more colour . . .

The white start of my "Tabula Rasa"-project
has changed to a bit more colourful snippets.

I've thought about the gradual change in colour
and I've come up with a rough scheme now.
The white of the wintry start of the year will
be followed by yellow.

Why ?

THIS is why !!!
When most of the cold is over
the Aconites push their bright yellow heads
through the old Ginkgo leaves that cover the ground !
Yes, way before the Snowdrops, though they
come soon after.

 

And because the weather here in the southwest of the country
is very mild right now
even the first small crocuses are showing !
(the northeast had LOTS of ice, snow and even black ice last week !!!)

But    YELLOW  it is
for the next part of my 15 cm whide strip !

I found a bit of my "Magic Thread" for an extra swirl
(which will appear in the work from time to time
though there is only a small ball left)

*
(SOOOOO many other ideas are whirling in my head
and I've started a few backgrounds already
but
I can't seem to decide what to do next with them)

last day of January

 The first month of this year is nearly gone.
We had a bit of ice and also snow,
though much less than in the north of the country.
Birds are still coming to the garden

but the first Aconites are already above the ground since the 16th !

My mending basket was overflowing and I finally started
on the fingerless mittens daughter made for me last year :

I repaired some stitches and knitted the top again on thinner needles.

And oh my, I really needed those on the Sundays
that I was working on the big "slavery-project"
because it was COLD in the big hall !!!

This BIG project has finally come to an end !

Here they were still filming the last steps of this GIANT tapestry.

But tomorrow we will celebrate the completion of the 35 meters
 with a joint festive lunch !

In February this monumental tapestry is exhibited
in de Grote Kerk, Den Haag (13 - 22 February)
After that it will make a tour along the cities where the work was done :

Rotterdam, Delft, Dordrecht, Gouda, Leiden.

2026

A brand new year has started
so time for some new work to start too :
a 15 cm wide strip of cotton
that I randomly filled with white snippets
the "Tabula Rasa" of the new year 2026
Colour and stitching are my "plan"

Hmmmm
In fact I know that I'm not quite disciplined enough
to keep up a looong challenge
. . . . .
so what am I doing now ???

I started a "year long" circle embroidery
(and didn't even finish the first month)
I started on a pillow case with the TAST instructions
(and that is an UFO too)

Well, we'll see where it will lead me
(or where the ship runs aground)

In any case :

the white matched nicely !!!

(to be continued, I hope)

almost '26

The second half of December
rushed by
with a good book (that I borrowed from granddaughter)
wrapping presents
preparing and eating Xmas dinner with family
and visiting a birthday party
. . . . .
only tree days left until 2025 is over

All that remains for me to do

is to wish all of you, my sweet blogging friends
peace

health
warmth
joy and happiness
and lots of creativity for

2026

wool and paper !

Quiet.
Not done much stitching,
(skipped quite a few Stitch Club workshops)
making a painting on commission,

 been reading a (thick) book.
And also waiting for special paper to arrive from Thailand
and wool from Germany,
all of that for a brand new felting course
with Fiona Duthie (Canada)

I've "known"/followed Fiona for a long time
and did my first-ever online felting course with her :
"Surface design"
(but sadly never met in real life)
The "Fiber + Paper" workshop was a long time on my wish list !!!

Though getting back on track after my Pink Ribbon Challenge
took quite a bit longer than I expected,
I have now completed some of the course assignments  !

Working with paper, wool and water
requires a very gentle treatment
or the paper will tear or not adhere !

starting with a 30 x 30cm square and 10 grams of wool

adding writing and prefelt.

The last assignment was working with a resist
to make a bowl / vessel.

(from 27 cm resist to +/- 16 cm)

PINK RESULT (and raffle)

Hi everyone
(drum roll)

the final result off my PINK  RIBBON  Challenge 2025

€ 875,-

(there are still two beauties left
but they will be sold another day, and it always takes a bit of time
and energy before all the last (extra) bits are made and sent)

Yeeeaaahhh !

I know I myself worked hard for this result,
but I wouldn't have reached this
without the help of all my wonderful customers
who donated so generously !

(a heart, harvest of our golden Ginkgo tree)

A very  BIG  THANK  YOU  to

JOLAN, ELKE, ALLISON,

MARTINA, NANNA,

JOKE, ANNE JULIA, MORAG,

NAYLSA, BIANCA,

MADELON, JUDITH,

JACCO, TWINK, FEMKE,

LARISA, KORINA, DAWN,

SUSANNE, JULIA,

MIRANDA, JOLANDA

(22 names because more than one
snapped up two or even more jewels !)

THANK  YOU
each and everyone of you
that supported me to
achieve this great result !

*

And the last bit for now :
out of 43 people the raffle chose

ANGELA
(from Germany)

for the 15 years anniversary giveaway piece !

GIVEAWAY and two left . . .

Pffffffft

Yes, this happens every year :
as soon as day 31 of "Pinktober" is gone
I go out like a candle
or like a soufflé right out of the oven into the cold.
As much as I LOVE my self-imposed work
the energy really lasts only so many days.
But don't worry, I will get back on my feet !
Two more commissions nearly there
and most of my packages sent off.
(though I hate the fact that customs asks nearly impossible things
when sending to the US)

My grand total isn't known yet
so that has to wait another while
BUT
my GIVEAWAY
is finished !

fiberrainbow
15  years

Woven blue fabric strips
(thanks Jude Hill)
with fifteen felt circles on it
stitched, just for the fun of it !

Please let me know
if you like to participate in the raffle
down here in the comments
(or somewhere else)

*

And there is still one of my Textile Jewels not sold
be in time to catch it !!!

day  12

SOLD  !

day  24

Please be aware that I truly don't know if I can fulfill
my Pinktober Challenge next year :

my hands are getting worse and I might not be able to
carry on making 31 Jewels then
. . . . . . . 
we will see