Holiday's progress

Holidays are over again , so tomorrow duty calls! I wish we could survive without jobs, life would be much easier, at least I would have plenty of time to stitch and quilt. But no complaining, I know I am lucky to have a job!

Last week DH and I went on a trip to Germany, near Trier. We had a wonderful time, the weather was like it should be in autumn: dry, sunny, some clouds now and then and even some fog. We visited Trier, Koblenz and made a great tour along the river Moselle (Moezel). The area is known for the steep slopes of the region's vineyards overlooking the river. And all in beautiful autumn colours, we were blessed to be able to go there!

Before we left for Germany I finished a tile of Holland Springtime.

Also in Germany the evenings were for stitching and I managed to do quite some stitches. At first block eight of Baltimore Bliss.

Also two blocks of My Garden.

And quite some progress on Call of the Raven.

Yeah!! Autumn holidays and progress

Finally we have a week's holiday! I have been looking forward to it since a few weeks, we had enough trouble last weeks on our jobs, DH and I. Thank you all for your sweet words, I'm glad to know you care!
Next week we are going to spend in a cottage near Trier, Germany. Of course I'll show you pictures after we come back.

But for now I have some progress to show. You do remember Holland springtime? Friday I discovered I did quite some stitches a totally wrong colour so I had to frog .... But now I can show you some progress on it. The first picture below is how it is now and right under that is the picture with the lighter blue. See the difference? I like it even better now!

Foregone is coming along nicely. The lady's face is about to be stitched, maybe next time ...

Block one of The Village of Hawk Run Hollow is also finished. I don't think I'm going to stitch a block a month, but then, you never know, sometimes I even surprise myself LOL

And I finished block number 7 of my Baltimore blocks. There are 12 blocks, but maybe I'll do some more, because I planned them on our kingsize bed.

A new start and knitting

Am I insane? Did I get fired? No, I didn't get fired and I think I'm not insane (who can better judge myself than me??) . And yes, I did start a new design. It has been waiting for me since 2010 January and each month I get a new block. I'm talking about the Village of Hawk Run Hollow. I finished the Houses of Hawk Run Hollow this year in June. At that time I didn't feel like starting another Hawk Run Hollow design, but every month, when I get the new block, it tickles me. So, this is the start of block one of the Village of Hawk Run Hollow!

Between stitching and work I have been knitting. I discovered I can also knit during a car ride, so yesterday, when we went to visit Leer (Germany) to do some shopping I took my knitting with me.

When I was much younger I used to knit. I knitting sweaters for me and my children and I loved it. For years I didn't touch the needles but I'm in the mood again! So I bought some yarn in the sale of a local shop.

Springtime in Fall, My Garden and knitting

It's been a busy week with some unexpected nasty things. DH was told he will be without a job from the end of this year (boy, am I glad I did some stashbuilding last months!) I also had some trouble at work, so this weekend wasn't a very happy weekend.
I did quite some stitching, like I always do, happy or not ;)

I added a corner to Holland Springtime.

There's also some progress on Foregone.

My Garden has another block, block 3 is finished.

Also finished a scarf and started another one, in the beautiful blue yarn I showed last week.

Yesterday I found a lovely surprise in my mailbox. A friend made me some knittingmarkers, to cheer me up and to help me follow the pattern in knitting. Aren't they lovely?

Paper piecing and Baltimore

As I had a busy week at work last week I decided I could give myself a friday off. At first I had a really long sleep and when I got up at 09.00 a.m I remembered I had a little paper piecing kit waiting for me. I bought it last autumn and it was still waiting for me to make it. At first I had a little problem to understand how to do it, but that problem was solved after looking at some instruction video's. So at the end of the morning I had a small top finished, ready for me to quilt! It was fun and easy and perhaps I am going to do this more often.

Friday afternoon I went shopping for some knitting wool. I want to knit a scarf and this is what I came home with.

My plan is to knit this scarf and have it finished by the end of the year. I hope the pattern is not too complicated, because I haven't been knitting in ages! I hope I look as young as the lady wearing this :)

Saturday DH and I went with our two DD's to visit Leer, a small town in the northern part of Germany. It's about an hour drive from where we live so I took the opportunity to stitch on block 6 of Baltimore Bliss. At the time we were home again it was almost finished so in the evening, instead of doing some cross stitching, I finished it.

Autumn and Spring

Autumn has come with lots of rain and wind last week. I have to admit I am a nice-weather-type. I love autumn. I love the sunny days, the colouring leaves and stormy weather, but only when it's not raining. The same with winter, I love it when its freezing cold, but only without snow ;)

As for stitching, I have been working on several things this week. First of all Vibrant Vista.

Second is Call of the Raven. I committed myself to put in a thousand stitches every month and it looks like I did it again, this month.

Then there is Foregone, a gift from a dear friend. Chrissie asked me about the whole picture, well, here it is.

And this is mine, not yet finished LOL

And this weekend I concentrated on Holland Springtime. The stitches I put in Holland Springtime are dedicated to a dear friend, who is in need of springtime like we know it in the Netherlands. A blue sky, a fresh air and crocuses and tulips everywhere. It has the promise of life, love, laughter and happy times. Stitching on Holland Springtime, she was on my mind.

An exhibition and stitching

Last weeks have been very busy, business as usual ... I've been working for two weeks now and most things are back to normal. I have been stitching on several things last weeks, mostly on my HAEDs, so it seems I have accomplished only a little progress. Maybe I need to stitch on something small, to have a finish now and then.

Holland Springtime is getting some tulips and crocuses, many more to go, but I'm in no hurry, if only next spring it's finished.

Here's my progress on Foregone. The hair is getting clearly now, even a part of the lady's forehead.

As Autumn is coming quickly now I thought I should stitch on Vibrant Vista again. Do you remember how I left it last February? Like this:

Now there is some progress, the house is almost finished.

Yesterday I met some friends at Deventer, we visited to a quiltshow together. We had a great day and a lot of fun together. Coming home I was very inspired to make the most beautiful quilts, but today I am more realistic and know most of them only get finished in my mind LOL
Here are some pictures of quilts I just loved. There's also a stunning coat, made by a group of quilters.