September

The last butterfly of the season

A new friend came home with us from a trip to Riga, Latvia. Everything enchanting.

The first homework done.

Loving the process.

Rose Star Trellis

... a pattern found in American Patchwork and Quilting autumn 1995. I was starting out quilting, and needed to find a project I could sew by hand.

I figured out I could manage to follow this pattern and sew it by hand. This was before I found out that what 'one did' was to use a running stitch, so the blocks are done using back stitches. When the blocks were to be sewn together, I lost momentum, and the top was assembled by machine. 

It is lap sized, with wool batting, but in very rare use, as I know the fabrics in the blocks will bleed terribly when washed ... The last borders to be quilted were done the summer of 2000. This was my first quilt this size. They only got bigger from here, lol.

We are hanging on to the idea of summer, but the days are getting more and more chilly. Take care.

Bill Volckening - collector of quilts

Beauty Secrets from NW Documentary on Vimeo.


I keep asking myself why it is that seeing someone take a piece of cloth out of a box makes me gasp for air...
Found at Pepper Corys blog. The quilt she displays in her latest post just makes me smile!

See ya!

I love August

The apples in the garden are just ripe enough for tasting good in cakes.

Exploring the surroundings and the wonders of bees.

Log cabin blocks slowly evolving. Now there is one more batch like this to make, and I will start constructing the bag we were taught to make by Yoko Saito in March. To make the fabrics we received in class last a little longer, I have added some taupes from my stash.

Many thanks for stopping by. Last month was pretty busy with kids at home, a house needing repair and general holiday making. And then August comes around, and things settle for a more calm and regular pace. I have not been able to thank everyone properly for your kind comments about the small diamond quilt... Thank you!

Found this today!

Yoko Saito has been to Florence again. It looks like the ladies had a great time!
I also found the blog of the Agomago quilt shop that arranges the workshops.
Rainy and sunny here today - and some slow sewing:)

Summer idleness

We are having a wonderful and slow summer. I find my creative juices tend to take a rest during the refreshing yet busy time that July is all about. June was a little different - here's one result of that:

A small quilt that first was intended as a pillowcover. It was quilted when I was pregnant with our first child - seven years ago (yikes).

I free hand quilted the borders and setting diamonds. It was a lot of fun. I decided on circles in the borders, and suddenly one circle turned out as two smaller ones. And then it sort of evolved into a Volkswagen... Or maybe it's only my eyes that can see it...

We just came home from a lovely week in the Swedish countryside. This was our kitchen window view.

Making a block

Inspiration: The center Mariner's compass block from the V&A book, also featured in Kaffe's museum bookThis time I tried to copy the colours, something I rarely do. The block is so lovely as it is.

Drafting. These are the shapes I need. Then I copy them onto see through plastic, making holes at the 'intersections' with a sharp point that I have warmed the tip of, by a candle light.

I then draw a point through the holes onto the reverse of the fabric and draw a line from point to point. When the pieces are cut with a quarter inch seam allowance, I lay them out on a cloth, pin them, and they are ready to go, everywhere I go.

Done. Now it needs backing pieces. I haven't made those yet... This was not really intended as a tutorial, but it gives an idea of the process. Take care.

Such friendly flowers

... don't you agree?

Another Calico Garden block. Only two left to go, and there is no more procrastination about setting and layout...

Geese

I have been cutting some fabrics and sewing on my trusted Janome. I love this quiltalong that Anita is hosting. I have for a long time avoided the flying birds, because I have had the idea that sewing triangles together would be heartbreakingly difficult. Well, I find that meanwhile I have gathered some experience, and that I am able to do a fair job with the birds. The geese fabrics in the bottom block and top right are from V&A exhibition fabrics by Liberty. I took a deep breath before finally cutting them. Five done - eleven to go. Tudelu.

Rainbow

A few days ago I received this delicious set of rainbow colors. The lovely Debs had a wonderful give away, and I was one of the lucky recipients of this rainbow in cloth. My head is spinning with ideas. Debs has made a beautiful quilt inspired by the rainbow quilt made by Purl of Soho. She has a company that is encouraging people to start sewing. I love the idea and concept.

These fabrics will have to be made into a winter's project - one to keep my mind focused on colors while dreaming of another spring. Thank you ever so much Debs.