Project 21 Block 2 Diamond Block

Project 20 Block 1 House Block

2016 Crossroads Quilt Along

I fell in with the Crossroad Quilt from the Fat Quarter Shop. Only I have never made such a quilt and no idea if I could do this, would see it through and actually like it. The advantage with this project was going to be the handouts that are shared each month, the videos explaining how to go about and the facebook page specially dedicated to this. All the information on the quilt can be found at http://fatquartershop.blogspot.fr/p/crossroads.html
So in order to keep my self going each block is considered a project in itself. Georgeous kits are sold with all the required fabric in one package, however purchasing the kit was not an option, also because I still have so much fabric. A whole collection of African Batiks from Woodin, modern designs, thick good quality cotton.

As I did not have enough different fabrics I played with the colours and the different patterns. Three different fabrics looked like six different ones. After all I wanted to use my African Woodin fabrics and complement with solid colours. I organized my fabrics and the instructions and started with the first one.

The Crossroads Quilt Along benefits March of Dimes, an organization whose mission is to prevent premature births.

The first block is the house block, 4 cute houses.

http://www.fatquartershop.com/media/blog/Crossroads/Crossroads-Download-1-FabricRequirements.pdf

Project 19 Blue batik dress

Last year I received beautiful silk fabric and I wanted to make a dress out of it. So before cutting in the silk I wanted to be sure that the dress I selected would fit. I made a cotton one from Batik bought in Indonesia in 2010. The model looked nice, however I had to make too many adjustments to remake the dress in silk.

Project 18: A cardigan for my father's wife

My father's wife had sewn several things for me and in one instance she finished a jacket that just wouldn't wanted to be finished. So I decided to make here a sleeveless cardigan she can wear while working. Keeping her warm and hands free at the same time. I adjusted a pattern I found online (insert link), bought yarn (way too much) and started knitting. It came out rather nice I can say. I crocheted around the arm openings to ensure the edges wouldn't roll in too much

Project 17: Congratulations card

Friends got married and I tried to make a card with my ScanNCut. Only the machine acted up and nothing came out as I wanted. In the end I took a pair of scissors, looked at pinterest and made this card.

Project 16: Alexei as the "fou de roi"

Alexei wanted to be the "fou de roi" for carnaval in March. Couragous, how many kids would dare so.
He looked great

Project 15: Alesya as a fairy

Carnaval in March.
Made Alesya's outfit - end result beautiful

Project 14: Creative diary

For years I have been creative and did not keep track of everything I made. So I wanted to keep a creative diary in the form of a blog. Also this year I have challenged myself to finish/do 52 projects and this blog is a way to follow my projects. As have now finalized 17 projects, decided to name my blog project number 14. So over the next days will need to blog on projects 15 - 18. Stay tuned.

Project 13: Cushion cover for Slava's friend

Slava's bycicle was to small. And it was too early for either a birthday of Christmas gift. His friend saved the day. Her bicycle was to small for her and she goodhearted let Slava use it. We went to return the bike with a small gift: a cushion cover made from African fabrics and her name on it. Small detail - both sisters now each have their own cushion cover. She was very happy with it.

Project 12: Photography course

I bought a fancy photo camera in 2007. I took lots of lovely pictures with it, however I never took the time to read the manual and get myself acquainted with all the features it has. Nor do I take pictures in the manual mode. So time to change this. I signed up for a one-day photo course in Geneva and I loved it. We had some theory in the morning and after lunch we walked through Geneva. We had four sets of pictures to take: 1) portrait; 2) landscape (for which we went to Parc the Bastion); 3) city life and 4) more city life focusing on taking pictures of people. The latter was a real challenge as I am not used to take pictures of people I don't know.

There was a feedback session a week after the course during which we would receive feedback on our best 12 pictures. Some of the pictures were well received, others less. Some were well organized, maybe too well as the instructor asked me if I have all my garden magazines neatly organized, adding that my house myst be really nice and organized and neat. This really made me laugh, as I don't have garden magazines, nor is my house very neat. With three kids??? So take home message is to take more pictures and try to have them less structured/organized.

Shopping girls

Reflections

Southern style

Trees in window

City landscape