A quilt, a nice weekend and one advice to SSCS

When I came home from my trip to the cabin on wednesday the postman had delivered a big package for me. It was the quilt I won from Crazy Mom Quilts blog some time ago. I'm so happy to receive this. It is beutiful made and the colours is just ME. One fun thing is that when I took a good look at it, I could not find any fabric that have been in my stash. I placed it in my sewing chair and Frida jumped imidiately up in it .

Hmmmmm.....what is this.........something new???
Okei....how does it feel to lie down on it..............

Lovely..........the quilt is approved!!!!!
Thank you Amandajean.......Both Frida and I love the quilt!!

Thursday morning I woke up very early go take the bus to visit my friend Hanne. We had a great day together sewing, chatting, laughing and looking through her patterns. Like me she has a lot of stitchery ptterns. I guess we have enough projects for several (read: hundreds) of years. Here is a photo of her together with a beautiful table runner she showed me.

I've been in Oslo all weekend. Visiting my boyfriend and my DS and his girlfriend. On saturday we had a romantic dinner before going in the the theatre.

Today we went for a walk at Akershus festning (Akershus fortress)
It's in the middle of Oslo and has a great view.

The view out on Oslofjorden.

And the next photos below is from the fortress.

Today when I came home there was a BIG surprise in the mailbox. The long lost envelope from australia had arrived. Together with the new envelope from Leanne (The stitching room). Long time ago, I guess a month or so, Leanne posted a Homespun stitchery magazine for me. And that envelope got lost on it's way. I belived some nice mailman had found it and that he had confiscate the magazine because he wanted to stitch some of the projects. Meanwhile Leanne offered to post a new magazine. And today when I came home from Oslo both envelopes was in my mailbox.

On the long lost envelope it was a label saying: "Delayed for compliance with aviation security regulations". I guess the customs have confiscated the envelope because it was making such strange noises. They had opened the envelope, and they also had opened the little box of Smarties chocolate LOL Did they think it was something dangerous LOL

So one advice to all you Secret Santas who are going to post the christmaspresents very soon. To avoid any delay of the presents, be sure you do not post anything "dangerous".

So now I got two Homespun Stitchery Classics, a nice stitchery pattern and some Smarties chocolate (did the customs taste it too LOL)

ONLY FOUR WEEKS TO CHRISTMAS!!
Beter hurry up making presents now

Saying for today:

When you stop believing in Santa Claus

you get underwear for Christmas

Fairy name

Your fairy is called Columbine Goblinshimmer

She is a bringer of riches and wealth.

She lives in mushroom fields and quiet meadows.

She is only seen when the first flowers begin to blossom.

She wears lilac and purple like columbine flowers.

She has gentle green wings like a butterfly.

Get your free fairy name here!

(I could not find a photo of my fairy, but this was almost similar to what my fairy looks like)

Pyjamas and quilting.

Sunday morning I packed my bags, sewingmachine and chocolate in the car and drove up to my friend Irenes cabin. My boyfriend asked if I were moving. He thought I had packed too many bags LOL But when you are going away for several days just sewing, you have to have enough projects with you (read: too many projects).

We did not only sew these days. Had to get some fresh air too. As you see we recently got some snow and the air was fresh and cold. So nice to go for a little walk with the dog.

Look how beautiful the nature is when it is covered with snow.
After a long walk it was nice to come inside and sit by the fire.

It's no water in the cabin and we had to go and get it in a well.

But the cabin had electricity so we had brought our sewingmachines and a lot of flannel fabrics which we intended to sew a slumber quilt of. We had already rotarycut all the fabric so everything was ready to sew.

Not so much working space so we had to use the beds to plan the hexagons.
Here is Irene working on her quilt

and here is my hexagons.

We have used the Sara Nephew Clearview Triangle to cut the pieces for this hexagons. And we sew the pices together row by row. It was fast and fun to sew it. I was thinking a little about showing how we did this as a tutorial. Do anyone want me to do that??This is how far we manage to sew this slumberquilt. I think I want to add a few more rows, but we had no more fabric at the cabin. Every piece we had was used. The colours on this photo is sooooo bad, but you can see the colours in another photo above. Have not decided yet what colour to have around the quilt, but I'm thinking about a green florish or perhaps the dark red one...........or perhaps both.

I always bring a little project we can do together. This time it was a little wool etui. The pattern was in the nov/dec issue of Quiltmaker. I had no "real" felted wool but this was a ok substitute. We started almost at midnight when we had decided to go to sleep. I seem to have a habit starting on new projects when I'm supposed to go to sleep (I guess you have read that in a previous post too LOL) But this one was a fun and fast project to make.

And here is mine (to the right) and Irenes (to the left) .

And this is how they look unfolded

And this is how they look inside.

We had some great sewingdays together. Staying up late sewing and playing cards games. Some redwine in front of the fireplace. Waking up in the morning and more sewing in our pyjamas. The pyjamas stayed on long time, but we changed to dinner LOL

Saying for today:

A friend is someone you can trade
secrets with and never worry.

Secret Santa

Dear Secret Santa

I like that the present from you will be a surprise until I open it. I guess I will know who sendt it to me when I see the labels on the envelope, so please keep the photo for yourself until I have opened it. THANK YOU :) I will open it on christmas eve (24th).

I got a comment from Julianna and I do as she says. If my santa wraps the present in nice paper I can open the envelope with my eyes closes and throw it away and during the waitingtime I can look at the present not knowing who sendt it to me!!!! But I'll post when it arrives so you know it have safely been delivered through my chimney.

Mystery quilt part 2

Today came clue # 2 ( in norwegian here) in this years mystery quilt. Merete is the one who have designed this for us. She have done this several years now . You can find earlier mysteryprojects from her here. I think I have made all of them. And most of them have become beautiful table runners, so perhaps this years mystery will be one too??? Who knows yet.

As you see I now have added more around the three first blocks

and I have made three new blocks. Next clue will come on wednesday.
Not a saying today, instead I give you a poem I found on the net. I think a lot of you will recongnize yourself in this:

Disappearing Act

Where do all my pins disappear to?

I've picked up all the ones off the floor.

But when I put them back into their box,

It looked as though there ought to be more.

What became of the needle I had in my hand

When I picked up the spool to thread it?

It seems to have vanished into thin air,

But that explanation I can't credit.

How does my thimble disappear

From the basket where it was laid?

I haven't heard it rolling 'round on the floor

As it did when the cats with it played.

What did I do with that fabric I need

That I had just an hour ago?

I put it away, but in what place?

It's somewhere that it doesn't show.

The magazine with the pattern I liked

Was right on top of that pile.
I guess it's sunk, but how far down

In such a little while?

I know that book went back on its shelf

And should be with books of its kind.

But I just can't find it, though I've looked five times.

Can it be that I'm going blind?

It's a very good thing that my sewing machine

Is something that's too big to hide.

Not being able to find something as big as that

Would really humble my pride!

I don't know why things I know that I had

Disappear when I put them away.

I find it annoying but I very much fear

It's a problem that's here to stay.

(Author: unknown)

Mystery Quilt

Last night when I was supposed to go to bed I just went into my sewingroom to turn of the lights and see if my iron was not on. I was soooooo tired and just wanted to sleep. But in my head was a mystery project spinning. And I thought maybe I just should find some fabrics to use. It was this mysteryproject (here it is in Norwegian) that was so tempting to do. But when I had found the fabrics I started to rotarycut the first block, and suddenly I had sewed them together. Next I was doing the applique. And finished the yellow dots today. The photo is showing so wrong colours, hope the next will be better. So now I'm waiting for the next part that comes tomorrow. I do not know what it will be, but cirkles have always been nice shapes for me, that's why I started on this one. If I have chosen the right colours..........who knows.

Saying for today:
Do not stress.

It's worth it

It's worth blogging when you meet someone at the quiltshop telling you that she visits my blog very often and she loves reading what I blog. And then she tells me that she get lost in all the links I have on my sidebar. So today I have updated my sidbare with places I like to visit, and I have made a list of scandinavian bloggers. And still I have more blogs on my bloglines to add, and I discover new blogs very often.

Blogging is fun and I want to have a blog that can inspire others with the love of quilting. I do not want my blog to be too private. I have subscribed on some blogs on bloglines that have become too private in their blogging, sorry but I do not want to know all about you. I hope you not will be mad at me now, but that's my opinion. I want to visit blogs that inspire me with tutorials, laughter, joy, humor and of course QUILTING. I love to see photos of quilting, how you decorate for christmas, the place you live, animals, events aso But don't make your postings too private..............you know what I mean. And I love receiveing comments on my posts, sorry that still many of you have "no reply".

Yesterday morning I heard a noice at the porch. Thought it was a cat or a dog that visited, but when I opened the door, this was laying by my front door. A big package. It had been our kind postman running up the stairs and delivered this to me. But he did not rang the doorbell LOL

I rushed inside and opened it. It was from my good friend Nancy in Grimstad. A late birthdaypresent for me. She intended to visit me and join Leannes class in Trysil, but she got sick and now she had posted my present for me.

Look at this beautiful drawstringbag she had made for me.

And inside the bag it was my favorite cup, some chocolat (only three on the photo because the rest is alredy eaten LOL) Look at the cat she have appliqued on the front, similar to the cat at the cup. She knew I had broken the cup I bought on my summerholiday. That cup had become my favorite cup and I was so sad when I smashed it. Now I have a new one. The bag is ment to protect the cup when I'm bringing it to quiltmeetings. But I think this new cup will stay home and the old cup with the missing handle will go in the bag then.

Jeanette, May Kristin and Luisa is the three ladies that will receive PIF from me. If anyone wants to participate so perhaps they have a place left for you to join.........so hurry over to them.

Saying for today:

There's enough warmth in a friend's hug
to warm up the coldest day

(PS: minus 15 this morning......Brrrrrrrrrrr)

Pay it forward

I've seen this "Pay it forward" on so many blogs but I have not signed up before, until now. I decided THIS time I will do it. So when I visited Helen's Hugs , the lady who is designing the lovely stitcheries Hugs and Kisses (And I love those stitcheries !!) I decided THIS time or never

It’s the Pay It Forward Exchange. It’s based of the concept of the movie “Pay it Forward” where acts or deeds of kindness are done without expecting something in return, just passing it on, with hope that the recipients of the acts of kindness are passed on. You all know I’m already a PIF type of person. So here’s how it works. I will make and send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I do not know what that gift will be yet, and it won’t be sent this month, probably not next month, but it will be sent (within 6 months) and that’s a promise! What YOU have to do in return, then, is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

Saying for today: I just love these drawings of Heidi Satterberg

Cold weekend

This has been the coldest weekend so far. Woke up to minus 12 this morning. And today it has been snowing a little bit. I'm so glad I have my woodburner. It's so nice and cosy to look at the fire while having a cup of warm tea when it's so cold outside.

I got some surprises in the mail saturday. First I got a pattern from Wildcraft farm which I won several months ago. It's a kit to make a card.

Next was this cute pumpkin pattern from Crab apple Hill. It was Carole who had sendt me this surprise. How fun. I really want to make this as this will be my first pumpkin ever LOL Want to make this pillow.

And then it was these cosy knitted slippers from Wenche. They are so cute. I'm already wearing them :)

Thank you all three for these lovely surprises.

I have been sewing today. I'm in Donna's Secret Santa Christmas Swap and decided to finish my present for ********* (I won't tell you LOL) I've made this sewing bag which I will fill with some goodies. I hope she will like it and use it. Anyone who wants this?????And a quilter always need a pincushion so I made her one matching the sewing bag. The pincushion was so fun and easy to make so I did not stop making just one............. I made 8 pincushions. It is alwas good to have something extra in my give away box. And christmas i approaching very fast.

I had a nice chat with Nadine on msn today and we had a little sewing together. We live so far from eachother but this was like having a visit from her already. Can't wait until she is here for real. We are going to have so much fun in february.

Saying for today:

Sewing together with msn

Today me, Hanne, Nancy, Sigrun and Sølvi have had a "get together and sew" on msn. We live so far from eachother so we can't just meet and sew together. We started yesterday and continued today. We met at msn and had a good chat and told eachother what we intended to do today. Then we set a time when we should meet at msn again to tell the progress in our projects.

I started to make these makeup purses yesterday. And today I finished them. It's a Tilda pattern and I have made many of these earlier. So easy to do the zipper in this. I will find some cute buttons and add them onto the heart later.

Next projects was hearts. Last year I embroidered a lot of small stitcheries which I ment to use in these hearts, but time went to fast and I did not manage to make them. I found the pieces today and now I wanted to make them. So I have finished one heart.....................
and prepared for six more. I will add buttons, laces and beads on them when they are finished.

and when you have worked two days on the sewingroom, all is a mess. I do not dare to show you the rest of the room, that's a complete mess LOL

My next report on the msn with the others are at 22:00, until then I will relax with this little stitchery. In english it says "relax, christmas will come regardless" (this was tricky to translate, but I hope you understand the meaning)

Saying for today:

Why do you craft and some sewing today

I have been tagged by Anne Heidi to answer a few crafty questions.

The rules are: Answer the following on your blog and then let five other bloggers know that you have tagged them to complete the meme.

1. When did you start to create and make craft?

I think I have createt things since I was a little child. Remember (or perhaps I rememeber because someone told me) when I was about 4-5 years old. I sat under my mom's sewingtable when she was sewing. I too wanted to sew and I found a beautiful fabric, white with red dots on, and I started to cut in it. I don't think my mom was so happy when she discovered it. It was her newest unused blouse I had found LOL

I have always loved making things. When I was i school I always brought my knitting with me. I have no idea how many sweathers I have knitted through boring schoolhours.

But my love for quilting started in 1997 when I moved "home". I discovered the local quiltshop and took a class in handstitching and handquilting. And from that time I was hooked on fabric, batting, colours, shapes, patterns aso.

2. Why did you start creating?

Bedause I love playing with fabric, colours and patterns.

3. Why do you create?

Can't imagine myself one day without anything to create. Now when my shoulder is hurting and I have to take it slow, I am so restless. I WANT TO CREATE!!!!

4. What do you create?

QUILTING QUILTING QUILTING

but I want to start to knit again when my arm is healed. And perhaps some chrochet. Or perhaps finish all my cross stitch projects that's hidden in the attic.

5. Has this changed since you began crafting?

I guess nothing has changed since I'm very clever at starting new projects over and over again.

But one thing is for sure that when I started quilting I got so many new friends. Even more friends when I started blogging.

And now I would like to tag Libby, Donna, Nadine, Leanne (The stitching Room) and Laila. I hope you all will do this little game, if not that's ok too.

Look what a got from my good friend Anita (who has done very little blogging lately, hope she gets her creativity back soon). A beautiful card......is it me LOL and this package of.......

100 pieces of 5x5 inches Fossil Fern fabrics from Bernatex. A delayed birthdaygift, thanks Anita!!!! I was thinking of going for a long walk today in the sun, but the roads were so icy so I did not dare to do it. I almost fell on my back when I went to the mailbox. So I stayed indoors and did a little sewing. My shoulder is a bit groumphy today so I decided to use the sewingmachine. Perhaps start making some christmaspresents.

So this is what I made. Two small purses with a click lock (do you call it that???) You just press the two sides against eachother and click......it opens. I want to make more of these, but I have to find a place that sells the click lock. No shop here in Elverum have them.

Saying for today:

There is nothing so nice as a cheerful word

Back to normal days

I'm almost back to normal days after Leanne left Trysil and went back home to Australia. We had such great fun together. But everything comes to an end and we have to get back to normal. But we have all these memories and photos to look at. And so many ideas !!!

Today it was a bit cold outside.............inside the house also............so I made a fire in my fireplace. And I bought a new box to have all the wood in. I love when I can make a cup of warm tea and sit in front of the fire and just relax. We had a little bit of snow today too, but it's all gone now
I have done a little bit more on my Friendship basket which I started on the wednesday class with Leanne. I love this one. I have appliqued the basket and all the flowers and done the stitchery around the basket. I have chosen to have a lot of sayings around the border. That's because I love sayings and always have one at the end of my posts.

The first one is saying: Flowers are the stars of heaven. You have to wait and see what the sayings on the other sides are later.

And guess what I've bought. I had to have one of those Jelly Rolls too.

What to make of it................no idea!!

Well............my first idea was to make a hexagone quilt of it but then I've bought all these flanell fabrics for that project ..........so I have to think about it........... for a while............. LOL

Saying for today:

One quilt project, like one cookie, is never enough!