iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 8h

It's World Animal Day today, so here are a few photo's of our 2 fur babies. Brother and sister Ollie and Teddy, 4 years now. Although they're siblings, they're completely different: Ollie is chill and can't be bothered, while Teddy is scared of almost everything and skitterish.

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

If you haven't visited our quilt expo "Verandering in Quilts",now's the time to RUN to Bartholomeus Gasthuis in Utrecht.After next Friday it's over, and will all the quilts return back home.Here's a walk through my part of the expo, just to show what you're missing if you're not going this week😉

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Change of plan. In the previous posting, I wrote that I would use a red-white striped fabric for my border.But all that red in the border turned out too monotonous to my liking, so I used a small black-white stripe, and I like this much more.This small stripe will also be used as a binding #quiltsky

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Okay, so for the border of my The Shape of Japan quilt, I got inspiration from a vacation about a year ago. We visited Lisbon in 2025 and in the Azulejo Museum (tile museum) I photographed this tile pattern, because it reminded me of a quilt. #quiltsky 1/2

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Here it is: the center part of my "The Shape of Japan" quilt I've selected 42 blocks from the book "The Shape of Japan - 750 Patchwork Patterns" by Kumiko Fujita and drew each block on a 20x20 cm grid. So this center piece measures 120x140 cm (around 47x55 inches) #quiltsky 1/2

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Two interesting textile exhibitions at CoBrA Museum in Amstelveen. "Wilde Rokken - CoBrA kunst als textiel", with textile designs by members of the CoBrA art movement and "Andy Warhol - The Textiles". Warhol was a graphic designer before he made his well known Pop Art pieces. Open till Nov 8 2026.

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Monday morning movie time: Kohuko, a Japanese drama about kabuki theatre

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

For now I'm only going to tease you, sorry 🫣😁 But, I've determined where every quiltblock will be placed in the lay out, and I started sewing the blocks together. No idea when this part will be ready, but prepare yourself that the next quilt update will be this finished inner part #quiltsky

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Hubby and I enjoyed a delicious Middle Eastern lunch at A Beautiful Mess in Utrecht. A great restaurant run by people who live in the asylum seekers' center together with people who already have restaurant experience. We really loved the food, and there was even some quilt inspiration on the wall 😊

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Small celebration here: these are the final 4 blocks for my "The Shape of Japan" quilt. So all 42 blocks are finished now. Latest additions are "Karakami paper for screen doors", "Yawata horse toy" and "White fox mask", and I partically love the horse and the fox, I saved these 2 for last. #quiltsky

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

More Yayoi Kusama at Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. #selfie

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

I'm still a bit overwhelmed by this beautiful exhibition about Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama at Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. I loved seeing how she started drawing as a little girl from a gardeners family, and how her inner voices and demons shaped her style. Expo till January 17 2027.

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Two "simpler" blocks make 39 in total, only 3 more to go. First one is "Wooden latticework", a Japanese craft that you can find in sliding doors or room dividers. Second is "Celebration fan", which is a fan that a geisha might use. All blocks designed by Kumiko Fujita, and sewn by hand. #quiltsky

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Okay people: this is the final month! The quilts by Maria and me in our duo exposition "Verandering in quilts" are still on display for exactly 1 month! October 9 wil be the final day. Bartholomeus Gasthuis in Utrecht (Netherlands). Open daily between 10am/5pm, admission free. #quiltsky

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Block 37 "Ninja" doesn't need a lot of explanation. Dressed in black, his sword on his back, he runs through the night. Another fun block by Kumiko Fujita, and sewn by hand. #quiltsky

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

"Tilda Swinton: Ongoing" is the accompanying book based on the eponymous exhibition at EYE Museum in Amsterdam, which I saw in October 2025. A beautifully produced book about her carreer, full of photos and interviews between Tilda and her most important collaborators. #booksky

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Block 36 is a fun and festive one. It's called "Carp-shaped streamer and houses" and depicts a carp-shaped windsock or koinobori. These windsocks flutter in the wind in Japan at May 5th to celebrate Children's Day (Kodomo no hi) This block is designed by Kumiko Fujita and is sewn by hand. #quiltsky

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

I've sewn 2 new blocks this week, so that makes 35 finished blocks. Only 7 more to go. I made this dotted "New Year's spiced sake" block, representing a traditional sake kettle. Second is this "Stone lantern", I love how the light grey fabric works with the red and white striped fabric. #quiltsky

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

An easy but effective new block: no. 33 is named "Alternate pattern kimono". A fun opportunity to sneak in a touch of yellow. This block is designed by Kumiko Fujita and is sewn by hand. #quiltsky

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Only 10 more blocks to sew, this is number 32. "Warabite ikebana scissors" are scissors to cut flowers for the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement. This block is designed by Kumiko Fujita and is sewn by hand. #quiltsky

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

In "We burned so bright" by T.J. Klune, an elder queer couple goes on an end-of-the-world road trip. The earth is about to be distroyed by a black hole, will they make it in time to fulfill their last wish? A sad and heartwarming love story. #booksky

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

I bought a lavender colored necklace recently, which I love, and I thought: hm, I'm sure I can make something similar in another color. So I went to my local bead shop, bought pink beads and all the other materials, and this is how it turned out. Pretty pleased with it 👍😍

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Especially for my non-quilting followers: here you see what quilting does for a quilt. It adds texture, interest, movement, design, and of course it prevents the 3 layers from shifting. In the first 2 photos you see my hand quilting, the other 3 are machine quilted. 1/2 #quiltsky

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Tonight hubby and I watched the French animation comedy "Jim Queen" at the relatively new arthouse cinema De Sien in Utrecht. In Paris a new virus called "heterosis" turns gay men into straight men 😱 (sounds like a horror movie 😆) Very funny movie, lots of (mostly true) gay cliches and great jokes.

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Two recent book finishes. First one is "Godenschemering - F. Franciscus - schilder in gevecht met de kunstgeschiedenis", a monograph about the Utrecht born artist Frans Franciscus Second is "Hans van Manen Portrait", which I bought second hand. #boosky

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

"Sky Tree & Tokyo Tower" are 2 of the landmark towers in Tokyo. The Sky Tree is a television tower and the Tokyo Tower a communications tower, and both are open for public. The Tokyo Tower is inspired by the Eiffel Tower. This is block 31, sewn by hand. Pattern by Kumiko Fujita. #quiltsky

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Giovanni's Kamer (Giovanni's Room) by James Baldwin is a classic novel from 1956.A love story in Paris, between the young American David, who's girlfriend is in Spain, and Italian Giovanni.This dramatic love story evolves around homosexual and bisexual relations and internalized homophobia.#booksky

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Today was the final day of the Pride Art Route 2026. Together with 2 dear friends I cycled through Amsterdam to visit a few of the locations. There are way to many venues to visit in an afternoon, but we saw some beautiful queer art and this route is definitely something to remember for next year.

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Around 1730, 2 men were caught in the Michaelskapel in Utrecht while they were intimate with each other. One of them was sentenced to death for sodomy (the other fled to England), and this trial caused a witch hunt for gay men in the Netherlands: at least 75 men got a death penalty. 1/2

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Block 30 "Maiko" is just finished, so it's time for another update of all the finished blocks. A maiko is an apprentice geisha, and I love how this one turned out. Another favorite block in this quilt. I've decided how many blocks I want to make: 42, so 12 more to sew. #quiltsky

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

he "Oude Hortus" botanical garden from the Universiteits Museum Utrecht is always such a lovely and quiet place to visit in the middle of the city center.

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Another one finished: block 29 is called "Cherry Blossom Petals". A more simple block, but it will bring some rest next to more exuberant blocks. All the blocks for this quilt are sewn by hand by the way. Design by Kumiko Fujita. #quiltsky

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

What a great and sunny afternoon, filled with love and queer joy 💖🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ Today I joined some of my dearest friends as an ally at the Trans Pride Walk in Amsterdam. We started at the Waterlooplein, and after a few speeches we started walking to the Oosterpark, where the Trans Made Market was held.

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Finished "Dat beloof ik" by Roxane van Iperen. The story is about 12 year old M. who's constantly on the move with her parents, who have to deal with the outside world, each other and their demons, and M.never really settles. I did finish the book, but the story didn't really do it for me. #booksky

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

"Three-color dumpling" (hanami dango) is block 28 for my The Shape of Japan quilt. This is a traditional Japanese sweet featuring three colorful rice flour dumplings on a skewer. The original colors are white, green and pink, but I changed it to the colors that match my other blocks 😊 #quiltsky

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

What a nice and modest commemoration tonight at the Domplein in Utrecht: "Liebe überwindet hass" Organised by Utrecht Queer Culture Festival, we commemorated the victims of the terrorist attack at Berlin Pride last Saturday, but we also reflected at what it does for our queer community.

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Yesterday I had the pleasue of meeting my friend @quiltcarl.bsky.social again and give him a tour in my hometown Utrecht. We started the day with some coffee together with my husband, and after that I showed him our city center, and of course I gave him a private tour of my quilt expo.

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Went to the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam today for the exhibition "Beyond the manosphere - Masculinities today", the "Queer Gaze Tour" and some parts of the permanent collection.

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Block 27 for my The Shape of Japan quilt was a relatively easy one to sew: "Bamboo". It's always fun to find a way to use the striped fabric in a block. Design by Kumiko Fujita #quiltsky

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Finished reading "Erwin Olaf - Strange Beauty". This beautiful book features a lot of Erwin's photo series, and gives good information about the creation of these series. The book was published alongside his first German solo exhibition at the Kunsthalle München in 2021. #booksky

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Block 26 for my The Shape of Japan quilt is "Lucky cat". It's an abstract image of a maneki neko or beckoning cat. This cat figurine is supposed to bring good luck to it's owner. Another fun design by Kumiko Fujita. #quiltsky

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Reposted by Realmenstitch

Lizzy @sweet-lizzy92.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Visited the exhibition of my friend @realmenstitch.bsky.social full of the most beautiful quilts 😍 💫

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Another milestone: 25 blocks finished, so I can show you a 5 x 5 grid of all the blocks. Latest additions are "Soba", which is a bowl with noodles and chopsticks, and "Abacus", or soroban. Haven't decided how many blocks I want to make, so my next goal is 30. Inspired by Kumiko Fujita. #quiltsky

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Beautiful exhibition at the Centraal Museum in Utrecht about the figurative art by the Utrecht born artist Frans Franciscus. I was fortunate enough to see the expo this morning right after the museum opened, so I was alone most of the time. Highly recommend to go and see this one!

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Block 23 for my The Shape of Japan quilt is called "Four rice balls" or onigiri, which consists of steamed rice that is pressed into a triangular, square or round shape, sometimes filled with savory filling, and wrapped with a piece of nori (dried seaweed) Thanks again Kumiko Fujita. #quiltsky

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Picture this: Utrecht, July 12, 1997. Björn and I had arranged our first blind date, after writing letters to each other for a while (remember: this was last century and all pre-internet and pre-mobile phone) I had to drive for nearly an hour to get to Utrecht, so I decided to leave a bit earlier ->

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

The colours look a bit like classic Minnie Mouse, but they do of course fit perfectly into The Shape of Japan Quilt. This is block 22: "Throwing Star", or shuriken, which is used in martial arts. Thanks again Kumiko Fujita. #quiltsky

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

A fun and sunny afternoon at the Queer Market XXL at NDSM island in Amsterdam. First time the marked was outdoors, lucky the weather was cooperating 🌞

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Realmenstitch @realmenstitch.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Finished 2 Dutch books this week. First one is "Vanilla" by Ype Driessen. A story about the slightly neurotic and inexperienced Jip, who goes on 12 Grindr dates after his boyfriend dumped him. Second one is "Queer Geschiedenis van Nederland", this book constructs our Dutch queer history. #booksky

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