Oh - I just did

Starting to cut some triangles, that is. And sewing them together. I just had to:)!

And I started this little project as well. I can feel August coming along soon - the most craft intensive month in this household...

If no one stops me...

... this is what I'll be starting in a little while

From the October issue of American Patchwork and Quilting magazine

And this: Better Homes and Gardens - Grandma's Best Full-Size Quilt Blocks

In progress

To the Virgins, to make much of Time
by Robert Herrick

GATHER ye rosebuds while ye may, Old time is still a-flying : And this same flower that smiles to-day To-morrow will be dying. The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun, The higher he's a-getting, The sooner will his race be run, And nearer he's to setting. That age is best which is the first, When youth and blood are warmer ; But being spent, the worse, and worst Times still succeed the former. Then be not coy, but use your time, And while ye may go marry : For having lost but once your prime You may for ever tarry.

Summer

At the beach

In the mountains

At home

Stars

Here is a quilt I managed to finish in 2000. The pattern is an adaptation from one of Marsha McCloskey's. It is machine pieced - except for one block, that I pieced by hand. Can you guess which one? I thoroughly enjoyed hand quilting it. The quilt is in almost daily use - when it is a little bit colder than these days - we have temperatures in their 30's (celsius) I don't know the exact size (I am too lazy tonight to measure it...) but it covers a 200x180 cm bed - well almost...

Let's see if I can get blogger to cooperate and show some detail shots. Tudelu.

Åsa Wettre

Nordic Quilters had a meeting in Gothenburg this week end. I took the opportunity to visit relatives in said city - and to experience a little of quilting life as well.

When I read that Åsa Wettre would be showing some of her collection of vintage quilts, I had to go and see her exhibition. She is a renowned quilt historian and the founder of the Gothenburg quilt guild - Lapphexorna (since 1987). Twenty years ago she gathered old Swedish quilts from the collections of museums, her friends and acquaintances - many enough for an exhibition. It was supposed to be a single event, but has been on the road almost continually since then. Last time it was shown was in the Tokyo Dome in January 2008 (Do you remember, Lea...) I have seen it twice, in Mölndal (Sweden) and at Blaafarveverket (Norway).

Today I had the honor of saying hello as I bought her book. She was truly a sweet lady! And she told us (I think she talked to practically everyone stopping by!) that she is writing a new book about more old Swedish quilts. I can't wait for it to be published!

Here are my impressions:








I also had time for a lovely walk in Trädgårdsföreningen - a botanical garden right in the middle of town. A beautiful oasis. On the train back home I was able to sew a little.

Nine patch quilt top

Having the day off, I took some pics of my nine patch quilt top. ...With a black bird's song in my ears.

It was inspired by a quilt shown in one of Roberta Horton's books. Of course I could not resist using a lot of colour, so much unlike the original which was made in muted, beautiful colours.
It was made by a group of ladies.


Oh, well. I tried to find the book, to show the original, but I could't find it.

I started making it in 1998, and I remember sewing one of the blocks while newly engaged to my husband in early January 1999.
Without borders it measures about 80x115 inches (205x240 cm).
Pieced by hand.

A lot of borders to be attatched...

Thank you Lea and Taryn for your kind comments! Take care.

Note to self

Ignore your fear of messing up, and get it DONE already!
I need a kick where it hurts the most - to at least start finishing this top. It has been laying in the cupboards for almost to ten years. It has been sewn by hand, and I fear sewing on the borders. From experience I know it will be a challenge to make the border and top fit, in order to lay flat. There - this helped. I am a little more determined now, thank you!
A spring gathering of small flowers from our garden. That sounded a little posh, but we are so much enjoying being able to spend time outdoors again!

Zakka fun

These last few weeks I have been in a sewing frenzy daze. Sewing small pouches is so satisfying as they are FINISHED in reasonable time - unlike my other quilting projects which feel take FOREVER. So these pouches are a result of a very inspiring evening (which turned into night/early morning) at a dear friend's house a few weeks ago. Thank you I-L! Among other things I learned how to sew in zippers and to make stoppers/embelishment for drawstring pouches.
The small pincushion is made from Trine Bakke's book.
I appliqued a thimble to this small pouch, so that I know where I keep my quilting thimble and Aunt Becky quilting tool. The pouch pattern is included in Lise Bergene's book.This is reversible and constructed of four strips of 3" cut fabrics. My friend's Japanese co-worker came back from Japan with a pouch similar to this. Her friend had made it for her. I-L had to figure out how to make one. She did and showed me how. I am thinking of putting up a tutorial here a little later. (When my sewing machine is back from holiday at the service man's) I had to make one of these. I loved making it!
... so much I had to make a bigger one, with draw string closing. It turned out to be a present for a good friend, who really deserved the gift. We always have such fun times together. A small zakka bag for a good friend... I am looking forward to making another when my machine returns.

Spring sewing

An applique block part of a sampler I have been working on for some time. Only a few blocks left.
Leftovers - I love leftovers. This top will be made solely from scraps - except for the sashing blocks. When the main blocks are ready I will have to cut more paralellograms to finish the top. The picture to the right is a photo of an old quilt I found online some years ago. It has been in my folder for quilts I (some day) want to reproduce. The paralellograms are fascinating. They can form both stars and diamonds. Such phenomenons trhill me!