Fun with grandparents

A nice weekend with the grandparents has gone by quickly. Luca enjoys having visitors, specially if they are so close to him. He has always someone to feed him, to play with him to read to him, to take him out for a walk or a bike ride, it is just too much fun for him. I cannot give him all that attention in a regular day, so that makes it really special. He is the king!

Un fin de semana agradable con los abuelos ha pasado rapidamente. A Luca le encantan los visitantes, sobretodo si son cercanos a el. Siempre tiene a alguien que le de de comer, que juegue con el, que le lea, que le lleven de paseo o en bici, es muy divertido para el. No le puedo prestar tanta atencion en un dia normal, asi que es algo muy especial para el. Es el rey!

And now that I finally made some space for my new laptop and that things are bit more the way I want them to be, I feel more comfortable to do more crafts and things that mean something to me. For now, cleaning up my mess here I found this thing I bought in a thrift store. I don't like the colors, although it's very traditional American, but I do like the little print.

Y ahora que por fin he creado algo mas de espacio para mi computadora y que las cosas estan mas como a mi me gustarian, me siento mas comoda como para hacer mas amnualidades y cosas que me importan. Por ahora, limpiar mi desorden por aqui encontre esto que compre en una tienda de segunda mano. No me gustan los colores, aunque es muy tradicional americano, pero me gusta la imagen impresa.

Pop it up!

I found a website where they show how to make pop up books. I love it! I always wanted to learn how to make them, maybe I will make some for Luca. I thought it was funny that they featured Obama's inauguration. And now I just found out that it will came out in the Washington Post, that's so much fun!

Encontre una pagina web donde ensenhan como hacer libros en tres dimensiones. Me encantan! Siempre he querido aprender a hacerlos, quizas haga alguno para Luca. Lo que me hizo gracia fue que hicieran uno de la Inaguracion de Obama. Y ahora acabo de descubrir que ha salido en el Washington Post, que divertido!

My news around here are that I got myself a new computer, reason why my spelling can be crazy at times until I get used to this keyboard! and with it I got some nice speakers and I am enjoying now some time with my new fast computer and nice music from the internet radio...nice! Little things like this, make all the difference.

Mis novedades por aqui son que me compre un ordenador portatil, la razon por la que de vez en cuando se me cruzan las letras hasta que me acostumbre a este teclado! y con el me compre unos altavoces muy chulos que estoy disfrutando ahora mismo pasando un rato con mi ordenador rapidisimo y musica muy buena de la radio de internet..que bien! Cosas pequenhas como estas, hacen las cosas mucho mejores.

And of course also moments of sharing, friendship and love like we had last Sunday.

Y por supuesto momentos de compartir, de amistad y de amor como los que pasamos el domingo.

here and not really

I want to come here more often, but for now, I will just write quick updates on our lives. I need to organize my life a bit more, which is what I've been doing lately and when I feel I have some control of it, then I will maybe have more time to post. For now, I will just share the pictures of all the handmade gifts that me and my friends from my quilting/sewing group have exchanged today. It was so much fun and we were so many that share this special interest of making things by hand that it was a privilege being there. We just missed three of our friends who from far away also participated.

Quier venit aqui ma a menudo, pero por ahora, solo escribire pequenhos resumenes de nuestras vidas. Necesito organizar mi vida un poco mas, que es lo que he estado haciendo ultimamente y que me haga sentir que tengo control sobre ella, entonces podre quizas tener mas tiempo para escribir. Por ahora, os ensenho unas fotos de los regalos hechos a manos que nos hemos intercambiado hoy en nuestro grupo de amigas de quilting/costura. Fue muy divertido y eramos tantas que comratimos es mismo interes de hacer cosas a mano que ha sido un privilegio estar ahi. Solo hemos echado de menos a tres pocas amigas que desde lejos tambien han participado.

I received a wonderful apron that soon will be put to good use and also very beautiful fabrics and ribbons that make me so happy just to look at them. Thank you so much my Secret Santa!!

Recibi un delantar precioso que pronto lo usare y tambien unas telas y lazos preciosos que solo mirarlos me da alegria. Muchas gracias amiga invisible!

And my son looks like a boy that lives in the streets, really cute one of course :) He comes out of these meetings with his hands all black, he is really integrated, he is one more in our group.

Y mi hijo parece un ninho de la calle, muy guapo claro :) Sale de las reuniones con las manos negras, esta muy integrado, es uno mas del grupo.

Shirt quilt

My friend came to our quilting group the other day with a nice surprise. Someone she knew had given her pieces of a very very old unfinished quilt made of clothes for her to finish it! It was the great grandmother of her friend who inherited those pieces, so basically meaning that it could have easily been made in the late 1800's. Amazing right? It was a lot of fun helping organize the pieces so that the quilt had some balance and harmony.

Mi amiga vino a nuestro grupo de quilting con una sorpresa muy agradable. Alguien que ella conocia le habia dado unas piezas de una colcha sin acabar hecha de piezas de ropa para que ella la acabase! Era su bisabuela la que heredo esas piezas, osea que podria haber sido una senhora de finales de los 1800s la que la hizo. Increible no? Lo pasamos bien ayudandole a organizar las piezas para que la quilt tuviera equilibrio y harmonia.

Maybe one day I will do the same with my husband's shirts. He had so many and usually in 4 different colors so I have a nice palette to work with.

Quizas algun dia haga lo mismo con las camisas de mi marido. Tenia tantas y generalmente de 4 colores distintos asi que tengo una paleta de color muy buena con la que trabajar.

Getting back to the routine is hard, specially when kids have 2 days off school! I want to make so many things but so far, I haven't found the energy. Hopefully soon.

Volver a la rutina es duro, sobretodo cuando los ninhos tienen dos dias sin cole! Quiero hacer tantas cosas pero por ahora, no tengo energias. Espero que pronto.

Finally done!

Since I started this quilt for my mom so much has happened in my life. I could write a novel about it and it would really sound like fiction. But it's not, it's my life and with this quilt all these memories of those wonderful and terrible moments that went by while making it will always be remembered.
I am happy that I finally got to finish it, all by hand, from the beginning, the patchwork, until the end, all the quilting and finishing it up. There is something special about making quilts by hand. Many people can't understand it, but you really need to like it and feel it to make it by hand. It's not for everyone. It teaches you patience and perseverance, and it gives you a great deal of satisfaction. I will now work on some cushions to go with it. Now it decorates my parents bed and it brightens their bedroom. I hope they enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it.
I will post some better pictures in the future, for now, this is all I could get.

Desde que empece esta colcha para mi madre ha pasado tanto en mi vida. Podria escribir un libro sobre ella y pareceria de ficcion. Pero no lo es, es mi vida y con esta colcha todos estos recuerdos de esos momentos maravillosos y terribles que pasaron mientras la hacia siempre estaran en mi memoria.
Estoy contenta de que por fin la acabase, toda a mano, de principio a fin, el patchwork, hasta el final, todos los pespuntes y los toques finales. Hay algo especial sobre hacer colchas a mano. Muchas personas no lo entienden, pero necesitas que te guste y saber sentirlo para poder hacerlo a mano. No es para cualquiera. Te ensenha paciencia y perseverancia, y te da un monton de satisfaccion. Ahora hare unos almohadones que sean iguales. Ahora decora la cama de mis padres y les da luz al dormitorio. Espero que la disfruten tanto como yo disfrute haciendola. Pondre algunas fotos mejores en un futuro, por ahora, esto es todo lo que pude sacar.

And yes! We are home safe and sound, getting used to the new time and schedule!

Y si! Ya estamos en casa sanos y salvos, acostumbrandonos a la nueva hora y al nuevo horario!

Happy New Year!

Wishing eveyone a happy New Year 2009 and many days of joy to remember.

Os deseo un feliz Año Nuevo 2009 y muchos días de alegría para recordar.

And here are some more of my hand made gifts...
Y aqui van algunos de mis regalos hechos a mano.