Here are a few snapshots of what I've received from Australia and what I'm working on these days. At a workshop I learned how to make 'quilt stitches' with invisible thread with my sewing machine. I bought a spool of that thread right away. The rainbow fabrics are for the Modern Scrappy Bits Swap and the embroidery is for the Stitch me up blog hop. Both are going to be so much fun!
 
A new couch needs new pillows don't you think. I know that we're only LOOKING for a new couch and haven't bought one yet, but I better start sewing some pillows so that they are finished when the couch arrives ;-)
This urge to make pillows was a great reason to join this blog hop. I'm not finished yet, but this is what I came up with. 
Inspired by this beauty made by Rachel, I started to draw and cut letters, paper piece music notes and make some embroidery. What do you think?
Please be sure to stop by these other 'wordy' blogs:

Wednesday, January 16
 
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This post is a little late.... Not much blogging and sewing went on in this house in December. Since I found these books and by now I've already finished two!

I did however made a purse! The matching coin purse followed in January. Before the holidays I joined a few swaps, a Mug rug swap and a Christmas ornament swap. I also joined in on the bloghop at StashManicure: In Your Words. More about that tomorrow....



 
Seven days of coin purses! This is day 6.  Have you seen all the beauties? Please check them out here! And if you want to make your own, the pattern is available here.
This is what I've made. A little coin purse with small pockets inside for bankcards. Next time I'm buying a bigger purseframe and make a slightly bigger purse. Unfortunately I don't have time to make it, because I started my Christmas sewing early!
 
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The front and the back.


Drinking tea is my favorite waste of time! I love all sorts of tea. Black tea, mint tea,... I guess I like (almost) all kinds of tea.

Another love of mine are pink flowers. Those two combined are the main reason for my beautiful tea cup collection. I have collected a few cups here and there, mainly in thrift stores. My husband can't stand to buy 'other people's junk', but I always seem to find a few treasures. 

Here is a picture of the tea cozy that I have made for my tea pot to keep it warm.

The only things missing in this picture are the scones, muffins, sandwiches and what not! I found some great recipes on Pinterest and Flickr that I would love to give a try.

I guess the only thing I need to do now is, invite girlfriends over and enjoy a good cup of tea with some sweets and other bites.

 
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Another swap! Yay! I finished up these covered notebooks for Super Swaps.

Today they will be send off to my partner. Hopefully she will enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them.

 
A lot has been going on here. I've been participating in a few swaps, worked on some old projects and tried not to start anything new! Here's my list of finishes:

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Swap:

Little ticker tape/dresden quilt
for the Little Quilt-Sew, Vote, Swap Group










I received this cute little one back.


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Quilt top

This quilt top is finally finished! It is a pattern by Camille Roskelley, Little Ones. I enlarged it a bit, so that it fits a Twin size bed.



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Butterfly charity quilt

It felt great to make an improv quilt with scraps from the quilt top above! No pattern, just cutting and sewing!!

I first finished the line with all the triangles. After that I used other scraps for the six blocks. Those six blocks were not big enough to make a little quilt, so I decided to use a neutral with it. That seemed a bit empty to me. The quilt feels girlie to me and what matches better with girlie than butterflies?! The butterflies are appliqued on it with raw edge applique.

I guess that I'm very pleased with the result. Do I really have to give this baby away to charity? Yes, I hope that it is finished in time for the 100 quilts for kids.

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Another swap

For the RATZ swap (Rapid And Tiny Zakka Swap) I made this needle book with a pincushion embroidery on the front.





This gorgeous needle book came my way from Norway. Raw edge applique and crochet, I love it!

Now I'm off to make a notebook cover for Super Swaps and I have to buy some batting for my charity quilt! But before I go, I'll link up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced!
 
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A quick note from me. I don't have much time, because I fell in love. Not with a man, but with a machine!

Yes, yes, yes, I bought a new sewing machine! A Janome 4120QD. I'm so excited and can't wait to start quilting with this machine, instead of handquilting. It will save me so much time.

Now I'm off to try out all the options on this machine!

 
Since it is almost summer it was time to make new pillows for my chairs outside.
For the centers I used Passion Lily Fern Green, by Amy Butler, and Blue Rose Garden, by Patricia Bravo. The stripes are made out of a Batik Bali Pop, Kiwiberry.
My cat already claimed one! He always gets the best seats...
I’m entering this project in to the Summer Sewing Contest:

Ellison Lane Quilts
 
Time flies when you're handquilting!
In the meanwhile I made these little things. I couldn't just sit on the couch and quilt all the time. I'm not even half way yet, so there are more little projects to come. Maybe a bit more crocheting or I'll start a new quilttop. We'll see....