This week, my family crew lugged our Gammill longarm machine piece by piece up the apartment stair shaft and into our new living room. It was exhausting! But today is the reward - I’m officially open for quilting service in the EU!
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A leader or a follower? I ponder the two opposing roles as I watch Elora play at our neighborhood playground. If I’m honest, her propensity to observe, bide her time and stand apart from the crowd can make me uncomfortable.
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Ok, I don’t know how much longer I’m going to last. I’m tempted to jump in and just finish this quilt! I want to see these scrappy fun blocks all together and discover how it’s turned out. Working without a design wall feels a bit like working in the dark.
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We knew it would be different. We knew they would be smaller, with petite back yard “gardens” and neighbors close at hand. Coming from the US to The Netherlands, we expected to make compromises as we searched for a new home. But we didn’t know the half of it.
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Did you think I forgot about my book? Nah! I’ve just been a little busy this year. wink. Haven’t we been waiting f.o.r.e.v.e.r? I know, I know! My book is finally going to print and shipping this August. I’m at least as eager as you to hold it in my hands.
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Wondering what 66 Drummer Boy Dresden blocks might look like? I can help you with that! Elora and I put ours up on the wall to celebrate meeting this milestone. She is pure sunshine, isn’t she?
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English paper piecing is such a wonderful project for transitions. I’ve taken it on the train, several times. Tossed my project bag on the edge of sofa after sofa. Traveled with just a few pieces that unfurl into one new star after another. The task seems to add quiet moments to my days.
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Weaving together my life as a maker and other spheres of life: Experimenting with surface design. Shopping Ikea in Dutch. Anticipating accepting EU quilting orders! June was an odd month. Here’s hoping July takes on more rhythm.
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I’ve heard that it’s easy to get stuck while grouping dresden blades for these fans. What goes well together? Does the order matter? How scrappy is too scrappy? Here’s some examples of my thinking when combining scraps.
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Ok, so you want to hear about the food in The Netherlands - how we grocery shop, what’s available, special foods and more. Let’s do it. Now keep in mind that I’ve only been here a short while, so these are my impressions as a very new arrival.
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Good morning! I am savoring a quiet morning cutting fabrics. The window is open, ushering in a cool breeze and sweet bird song. I feel so lucky to have a few hours all to myself while Brandon takes the kids to a school appointment.
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Yay, it’s time to finish our first batch of blocks in week 4 of our Drummer Boy Dresdens sew-along. I have some curve-sewing tips for you and a collection of happy scrappy blocks to share. Thanks for stopping by!
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While there have been days where it feels like we’re not making any headway on our goals, over three week’s time we have certainly gotten somewhere. Let me catch you up!
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This quilt tells a story about where I started, about what brought me into this profession and how far I’ve come. The mended spots are testament to my appreciation for that journey. So, I shall hold it close as we embrace adventures to come.
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The late evening light is so abundant in The Netherlands at this time of year. I’ve found it still feels like there is time in my day after putting Rora down for the night. The light gives me energy!
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This weekend I expect to spend some time in a sunny spot stitching a new Ice Cream Soda quilt block. My sewing space in our temporary rental feels jumbled and uninspiring, but all I need is a comfortable spot to enjoy EPP.
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Before I left, I made love note bookmarks for my parents and closest friends. I chose a word for each of them that captures something I appreciate about who they are. My mother is strength…
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Can you believe it’s been a week already? With all that gets packed into the summer, this sew-along is going to fly by. That’s why I’ve broken it down into a series of doable steps. In just a session or two each week, you can totally keep up!
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