A bit of inspiration

Hallo!

Thanks for your lovely comments on the quilt. It really cheers me up!

It only measures 67 x 75 cm, just enough to cover my legs, but sometimes that is all I need.

I wanted to share with you a talk I saw in Ted. I hope you are familiar with Ted, because there are a lot of very interesting talks given by very brainy, intelligent, and good humoured people. Just like you and me!

I have been recently been very drawn to Stefan Sagmeister and what he does. You can watch and listen one of his talks here:

I really recommend it, and it is only a 15 min talk, so what is there to lose?

Have a happy Sunday

Keeping warm

I realised I hadn't shown you the quilt I made in November with bits of fabric I had and needed to use (or get rid off). There is all sort of patterns and colours combined, and it might not be your choice of quilt compared to those very well thought through quilts you see online. But what I like about it is that it follows the tradition of using bits of fabric that you have available, rather than designing one. Just for a change.

The fabric on the back is from a duvet cover I bought in a charity shop.

These are my two TV, book reading, lazy sofa moment companions.

Keep warm!

A bit of fun

Hallo Everyone!

Today I am in the YouTube video mode

Check this song out if you want to have a good laugh

And this one is hilarious too!

Have a great weekend

A bit of the music in my life

I am very particular about the music I listen to. I have a very varied taste and will listen to what suits my mood. There is music or groups that I refuse to listen to or make me feel annoied because of who they are.

David Bowie is one of the best composers, singers, showmen ever, and this song is one I love listening to

Johnny Cash is another man who I could listen to for hours and hours

The first record I remember asking for Christmas is Xanadu. I loved the film, I just wanted to be like Olivia Newton John, so beautiful, so perfect!

Happy Saturday!

Have a nice time!

If you ever go to Brussels or the Netherlands....do not forget to pop into Dille & Kamille.

This is one of the best shops ever. Enter the website and see for yourself, you will have a wonderful time!

A weekend away

Hallo everybody!

I am really a very lucky person.

This weekend was a lot of fun. We spoilt ourselves by going to Bruges, where we walked for many happy hours up and down the cobbled streets, looking at the beautiful chocolate shops and enjoying the architecture of the surrounding buildings.

The market square is full of life and one can warm up with a delicious hot drink

And so much walking gives an appetite...there is always room for another crepe or a waffle!

Bruge by night after a few beers

You always get the odd one, but people tend to be nice and smiley

The chocolates are always very much welcome, specially when they are of so good quality and they are so beautifully presented.

Although there are lots of tourists in Bruges at this time of year, I can highly recommend a long weekend here. It is truly a beautiful place.

Are there any places you would suggest going to? I am always happy to travel and discover new destinations!

A perfect day

I love going to the Natural History Museum in Oxford. I like the building more than the collection, it is of the style of the one in London, but much nicer.

I love this coloured stone floor. It reminds me of a quilt.

And then I went through to the Pitt Rivers Museum, which is an odd place to go

They have all sorts of things in their collection: basketry, reduced heads, ceramics, etc. These are examples of beads used for trading.

The afternoon was also much fun: watching a couple of films (Duplicity and Sunshine Cleaning) and playing

Monopoly, which I hadn't played for many years

A wonderful Saturday

Would love to hear about your weekend, : )

My creative space

We went to Ikea a few weekends ago and look! look! this is my wonderful creative space. I have never had such a big table before. I love having lots of space because I am very messy and don't like tidying up all the time.

I like to listen to Craftsanity podcasts while I am working. It is wonderful to get to know about so many different artists, how they started, what they do, how they struggle and deal with it, etc. I wished I knew more creative people to discuss crafty/arty issues. But then, I have your blogs! You always inspire me and make me think about arty stuff. So keep posting!

This is a quilt that I am working on. I have lots of fabric that I want to get rid off, and what better way? Yes, a giveaway is also a good idea, but I already did that a few months ago, so I thought of mixing them together for a quilt. A part of me was doubting about how pretty it would be. Mixing stripes with dots, flowers, and other prints? I thought it might turn really awful, but it is actually looking very nice (for my taste, that is!). I am just glad that I made myself do it even though I had doubts. I so many times restrict myself just because I can't see the project clear right from the beginning. Silly me. I should know better!

Hope you have a good weekend.

I have rented a couple of films and would like to do a fair amount of sewing.

Of course, there is also the washing, ironing, grocery shopping, and other things to do, but who wants to think about that now?!

What about you?

Anything exciting?

Easy going

I am a bit disappointed because today my plan was to go to London to the Country Living Christmas Fair and I am not feeling too well. It is however the perfect excuse to stay in bed when the weather outside is so horrid.

Drinking tea and reading magazines with beautiful photographs whilst I am under the duvet is the best medicine. Having R to look after me is a luxury that I never take for granted.

Although I wished I had the energy to get myself to do some practical crafty projects, I do appreciate having this time to be lazy and do comforting activities. I am hoping I will have a nice soup for lunch, followed by some easy going film. Reading your blogs is also a lovely way to get distracted and inspired.

Hope you have a great crafty weekend. Are you also staying indoors?

Quite natural

What are the ordinary things around you that catch your eye?

I have, for the last few years, made a little collection of photos of textures from nature.

I like how colours are combined, the feel when my hand strokes the surfaces, the randomness and structure. Rocks and trees have been my favourite subject so far, and the last photo is from a petrified tree = perfect combination?

On a sunny day

We like to drive through the countryside, taking roads that we don't know where they will lead us to. I love to discover new places, and this one is such a lovely spot! In Wilton, Berkshire.

Bubbles

Today is rainy and dark outside...so we are having to find ways to amuse ourselves

Even at our age it is fun to make bubbles!

The beauty around

I am very lucky to live in a very beautiful part of the world

No, this is not my house (I wish!)

Autumn is so beautiful. I would love to have a garden where to have nice flowers and grow herbs for the kitchen...(dreamy face) one day!

These are some of the places I saw yesterday on my way home back from work.

Even a wall or a fence can be beautiful

What are the beautiful things around you?

Have a wonderful weekend! X

Exploring

While walking on the country side in Sardinia one can end up finding one of the 8000 nuraghe constructions existing in the island

We played to be explorers, archaeologists discovering wonderful remains of past civilizations,

going through small passages into the unknown

to then find a huge space inside full of wonder and mystery

and this is my very elegant way of leaving the site

I love, love archaeological sites and archaeological objects

Holiday for me too

Hallo everyone! I have just come back from a wonderful holiday in Sardinia. I have read about all of your holidays during the summer, and never thought my time would come....but it did....eventually!

Look at the view. We were very lucky with the weather, being sunny and hot, but not silly hot, every day. The beaches there are outstanding and found myself there nearly every day, sunbathing, snorkeling, sleeping, walking. A proper holiday.

I did manage to do a little bit of reading too, and have enjoyed having lots of time for it since I am a very slow reader.

I also got round to do a little bit of crochet, but don't think is the kind of craft for me a the minute.

The Archaoelogical Museum in Cagliari was displaying some local art....from hundreds of years ago! Quite funny figures, don't you think?

So we did a little bit of everything, as usual when one is away and has time to spare.

And that's all for now folks!

Hope you have all been well. I have been catching up with your posts and I am as always delighted to see how you keep making beautiful things and inspiring me with your creations.

See you soon!

Bon apetit!

I went to see Julie & Julia the other night and really enjoyed it.

It remind me how much I love good food, and wished I had the patience for cooking the way they do in the film. Maybe a challenge for this winter?

In the meantime, here is what I made today: Apple Crumble, my signature dish (can this be a signature dish?)

I followed my Mum's recepie:

three green apples and a few cloves.

150 gr of flour

75 gr of margarine

75 gr of sugar

Put in a hot oven for around 15 minutes et voila! Bon apetit!