Quilter’s favorites

My dear friend Geat is hosting a “share and learn” party on her blog, http://www.cadouri-din-inima.blogspot.com.

Everything that Geta is doing is from heart, so I will try to ask all her questions with my heart open. My big problem is that I do not have so many things to share, I am more a hand quilter, I just bought a free motion foot for my simple sewing machine and I did paid for some courses on Craftsy, but no time to watch them (yet).

1) my favorite quilting notions : bias tape maker, yo-yo’s maker, thread snip

2) tips for hand quilting : train your hand with sashiko and embroidery first:)

3) tips related to quilting: do not compare your quilts with some others quilts:) Together with a group of ladies we did “life is a celebration” quilt. At one point some of the ladies had the quilt almost done, and after seeing there quilting I could not continue working on mine.  Then I decide that this is a hobby, not a competition…

4) don’t do like me: spending hours online, checking new quilts and new techniques, saving hundreds of links hoping to have time some day…one step at the time, and start with the basics

5) a type for those like me, if you like to try new techniques, do not start big quilts. Join a group and swap textile cards, amazing how much you can learn and also find some peace…

i like quilting because i like to make nice things for friends, I like to play with the fabrics and I like to be creative. I need to do quilts because it’s my way to relax, together with some good music or a movie in the background . I like to find a tutorial online when I need one, and I like to be part of a quilt group. I think making charity quilts is a very good excuse to practice new techniques, and making all kind of small crafts with  children is a way to spend quality time with them! And do keep a blog, with photos, especially if you like to give things away…

Japanese garden

My “Japanese garden” :

When we started the BOM last year, Sharon told us a nice story about this quilt: that you put your kimono, then step on the stones, a bird is flying, you continue your walk under a cherry tree, then under the sacred gate you rich a farm-house. I think it was something like this, but I know for sure that the story was the reason for me to start this quilt. Some blocks were quite demanding, but I like the result and I can dream looking at the quilt…

Having fun with nice things

A dear friend of mine has to leave the country. She is a real artist, and I am so happy to know her. I did visited a lot of houses, but her’s will always be in my memory like a very special one. Beautiful is  maybe not enough,  every  single thing from the house belongs there and the house is alive.

She has to clean up now, and she was so kind to let us choose some of the things she can not take with her. I am happy to make them part of my environment, and I know that every time I will see them, I will think of her and my heart will be full of joy!

She made the frame of the small painting, Miriam painted the giraffe:)

 the quilt is mine, the colorful objects are from here, gift from another dear friend

She made the paper box, Miriam made the origami flowers, I made the english rose

Another quilt I love, it seems more beautiful now.