Double Four Patch

In my previous post I showed you a baby crib bumper, and promised a tutorial. However, in the meantime I received a mail informing me that there is a potential danger in using crib bumpers. After checking and reading this link I decided not to write the tutorial I had prepared. My next tutorial will be for a pinwheel baby quilt... hoping there is not any danger in using baby quilts!

In the meantime, as a new year starts, I decided to have a look at my UFOs stored in transparent boxes, and to move forward... rather to try...  There is this Double Four Patch top abandoned half way (what a pity) for more urgent baby quilts sewing! I would like to finish it as it is one of my favorites. I used Civil War prints with some wonderful colors, such as the blue and the purple ones. The problem is how to go on with it when babies are being born one after the other in my family and friends and I always have a new baby quilt to sew...

Baby Crib Bumper

Yesterday early in the morning I decided not to start my day with any housework, but instead to sew the baby bumper for my grandson. It took me less than one hour to achieve it. I took pictures step by step and in my next post I will write the tutorial : I thought it may help beginners to do it the simplest way.

I brought this bumper to my daughter who was pleased to get it at last and we fixed it in the crib. Baby seems to enjoy it... not for long as he is growing so fast that we shall have to buy a bigger bed soon... and to sew a new bumper!

Baby received many beautiful presents as this Beatrix Potter porcelain tableware, and this cute elephant matching perfectly with the quilt I offered my daughter last summer.

Three Kings Cake

... Or "Galette des Rois"

No quilting again these days... This morning I prepared lunch for the family gathering, and I cooked this Galette des Rois, a French traditional cake on the opportunity of Epiphany, which is commemorated on January 6th, but we can cut this galette all January long. For the second time of the week the lucky charm was hidden in my slice of cake... and it is supposed to bring luck and prosperity! I was again the queen of the day with this beautiful crown on my head!!!

Crib Bumper Project

My second grandson is already two month old and I did not manage to sew either his bumper, or his baby quilt... too much work and visitors during the Christmas holidays.. and after! I will try to start these days. First step I decided for the fabrics : the mushroom fabric will be for the crib bumper and the grey ones for the quilt. (My daughter's choice).

Quilting or Knitting...

...that is the question!

Block

Yarns

Knitting vintage catalogue

My blue jacket is almost finished and I hesitate between starting a new knitting or a new quilt.

I have this beautiful block that was rejected from my Folklore quilt, and since I put it away I had in mind to do something with it one day, as I love the fabrics and pink is my favorite color. I am thinking of working around this block with same tunes but different blocks. 

By the time I write this I find out that I better take the time to develop a clear project and thus I will rather go on knitting for a while. I have got new Rowan yarns and I may knit a cloth for my second two months grandson. This magazine is an old vintage one that my mother was using to knit for my sister and me. I have already used several times those patterns of the 50's and found them perfect, classical and so smart! 

Stars in the Snow

View from my lounge window

View from the dinning-room

Front entrance

Front entrance

We are having a new wave of snow and the temperatures are very low. The roads around here are frozen, and my car under a coat of snow. Worse of all we had a break of electricity during all the morning yesterday, which meant no heating! Fortunately we have a fireplace. My son did a nice fire so that we could stay in front of it not to be frozen! At lunch time we began considering cooking in the fireplace when the electricity came back!

Today it's time to tidy up : all the Christmas ornaments in boxes and the quilts in closets until next year. But before washing and putting my Christmas Stars quilt in its closet, I felt like taking some more pictures of it in the snow.

Winter Reading

After the whirling of the feasts, time for a little break. And I think I really need it. My children and grand children who came for the Christmas holidays left, except one son who is staying another ten days. It's nice not to have the house empty all of a sudden. I will start my new quilting projects after his departure. Resting means reading to me. I read those two wonderful english books : "Wish her Safe at Home" of Rachel Waring in a French translation and "The Color of Milk" of Nell Leyshon in the original langage. I love English literature, ancient and contemporary. The second book is my favorite. It's a long time I haven't read such an impressive story and I recommend it to everybody. It was a nice surprise to "fall" on such a good book as I bought it for the cover page, I loved the picture!  You can see what it is about on the back of the book. Really one of the best books I read recently!

Happy New Year 2015!

 This first morning of the year started very nice and cosy with breakfast and then knitting next to a beautiful fire. It is so cold outside, with a little snow falling! My blue jacket is progressing and I hope to show it to you finished soon. After a while the bell rang and opening the door I had the great surprise to find my daughter, her husband and newborn son. The first visitor of the year! What a happiness, I am so blessed! 

Best wishes again to all my friends for a wonderful 2015 year!

Christine