Yes, we are alive *and* well ...

Sorry it's been so quiet here ... and I know so many of you are new followers and probably wondering what the heck is going on.

Well the simple truth is there's been a lot going on, too much really and I decided the only way for me to keep my head above water was to keep my head down and concentrate on my family.

I'm sorry.

But I know you all understand.

I've missed you.

I've missed writing.

I've missed creating and sewing.

But we are doing fine .. we're happy and healthy .. just taking one day at a time.

One of Saskia & Arne's godmothers did a photoshoot with us in September to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary (in August) and we finally had time to sit down and pic out our favorites. This is one of mine! 

How perfect is this?? And why didn't we do it sooner?

I have been wanting to do anniversary pictures for years and we ( ahem, I ) finally made it happen! There are more .. and I put a few on flickr today after editing them and playing around a bit for just a few minutes. Now we have to agree and decide which ones to frame ... or have printed on canvas. Hehe, it might take us another 15 years to agree on that!

I'm also popping in to remind you there's still time to enter the drawing for my giveaway ... it ends tonight! Pop over here, become a follower (if you aren't already), print out the free pattern and leave a comment to be eligible to win a kit for my Charlotte's Keeping Watch block designed for the Glorious Autumn Block Party.

 Be sure to check out the blocks that have already been made too!  Aren't they fantastic?

I love how individual they are turning out! A plaid barn, a brick barn ... the possibilities are endless.


There's another one here but I'm not able to post a picture. I love her web - she did it by machine!!

In the meantime, Happy Sewing!
I'll be back as soon as I can. xox

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Charlotte's Keeping Watch

I had so much fun designing this block for Quilting Gallery's Glorious Autumn Block Party! I have lots to tell and show you too ... about my design inspiration and how I made the block. BUT I am having terrible computer problems today. Good thing Charlotte is watching out for me cuz otherwise I'd have blown a gasket by now and thrown my computer out the window.

I will be adding a complete tutorial (with pictures!) 

and more info to this page so see you again soon.

In the meantime, without further ado ... I give you

Charlotte's Keeping Watch

psst ... be sure to keep reading there's a chance to win something at the end of this post!

click here to download
the free pattern for this block

And be sure to stop by and check out the rest of the fantastic Glorious Autumn blocks!

I will be giving away 5 kits for the appliqué / embroidery portion of my block.

 (Winners will need to supply their own background and barn door – I used cream and brown.) 

To have a chance at winning one of the kits, be sure you are a follower of my blog 

and leave a comment … telling me your favorite thing about Autumn. 

(Drawing will close October 31st at midnight ... eeeeek ... I hope you win!)

xox Jovita

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The Tense and Waiting Game

the waiting game, a photo by Jovita's Patchwork Atelier on Flickr.

I saw this and knew I needed one too. It was harder than I thought but I'm glad I persevered.



It would have helped if the pattern correction had been included with the kit .. instead of me fighting with at 3am during a sleepless night.

I'm hoping it will dry by tomorrow so I can take it along to a friend's 50th birthday bash (outside) ... the evening will likely be cold because ...

it's autumn here ... although you won't find me complaining. It means I can dip into my shawls and sweaters and starting making random piles of pumpkins. Bought some today! Everything feels early. I snapped this picture after my purchase today.

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Good NEWS!

Well ... no news must be good news, right?  I was shocked to see that I haven't blogged since the end of September.  October flew by in a flurry here's a peak of what it looked like.

It was full of FIRE!!  Of a variety of kinds. The most important being the one someone lit under my butt!  My friend, Liz, and I started a mini swap and I whipped up hers in the first two days ... now it needs quilting so I can't show it until that's done, and she receives it in Arizona - I'll share as sooooon as I can.

The 2nd FIRE relates to this very old post.  The good news is that Gabi's replacement quilt is finished!!!  Done and dusted.  It truly deserves it's own post so I'm afraid you'll just have to wait a tad bit longer.  But I promise the waiting will be very worthwhile.

The BEST FIRES are the one that leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy!  We hosted our (fifth??) annual Harvest Fest on October 30th complete with our now (long-standing) traditional drop donuts and apple cider.  Home-made pizza and really cute leaf cookies that I forgot to take a picture of rounded off the menu.   For me the best part was that the husband count was up to FIVE ... fun was had by everyone.  You can also see more photos of the evening here.

November is nearly half over and yes, even I will begin the countdown to Christmas.  This year we are determined to enjoy the holidays to the fullest - decor, baking, visiting, gifting, hoping and celebrating.

Yesterday we painted another 1/3 of the living room so it will be ready for decorations.   Sadly there is another 1/3 and a bunch of curtains to go.  But it's a start.

So, you see, no news IS good news when it comes to me.  Things are very busy in the shop between new product arrivals and LOTS of classes.  Which of course means lots of prepping and sewing.  I have a million things to show and share and just as soon as I can I will.

Today I spent clearing more dead wood out of my office.  Anything that won't be needed, touched or wanted before Christmas is getting boxed up and put in the closet.  Biggest note to self: stop dropping everything on the sewing table so it's easier to sew!!!



By the way the Great GOT DOTS Quilt Along is going great - many ladies here in Belgium are participating and I hope to share pics of their blocks when they bring them in the shop.

Part 2 of the quilt-along will be released soon - stay tuned!


And PS ... if you've sent me an email or message but haven't heard from me, please bug me!!!  If you're waiting for more info about shipping costs for the owls - don't hesitate to bug me as well.  I've had so many appointments the last months that getting to the PO seems like an insane possibility.  Hmmm, but I *must* go to the bank to *finally* pick up my bankcard sooooo it's very likely that all of that could happen tomorrow ....

So I'll be back soon ... I haven't forgotten you and really miss your comments and thoughts ... so feel free to share any here ...

xox Jovita Pin It Now!

Harvest Fest Donut Recipe

Phwew! You can tell it’s fall again. It’s always this time of year that I finally gather steam again and try to get back on top of things. I’m not sure where October went but it was packed full of wonderful things!

I celebrated another birthday, visited, dined, chatted and shared wine with many friends in the Northwest and finally returned “home” to Schellebelle (Belgium) on the 15th. The last two weeks have been filled with numerous trips to purchase furniture for my studio and I’m nearly set. There are still boxes to filter and put away . . . somewhere . . . it’s amazing how quickly these new spaces fill up. But it’s fantastic and I can’t wait to pull out my sewing machine. It’s been away in lieu of catching up some of my computer work.

But today is Halloween - honestly, it never has been one of my favorite holidays. I prefer to celebrate the harvest season - pumpkins, golden colors, reds, rust and candles.
To celebrate just a bit though I made drop donuts - yummmm! Many of you will remember these from various autumn and winter events in the garden at our previous location.

Nothing conjures the taste more than a mouthful of pumpkin pie or these orange-flavoured drop donuts!



DROP DONUT RECIPE

2 Tablespoons Shortening
1/2 C Sugar
2 Eggs
1 Tablespoon (or more) Grated Orange Rind
2 Cups Flour
2-1/2 Teaspoons baking powder
1/2 Teaspoon salt
1/2 Cup Orange Juice - fresh is best!

Mix all ingredients until a thick batter. Drop by spoonfuls into hot oil. Cook at 300F for about 6 minutes until golden brown. Test temperature first with one donut. Break open to see that it is cooked through. If it is seems dark enough on the outside but not cooked thoroughly lower the temperature to ensure they will cook all the way through. Drain on paper towels then roll in granulated sugar.

Print PRETTY Recipe Card.pdf

Print boring Recipe Card.pdf

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Our winner is ...

What a lot of fun . . . we’ll have to do this more often.

The name of everyone who posted a comment was written on a leaf.

 Then tossed

into the wind and raked into a pile  . . . before . . . my neighbour pulled the name of 

our lucky winner!

Congratulations to Peggy who won a free Toybox panel by posting a comment to my last blog entry.  

It was such a delight to read so many comments and helped to fill a void . . . I’ve really missed the daily contact with customers since we closed the brick and mortar shop and it was so nice to know that it’s a two-way road.  I do hope to keep in touch, through events, emails and blog entries and always invite and encourage you to add a comment.  They are all read and while I can’t answer every single one directly, I do pick out some each week to answer personally.

Be sure to stop by on Friday to see what I’ve been up to in the last week.  

And in the meantime . . .

. . . stop and enjoy the falling leaves,  Jovita

1 Comment
PEGGY

WOW!  Thanks so much.  I guess I can't say "I never win anything" not anymore.

Thursday, November 8, 2007 - 12:10 PM

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