Queensday will be Kingsday in 2014

Big news on the dutch television. Last night. Queen Beatrix, announced that she will be passing the crown to her son Prince Willem-Alexander. After three queens (Wilhelmina, Juliana and Beatrix), there will be a king and a queen. No more Queensdays on the 30th of april, but Kingsday on the 27th april.

http://www.kshb.com/dpp/news/world/dutch-queen-beatrix-announces-she-is-to-abdicate-leave-throne-to-son

Loeke's quilt

I finished the quilt for my friend Loeke, it will be on the mail tomorrow.
She has cancer, and having a hard time in front of here. Hopefully this quilt will give her some comfort (and warmth).

It's still cold here, with lots and lots of snow, and that means a lot walking, because it's too slippery to cycle. And public transport? Well not very reliable at the moment. Lucky it's just a 15 minute walk from work to home.

What are you doing on a sunday afternoon?

Oh, you're a quilter too, then it would be probably quilting ; ). Emma and I spend the all afternoon sewing. Her kids and husband where enjoying the snow, even when there was a kind snow storm blowing around the house. More snow here in the Netherlands.

We made ourself inside comfortable with cake and tea. Home-made cake, Emma is a fantastic cook. She started a new quilt on her X-mas sewing machine, a real Featherweight. And I was machine quilting my 1600 inch quilt.

Don't we look happy quilters on the pictures.

Bailey kept us company, and had to check us out now and then. But most of the time he was just sleeping. Isn't he cute, he has been growing a lot since the 1th of januar.

What do you like ....

.... to do on a sunday morning? When it's still dark, lots and lots of snow around and the house, and a cold wind is blowing from the east. I like to get up early, get the teapot on the table, do some quilting, study a little bit. It's so quiet and peaceful. And the good thing is, you have a very long (quilt) sunday.

 1600 inch quilt 

This is my newest project, the 1600 inch quilt, you can find instructions here, also called spaghetti or lasagna quilt. As Marne and I would joke, it's a really an american quilt to make: quick and easy, sew and cut. And it's really true you could make it in less then a day, or maybe an afternoon if you use a jelly roll. I didn't use a jelly roll, but all the scraps I got from Ronda two years ago, they were already cut into 2,5 strips. Thanks Ronda I think they were waiting for this quilt. The quilt will be going to a friend of me who got cancer.

Winter in the Netherlands

When I'm reading the blogs of my australian quiltbloggers, it feels strange. We're having lots and lots of snow here, and  they're having high temperatures and bushburning. I wish I could send some snow to them, and receive a little bit of sunshine.

Here everybody has to plough through the snow to get at work. Tuesday morning, 40 centimeters (16 inches) of snow was laying around the house. And because it was so early, there were no paths, Mies disappeared till her belly in the snow. Poor old girl.

Any quilting going around?
Yes a little bit, but my study Business Science/Administration started last tuesday. This time the subject is "logistics", so that means "making choices". I'm busy finishing an old project. I have to do the binding at the dog quilt for my friend Emma.  And I couldn't resist this pattern "the two patches ladies", you can buy it at Quiltatelier Vlijtig Liesje for only 2,95 euro. Last saturday in Putten I saw this crochet cupecake wrap hanging in the window. And I coulnd't resist that as well. Really had to try it.
Small projects between working and studying. And more exciting I'm planning another trip to Seattle, it will be november, first they will arrive on the 17th of april.

Mies again

They say that I'm sometimes a very lazy dog. I don't know where they got that opinion. Why should I stand up if can reach my eating bowl just from my pillow?

Don't leave your bag at a quilters home

My friend Bep came along on tuesday, but she forgot to take her bag with her. And when I saw it hanging at the doorknob, I thought I can't look at a plastic bag for a whole week in my hallway.

And as quilter we're never short of ideas or fabric. A replacement was quickly made.

So never leave your plastic bag at a quilters home ; ).

Quiltfun on saturday morning

Sorry, but if you read this post the quiltsale at Evy is already over. Emma and I spend the morning looking, searching and buying at Evy/Petra and then we had to have lunch at home. We spend all our money at the quiltshop ; ).

The dessert was the best: a mini-cake of Maison Kelder. I'm trying to teach Emma about all the important shops in The Hague. Maison Kelder is famous for his Hazelnutcream cake, everybody in The Hague knows about Maison Kelder.

And you know what's even better? It's only 70 yards away from the Quiltshop.

It's always good to be at the Quilterspalet. We enjoyed the quilts made of english paper piecing. Maybe I will start one, Emma certainly will. But I still have some unfinished projects waiting that needs my attention, but on the other hand, I didn't make any resolutions for this year. So why not start another quilt project?

Well can you believe it, it's only the 5th of januar and there are some many plans and things to do in 2013. On the 16th or 17th of april our friends Marne and Elaine will arrive. Better start tidying up the house.

Bailey

No, this isn't our puppy.

Mies is still around very happy and lively.

Bailey is the new pup from my friend Emma. Isn't he cute. He was welcomed in their home the 1th of januar. What a good way to start 2013. I think Mies and Bailey will be big friends. We just have to wait till Baily got all his vaccinations.

The new Kaffe Fasset?

Who knows? This is Peter,  he is 13 years old, son of one of my best friends Yolande. (In march 2013 we are friends for 25 years).

At school he had some experiences with a sewing machine, so he said that he would like to make a quilt. Isn't that great a school where they learn how to use a sewing machine!

So the last saturday of 2012 he spend the afternoon sewing at my home.

Originally we planned the last saturday of 2011, but a plan doens't always come together like you want.

 The fabrics we used were from his old clothes, jeans, fleece sweaters and blouses. I think he did a great job.

I WISH YOU A HAPPY 2013

 This is how I ended 2012! My mum and I baking "oliebollen" (deep-fried doughnuts).  It's a dutch tradition to have "oliebollen" on the New Year Eve, and a long tradition in our family, from grandmother to mother to daughter. We baked about about 80 "oliebollen" and 30 "appelflappen".