Just for inspiration?

My plan was to make a quick post, becouse our school-art-project and the kids are keeping me very busy this week. I want to show you my Russian metroushka collection!



Just for inspiration, just to show how colourfull and cute they are!



My husband had to work in Russia a few times and each time he brought the most terrific gifts, as you can see!





Anyway, while I was making these pictures and unwrapped the dolls until I found the smallest, I got new inspiration!
And at the end of the evening I finished these..



and almost a second one..



Oh, Oh, I'm the worst person.. Instead of saving time I'm starting a new quilting project!!! I just can't believe myself. I'm a hopeless case..

New horse for an old doll and more bags

If you take a closer look at this picture... you might find a little horse!













No this is not a puzzle,
this is a picture with a little bit of my vintage dolls and a little horse I made from the pattern of an old book





















I always loved old dolls.
I bought these when I was about 17 years.
And here is the little horse.
It was a 'try out'!
but it was a lot of fun making it!
In the book also was a dog pattern I'm looking forward to make it.




Is'nt this a lovely little couple!
It's an old Dutch postcard
with the dutch lines:

Kleine Jan zit met zijn buurtje
met twee katjes op het muurtje.













And now at last about my bags:
The last bag I made, disappeared as soon as it finished to my cousin.
But I still had some fabric, ribbon and pieces of that vest left to make one or two more. And so I started to puzzle and puzzle and look I managed to get three bags out of all this!
Each bag has the same basic pattern but with a different front.
Every bag has one or two little side bags. And the shoulderbands are adjustable in length.



All bags are lined with typical Dutch cotton fabric.

I love to make bags!

I have a new idea with a woollen cloth I bought in the secondhand store.. If I succeed I'll show but it might as wel disappear whit the trash.
In our shop you can find more pictures and information about the three bags.

Two sisters and their dream

This is a picture of Corry and me sitting in front of the tv on a Saturday afternoon.
We just came out of the bathtub, fresh and clean, wearing flannel pyjamas made by our mother. I'm the youngest one sitting on the right side.
Two little sisters...so sweet! There was a time we didn't do many things together because of the age difference of four years. That doesn't seem much but when you're a child it is! Since we past that period ages ago we get along just great. The two of us have pretty much the same interests and hobbies. We both like to keep ourselves creative busy by making things. And we both like to shop and go thrifting.
For some time now we have a dream, opening our own store where we can sell self made goodies and our great thrifting finds. But with a busy life and both our jobs it probably will be a dream forever!
But a little shop on the internet...that must be manageable! So we decided to give it a try.

And after spending a free Sunday afternoon behind the computer we are proud to announce that our little shop is open!



Please feel free to check us out! It's a beginning, we soon put new items on.

Happy new Year!

First of all, I wish everyone a creative, healthy and great blog-year!
It was a whole new world I discovered since I started blogging.


This free week I was going through one of my boxes and found this pattern. The pattern of tiny bear. A little hand bear.
I bought the pattern about 10 years ago in a little store.
I made the bear for my son, and it has been in his bed ever since. (as you can see)


He used to put his hand in it and talk and talk and talk with Tiny bear!

Now I found this pattern again I couldn't resist making a new one...

And after this one I had to make a whole family! They are so cute to hold in your hand.

It's made from 100% cotton soft teddy.


Maybe I'll try to make them from other fabrics as wel?.

Eighteenth birthday

After a peacefull and delicious christmas we started to do some housekeeping in the morning and birthday visiting in the afternoon.
It was our niece her eighteenth birthday! And eighteen is a special age! It's the age when you may vote for a government, it's the age when you can get a driving licence and drive a car, it's the age when you may buy firework for New Year's Eve.
I remember how adult I felt when I turned eighteen!



However on this birthday our niece gave me a present to open on my birthday (in the begining of January). But I was curious and weak.... and here you see...! Isn't it a great gift!

A family christmas group

I want to tell you about this crib. My mother made this group in the first year of her marriage, around 1959. she made the puppets from newspapers, a little iron wire and fabric.


First my older brothers, later my sister and me played each year with this group. Then about 25 years ago the first grandchildren came and they played with it for years.... and I'm sure when there will be great-grandchildren they'll also play with them!


It always gives me a special feeling to unwrap the puppets and place them under the christmastree!

After sharing this with you I wish everyone A Merry Christmas!

What's in a box: 3 and another new (sold) bag

Today I bought and decorated our christmas tree. And so I had to take this box with christmas ornaments.


Some of them are gifts but most of them I made myself. Every year I try to make a new ornament.



Last year I made these hearts and before that I embriodered what you see on the picture. But what wil I make this year???




Yesterday I finished this bag! My mom gave me another (old) vest (to make more bags). And it was a challenge for me to make a different bag out of it with a new pattern. So here you see the result!





Just this evening my cousin came to visit and when she saw the bag she wanted to have it..



Wel I have to say, with the red boots and black coat, it does look costume made for her. So, another SOLD bag.

Sint-Niclaa.....Christmas

The fourth of december we celebrate Sinterklaas feast at my sisters house (corry).
Because all the children (and adolts) don’t believe in the Sint anymore we make “suprices”. A surprise is a gift consealed in something made by the giver. This can be a gag or something else selfmade beautiful thing. And the giver has to write a poem to go with the gift. A lot of those poems are teasing ones! Everyone made a magnificent suprise! It was a great evening!
I had to make something for my dougther. I made her this dol (a homework partner). The gift was stashed away in the belly.























My sister made this 'Michelin'star for my husband. Who can cook great and now Sinterklaas gave him a star!



Yesterday we had Sint-Niclas'Eve, with a great meal and lot's of gifts for the kids.
This morning the kids are free from school to play with their new toys or.. to bake Dutch Speculaas (spiced) dolls. It makes the house smell so great! And they taste wonderful













Today Sint-Nicolas and his men are sailing back to Spain. So now we can focus on christmas! While the kids were baking I put a little christmas atmosphere together on this vintage tray I just found at the secondhand store.

Sint-Nicolaas and Zwarte piet

Zwarte piet climbing on the roof and throwing presents down the chimney.

With the Dutch children, Sint-Nicolaas feast (5-dec.) is the happening of the year! The children at school and at home are preparing for this feast from half november till 5 December. So now you know why I was absent last two weeks, and neglecting my bloglife (I'm still so very busy)
Anyway I will share with you some of the things my colleague and I made with the children in our class for this feast.





two needle felted 'zwarte pietjes'


Sint-Nicolaas


Three pompon 'zwarte pieten'


three 'zwarte pieten'made with oil pastels


A hand puppet 'zwarte piet'

And although Sint-Nicolaas and Zwarte piet are in the Dutch country, I did see these little felted christmas santa's snooping around.......