just three pics

to show the fabrics i used a bit closer.

En dan nog een berichtje voor die lieve Gerda: bedankt voor je comlimentje en dat blikje met-de-jeweetwel is leeg. Heerlijk opgesmikkeld. Hardstikke lief.

Tops and a bit of Nantes

You said oh, she promised us more of Nantes for the next day, where has she gone?

I worked on finishing tops again, here they are:

the pineapple is from linen, only plaids and i'm searching for a border, hoping to find some in my neighbourhood and i want it on the cheap......

The courthouse steps is ready now, with a border of antique, never used blue fabric, intended for aprons, once bought in a yard sale, still crisp and a bit shiny.

The start for this top was a buch of fourpatches, and the setting was inspired by an antique quilt from Pennsylvania shown on Bonnie Hunter's blog.

The pink fabric is , if not antique, very old double pink , lovely with the chrome yellows and greens.

The big scrapbox is flowing over and as i'm preparing some blocks for the NEARLY INSANE quilt, i pull out bits and peaces.

Back to Nantes: ladies from the yarn club, ready to help knitters with hints and tips.

Like last year i met Monique Brams again, who's still working on her hexagon quilt and showed me the progress and her well organized work box.

She's a real trooper and takes  her hexies with her whereever she goes.

From the yarnbombers, just outside the congresscenter.

My old quilting buddy Christine Meynier, giving demo's and highly concentrated.

I tried to catch her attention, but no......

Sue from the UK, her blog is called I SEW QUILTS, myself and  Linda from  Australia, QUILTS IN THE BARN.

Nantes is not only quilts, but also about food, good meals and like last year, i went with Joes and Isabeau to LA CIGALE, for a delicious dinner.

And Nantes has park, and an Opera,

and people in the sunshine after an endless winter, enjoying finally warmer temperatures.

And the the surprise to discover just minutes away from my hotel the BELEM, a french tallship 

Sunshine in the Cathedral

And i came home with this, some fatquarters, borderfabrics, another 2 metercut of borderfabric and the two smaller pieces are antique , purchased at Joe and Mary Koval.

And last but not least these very inspiring books from Di Ford and Petra prins with An Moonen.

Happy mother's day from a  sunny Paris, but chilly again...

This is what i saw

early on wednesday morning in the fast train to Nantes after a sleepness night: just before arrival, the train is longing the river Loire, with some spectacular views.

While queing up to enter in the congresscenter, i admired the yarnbombing from local knitters, they truly did an awsome job.

I went to see the Jane's first. More than a hundred of Jane's, copies and more free versions, but all beautiful and think of the thousands and thousends of hours of meditation while sewing, hours of hapiness and sorrow and worries too....

People seemed to be over the moon and i was charmed by Betty Prins' red and pink Jane, sparkling and elegant

and happy to have mine hanging there too, but mine's just a clone . I've started mine in februari 1996, and finished in march 1998, so it's one of the oldest made in Europe .

Such pleasure to meet Di Ford again, and see her quilts, the careful sewing and the machine quilting too, a perfect match.

I've met some quilters who took a class with her, they were all very happy with her kind attention.

Hope to meet her again, she's  so cool and laid back.

Knitters and crocheters had taken over the back part of the main hall, but this is no longer my cup of tea since the girls are grown up, allthough i still admire their patience.

three quilts from An Moonen and Petra Prins new book, a must too.

A detail of a woolen quilt, from Minick and Simpson, all in blue , beige and grey, rustic and graphic, definitely my kind of quilts.

I'll be back tomorrow friends, more pics and a bit of socializing,

Will V in Paris, cold again....

Progress on the fight against chaos

Thank you, thank you for the lovely comments on my latest postings, i assure you, i feel strengthened by so much support  and i spend lots of time on your blogs and follow you carefully...

I go on opening boxes and  take out piles of blocks, some forgotten for years, shame on me....

i've finished last weekend the pile of courthouse steps, 90 blocks, enough fot a top, i think it needs a border, if possible from stash.

Hey girls, do you recognize this? When we meet on th 23d, i'll bring it with me and you will love it, for sure.

Most of the blocks were made by my bee-friends, and sewing them together was a piece of cake.

10 inch blocks and i should have done this  LONG before......

Look at the lone star in the middle, such a little gem on ten inch only.

Also this time sashings and half squares from stash.

Pulling out all these UFO's isstressfull, but i have to go trough it and it's fun too.

Next week on wednesday morning i will leave for Nantes, see my Dear Jane hanging there and 99 other DJ's too.

Socializing will be a big part too and i will buy some books and fabric too, but only repro's, i'll show you what i bring back.

Will V in Paris, finally under a sunny sky.