Saturday 19 February 2011

The Netherlands



Here is my first journal quilt for this year with the Aus/NZ Art Quilters. You may remember that we are doing Countries this year, and for the first one I chose my home country, the Netherlands. I thought about it for a long time before starting it and finally decided to use the national colours, red, white and blue, and orange (for our Royal House).

I cut strips of fabric, free hand, and sewed these together. On this background I stitched the outline of the Netherlands. Such a familiar shape, and while I was sewing I mentally revisited all those parts of the country.

I added buttons for the places where I have lived - Groningen, Enschede, Amsterdam and Leiden/Hazerswoude. Here is a close-up:



For the backing I used a Dutch boerenzakdoek (farmers' handkerchief):



This little quilt is very different from anything I have made before, and I love it!

I am looking forward to making more of these journal quilts - my list of countries at this moment consists of Morocco, England, Kenya, Egypt and Ireland.



PS Remember, you can still become a follower to make a chance to win a fat quarter of my Dutch Houses fabric! Or a Dutch Houses fiber postcard... See the details of my giveaway here.

11 comments:

Hannie de Beer said...

Geweldig leuk Linda! En natuurlijk koos je als eerste Nederland! Ik ben ook benieuwd naar de volgende landen?

Ellen said...

Echt NEDERLAND!!! leuk hoor

marjolijn said...

Ja, heel herkenbaar Nederlands, ook leuk de boerenzakdoek als achterkant. Dat maakt het helemaal af.

Jacquie in Vermont said...

As I waited for your blog to load I was trying to guess what your piece would show about the Netherlands. One of my favorite memories from when we camped near Groningen was of the country houses with the lush and gorgeous flower gardens and I hoped for your interpretation of those but the piece you made was far more inclusive! Very nice!

Petra said...

Linda, wat is ie geinig! En wat een krachtige kleuren die nederlandse vlag! Petra

Liesbeth Wessels said...

Heel herkenbaar, duidelijk dat het nederland is met jouw knooppunten. groet liesbeth

Shirley said...

Enige quilt, leuk gedaan met die knoopjes.

Janice m said...

Simple, striking, heartfelt! This piece speaks. Hope you aren't too homesick........janice

A3jana said...

Wat is dít leuk! En mooi!

Jantine said...

Wat een geweldig leuke quilt is dit geworden! Met knopen op de plekken waar je hebt gewoond? Erg origineel, petje af...
Gisteren hadden we het nog over je, Sandra en ik, tijdens de basiscursus die over paper piecen ging en we het boek spellbound lieten zien aan de cursisten!

Jantine said...
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