Friday night BOM update

1 wrong - mirror imaged colour wise, to the right - and 1  with right colours, to the left.
The background fabric is so light the wrong flower would not have cut it. Maybe it is the start of a new quilt some day ?

After correcting the colour mishap from earlier this autumn I could join flower row # 6 and # 7.

Next starting focus row # 8 - 1 down, 4 to go.

As I guess you have figured out, I am working on 2 BOMs simultaneously right now :-)

I have 1 hexagon flower and 1 block from the other BOM prepped for tomorrow morning.
I have only done hand work today, with my feet up high -- very nice and very restful.

Hanne

Blocks and more

Two more blocks for the BOM :-)
Everything is going half speed these days.
I thought I was brewing on a head cold. I am not, as inflammation meds makes my headache (and neck) much better.
Winter is not my season…..
Well - we all know that even a couple of threads a day makes a full quilt in the end, so I'll keep at it  :-)

The last 2 Advent calendar gifts from last Sunday.
Yes, I have 4 calendars this year, and I am enjoying it very very very much :-)

Can you tell I am organizing my desk when I can not sew so much ?? ;-)

Hanne

December Challenge to myself

 
I do like Advent better than Christmas - the decorating , preparing and all.
The daylight is very special this time of year, the 6 hours we get of it, on a good day. It gets dark at about 3 pm.

We have lights in many of our windows during December, and the furball takes all checking of boxes to heart ( and teeth).
I don't think she ever met a cardboard box she did not like the taste of.

If you have not noticed before I have a very soft spot for BOMs from Lappemakeriet :-)
Well - I am behind on a few of them, so I am dedicating December to catch up.
I do not expect to catch up on all 3 ongoing BOMs, but I can put in an effort anyway.

This one, Svennebrev, Antique fabric choice, I have received 6 packets, 12 blocks -

and today I have finished 6 of them :-)
The blocks finish 9".

Hanne

Quilters Christmas Party part 5

Let me share some inspiration from Bente's care quilt pile with you!

If you think about whether or not you should contribute to care quilts in your country, it it time to get your thinking cap off, find some fabrics and get to work !! :-)

There are so many children (or other causes of your choice) who will benefit from our effort, and in the big picture we all can afford to use some time and some materials to give a long distance unselfish hug to someone in need - a true act of Paying It Forward,
since we are so lucky to have this lovely rewarding lifestyle called quilting.

Myself I started making care quilts when my DD1 was seriously ill many years ago.
It felt good to make someone happy during that stressful hurtful time, and it still does, through all kinds of days.
Try it yourself and you will never regret it !! :-)

 

 

 

 

       

 

Hanne

Quilters Christmas Party part 4

 

After a lovely candle light breakfast we enjoyed our Advent Sunday Calendars this morning :-)
We are some friend that have made calendars for each other, to enjoy every Sunday through Advent. You can see Bente's calendar gifts on her kitchen wall.

    
I am an Advent lover and I enjoy my Advent calendars a lot too!

Advent tea and other goodies - fabrics, nose tissue papers in a lovely Log Cabin wrapper, beautiful embellishments and small heart clips :-)

After breakfast we went back to the sewing room to finish the last binding - my task - and to tidy the room.

Have you ever wondered how tall a pile of 40 care quilts looks like ??

Between the 3 of us we finished 6 quilts this weekend:

Bente's Jelly Roll quilt, so soft and beautiful.

  
A boy will love Bente's quilt # 2

     
May Britt's quilt # 1, happy and cheerful.

 

May Britt's quilt # 2 - how many elephants can fit on 1 quilt ?

  

And again - my 2 quilts.

My shoulders are tired from sitting so long by the machine, but there are nothing more comforting than to think about the children and teenagers that will benefit from all quilters donating quilts to the cause - children with long term diseases who will get to choose and keep their quilt.

Bente's guild, Ringerike Quilteklubb, has given 80 quilts, including the pile of 40, in 12 months.
An example to take to heart !!
Both May Britt and I are proud and happy to contribute to your guild's donation Bente!

Thanks for a lovely, inspiring weekend at your house!
You always make us feel so welcome!

Hanne

Quilters Christmas Party part 3

When we came back to Bente's house the electricity was on again and we could get to work :-)
The plan for the day was to make care quilts.

     
You all know how hard it is to open a JellyRoll, right ?

Bente did it !! The result is great too. Just wait until you see what she made from it!

Here is the rest of the hearts I told you about in an earlier post - another PIF quilt in the making.
  

May Britt is measuring another care quilt to start these bright blocks. Bente is collecting care quilts for her guild, to send on to the coordinator of the Norwegian care quilts. 
 
 

We are helping each other the best we can :-)

Here is my blue heart quilt all done :-)

I did meters of binding by machine.

          
The red heart quilt all done :-)
 
   
In the evening we enjoyed a delicious traditional Christmas meal - ribs of pork cooked in the oven, ribs of sheep steamed and then roasted in the oven, good potatoes, cauliflower and broccoli, mashed cabbage root (a traditional Nordic vegetable), sauerkraut and good sauce.

Since this traditional dish is served only around Christmas we all ate to much - it was so good :-))

A  very good time were had by all !!

Hanne

Quilters Christmas Party part 2

You now know how we spent a lovely Thursday night,
and here is how we spent hours on Friday :-)
The local electricity company had a repair job scheduled for several hours in the morning, so we had no light and no running sewing machines, so we decided to go for a shop trip.

What better place to go than to Lappemakeriet ??

The shop is now turned into a gorgeous Christmas shop, full of inspiration and goods :-)

  
A lovely Christmas calendar in redwork.

Several small Kristin Langebråten stitcheries joined into a beautiful wall quilt.

     
An Angel from Trine Bakke's book - cute as can be :-)

One can buy gifts in all price ranges - from the very affordable and up.

Lovely table runners and wall hangings for sale

 
All kinds of temptations :-)


Lappemakeriet display all their goods in a very pleasant way :-)


Red as hearts, white as snow :-)

Here is a glimpse of the new BOM !!
Yes, I have already fallen in, on a blue and white option :-))

Join in if you like BOMs too- you will never regret having one from Anne-Kjersti and Trine!

And what temptations did I run in to ?

A lovely tin and some fabrics to play with :-)
I have found my favourite Christmas combination with a lighter green than what is traditional and usual !
I am looking forward to use these fabrics !!

We visited some other shops at Bærums Verk too and more goodies came home with us.
Another beautiful tin, 2 small tins, a pink stone heart and an angel jewellery pendant and an angel window decoration.
DH and I buy 1 special Christmas decoration every year - this is the one for 2009 :-)

Bærums Verk is open 7 days a week - check it out if you are in the area - you will not regret it, whether you just want to have a look or if you want to shop high quality good, quilty and others  :-)

Hanne

Quilters Christmas Party part 1

May Britt and I have had a gorgeous long weekend at Bente's, starting on Thursday evening at her guild.

 

Lena Karen has made this beautiful needle turn quilt!

A feast for the eyes, in soft Japanese fabrics.

 
Tove's "small" Christmas calendar for her DD. :-))
It is giving *wrapping your kids in love* a new and deeper meaning!
I think little Miss O. has to go treasure hunting to find the packet of the day :-))
 
A 60 degree hexagon beauty !!

Inger-Solveig's beautiful sampler quilt!!
We saw it in August, when she had just started to quilt it, and now it is done, and very heavily and beautifully quilted too!
 
It is always a pleasure to visit Ringerike Quilteklubb, and I hope to visit you again before long!

Hanne

Mini class at my guild tonight

This was the class sample - a toothpick keeper - pocket /purse size

 
Kitty and I had everything ready to roll - glue stick, scissors, thread and needle + the kit we all could buy at the guild, containing thin cardboard, thin batting and fabrics.

We both enjoy having nice clean teeth, so we finished the project and stocked it with our favourite toothpicks, the plastic kind.

This is row 6 on my hexagon quilt, ready to be joined.
12 hexagons to go - I have to redo a couple of the background ones, due to an accident I can tell you about some other time.

Hanne

Days flying by

It has not been laid back, believe me :-)

Here is a sneak peak of a quilt that is now at the machine quilter's, since yesterday evening.
I have used 2,5" stripes, like you can find them in Jelly Rolls.
My strips are cut from my beautiful Japanese fabrics collection, amongst others, and I have also put in Japanese homespuns for a touch of masculinity.

I have to mention that DH commented on this quilt, unasked, and gave his approval :-)

I will show you the whole quilt when it is back from the machine quilter and preferably bound.

It has been raining cats and dogs for a few days, and nobody hates that as much as the furball.
She is in and out of the house all the time, dripping wet.

She usually do not like it to much on my sewing table, but what to do when it is raining this much ??

One can nibble on some wood buttons,

or nap test the mat and ruler - not that I can understand how that can be comfy…….. :-)

The Bunny Quilt is done and looking good - and I am looking forward to spring already !!
I am not much of a winter person at all.

I am surviving the winter on sewing, tea and candles - which is not a bad deal after all :-)

Hanne

Things to be happy about

 
Tilda kits for half price at my local hobby shop.

     
A cute elephant pin cushion I got from Elin last weekend

A brand new weekend suitcase. Red off course. I think I need a red bag to go with it :-)

I got a suitcase ripped at the airport last weekend. This is the replacement.

An extra hard disk for my computer. I have backed up all my files now and I have a plan to back up my files every week. Burnt child and all that……..
I lost a lot of photos and some documents in a double computer crash recently. First my laptop and next my desk computer.

 
Hand quilting on the Bunny quilt done. Now to wash it before I show it to you.
  

A vintage silver needle keeper I found in a used and new jewellery shop a while back. It is approx. 2,5" long.

And a wonderful selection of Lynette's new line of Christmas fabrics, bought from Quiltegården, received today :-)
I have ordered them for my Christmas cushion - the pattern I bought when I met Lynette in Oslo recently.

Hanne

Cat report

 
Never take luggage checking lightly!
     
A long nap is good for you!

 

You know you get exercise points for streeetched sleeping positions ?

I am just nap testing the table runner - testing 1, 2, testing 1, 2….
   
The house seamstress is getting back to her to do list -
someone has to accomplish something around  here - I am in the R&R dept.  this week.

Purr purr :-)

On the wings again :-)

Oh, what beautiful mountains - what a majestic view!

At the end of this water Marie is living on a farm at the foot of the snow clad mountains, right under one of Norway's famous glaciers.

Elin and I spent a lovely Friday afternoon in Marie's house.
Thanks for your heart warming hospitality Marie!

 

15 creative ladies attended the toiletry bag class in Gloppen  on Saturday, and a lot of lovely bags they made! Visit the guild blog for more photos.

   

The stitcheries and other decorations were made in advance.
Some have used my butterfly stitchery, and some had made other stitcheries and other decorations, as the rose bag that was made with paper napkin decoupage - very clever - and the one with free hand machine embroidery and small pearls.

On Sunday we were doing Kaleidoscope

 

My host and friend Elin - visit her blog for more photos!
    

Kaleidoscope is quite time consuming, but the results are striking.

These ladies were very much up to the challenge!

It was so fun to be with you ladies and I hope we will meet again in the future :-)

Sandane in Gloppen, seen from Holvikjekta - an old sail ship that sailed  from Sandane to Bergen 100 years ago, back and forth, twice a year, carrying goods.
This is the only ship of its kind still intact in Norway.

Notice the stars decorations on each side of the windows !!
It was in the early evening and the ship is under roof outdoors, hence the dark photo.

It is a big ship and I am not a big lady ;-)

Here is a coloured black and white photo of the boat from around 1900.

Here is a wonderful gift I got from the guild, with Gloppen's horse on it and dialect words for different temperatures.

Right now it is 0 degrees C - Husekaldt - Cold in house - brrrrr

Hanne

Stitchers' Angel gift sent and received

This is my Stitchers' Angel gift this year, and the recipient was Melinda.

It was not hard to find out that light green is one of her favourite colours and that she is in to bright colours.
I picked my designs here and there, and on the drawstring bag I have changed one of Gail Pan's stitcheries to fit the rose theme.

It was fun to make gifts for Melinda, and I am happy to know that she liked her gifts too :-)

I am still very very curious about who is my angel this year, and I am looking in the mailbox with anticipation every day!
Maybe tomorrow ??

Hanne

Paying It Forward – sort of

7 years ago my DD1 was hospitalized for months and our family was going through a very rough patch.

One day heart blocks started to appear in my mail box, from near and far away.
It was a very touching experience and I wiped my eyes frequently, feeling all the support from fellow quilters.

I wrote the names of the makers on the seam allowance of each block, so it was a touching experience again when I spread all the blocks on my desk yesterday and saw that I am still in touch with most of them, one way or the other.
2 great quilters have also passed away since then, and 1 has lost her hand skills to Parkinson’s disease.

I did not have much luck when we were doing PIF in blogland a couple of years back, as I did not receive anything from the lady I signed up with – BUT – I was lucky with the recipients of my 3 gifts, as they all liked what I made for them :-)

I have since then found that is is very giving for me to give to others, and that an unexpected gift is often very precious for the receiver, no matter if it is small or big.
I am so happy when someone is sending me a gift, and I love sending gifts to others too, brightening their day.

Well – back on track here ;-)

I am sure none of the makers of these lovely hearts will mind if I make the 41 blocks in to quilts to children with long term diseases now, so as thought, so done.
The warming hearts can now warm again!

I separated the block in to 2 piles, one mainly red and one mainly blue.
Some of the blocks are signed on the front with the maker’s name, but I think it will just add interest to the quilt.
Only 1 blocks has my name on it – it is blue, and will be a part of quilt # 2. I know what to do with it, and it will be used.

Here are the quilt top from the red hearts:

 
I have used 2,5” strips (again!!) around these blocks – colours are red and pink-red, both batiks and prints.

The blocks finish 11” and the quilt top is 44,5” x 55,5”

My goal is to finish these 2 quilts by the end of the month.

Hanne

More from Monday

What I bought on Monday – almost all are Lynette’s designs, except for the fabrics :-)
The snowman button is extra precious to me – a gift from Lynette. I will start the Christmas cushion soon!

I also bought Lynette’s latest book, Gathering of Crows.

Here are my collection of Lynette Anderson’s booklets and books.

I think it is complete, but I don’t really know, so if you have knowledge about other books, please let me know.

I know that several of these are out of print, so I am keeping them close to me.

I have been collecting Lynette’s patterns for years. As you know, I love her small details and accuracy and have a pile of her patterns too  :-)
I also like the layout on her books and patterns – a feast for the eyes.

I have just been asked which book I like the best, and I just have to say – All of them :-)
All are theme related, and they all are are lovely – both the old ones and the new ones.

I think I saw the Christmas book online recently, even if I know it is out of print.
Try doing a search!
Over the years I have also found out of print goodies on ebay too.

My books  and booklets with year of print are:

All my bears (2000)
An angel’s wish (2001)
Sunflower stitching (2003)
Friends for Christmas (2003)
Bearly stitched (2004)
Rainbow cottage (no year given – it is fairly new)
Gathering of crows (2009 – brand new)

Kathrine’s Quilte Stue has a lot of Lynette’s books and patterns right now.

Did I tell you that my head is still spinning from Monday and all the lovely designs?
I am going away for the weekend and will prep a stitchery later – Lynette’s design off course :-)

Hanne

The most wonderful day!

 

It is hard to know where to begin, but one thing has to be said loud and clear – Thank You Lynette!

Thanks for being who you are, and for being such a generous and inspiring person!

It was such an inspiration to meet you and see your quilts and things, so now I have to get up even earlier in the morning to get more time to stitch :-)

Lynette’s design has been very high on my favourite lists for years :-)
I have always been drawn to small stitches and accuracy, of which Lynette is a master.
She also has her lovely furry friends in her work, and I love that. You can guess my softest spot is Felix, the cat, right ? ;-)

Our class was lovely!!
We started the bag, with needle turn appliqué. The work above is Lynette’s class sample – one of them.


We got very good instructions for stitches and how tos :-)

 
I am already subscribing to The Kitten Tale BOM – lucky me :-))
    

The class participants got a trunk show in the morning too, and I know that these quilts are on my to do list in the future!!
I have the Christmas quilt in a book I have had for years :-)
The Crazy Christmas quilt below is a BOM. Look out – you know me and good BOMs ;-)

To the left is Lynette’s DH Vince. He is a very pleasant person too.

 
Some details from the Crazy Christmas BOM.

May Britt and I are as happy as we look :-)

Kathrine had brought along all kinds of temptations from her shop – and yes, we got tempted indeed, but that has to be another post!

 
May Britt and I both reached for the same pattern at once, and that was not on purpose, believe me :-)

Lynette has many of her things in different colourways, which is an inspiration to all, no matter what your favourite colours are.

Another one of my favourite patterns.
 

We had pizza between class and the evening trunk show.

We are getting ready for the evening show.
   

A gorgeous basket quilt, front, detail and back.

 
An Angel’s Wish quilt in pink – yes I have the book :-)

The Friends for Christmas quilt in pastels – book right here? nod, nod hehehe

After the trunk show we got a lovely slide show presentation from Lynette’s quilting life.

Lynette was on her feet all day, from early morning to late evening, so she must be all wiped out today.
She gave her best left and right all day, and made the day so special for us all.
Thanks again for letting us meet you and for sharing yourself and your lovely work with us!

You are a very special lady Lynette, and I will treasure this day!!

Smiling ear to ear – happy and ready to iron some transfer for stitchery -
Hanne

A lovely day :-)

We are ready and eager for a day with Lynette

Hand sewing and a long to do list

Yesterday I had the pleasure of spending some time with Laila and her mother.

This cute mug and the lovely embroidery floss I got as a gift from Laila.
Kose is a Norwegian noun for having a nice, “cuddly”, enjoyable, relaxing time. Kopp = cup, mug.

Laila and her mother came with me to my local guild meeting, where Kristin Eikli gave a very inspiring lecture on Crazy Quilts, with a lot of photos.

I have tried Crazy quilting before and I did enjoy it, and after the lecture I think I will read up on the subject and maybe do some more :-)
You know me – I am an info junkie when it comes to traditional quilting!

If you want to see what we did in our Crazy Quilt Round Robin before, take a look here.
If you want to see more from that Round Robin, type crazy quilt in the search engine on my blog.

Kristin recommended this book:

I have already found it online, but I have not ordered it …….. yet !?

Have I mentioned LOVE quilt books on traditional and historic quilts and methods ?? ;-)

I forgot to bring my camera last night, but my head is full with inspiration and lovely pictures.

A test drive of the mug along with my hand sewing today :-)

I have a long to do list today, but I think a big dose – like in 1 hour – of hand sewing will be a perfect way to start :-)

Then my goal is to cross at least 4 things off my to do list today – none very sewing related.
A lot of paper work involved.

Hanne

Just testing my new phone

New phone needs some testing - and Yes ! - it takes good photos and sends photos well to blog!

I am a happy camper indeed !

I am still waiting for the software for my laptop to arrive.

Am I impatient ?? Ohhhh Yessss ;-)

Hanne

The best laid plans of men and mice

       

Originally my plan was to not start anything new before the end of the month, but then Australian Homespun magazine arrived….

This stitchery by Lynette Anderson is so cute and May Britt and I will meet Lynette on Monday 2nd November!
Check Kathrines Quilte Stue for details if you want to be there too.
Lynette is teaching a class and giving a trunk show.
I am so excited and full of anticipation :-)

From foggy and wet weather we now have got some crisp and clear sunshine days. Crisp and clear autumn days often bring frost. Frosted lavender looks good :-)

Oh, I wish I could curl up like the beloved furball and have a looong nap – it would be lovely, but I better get back to my long to do list.

The laptop is still dead – now with a new hard disk but with the wrong restore software. I am waiting for new software to arrive by mail. Maybe today ?? I am crossing my fingers!!

Nothing is working well on this old computer – it is slow and the programs shuts down all the time. The only thing that works fairly well is Live Writer, so I can blog, and I guess that is one thing I should be grateful for :-)
The old computer will be a good fix-it-if-you-can project for DH this winter – reformatting and rebuilding it – but not before I have got my laptop back in working order!

Hanne

Breeding cows

You know I am a city girl, right ?
Breeding cows are not one of my natural qualities ;-)

During summer I promised a wine cow to my DBIL (dear brother in law) for his birthday. I know you have a saying in America about waiting until the cows come home, and that is a fairly long time, isn’t it ?
DBIL has now waited patiently since the end of July, and it was time to call the cows  home :-)

Yesterday it snowed and even the most stubborn cow would not like it outdoors anymore. The days are dull and the there is not that much daylight on a rainy day either. It is burning candles through the day light, if you know what I mean.

Well – since DH and I are invited for a birthday upcoming Saturday I aimed for 2 cows, and got at it yesterday.
I can not help myself from making a few improvements as I go – that takes time, and when I used spray glue instead of spray starch that also took some time to redo ;-)

You can now see how the udders covers the wine bag tap :-)

One cow with inserted wine bag, one cow without. The sign says Health in every drop!

 
Even the cat is bored in this weather. Here she found her favourite button again. To bad it is sewn on to my sewing bag. The sewing bag is quite wet after the cat treatment.

I think she is thinking naughty thoughts, like what to catch next. Me or the pins ? The pins are no success…. ;-)

My desk is messy, so I better do some tidy up before moving on here in the sewing corner.

Hanne

Doing things backwards

I have always learned to do the quilting first and then the binding, but I want to quilt 1/4” from the binding, so I better get the binding on first then, right ?

I like to be a rebel and do things my own way, as usual :-))

Hanne

A challenge / competition object coming home again

This summer I sort of ran into a challenge / competition hosted by Fabrikkutsalget Brumunddal.

The theme was Sun in the heart – Sol i hjertet – a phrase from a Norwegian song.
We all got a piece of yellow fabric, a spool of yellow thread and a yellow ribbon. The fabric had to be used.

My entry returned home today, with a very nice little note attached to a piece of yellow fabric + 2 small heart soaps with a very nice smell.
Like winning a prize even if my little quilt did not win one of the big prizes :-)

Hanne

Cindy made this kitty for me !!

Can you imagine how surprised I was when I got a packet from my friend Cindy and found this cute kitty needle keeper ?

May Britt got one for her birthday and I admired it very much.
Cindy made this one for me and I am speechless and very very touched!

I’ll take ever so good care of her, Cindy, and I have already promised her and Miss Hitty a trip across the big pond in the spring :-)
I think she will be proud to carry my Dear Jane scissors.

Thank you ever so much Cindy!!

Hanne

A to do list has great charm

A to do list makes me focus, even if my list is a tad to long.
First I finished 2 Butterfly garden units and 2 hexagon flowers.

 
Focus row # 5 is done – and so are all the background flowers – 15 focus flowers to go!

 
As you see, binding under work on the Basket Quilt. I am having a head cold, so it was nice to sit with a quilt on my lap.

The 3rd Angel Swap gift is done!
I Will Not join any more swaps!!!
As much as I enjoy making gifts I do not enjoy deadlines, and deadlines have a tendency of ganging up on me.
I have asked friends to keep me keeping my promise, and I will do the same for someone else too!

I hope my Angel Swap receiver will enjoy her gifts when they arrive.
I was just two steps away from keeping what I made – I liked the 3 things very much :-))

On my way to the post office – 2 packets going for long travels. As we speak they have already travelled far.

The Basket Quilt is done now – binding and all :-)
The quilt is my own design and I am teaching it very soon.

24 years and 4 days – who would have thought that 24  years and 4 days ago?
I got these roses 4 days ago from my best friend and husband. Can you see how they form a heart (by accident) ?
I just noticed when I was going to use the coffee table as quilt display :-)

Hanne

Small steps and high ambitions :-)

Now it is so dark in the mornings that I am enjoying my morning tea with candles every day.
Light green now, for hope and light thoughts and longing for spring – or something like that :-)

Small finishes also have great charm – today I have finished 3 hexagon flowers and a Tilda stitchery – not bad!

The high ambition list is as follows, as an end of October challenge to myself:

Through this week I need to finish 2 projects:
* Angel Swap item # 3 and mail the packet
* Basket quilt need binding asap

Through October the remaining 5 projects need to be finished and / or seriously moved forward :
* Bunny quilt – lacking hand quilting and binding
* 2,5” strips quilt top need to be finished
* Tilda redwork stitcheries will be a new and finished table runner
* Hexagon quilt lacks 17 hexagons – I want to finish them
* Butterfly Garden quilt need moving forward

Never a dull moment in the sewing corner – stay tuned for updates :-)

Hanne

More inspiration from the weekend

A model from the shop - design Bronwyn Hayes

 
Let your rubber stamps multitask as stitchery patterns too!

Yes I am a city girl enjoying a city view - I can even see the sea from my hotel window :-) As you know i am living in a flat house at home.

A beautiful customer quilt, quilted by Merete (to the right)

Merete even gets the pantograph quilting to look magnificent by her choice of pattern and thread to match and enhance the customer’s quilt and wish!

 
Animal friends to store wine bags - made by another customer, for sale.

Here are her absolutely drop dead beautiful DJ triangles, all in purple. Thanks for sharing :-)

Quilters, cats and bags - need I say more ? :-)

Beautiful, beautiful!

 
Chef and Quilt Angel (part of the management)

 
complete with tape measure and coffee pot

and a spare zipper, just in case :-))

Alternative “use” for the coat - accessories coat :-))

The room where we had quilt café yesterday was filled with lovely work and smiling highly skilled quilters :-)

Close-up of some of the lovely work - from AnnaKa’s class a few weeks back.

What a cool mug - I wonder if The Goodess had to kiss many of those frogs ??

Where to keep your hand quilting hoop in lack of more hands ? :-))
A quilter should come with more hands maybe ? I am not sure it would look to good though………..

Another wonderful day is waiting at Quiltegaarden!

Hanne

So much fun at Quiltegaarden!

One of my 3 favourite quilt shops in Norway - Quiltegaarden in Trondheim.
A weekend away from home with quilts, quilters, laughter, delicious food, shopping - all in equal priority (maybe except for the food) what more can one wish for ??

Here are some photos from the shop - Inspiration Galore!

I bought the pattern for this red beauty in March :-)

 
And this one too ….. :-)

A quilt from Anni Downs garden book

Simplicity and beauty combined - note the intersections of the sashing!

AnnaKa’s rose quilt

and Siw’s Japanese version - just to die for !!

Lovely mice - have I bought the pattern and the thread ?? ;-)

Butterfly Garden in Japanese fabrics - beautiful!

Leanne Beasley’s design :-) I love this one as much as I did when I first saw it 2 years ago - on my want to do list!

Hmm - this one too - on my want to do list :-)

Goods are beautifully displayed in the shop!

Bronwyn  Hayes’ design

Lynette Anderson’s design

Time to go to bed - it is another busy and fun day at Quiltegaarden tomorrow :-)

Hanne

Second helping of elephant :-)

I participated in 9na’s mystery before the weekend, but life got in the way and I could not keep up.
I am however determined not to make Ufos, so this was my second helping of elephant today :-)

I really like these potholders! Thanks 9na :-)

Hanne

The only way to eat an elephant

………….. is one serving at a time :-)

I am making a priority list and getting at it.

I guess this project must be part of a front leg then - the 2nd Angel Swap gift, and now it is done :-)

I was so sure I had the stitchery for the 3rd gift done too, but I can not find it and I can not remember what it was - 
I tend to get a little forgetful sometimes.

I think this is the last swap I will do for a long while.
Even if it is fun to make something for someone else, deadlines always gangs up on me.

PS. DH thinks the swap gifts so far looks very nice - he is nice too!

Hanne

To many balls in the air!

It is and has been busy, both in the sewing corner and on other arenas……..

My plan is to land some balls and finish some projects before the end of this month!

I started with a lovely shopping and inspiration trip to my favourite shop Lappemakeriet on Tuesday.

Every Tuesday there is a quiltekafé - (quilt get together) there, and that is a good place to get some inspiration at the same time as I got some needed shopping done.

I am working on hand quilting  this quilt

 

and hand quilting this one

among several other similar high priority projects………..

At least I have 1 finish :-)

A pin cushion for my Angel Swap friend

Never a dull moment!

Hanne

Would you like to know a secret………

……. I like Mondays :-)

I like the feeling of a new week - the feeling of new days not yet filled with different events.

I have a lot on my to do list for this week, but I can only do one thing and one day at a time, right ? :-)

First I’ll give my bunnies some attention, and then there are something else - never a dull moment !

Hanne

Making my own Jelly Roll :-)

With dancing shoes in my fabric collection :-)

I am having fun picking out fabrics for a new quilt - made from 2,5” strips.

I am teaching a class this weekend, and I’ve got an idea I just have to look closer at :-)

Hanne

I Love Quilt books

I absolutely LOVE books about history and quilts - and this one is a gem!

Not a book with patterns, but with a lot of good photos and women history.

You know by now I love sampler quilts too - a lot of blocks, a lot of inspiration and challenges.

The Farmer’s Wife Sampler Quilt has it all - letters from days gone by, good photos, diagrams for all the blocks and a CD with all the templates for the blocks as PDF files.

My conclusion - the more quilt books the merrier :-))

Hanne

Spring WILL come again

 

A left behind Ladybug checking out the dry stalk of my hollyhock.


A violet blooming in spite of frost nights.
 
The furball having a good stretch of the legs in a ray of late autumn sun.

 
Even plants giving up to frost and autumn looks beautiful in their own way.

I am looking forward to spring again - and I know it will come - about 6 months from now…..
I do have winter tires on my car and a lot of hot tea to carry me through winter.

Hanne

Oooops - I could not help myself :-)

Christmas Mystery stitcheries are done!
I could not stop - one thread took the next, and you know how it goes then :-)

Hanne

To funny - and sometimes true…

I can not just make a decision anymore…….
I want to trust my intuition, but I am confused……
I have 4 different stomach feelings!

Progress + Christmas Mystery step 2

I still have to join the last round of blocks before this quilt top is done, but now you can see how the pattern is, almost.
In my mind it is called Shipshewana Star.
I bought the kit in Shipshewana,IN, USA, April 2008.

Yes, I am planning another Shipshewana trip before long :-)
I can not have “old” kits around the house then, can I ?

The Christmas Mystery step 2 is coming along too.
2 stitcheries, 2 frames - I could not decide which one to do first ;-)

Hanne

9na’s Christmas Mystery

9na is hosting a Christmas Mystery, and as you see, I’m participating!

I usually don’t participate in mysteries, but this one tickled my interest, both style and time wise.
It will be a small project and it will have stitchery too -  and it will go on for less than a week :-)

It can be that I will switch some of the fabrics - time will tell.

Tomorrow comes the next step in the mystery. I am very curious now!

Hanne

Block Crazy

64 blocks in the box - all the same size as a finished Dear Jane block - 5”, seam allowance included.

I just HAD to start joining the blocks too, but now I can not sew another seam on the sewing machine before tomorrow.

All these blocks in 2 days - I guess I am a crazy quilter indeed ;-)

Hanne