Drawstring Baskets

Since some time I wish to sew drawstring baskets for my grandchildren. After searching on Pinterest and on various blogs, I was lucky to find a really great tutorial on this blog : Threading My Way. I must say that I never found such a perfect tutorial, so well explained that you cannot make any mistake. I followed step by step the explanations and had not the least problem. I sewed the orange basket first, and was so satisfied with the result that next day I did a blue one. Tomorrow a pink one! Thank you Pam for Australia!

I chose fabrics from my stash : organic Birch Fabrics.

For the orange basket I just quilted random lines, but for the blue one I did better : I drew regular lines before quilting.

I was absent from the blog since a long time due to various family and health problems... among which a femoral neck fracture last June. I am now recovering and eager to go on sewing, quilting, knitting and blogging...

Christmas Charity Sale

As every year for Christmas we are having in Athens traditional charity sales, and I love them. I really think that there is nothing nicer than admiring all those beautiful crafts handmade with love. This bazaar I participated was happening last Sunday in the Archeological Institute of Athens. It was very successful and we had a great time enjoying the meeting of friends, and sharing with them typical French Alsacian specialities such as quiches, soups, spicy hot wine, warm chocolate...  I hope everyone is enjoying those pre-Christmas festivities as we do here in Greece!

Miscellaneous from Paris

Last month I was in Paris at my sister's house and I re-discovered some things I had done for her and her daughter Lea a long time ago, so I took pictures as a souvenir.

The yellow patchwork bag is the first one I sewed, all hand pieced and hand quilted, as I had not yet a sewing machine. The little red and blue bag comes from Provence in the south of France, from the Souleiado shop. I love this shop, they have such beautiful things and great traditional fabrics from this part of France.

As a matter of fact, this yellow fabric is as well typical from Provence.

This little doll is dressed with clothes knitted by my mother when we were children.

Blue drawstring bag.

Some years ago, more than quilts, I enjoyed making dolls, such as this one.

I used also to make various objects for Christmas :  decorative trees, hearts, stars...

My sister Dominique is a sculptor and this little sculpture is one of her works. Together, on the table are some parts of her collection of antique Barbotines.

I love the colors of this antique pot.

This is an incredible antique Barbotine dish... inspiring colors again!

Greetings to all my friends!

Christine

Breakfast and Hand Piecing

Pouch and Flower Garden block

Breakfast table

Black tea

Breads

Lavender - Rosemary - Verbena

Lavenders

Bumblebee on a lavender

Verbena

Wild olive tree

Breakfast time is my best time of the day. I love to wake up early in the morning, and to sit down in the garden, in my favorite corner, on the kitchen side. There it is very quite, you hear nothing except the birds. Everybody sleeps. It's 7 o'clock and I have the whole day in front of me. I enjoy a very strong black tea (Yorkshire Gold brand) with breads and marmelade. Having my second cup of tea, sewing can start, for about one hour.

It's such a happy moment and I feel blessed to be able to enjoy the lovely view, the fresh wind and the quietness. 

Enjoy your breakfast!

Christine

Quilts and Crafts Exhibition

Stunning quilt created, sewn and quilted by Eleni.

Eleni's quilt

Easter is approching here in Greece and therefore various beautiful craft fairs are organized.

This one, where I went last saturday, happened in Goulandri Museum in Kifissia. 

Our friend Eleni had a stall where she presented her last quilting creations. 

She is doing a wonderful job and is very successful!

Behind the two ladies you can see a beautiful quilt with white background nicely quilted.

Her colorful baskets where very much appreciated.

Small quilt

My dearest friends Eleni and Michele.

Eleni and me.

Small quilt

Quilted bags

Pouches

Those baskets, filled with joyful colored pouches are just a pleasure to look at!

Pouches

Present for myself

Anna, a young girl, fabric designer, was selling her wonderful creations, with a Greek inspiration.

This is a blue and white scarf that I bought from her. It is mixed cotton and silk, and is so soft and

so pleasant to wear.

Scarf

I really enjoyed this exhibition, having coffee, cakes and nice chats with my friends. 

This was a beautiful Saturday!

Greetings from Athens!

Christine

Berlingot pouch

Berlingot pouch

I was so pleased to receive as a present from Chantal

this lovely triangular pouch sewn and nicely quilted by Eleni.

Berlingot pouch

I use it to store my silver jewels.

Silver jewels

Those great silver jewels are created and hand made by Chantal.

Silver jewels