Treasurestories

although I love to embroider and paint

I do not mind when other people do it for me

~  smile ~

I wonder

who embroidered hours and nights, in a rocking chair by the fire, and created these lovely skaters?

who sat down with a set of colours,  at the kitchen table, and painted this traybeauty, in the year I was born?

that is one of the things I love about second-hand shops

you can let your mind go when you look at the treasures

and give them their own stories

and just for now: we calmly glide and skate into the new winterweek

which I hope will be colourful for you all

and will be as warm and encouraging as all the Lovely comments you wrote on the former post

~ I am still glowing... ~

Sewing class #4

with a certain amount of proud

I present to you

my first-ever-finished-sewing-project: the machine-cover

all re-used shirts from the boyfriend

and vintage-found fabric

some details to show you the different techniques I tried out on this cover

and because some of you were interested in the machine that is underneath the cover

here she is: my Bernina

with my new WIP: a little bag with a zipper and lining, to try out both

more about that in a few days

and a happy weekend to you all for now

~  love ~

before I forget: thank you all for the great comments on the crate and welcome to the new followers!

Finds

sometimes

we find the most lovely items

out on the street

last weekend it happened again

the boyfriend saw it first

this great crate (is that the word in english?)

is now sparkling in our living room

~ thank you unknown neighbours ~

what is your treasure you found on the street? or do you not dare to pick those items up?

Starbucks

howcome I never told you

I am a huge Starbucks-fan

here together with some other lovelies

good music and scandinavian design in that Bolig magazine

and for those who take a good look: yes, I did knit and cable that I-pod cover myself

or if you prefer

together with Italian cookies, deer buttons and a wonderful card

enjoy your Tuesday and have a great coffee!

~ love ~

Sewing class #3

goodmorning happy Sunday

my first running exercise in 2011, this morning, will make me smile and feel healthy for the rest of the week

~ smile ~

this week in sewing class #3

we added a button, ribbon, did some more figure stitching and learned how to make that lovely edging

and before I get back behind the sewing machine, the owls have to show you something

 yes, we are the new owls Maaike got from a dear colleague

and we happen to match with the fabric and ribbons she ordered online at Stefanie Style on Etsy

look at our friends, sitting happy in the tree with the birdies



Have a wonderful and crafty Sunday you all!

Number three

well well well

says mister Moose

another award for creJJtion

made me fall out of the window...

I am that honoured and astonished!

and of course very happy

to take the third Stylish Blogger Award

from Clara and her crochetroom

~ thank you so much Clara ~

the first and second award came close after eachother

and I promised you to feature three more blogs

but before that: let me tell you some more facts about me

I love garlic

have over 40 pair of shoes

would love to have more bags and purses

cannot stop buying craftstuff ~ new and vintage

and love to shop second hand items to decorate my home

can never choose: lovely whites and natural colours.... or colourful displays

would like to bake more, but the trouble with baking is you are left with the cakes

blogfeature one

one of my most loyal followers is Andrea from Apples and Pears. She is a very good virtual friend of creJJtion and brightens my day several times a week with her compliments. Besides that, she is very good in making colourful crochet beauties like this latest blanket for example. I love the colours... And she has a very creative sister too, check out this colourful scarf for example!

blogfeature two

a blog I found only a month ago: birdy blue. I love the colours she uses on her blog. We share our love for Cath Kidston and Greengate kind of lovelies. Another thing I like about birdy blue is the American style traditions she holds, like the tea for example. I think family and friends traditions are wonderful... especially during the holidays!

blogfeature three

and then there is FRYD + DESIGN. A blog I have mentioned before and probably will again in the future. I think you all have came across Jeanette's wonderful blog already, but in case you didn't... this Norwegian lady makes beautiful settings and pictures. Really, I adore her work. She is featured in magazines and even designs her own digital ones. To me that is a dream come true: being featured in a magazine, just by doing what you love. Design and take pictures.

Enjoy ladies and I wish you all a wonderful weekend

Congratulations

congratulations

and a lot of luck

to my brother, his girlfriend and the cat in Sweden

I won't go into details, but believe me

they got some fantastic news yesterday

about finishing their new built home

let's celebrate with a nice cup of tea

or seven

and snuggle up on the huge couch

in their beautiful home

ready now to become even more beautiful in 2011

~ love ~

Balance

the fresh and new year

how is the balance in your 2011

developing ~ so far?

~ Happy Tuesday ~

Sunday

a very relaxing and happy Sunday to you all

wishing you that beautiful light sun

that crosses our street now

my new Vera Bradley bag, straight from the USA with many thanks to Elly ~

delicious and beautiful Clipper tea ~

christmas candleholders I found 50% off at Albert Heijn, to me they are more spring than christmas

Nordic warmth

some nordic warmth

we could all use these days

for those who are in winter

and for those down under with wet feet

my thoughs are with you

all pictures taken in Sweden

I gave my mom a cable-knitting tutorial by making this mugwarmer while she made hers at the same time

the felt heart I made in London at the Counrty Living Fair Spring 2010 at the Jan Constatine workshop

and the moose-mug is just a quiet rest in front of the fire... can you feel the warmth?

~ have yourself a wonderful and warm weekend ~

Sewing class #1 and #2

in 2009 I took two knitting courses

in 2010 I learned to crochet

and in 2011 I will learn how to sew

~ so so so very very exciting ~

Kirsty from You had me at bonjour encouraged me to involve you in the process

therefore, the coming six weeks I will post about the things I learn in class

class #1

Welcome to the customize class where we will learn how to sew and create new items from old clothes we don't wear anymore, and at the same time would or could not throw away.

The first class was all about inspiration. 

Our teacher showed us her work and explained how to start the machines we will use in class.

vintage fabric ~ inspiration from Cath my mom gave me for christmas ~ pieces of fabric and an old sweater, cushion to be

class #2

The second class this week, we started sewing for real. Exciting! We were taught to sew little straight lines, rims and boarders. And beautiful figure stitches of course. My machine and I went wrong every now and then, but I loved it! Of course some flaws here and there, but most of all I am quite proud of my first results!

Whites

wow, I just found out about another Stylish Blogger Award I won

over at Gracies, Needle Pins and Dragonflies

she is one of creJJtions loyal followers

and has two blogs now, with mostly beautiful embroidery

~ thank you Gracie! ~

since this award comes so close to the first one, I am sorry my blogfriends

I won't do the seven things about me and the forwarding again

instead I promise you to feature three more blogs soon

I just like to say thank you again to all of you

for being so kind

for following me

and leaving me such nice comments

you make my day

Every Day!

en voor de Hollandse lezers, het is nog geen lente, maar toch stuur ik jullie : Tulpen uit Amsterdam!



January 9

it is boyfriend's birthday today!

~ congratulations birthdayboy ~

turning 30... oh lala

great party with great family and friends last night

happy Sunday to you all

and take a piece of apple pie ~ carrot cake (all American recipe) ~ cream cheese cherry pie

I have to show you our BLOND cakeplatter, special design for the 140th anniversary of De Bijenkorf

Award

~ warning: this is a long post with a lot of text ~

well well, 2011 just started and creJJtion received it's very first Award!

the Stylish Blogger Award, from Lovestitch

I am very honoured
Thank You Lovestitch

~ smile ~

and after receiving it

I have work to do:

first, tell seven things about myself and second, nominate fifteen others

~  first ~

since I tend to blog about my creJJtions instead of my personal life, I guess there is a lot to tell...

let's try something

~

I am twenty eight years old, turning twenty nine next month

~

born and raised in the Netherlands

~

love to travel

~

have a masters degree in psychology

~

am happily together with the boyfriend for almost twelve years now

~

would love to have a dog

~

have a second home in Sweden, not too far away from my brothers' place

~ second ~
now I have to be honest

nominating fifteen others is not my style
don't get me wrong. I am very flattered with the award, but just don't like the concept
so let me tell you the following story

since I started blogging four months ago

I am everyday more surprised about the comfort, love and inspiration I am receiving from you all

and mostly finding on your beautiful blogs

even though we are actually just virtual friends

this is very special and new to me and so far I cannot get enough of it

therefore I decided to use the award to feature three other blogs

of three ladies who, in their own special way

inspire me ~ make me smile ~ make me stand still for a moment ~ make me jealous at their creations

and I will tell you why

1. Maureen from Daydream Living

Maureen and I share the same hometown, Amsterdam, although she lives in Switzerland now.

I love here writing. She is absolutely great with text. Her words on her blog make me think.
Think again. And look at life from a more light angle. Or at sleep here.

Maureen does do beautiful picturework, also very light and warm, but I would definately recommend you to visit Daydream Living and Read.
Read again and Read more. Don't forget to click the label Home.

You will love it.

2. Kirsty from you had me at bonjour

Kirsty is from Australia and lives in France. I love the way she is honest about what is going on in her life. And about awards by the way, haha. But I think we match on that part. Where I hope we will match in the future is on quilting skills. In my opinion she is great at matching colours and fabrics in a semi-traditional way. I adore the patterns, the blue-green-white one for example. The way she picks designs and discusses her options with us bloggers is wonderful to me.
Go check out you had me at bonjour and enjoy the very first thing there: the name. You had me at bonjour.
Doesn't that name make you smile or at least remind you of a movie?

3. Annette from My Rose Valley

Annette is from Sweden and lives in Switzerland now. Her enthousiasm about all sorts of crafts is in every corner of the Rose Valley. I love that pure craftneed. Since she is not allowed to crochet for a while, she was flexible enough to switch to quilting. I adore that. And although she is just a beginner, her quilts are already of a quality I can only dream of. Lovely traditional designs and colours, with clear descriptions of the making off and all that comes along with that. Go and visit the Rose Valley for some colour cheer-up and don't forget to click the label crochet. The blue-red-green-white babyboy blanket is my favorite.

Maureen, Kirsty and Annette, I will not give you any rules
just do whatever you like with the featuring/award
you are more than welcome to take it the way you feel comfortable with it

I just hope you enjoy it!
together with the weekend

Home

we are home again in Amsterdam

and de-christmas-ed the house today

we broke 2 glass ornaments ~ said good bye to the decorations ~ have never seen a tree so needle-less

and I finally have time again to visit all your lovely blogs again!

I just can't wait

~ new year excitement ~

2011

the moose my mom gave and made me for christmas

the Swedish dancing couple

our frosted home and I

~ wish you all ~

a very happy, inspiring, healthy, beautiful and creative new year

with lots of wonderful visits on each others blogs

may all your 2011 wishes come true in the next 12 months

~ love ~