Ying-Yang finished

The ying-yang sampler is finished for some days, yet no time to show it. Next week is class day for the patchwork and then I'll try to find a fabric in the shop that matches to make a cushion. I'm very happy with it.

Another lovely cat siggie received. I always wonder why so many stitchers have cats.

The easter holidays are over, next monday back to school for the kids and back to work for me. We (me and DD) had a shopping week. Clothes for the kids, a new trampoline as the old one finally gave up. Especially Stein does a lot of jumping on it, all his anger and frustrations are forced out there. I saw a lovely hammock with a wooden stand that let me dream of warm summernights. And I ordered one! In summer, when it's too warm in the house, I love to sleep outside. I have a big umbrella on the terras and I put a camp bed under it (should it start to rain). I hope to sleep in my hammock this year!

I did a bit of spring cleaning too, the weather was nice and it's lovely to see through clean windows and sit in a bright house. Of course the cats always find a bit of fluff in a hidden corner to show afterwards :-)

Tomorrow is competition day in the crossbow guild. I'm not concentrated as I should lately, so the last shootings I was the red lantern (what we say for the last). Tomorrow won't be better I guess as today I won't be able to go to the workout. But I always have a lot to fun, they call me the jester in our guild. Next we have the annual dish for St George, after who the guild is named.

Seasons sal

Finally the seasons SAL is finished. I did the backstitching last weekend on the fall part. There should be little swirls in fall colours in the design, but I left them out (I don't like doing backstitching at all) It doesn't feel as if something is missing, I think. It was nice to do, but as a project it was over a year and there were times I was bored with it. But now they are finished and I can decide what to do with it. Maybe little cushions or wallhangings, I have to go through my fabric stash to see what is available.

I also finished a litlle funny cow from a SAL on internet. My oldest grandson wants it for his birthdaycard in July. Speaking of being in time!

My ying-yang project is doing extremely well. I will get it finished this week and it will turn out into a pillow.

At the moment I'm washing my fabrics. Boy, do the reds bleed! So all I do is putting tubs out and rince, rince, rince. Lucky for me the weather is nice, so I can put them outside and dry them properly too.

Ying-yang and fabric

I started (another) project which I fell in love with. It has one single colour and is a ying-yang design. I started it on monday and so it is when you see it now. Of course I'm stitching the dark side now, which is more work.

I also purchased the fabric for my patchwork lessons, it will be a piece in red and green. I'm not totally satisfied with the greens though, so next week I'm fabric hunting again.

This easter weekend will be quiet for me, only me, the animals and my needlework. I will totally enjoy it!

Patchwork

Yesterday was my first lesson about patchwork.
I learned so much, but it was exhausting and sometimes confusing.
Colours are so difficult, I thought it might be the easiest part, but now I know it will be dificult to choose the fabric.
We learned how to draw a template correctly, also not as easy as I thought.
For next lesson we have homework: to make the templates for our top and buying and preparing the fabrics. I made a drawing in some colours and it is a real challenge!
Over all, I am very happy to have taken the lessons, at the other hand, I know I will say some bad words once in a while!
I also found the hexagons I was looking for, so for that I was happy too.

Zoo, BD card, Easter ornament

Yesterday was a beautiful spring day and DD and I decided to take the kids to the zoo on their school free afternoon. We had big fun seeing all the animals. Jell though had more attention for the tractors riding around then the animals. He loved the penguins the most. We discovered something unbelievable, hadn't we seen it, we simply wouldn't believe it. At the age of 10, Stein had his first grey hair!!!! DD pulled it out. Flegmatic Stein said to that 'thanks mum, now I get 2 insead the one you pulled out!'

The second BDcard of this month arrived, it was for Ingrid. We could choose what to stitch.

And my easter ornament arrived, now I can show it.

Tonight I'm going to attend my first patchwork class, I'm excited!

A walk to the zoo

What a wonderful day was thursday, so sunny and warm, spring finally arrived. I took a walk in the zoo of Antwerp. It was nice to have a stroll withouth heavy coats and gloves, hat and shawl. I went straight away to the elephants. Kai Mook is almost a year old now, I still remember her being born while I was watching the live camera on my laptop. She has become a nice little girl! The zookeepers were arranging flowerbeds and preparing the zoo for Easter, when the official zoo season opens (it is open the whole year though and I have a subscription for it, so I can go as often as I want).

Sonja had her birthday this mint, she wanted Country Companions on her card, so I stitched my favourite character from them, Tom Mouse. Another card is on its way for Ingrid.

And my siggie collections has grown once again as you can see.

Next week my first patchwork lesson is on, I'm excited, but alos a bit nervous, will my skills be good enough and won't I be too slow? Time will tell. I have experienced that quilters are patient people, so I guess I don't have to worry.

Painting

This afternoon I went to a painting workshop. I painted this highland bull. It will have a place in DH's pub, next to his beloved whisky's.
It's far from perfect, but I'm satisfied with it. I made appointments for two more workshops in painting as it was such a nice afternoon.
For the first time since DH's passing, I could concentrate on something without any further thoughts. I was really happy with the result and I felt happy over all. So this was really the first step into a 'next' life. It's difficult to explain, but I guess you understand.