and still....

In ultimele zile nu m-am simtit prea bine...cu sanatatea, ma refer . Totul a pornit de aici : (de la pere, nu de la flori )

Last days I wasn't feeling too well... in health, meaning. Everything started from here : (from the pears, not from the flowers ) 

fructe import care pot sa ascunda tot felul de minunatii  ....si uite asa , dupa citeva zile de suferinta si leacuri babesti - total nefolositoare - am ajuns inevitabil aici  :

imported fruits that can hide inside all kind of stuff....this is how after some days of suffering I ended here : 

Nu sunt genul care sa stea in pat de drag....asa ca intr-un moment de vitejie sperind ca ma pot controla ( :)) ) , mi-am luat inima in dinti si am pornit intr-o mica plimbare in gradina....

I don't like to stay in bed, not even by sickness...so, very brave and hopefully that I can manage myself ( :)) ) I take a walk through the garden ...

totul este verde si plin de seva...aproape simti cum natura freamata, cu bucurie, sub razele soarelui....

everything is green and beautiful ...one can almost feel the nature thrilling under the sun....

Incet m-am apropiat de mica mea gradina....citeva straturi inaltate in care, an dupa an, gasesc bucurie si tristete deopotriva. Bucurie pentru rezultatele gustoase, aromate si tristete pentru esecurile inevitabile ale oricarui gradinar. 

Slowly I aproached my little garden....a few raised garden beds where, year after year I found both happiness and sadness . Happiness for those tasty flavoured results and sadness for those inevitable failures that each gardener is faced by. 

Ei bine, se pare ca natura merge frumusel  inainte chiar si fara bagheta mea magica ;)....

Well, it seems that nature is pretty going on even without my magic wand ;)...

M-am simtit brusc obosita si am simtit acut lipsa comfortabila a ....patului ...haha ! inapoi spre casa...

I suddenly feel tired and need desperately the comfort of my...bed. haha!....Going back...

O ultima privire inapoi, : liniste, cite un ciripit tirziu de pasare, M. care tunde iarba in continuare, umbrele care devin din ce in ce mai lungi , mai reci ....

A last look : silence, a single and late bird chirp, M. who is still mowing the lawn, the trees shadows becoming longer and cooler....

Si totusi : ADOR PERELE . Moi, dulci, zemoase, aurii....Trebuie sa-mi amintesc ca pe viitor sa decojesc orice fruct import ce il maninc. Obligatoriu ! prea multe chimicale...

And still : I LOVE PEARS. Soft, sweet, juicy golden pears....I must remember for the future to skin off all the imported fruits that I eat. It's a must ! too many chemicals....

Cum este primavara voastra ? 

How's your spring ? 

Red and black - or way too much

Am primit cadou de ziua mea - da, ziua mea de anul trecut - o noua rigla patchwork ...Ca intotdeauna, jumatatea mea m-a intrebat ce imi doresc cadou. Noi doi avem o lege sanatoasa si benefica : el nu isi cheltuie banii pe ceva ce nu imi place, iar eu primesc ce imi doresc. ;)

( haha: imi amintesc de o alta aniversare cind am primit un balot intreg de vatelina de bumbac :D. Dar cine este fericita ?eu :D)

Deci, de data aceasta, raspunsul meu a fost : o rigla. Si au trecut 4 luni pina am pus la munca rigla respectiva. Nu stiu de ce am ales aceasta combinatie de culori...poate pentru contrast, poate pentru ca am observat ca mobila moderna ( nu si a mea !) este de culoare neagra ( sau wenge), sau pentru ca, probabil, este o stare sufleteasca prin care trec acum. Nu sunt sigura de ce. Prea multa gindire....

Asa arata rezultatul  : un table-runner lung, cu o infatisare foarte moderna. 

I received for my last birthday - and yes, this was the year that has passed - a new patchwork ruler....As always my half asked me want I present want . We have a strong rule that is healthy and beneficial for both parts : he doesn't spend his money on something that I don't like, and I get want I want. ;) (LOL : I remember another birthday when I received a full bolt of cotton batting :D . But who's the happy dancing girl here ?:D )

So, this time,  my answer was : a ruler. Here passed 4 months until I put at work that ruler. I just don't know why I choose this combination of fabrics...perhaps for the contrast, perhaps because I see that modern furniture - not mine! - is mostly black ( or wenge ) , or perhaps that it is a state of mind (?) I pass trough it right now....I am not sure why. Way too much thinking....

Here it is the result : a long table runner, with a very modern look. 

Asa cum am spus inainte, este un table-runner lung : are 120cm x 35 cm . Materiale din bumbac, rosu si negru, vatelina compacta de bumbac, spatele din shifon alb. Pisuit cu ata de bumbac si quiltuit cu ata invizibila smoked YLI. 

It is, as I said before, a long table-runner : it has 120cm x 35 cm . Black and red cotton fabric, compact cotton batting, and white muslin on the back. Pieced with cotton thread and  quilted with YLI smoked invisible thread. 

Este unic in felul lui, irepetabil, deoarece la momentul taierii materialelor, m-am considera mult prea "inteligenta" si am citit doar o data instructiunile riglei. Rezultatul este similar celui indicat de instructiunile respective dar mult mai unghiular. Nu cred ca imi doresc sa mai trec inca o data prin tot chinul acela....
It is unique in its way, unrepeatable,  because at the time of cutting, I considered myself  way much too "smart" and read just once the instructions on the ruler. The result is something similar as the instruction mentioned but much more angled.  I don't think I wanna pass again through all that struggle...

A fost frumos si chiar distractiv ( intr-un anume fel ) constructia lui ....am invatat inca ceva nou.
 Was nice and fun ( in some way ) piecing it.....something new learned . 

Si pentru ca , spre final, aveam senzatia ca arata mult prea tehnic, prea industrial, i-am adaugat aceste cusaturi manuale neglijente, oarecum intentionat strimbe, cu ata rosie de bumbac, pentru broderie. Doar pentru autenticitatea calitatii hand-made. ;)
and because , near finishing it,  I have the sensation that it was way too much technical, almost industrial , I added this wonky, negligent hand seams made with red cotton embroidery thread. Just for the authenticity of hand-made quality. ;) 

Cum va place ?... imi puteti da sfaturi, critici sau idei ...orice inafara de complimente....mi-e plin podul de astea .ha-ha....Deci ?
How do you like it ? you can give me advice, critics, ideas anything else but compliments....I have a full house of them . LOL. So ? 


by Teodora Podina © 2006
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Cip - the baby quilt

Cind eram fetita mica ( asa ca ginditi-va cu 40 si ceva de ani in urma :D ) se gaseau niste bomboane micute-micute, rotunde, frumos colorate....de marimea capului de la de acul cu gamalie  :). Acestea erau bomboanele CIP. Dulci si crocante ( citeodata ca betonul de crocante. ha-ha ! )....le adoram ! :))
When I was a little girl ( so think back with 40 and something years :D ) there were some tiny-tiny, round, colored candies....the size of the head of a needle pin. :) These were the CIP candies. Sweet and crunchy ( or sometimes like concret  LOL )...I loved them ...a lot !  

(poza vine de aici )

( the photo came from here ) 

Si cum prietena mea Geta imi trimite intotdeauna asa minunate bucatele de materiale, m-am pornit din nou la lucru. Putin patchwork . ;)

As my friend Geta send me always such beautiful fabric scraps, I set myself for work again. Just some patchwork. ;)

Si da, am facut piecingul pe masina mea de cusut veche pentru ca ea coase ca un vis. Foarte drept , nu "maninca" inceputul  si pentru ca imi place zumzaitul ei in timpul lucrului ...Si mai iubesc capul ei ingust si inalt care imi ofera atita vizibilitate fara sa-mi aduca dureri de umeri sau de sale ( cine coase, stie ce vorbesc ;)) Iubesc masinile de cusut vechi ....

Aici vedeti masina mea veche si pe cea noua ( ca sa-i spun asa ). Vedeti singuri diferenta . 

yep, I did the piecing on my old sewing machine just because it sews like a charm, so straight, it doesn't "eat" the start and because I love her humming during work.....And I adore its thin head and the visibility that it offers me this way . I love old sewing machines.... 

Here is my old and my , so to call, new sewing machine. See the difference by yourself.  

Dintr-o data pe masa mea de lucru a coborit un curcubeu de culori....care a durat zile dupa zile ....

Suddenly, on my working table was a rainbow of colors....lasted days after days.....

De cum mi-am planificat modelul , am stiut ca la un moment dat voi ajunge si la faza aceasta. Insailarea quiltului . Am folosit vatelina 100% din bumbac, marca Freudenberg. Culoare naturala crem , deci ne-inalbita cu clor . 

As soon as I envisioned the pattern I know that there will be this fase . Basting. On 100% cotton batting, natural cream color ( no bleach)  made by Freudenberg .

Si uite asa s-a nascut CIP- quiltul pentru bebelusi . 

Are 88 cm x 88 cm . 

(Berry face pe modelul din nou cu atita bucurie. :D )

So here it is , in all its beauty : the CIP baby quilt. 

It has 88cm x 88cm (34,6inch)  

( Berry is again modelling with such a joy :D. )

Spatele quiltului are integrata o linie de materiale colorate in finet. Da, spatele quiltului este din finet pentru ca un bebelus are nevoie de comfort si de atingeri delicate . 

The back of the quilt has a colored line inserted in the white flannel. yes, the back of it is on flannel because a baby needs comfort and soft touches.  

Si este si o pernita acolo. Stiu ca ati observat-o :D. Vine ca un mic cadou linga quilt. 35 cm x 50 cm . Croita din aceleasi materiale , are un fermoar alb plasat strategic pe partea laterala  . Nu stiu daca un bebelus are intr-adevar nevoie de perna  ( din cite stiu eu , nu !) dar, hei! e atit de draguta ! :) Pernita din interior are umplutura antibacteriana, 100% puf de poliester. 

And there is a pillow , too. I see you noticed it :D. It will came as a gift near the quilt.  35 cm x 50 cm ( 13,7inch X 19,6 inch).  Same fabrics used as in the quilt, with a white zipper placed strategically on the side of the pillow. I don't know if a baby actually needs a pillow ( as I know, he doesn't ) but, hey ! it is so pretty!!....The inside pillow has 100% antibacterial polyester filling .  

Deci , daca iti place atunci primesti pachetul complet. Adica asa :

So  if you'll like it, you'll get the complete package. Like so : 

Nu-i asa ca e dulce ? ...nu mai gasesc bomboanele copilariei....doar amintirea lor. 

Isn't it sweet ? still , no candies....just a memory of them ;)

by Teodora Podina © 2006

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Rose is more than a rose ;)

Imediat ce am vazut-o acasa la ea, adica pe blogul Cristinei , am stiut ca Rose va fi a mea. Trebuia sa fie a mea. Parul ei nazdravan de rosu si cirliontat, ochii mari si verzi,  rochita ei roz-prafuit si zimbetul subtire-sugubat m-au cucerit. Am asteptat-o cu emotie....imediat ce a venit i-am gasit si locul de unde ma va supraveghea in timp ce lucrez ;). E tare cuminte.....si dragostoasa. Seara o las asezata asa : 

As soon as I see her , on Cristinas' blog, I knew that Rose will be mine. She must be mine. Her enchanted red curly hair, big green eyes , her dusted-rose dress and the thin-funny smile make me sure that she'll be mine. I waited her to arrive with such emotions....as soon as she was here, I found this spot from where I'll be watched over during my work. . 

She's so good....and loving. In the evening I left her in this position : 

 Cred ca ii place sa verifice, noaptea tirziu prin atelierul meu, daca am stins calcatorul, daca am pus toate acele la loc, si daca am inchis laptop-ul ....si de multe ori dimineata o gasesc zimbind enigmatic , asezata asa :
I believe that she loves to check, in the night around my studio, if I turned off my iron, if I put all the needles in the pincushion, if I closed the laptop.....many times, in the morning I find her wearing an enigmatic smile sitting like this : 

 Si dupa ce o mingii pe cap si o intreb cum a dormit, imi intinde minuta ei dreapta cu un trandafir infasurat....o roza....care nu e doar o roza. ;)
And after a short comfort on her head and asking about her sleeping over the night, she gives me a rose with her right hand. A rose that isn't just a rose ;)

Nu-i asa ca e adorabila ? e noua mea prietena....
Isn't she adorable ? my new friend.....

Nu uitati sa fiti copii, citeodata .....;)..e sanatos. Veti vedea viata mai....roz. :)
Don't forget to be a child, from time to time....;)...it's healthy. Your life will be more...rose. :)

A bright future

Sotul meu a implinit 51 ani acum citeva zile ...

My husband made 51 years a few days ago....

Il iubesc neconditionat, etern....
I love him unconditionally , eternally....

De aceea am petrecut citeva zile ( si citeva nopti, deasemenea :)) ) cosind un cadou pentru el. Stiu ca ii place verdele ( uite aici un alt cadou verde pentru el ) si ma intrebam ce as putea sa ii cos....Si mie imi place verdele, dar mai mult in gradina. haha....
This is why I spend a few days ( and some nights,too :)) ) sewing him a birthday present. Knowing that he loves green ( check out another green gift for him here ) I was wondering what to sew....I love green , too, but mostly ( only ? ) in the garden. LOL.

Luna trecuta am cumparat niste carti de patchwork de la prietena mea Geta, care mi-a trimis alaturat si citeva reviste. In una din acestea am gasit un tablou textil lucrat in tehnica "fundatie de hirtie". O tehnica pe care nu am mai lucrat-o. Ce greseala , sa incepi o piesa mare intr-o tehnica noua.... dupa atit de mult tatting, eram prea increzatoare in mine ( rusinica ) . Acesta este inceputul :
Last month I did buy some quilting books from my friend Geta, and she sent me some magazines along. In one of them I found a wall-hanging worked in paper-foundation technique. Something that I never worked yet. What a mistake, to start something so big in a new technique.... after so much tatting, I was way too confident in me (blush-blush)

So here is the start :

Pina acum, totul a mers minunat....chiar dragut, as spune.
 Until now, everything was flowing....quite pretty.

Apoi asamblarea finala a fost un moment de "Hmmmm..."

Then the assembling was something like "Hmmmm..." 

Dar scoaterea hirtiei a fost un razboi al nervilor, un fel de moment de monolog continuu , nu foarte delicat....un foarte lung monolog  :D . 

but tearing out the paper was nerve wrecking, something like a wtf moment ....a very long monologue moment ( blush )  . I was almost desperate that I will not finish in time....

Si totusi, multumita acelor milioane de bucatele de materiale pe care Geta mi le-a trimis in timp, ( multumesc inca o data !) , bucatele care au fost cusute intre ele pentru a ajunge in aceasta piesa, si multumita unei reviste care mi-a dat ideea , finalul este acesta : 

Still, thanks to all those millions scraps of fabric that Geta sent me ( thank you, again and again ) and that were sewn together in this piece, and thanks to a magazine that gave me the ideea, the final is this : 

Are dimensiunea de 75cm x 75 cm , este lucrat in metoda fundatie de hirtie, asa cum v-am mai spus inainte, ( o metoda cu care nu voi mai lucra niciodata-niciodata o piesa atit de mare ) , are vatelina de poliester si spatele din pinza alba. 

It has 75 cm x 75 cm, worked on paper-foundation method, as I previously told you, 

 ( something that I will never-ever work again in such a big piece ) , polyester batting and white backing. 

L-am intitulat " Un viitor luminos" : toate dorintele, ideile si realizarile de azi , converg spre un centru insorit - un viitor luminos - de unde reflecta inapoi pentru o viata mai buna. 

Ca o predictie. 

I named it  "A bright future " : all the wishes, ideas and accomplishments of today , converge into the sunny center - a  bright future - from where they reflects out for a better life.

Like a prediction . 

a tiny heart for a big love

Ca in fiecare an , jumatatea mea primeste un cadou handmade de Ziua Indragostitilor . 

Nici acest an nu putea fi diferit....doar ca acum nu mai e nimic patchwork ci e pur si simplu frivolite . 

O inimioara micuta-micuta, lucrata in ata de cusut , putin mai groasa decit media.

Each year for Valentine's Day, my beloved half receives a handmade gift. 

It couldn't be much different this year, only that now isn't any patchwork piece but a frivolite one. 

A tiny heart, worked in a thicker than average sewing thread . 

Si inramata : 

Here is framed : 

imapchetata si ascunsa intr-un loc foarte "sigur" ;) 

packed and hidden in a very "secure" place ;) 

si aici pusa de el ( temporar) pe perete...pina bat eu un cui acolo  :))

and here , placed by him on the wall for a temporary time...untill I'll hammer a nail there :))

Dragostea este TOTUL , stiati asta ? 

Love is EVERYTHING, do you know that ? 

white and green

Iarna grea...si foarte friguroasa. 

Heavy winter.....and extremely cold. 

Multa zapada....ba chiar foarte multa. In repetate rinduri.

A lot of snow....too much, I can say. Repeteadly. 

Pot spune ca am scapat ieftin , pina acum, doar cu un copac doborit si un gard rupt de la zapada cazuta de pe acoperisul vecinilor.

I can say that we get out cheap, untill now,  only with a fallen tree and a broken fence from the snow downpour from neighbors roof. 

Dupa atita alb infinit  , zapada si gheata, visez incontinuu la primavara.....la verde, mult verde . 

After all this infinite white , snow and ice, I'm dreaming continue at spring....green, a lot of green. 

Si un cadou pentru prietena mea , Geta . Tot in verde. Altfel de verde ;) Un verde nastrusnic, proaspat si revigorant. 

And a gift for my friend, Geta, worked in green, too. Another green ;).  A crazy, fresh and revigorating green. 

Nu va e dor de primavara ? 

Aren't you longing for spring ?