dutch comfort

IQP 2010 update

Published February 9, 2010 IQP 2010 , blogging , projects , quilting 5 Comments

You sure know how to challenge me with ideas for the IQP 2010 quilt blocks! Some block ideas are completely new to me.

I actually made two blocks for this round, but on second thoughts I didn’t feel happy about one of them. It’s a learning curve and that’s what I hoped for.

The new block:

Karol Ann: ‘I love those Maverick Star blocks on the Quiltville website‘.

Karol-Ann, this is your block and your name is in the hat!

You can see the other finished blocks for the IQP 2010 quilt on my flickr photopage.

Ready, set, go for the next stage! Please leave a comment on this post with a new block suggestion. If you’re new to the project, please read about the rules here. The winners of the first 3 blocks can also leave another comment with a new idea or repeat a former idea that didn’t make it yet!

Nicolette

g = gifts

Published February 7, 2010 abc , books , dear baby jane , fabrics , gifts , inspiration , my life , quilting 13 Comments

I know, I skipped the f in my abc, but I will come back to that later. I could have called this post f = fabulous gifits, but that would be like cheating, right? Cause they are fabulous, the gifts, but I need a proper word for the f and fabric is to obvious a word.

1. 1930’s repro fabrics Judy Rothermel, 2. pink rose, 3. Jelly Roll inspirations, 4. B-day cards, 5. 1930’s repro fabrics Judy Rothermel, 6. red rose, 7. I love patchwork, 8. Quilting Art, 9. Quilting for peace

The mosaic represents some of the wonderful gifts I received for my birthday. As you can see, I was spoilt. Books about quilting and patchwork, flowers, cards, 1930’s repro fabrics for my Dear Jane quilt that will be a lovely addition to the More fat 8th’s I have worked with so far.

We had a simple but lovely celebration with family and friends. Mr DC planned a surprise trip to one of my favorite towns for some shopping and a lunch.

Today I found some time to machinequilt my little Dutch quilt. Look at all those threads that need to be hidden away.

And now, back to normal, one year older and hopefully a little bit wiser!

Wishing you all a lovely week ahead!

Nicolette

e = echoquilting

Published February 4, 2010 Monday mini quilt , abc , appliqué , quilting 12 Comments

African fauna. A miniquilt in a series of African quilts. The lizard is roughly appliqued and quilted through the 3 layers of front, batting and backing. The echoquilting makes it look like the little creature took a dive into the water and formed rings.

I’m working on 2 new blocks for the Interactive Quilt Project. Hope to show them soon. So you can start thinking about a new idea to enter!!! And I worked on clients orders. And the Mystery Quilt-along. And other projects. I have almost finished the little Dutch quilt for a friend. All in random order!

Nicolette

d = dresden plates

Published February 1, 2010 abc , inspiration , quilting 16 Comments

1. Summer Circle, 2. Dresden Plate Candy Apple, 3. DQS8 finished., 4. stitches, 5. Work in progress, 6. color wheel, 7. Dresden Testing, 8. dresden 01, 9. Finito!, 10. Stacked plates, 11. Ferris Wheel Quilt- WIP, 12. dresden mini detail, 13. Dresden Quilt, 14. dresden 01, 15. bee modern-Sent, 16. quilt show

Dresden plate love from this flickr photo pool.

I made a flickr photo mosaic using BigHugeLabs, but is it me, or are the pictures in the mosaic a bit blurred? What tools do you use to make mosaics from flickr photos?

Thanks for telling me your favourite colour in the last post. 12 of you chose the ochre! Good for you! That’s indeed my choice!

A happy first week of February! Somehow I’m glad January is over! But Winter still isn’t. It’s kind of snowing again as we speak!

Nicolette

c = choosing colours

Published January 30, 2010 Colour my day , abc , fabrics , quilting 21 Comments

My favourite part of starting a new project is choosing the colours of fabrics, paint, yarn, thread or printing ink. It’s an effortless diligence.

These are my fabrics for the Mystery Quilt-along at Mrs. Moen.

My only doubt was the choice between the ochre and the two soft pink fabrics. I know what I like best. What would be your favourite choice, picture 1, picture 2 or picture 3?

Happy weekend!

Nicolette

b = block

Published January 26, 2010 abc , gifts , quilting , swap 20 Comments

The smallest paperpieced tulip-blocks I ever made, 2″ square, part of a secret gift for a friend.

A close focus picture.

I was having issues with my standard Nikon 18-70 camera lense. It appeared to be broken, something that sporadicly happens, duh! As I had to buy a new one, I chose for an 18-105 lense. Together with a close focus lense filter I hope to make more gorgeous close-up stuff. Something good coming out of something bad after all!

I will show the completed gift when it has arrived at the recipients place!

And to continue this tulipy Spring kind of post, I joined the Spring Surprise Swap 2010 at the Dutch Sisters Corry and Heleen. You can join till January 31st!

Stay tuned for more alphabet (abc) posts!

Nicolettte

a = appliqué

Published January 24, 2010 IQP 2010 , abc , appliqué , fabrics 16 Comments

My appliqué skills were reasonable, but could definitely use some upgrading, so I decided to take classes to learn about the tips and tricks.

I loved it! We learned to makes curves, leaves with very sharp points, very small branches, as perfect as possible circles, squares, using needleturn and reverse appliqué.

We worked with templates and freezerpaper and talked about needles, thread and fabrics.

We all made this panel with our own selection of colours and fabrics. The results were very different but all very lovely. It is about 14″ square. I’m not sure yet what to use it for. A little quilt, a pillow case, a centre block for an appliqué quilt or maybe I will turn it into a bag.

I’m hooked to appliqué now.

Please, don’t forget to leave a comment with a block suggestion for the Interactive Quilt Project 2010 here. I need 10 ideas before I can start another block!

Happy week!

Nicolette

Interactive Quilt Project 2010 update

Published January 20, 2010 IQP 2010 , blogging , design , fabrics , give-away , quilting 17 Comments

Thanks for leaving some wonderful ideas on my initial Interactive Quilt Project 2010 post. I hope more of you will join the project during the upcoming months. Maybe you first need some examples or a proper warming up? You don‘t necessarily have to suggest wonky blocks. All blocks will do, all I need to do is to translate them into something contemporary, so all the blocks will become a coherent group.

Don’t forget you have an opportunity to win the final quilt!

To get my lazy bum started I have drawn 2 names from the suggestions and made the first 2 blocks.

a disappearing nine-patch block in citrus-y colours for Tracy.

and a nine-patch block from retro fabric for Chase.

Tracy and Chase, your names are the first to go into the hat for the final drawing to win the quilt!

Do you like to join? You can read about the rules here. I hope you feel encouraged to leave a comment on this post with a (new) suggestion. If your idea didn’t win the first time around, you can try again!

Happy week!

Nicolette

craft hope for Haiti

Published January 16, 2010 appliqué , charity , dear baby jane , quilting 7 Comments

Craft Hope opened an etsy shop in benefit of Haiti.

‘Our Etsy shop will benefit Doctors Without Borders, with 100% of the proceeds going to them. The medical need in Haiti right now is acute. The Doctors Without Borders existing facilities are so badly damaged, they are no longer functional. Post-earthquake medical care will be from tents. So far they have treated 1,500 people – 500 of them need immediate major surgery. There are no facilities to do this in Haiti currently. An inflatable hospital should be arriving in Haiti today.

The shop will remain open as long as we have donations to fill it up! Thanks to everyone for spreading a little hope to those in Haiti’

Please read more about it here.

More Dear jane blocks. When you like to see them all, please click on my flickr photo album in the right sidebar.

I made this block with the gorgeous tulipy fabric I received from Marit.

Happy weekend, stay safe, stay sound!

Nicolette

building stashes

Published January 13, 2010 appliqué , blogging , dear baby jane , projects , quilting 14 Comments

A summary and some links for you.

My stash of Dear Jane blocks.

Working with these fabrics always make me happy!

I joined the mystery project on Mrs Moen’s blog. It starts on January 25th. There’s also a button in my sidebar.

As I love phinwheels, I feel tempted to join the pinwheel sampler quilt along, hosted by Rachel Griffith on her blog p.s. i quilt.

Stephanie hosts a string-quilt challenge.

Her post reminded me of the blocks I received from a dear friend, after we agreed to swap blocks. Another stash to tackle!

Never a dull moment! There’s so much happening in crafty blogland!

Happy days!

Nicolette

I’m so excited… Interactive Quilt project 2010

Published January 8, 2010 IQP 2010 , blogging , design , fabrics , give-away , projects , quilting 14 Comments

I’ve been playing with this idea for a while, to make a quilt with your interactive participation, something like I’ve done in 2007 making a Pink Ribbon Quilt with appliques suggested by my blogfriends.

The quilt I have in mind will consist of blocks that I need you to define (kind of blocks and colours). For this quilt I prefer to make pieced blocks, size 12″ square.

And to make it more fun for you to participate… you can win the finished quilt!!!!

The background colour will be (all sorts) of white. This Wonky Star block is an example of what a block could look like. The size of the finished quilt will depend on your and mine enthousiasm and perseverance. I presume there are about 25 blocks needed to make a reasonably sized quilt, but it’s not about the size, it’s about the intention.

If you like to join this project, please read about some rules:

1. On every Interactive Quilt Project (IQP) 2010 post, you can a leave comment with an idea for a block and share your favourite colours.

2. When I’ve have received (at least) 10 suggestions for blocks, I will draw the name of the winning block and put it together.

3. I will post about the winning block and ask you to leave a new comment for the next block. And so on and so forth, untill all blocks needed are finished.

4. In the end, the names of all block winners will go into the hat. When the quilt is finished (sandwiched, quilted and bound) I will draw the name of the winner of the quilt and it will be send to you. You can choose to keep it yourself, give it to a dear friend or donate it to charity, that’s completely up to you.

5. Make sure I can reply to your comments (anonymous and no reply comments won’t count). One entry per person per IQP 2010 post. You will have a reasonable amount of chances to get your name in the hat for the final drawing when you leave comments on the IQP 2010 posts.

6. Once you’ve ‘won a block’ you are allowed to take another chance by leaving a comment and suggestion on the following IQP 2010 post (I invented this one in case there will be only 1 participant…LOL!)

Does the above make sense? If not, please let me know and send me an email. The address can be found in the ‘about’ page of my blog.

Let’s get started! Please leave a comment with your suggestion, and try to think contemporary, colourful, happy and outside the box. If you’re only familiar with traditional blocks, please share those, I will try to modify them! I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

I hope this 2010 interactive project will become a wonderful joint experience and will be a learning curve for me!

Happy weekend!

Nicolette

white January

Published January 7, 2010 my life , walk a mile in my shoes 10 Comments

We can’t stop talking about the Winter we’re experiencing. It’s a long time since we had so much snow and ice, traffic jams, closed runways on the airport, disorganized public transport and even the brine salt (edited with the help of Anna) is sold out. After tomorrow there will be heavy snowfall again… We’re not dealing with global warming, but cooling-down.

Though I can’t skate nor ski, I do love to take a walk in the snow. It’s also fascinating to discover little things that have adjusted or changed in my garden.

I’m not courageous when it comes to driving on slippery roads. I slipped though a red traffic light this week, cause I was afraid to use my brakes… ’m prepared for the penalty! I probably could have bought some pretty stuff for the money… sigh! Well, better a penalty than a crash!

Midas wanted to check out the snow, though he was inside again in a blink.

This was the reason of his curiosity. Prints of cat’s paws and bird’s feet. They seem to have been dancing together!

Nicolette

snowflakes

Published January 2, 2010 Christmas , SSCS , appliqué , blogging , gifts , quilting , swap 17 Comments

Did you embrace 2010? I did! Twenty ten, sounds good.

No resolutions here, but to live every day to the full, 2009 was gone before I even noticed.

Can you bear one more Christmas-themed post?

I’ve showed you the SSCS gifts I received from Bec but I didn’t show you what I made and bought for Cathy. It’s no secret I love to make table-runners, such great gift projects.

I was once again inspired by Kathy Mack’s (PinkChalkStudio) Christmas table-runner from Quilting Arts Gifts 2008. This time I also used the applique shapes, the Christmas theme and fabrics from her shop combined with linnen and solids from STOF dk.

I machinequilted the ditches, echoed the snowflakes and stars and quilted some more. A great project to work on!

My photos are not the best, please go over to Cathy’s for better ones.

It’s always wonderful to see gifts you’ve made popping up on the recipients blogs in totally different (light) settings.

Taking pictures during Wintertime still is a problem. Besides, my Nikon needs a check-up. Maybe some anti freeze or snow tires will help. Yep, it’s snowing again.

Happy weekend!

Nicolette