You wouldn’t know it from looking at it. It isn’t even that big. But this little tree in our back yard spits out figs faster than a tennis ball machine. Literally. My mom had the leaves trimmed off for easier picking. Bags and bags have been given away to any friend willing to take them. And there are still more to be picked. Read More
Figs anyone? Or how to go out of your mind trying to find ways to use them
Posted in In the kitchen
Comments closed
10-Minute Sandwich Wrap
During August we have been featuring Back-to-School projects on our website. If you haven’t been by in a while, make sure to stop in and check out these projects. All of them are super-easy and oh, so quick to make! Read More
Posted in Small quilted projects, Tutorials
Comments closed
Lovely Larkspurs
August was the month to share a (member) tutorial on 3D larkspurs, as part of our Dimensional Flower BOM series. Normally I post the technique, with step-by-step photos of the process. Then there are times such as this one that I feel compelled to complete a project with the finished samples. So today I “threw” this mini-quilt together. Read More
Posted in Blogger’s Quilt Festival, Small quilted projects, Wall hangings
Comments closed
Machine Quilting: What Works for me
Since I spent quite some time machine quilting Alexia and Julian’s quilts over the last couple of weeks before their departure, I thought I’d share a little of my learning process in this area. This might be of more interest for those of you who, like me, live in countries were quilting supplies are not readily available, and where we are especially limited in our choices of sewing machines. Maybe you will find my tips useful. 🙂 Read More
Posted in Machine Quilting, Machines, Supplies, & Notions
Comments closed
A weekend to catch up!
All of a sudden I feel like I have really fallen behind with work related (and personal!) activities! It seems we took a lot of photos this summer, so before they fall by the wayside I feel I really need to sort through them, trash the bad ones, organize the good ones, print those that really should be printed, etc. And then I need to attend to my website. So that’s what I’ve been at since 6 o’clock this morning. Time for a little break and a little blogging. Read More
Posted in Family, In the kitchen, This and that
Comments closed
Fantastic Quilt Along, plus a Giveaway
Ok, people, you have only today and tomorrow to enter this one. Christina, from A Few Scraps, will be hosting a free motion quilt along. And she has a wonderful giveaway to promote it. Read More
Posted in Sewing/Quilting
Comments closed
Hat Parade
Alexia and Julian returned to the U.S. early yesterday morning. And so the day turned out to be incredibly quiet around here. For me, it’s comparable to the sensation of coming back after an extended trip: it takes a few days to get used to the place again and find my bearings. And now the summer is practically over for us. Jamie returns to school tomorrow, and I, too, will be starting new classes. Read More
Posted in Knitting/Crochet
Comments closed
The Process Pledge: a Variation
I see there is an increasing number of quilters out in blogland taking this pledge… and I find this type of sharing very, very exciting! After much debating, I have decided to join in, but feel compelled to do so with a small disclaimer. Read More
Posted in This and that
Comments closed
Is this why I quilt?
Whenever asked why I quilt, the answer that comes out right from the gut is: “Because I have to.” There are so many other activities in life that I thoroughly enjoy; quilting is something beyond even that, an expression of self… And then there are all those other many (and valid) reasons: I love fabric, I love playing with color and patterns, I absolutely thrive on drawing and designing. Read More
Posted in Bed quilts, Family
Comments closed
Homemade Fettuccine
Alexia and Julian will be returning to the U.S. tomorrow. It’s hard to believe the summer is practically over and everyone will be back in school next week. So to celebrate one of the most fun summers ever, and to wish our sweet kids a safe trip, we are having a family get-together today. And naturally there is food involved and a festive spirit. Read More
Posted in Family, In the kitchen
Comments closed
Win your Etsy Wish List
How often do you see a giveaway like this one? CraftGossip is giving out 3 Etsy shopping sprees (each to a maximum value of $100, + shipping). Now is that awesome or what? Left alone, I could spend a small fortune on Etsy on jewelry alone… Read More
Posted in Giveaways
Comments closed
On Sewing Machines
I started sewing (clothes) way back in 1976 on a Singer 404 (slant needle, manufactured in the U.S. 1958). It was given to me by one of the grandmothers in my husband’s family. And yes, it is older than me, but it’s joints sure act younger than mine! 🙂 And I still love it. All it has is a straight stitch, and it is a workhorse of a machine. I used to make all my clothes on this machine and am still proud of the fact that it has all its original parts. Since it is a mechanical machine, I have always been able to service it myself. Read More
Posted in Machines, Supplies, & Notions, Sewing/Quilting
Comments closed
Girls’ Beauty Day
Yesterday the five generations of “girls” in our immediate family trooped off together for a morning of primping and pruning. So here are some pics of all my pretty girls. 🙂
My mom is the only one with really short hair. So she just breezed in, had her hair cut in under 10 minutes, and breezed out again. She used her time wisely and did her grocery shopping while the rest of us beautified. Read More
Posted in Family, This and that
Comments closed
I am a self-learner. I taught myself to sew and to quilt. And I taught myself how to draw. I love to dye my own fabrics, am a fanatic of free-motion quilting, and dabble with mixed media. I am a quilt designer and teacher, and design and publish my own line of quilt patterns. With this blog I would like to share the bits and pieces of my life. 
