From the Netherlands to Barbados v.v.

At work it is extremely busy, so coming home I have hardly any energy left. I just want to sit down and stitch something easy, but I also feel the need to read my mails and keep in touch with you all through this blog. Thank you all for your lovely and stimulating comments on my blog, it really keeps me going!

Last Monday I got a lovely surprise at work. We have an exchange-student, a lovely girl from Mexico. In order to help her I went to the Public Library and got her some books to study Dutch, just doing my job and trying to pay a little attention to a student, being away from home in a far country, without her family. Nothing special, I thought, so I was totally surprised, and very pleased by receiving a present from her. It is the most exquisite embroidery, a lovely tote for glasses, and a little sachet. The packet was so nicely wrapped, I first took a picture of it before unpacking. Tonantzin added a ribbon with national colours, and her name and emailaddress on it. I asked her permission to add pictures on my blog.

Quite some time ago I joined the Floss Tag Exchange on the HoE. I didn't receive anything until now, and I was a little worried the package might got lost in the mail. But today, totally unexpected, it arrived. Worthwhile waiting so long! My partner Sandra sent me a lovely package, with a beautiful floss tag, some great threads (J.P. Coats), a keyring from Barbados, a lovely little notebook (youngest DD keeps asking for it) and a package of needles.



Funny detail on this exchange is she stitched a part of 'Life is Sweet' by Ria Lanser, using creme evenweave and DMC. I didn't now this blog (maybe because I'm not a quilter), but Ria is Dutch, like me. So from the Netherlands to Barbados (Caribbean)and back to the Netherlands again!

I took part in a winter biscornu swap and this is what I sent to my partner. It's a design of Helga Mandl, January Biscornu, and I used the floss the design asked for. It really is a very tiny biscornu, and my partner Pirjo liked it very much. In fact, I did too, it wasn't easy to part from it LOL

Showtime!!

Yes, I've got a lot to show. A stitch-out I did for Joan, a Crazy Exchange returngift, a Christmas ornie I sent and a great progress on Celtic Mystery.
To start with the stitch-out, Joan, designer of Sapphire Stitching, asked for stitchers for a Walking in a Winter Wonderland-biscornu some time ago. I thought it was fun, doing something like that, so I volunteered. Surprisingly, Joan added my name on the website (wow, so officially, proud feelings!!) and my recommendings too!
The picture is taken in my own garden, lovely detail :) , and here it is on my own table.

Taija sent me a lovely returngift. She made me a blue bag in different fabrics, and she added some lovely goodies. Some chocolates (two are already eaten .... eehhh correction, three actually LOL), a cute pink kitty, which I believe is a glow-in-the-dark you can wear on your cloths.
She also stitched me a cute little santa, finished in a frame, so it is a Christmas ornament.

Margaret let me know she received the Christmas Ornament I stitched for her in the HoE Christmas Ornament Exchange. I am so happy it arrives safely, and she likes it! I stitched a design of JCS 2008 Special, but I changed some details, like the floss I used, and the beading I did. It is a really tiny biscornu, I sure want to stitch it for me too, so one of these days...

I also want to show some progress on my Celtic Mystery. Yesterday evening I joined the SAT again, and it's a good reason to stitch, stitch and stitch. So no computer, no mail, no chatting, just my needle, me and a good detective on television. I think I need more SATs LOL

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).

Holiday stitching affairs

It's too early to rise, but I awoke and it seems I don't fall asleep again, at least not in a moment. So what is a better time to update my blog?

First of all, I was sooooo happy to read Carol received my gifts. I was her partner in a Birthday Exchange, and I received a Crazy Exchange from her a few weeks ago, so I stitched something in return.All I can show at the moment is the CE, since her birthday is about a few weeks. I sent it off early, because I didn't want to take the risk she wouldn't receive it in time.

This is what I stitched for her:

I forgot to take a picture of the goodies I sent, but luckily, Carol did, so I think it's okay with her I use hers.Last two weeks in Czech Republic I had plenty of time to stitch. I finished a CE that I can't show of course until the receiver has got it. Besides that I stitched a biscornu, only have to finish it, because I didn't have fabric for the back side.

I also finished a little design of Lizzie Kate, Snippet #78 Hop Squared. Luckily I could buy a piece of fabric it was originally designed on, and I have plenty of the fabric left,so maybe I will stitch it again, to give away. Of course I have to do the finishing, I think I will turn it into a pinkeep.

I made a start with Periwinkle Design, I Love Letters Needlebook.

And I made good progress on my WIP, a design of Heaven and Earth Designs, Celtic Butterfly. I think I can finish it this summer, before duty calls again ;)

As always I took too much with me, but you never now what you are willing to do, isn't it? So the things I brought but didn't start or finish are now future plans, waiting for their turn to become WIPS ;)

Exchange gift received

Today I received a gift from Carol , USA. She made me a wonderful scissorfob, and in her package added the scissors too! They combine perfectly, and I am very happy with it. She addes some teabags, French Vanilla, as you can see on the picture. I didn't know yet it was that great fun to be involved in an exchange.

Last week I finished something for a birthday exchange, of which I can't show pictures yet, of course. I have to wait untill the package has been received by the lucky one. I also finished the autumn biscornu. It turned out to be lovely!

And (of course) I made some progress on Celtic Butterfly, as you can see ;)

A lovely sunday

Today it was a lovely day, the sun was shining bright and I took the opportunity to spend my day outside. Part of such a day is doing some laudry, but who cares when the weather is fine?

This morning I have been working at a lovely little biscornu, a design of Barbara Ana, called Autumn Biscornu. I stitched it already in our previous holiday, in may, but the result wasn't what I expected. So I decided to stitch it again, this time on a fine lightyellow piece of fabric. I love the result much more!

The afternoon I stitched on a beautful design of Martina Weber, called Celtic Mystery XI. I get a piece of the design each month, and the final results are unknown. A mystery, indeed. Today I received part six, but I am a little behind. That means, I didn't finish part 4 yet, not to speak of part 5!

But in two weeks my long, long summer holidays start, so I expect to be up to date at the end of june. The result untill now:


A well spend day, so to say, and the evening is yet about to begin. As usual I will be stitching on Celtic Butterfly., but I will show you the results of that some other time :)

Holiday

Today me and my family returned from a week's holiday in Germany. We had a great week, the weather was marvellous, it looked like summer! I have been able to stitch quite some hours, as I rose early in the morning. I started the day with an activity like walking or cycling (in the hills!) and after that I could sit down to take a rest and do some stitching.

In the evening I have been stitching at my HAED Celtic Butterfly, and this is the result until now.

During daytime I was working on a biscornu. I finished one of them, and another one almost. Of the latest I can't show a picture, as it is meant to sent in an exchange, but this is the other one. It is a monochrome biscornu, designed by M.A. Rethoret-Melin. I stitched it on cloud-brown aïda with Gloriana, color Topiary.