8.7.09

Red hot

red toys in the camping
Last weekend I was busy the whole weekend complaining about the weather and how it was too warm for me. It amazes me how fast your body can get use to a different climate than you were used to for years.. But now after two rainy days with wind I want the sun back! and my boyfriend says I became a real dutch - always complaining about the weather no matter what it is...
Last weekend we spent in the camping when suddenly a flying balloon appeared awfully low almost landing on the roof of our caravan!


red flying balloonI Wonder how we looked from above, with the naked kid sitting in a rubber boat filled with water and all my embroidery threads and beads all around the garden table..

red beads on an emroidered needle felted surface
needle felted organza flowers
I left my project in the caravan because we go back this weekend and at home I am busy wih the making of my party skirt for the camping party on august 1st.

2.7.09

Announcements

July Fourth Weekend in ETSY!
I am offering FREE SHIPPING on ALL orders made and payed between Thursday, July 2nd through Monday, July 6th


Noticed I added the outbrain widget?
It is a great free and very simple to install widget for ratings & recommendations at the bottom of every post.
If you like my post but don't have time to comment or just too amazed to find the words just give me stars (It is anonimous voting so I can't hold it agains you if you give less than 5 )

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A post withought a photo?
NO way

flowers in the garden of the museum of bags and purses in amsterdamHave a nice July Fourth Weekend!

29.6.09

Trying something different

In the Israel Artists Team we discuss often the importance of good photo's.
The background color is the source of all disagreements. Solid backgrounds are good for the treasuries and front pages but with other backgrounds you can create a feeling.. Solid background could be white or colored but if the background has a color it could only be in treasury where the color matches..

Not an easy one.

I chose white because my bags contains lots of colors and details.
But every now and then I get bored. I like taking photo's and it is fun creating a scene for a bag.

For my last bag, a fabric-knitted bag with organza flower with felted leaves, I decided to go outside and make something different.


fabric knitting handmade  bag

fabric knitting handmade  bag
fabric knitting handmade  bag

I find the change refreshing

Summer coat

Volendam, holland
Can't believe I have to go back to work tomorrow These last 2 weeks were wonderful. With my son at home and out, great weather, traveling, visiting, talking... Fantasy!
But tomorrow I go back to work and he goes back to kinder garden. He actually wanted to go already today (he misses his girlfriend )


handmade child jeans summer coat
handmade child jeans summer coat
When my mother was visiting she looked after Denzel every day in the afternoon and everyday I progressed a bit and after a week and half Denzel had his new Cool Jeans Summer Coat!


loop for hanging coat
Sewing clothes is more complicated than sewing bags but it is also more interesting and I still have lots to learn. I love to learn new things and I like clothes! I will certainly make some new dresses soon.


24.6.09

Inspiration

Two weeks with my mother are almost over... We have taken lots of photo's to remind us later of a time that will never come back. my son is growing at the moment...
It is great, sometimes tiring though because I have to translate dutch to Hebrew and otherwise because both sides are a bit lazy to speak English...
Sometimes I ask Denzel to translate. he can.

I did create something though, I have sewn Denzel a new summer coat but it is surprisingly sunny these days in June that he hasn't got a chance to wear it yet (I have a feeling he will have in a short while...)

Anyway, instead of writing about not much or about boring things like visiting zoo, parks and forests I will just post some colorful photo's, as usual, for inspiration.

running in the forest, putten, the netherlandNot waiting for mama


water lilies for nature inspirationsNature


colors in Amsterdam lapjesmarktDenzel's new watch


colors in Amsterdam lapjesmarktColors in Amsterdam

Enjoy the weather !

14.6.09

Little girl again

This morning we drove to the airport to pick my mother. She'll staying with us two weeks.
I was very excited the whole week and Denzel too. He hasn't seen grandmother 2 years. In a life of a 3.5. years old boy that is almost a lifetime!!

needle felting machine embroidered and beaded mobile
It was strange though.. seeing my mother after so long. while waiting for her to show up (a whole hour!) I had tears in my throat but when she was finally there I didn't cry. Strange. I feel like a little girl and at the same time such a grown up like I never felt in my life...

My last creation was a needle felting project for myself - No swaps this time!
I needle felted with my machine some organza fabric and wool and silk roving and silk carriers. Then I was busy the whole weekend embroidering and beading..

needle felting machine embroidered and beaded mobile
needle felting machine embroidered and beaded mobile
It turned out to be a mobile hanging from the ceiling in my studio...
I like it. It reminds me the little girl I once looked like (although it is not me in the photo!) and the girly girl I still have inside...

needle felting machine embroidered and beaded mobile

11.6.09

Sewing machine meme

sewing machine husqvarna huskystar C10My sewing machine meme for Sew, Mama sew collection of sewing machine meme's


sewing machine memeWhat brand and model do you have?
Huskystar C10 of Husqvarna


How long have you had it?
1.5 years


How much does that machine cost (approximately)?

€ 450 (in holland)

What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)? Quilts and bags

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get?
5 hours a week. I wish I had more time but something I sew and embroider by hand and I also use a needle felting machine.

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name?
I love my machine but I don't give machines names
I was very upset and missed her greatly when she was being checked out.

What features does your machine have that work well for you?

  • free-motion quilting
  • needle position adjustment (great for top stitch)
  • decorative stitches that I use a lot,
  • the ability to set maximum speed
  • needle up/down selector ( I didn't know how much I need it until I used for a week another machine which didin't had it!)

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine?
When I sew and sew and sew and when I finish I realize the bottom bobbin was empty..

Do you have a great story to share about your machine?
I haven't found my machine under the Christmas tree because we never have any...
I bought it myself for my self. and yes, I had sewn my finger once.. ooouch that hurts! since then every time I sew my son shout to me "MAMA, LOOK OUT!"
And another time that my machine didn't sew I found out it was full of scrap-bookings felt flowers! My son have pushed a whole package inside! I had to open it and the lamp was still hot... oouch again.

scrap booking felted flowers I saved from inside my sewing machine

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why?
yes. But it is not only the machine. I recommend the shop where I bought the machine because good service is also important if you want to keep your machine in good shape for a long time.

What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine?
First factor is what do you plan to do with it.
Second factor is what do you think you would like to do with it.
I knew I was interested in patchwork and quilting. It was very important to me that I could free motion quilt, use 1/4 inch foot (I looked for machine with needle position adjustment), and because I sew bags I wanted a machine that could handle layers and thick fabrics.
I don't sew clothes or baby clothes so it was not so important to me if I could use twin needle. Decorative stitches are nice and I heard many people say they are useless but I use them all the time in my machine-crazy-quilting.

Do you have a dream machine?
Janome 6600