Eight eight-pointed stars

This weekend I finally finished my eight-pointed stars quilt. The last thing to do saturday, was to put my name on it. It's a present for my mother, the 24th octobre she will be celebrating her 65th birthday. Today we celebrated it with the family. The quilt has eight stars, they're all different, and have beautyfull names: Blazing star, Liberty star, St. Louis Star, Circling Swallows, Castle Wall, Middle Ages, Broken Star and The Jewels in a frame. It took me more than an year to finish the quilt, it's completely made by hand.

Compasses (3)

Last thursday we had our third lesson about Compasses. We have learned how to make a heart in the middle of the compass. It's not very complicated, but making compassses, you have to be very accurate. I'm not sure what I want to make of my compasses, but it will be a present for Rob's grandmother, when she becomes 82 years old in march.

My exchange-gift arrived in Belgium

So now I can show you a picture. This is what I have send to Pascale. Three little stars for X-mas.

Trip down Memory Lane

Still one month to go in Almere. Today my friend Yolande, her kids Ewout and Peter, myself and Paco went on trip down to Memory Lane. I know Yolande for almost 20 years. We were neighbours in our first appartement in Almere, and we became good friends. She lives in Leiderdorp now for twelve years. Today feels like saying goodbye to Almere, so we went along all the houses were we lived.

Crazy Exchange

Friday I received my first exchange gift. A beautyfull pinkeep was delivered by the mailwoman. Amarins from Leeuwarden made me this. It was a complete suprise because I've been only a member of the exchange group for 2 weeks. Now I have to made something for her within a month. Wednesday I send a gift to someone in Belgium, I can't show you the picture yet, because it has to be a suprise.

I think I'm really going to like the exchange-group, because I like to make little projets. The idea for the Exchange Group is: you send someone a little home-made gift, and within a month this person sends you a little gift. There are members in Belgium, Finland, USA etc. you can do stitchery, knitting, quilting etc. etc. So if you're interested you can have a look at the forum. See the link on the right site.

Elm Creek

Yesterday my Elm Creek Books that I ordered at Bol.com arrived. Yippie!!! They're in English, two books with the first six novels. That will be a lot of reading after finishing my homework for Thursday, and after the search for new curtains in our new home. Still a few weeks to go before we're moving to the Hague.

Last saturday I learned my mother and sister-in-law Ekaette how to make a top. They liked it.

I hope she can find sometime because my nephew Nathaniel (7 months) moves around a lot.

A day in autumn

This morning we went up very early (07.00 h), it was very cold in our chalet (summerhouse) so we decided to take an early morning walk (like always) before breakfast. After breakfast we went for a walk to Assel.


In Assel used to be a trainstation (1876-1935) for King Willem III. During the huntingseason he lived in the "Aardhuis", so they gave him his own trainstation. Now there is only a restaurant and a few houses.

The weather was beautyfull, a real autumn day. As you can see at the pictures. We like to use our GPS when we are walking. With the GPS you can make your own tracks.

After 12,5 km we were back at our car.

Second lesson

Yesterday evening we had our second lesson, "how to make a compass". Everybody did her homework, but not everybody was happy about her choice of colours. Some of us were a little "depressed". But as you can see on the picture, I think all the compasses are beautyfull. We learned how to make a square from our compass. It's not very complicated but you have to be very accurate.

Post from Bep

Today I received my first parcel post (pakjespost) from Atelier Bep. But I can't tell you what it is, because my friends Jacqueline and Tonnie, haven't received their parcel today. And it must be a suprise.

Parcel-post is great fun, for me it was the first time. Every month you receive a pattern and fabrics to make something. That can be anything. Tomorrow is my day off, so after finishing my star-quilt I'm going to start this project.

I like to make small things, as opposed to my friend Helen who really loves big projects, as you can see and read on her blog.

Haan & Wagenmaker

Haan & Wagenmaker is very special quiltshop in Amsterdam. They have reproductions of old fabrics. Yesterday I bought for my sister-in-law Ekaette en my mother two special charm packs. They also want to make a little quilt, so this will be their first project. Afterwards we went for dinner to Rob his grandmother, she is 81 years old. She is fond of paperfoundation. So we are a very creative family. http://www.dutchquilts.com/