Scraps and hexagons

This pile consists of a little bit more than 750 hexagons. I made them out of...

 these scraps given to me by a friend.

In about a week time, all of the paper hexagons were covered with fabric.

So much fun to discover all the different prints!

 I opened up a box of hexagons I made a few years ago,

about 350 of the same size hexagons (3/4 inch sides) in this box.

In total I have now 1100 hexagons in this basket, mixed up, ready to be sewn together,

into a quilt. I started a little piece today. I will be using some old pieces of fabric like the flowers on the left which are bigger than the hexagons, in between as little surprises.
I started this last week as an 'in between project', easy for taking with me while traveling or watching television....I always know how to sell a new project to myself!!!

Have a great weekend,

GroetjesAnnemieke

Inspired by ' The 1765 Huis Doorn quilt'

Although I have a few pictures from the quilt from 'huis Doorn' and from a book by An Moonen it is still very difficult to see which fabrics were used. To make it more difficult: lots of the originals were covered in the beginning of 1900. Therefore I decided to choose my own fabrics and colours. I keep an eye on the pictures and when I can, I try to work in the colours or shades of the original.

Lots more fabric came in this week, from a friend. And being washed and dried, on my balcony.

Folded and put in the basket. Most of it comes from thrift shops (ties, blouses,fabric remnants) and were given by friends or found by me. Amazing how many silk varieties in just one basket!!!

This weekend 'm working on these blocks. Preparing during the day and sewing in the evening , in front of the tv.

This a very special piece a friend gave me. It has beautiful colours and has machine embroidery all over it.

I still have a lot of drawing to do. Some very strange blocks too. So more to come soon hopefully.
Also the best thing would be in the near future, if I could see the original from the museum. No news yet about it though. It is still in depot.

Have a nice weekend,
Groetjes
Annemieke

Summer 2017 catch up

I started to work on my 70's tulip quilt, which I mentioned here  .All the applique is down but I want to embroider over it, so work on this one will continue.

On holiday in June, I started this kaleidoscope quilt. Not as easy as it seems. I really had to pay attention to what colours (and shades) to pick. 

Somewhere in between projects I made this top with the big churn dash blocks. I loved working with big blocks for a change. I used thrift shop shirts, new quilt fabric, old French fabric, a handkerchief and some 80's fabric.

I started to embroider from this book by Cecile Franconi. All of the projects are not big, easy to finish in a couple of days. And the more I practice the more I learn. Fun to learn new things!

This is a card I embroidered for a good friend. There is no pattern in the book, but I just thought to give it a go and learn on the way.

Another good friend send me lots of silk pieces for a new exciting project, all the way from the USA. 

After washing and ironing it looked like this.

With the help of my husband, I draw blocks, mostly on the computer, after a quilt from 1765,  in possession of Huis Doorn (the Netherlands) but once made in the UK.  Sadly the quilt is in a depot. I hope to see it once.
There is a picture of it in this book by An Moonen on page number 124 and 125.

I enjoyed making a replica of the 1718 quilt ( York, UK). Since the 1765 quilt from Huis Doorn reminded me of the 1718 quilt I started thinking of making another replica. I hope to show you more blocks soon. I'm still collecting silks, which is not that easy, but fun. It will be my first silk quilt.

Groetjes
Annemieke

'Foep' quilt with crazy borders finished!

Lots  of pictures of my finished 'Foep quilt'.  Enjoy!

Most birds have embroidered eyes, not this one. The fabric was just in the right place for this little bird. It made me happy when this happens.

This 'Foep' quilt has crazy borders. The original borders are beautiful, all made out of lace but I found my borders needed more colour for an overall balance. Crazy borders with a chicken found at a thrift shop.

Lots of ric-rac and other ribbons, fun for the children who will be sitting under this quilt. Probably my sister's grandchildren if they want too. 

My initials in light blue, embroidered with a chain stitch and perlé yarn number 8.

The title of the quilt and also the title of the children's story book by Ingid van der Harst embroidered in chain stitch too.

Some fabrics are a bit old like the brown one with flowers from the 90's, some new quilt fabrics, some from thrift shops like the dark blue shirt fabric...

 And others are from table napkins or Dutch folklore fabrics. There is different eyelet in there too like the light brow bird.

Fabric pocket on the back of the quilt, for the book about 'Foep' the cat.

Bird fabric scraps on the back of the quilt. I bought this at Ikea long time ago.

With Oscar of course. Always helpful.

The sun was a bit bright for taking pictures but I wanted to post about the 'Foep' quilt today and not wait another day;)

If you want to make the quilt too (and order the little book to read to little children) you can find the pattern here (available in English too)

GroetjesAnnemieke

Wool dyeing

These are woolen and linen fabrics I collected. I will make a tulip, based on 1970's pattern, out of it together with a very good friend. We will both make our own version.

I needed more greens so I started to dye woolen fabrics.

 Before the dye bath.

I used Dupont wool dye . It is very easy to use. You only add vinegar to the water en the dye.

Then simmer the pan with the wool for 20 minutes.

Some greens started as a yellow fabric ( a used woman's jacket send by my friend all the way from the US:), others as grey or beige checked or striped. All fabrics come from thrift shops.

 The dyed yellow woolen fabric up close, turned into a nice green.

This whole dyeing process is so addictive! I tried it with some sheep wool too, spun by my father-in-law.

 All kinds of lovely shades, a bit like Italian ice cream like my husband noted.

 After dyeing I noticed an Indian cress (tropaleolum majus) with same light orange colour. Funny is't it?

 And see here some same colours were in these roses on my breakfast table.

The beginning of my tulip quilt journey.....I hope to show you regular updates of this project, but first want to finish my Foep quilt (birds and cats quilt).


Enjoy your week,

Groetjes
Annemieke