Lovely Stocking Pattern for our gifts

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, but I'm sure that I'm not the only one starting the to-do sewing list for Christmas gifts.
If you are like me, you give so much attention to the gifts you are sewing, that almost always the time left for thinking about how to pack them is so limited that you end up making a last minute improvisation. Sometimes it turns out well but only sometimes, not always.
That's why this year I added on the list, next to each gift project, a very brief description of how I will pack it and I am trying to prepare ahead all I need for packaging.

Here is one project that could serve both as a gift and as a package to host a gift.

For those of you loving the folk style and wanting a fresh look for your traditional projects,  I listed again the Granny Stocking Pattern in my Etsy shop.
It will be listed for a limited time. So, if you like it and need it,  just take this opportunity.
If you want to learn more about the Granny Stocking Pattern, you might find useful this post.

Enjoy!
Have only beautiful sewing days, my dears!
Thank you for your support!

Tenacious of Life - working on a new quilt design

My mom needs new decorative pillows. As I am working on a new quilt design, I took the opportunity to test it by making her a pillow cover . The only condition was to use assorted colors with the room.
I was happy with it, mainly because this meets one of my goals: creating designs equally suitable for objects intended for men. These colors were perfect from this point of view.

About the inspiration source: an old Romanian traditional rug.

About the name - Tenacious of life - it came into my mind quite easily. It's related to one of my favorite characters of the classic literature: Jane Eyre from the Charlotte Bronte's novel of the same name.

Mr. Rochester questioning Jane:

"You have been resident in my house three months?"
"Yes, sir."
"And you came from -- ?"
"From Lowood school, in -shire."
"Ah! a charitable concern. How long were you there?"
"Eight years."
"Eight years! you must be tenacious of life. I thought half the time in such a place would have done up any constitution!

And that was it!
I thought that nothing would be better than this name.

I have to see how this design will look by using other colors.
The tests must go on.
But first, let's finish my mom pillow cover!

Have a beautiful day, my dears!

I'm linking to Finish it up Friday!

Urban Folk Mood 3 - Denim upcycling

I'm still working on the Urban Folk pattern, taking advantage of every opportunity to make another test.
This time I have introduced as main character a few denim pieces from my small but growing pile of used jeans which I want to upcycle in my future projects.

The stretchy denim I used here required some attention when handled but with a few small exceptions the piecing went quite well.

That's all for now.
Back to work.

Have a beautiful day!
   

Urban Folk Mood Quilt - 2 - playing with the winter colors

I'm polishing the Urban Folk Mood quilt pattern.

In this version, I wanted to give equal chances to be seen to the two patchwork units of the top and bottom bands. The way to do this was using for both units vivid and pastel colors/shades, but in their succession, I wanted to get out of the symmetry of the pieced blocks geometry.
I kept the quilting design (simulating the weaving threads) as in the first version because I want the quilt layout to stay in a manner near to my inspiration source: a traditional handcrafted rug.

This is a little quilt, for a decorative pillow or a wall quilt.
The next version will be a baby quilt and will have a few prints.

Have a beautiful week, my friends!

I'm linking to Finish it up Friday!

Granny Stocking pattern - on sale!

Christmas is so close and we all have so much to do!
If you like making sewn gifts for your loved ones, I give you a helping hand:

During 19 - 23 December I will offer my Granny Stocking pattern at a reduced price. 

You can purchase it by going to my Etsy Shop.

As you may see, Granny Stocking has an original shape - inspired by Romanian traditional footwear.
It is a last-minute project, an ideal choice when your "to do list" is still long but the time is short.

For Granny Stocking you need only a few materials:
*Fabrics: 
-2 pieces of 11" x 15" for stocking body
-about 12" x 12" for cuff and shoe
*Tear-away stabilizer for cuff embroidery
*A piece of ribbon for the loop
*Coordinating threads  

You might also sew your stockings from modern fabrics to give a chic look, or using seasonal prints and no embroidery, or just a few assorted fabric scraps. Your imagination is the limit. Whatever your choice, one thing is sure: your stockings made using my Granny Stocking pattern will immediately distinguish, warming up the hearts to all who will receive them, no matter how small would be their content!

Have only beautiful sewing days, my dears!

A peek inside my sketch folder

Needlepoint and maps.
This is my play ground now.
I'm working on a few graphic design projects. Less sewing for the time being.

one motif - four possibilities

Art map. It would be great if I will manage to make a version for a quilt eventually.

Have a beautiful day, my dears!

Out and About

I try to find inspiration everywhere I go.
An unexpected invitation and a mini-holiday nourished my soul and imagination with a lot of beauties.
A 400 years old village, Valea Zalanului, secluded in the heart of a forest, on a mountain with mild slopes in the Romanian Carpathians was chosen by Prince Charles for buying an old property. He transformed it in Guesthouse opened to the public, helping the financing the Prince of Wales Foundation which activities are aiming the preservation of the local rich biodiversity of plants, mushrooms, insects, birds and large mammals. 
It was difficult what photos to chose for sharing in this post, because it is so much to show!
Eventually, I decided.
Here they are!
Enjoy! 

 

Have a beautiful day, my dears!

WIP 3 Country Home

I found a name for my no name block : Country Home.
One of the four blocks made to test the quilting design, turned into a cushion, as I promised.
I washed it and now it looks like this:

 

Have a beautiful weekend!

I am linking to Finish it up Friday

Inspiration (WIP)

I like traditional art. I said it before.
I'm trying to find ways to use it in a modern way, or to mix it with other crafting techniques, but with care. I don't want to force something; I would want to match only those aspects that are compatible.

The today post needed this introduction, because I'm in the process of designing some quilt blocks inspired by Romanian traditional sewing.
This is the first one.

Inspired by an old Romanian Blouse created in an once very well known area for the crafting of peasant costumes: Breaza. It is located in the Prahova County placed in the south Romanian region named Muntenia. And it is just where our quilting group has recently met.

View Larger Map

From my first attempt it came up a block close to Courthouse Steps, from the Log Cabin family.

Although easy to sew, the block presents the difficulty of keeping the squares and the rectangles the same width. I didn't get yet this and the aligning of the little squares shows it, but that's why this block should be considered a challenging one and may tempt the ambitious, advanced and even experienced quilters to do it.
I recommend  it as a choice for a good looking scrap-quilt.
Here is how it looks only by inverting the two colors:

The next step is selecting one or more quilting patterns that would match with it. I think some all-over ones would do.
Hard job, too!

I see some cushions as quick projects and at list one quilt made with this block.
I need a name too, for it.

So, as is usually said, I'm in the middle of a Work In Progress, right?
Right!

Get back to work then
and
Have a beautiful day, my dears!

ia romaneasca si english paper piecing/ Romanian Blouse (La Blouse Roumaine) and English Paper Piecing

La sfarsitul saptamanii trecute, Silvia si Ortansa ne-au gazduit o intalnire de doua zile, acasa la ele, ca sa vedem si sa pipaim quiltul la care am lucrat impreuna, inainte de a fi trimis la Houston si ca sa mai discutam despre viitoare proiecte comune.

V-am mai spus ca fiecare a lucrat cate o portiune din el, asa ca, in afara de Geta, care l-a asamblat, noi celelalte, nu-l stiam decat din poze.
Pentru a-l saluta cum se cuvine pe Domnul Quilt, imbracat in costum English Paper Piecing, noi ne-am gatit cu niste adevarate ii romanesti, aduse cu mare iuteala si cu mult drag de Ortansa si ne-am pozat pentru posteritate.
Pentru ca fiecare a scris deja, despre intalnire sau despre quilt pe blogul ei (aici e Ela), eu m-am gandit sa profit de asta si sa va supun spiritul de observatie la o mica incercare.

Ce aveti de facut:

Vizitati-le blogurile, cititi-le postarile despre subiectul asta, uitati-va bine la poze. Uitati-va si la pozele de mai jos si incercati apoi, sa ghiciti a cui e ia.
Nu va ajut niciun pic!
Ei hai, ca niste indicii, pe ici pe colo, tot am lasat....
Oricum, ultima poza am pus-o doar asa, ca sa va sâcâi!

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Ar mai fi trebuit sa adaug o intrebare anume, dar n-o pun. Sa vedem daca e cineva care simte nevoia!

Vreti sa raspundeti si altundeva decât in gând?
Simplu: la comentarii sau pe email.

Vreti si premiu?
Mai vedem, mai socotim, ne mai gandim....
Depinde de voi!

P.S. Nici impricinatele nu vor da indicii. Sunt sigura.

O zi frumoasa sa aveti!

Edited:
I saw what horrible translation make google for this post. Where did he find here something about "cooking", I really don't know! This post in Google English is a totally mess!
ia romaneasca = Romanian Blouse in English, La Blouse Roumaine in French.

A Baby Quilt Story

Sambata asta am fost la botezul unui baietel pe care nu-l mai vazusem pana acum.
Cred ca va dati seama ce cadou i-am dus, nu-i asa?

Nu stiu cum e la voi, dar eu cand trebuie sa fac o combinatie de cateva tesaturi, fie pentru o perna, fie pentru o geanta, fie pentru un quilt....pentru orice, ma sucesc si ma invartesc si-mi ia o gramada de timp pana ma hotarasc pe care le aleg. Aproape intotdeauna imi mai lipseste cel putin o culoare/un imprimeu, iar dupa ce, intr-un final le am in fata pe cele de trebuinta, nu-mi mai vine sa le tai.
Adica as vrea sa le tai, dar sa-mi si ramana bucata intreaga. Sau cat mai mult din ea (!). Si absolut de fiecare data am un profund sentiment de vinovatie ca stric materialele...
Si de data asta, am ales cu greu tesaturile.
Pana la urma, dupa cum se vede, mi-a iesit o compozitie pastel. Voiam sa apara in evidenta fluturasii din colturile patratelor, mai colorati, dar, din pacate i-am facut prea mici. Si asta din teama de a nu-mi iesi prea mari....(V-am mai spus ca am talentul sa ma complic, nu-i asa....?)

Sursa de inspiratie e aici.
Vatelina e din bumbac, pufoasa, dar care este totaaaaal diferita la lucru fata de cea din poliester: nu aluneca deloc, ba chiar are o anumita aderenta la materialele ce o imbraca; se matlaseaza fara efort, ca sa nu mai vorbim de avantajele sale la purtat, din punctul de vedere al gagalicei pe care o va proteja.

 Dosul paturicii este din finet moale, romanesc (da, da, am ajuns sa apreciez calitatea celui romanesc...). Imprimeul lui nu e grozav, dar intre un desen mai inspirat si o calitate mai buna, am ales-o pe a doua. Doar astea au fost alternativele momentului.
Ca sa il inviorez putin am bordat paturica cu albastru punctat cu bobite mici albe. Materialul asta il tot pastreeeeez de nu stiu cat timp si nu ma indur sa tai din el decat cate o bucatica mica, mica, mica....
Cand am terminat ( cu o ora inainte sa fim la biserica....)m-am cam pleostit. Mi se parea prea trist, nu mi se parea deloc potrivit pentru un bebelus.....

Daaaaar, in timpul petrecerii de dupa botez, cand s-au pus sa ruleze pe un ecran, poze de-ale bebelusului de cand s-a nascut pana in prezent, am avut surpriza sa constat ca majoritatea hainutelor copilului, a asternuturilor sau paturicilor din patut contineau fix, dar fix culorile pe care le-am combinat in paturica mea!
Va dati seama ?
Lumea se uita la copil si eu..... la culori......
Asa ca mi-a mai venit inima la loc.

Cam asta a fost povestea acestei paturici.

Sa aveti o zi frumoasa!
 

March 1 - Martzishor

Long ago an old woman called Dochia, had a step daughter. Dochia hated her.

In a grim winter day Dochia gave her a very dirty clothes asking her to wash them in the river until they will become white as snow. The young girl washed them long, but the clothes became black. Then came a young man  whose name was Martzishor  and asked her why she cries. She told him what had happened. Then Martzishor told her that he has magical powers and gave him a red flower with white. He urged her to wash again the clothes and after that return home.

When the girl arrived home, the clothes were white as snow.

Dochia could hardly trust his own eyes.

She did not believe that his step-daughter will be able to complete the task.

Suddenly she saw the red-white flower on the girl’s chest.

The old woman thought that spring has come and gone with the flock on the mountain.

Along the way, every day the weather has become more and more beautiful, so she took off, one by one, the nine coats she wear. But after the 9th coat she was caught by a cold rain. When she reached the top of the mountain, showed Martzishor who told her: “Now you see how bad it is to sit in the cold and wet?”Then he disappeared.

A bitter cold came suddenly and Dochia and the flock were turned into stone blocks.
It is said that these blocks are those found in the Ceahlau Mountains, in the northern Romanian Eastern Carpathian Mountains (Carpatii Orientali).
About the above Dochia legend, well....of course this is only one of many others...

Traditionally The Old Woman’s (or Women) Days (Zilele Babei/Babelor), (1-9 March) compose a cycle of nine days. The weather of each one of the nine days means the feelings of Dochia on her way on the mountain.

On March 9, when died Dochia, is considered the boundary between cold and warm seasons.

March 1st is The Spring “baba” and symbolize the seeding. March 2 is The Summer “baba” and symbolize the works of summer and March 3 is The Autumn “baba”, the harvest.

How will be the three days, so will be the three seasons of the year, and how will be the weather in the 9th “baba”, so will be the weather for the 40 following days.

If you want to see what will be your next year, you have to choose from advance one of The Nine “Baba”Days. If the one you choose is sunny and beautiful, you will have a very good year, but if the day is cloudy and rainy, you will have a difficult year. 

Well, who have the courage to choose a day?....

Until you will decide whether to do it or not, I will continue to prepare the little signs of the spring, "Martzishoarele".

I'm making martzishoare as bracelets. Of course,  new models. Some of them are already worn.

Have a beautiful spring!

St. Nicholas/ De Sfântul Nicolae

The true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara (now on the southern coast of Turkey).

His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to the those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.

In Romania, on the night of December 5th, boots are cleaned and carefully polished to be put by the door or on the windowsill to wait for St. Nicholas' (Sfantul Nicolae) visit. He is generous to adults as well as children, putting a little present in each boot. In some areas branches or thin twigs covered with silver or bronze are left as a warning that behavior needs to improve. On the sixth of December, gifts are given to friends, children, and those in need. It is one of the most important Romanian holidays.

More than 800,000 Romanians celebrate their name day on St. Nicholas day, December 6th. 815,453 persons are named Nicholas or devivations of the name, 530,089 men and 285,364 women. (stnicholascenter.org)

Sfantul Ierarh Nicolae s-a nascut in localitatea Patara din Asia Mica, in a doua jumatate a secolului al III lea. Participa in calitate de episcop la primul sinod ecumenic tinut la Niceea in anul 325. Sinodul a condamnat erezia lui Arie, conform careia Iisus Hristos nu este Fiul lui Dumnezeu, ci doar un om cu puteri supranaturale. La acest sinod este recunoscut drept un mare aparator al ortodoxiei. Atat de puternic a argumentat Nicolae si atat de incapatanat a fost Arie, incat, ingrijorat de ruptura care se putea face in Biserica, viitorul sfant i-a dat ereticului o palma in cadrul sinodului. De la palma Sfantului Nicolae a ramas obiceiul ca, in 5 decembrie, celor neascultatori sa li se dea o joarda in semn de avertisment. 

In colindele romanesti se canta, in plina iarna, despre florile dalbe, flori de mar. Daca ne intrebam de ce de mar, trebuie sa stim ca batranii nostri cunosteau ca acea joarda a Sfantului Nicolae trebuie sa fie una de mar, iar daca aceasta, pusa in apa, va inflori pana la Nasterea Domnului, insemna ca sfantul a mijlocit pentru iertarea celui caruia i-a dat crenguta cu flori albe.

Sfantul Nicolae a avut masura lucrurilor atat de buna, incat a stiut ca dupa mustrare se cere mangaiere si ca incercarile vietii pot fi pentru unii prea apasatoare. A daruit mult saracilor, a linistit pe intristati, a vindecat cu putere de la Dumnezeu pe bolnavi. (crestinortodox.ro)

So, I had a strong reason to continue making all kind of beautiful things. Maybe they will brighten some little spots of someone heart in the St. Nicholas Day or in the Christmas Day....

And I must tell you that I had in mind that the future owner of my little objects to make the best of it.

Asa ca, am avut motive serioase sa continui sa imaginez si sa "materializez" tot felul de lucruri frumoase, cu speranta ca vor lumina macar un coltisor din inima cuiva, fie de Mos Nicolae, fie in ziua de Craciun...

Oricum, cand le-am gandit, am avut in vedere ca ele sa poate fi folosite cat mai mult timp.

Daca va plac si vreti sa oferiti cuiva ceva asemanator, puteti sa-mi comunicati pe adresa de email. 

Here there are. My drawstring gift bags:

Iata. Saculeti pentru cadouri:

For the time being my photos are bad and they will be the same for a time...

Deocamdata calitatea pozelor mele stirbeste mult din estetica lucrusoarelor mele. 

La un moment-dat se va schimba ceva in bine si in privinta asta.....

I wish you St. Nicholas will put in your boots the dreamed presents!

Va doresc ca Mos Nicolae sa va lase in ghete un "ceva" cat de mic, din ceea ce va doriti! 

Have a beautiful day!

Sa aveti o zi frumoasa!