A pleasant task

I have had this on my to do list for a long time - cleaning the thimble display and thimbles.
Today was the day.
DH took the shelf down from the wall and all that was in it was picked out.

This is an antique printers drawer and I had to be careful not to make it wet - if not, I could have rinsed it in the garden with the hose. Very tempting  ;-)

Some knick knack without sentimental value got sorted out and tossed, and the rest went back on the shelf.

Thimble count is 156 on the shelf + one on my mobile phone :-)

We are having the warmest days in nearly 30 years - about 30 C during the days for more than a week.

 

Nothing is like a serving of strawberries, sugar and cream on a warm day :-)

Hanne

Some happy, sunny, busy days - part 3

Thursday we went shopping again !!

First a baby shop with ecological clothes and yarn.
Elin is expecting a grandchild :-)

Next to the baby shop is a yarn shop I have not visited for 20 years.
They are very well stocked in embroidery floss too, so I will be back :-)

They carry all the DMC variegated embroidery floss, as well as linen floss and some pearl cotton :-)

After that we went to Kathrines Quilte Stue downtown Oslo.
Elin looks happy :-)

    

 

I could not pass a few temptations here either, but by now, I feel all shopped out ;-)

A cute little hen ornament from a bargain box.
30 cm fabric, some embroidery floss, a stitchery pattern and a packet of Bronwyn Hayes quilt labels.

         **************

Elin went home on Friday morning, by bus.
She is a lovely lady and a very pleasant person to spend time with, so I hope she will be back before to long  :-)

Hanne

Some happy, sunny, busy days - part 2

After Quiltefryd we headed north again, driving some of the way on the smaller roads instead of the big main road, to enjoy some scenic views.

We had a late lunch date with Anne Ida, at Pannekakehuset ( Pancake House)

Elin showing her quilt in progress before we dug into the pancakes :-)

After a lovely meal we visited the summer exhibition connected to Lappemakeriet. This summer the exhibition is situated at the oven museum nearby.
The name of this summer’s exhibition is Tepper & tøy (quilts and clothes)

Here are some impressions.
I am sorry that my camera was about to cave in to the heath, so all the photos are not very sharp, as the battery was blinking red for flat all the time.

My favourite:
   

 

   

Quilts and old cast iron ovens are a good combination :-)

  

Yes, I have a soft spot for the Le Moyne star, as you know. This beauty is on display outside Lappemakeriet, my favourite shop.
After this photo the battery gave up completely.

After coming home we enjoyed sitting outdoors.

Nearly midnight, 11 pm - and we are not in midnight sun area.
The sun is gone only 4 hours in the middle of the night around mid summer.
You can see the moon in the middle of the photo, just about touching the trees.

  

What I bought at Lappemakeriet:
A box of winter cards, a pattern and a cute pig hanger from the 70 % off bargain table outdoors.
2 x 30 cm pieces of fabrics and 1 meter of ultra thin iron on  batting for stitchery.

Hanne

Some happy, sunny, busy days - part 1

Last week I invited Elin to come and stay at my house for a couple of days, and she came this Wednesday morning.

I had a quilt safari planned, and she had not been at my house for more than a couple of hours in the early morning before the safari started.
Elin had travelled the whole night by bus already, so she is a tough lady :-)

90 minutes later we were at Quiltefryd ( Quilt Joy ) ready and eager to shop :-)

      
Here is the pattern area - with a nice comfy chair to sit down in, to enjoy the goods.

Åsne, shop owner, is helping Elin with picking borders for a quilt.

Here is a view from the pattern area.

Åsne is well stocked on thread, embroidery floss and gadgets too.
 
Some of the patterns on display.

Here is the same quilt I am working on, in Japanese fabrics. It hangs in the classroom downstairs, where the fabrics on sale also are kept.

Another beauty from the same room downstairs.

Here is what I bought:

2 x 1/2 meter cuts of CW repro fabrics on half price sale + the booklet from the bargain box.
2 pieces of red fabrics - 50 cm + 30 cm + some embroidery needles.

Hanne

One project a month challenge

I am working on so many big projects right now so the finish tally is really low.
This is my one and only June finish - Noah’s Ark  BOM, designed by Lynette Anderson.

Still aiming at at least one finish a month through the year :-)

Hanne

Heath wave stitchery

 

It is to hot for machine sewing, + 30 degrees C in the shade and no AC in our one storey house, but it is still good for stitchery - isn’t it always ? :-)

I brought this stitchery on the trip on Saturday and it is done now.

I dedicate this block to a special friend who is going through a very very rough patch right now.
I had her in my mind all Saturday.
She is like a sunflower - shining bright on all who knows her, growing in little soil.
The bunnies fits the metaphors too - we are all hoping for a new spring for you dear friend !

I finished another block for this quilt yesterday. You have seen  the stitchery before, and the saying still goes :-)

Hanne

Saturday day trip

On Saturday DH and I went to Hvaler, a 2 hours drive south from where we live, to visit DH’s aunt.
Hvaler is a cluster of small islands, now connected to the main land by bridges and an underwater tunnel.

This is DH’s summer paradise - the house where his mother grew up and his aunt is now spending the summer months.

This is an old farm that has been in the family at least 4 generations.

Here you see a corner of the barn, where the outhouse also is situated.

We got wonderful food - here DH is carrying warm bread rolls and fresh coffee.

The property is filled with lovely flowers - DH’s aunt has green fingers indeed !

 

The air was filled with the lovely scent of jasmine - reminds me of my young years and my favourite soap from back then.

The old house, the barn, the flowers, the sun and the lovely day - beautiful.

Not to forget - stitching in the sun !
Never leave home without some handwork  in the tote :-)

Hanne

Inspiration and bargains

 
This is why I went shopping on Tuesday - to find fabrics for my basket quilt - and the fabrics I found was Perfect, no less :-)

I am not working on this quilt now when the weather is hot. If you live in Norway you know we just have to spend time outdoors when the weather allows - you never know if the days of sun and heath will last for more than a few days at a time.
I am sitting outdoors with my laptop, audiobooks and stitchery - life is good :-)

You know I have a very very very soft spot for Lappemakeriet’s BOMs and now I caved in to the last one  ;-)
It is very soon out of stock.
The blocks I can easily do myself, as all the blocks are in EQ6, but the fabric selections - they are lovely - I say no more :-)
I do also enjoy the regular envelopes in my mailbox, eager to see what fabrics I will get each month.

You can see this BOM quilt up on the wall in the class room in the previous post.
I can resist all but temptations - or something like that ;-))
DH thought I deserved this one too - he is a keeper indeed !

From the bargain table - a half quilt hoop, very suitable for hand quilting outer borders, and a cat note pad - both 70 % off.
Can you see how the cat look like our cat ?

Talking about the cat - she is neurotic today, just running in for quick meals and running out again.
No chance for a cuddle today.
I think she thinks she has to go to DD1’s soon, as usual, and there she can not enjoy the lovely outdoors.
I guess she will calm down again in a few days.


Only long distance photos allowed today - keep your distance please! I’ll run faster than you!

Hanne

A wonderful Tuesday

 
On Tuesday I needed to shop for the basket quilt I am working on, an there is no better day to go to Lappemakeriet than Tuesdays, for Kaffelappen - Coffee Patch, between 11 am and 2 pm.
There one can enjoy the shop, meet like minded people and have coffee and cake - and if time allows, bring hand work.

Lappemakeriet moved in to new locations, 3 houses down the road, this weekend, and now all is on one floor.
The coffee room / class room is lovely and I am looking forward to spend time there, both as teacher and as student.
The 4 photos above is from the  class room.

On the walls you can see the 3 ongoing BOMs in the shop - lovely, right ? :-)


The chocolate cake Anne-Kjersti had baked to celebrate the first Coffee Patch in the new shop was gorgeous - the chocolate cream so smooth and tasty……….. yummy :-)

Here are some impressions from the shop:

Torunn’s lovely vintage tea towel turned into a beautiful quilt :-)

 

Randi at the cutting table

The shop is light and fresh and very well organized - full of temptations of all kinds. 

     
Everything was displayed in a very pleasant way.

Even the restroom was decorated in a lovely way:
  
Outside the front door was no exception - temptations and eye candy galore:
 
A bargain table too, outdoors in the sun:
 

My purchases and bargains will be presented in the next post :-)

Hanne

An award and a big Thank You!

What a lovely award - thank you very very much, Merete, Sheila, Sjoko, Jofrid, Steinkjerringa.

I am supposed to pick 5 new award winners, but I get stalled in the picking out, since I think there are so many wonderful blogs out there.

I want to give this award to all the lovely bloggers - for the daily inspiration you bring and the lovely comments you give.

I also want to give this award to all my readers - to all of you that I have met on- and offline, and to all of you I have not met (yet ?).

I will also give this award to all who comments to me in person that you read my blog.

And not to forget - to the blog readers anonymous - I hope I can continue to bring you inspiration :-)

To all of you, a wonderful day - may the roses brighten your day too !

Hanne

Cat sleeping 101

You need:
1 cat
1 couch
1 quilt
1 cushion

You get:
A lot of cat acrobatics and a lovely time with a camera :-)

The furball, aka beloved grand-cat, now has permanent recidence at our house - she just does not know it yet - I think.........or maybe she does :-)

Catching up

 

Yes indeed - I have some serious catching up to do !

The last week has been very busy.
I have a special someone in my life,with special needs, who has needed some special care lately.
I can do that, but I can not do more than one thing at a time (sometimes), and this time life interfered with quilting big time.

Anyway - it is how it is - and one can only do what is needed in the puzzle called life.
You know my motto:
One has all to gain to accept reality as it is !
I can do that ! :-)

When I have a lot on my plate I prefer hand sewing to machine sewing, so the basket blocks have come to an halt, more or less.
I have added a some hexagon flowers to the pile though, so soon I am half way through the background flowers :-)

I am wrapping myself in a quilt early in the morning, reading blogs and enjoy a cup of tea and some threads of stitchery.


This is block # 8 of Summer Frolics by The Birdhouse.
A good saying, if you ask me :-)

I will still be working on the catching up - stay tuned :-)

Hanne

When the postman brings you scraps………..

- you know that someone out there is giving you a long distance scrappy hug !
A repro fabrics scrappy hug!
Inspiration vitamins!
CW fabrics sunshine :-)

This special someone is making my heart sing - thank you, thank you, thank you ! :-)

Hanne

I think my quilt math is totally off again …. ;-))

I have more than one math skilled quilting friend that will tell me that my quilt math is totally off again :-))

An average of 2 basket quilt blocks a day and the same for the hexagons, from Monday to Saturday, should not give me 2 basket quilt blocks and 16 hand sewn hexagons should it ??

If the hexagons gives you the impression of me being a bit carried away, you are absolutely right :-))

Life has been in the front seat here this week,
and it is very relaxing to hand piece hexagons and listen to audio books in the early morning hours :-)

Hanne

I have a plan :-)

Sometimes the best laid plans can disappear in thin air, but sometimes a realistic plan is what I need :-)

For this week and (probably the next one too), I pick these 3 projects:

One big for hand work - the hexagons
One big for machine work - the basket quilt you see a small glimpse of on paper
One small project for a quick finish - the Noah’s Ark miniature lacking binding.

The progression plan for the next 7 days is as follows:

An average of 2 finished hexagon flowers every day through the week, and if possible do some joining as I go.

An average of 2 basket blocks  a day for the quilt.

Finish the binding on the small quilt.
When the binding is done I am allowed to add another small projecxt to the selection of 3  :-)

To work oh bold quilter !

Hanne

Hexagons enjoyed

It is very nice to do a project simultaneously with friends :-)

Bente and I are both working on Lappemakeriet’s BOM.
Bente is doing English paper piecing on her main project, and hand sewing on the line  on a mirror imaged version.

Here is her first 2 rows, joined yesterday.

Here is a sneak peak of a pile of her finished hexagons  and her neatly organized sewing kit :-)

Here is a glimpse of my  hexagons :-)

I think I will start joining row 1 today, in a minute.

My math for  the full quilt in an earlier post is totally off - it is a long time since I had math in school - and I did not count several of the joiner hexagons and edge half hexagons - hehehe

However - I am a long way from finished anyway, and I am enjoying every stitch :-))

Hanne

After the safari -

- it was time to enjoy and admire the catches :-)

From Quilteglede -
fabrics for an ongoing project, 1 pattern full price - Gail Pan’s design, which I have been on the lookout for for ever so long :-)
+ 4 patterns from the bargain box.
A very cool box for keeping my thread in one place (note to top hole) and a new and very improved white marker with refills.

From Fabrikkutsalget -
some fabrics for the before mentioned ongoing project, some fabrics for a new project and a roll of Japanese fabric, just because :-)
Another beautiful “aged” box and a yellow and bright challenge packet.
This yellow fabrics is to be used in a challenge product, deadline in 2 months.
I do have an idea, in fact I have 2, at least :-))

From Quilteliv -
another 4 fabrics for the ongoing project, a Lynette Anderson pattern I regret I did not buy on sale in another shop 6 months ago - and  now it was not on sale anywhere…..
- and a pile of bargain fabrics to your right :-)
Isn’t it strange how some patterns just will not leave your mind in peace ? It was a just-got-to-have-it pattern……

All the purchases and photos were  supervised  with great expertise by Frida, the local quilt inspector.
Frida has very good skills in quilt and fabric inspection, living in May Britt’s household.
Purr purr to you, little one :-)

Hanne

Check the cakes on the upper left! In real life they are very fragile - soft marang and chocolate covering. We lifted these candles as if they were as fragile as the real thing. They are calorie free at least ;-)

Also check the the man candle - aka beer glass and the pebble table runner too :-)

We ended the day by going to Løiten Lys (Løiten Candles) - a factory outlet for candles. The displays are lovely!

Quilt Safari

3 friends + 1 car + a list of quilt shops = Great Fun!

Day 1

Quilteglede - Quilt Pleasure - Elverum  :-)

I’ve got you on camera too, May Britt!

Day 2 - Fabrikkutsalget - Brumunddal

May Britt  outside the shop on one side - and here is the other side:

The Welcome banner is very cool :-)

The shop is filled with all kinds of goodies !

 
Fabrics in every colour and a lot of qualities, batiks, homespuns, novelty prints, Japanese and all.

 
A lot of models around the shop - inspiration galore !!

 

I even met an old friend, from 30 years back !!  Gerd Berit works in the shop, and her smile is as bright as back then.
Meeting you brightened an already bright day more :-)

I am looking forward to meet you again - hopefully before long !

Next - Quilteliv in Moelv

The shop is located in the oldest house in Moelv, with a very cool retro shop in the basement, with furniture from the 40s, 50s and 60s :-)

Bente (no blog) with a lot of wonderful fabrics in her arms!

The old house, combined with old furniture and plants compliments the modern models and fabrics very well.

All the 3 shops are great, with their own special style and selection!
We got excellent service everywhere and we had a great time !

Did I mention all the Vitamin Q ???

Hanne

This & That

It has been a busy week, and I am looking forward to the weekend :-)

This cute little stitchery I sent as a birthday gift to a friend last weekend, together with a small book and some candies  :-)
The design is from Annie Downs, Hatched and Patched, and the frame is from Ikea.

When I have a lot on my plate I still enjoy my morning thread(s) with my early morning tea, and you all know how these threads add up!
Before you know it, something is finished :-)

This Christmas stocking stitchery I started when going to Gothenburg for NQT in May.
I will finish it as I stitched it, one thread at a time, through next week maybe ?

I am prepping hexagons for the weekend, and I can see that I will be busy for a while, doing 54 filler flowers in this colour combination.
Remember the BOM I am working on ?

I am sure I will keep busy through the summer with these + the focus flowers.
54 filler flowers + 40 focus flowers = 94 flowers x 7 hexagons = 658 hexagons.

I know I can not commit myself to do one flower a day, but I can commit myself to enjoy the process and do one thread at a time. Not bad at all :-)

Hanne

Sunday - Kaleidoscope

Here are some of the lovely kaleidoscope blocks joined :-)

Berit and her lovely table runner :-)

Here are some of the purses from André’s class.
André was still busy in his classroom with last minute overtime teaching - smiling as always :-)


Some of my students :-)


Some work from Ann’s class.

It was a lovely and busy weekend.

I did not have time to visit any of the 2 classes, so I am glad there were a Show & Tell after the classes closed, so we all had a chance to enjoy what was being accomplished through the weekend :-)

Greetings to all my students - you guys are The Best, and I hope to meet you all again before long :-)

Hanne

More Kaleido fun :-)

Kaleidoscope is not the easiest block, but all my students did very well, in my not so humble opinion :-)

Saturday - Kaleidoscope in the making

Everyone was keeping busy through Saturday - 10 am - 5 pm, just interupted by a delicious lunch.
All my 10 students were giving their best and all made lovely blocks, with different colour combinations.

Friday class

The classes started on Friday night, 7 pm - 9 pm and all my 10 students were busy setting up their work spaces and start cutting.

 

 

Linnéa and Olaug were working late to get as much prepped for the next day as possible.

Look at these beautiful floor tiles in the basement living room, where I had my class.
The whole room have a maritime theme.

Hanne

Kragerø / Broderibua weekend

Kragerø district is so beautiful!

The quilt shop Broderibua is situated in Anne Berit’s garden and the garden and the house is down by the sea.

45 people, including the 3 teachers, attended the weekend quilt retreat, from Friday to Sunday, and we were served the most delicious meals through the whole weekend.
When not in the classrooms we were in 2 party tents in the garden.

We had the most wonderful weather on Sunday, but experienced rather cold weather both Friday and Saturday.

Broderibua’s owner, Anne Berit, is a gorgeous lady, doing everything to make us feel comfortable at Saturday night dinner.

First we got the most delicious home made fish soup, and after we got shrimps on very good bread.
As dessert is was home made cheese cake and coffee.

This is my next door room mate and co-teacher Ann.

Here she is telling the most funny story about how she was not prepared for cold days here in the south, and how she had packed only light summer clothes, and now had put them all on to keep warm - bath suit included - and now was NOT looking forward to go to the bathroom. I am still laughing out loud thinking about her story.

Ann and I shared a guest house and we had a good time together. She is a lovely person !

Ellen and Ann was keeping warm after all :-)

Check Elisabeth’s cute wine box :-)
Vinity Case - just suitable for a lady.

Hanne

A fabulous weekend

- and the last teaching for this season.

I was invited to teach in Kragerø, at Broderibua, and the topic was Kaleidoscope.

Friday morning the car was loaded with luggage and class models, and I was driving south quite early in the day.
I had a break and a stop about half way there, and I guess you are not surprised I combined the stop with a quilt shop experience :-)

Here is some glimpses from Quiltefryd (Quilt Joy) :-)

I met my friend Lena Karen at the door when I was ready to leave, so I had to take a retour of some of the fabrics with her :-)

Lena Karen was on a day trip with her quilt group.


I don’t need to tell you that I have a super soft spot for CW repros and Japanese fabrics, do I ?

In the embroidery department one can sit down and enjoy the patterns and all.

What I bought?

The fabrics are for a new quilt that I have drawn in EQ6 - stay tuned for that one :-)
The patterns are just for enjoying !

I am adding Quiltefryd to my list of Norwegian favourite quilt shops and will be back, even if it is quite a long drive from my home.

Hanne

Sliding under the rope

This morning I realised that I had no finishes in May.
I could not have a month without a single finish !!
My goal for 2009 is to have at least 1 finish a month.
May has been a busy month, in many ways, and the days has been flying!

I finished the redwork for this one months ago, and I have been on the lookout for the right fabric to frame it, as I want it to hang below my other Leanne’s House stitchery, on a very narrow wall.

Now it is ready to be hung on the wall and I have a May finish :-)

PS.
At the bottom of my small garden are green grass and a hedge of lilacs in full bloom. I just had to change the dark photo from last night, taken indoors, with this one :-)

Hanne

Lovely snail mail

My friend Caroline (no blog) visited Shipshewana, IN, in April, and she had a little shopping list from me :-)

This fabric sure has travelled - from USA, to Belgium, to Poland, to Germany, to end its journey here today.

Both Caroline and Brigitte had added some extra goodies - a very cute angel, a cool button and a lovely thimble for my collection.

The thimble is already up on the wall with the other thimbles, being my first Polish thimble,
and the cute angel is up with the stuffed hearts right by my computer, to be recognized every morning at morning tea time :-)

 
Thank you, both of you, for your time and effort to bring these goodies to me !!

Hanne

An early summer day :-)

When the sun appears everyone is coming outdoors around here.
We are having the most wonderful weather!
Living as far north as we do, one thing is sure - we have to enjoy it when it is here,
not waiting for another day -
as on another day, it will be cold again.
The air smells wonderful from the new lilacs - life is good !

From my heart to someone special’s heart

This Dear Jane Triangle has started the long journey across the big pond today.

I have left a 1/2” seam allowance around the edges so the recipient can cut it to size with her own ruler.

Hanne

Quilt Pink blocks ready for the envelope

I have enjoyed doing these stitchery blocks out in the sun today, and my nose looks like a rabbit nose, or maybe cat nose, with a touch of pink :-)

As you might remember I bought these kits last weekend, and now they are ready to go home to Denmark and www.quiltpink.dk, to benefit the fight against breast cancer.

In the fight against cancer we can all make a small difference!

Hanne

More goodies :-)

From Quiltegaarden - all but 1 piece of fabric also mentioned in an earlier post :-)
I am eager to start the bunny quilt!


2 lovely book finds in the old part of town, in a very crammed and lovely antique book shop :-)

A Japanese book from a Finish shop. Both languages not understandable to me ;-)
Finish is sooooo different from the other Nordic languages, in every way. They are more related to Russian Hungarian language wise. (Thanks for the info Riikka)
The other Nordic languages are related to German.


The last of the goodies, using my last Swedish money. I forgot to add some quilt needles to the pile - I guess you can picture them in your mind :-)

I did not buy much fabrics, but as you know I have a soft spot for books.
I am very happy with all my new goods and are looking forward to use and enjoy them!

I kept my budget - in fact I have money left too :-)

The bus trip home was more relaxed, all being tired from 4 days of hectic fun :-)

Eva makes the most lovely drawstring bags with hexagons.

Now we have to start saving for the next Nordic Quilt Convention in Aalborg, Denmark in 2012 !

Hanne

A very good cause

 

These ladies from Denmark had a stand for breast cancer quilts, selling small kits for blocks and beautiful bracelets, all income benefiting the cause.

I bought some block kits that I will finish and send to them in Denmark so they can put the blocks into quilts.
A lovely bracelet also made it home with me :-) 

See some of their work here. The quilts are for sale for the breast cancer work.

Hanne

A Danish favourite

This shop got the best part of my shopping money :-)

Quilt My Design has the loveliest patterns and kits - and I don’t usually care for kits at all !!!
They had all their patterns without fabrics too, so I bought a little of both - 3 kits, 3 patterns only, 3 fabric packs and 5 small pieces - less than fat quarters (nearly fat eights). All fabrics are Japanese.

Linette (to the left) also gave out small name tag kits for every purchase, like the one she is wearing.
I got a pile - I say no more :-))
On Sunday they laughed when they saw me - hehehehe
I think I will use the houses for a small quilt or something.

This is a web shop only - go visit and enjoy :-)

www.quiltmydesign.dk

I am looking forward to meet you again, online!

Hanne

Shopping

Let me show you more from the shopping area.
The Danish shops did not want any photos taken, so I will show you my 2 favourite shops from Norway - Lappemakeriet and Quiltegaarden :-)

Lappemakeriet :

  

 

Trine (one of the owners) hand piecing right before the closing on Sunday afternoon. I do not have a photo of  Anne Kjersti - maybe she is happy about that ? ;-)
Being on your feet through 3 days straight, in a crowd beyond belief should earn you both medals !!
I am so happy this is my “local” shop and I am sure the photos tells you why :-)

Quiltegaarden:

 
Sølvi ( to the left) and Siw - working hard under not so good conditions.
   

I was not able to take photos before Sunday afternoon as the room was so crowded, so I see that a lot of the goods are gone in both shops.
I am happy for you and I hope you both had a very good sale numbers, as you really deserve it !!

Hanne

More enjoyable moments

 
Saturday we went to see the old part of Gothenburg, Haga, in walking distance from the quilt circus :-)
Old buildings, small shops and places to sit down and enjoy the sun.

A heart theme shop - I love their windows display!


We enjoyed food, coffee and the sun !

We had time to enjoy our purchases too :-)

Hanne

this and that quilts

A real beauty from the Danish exhibition room.
I think it was a group quilt.

This transparent quilt is Finish. Beautiful !

A button beauty

From straight lines to curves - from the competition quilts. Clever !

A quilt to enjoy - with many good sayings :-))

Hanne

and more……

  

As important as quilts and shopping are friends and being together!!

I had the pleasure of meeting blog friends in person as well as blog readers.
Hi to you all - it was so nice to put faces to names and say hello to you! A special hi to Liisa from Finland :-)

It was a very special moment to meet Mary Ann, by a Dear Jane quilt on display :-)

I hope we will meet again Mary Ann !
Check her tote :-))

   *

Even the bravest of the bravest quilt show attendants needs breaks, and this is one of them, with my room mate Lise, a glass of red wine, feet up high, blogging and admiring her latest finished quilt top - Joy of Life.

  

Laughter was in abundance!

Nothing is like spending time with friends :-))

Hanne

More from NQT 2

Here are photos from the competition Building Bridges.
There were a lot of quilts, mainly in the Art category.
All were very nice and they were lovely displayed.

None of the quilts below took home any prizes, but they got a lot of positive attention and I enjoyed these the most :-)

The first quilt is my contribution. It is special to see my own work on a wall with all the other lovely work.

As you see, I did scallops on this one too - I am looking forward to read the judges paper when it comes home ;-)

     

 

 

    

Hi Else Margrethe :-))

Hanne

More from NQT

Here are more from the exhibitions. Most of these are from the Norwegian room.
In my not so humble opinion, our exhibition was the very best - a mix of art and traditional, small quilts and big quilts in a good mix, exhibited like our annual meeting in Norway. Well done Norway :-)

 

These small Ikke Rør - Don’t Touch - quilts brightens up too. There were many different small Don’t Touch quilts around the Norwegian exhibition.

 

  

 

 

The exhibition from Finland had Log Cabin as a theme, with many lovely quilts.

 

Yes - I have a very soft spot for all the traditional quilts, in case you wondered :-)

Hanne

Gothenburg NQT (Nordic Quilt Convention) 2009

A lot of fun - fabrics, friends and all!

A photo from a long distance. The flags are from Iceland, Norway, Faeroyene, Sweden, Aaland, Finland, Greenland, Denmark.

We are lining up for shopping. The doors are still closed. The line was several hundred peoples long:

The shop area is so small that we are shopping body to body.

Sølvi and Siw from Quiltegaarden kept a calm head in all the chaos!
Kudos to you 2 - you are great !!
Always smiling, always giving us the very best!!

Lappemakeriet is also there - with all their usual goodie goodies - and generously giving smiles and advices!

One of the Danish shops also caught my attention with their goods - www.quiltmydesign.dk

Look at the great calendar they have as a BOM.
I think I have to check their website out more when I come home !!
I love their fabrics and they were very friendly in every way :-)

Many of the Danish shops did not allow photos, so I can not tempt you with anything from their shops……..

The shopping area was so crowded we all got squished from all sides.
We either had to hold our boobs and bottoms in as best we could, or stick them out as best we could to make way ;-)
I bet you know quilters - they are shopping anyway, regardless of crowds, with smiles on their faces ;-)

Do you want to see what I bought?

Fabrics and the bunny pattern from Quiltegaarden and the lovely quilt tote kit in Japanese fabrics from www.quiltmydesign.dk

I just have to mention I visited Lappemakeriet the day before we went here, with a friend.

To much of a good thing is gorgeous !!

Smiles from your reporter on the road -
Hanne

On our way to Gothenburg. Life is good :-)

When life give you scraps, make quilts !

Nothing is as good as a day of quilting when I need a break !
Besides getting my house ready for visitors I have nearly finished my Noah’s Ark BOM quilt. I am only lacking the binding now.

Another thing that is really calming and nice to do is to sort fabrics !
I have just bought these neat boxes at IKEA and now they are filled with goodies.
When I come home from NQT 2009, in Gothenburg Sweden, I will sort more in the boxes and enjoy all my treasures.

We are leaving for Gothenburg early Thursday morning and coming home on Sunday night.

I will bring my computer, so I hope to check in during the weekend.

Hanne

Happy birthday Norway

17th May - Norway’s National Day
- a combination of celebrating the Constitution from 1814, Independence Day and Memorial Day.
Through history Norway has been under both Sweden and Denmark, and we were also occupied by Germany during WW2.
So as a free and independent country Norway does not have a long history.

Norway has a strong and colourful emigrant history, as we were among the poorest countries in Europe up to WW2.
Compared to the population, Norway and Ireland “exported” most people to USA.
I know many Norwegians and people with Norwegian roots are celebrating 17th May around the world !

My beautiful DDs from last Sunday. DD1 is studying this weekend, for her upcoming final exam. We miss you today!

DD2 ready to meet with friends right now, with the red jacket over the National Costume.

She looks smashing good, both front and back :-)

We are going to DMIL in a couple of hours, for food and cakes, true to family tradition.
I will also dress in my National Costume :-)

May you all have a lovely celebration wherever you are !
Today it is a lovely sunny day, with blooming tulips. Last year it was snowing.

Hanne

Days flying by

To my pleasure I found that I am able to do stitchery while being in the passenger seat of our car!
Not fast and not very much, but still…… beats looking out the window for hours on end….. :-)

I had promised these blocks from the Just Plain Nuts book to someone to borrow, and they went by mail on Thursday.
The setting is the same as the Nearly Insane quilt though, even if I used a narrower sashing.
When this top returns home I will finish it as a baby quilt I think, with a border on the top and on the bottom. Time will tell.

I have had questions about where to buy the book for this quilt and the Nearly Insane quilt.
I do 99 % of my book shopping abroad, online.
Type the book titles in your search engine and you will get several options :-)
A tip of advice though - check the shipping rates before buying. Some shops charge a sky high postage.

In between a lot of other activity this stitchery has been my sit down and do a relaxing thread work in progress.
I am looking forward to finish it soon. I have found a lovely fabric in my own fabric collection :-)

Hanne

A long drive home

Monday was the travel home day.

The drive from where our family live to where we live is quite spectacular crossing the mountains.

I was granted 20 minutes at Husfliden Tynset / Lappemor :-)

Shopping, chatting and taking photos in 20 minutes - not easy, but I was back at the car before DH and DDs ,who were grocery / chocolate / ice cream shopping! They did not think I could do it………. hehehe
1-0 to me !! ;-)

Hanne

Last Sunday

The church confirmation last Sunday was a lovely event!

The theme for the table was music, and as you see even the bread rolls on the smorgasbord was right :-)

Brage’s grandmother on his mother’s side (my favourite aunt) filled the photo album I made with a lot of photos from his life - an album to treasure!
We all contributed to his greatest wish - money for an electrical piano.
We are all looking forward to hear new songs and music from you !!

Here is the handsome young confirmand and his family.

Here is my beautiful DD1 in her National costume from the region Telemark, embroidered by my dear mother in law. My dear father in law embroidered the shirts, with the tiniest cross stitches.

DD2’s National costume was ready just in time for this church confirmation. She looked great!
DD2 is also a very skilled photographer :-)

We were all very happy and honoured to spend the day with our family - it was a Great day !!

We are looking forward to see you all again before long !

Hanne

On the road again :-)

It has been a very busy week and I have been working on my deadline projects.

A photo album cover for my first cousin’s son who is celebrating his church confirmation this Sunday - done

Brage  Kristian is a very good young musician. His band, which also won prizes in 2008, has a website, The Battery Band.

I had a very great time finishing the Easter Bunny stitcheries. Keep tuned for the progress next week :-)

I am also working on some Just Plain Nuts blocks.
Doing them in Japanese fabrics they are looking very nice!

Here we are again - at my favourite aunt’s, for Brage Kristian’s church confirmation.

We had a gorgeous drive yesterday, 7 hours north west,  through all kinds of weather, except snow. The snow is still in the mountains though, the leaves are new on the trees.

I have never been here in May before - I love it !
The sceneries are beautiful in the spring !

Hanne

Sew together weekend tally and more

We started yesterday with a lovely shop trip to Lappemakeriet, to celebrate Siv Hege and enjoy each others company :-)
I had left my camera memory card in my computer at Bente’s, and my camera has very limited memory without it, but at least I got this lovely photo of the birthday girl and May Britt :-)

Here are one of Bente and me - taken by May Britt.
As you see, we are really enjoying checking out the new fabrics :-)

After our shopping trip - yes, I brought some goodies back too  - Bente (no blog), May Britt and I continued working on the care quilts.
May Britt finished the yellow one with hearts, binding and all !!
Bente finished another top - she now has 3 tops to her name !!
May Britt helped her pin basting the last of her finished tops.
Bente now has 2 of  the 3 tops ready to machine quilt - she is good, fast and accurate :-)

 

I am not any Speedy Gonzales - you know, what I lack in speed I have to put in in hours ;-)
I did manage to cut and sew the blocks for a second Disappearing 9-patch quilt though, and cut a pile of 6” squares for future quilts of the same kind :-)

In the evening we had a lovely meal of traditional salted and smoked meat and sausages, potato salad, salad, scrambled eggs, flat bread (traditional), bread rolls, lefse (traditional),  and a good red wine on the side.

I absolutely love Bente’s quilt Svennebrevet, which I had the pleasure to wrap myself in this morning, eating breakfast outdoors.
It is another BOM from my favourite shop Lappemakeriet.

Another one of Bente’s beautiful quilts:

The computer crew was busy before 8 am this morning. Sitting in the early morning light is lovely! :-))

All good things comes to an end, whether we like it or not…….
I am at home again, full of Vitamin Q, and May Britt is also at home now, after a long bus drive.

Lots of warm thank you wishes to Bente for a marvellous weekend !

This little cute wall hanging is on Bente’s kitchen wall.
It says - Small things, big joys :-)

Hanne

Another sunny morning

Yesterday was a another lovely sewing day, with laughter, friendship, fabrics and chocolate in abundance :-)

Here are some of the results:

  

Here is Bente’s quilt in progress - as you see, the Buggy Barn method - very neat with a Layer Cake from Moda.

 

 

May Britt is doing great - she has all the squares joined, the backing on and is ready to machine quilt and appliqué in one.

It is not easy to machine quilt with one of the Janome mini machines :-)

My disappearing 9-patches. Here you can see that there are more options, and how easy one can change a “boring” 9-patch to something absolutely different. My squares was cut 6” to begin with.

Here are the finished tops - May Britt’s partly quilted already :-)

Bente pieced another small top as well !

Here is my finished top.
I have more  disappearing 9-patch quilts spinning  in my head for future care quilts :-)

New blogger Siv Hege spent parts of the day with us and was working on a quilt that she took home before the photo session.
Siv Hege is celebrating her 40th birthday today!
Please drop by her blog and congratulate her if you have time :-)

Happy Birthday Siv Hege !!

Hanne