeous quilts,

most of them being handquilted...

I took more than 100 pictures, so I had to make

some selection for this post, but I guess you get an idea...

After that we rested a bit, while having a yummy lunch,

discussing what we just had seen.

There were also some lovely fabrics and yarns booths,

where we could indulge ourselves into some treats !  

;))

As usual, it was a day to remember,

So, with my happy Bee,

I do hope you enjoyed it too !

From left to right,

Danielle, Agnès, and Simone

°°°°°°°

I'll be back in a few days, with my 

"Sweet Surrender" project (update N°2)

SO LUCKY AND GRATEFUL !

If you remember my latest post, I posted a note about my search for

The "Sweet Surrender" quilt pattern

by Sue Coddy
which is no longer released...

I was immediately contacted by the always helpful

 Pam at "Hokaido Kudasai" (clic)

who suggested to contact another Pam

at  "Applique Paint Box"

https://pamspaintbox.blogspot.com/
which, of course, I did ...

Two days later, Pam contacted me, saying that she could
send me a copy of her pattern !
Oh, My … I was thrilled beyond words.
We pleasantly exchanged a few emails,
we shared our love of bright, jewel tones fabrics,
and I also discovered that Pam is an amazing applique artist.
(Please, don't miss visiting her Blog)

The Post offices worked well, and 10 days later
a huge envelope was hitting my door.
Not only did I get that lovely pattern,
but Pam's copies were full of helpful,
personnal annotations...
AND, she even added a whole bunch of
K.Fasset & Kate Spain fabrics !

Just look at those gems !
(I'm planning to use them in another special project )

From the bottom of my heart,
Thank you, dear Pam !

So I was more than ready to start my new project.
How exciting !
Yet, inspired by Marieke, a talented Dutch quilter,
I decided to follow "The Road less travelled",
regarding my colors choices.

So here are my first 2 blocks...
I struggled a bit with those thin stems,
and had to redo them twice,
but now I found my pace, and I'm happy.


The background fabric for the appliques is a gorgeous
ruby red marbled fabric,
whereas the pieced connecting blocks are all
coming from my light fabrics scraps...

I'm planning/hoping to post weekly about
my "Sweet Surrender" updates.


HANDQUILTING
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
Hmmm, that's another BIG goal !
I'm part of a Bee for more than 25 years,
we're only 4, I'm the youngest, and those
lovely ladies taught me everything...
They can sometimes have "sharp tongues", but always for the better.

We were discussing some projects (including my Sweet Surrender),
and Simone, the eldest (83 years old), looked at me
very seriously, saying :
  " careful, baby, you'll soon become a "topper",no longer a quilter !

WOW, lesson learned, and I decided to handquilt
10 threads a day.  For the moment I'm on my "Dear Hannah' + "Pyramids" tops.


QUILT SHOW
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Last Week, we visited the Annual Belgian National Quilt Show, and it was
wonderful, and so much inspiring.
I made more than 100 photos, and will try to post
some of them, next week, as soon as they're sorted...


ENJOY YOUR SEWING, MY FRIENDS !

BACK HOME ... FINALLY !

Well, it's been a long time , Indeed  :))

We enjoyed Spain very much,

yet we're now delighted being back

in our little Belgian cottage...

Autumn is here, and although some rain

is coming our way, the colours are splendid

and very inspiring...

I'll post some more pictures next time

(soon, I promise)

but I wanted to show you, at least,

an applique work that I completed recently.

It's inspired from the book "Dear Hannah"

by Brenda Papadakis

and I love it very much.

I was also very pleased, having completed

a big crochet blanket

Making it was a total blessing and very relaxing.

Of course, I'm now full of projects,

including much handquilting,

but there's that special quilt that's haunting my mind,

it really becomes an obsession.

The quilt name is "Sweet Surrender" 

by Sue Coddy.

and it was originally issued by "Material Obsession" Web site

I waited some time, having so many UFO's on my working table,

but now I'm ready to make it...

Unfortunately, this pattern is no longer available.

I have searched the Web, yet unsuccesfully  (sigh)

My only hope now would be that some quilter friend

would have it and would accept to help me.

Of course, I'm ready to buy it second hand.

I really, really would be so grateful !

Crossing my fingers (and toes),
"with a little help from my friend"

I'm wishing you all happy quilting times

In stitches,

NADINE

SUMMER BLOG BREAK

Leaving our routines for 6 weeks...

and wishing you a very HAPPY summer time !

***

😎😎

SOME KNITTING, FOR A CHANGE...

After all that time spent on Julia's quilt,

I needed some change, and decided to indulge

myself into some knitting , YAY !

My beloved grandma' used to knit beautiful items,

such as sweaters, shawls, scarves, etc...

and she taught me the basics.

So, armed with a lovely variegated yarn,

(King Cole Shine DK - Rhapsody)

and short knitting needles, I decided to try my hands

on a scarf for next winter, and I browsed through

you-tube wonderful video tutorials (LOVE these!)

I selected this one (clic), named "The Feather and Fan"
knitting stitch, and it looked quite do-able...

My-Oh-My !  I had to undo my works at least ten times,

until I figured the pattern sequence properly !

Yet, what a woman wants...

I finally mastered the process,

and now I'm on a roll

YESSSSS

At last,  I can peacefully knit my scarf,

in thoughts and memories about my grandma'

****

Whatever you're making,  ENJOY IT, my friends !