Secret will be revealed soon!

Yes, my two years of secret will be revealed soon. Couple of quilters have photos of my project but I always told them "No photos in the blog".

Today Quilt group ladies had Christmas lunch. We had great time exchanging presents and eating different types of food. Thank you ladies for cooking and baking for today.

After lunch Arabella, Irene and Ursula stayed and helped me to finish my a quite complicated project. Because of you ladies in couple of days I will be able to show photos of this highly secret project.

By Javhlan

Kimono girl

This summer I bought a book 100 Applique Motifs by Deborah "Ismoyo" Green. The book has really cute appliques, specifically, some Japanese kimono dolls. The author explains what kind of tools, materials to use to make different types of applique.

Although the book title says 100 appliques but it has 103 appliques. These appliques divided into shapes and sizes; natural collection; boys and girls come out to play, cute, cuddly and curious creatures; and all things good to eat and drink.

At the end of the book there is a chapter of ideas where to use an applique from the book.

My favourite selection is Japanese Kokeshi dolls. According to the author "Kokeshi dolls are also lucky charms" in Japan.

After long summer and autumn days I tried to decide which Kokeshi dolls applique to use for my daughters garment. Finally I decided to make Kimono girl applique for my daughter's skirt.
By Javhlan

Tiramisu and Christmas bauble

It was a tasty day on Thursday! Cinzia, who is Italian, brought homemade tiramisu. Unfortunately - or fortunately - at the Quilt Bar there were only Ursula and I to eat this mouth-watering Italian dessert. It was so delicious!

Another Christmas project was finished on Thursday at the Quilt Bar before we close for holiday season. Cinzia bought a different egg-shaped ball and managed to make a bauble at the end of the day. I taught her the basics but she figured out how to work with different-shaped ball. Here she is with the finished bauble.

Cinzia also made a smaller version of the Charm bag. This bag will be given to her niece. If you look carefully, you can see a little pink pompom to close the bag, which was her daughter's suggestion.

By Javhlan

More bags!

Cinzia, our new member, finished her bag. When she came for the Quilt Camp on Friday she was making her third bag. She already made bags for herself, for her mother and the third one was for her mother-in-law.

Make Christmas Baubles

Come to the Quilt Bar on 26 November to make your very own Christmas Baubels. There is not much sewing involved but lots of cutting and pinning. I made these ones with cross stitched centres but you can make with pictures or patterns. This is our last class for this year.











By Javhlan

Bags! Bags! Bags! We love them!

Bags and shoes are girls' best friends! This Thursday the Quilt Bar was full of bags after Helen's lesson last week - and what a teacher, the results were stunning!

Susan, Ursula, Irene, Therese and Cinzia posed for the group photo, below. I did not ask them to line up from taller to shorter! I personally like Susan's bag because she used Japanese fabrics, my favourite. Therese and Cinzia hadn't finished their bags, so they went straight back to work after this photo.

The day was a book exchange day, so some ladies brought their books and magazines in different languages. When you are passionate about patchwork you do not have to be able to read the words. My knitting magazines were quite popular, as well. I found that Susan and Ursula both knit. I used to knit many things but now I find it difficult to share my knitting among my other new hobbies.

Irene, Susan and Ursula looked through books to find more ideas for their future works.

Ursula was inspired by Jenny Bowker's workshop of making kaleidoscope quilt and she is making a quilt with tiger.

Cathy and Bette showed us the beautiful Christmas tree centrepiece that they are making.

Cinzia was working so hard that she forgot her coffee and cake.

Cathy, Bette and Regina did not attend last week's bag-making class because they went to Spain for a holiday. On Thursday they were catching up with the rest of the ladies to make their very special own bags; here is the fabric.

Cathy's bag

Bette's Floridian colours.

Regina decided to bring a small sewing machine so that she can work much faster. Usually, she would be hand stitching her quilts quietly in the corner. Her bag is going to be in blue colours.

And I finish this blog on a particularly happy note - Ines Touzet, the owner of the "Patch-Mania" fabric shop in Oeiras, is now offering 10% discount for the Quilt Bar regulars!

Patch-Mania
Galerias Alto da Barra, loja 119
Av. das Descobertas
2780-053 OEIRAS

Telefone: +351 210 967 359



Photos by Irene van Es and Javhlan Byamba

Posted by Javhlan

Birte's Christmas cushions

Birte was busy again!! She had the plan to make a table runner for the Christmas season. But somehow she was not happy with it and made these three cushions for her sofa. This looks very cosy and inviting to sit down there for a tea and a chat!!!!!


Ursula