The latest tote

Yesterday, after I finished the binding on my 'Summer Dream', I started making a tote for a friend. The outer fabric is plastic coated, which is very appropriate for the climate where I live. I finished the tote late last night, and I handed over the gift this morning when I caught a ride with her to work. She was very happy for the gift, and started using it right away. This morning was sunny, but when we went home it had started raining a little bit. On the walk to the parking lot she was happy to have a waterproof tote! I forgot to take a picture of it before I handed it over, but she agreed to model with the bag this afternoon. It looks good!

Summer Dream

A gorgeous spring day is perfect for a walk in the forest. Of course, my new quilt went along. While walking I saw the results of the big storm we had last Christmas. My path was blocked with this tree that had been blown down. What does a quilter do when the road is blocked? Turn around? Oh, no, not at all. This is just the perfect place to hang my quilt! With perfect lighting, the picture has a lot more life than hanging on my fence.

More uprooted trees shows the enormous force the storm had. This is nature, storms appear now and then, and there is nothing we can do about it. A quilt brightens up the scenery, though.

The bright colors of the quilt reminds me of green grass in the summer, and the clear blue ocean. Abstract blue flowers in one of the fabrics added to the conclusion of the perfect name for the quilt: 'Summer Dream'. I guess the trees also longed for summer and good weather when the storm was blowing the roughest.

Another quilt top finished

This time it is a blue and green lap quilt. Here is a little sneak peak of the top before quilting.

I found the design in the Norwegian magazine 'Quiltemagasinet', where it was made in golden colors. I will try to quilt and bind it later today, and take it outdoors tomorrow for better pictures.

Today I also delivered my first charity quilt, and chose fabrics for the next (or two) charity quilt. This time it is Halloween fabrics, with witches, pumpkins, skeletons, spiders, and you name it. This will be popular with the kids!

This one will fit in my kitchen!

I will show you a little project I have started, in-between all my other ones. I found this 'My Retro Kitchen' wallhanging in SewWeQuilt, and I saw immediately that this would fit in my kitchen. I had a jelly roll with the perfect fabric, and it took me no-time (almost) to put together this quilt top. Now I just have to quilt it quite heavily. But first, I am going to work more on the lap-quilt that is in progress right now.

Walk in the Woods

Yesterday I finished quilting the charity quilt I am making, and finished the binding late last night. Today I took the quilt out in the forest nearby my house for a photo-shoot. I got very inspired by other people taking their quilts out in nice surroundings in nature to get good pictures. Here is the result of my Sunday walk:

I named my quilt 'Walk in the Woods'. This is just the perfect name, considering the color scheme, design and all.

An indoor picture is required to show off the quilting. I used my walking foot for the main part of the quilt, and free motion quilted swirls on the border. The swirls fit very well with the design of the border fabric.

This will be a great quilt for a boy, I think.

Quilting going on

Today the border was attached, and this afternoon/evening was dedicated to quilting. A simple X-design across each square, but the multi-colored golden/brown thread really adds life to the quilt. Hope to finish tomorrow, because I have another quilt to start...

Close to finish

This is how the quilt top looks like in the late-afternoon sunlight in my yard. Need to add the border, backing, and of course quilt and bind it. Lots of work, but I really enjoy working with it!

All blocks ready for the charity quilt

I have cut all the blocks and pieced the pinwheels and 4-patches.

Here they are, ready to be joined together. The design is a secret, but will be revealed in a couple of days.

Spring is here!

In-between piecing and sewing, I also have to be outside enjoying the nice and warm spring weather. From literally buckets, and maybe barrels, of snow during easter, following some cold days, we now have gorgeous spring with 7 degrees today. There was frost during night, though, and I managed to catch this (hopefully) last ice-ornament for the season this morning.

During my walk in the forest today, I witnessed seeing that winter is reluctant to leave. But it may be persuaded to disappear if the nice heat continues.

I love spring!

Blocks are coming along

I made more blocks for the charity quilt today, but tomorrow I will try to make a lot more. I got sidetracked, somewhat, in de-boning shirts. Yesterday I bought a couple of shirts at my local thrift store, Fretex, the shirts were chosen for the fabric/color. There are specific plans involving these in the nearest future.

Block #2 is finished

The second block of 'Stitched by me' is finally finished. The only thing that is missing is the buttons.

I have made good progress on my stitching the last few days.

Progress on the charity quilt

After finishing the April showers block earlier today, I wanted to start on my charity quilt. I saw pinwheels hiding in-between when I chose the packaged fabrics. I made a couple of them today, and went outside to catch the last of the sunlight for the photo-shoot. It was amazing outside, with birds chirping, calm weather, sun soon setting, but only 3 degrees centigrade in the shade. Spring is coming, even though the winter is refusing to leave at night.

 I like the subtle colors of the fabrics, and I think this will be a suitable quilt for a boy. It was really fun to make these fast pinwheels, and I am eager to make good progress on the project tomorrow.

My 'April showers'

Here is my version of the April showers, picture taken on a sunny April day. I didn't show you all the snow that still is in my yard...
I very much enjoy these small stitchery projects in-between the other things I am working on.

The monthly stitching project

This month the 'Aurifil designer of the month' is Gail Pan, who I got to know and appreciate while attending hers and Helen Stubbing's class in Trondheim the previous weekend. The April design is here. Isn't it cute?

I have joined this BOM, and I am very much looking forward to the end result when December comes.

I have traced the design and chosen the colors of thread for the stitching. I am not going to start right now, even if it tempts me. It will have to wait until later this week. I have other things to do the first few days. For now, the traced fabric and the chosen threads are occupying my new stitchery folder, ready to go!

I am happy!

Last night i finished my stitchery folder from Gail Pan, 'Stitch me happy'. This morning I took it outside for a photo-shoot in the SNOW(!) and minus 4 degrees centigrade(!). Hey, wait a minute, I thought April means spring!? I have never seen so much snow this time of year as long as I have lived in this town. For the photo-shoot I used my bicycle as support, and you can clearly see the snow-covered ground.
The stichery folder was started last weekend at Gail's & Helen's class. Now I only have to complete the other projects I started there.

A few more pictures of the folder are attached below. I very much appreciate the fabrics that Siw at Quiltegården put together for this project, they look so delicate and stunning together! The buttons added my personal touch to the folder. I am pleased!

Class is over for now

I had a wonderful time at Gail's & Helen's class during the weekend. A lot of great ladies and two excellent teachers! I will never forget Gail's and Helen's snow angles!
I did not finish any projects, but I hope I will have time to work on some of them during Easter. Here's the one I came furthest along with:

At the class my quilt guild 'advertised' the charity project that they started, we will make quilts for long-term ill children at the local hospital. I volunteered to join the project, and took this bunch of fabrics with me home to create a quilt. There may be some pinwheels hiding in here, someplace. Let's see what the result will be; time will show...

This is no joke!

April fool's day comes with loads of snow! A couple of days ago I thought spring was here...This is the view from my kitchen window this morning, poor hedge!