Let the fun commence! Tour de Fibre 2012

Tour de France on the television and Tour de Fibre in the quilt corner!
Today is the Prologue of the Tour, and I have made it my prologue as well,
clearing the sewing table for the Tour de Fibre :-)

Definition of PROLOGUE

1 : the preface or introduction to a literary work
2a: a speech often in verse addressed to the audience by an actor at the beginning of a play b: the actor speaking such a prologue
3: an introductory or preceding event or development


It has been said that a cluttered sewing room is a sign of a creative mind in work.
I must admit that clutter does not cut it for me when being creative, even if it can be a bit messy when I am working.
I HAD to de-clutter and clean my space in order to give my best during the Tour.

Edvald Boasson Hagen from Norway came in 5. place in France - I came in 1. here in the quilt corner :-)

Magisk Lykke = Magical happiness or Magical luck
These cute buttons were hid on my desk - now they are in my button box, but they got me thinking what gives me magical happiness - not a bad way to start the Tour de Fibre :-)

I had picked 4 focus projects to work on during the Tour, but this morning I read up on what I did in 2011, and realised that the quilt I was working on then still is without binding, so that will be my first project.

Last year I had my right foot in a cast, but I was able to do these Dresden flowers :-)

I am looking forward to both the Tour de France and the Tour de Fibre, and I hope you will enjoy spending time with May Britt, me and all the other participants.
 Hanne

A girl can not have to many of these!

Since DD2 moved home again after being in New York for 9 months,
we do again feel that the house is not very big.
We all need to be considerate about where we put our things, to not make the rooms to messy.
DD2 needed a toiletry purse that could work as a part of the bathroom decoration.
I was inspired by May Britt's toiletry purses.

A girl can not have to many  zipped purses or drawstring purses!

I have made several for all the members of my family and for myself,
and I am using mine all the time -for sewing stuff, for makeup, for all kinds of necessities,
at home and on the road.

If you look in my daily purse, you will always find more than one.

Do not be surprised if you see me with one of these on my arm too, for my sewing.
May Britt has a challenge going on - if you are quick, you can enter your drawstring purses and other purses too :-)

DD1 forgot some of her makeup at home last time she visited, but since it is stored in one of these cute drawstring purses,made by yours truly, it has been a part of the bathroom decoration since she left. She will be home to get her makeup shortly :-)

PS. Did I mention I do NOT like plastic bags in my sewing room at all………..

The best things in life are quilted!

Hanne

More Amsterdam

Window display next to Den Haan & Wagenmaker :-)

Amsterdam has a lot of interesting building tilting in all directions.

There are a lot of building details to enjoy.

Every town wanderer needs a break every now and then,

on a pavement restaurant on a big place, or in a narrow alley bar.

A boat tour on the canals is sort of mandatory, and it is nice to see  houses and bridges from the water. Notice the details on the bridge fundament.

People are also living in boats on the canals.

We all know Anne Frank's tragic story from World War 2………
We did not go into her house - the queue was around the block and then some.
Next time maybe ?

Our travel companions have sort of got it confirmed that I am short of a marble (or even two) - taking photos of stain glass windows ( Heineken beer museum) and mosaic tiled entrances and floors ( all over town ). That's who I am, and I am proud of it :-)

Elsbeth pointed us in the directions of 9 Streets - a district with small shops.
I found this cute little sewing kit in an antique store. The tassel has had a soap bath.
I wish I could meet the previous owner of the kit. It is quite worn, so I guess she has used it a lot. I wonder if she did patchwork too?
I probably paid far to much, but I just got to have it! (10 Euros)

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away.
- Maya Angelou.

Hanne

Blogging backwards

This spring has been so busy with a lot of things going on, both in the sewing corner and in life in general.
Blogging has unintentionally been on the back burner, so I have decided to blog a little backwards :-)

Last weekend of May, DH and I went to Amsterdam in the Netherlands, with some friends.
Amsterdam is a lovely town, with a lot to see and experience, and even if DH and I have visited before, we have decided we will go there again some day!

Amsterdam has a lovely quilt shop, and it was on the visit plan for the first day!
Den Haan & Wagenmakers is filled to the brim with inspiration, fabrics and quilts.

My travel company was placed on a pavement restaurant enjoying a glass of beer while I enjoyed the quilt shop. You can see them through the window from the shop's upper storey.

The shop makes lovely kits and they have a good selection of Dutch reproduction chintz fabrics. They are very shiny, but I do love the prints.

I was so lucky to have the very best chat and a lovely time with Elsbeth, who works in the shop :-)
She is a lovely lady and a very skilled quilter - please visit her blog!
Elsbeth told me how (not) to treat the chintz fabrics, to keep the shine.
As said before - I LOVE the prints, the shine not so much……. and they are hard to hand piece when unwashed.
I hope you are not to crossed with me for doing the opposite Elsbeth!
Maybe I should duck and run now ??………… ;-)

Last - my fabric treasures from the shop, all the Dutch reproduction fabrics.:-)
I did buy some acrylic templates too. I do have a plan, but it is a little early to reveal it yet!

If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.
- Katharine Hepburn.

Hanne