Still - finishing Sugar block club

I've made my last sugar block. It is called "still". Standing still and just being. Looking back and looking forward, or just be in the moment. That is what the Christmas holiday is all about for me.

I think the last one is the best one! I loved making these blocks throughout the year and I will miss making them. So I have to think up how to put these together. I do think they need some kind of sashing, but will I make a classic sampler? I will have to sleep on that.

 

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Listen

The november block for the Sugar block Club is called "listen". It is about listening without prejudice, without thinking ahead to your advice or making mental grocery lists. I think it is hard and we should do it more often. Could that be a new years resolution?

This is the eleventh block we have made. The last one will be next month. I love the results so far.

all together now so far

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Be peaceful at 38

My  birthday was last week. The big 38. This picture is taken approcimately 30 years ago, when I was still cute, sweet and non wrinkly.

The Sugar Block Chalenge for this month was "be peaceful". I am not usually a very agitated person (I think), but I can be. I need to feel in control to some extent and if I don't feel in control I can take this state of mind with me for some time. It helps when I am outside for a while (that's why riding my bike to work really works for me), or if I make my self concentrate on something else. Actually sewing seems to help. Being busy with my hand makes my mind focus on the practicalities at hand and my frustration or agitated state leaves my head gradually through the backdoor. Cuddling with my children on the couch after a long day at work and really intently listening to them and talking to them can do the trick for me too. What makes you feel peaceful?

Th 9 previous blocks - just 2 to go

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Sugar sugar

My newest sugar block is called Encourage. Encourage is a beautiful word in it self and it is a beautiful thing you can do fore someone. Maybe giving them the last push they need to make their dreams come true.

I encourage my children to read, believe they can do anything, be themselves, create and play outside and enjoy the moment. Not particularly in that order, but they are the topics I encourage them on most. And right now I am encouraging myself, because this is the 8th block and month in the sugar block club and I am still on schedule, I still love all the blocks and am looking forward to making a beautiful classic sampler of them. Never made one before. But I can do it, I can see it even in my minds eye. So, no worries. If I can, you can!

All eight blocks together

Encourage, the September block

My courage

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Serve - Sugar block club

I've made the July block for the Sugar block club. It is called "Serve". The titles are meant to inspire and contemplate a little, this one doesn't ring with me directly. I'm not a serving person, as in following, obedient. Though you can interpret the term in many ways. In the meaning: knowing my obligations and keeping them, I think I generally do, except when in really obnoxious moods, which I have only seldom. Do you?

I have a zip lock bag containing the fabrics I have chosen for this quilt and the finished blocks and I take it out once a month. I'm not usually such a structured person, I don't usually plan out fabrics for an entire quilt. But I really like how this combo is working out. I do think there will be more months than fabric, so I have to figure out how to deal with that. Maybe mix in some more now, so I won't have to make the last blocks in different fabrics. The solids I can reorder I think.

This block was partly paper pieced. I love all the secondary patterns!

Here is a little mosaic with all 6 blocks. My friend Nicolette taught me how to make them over at bighugelabs and I am addicted ever since.

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sunny days

We are having some lovely, though unpredictable weather in the Netherlands. We spent yesterday at the beach and enjoyed ourselves so much, swimming, lying around, just being. who doesn't want to be here.

For the comfort circle I'm queen bee in July but already posted my idea to make a boat/beach themed random sampler-ish quilt for a little boy. I've asked for blues, beiges, yellows with some pops of color, adding no furthers rules. Everyone makes what they want, how big they want it, etc. This leads to so much creativity in my bee-mates, it is truly incredible. Take a peek here for previews. And I haven't even a plan for my own blocks! So I was looking for some inspiration at the beach too, and I'm thinking of a lighthouse. I do need to figure out how to make one though...

I did make the june block for the sugar block club, called "Teach" this month. Which is in a way appropriate, since I am almost up for my turn in the Double Dutch Random Sampler and am thinking up a little tutorial for a simple block. I love the block:

I have also made two blocks for the random sampler, using Muriels tutorial you can find here. It is a lovely block called Diamond in a cross. You can join us in making a sampler in your own time, you can find us here on flickr. I think I will post my block with a small tutorial next weekend.

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My pride and joy

Need I say more? These handsome ones can make me smile any time. My Alexander has a motorcycle weekend each year and he rents a bike. The boys think this really cool. They always want to sit on the parked bike to make some cool pictures. Look at my smallest, he is looking at his daddy in awe! So cute!

So that being said about my joy, onto the joy block of the sugar block club. This is the fifth block we made. I am still very fond of the choice of colors and fabrics for this quilt; auqua's, lilacs, greens, geys and lots of simple white, based on the little bundle I had. This block was paperpieced and compared to the size of the farmers wife blocks, easy peasy!

Her is the mosaic of the earlier blocks

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Presence - sugar block club

My handsome boy will be four next week. He has real presence. We were making some pictures for his invitation....

I cannot be mad at him for more than 5 minutes. Though this little stubborn one does not return this favor....

The presence (april) block looks like this, it was easy to make and I like the result!

And all four together so far, they look like the beginning of a lovely traditional sampler.

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big boys- explore

First of all my little lion cub went to practice pre-school for the first time today! He had great fun and so did his big brother, who could show him around. I thought starting preschool was a very emotional step for me with my eldest, but didn't suspect it feeling exactly the same the second time around. I stopped myself from deciding to take him home more than once on our way to school, thinking up things why he was still too small or too vulnerable to do this. He, on the other hand, did not have such scruples, he just said: bye mommie, see you later. And that was that. I am officially no longer a mom of any toddler....

That being said the block we made in the sugar block club this month had a very good name in the theme of this week: explore! For me and him that means exploring our new boundaries and opportunities, each in our own way! This block is partly paper pieced and partly traditionally pieced. I really enjoyed it! There is lots to see in this block!

So, now we have three! I think this will make a beautiful sampler.

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economising

I made some more economy blocks! With Rita's lovely tutorial.

my last batch, I always make a few at once so I can chainpiece

This was my last grand total update picture

And I made another block for the sugarblockclub BOM. This one is called Peace.

January Intention

February Peace

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