SEWING MACHINE HERE I COME!

Gosh, it has been a long time! I am at the computer every day and still it takes me so long to post something. Just because of all the other interesting websites, blogs, videos,...
But as I am teaching a course on machine quilting soon, I spent some time with my sewing machine too. I tried new motives and I like them, especially the top left; it looks like coffee beans!

I knitted a small jacket for a sweet baby girl. Baby things get knitted so fast. It lasted me a bit longer to spin the wool first and dye it. The mother liked it and was glad the jacket was not pink!


As I said before I am trying to learn drawing and I started an art journal which is quite addictive. I will show more of that next time. Til then Happy Easter!

SUNNY TIME

It is still very cold over here but the sun is shining a bit longer every day. Time to grab some tools and put some order in the garden.

Till then some pictures of my new projects.

First a top which did not cost me a cent: I had a shop bought jumper whose wool was too nice to throw away but which shape shout too much "I was made in the 90s and I am proud of it" (wide shoulders, too long,..). So I undid it and then plied the wool as it was very fine (machine knit). Then I made a pattern as I went along, being inspired by some other patterns from magazines.
I am very happy with the result and it is a piece very easy to wear.
I worked some more in my sketchbook:

Trying new things like acrylic paint, coloured pencils,...


I am having fun! I hope you too!

FEBRUARY RANDOM

Winter lasting a bit longer than I like, I tried to bring some spring at home. Inspired by this lady, I sewed first a square to see how it goes. I am glad I made first a small quilt as I learned a few things in the process.


But I like it and I think I will make a table runner out of the rest of the fabric. I can imagine it will look good with some fresh flowers on top. Spring can arrive!

I made another sketchbook, this time for my favorite niece (mind you, I have just one at the moment!) as she is a keen sketcher.


I had fun playing with gesso and gel medium, making the green paper.
I made a drawing of a lady to send with the book and you can see there what my niece and her mother thought about it ( as I have said before I am just a beginner!)

I started a new jumper out of recycled wool which I hope to show next time.
Til then have a nice time.

RESOLUTIONS

There have been some people wondering what I was doing ( for example in Brittany!).

We were just under snow, some renovations and work! But after 2 weeks of rest and snow melting I am back!

So first I wish you all a Happy New Year. May all your projects, resolutions and ideas come true.

My resolution this year is to learn to draw and water colour.
To this effect I made a sketchbook with some fabric a pupil brought me back from Indonesia.


It is made of different types of paper, some in colour to be able to try new things.

I haven´t started this sketchbook yet but I did draw a bit in my old one:





It can only get better! It is fun though.
So I will keep on trying.

Have you made any resolution this year?
I wish you a nice winter time.
Till next time

IF ONLY I DID NOT HAVE TO GO TO WORK

Don´t get it wrong, I love my job! Teaching adults is a very rewarding activity I think.
BUT it takes time which I could spend sewing, spinning, knitting, drawing, painting,...
All of which I NEED to do it seems...
Anyway, I finished knitting this nice wrap. Said wrap will stay in my possession ( that´s for my dear sis!)



It is 100% merino and very soft, quite warm too.
Just the right thing for the coming winter.

I wish you a nice cosy warm time.

HALF-TERM ALREADY

Still gorgeous weather, a perfect indian summer over here.

It is already half-term for my DS. We went to the library yesterday to get enough books to last 2 weeks (that means 2 backpacks full! One for him and one for me).

In the meanwhile I finished the top for my mum.
(modeled by me). I hope she likes it.



I will know next week-end as I will see my whole family then.
I have finished a lace wrap too but it needs blocking, so pictures will be only next time.

I wish you a nice week-end.

WOOLY BUSY

We were lucky with the weather today, beautiful sunshine and mild temperatures.

And enjoying the weather were those funny flowers. I say funny because I remember buying bulbs which were supposed to give many small pink flowers. Instead I have these ones.

They are huge and last only one day! They make nice pictures though!


On the crafty side, I have been in wool up to the neck! I mentioned earlier on that my mother brought me a huge bag of raw wool from Ireland. She scoured it too which was very nice as it smelled a lot.

That´s a picture of the raw wool



which I carded

and then spun

before dyeing it.


I wanted to dye it purple but it turned out a kind of denim. I am knitting it now and I can already say that it is going to be a very warm garment.

I wish you a nice Indian summer.