High hopes for 2017

Well, I think it is time to set some goals for the current year. No promises, though, because there is always the time and the surprise factor that can intervene... And beeing a maths teacher doesn't help, either, to accomplish my wish and sew something every day. 

But!

As a constant reader of some really nice ladies on the net, I tumbled on Lisa Bongean's Primitive Gatherings Triangle Sew Along block challenge and I did like them soooo very much, I had to experiment with. And also, her The magic of Christmas block challenge was all too nice! I read about it for the first time at http://sisterschoice.typepad.com/sisters_choice_quilts/ which is a quilting blog I enjoy reading from its very beginnings. 

So, I just wanted to show my first block. I made it yesterday and I think it is quite an achievement, because that was the day I used for the first time my new Bernina, a Bernina Bernette 12. I know I will have much to learn and I expect there will be some fun stitching hours spent with it.

The block I made is somehow peculiar, I measured for each piece of material 15 cm-s. But it came out quite nicely. The material I used is cotton, and I purchased one and a half meters of it some years ago in a small town. It is not labelled, but the feeling is nice, crispy and lets itself sewn quite well.

Well? I plan to do another one, in dark green with mini roses.

...my newest materials...

...and some assorted batics...

 The materials above are a Christmas gift from Caitlyn. They are a nice selection of aqua, cotton, with sea critters. I have big plans for these. But it'll have to wait until summer.

Have a nice day!

beth

Yearly calendar for 2017

Hi,

Caitlyn was so kind and drew the four seasons to be included in my hubby's yearly calendar, which you can download from his blogpage, at http://jibouan.blogspot.ro/2016/12/semne-de-carte-si-calendare-pe-anul-2017.html .

I made one, too, because I want to show you those little gems of drawings.

Aren't they sweet? Thanks, Caitlyn!

Have a nice day!

Beth

Still winter

Hi,

quite a winter here, in Jibou.

It looks like this:

The kids were able to take some walks in the snow. And Caitlyn too was able to see what a Romanian winter looks like.

Yet, I remember all quite well that there was summer once...

In the Botanical garden, the lotus was flowering...

And the japanese pagoda's door  opened to the bamboo...

But you know what? We had such a rainy, sad day today, february 2nd. They say here, if the bear comes out and sees its shadow, it goes back and sleeps six more weeks. Well, I can tell you, it didn't see its shadow today. Not at all. 

Maybe spring will come soon?

The fire rooster of 2017

Hi,

they say this year's Rooster might be quite something!

It's the fire one, so it may bring some rebirth from ashes, along its respect for traditions.

Let's just hope there will be no phoenix-like rebirth for the nasty stuff, too.

So, high hopes for you, Rooster!

May everyone find what they wish for this year...

More totes

Hi, there,

it seems to me that the year jumpstarted just now.

I'd like to show you some totes I made the last couple of weeks.

 These are two eco-bags for two sisters. They are made of linen.

 I do wish spring to come!

 This is a small cards/and/cash carrier I made for Kaytlin.

 You can zip the inside too and keep there the cards, or the change.

 ...detail on the ladybug ornament...

After that, I offered Kaytlin to make her a drawing pad carrier, as she studies the fine arts. When she told me how big actually the drawing board is, I said "what"? 23 inch per 26 inch is something to carry indeed!

So I began to brainstorm and came up with this:

 ...place inside to carry the big papers and whatnots...

 ...a detachable pencil-carrier...

 ...detail...

 ...it looks like this if she wants to have it separately...

 ...the two of them, attached to the inside. The bag itself is more like a beach-quilt, you can detach the inside parts and sit on it if you go somewhere and whant to paint or sketch something.  It has four pairs of ribbons attached on the sides, that transform the thing into an actual big bag.

...on the outside, it has this strap, which lets the bag to be carried on one shoulder, but one strap can be attached to the upfront, so that it can be carried also in one hand. Kaytlin sent me a photo to show that the drawing board actually fits.

...and I see she proudly sports her own eco-bag, too.

That's  all for today, take care,

bet

A small quilt for a tiny newborn

Hi, my sister told me that a fellow teacher of hers is going to be a new mother, so I thought, what better occasion to bring a little happiness to somebody?

Most of the fabric I used is non labelled, made in Hungary. I like the quality of the cotton and I think the colors are suitable for a newborn.

With this occasion, my sister got a new tote for herself... made by me.

It is just ok to protect her laptop from the cold when she goes to school.

That's it, for today. Take care,

bet

Charity shop

Hi,

just a few images from the charity shop that took place at the end of December 2016, for the benefit of gifted children. My school participated, as it usually does, with items realised by the pupils and their teachers. It was quite a success and I hope the children will benefit.
No child should suffer!

 

 ...down left you can see my eco-bags, too...

 ...the other school...

 ...the local Library...

 ...stuff...

 ...the other high school...

 ...more stuff...

 ...the kindergarden...

 ...a wishing tree...

Have a nice week!

Happy 2017!

Hi, everyone.

The red monkey has been a little harsh and nervous around the world, making changes.

We had ours, too. Now both my boys are students - and at the same University, too. It was quite a challenging spring and summer for the youngest, with his highschool exams and then the more severe exam at the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics. He dreams in code from when he was just a kid, that one. The big brother, eh, he still wants to be a maths teacher, like his mum. Oh, idealists...

So, just a few pictures to remember 2016.

 At the end of the road, the student life awaits...

...my summer balcony...

 ...remember our rescued kitties? This is Blanca...

 ...a tablet-case for one of my colleagues, at school...

 ...my own housepet, Kira. I just don't know if we are owning him or it is the other way around...

 ...anyway, he thinks he's the master...

 ...oh, dear life...

 ...this is my class, they are almost grown-ups. At least, they think so...

 ...I captured this one in my mother's garden...

 ...my gardening apron, made from the bottom of an old jeans...

 ...in my balcony...

 ...hubby, surprising me even after twenty two years of homebliss...

 ...visiting Baia Mare, one of the big cities near us...

 ...with my boys and the older's sweet girlfriend, Kaytlin...

 ...they look nice, don't they?...

 ...these are called Christmas flowers. Only mine are flowering in July!

 ...lovely...

 ...this critter appeared in my mother's garden...

 ...and this one, too, last summer...

 ...hubby and me - but the snowman was already there, really...

 ...Blanca's paws...

 ...and Kira's...

 ...a key chain I made for my oldest...

 ...don't you crave a summery salad?

 ...yellow roses from hubby...

 ...small bags and phone cases for the summery charity shop. They sold whoosh!

 ...remember my dear frightened rescued puppy from 2015? Well, he's a fine youngster now...

...and a few images from my hometown, Jibou. The water-feature is quite new, in fact it was installed only in August last year. But it was so nice to stay and listen to the water in the hot summery nights...

That's it!

Have a wonderful 2017 and may all your wishes come through!