Happy New Year

Saying for today:

From the first day of
January to December 31.

may each day of the

NEW YEAR

be even better than

the day before!

HAPPY NEW YEAR
TO ALL MY BLOGFRIENDS

2009 reflections

Woke up this morning to -30,9C. Now it's starting to be a little bit too cold. And it is going to stay cold they say. So it is a great time to stay indoors and sew a little.

I took a look at last years reflections, and realized I still have some of the projects from that post unfinished. But thanks to OPAM I have been able to finish 33 projects this year and that feels SO good.

My goal for 2010 is to reduce the kits and started projects that is stored in this "gingerbread man box" and the white boxes on top of the shelf. I guess doing this I have plenty of projects to work on in 2010. But I have allowed myself to start on new projects too. Can't just sew on "old booring" projects.

So this means I am going to be a member of OPAM 2010. This will keep me on track finishing at least one project each month. I am not hosting OPAM 2010, but look out for a blogpost from Kris where she announce OPAM 2010.

And remember to list your december OPAM, last day to finish something tomorrow and to list your finishes. I have a december OPAM prize to give away. And I can tell you both I and Kris have some extra prizes to give away.

Hmmmmm......I also have to reduce the projects in this basket that stands on top on my bookshelf in the sewingroom.

Hanne and I have also agreed to reduce our stash of fabric. In this drawer I have "old" fabrics . I want to make a lot of "warming quilts" for donation. We have so much fun at our sewing weekends and we love giving these quilts away. And my goal for 2010 is to reduce ALL of these fabrics, which I do not know if I will manage, so I can throw away this old ugly drawer.

Another decicion is no more swaps...............Hanne, do you hear me.............NO MORE SWAPS for you and me. I rather make and send mailbox surprises during 2010. I know there is a friend of us (Bente) that does not believe us, but we will show her.

Saying for today:

Many people look forward

to the new year

for a new start on old habits.

Christmas Sewing

One of my Christmas presents was a kit for a Christmas table runner which my friend Bjørg (no blogger) had designed. I always look forward to her presents because she always makes a wonderful design as presents for her friends. Today I sewed the kit together and traced all the stitchery on it.

Saying for today:

Seven silly snowmen

Sitting side by side

Out came the sun,

And they had to hide.

Two behind the sled

Two behind the tree,

Two behind the snowbank,

And One behind me.

Author unknown

Snow

Woke up this morning to a snowstorm.

And it still are snowing outside.

It's great to stay inside and sew.

Christmas Eve we filled the car with all our presents. We were invited to celebrate together with my brothers family. Always feel so good to have my family around.

And with 10 people together there was a lot of presents to open.

And this is some of the quilty presents I got from family and friends. I got a lot of other useful presents too, like a flannel pymamas, scarfs, lotions, games and Santa dolls.

My DD had printed a lot of vintage photos on fabric.
Love them and know I will be using them in some projects.


And this is the tinyest pincushion I've ever seen :)

And a dear friend had made this rug mat for me. Love it.

We have not had time to play this game yet, but I know we'll have fun doing it.

Saying for today:

One kind word

can warm three winter months.

- japanese proverb-

SSCS

It is Christmas Eve morning and I allowed myself to open the SSCS now instead of tonight when we will be 10 people together opening gifts.

My SSCS is Debbie from Granny Goose and this is what was in my Christmas present. A small stitched bag and a little wall hanging. Thank you Debbie for being my Secret Santa.

Merry Christmas

I want to wish all my blogfriends a Merry Christmas.

I am in my sewingroom with a last minute present.

My two children have both come home for Christmas.

There is a fire burning in my fireplace,

and candles on the table.

A light snowfall outside so it is a white Christmas.

Even if my two children are grown ups now

we are all waiting for Santa to come tomorrow.

Christmas is my favorite season.

Remember to care about eachother.
Give extra hugs and a smile.

Saying for today:

My Christmas Wish For You

My Christmas wish for you, my friend
is not a simple one
For I wish you hope and joy and peace
Days filled with warmth and sun

I wish you love and friendship too
Throughout the coming year
Lots of laughter and hapiness
To fill your world with cheer

May you count your blessings, one by one
And when totaled by the lot
May you find all you been given
To be more than what you sought

May your journeys be short,your burdens light
May your spirit never grow old
May all your clouds have silver linings
and your rainbows pots of gold

I wish this all and so much more
May all your dreams come true
May your have a Merry Christmas friend
And a happy New Year too

Authour unknown

Brrrrr.......

A little bit cold today.

And I know there is other places in Norway that have it even colder than our minus 25 C.

BRRRRRRRRRRRRR........

But off to work now.

Glad I put on my car engine warmer before I went to sleep.

Saying for today:

Wherever you go,

no matter what the weather,

always bring your own sunshine.

Anthony J. D'Angelo

Some time for sewing and OPAM

The last day have been so hectic, so I was so happy I finally got some time in my sewingroom. Some last minutes christmas presents had to be made. And this is what I sewed today.....

two tea light bags. It was so fun to make them.

I have also finished three tablerunners this week, but I forgot to take a photo of them before I wrapped them. Hope I can get a photo of them later.

So this mean I have 5 OPAM finishes this month. And perhaps I manage to have a few more finishes during the christmas days.

So OPAM ladies.........this is the last month of OPAM 2009. It is amazing how many finishes we all have together so far. And I guess there will be a lot of finishes this month due to all the chrismas presents that I see are secret projects on several blogs. Remember to list your december finishes in your sidebar and send a report to me. It is my turn to give the OPAM price. But I know there will be some more prizes too. Both I and Kris have some xtra prizes to give away.

There have been several questions about us continuing this OPAM challenge, but I have decided not to be a part of a next round. I know Kris is thinking about what to do, so you have to look for her decision about this.

The december OPAM winner will be announced one of the first days in 2010.

Saying for today:

Snowmen fall from heaven

one flake at a time.

SSCS and 3rd sunday in advent

I have received the SSCS in my mailbox. Always so exciting to guess who is the secret santa. But this time we had a package to open at once and there was also a card who told it was from Debbie over at Granny Goose. It was a lovely stitchery. Thank you Debbie, I love it, and have hung it on my wall already. Found the perfect spot for it. The wrapped packaged will be opened at christmas eve together with all the other presents.

Third sunday in advent. Christmas is coming too fast this year. I have so much to do before I can relax and say it's Christmas. But I guess I will have it all finished before Christmas eve, as I always do. But have been thinking about if it is really that necessary to do everything. I guess a lot of my plans is things I do not have to do. What is most important is to enjoy Christmas together with my two children.

This is what was in my 3rd sunday in advent packages. I LOVE IT ALL. Thank you my dear friends Stina, Hanne, Bente and Nancy. I am so glad we started this wonderful advent tradition.

It feels so good sitting early in the morning opening these calender presents from you.

Saying for today:

Christmas is doing a little

something extra for someone

2nd sunday in advent

Woke up early this morning feeling great. Friday I took the svine flu vaccination and I felt bad all friday and all saturday. All my plans this weekend was put aside and I just had to relax.

But today I lighted two advent candles, made a cup of tea and enjoyed opening my four advent presents.
I feel like a child looking at the wrapped advents gifts.


And this is what was in my packages today. Thank you Bente, Stina, Nancy and Hanne. Love it all.

Frida and I have stayed almost all day in my sewingroom.

She sleeping and I sewing on some christmas presents.

Saying for today:

Twas the night before Christmas, I'm glued to the tree.
I'm wondering what Santa brought just for me.
Could it be fat quarters or a pattern or lace?
Or a quilt kit, I said, with a smile on my face.
And that's when I heard him,
"Hi Santa," I said
"You know....good little girls should be in their beds ".
"I know I should Santa, and now I've got caught.
But I was just so excited to see what you brought
"Well, let's take a look in this room where you work."
He shook his head quickly, And left with a jerk.
I heard him exclaim as he put it in gear.
"You've got enough stuff, I'll see you next year!"

author unknown

(does that mean I have to clean up in my sewingroom)

Sanger til julebord

Nå må dere bloggevenner hjelpe meg. Jeg er i julebordskomiteen på jobb (faktisk er det bare meg hehehe) og nå holder jeg på med siste inspurt til julebord på Savalen for 170 ansatte der jeg jobber. Og så var det sangene da. Jeg finner ikke igjen posen med sanger jeg har samlet i flere år. Er det noen av dere som har spart på sanger og kunne tenke seg å dele de med meg???
Alt fra Velkommen til bords, morsomme sanger underveis til Takk for maten. Håper virkelig det er noen av dere som kan bidra med noe. Da blir jeg kjempeglad. Og det haster litt for julebordet er neste torsdag.

This is only for norwegian readers. It's about me looking for fun songs for our christmasparty. And I hope norwegian bloggers can help me.

Quilters Christmasparty - part four

And now for the last part of the quilters Christmasparty.

Guess you wonder if I bought anything visiting the quiltshop friday.

Of course :)

At Lappemakeriet I found these lovely fabrics. And in another shop I found this cute cat mug. The most expensive mug I ever have bought. But when I saw it in the shelf it just shouted buy me.

And when I noticed this adorable cute sleeping cat inside the mug, my heart melted and I had to buy it. Just have to tell the children this is MY cup only.

There was some more buyings too, but they will stay as a secret in this bag for a while LOL

Quilters christmasparty - part three

Saturday evening Bentes husband made us a wonderful traditional christmasdinner with ribs of pork and ribs of sheep (both my favorites). It gave at least me a feeling of christmas and as usual I ate too much.

Enjoying a great meal like this with good friends is always wonderful. Laughing, chatting about everything and nothing, a glass of good red wine and getting in the mood for christmas.


We have a tradition with advent packages. Not one for each day counting down to christmas eve, but one for each sunday in advent. Bente is hanging her packages up on the wall ready to be opened.

And early this morning all three of us brought our advent gifts to the breakfast table.

And started to open them. Excited like small children :) I got to open the gift from Hanne and Bente.

And when I came home today, two more advent gifts from Stina and Nancy, was waiting for me.

And this is what was in my advent gifts this first sunday in advent. From Hanne a beautiful fabric and a angel to make ginger bread angels with. From Bente a cute angel stitchery with DMC thread. From Nancy a beutiful red fabric. And from Stina some lovely ribbons and red thread. Thank you so very much all of you. I love everything.


More to come.......