sewing

When one project is slow and requires meticulous work...

... and you want to work on something more laid back...

you make...

a 'vintage'  picnic blanket, with pre-cut upcycled sheets...

backed with a patchwork of old towels

and ... nothing in between the two layers!!!

I love it!

Happy Weekend!

xxx

lately

~ a little crochet goodness I've been working on (when it's not too hot)

~ The Happiness Project (this is the right chapter at the right time - referring to contents)

~ Colouring pebbles

~ Some sewing did take place (more to come)

~ We all want some rain!

~ One more caravan - lego, this time

We're going to be away for a few days;

my dad's tomatoes are ready to fill lots of jars with summer bounty.

Take Care!

xxx

today

 I don't normally do something in order to blog about it (!)

but today I need the motivation.

With the housework done on Monday, and most of the ironing done yesterday

I have no excuse.

I need to start doing it.

Today.

I've procrastinated long enough.

And I need you to keep me on track.

I need you to ask me every now and then: 'how are you progressing, Yiota?'

Because I have so many projects on my mind, they're driving me crazy!!!

.

.

.

.

.

And now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go dust my sewing machine

and bring the ironing board out (you do iron the fabric before you start sewing the pieces together, right?)

Have a good day!

xxx

sewing

I've been  living in a whirlwind lately.

The visit home was great (though emotionally intense on the day of my mum's memorial service). There was time for slowing down, time for seeing friends, time for attending an end-of-school-year event at our neighbourhood...

However, since we came back here on Monday, our time has been filled with commitments: end-of-year events at our schools, going out with the teachers from one school, then the other, and later today with my son's teachers...

At the same time, I've been waiting for job-related news for ages; and when the criteria by which it will be decided who will be transferred where were finally announced, I felt the earth move under my feet; there's a chance I'll need to be here again in september (for the next school year) and we'll only find out late august! So we decided to keep the flat until we know for sure. I explained the situation to our landlords and they said that was fine but then there was a mix up with their daughter and now we have to move!

Are you still here? I wouldn't blame you if you weren't!

I tell myself that every obstacle has a reason and things usually turn out for the best, but still I feel numb at times and dizzy at others.

So now, instead of packing our clothes and leaving on Tuesday, I  have to pack everything and move next weekend.

Seeking distraction, I was reaquainted with my sewing machine. I made two hearts for my son's teachers. Choosing fabrics, ribbons and buttons was really relaxing; little one helped me with the colours and I have to say I am thrilled at how they turned out.

Meanwhile, my son's first tooth will soon fall out and I had to act fast; you see, I promised I'd make him a cushion for the fairy to find his tooth in and leave him some seeds in exchange (an idea I came across in a blog, of course) but never actually got round to making it. I knew I was going to use his old sleeping bag(? - no idea how these things toddlers sleep in so they won't get cold are called!) and it took me about ten minutes to make it. I'm astonished at how happy this little cushion has made him! He hugs it all the time and he's even put his regular pillow aside and is now napping with this one. Amazing!

Hope I haven't bored you with all this!

Have a great weekend!

xxx

do crochet hearts grow on cherry trees?

Thank you Maaike for the tutorial!
~~~~~~

It's Mother's Day tomorrow. Here's a heart my son made at school...

and one that his teacher made for us, mums.

Happy Mother's Day to all you lovely mums out there!

xxx

inspiration and creativity

Have you ever felt that after a long period of doing something with your whole being - you know, being there, focused, body and soul - you are drenched and have nothing more to give?

That's how I've been feeling the last couple of days in relation to the time I spend with my little boy (who, by the way, is not so little any more and says things like "why did you book tickets for The Little Prince? I don't want to go to a play; I'd rather stay with dad"! - hum?)

Anyway, after having made an incredible number of Christmas crafts, read countless Christmas stories, played with play-doh for hundreds of hours (not literally but you get the picture), I ran out of ideas for mum-son time. Of course he spends a lot of time playing on his own but I'm talking about our time here.
Υesterday afternoon, I let him watch a film on TV while I surfed the net for ideas. And I found it! I came across this illuminating post. Maya's blog is such a great resource!

Not everything needs to be planned and be made with a certain outcome in mind, right? Right! So free expression it is, then! I took out whatever materials we had here and the idea was welcomed with utter delight!!!

Oh, the fun we had!

Take care!
xxx

December 6th - grateful for ...

{ crafts }

Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.

~ Jonh Steinbeck

24

happy advent!

xxx

family traditions

I've recently read the book "Lessons at Blackberry Inn" by Karen Andreola.

It's a book that speaks 'home' through and through and I've underlined some extracts that spoke to my heart.

One of them is the following:

'anything a mother does with her family for two consecutive years becomes a family tradition'.

Since my hubby is quite satisfied with the traditions everyone in this country shares, whereas I'm always on the lookout for something new, I was eager for little one to grow up a little so that he can join me in the fun and little by little pull daddy in as well.

Do you remember my salt dough ornaments from last year?

We're making some of these again tomorrow

and I've been working on an Advent Calendar idea for a while.

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The weekend is all about fun for two; little one and I will be alone this weekend.

We're planting bulbs tomorrow morning and then we're clearing the kitchen table for some serious (!) crafting! Stay tuned!

I may not be crazy about a huge Christmas dinner or endless shopping, but spreading some joy is one of the things in my to-do list, so some of our creations will be flying around the world the following weeks.

~~~~~~

What are your plans for the weekend?

XXX

you're full of flaws, but I love you! (2)

If you've read this post,

you know I learned to crochet this year.

I love it and have a crochet project in progress;

but summers in Greece are too hot to work with yarn.

Meanwhile, I've been drooling over several sewing projects I've seen in blogland, quilts included.

So, how do I quench my creative thirst?

Well,

ta-daaaah!

my first ever (apart from the lining for the crochet bag, that is) sewing project:

a baby quilt!!!

I loved, loved, loved making it,

even more because it's for a special baby-to-come (not mine, by the way)...

well, all babies are special, but you know what I mean.

Now I need to ask: how do you call these boards I've seen around for cutting the fabric properly? I really need to get one of these

(look at the picture below and you'll know what I mean)






So, what do you think?
Should I invest in this 'board', some fabric and , hmm, some pins?
Do I have a future in quilting?

a visit to an art museum

A couple of weeks ago,

we visited the Teloglion Foundation of Art

for a children's event.

I thought I should post a link here in case someone's interested.

~~~~~

My mosaic shows postcards from paintings exhibited at the museum over the years. I bought postcards of five paintings two from each. Some of them are scattered around my place, and some around the world

(via snail mail)

~~~~~

The photo below shows a team project (a collage) made by a group of 5-year-old kids who attended a workshop.

"Our Solar System"

It's huge and really impressive. I took the photo with my mobile and it doesn't do it any justice really!

~~~~~

And here's the result after I played a little with crayons.

I've been painting/colouring a lot these past few days, spending time with my son.

~~~~~

Take Care!

xxx

Easter Sunday

xxx

F is for...

... flowers

... freesias to be exact

... friends

... fabric

... fiction
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."

Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

...films

... fun

... felicita (felicity)

xxx

Inspiring Words 3

~~ creativity ~~

~~

The world is but a canvas to the imagination.
Henry David Thoreau
~~~~~
All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.
Pablo Picasso

~~~~~
“The principle goal of education is to create men who are capable of doing new things, not simply of repeating what other generations have done - men who are creative, inventive and discoverers”
Jean Piaget
~~~~~
I love the last quote. If we could only succeed in this...

I have no words for 'creativity', really;

I just can't imagine life without it!

There's one thing I can tell you, though;

I wish I were more creative with words!

~~~~~

For more inspiring words, visit some of the blogs in the list on my sidebar.

xxx

March...

so far...

happy thoughts ~ little one will blow five candles on Friday

sad thoughts ~ nine months without my mum

~~~~~

great news coming from a dear, dear friend ~

blessings, sweetie; may things turn out as you deserve!

~~~~~

sunny weather

snowy weather

~~~~~

at work...

busy, busy ~ report cards this week

happy tears ~ "we love you Mrs Yiota"

~~~~~

winter crochet

spring crochet

~~~~~

Happy Spring!

xxx

seeking colour

We've been playing hide-and-seek with the sun today.

At a grey moment, I found myself craving for colour ~

I mean really noticing colour.

Here's what I captured:

Do you want to see where these details come from?

Here, take a look:

...and here's a snapshot of the hide-and-seek with the sun.

Have a great weekend!

xxx

edit to add: I see you like the quote I have in the frame a lot, so I must tell you that it's something I read on a blog and found to be me through and through; unfortunately, I don't remember where I saw it. sorry!

You're full of flaws, but I love you!

As machines become more and more efficient and perfect, so it will become clear that imperfection is the greatness of man.

Ernst Fischer
(1899-1972, Austrian editor, poet, critic)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~

My first ever crochet project (Lucy and Nina -inspired)!

xxx