FLEA MARKET SUNDAY

Last Sunday when I first got up  I had this urge  to go to the flea market  I was actually contemplating all week even all month ,.so I took the metro train downtown ,it took forever due to the fact that they are doing some work on the tracks so there were a couple of stops and then taking the bus part of the way ,but I was desperate to get out I hadn't been down there for ages well not ages to be specific about 7 months .

I love the way this photo came out with the graffiti in the back.

 

  I like to look for things that I can use such as

doilies,vintage hanky's,vintage needlepoint  and of course fabric .  I  liked  the sewing machine it is so pretty it has a nice cabinet ,but I checked it and it didn't have all the parts I have spoken to the singer fellow near me and he advised me to look and make sure the parts are there and if  you turn the wheel that where the bobbin fits in also moves which of course makes sense, but I need a good a working one to have in the store so I can also work while there.

I found some trims and various buttons and ribbons,buckles so I got them for only 2 euros and put them in my sewing box which I had purchased on a previous trip after I had gotten home.  I just couldn't get the photos in the order that I wanted them I kept switching I finally gave up and left it at that.

As I walked the narrow streets I happen to see two lady's standing and looking at the schedule for  Athens city tour bus .they had been volunteering as English teachers in Crete for a month and that they said it was a wonder full experience and now they are touring Athens ,just then the bus came and they hopped on and off they went.

As I was roaming around I saw this book in a trash bin I quickly took it out and put in my bag and was saddened that someone had thrown out an old book just because it had fallen apart it can easily be fixed , even though I can't read German I think someone out there would be happy to have it , when I got home I put the pages in order and not a page was missing one day I will fix it with a little paper glue I love old books just the thought of the people that must have held it and read it through the years makes me think  and ponder.

                                                                                                                                                                             

 There is the red bus with the ladys from the states I wish the bus didn't come by so quickly so I could chat with them longer they were so nice.   Well that was my trip I was glad it wasn't so hot. And I certainly hope I get my act together this post is not what I had planned next time I will do better I will go again.

MY PLAYFULL LOG CABIN BLOCKS

I finally got these posted ,I was working on these just before I started blogging .

I got inspired after visiting tons of blogs, and I actually love the log cabin ,it is one of the first blocks that I tackled when I first started quilting full time, it's been now over 15 years.

So I wanted some kind of play full images for the center and then work around with various bright happy fabrics. Looked high and low, looked through my stash ,then I was bent over my sewing machine for nearly two months , and I made over 55 some blocks and I joined them , some with white in between and some without ,I have now about 12 joined they are a good baby size, haven't measured them I've been to busy sewing .

Some of these fabrics are from shirts, and various children's clothes the snoopy one in from pajamas , and of course some bought locally.

On the left I see a floral from my mom's robe that she forgot at my house..I called her and asked of course before cutting.

The red and pink ,green floral is from a shirt I bought for 50 cents at the flea market years ago , and the light blue with tiny pink and white is also moms robe , she picks nice prints for her robes so I can use them in quilts.

some close ups.

I pinned these on the curtain I just don't have any wall space to put it up and it's hard to photograph on the floor it comes out crooked, I will be posting the rest soon.

TAKING CARE OF AN IGUANA

I am taking care of an Iguana that belongs to Timo while he is on vacation, Timo has an Internet Cafe next door to my store , so I bring from home vegetable scraps anything I cook I bring the scraps with me zucchini,cucumber,eggplant,green beans,lettuce he just loves cucumbers and lettuce. He is seven years old now ,he loves the sun and he also loves attention everybody stops to look at him .

Thank goodness that there are wheels on his huge cage , I just wheel him out in the morning and wheel him in my store at night . It has been an enjoyable experience I was more than willing to help out a neighbor he will be back soon,time flies as we all know.

A NICE FIND

I was just parking my car this morning when I saw a plastic bag on top of a garbage bin with some items that someone doesn't want anymore, and among them I found these awesome embroidery patterns, they must of thought I would be coming around LOL. They are new and unused this one has 36 traditional folklore motifs inside they are so pretty , I don't know when I will be able to work on them I have so many projects going on, but one of these days I will get around to it.

The blouse pattern is not inside it just has the design for the embroidery . I love it when I find items I like It's like going shopping , its like a surprise without having to take out your wallet HE HE!!.

I opened this one and the butterfly and flower are large , a nice size for a cushion, how did they know???

PAY IT FORWARD

Hello and good morning !!! I have signed up for Pay it forward on Giseles

blog from art escapes it sounds like a wonderful idea a good way to spread happiness with your blogger friends , and sharing something handmade by you.
The rules are

1. the first three people to visit my blog and leave a comment saying they want to participate will receive a handmade gift from me within a year ( rules say), I will definitely send out sooner.
2. In order to participate you must have a blog of your own .
3. You must post about the PIF on your blog, and you must offer the challenge of a PIF.

By excepting my PIF you agree to host one on your blog , you must agree to send a handmade gift (within a year ) to the first three participants who sign up on your blog to participate in your PIF and so it continues on and so forth doesn't it sound fun.

MY APPLIQUE

Hello friends!! I am happy to finally share these little things I've been working on little by little, I had made along time ago houses and little trees quilt for a friends daughter.
So I decided to go a little further with it by adding hills and everything I could find . As you can see I try to blog and sew my little landscapes and time passes by very pleasantly . I especially like it when friends stop by to say hello ,or a customer to ask for a frame or a painting.

I had fun putting them together I felt like a little girl I sometimes feel there is a little girl in me still and sometimes she whats to come out and play , but that little girl is so patient ,kind and unselfish that she waits when the time is right after she has taken care of her customers ,the chores at home such as cooking ,cleaning, washing,shopping and making sure everyone is content then if she is not to tired she has a little bit of fun.

I don't know what I will make with them it could be a little pillow or a wall hanging or be all connected and make into a little quilt I haven't decided yet I am just having fun sewing during the day in my store it is a pleasant way to spend my time.

Well friend I hope you enjoy looking as much as I enjoy making them and I hope you are making something that fills you with pleasure , I wish you all a wonderfull day!!!

CARMEL'S 100th POST GIVEAWAY

Hello!!! a wonderful set of 6 fq's are being given away by Carmel she has a very interesting blog that I have been looking at and enjoying. I found out about it from Cyndi's blog at bluebird swing Which a wonderful blog and Cyndi is the sweetest lady I have met in bloggland, so good luck to all !!!

AMY"S SIMPLE SAMPLER QUILT ALONG WEEK 4

I am actually almost caught up , I"ve done my blocks for week 4 and I will start on the next blocks tonight, it's cooled off a bit the last couple of day's it's been so hot lately I couldn't get myself to sew , so stay tuned for the next two , so long for now friends.

AMY'S SIMPLE SAMPLER QUILT ALONG WEEK 3

I know I am behind ,but I get it done eventually sort of reminds me of school LOL!! I have also the week 4 almost finished ,but it was so hot yesterday I just tried to stay cool by not doing to much ,that is only the necessities like laundry ,cooking and cleaning which is quit a bit come to think of it Sunday is the only day I have off so I think I am doing OK, so long for now !!

A BIRTHDAY

Saturday was my son's birthday I made him this two layer chocolate cake with whipped cream and a vanilla filling ,I browned coconut flakes in the oven and sprinkled it on top.

I decide to get him a stand for his guitar as a gift ,silly me I forgot to get wrapping paper ,and I quickly thought oh! I can use fabric it's better than paper you don't throw it away I was so pleased with myself why didn't I think of it before , if you go to by a sheet of wrapping paper it is about 3-4 euros at those fancy shops ,what am I thinking I might as well by fabric from my friend Panagiotis.

AMY'S SIMPLE SAMPLER QUILT ALONG WEEK 2

I finally have the week two blocks done, I have made my own measurements I used metrics so mine are about 34-35 cm edge to edge and I did make a mistake at first and quickly corrected it, the more seams you have ,you must add more cm for the allowance in order for the result to be 34-35 , its amazing how quick one learns from mistakes.

And this is the second block ,my colors are more bold it looks like one of the previous block might not go very well with my color pallet that I am going with I might have to change one, will all the mistakes that I make I will make a scrap
quilt with the pieces , so long for now.

FABRIC SHOPPING IN MAROUSI

Hello there I am writing about the fabric stores that I shop, from they don't have fabric specifically for quilting ,but I find some goodies now and then . These stores are run by a family that have been in the business for ages this particular store is run by the mother and her son.

As you can see this is the front of the store I asked permission from the shop owner helen, I have been a customer for many years so she said yes as long as I don't take a photo of her. ( lol I just realized that you can actually see my reflection in the shop window double lol)

These fabrics on the left of the store have linens and some quilt weight cotton ,I sometimes get lucky and find some goodies.

These are the fabrics all lined up none of these are cotton I look at them sometimes and I wished some of them were the colors are so pretty ,but they are fancy fabrics for dresses or more special occasion attire.

I just love these play full teddy bears.

I got cute ice cream cone fabric.

One day I found this beauty it was on a bolt with 3 other fabrics wrapped over it ,and I bought all of it of course ,there was only about 1 1/2 meter or so , I was really impressed by it.

Another of my finds ,I just love the etching archaic style that it has .

Isn't it a beauty ? I love the colors some fabric is so pretty you don't want to cut it .

A larger view of the fabric isn't it artsy?

I found this the other day , I don't know what to do with it , or what to make with it .

And last ,but not least this pink with white polka dot, I love it so I got a couple of meters.

NOW we go further up the street and we arrive at the fathers store it looks like a rummage store I like to go there more often his prices are better, all of the fabrics I have shown you I purchased from here ,when you arrive it's not street level you go down some steps.

And there he is PANAGIOTIS he lets me rummage around and when I find something I like he doesn't even get up I grab the meter stick of course after we haggle over the price he says a price and I gasp and then he lowers and we are both happy. I measure and cut myself , I don't even pay if I don't have cash ,I just write it in his little black book , and that's about it for fabric buying in Marousi there are some fabric stores downtown Athens ,but they don't carry anything more than what I get here , plus I don't have the time to go downtown. I have purchased from the Internet in the past ,but for now I have enough so I thank you all for stopping by and I hope you liked my little tour see you again soon!!.