Where did the time go?

I can hardly imagine how fast the time goes. It has already been two weeks, since I made a last post. I have been working on several projects, but since a lot is also happening in and around the family, there has been less time for it all. And, then there are projects I can still not show because they are secret swaps. Some nice objects for another post.

This week my PIF from Sherri arrived. Sherri is a wonderful person and makes very inspiring and often unbelievably pretty projects. I found myself very lucky, when I was able to join her PIF! Here is a detail of the tablerunner she made. Look at her quilt work!



And this is the tablerunner. The picture does not do it justice, but it was the best. It fits perfectly on our livingroom table and brightens up our room (this picture was taken outside, so that you don't get the idea that it is our table in the living room).

This is a handmade card and look at the cutest mini-honey bun from Aviary Sherri added to the PIF. Thank you so much, dear Sherri, for these lovely PIF presents!

I've been spending quite some time on Leanne's House Block II. A block with a lot of stitchery and lots of French knots. Not sure whether I will finish it this month, as I also want to finish the Christmas Wish and Verandah View BOMs.

I am also still working on The 12 Days of Christmas stitchery by Anni Dawns. So much fun to make in between all those other projects. One of my sisters already finished hers. She did it within 12 weeks! Now that was a very clever goal. She now started one for one of my other sisters.

And this is the one my daughter Laura is working on. Click on the picture and you will see the tiny tiny stitches she uses. Incredible.

Here is a sneak peek of one of the presents for The Christmas in July swap. Luckily the Quiltshop I go to sells Christmas fabrics all year round!

The quote I want to share with you this time:

"That's when you're at your best, when you're focused and you're serious and passionate about what you do, but at the same time you can relax and have fun and be confident."
- Derek Fisher


HAVE A LOVELY LOVELY AND CREATIVE WEEK (o:

Magical Christmas

Finally, my Magical Christmas stitchery by Lynette Anderson is finished. I love it! It was so much fun to make. And the result is amazing. I think this will be my last Christmas project for this year.

This is what I made for my swap partner Marie-Joze. I'm glad she liked it. The stitcheries are by Natalie from Cinderberry Stitches. The springberries needlecase is a free pattern and Ethel is one of the three sisters. I copied the pink 'met liefde' heart from my daughter.

Ethel

Christmas Spirit Swap Gifts

This week the postman brought me a big parcel and I knew my Christmas Spirit Swap had arrived. My first Dutch swap! I had already told my swap partner that I didn't want to wait until Christmas to open it. I wanted it to be special and not get lost in the pile.
I had decided to put the presents under the Christmas tree, as soon as my daughter had finished decorating it that evening, look at them a bit more and then open them.
But what can you do if your children (17 and 15) keep asking you when you are going to open the parcel every two minutes.
Ok, so I decided to take them out of the parcel after a while. I could see from their eyes that they thought I was crazy: are you really just going to put the gifts there and look at them ??? My daughter started to pick up the presents, turn them, feel them, squeeze them etc. And my son kept looking strangely at me.
Eventually this was making me nervous AND even more curious. I gave up and started unwrapping the pressies ...

And this is what I got ...

I was overwhelmed by all the beautiful gifts! Look at the wonderful bag at the right. Marie-Joze does a great job in machine quilting and making bags. I already used it today. And see the stitchery on the Little Sewing bag. Inside the little house is a centimeter roller (is that what they're called) and in the needle case, rose pins were hidden.
For my daughter Marie-Joze had added a key-bag (on the left). She was really happy with it. She asked me if she could have the bag too... I don't think so ...

Thank you so much, Marie-Joze for the wonderful gifts!

Christmas Spirit Swap

My Christmas Spirit Swap parcel is ready to be send away tomorrow! As soon as I know that my swap partner has opened the gifts, I will show what I made for her on my blog.

I find swaps so inspirational! I have made things I have never made before, always looking for new ideas and trying to work them out. Great fun!