My new bag

First I dyed some fabric with coffee for the first time.


Then I made a collage



Then the collage became a pocket

Then I made a bag for the pocket. For myself. It was about time....


And since then people ask me if I made my bag myself. I hope they mean it as a compliment

You don't need a head to go shopping

You don't need a head to go shopping
A shopping bag will do

- author unknown -

My beaded doll doesn't have a head yet but she is all dressed up with her new shopping bag ready to go shopping.



And I don't even need a shopping bag because I have ebay, etsy and pay-pal accounts ‬


I bought some wool and silk to make the doll wings and hair and felting needles and 10 mm knitting needles (the thickest that they had and in a real store!) for something I want to try....

Counting sheep

3 times a week I take the bus in the morning to Amsterdam and go to work. It is dark these days but also when it is foggy you can see that the(almost)endless fields are full with sheep. In the summer I can easily slip into daydreaming looking at these landscapes.

This photo is actually taken in another part of the Netherlands in the east where I camp but not less inspiring..

One of my fantasies includes a farm and sheep and a...

spinning wheel

But till then I buy my wool...

So between coughing and sneezing I felt and quilt

I have found that quilting and machine needle felting are both specially meditative activities. It was the only things I could do while being sick (and I am still not 100% back) and I think it helped me getting better.

My first award

I was honored to receive this award from Carolina González.
It is the greatest compliment because her blog is one of the blogs I most enjoy and follow fanatically...
I met Carolina at first in stitchinfingers and was dazzled by her work, especially the embroidered cuffs, so rich with colors, beads and lace. yes, it is true what she wrote in her blog about me loving a good dose of vibrant colors. I love colors! I need colors!

I don't know when my addiction to colorful things started but maybe it relates to the fact that when I was 12 years old my Hebrew teacher said to me "tell your mother you don't see and you need to let your eyes checked" so I did. we went to the eye specialist and it turned out that I saw almost nothing! While everyone assumed this intellectual child finds the television stupid, the real reason I never watched it was because I could see what's on the screen.
Then I got new glasses. And a whole new world came alive.
I remember this moment clearly. I walked out the optician shop with my father. he held my hand because I was a bit dizzy and the only thing I could say was "I see"

Since then I had to check my eyes regularly because my eyes become weak every now and then and I need to change lenses. maybe that is why visuals and seeing are so important to me. I look al the time as long as I still can.

I don't have anything new to show and didn't make any progress on my doll because I am struggling a bad flue already a week (and promised my boyfriend if it doesn't go away by itself after this weekend I will go to the doctor) so I thought - why not share a thought? I don't do that often

I pass the award to Lauren. I also met her in stitchinfingers and follow her blog, dolls and purse hooks ever since.

Dress to impress

As a mother for an almost 3 years old boy I don't get to sew much little dresses and skirts as other sewing mothers and most of my sewing girl-friends.
I would like to make me a dress again one day (and have already the pattern and fabric) but don't have the patience nor the time at the moment.

So why not start small? - dress a doll



This is so much fun. I sew most of it by hand and of course the beading intirely by hand so I can sit on the sofa with blanket on my legs (we are all sick in the house)
And I have finally found something to do with this organza! The last time I tried to make gift packages from organza I swore I will not use this fabric ever again... I think I changed my mind.

rustmystery

The second time I tried rust dyeing and it went really well until I put the pieces after washing in the dryer...

When they came out, not stinking from vinegar anymore I noticed to my surprise that there are blue-gray-black stains all over the fabrics!!
look!!


On one piece I could even see a line!



what is this? anyone?

I started a doll

This one will stay with me and not be swapped!


And she will get a real head eventually too, of course...
The making of attic studio goes further so I start buying and making the accessories that will make the attic a studio. I imagine art fairy dolls handing from the ceiling, crazy quilted cushions, quilts maybe also handmade carpet :-o



It is so nice to plan and fantasize but this weekend didn't do much progress because Denzel doesn't feel well. My baby, who become 3 years old in a few weeks needs to be cradled and hugged...

Playing with my new toy

I thought I liked to make photo's before I bought my new Sony Cyber-shot..






Then I learned something new:

I love making photo's!!