Half way this week already! Still half a week to go and work calls again. This holiday is over before I know it, must have been because of having so much fun at blogs and stitching. I planned to visit many museums this holiday, but most of them stay plans.

I went to Rotterdam though, yesterday, to visit the exhibition of Chinese posters. Since many years I have been interested in Chinese culture, and a part of that is the big propaganda posters the Chinese gouvernment used (and still uses) to bring their political messages to the people. I even have a collection of these (rare) posters myself.

Rotterdam is a three-hour-train-ride from Groningen, so it took me a day. But I had a great time at the museum, and afterwards went to visit a needlework shop at the center. Since I spared some money by not buying a catalogue at the museum (there was non, LOL) I thought I might as well buy a lovely pattern. Beardie Designs, Autumn Accessories. I'll try to start stitching it next week .

Travelling by train has a great advantage: you can stitch. So I started and finished this cute little freebie of Brighneedle Design, Humble Daisys, stitched on 28 ct. Cashel Linen. Now I have to decide how to finish it.

I want to show you some of the Chinese posters, some of you might not even know they exist if I don't. And as a librarian it is part of my job to pass information LOL , so here you go!

To start with modern times, here is a poster of the Olympic Games, 2008.

Under it the Olympic Games in 1984. Prince of gymnastics Li Ning won three gold medals, two silvers and one bronze in gymnastics at China's Olympic debut 1984 in Los Angeles. This year he lighted the Olympic cauldron in awesome style, lifted high in the air by ropes, circling the stadium and then lighting the giant cauldron.

One of the largest collections of Chinese poster can be found here: http://www.iisg.nl/~landsberger/hx.html

Another review of Chinese posters can be found on http://www.iisg.nl/exhibitions/chairman/chnintro.php

Finishing skills and art

It has been quite a productive week, and I'm very happy I am able to show some finished things, and most important to me, I am quite satisfied about the finishing. Although I doubted myself (too much, I am told) I now can see they approved a lot since I started stitching. As a matter of fact, I can say I am proud of myself, finishing the most cutest little biscornu (2,8 x 2,8 inch) I've ever seen (I haven't seen that much, but does that matter?).

I stitched it during holidays and I didn't stitch the back. So I had to do the backside with a matching piece of cotton, which I found at a local Quilt Shop. I didn't even know we had such a shop in Groningen, but a few weeks ago, visiting another shop, I asked for smaller pieces of fabric, the woman who helped me out told me the name of this Quilt Shop.

Last tuesday I went there for a visit, and I was thrilled. So many colors, so much choice. I couldn't control myself and bought a lot. But so lovely and colourful! Two of the pieces I could use immediately, one to finish the biscornu a freebie from Aurelle,

the other to finish my first pinkeep!

Lizzie Kate, Hop Squared, I stitched during holidays too, is now turned into a lovely pinkeep. I never thought I could do that. This afternoon I went to the market to get a little green ribbon to finish it, and here it is.

Not everything I did this week was stitched-related. I also visited Groninger Museum, where they have some great exhibitions of Chinese contemporary art and Ancient Bronzes. As some of you might know, I am a China-adept (not political). I love its language, its culture, its arts and its people.

As I didn't buy the catalogus (too expensive) I took some pictures.

Shi Jinsong

Short Pine Trees, 2007

Wood

Chi Peng

Five Elements Mountain, 2007

Photograph

Fang Lijun

Series 2 No.2, 1991-1992

Oil on canvas

For those who are interested some more pictures (not mine).