Patchwork and Craft in Portugal

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2011-12-24T16:32:00.002Z

Boa Natal! Feliz Ano Novo!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

New design

2011-12-12T14:05:00.004Z

While my husband was busy baking mince pies for I went to my studio and made a little bag for coins.
A friend asked to make this little bag and she enjoyed using at because she texted me at 2230 about how gorgeous it was! This is all handmade, 100 % cotton with metal frame.

Meeting with three ladies

2011-12-02T10:29:00.005Z

Sue, Ursula, Theresa and I sat together stitched and shared our news. Theresa was making a bag for her friend, Sue came with her Portuguese carpet and Ursula did hand quilting.

I showed them how to ues fabrics to wrap presents. In 2007 when I visited Japan and bought a book and some fabric to wrap presents. It is a quite expensive way of treating your friends but I do think it is a very eco friendly.

IWP Christmas Craft Fair

2011-12-02T10:28:00.000Z

Christmas Decoration Workshop

2011-11-15T20:43:00.004Z

These Christmas decorations are easy to make and they are great for your home or present for your family and friends.

On 17 and 24 November I will run Christmas decoration workshop. If you are interested in please contact by email: patchworkpt[at]gmail.com

Mongolian quilters

2011-10-27T20:30:00.002+01:00

There is a nice article about Mongolian quilters in Mongolian, sorry. But at the end of the article there are some photos. Please click on link and scroll done to see photos.

Ts.Selenge, a Mongolian girl, while studying in the States for her lawyer degree learnt how to make quilt. After returning to Mongolia she started to help unemployed women to learn the art and bring some income to families.

Various international quilters came to give lessons, now a New Zealander Kay Akoman/ Кей Экомен (not sure how to write the name in English) is giving lessons. After her lessons, she will sew 30 baby quilts and will donate to a Maternaty Hospital in Ulaanbaatar.

http://www.dailynews.mn/?vfile=9&vmet_id=20296&vmet_main=446

Source: http://www.dailynews.mn

Houston! We do not have a problem!

2011-10-26T22:55:00.006+01:00

I think I solved my twister quilt problem. I looked at it for three nights while making a new bags and finishing others. Finally, puzzle is solved! I looked on internet for similar quilts and tried to understand their layouts too. Tomorrow morning I can start sewing. Thumbs up!

Probably, I might find a problem after looking at it with a fresh eye. Because I used two fabrics with big patterns. I should have used just one with big patterns and another with smaller patterns. Nevermind!

Here are my two new bags photo. I will give a workshop in November at Patch-Mania. I love my creations!

Inspiration! Full Stop!

2011-10-25T17:51:00.005+01:00

After reading Angie's blog last week, I suddenly inspired to make a quilt. I have not made any for a long time. I have to say that from the beginning Angie was my mentor to start quilting, although I resisted for year or two not to start new hobby. Anyway, here is what she wrote on her blog and I decided it is time to start quilting just before 2012 arrives. It seened so easy :)

I did not have template to make a twister quilt and of course I googled. I found this site and I made my own template and now I have a puzzle to make. I was wake until midnight last night playing with my quilt still did not manage to put them back together :(

Now it seems like not so easy. I sewed another 5" blocks with Christmas fabrics. Oh dear! Hopefully, I will finish before 2012.

More bags

2011-08-07T13:43:00.002+01:00

Recently made couple of bags after long time no sewing. With this red bag I am half happy. It looks nice in the photo, I guess my photography skills, ha ha ha... Actually, I did not use photoshop! Still thinking of what kind of handle to make.

This one turned out very well. I am sooooo happy with the result. Great one to have and blue flower makes an impact.

For more information about bags or my activity you can go to my blog threeoldempires.blogspot.com

Cakes and coffees

2011-06-14T20:32:00.007+01:00

Three of us met last Thursday with coffee and cakes. Ursula brought her first grandson's photo album. Soon a tiny men will be big and will demand even bigger quilt from grandmother. She was working on a little quilt all hand quiting. Irene continued working on her houses. It was funny that she said that she likes simple things, we did not agree.

Regina came with her Easter quilt.

I made for my DD1 little summer dress and her Barbie matching dress too. I never ever in my life thought that I will make a dress for Barbie. Anyway, I made two dresses for Barbie!

Last weekend Lisbon celebrated Santo Antonio's day. Lisbon was full of smell of grilled sardines. More info here

Free motion quilting with Jenny Bowker

2011-06-06T20:15:00.009+01:00

Last Tuesday I went to Caldas da Rainha to learn about free motion quilting. I needed someone to teach me basics and there was a one-day course organised with a Bernina dealer, Mario Felizardo. A little project can be done in one day. Look carefully, a little pattern continued from the fabric with free motion.

Of course, I had my photo opportunity with a famous quilter, Jenny Bowker. She has been quilting for 15 years. She started quilting because of her diplomat husband was posted to the Middle Eastand could not continue her work as a scientist. Now she travels all over the world teaching, giving talks and attending quilts shows. During lunch she was telling us that she would have only four days in June at home in Australia. July was her happy month, she will be at home for two weeks.

This is her Australian landscape quilt. Lots of details and lots of free motion.

This is one of her many amazing quilts. First of all it is huge, as you can see from the photo. Great details!

It was my second time going to Bernina organised courses. Last year I went to see and do some work with Doris Teixeira, an amazing Brasilian artist. 31 May was Jenny Bowker's last of four days course in Portugal. After she was traveling to Holland, Germany and some other countries to continue her European tour! My thanks to Mario and Alda, who worked hard and gave me an exciting day with my sewing machine, fabrics and great time with Jenny.

A cat and a hat

2011-04-22T21:51:00.005+01:00

This little cat is made by Ursula. Happily hanging behind a chair.

And here is the cat in full display.

For a nice spring weather I knitted a white hat for my DD1. Once in a book shop I saw a knitting book showing how to use beads for knitted garments and here is the result.

No internet and busy, busy

2011-04-06T22:17:00.012+01:00

Hello everyone, I am sorry that I have not been able to post for a while. First of all I did not have internet for a while. My sister was here last week for couple of days and she helped me to bake some cakes and biscuits. I was really busy baking for three nights in row for my DD1 birthday and entertaining my sister during day time. After all these hectic days I have to recover, right?

Anyway here are some photos of last last meeting. Ursula brought her big double spiral quilt. It just reminds me that I have to do mine one day.

This was Fatima's second visit and last time when she was here she made a cushion but decided to convert into a bag. She has a very good sewing skills.

During morning she looked through about little library magazines and found another cushion to make and this was the result at the end of the meeting.

Ursula started making these appliqued cushion with Paula. I might consider making them as well. But when?

Irene worked in one of her hundrends of projects. My Pfaff was happy to have a Irene's Pfaff as a company.

I made ten of these little coin purses. At the IWP coffee morning these were sold for the charity for Japan. All of these purses had a Japanese print. I loved making them all and the money went for good.

It was a nice sunny spring afternoon and we had delicious and healthy lunch, while my husband slept on the lawn with his dog.

Our dog needed dog sitting because he was bitten by a tiny little one while walking and he needed some stitches on his left ear. A vet stitched his ear several times but he is going to have split ears.

Birthday Quilt Blocks

2011-03-11T21:24:00.009Z

If you know who came this Thursday you can just look at below quilt calendarn and try to guess. A printing companies make calendars for all sorts of areas of human interests. Here is the one for quilters. Looking at these images Irene's birthday really matched her work interest.

Regina brought her wedding present. This is the bedsheet embroidery with her and her husband's initials, all handmade with nuns using silk threads. The work was perfect, even better than machine embroidery. A piece of art, which could be in a museum.

Now she is standing with her night dress, hand sewn. Again perfect work, like machine work.

Ursula enjoying her late morning coffee with her tiny doll. She finished binding her baby quilt.

Happy Susan with her bag wallhanging. It will be send to far-far-away land to her friend.

Inspired by her bags Susan started another little quilt with shoes and bags. Shoes were paper-pierced and she made bags smaller.

We had a new keen learner. Fatima came to make a cushion. This is her ver first patchwork cushion and at the end of the meeting she made two. Sewing was in her blood, her mother used to sew clothes for living, even bridal dresses.

I forgotten to take Irene's work. She was there yesterday, handstitching her quilt.

My work not always here because I do concentrate more about other members work. While teaching Fatima to make cushion I sewed binding for my bag wallhanging.

More birthday presents

2011-03-07T19:59:00.011Z

These are my birthday presents. Dutch Irene's presents were very appropriate that I straight put my needles in a very cute needle holder. It was easy with Ursula's chocolate, we ate them all straight away. Yummy! But I will decide later what I will make with golden coin fabric.
Ladies were very colour coordinated with my bright blue cushions. They are having coffee, cakes and chocolate.

Irene brought her make it row quilt. She is making with Helen in Arco-Iris.

Some of her quilters were very creative. Here is the row with button flowers.

Here is someone painted chickens.

Regina worked hard and did washing up as too. Thank you, Regina.

Irene was busy with her small, no tiny projects.

Ursula brought her bag wallhanging to show us.

This is the back of the wallhanging with her name written. Mine is still not yet finished.

She made for her friend notebook cover with her friend's design.

I cannot remember what I did last Thursday. I definetely, remember eating chocolates. Still eating... Different ones.

Surprise! Surprise!

2011-02-23T10:51:00.003Z

Look who came to the meeting on last Thursday! After long winter months staying at home Regina, finally got out of the house and visited us. She was blossoming like plum trees. This is the time where you can see tiny white flowers in plum trees. Thank you Ursula for bringing her. Ann, Regina and Ursula are sitting in front of my kimono quilt. Sorry, have to mention my quilt.

Ursula was talking and picking threads from her finished wall hanging. She was very happy that this project was so quick and easy. Tah tah and finished!

I worked with Ann on her spiral quilt. We managed to put together some corners of the quilt. I was a little bit to put off to continue working with my spiral quilt because of complications. Never mind, one day I will have inspiration to continue until then the quilt has to wait.

Making wall hanging

2011-02-14T21:07:00.007Z

Ursula and I started making patchwork wall hangings using an applique method. It is a quite time consuming process: coping patterns, cutting, ironing and finally start sewing. After two hours work we had this result. Ursula started with this two cute bag appliques. Today on Facebook she already put almost finished wall hanging.

I made a wall hanging with three bags using my Japanese fabrics. Compared to Ursula I have not touched it since last Thursday.

Susan attached sashing to her wall hanging and it is ready to be sandwiched and quilted.

At the beginning of the morning Ann was struggling with her spiral quilt edges but finally she was on the truck and happy with the result.

Thursday, 3 February

2011-02-08T19:29:00.006Z

Ursula was back from Germany with her baby quilt. These little animals all appliqued and Ursula used asew as you quilt method. Plenty of animal names to learn for babies.

This is the quilt's back. You can clearly see all animals from the back.

These beautiful bags made of Ann's book by Susan. Lovely fabrics and she used her decorative stitches around bags. I really would like to make this one.

In the afternoon Anabela came to show us what she learnt from Houston quilt show. Sashiko is my favourite stitches. This made in a special sashiko machine, and it has only one ending. Lovely, I will be very happy is Anabela teaches me sashiko. I know all techinques because I read some books on sashiko but still happy to be taught by someone.

This is another method of sew as you quilt or quilt as you sew. Looks complicated but Anabela said it is so easy.

Batik, these beauties arrived last week at Anabela's shop.

Clutch

2011-02-01T14:04:00.002Z

I have been making more and more bags. This time a clutch. I love this fabric, bought from patch-mania. Next time if I use this fabric I will have just black strap.

Spiral quilt

2011-01-19T21:39:00.008Z

When I returned from England just after Christmas I saw a huge Christmas tree at the Lisbon airport. A busy traveller was texting on his mobile just under the tree.

The Portuguese capital, usually during Christmas time has plenty of decorations but this year Lisbon and other cities decided not to put much decorations. However, my family managed to go at Lisbon centre to see decorations and take photos. This was in the square at Restauradores.

I do like to take photos of Sao Jorge castle from the Santa Justa elevador.

Christmas and New Year's celebrations are finished for another year. Lunar New Year celebration will start at the beginning of February in Asia. Anyway, back to quilting.

Last Thursday was our first meeting of the New Year. Cinzia and Ann came to share their holiday news and work. Cinzia went to Italy, her home country, in their family car. While her husband was driving she did her arroiolos, Portuguese carpet. It took her two days to drive from Portugal to Italy and she did lot of work in that time.

Ann finished her spiral quilt and have to make an important decision which fabric to use to continue.

Here is my fabric shopping in Tunbridge Wells, England, unfortunately, I did not do other shopping. Good for my husband's wallet. I do like collecting fabric with Japanese prints and there were several in a shop but I bought only two types. I loved this Matreoshka print and made a little purse with a metal frame. I will teach this purse at Ines' shop in February. Check her schedule for the next month.

The red fabric I bought to finish my spiral quilt. I wanted different fabric but the shop did not have what I was looking for.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2010-12-23T20:46:00.004Z

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my readers

and their families and friends!

I wish you joyfull Christmas,

lots of presents and be the star of the New Year!

Best wishes
Javhlan

Christmas projects

2010-12-13T20:37:00.003Z

This year all my Christmas projects are finished and they are all in place decorating my house for holiday season. This star is made of four different fabrics and my best star so far. I have to finish my seven different fabrics star too but that one is not for Christmas.

A couple of years ago I made this paper pierced Christmas tree and now is out of cupboard. It is enjoying fresh air.

Christmas tree skirt which I started a year or two ago now is placed under the Christmas tree but it is a bit small for my Christmas tree and I have to consider making a bigger one. This year the tree has to have small skirt like a mini-skirt.

Making doll house and bags

2010-11-22T21:06:00.005Z

This is my second doll house. I made two for my two DDs. My husband's collegue showed to him and he thought that he could occupy me for a while with this cute idea.

It opens and my DD1 puts her little dolls and play, sing and talk. She is really enjoying her new toy.

Below some evening bag photos which I made recently, hoping to sell for Christmas.

Stitching with ABBA

2010-11-08T14:11:00.013Z

My ladies for two weeks had been stitching while listening to ABBA, Tina Turner and the music from opera Carmen. While listening to music some of them finished their projects, or brought them into next level or got some new ideas.

Cathy and Bette in their last day of the quilting in Portugal. They now left Portugal like birds fly for warmer climate and they will be back next summer. They started their spiral quilt together and were making good progress. Probably, next summer we might see the finished project.

Bette, Therese, Cathy and Regina

Regina was great with her work and now she is still thinking which way to go. She came to quilting for two weeks in a row. Hopefully, she would come more often.

Ann was shopping in Holland for her spiral quilt. Last week she finished all circles and was ready to join them together. She bought this fabric with a map to make back of her spiral quilt. I would say this is false map because there is no Asia, Australia and some parts of Europe is missing. If you look carefully you will find Portugal.

I like Ann's choice of fabrics. Look at these fabrics, so beautiful to have: flowers, cupcakes, teapots and matroushkas. Nowadays, Russian doll - Matrouska is a very popular design for everything.

This is Therese's spiral quilt, which will be kept with her. As we know that she is always giving away her quilts to her numerous relatives, who live all over the world.

She finished her Chritsmas tree paper piercing too. Well done! You will have it this Christmas on you wall.

Ann, Therese and Irene worked hard last Thursday. Irene kept making her houses. If you can notice my Lone Star quilt is hanging from the table. I binded and its ready.

If you are interested in learning how to make this Star, I will give a workshop on 2 December. Contact me at patchworkpt@gmail.com

Busy, busy and busy

2010-10-24T21:13:00.008+01:00

Thursday meeting started with discussion on how to continue Maureen's one of her few projects, which she has to finish before this Christmas. Mauren and Ursula were discussing how to quilt borders of this a very colourful quilt.

Susan was inspired by Maureen's attempt to try free motion quilting and she put her BSR foot on her Bernina and was doing great job quilting cars on her quilt. If she did quilt by hand a baby who should be born next week will be five years old, when the quilt is ready. I think by trying to quilt with modern machine, she will be on time when a new baby arrives.

Look who was here last Thursday! Yes, Regina visited the Quilt Bar and kept hand quilting her a very first quilt! At the end of the day she helped me with my Portuguese homework. After her explenation I think my Portuguese jumped from zero to +A.

Cathy and Bette made their first steps to start a spiral quilt. They had six circles and was happy to carry one with it. It will be easy for them to carry on because they will be working together in one quilt.

We had a nice sunny day in mid-October and we lunched together outside instead of eating behind our sewing machines. A table was small but we had nice conversation!

This is Ursula with her double spiral quilt. She is making a very hard one and her creation is create! She entered a quilt competition in Austrian "Patchwork und Quiltjournal" with her loved cat quilt. It has been shortlisted! Well done!

This is Therese with her paper piercing work. It is almost ready to be quilted now.