Slow starter...

Ever since I began blogging in January, and discovered Blogger's BOM, I have wanted to make these blocks. It took me to the end of May to start, and now I have made three over the last couple of days. There's a link to the BOM at the bottom of my blog. These blocks are fun to make, and they are the perfect little project to do late in the evening. A really enjoyable occupation, and to catch up with the project I only have six more to do before the end of June.

The only dandelions I tolerate in my yard...

...are the ones on my Sunday morning coffee mug. Have a great day!

Pick-A-Pocket Purse

What a great way to display this bag in vibrant evening sunlight, golden radiating colors!
The free pattern is given here: Pick-A-Pocket Purse. This purse is great to use in warm summer days, it has six (!) pockets on the outside. It was fun to make!

A new Christmas Mystery

I always have to start new projects, this time it is the Mystery by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa that was in the latest issue of Quiltemagasinet.

I just finished it today at my terrace in 20 degrees heat. It is kind of strange to stitch a Christmas motif in the heat we are having right now.
Dandelions are popping up in the neighborhood, but I hunt them on our lawn, they are not allowed to show their yellow flowers on my property! I am also waiting for my apple tree to bloom, it would be great if that happened during the weekend!

A neglected BOM...

I have been neglecting the BOM 'Stitched by me' by Lynette Anderson for a while, because there have been too many other projects that got in the way. Now I have finally managed to start on Block 3 of this BOM. I hope I can make some progress over the weekend.

Cool Spoon & Fork wallhanging

It was fun to quilt this one! Two layers of batting and dense quilting makes a very nice effect on the retro spoon and fork.

The following picture shows the  Fast Finish Triangles for the hanging sleeve on the back, and details of the quilting.

My 'Retro Kitchen' ready for quilting

The quilt sandwich is pinned, and will be ready for quilting tomorrow. This will be the first time I am quilting with two layers of batting, both cotton and wool. The spoon and fork will really stand out!

It is nice to work indoors, because the spring has not come with high temperatures, yet. 6 degrees centigrade does not tempt outdoor life on a great scale. But, anyway, the nature is getting green around here, and we are getting closer to summer!

Plus Table runner finished

I was sewing the binding on at the Quiltecafé today. The weather today was gorgeous with a very nice temperature, maybe that is why so few people turned up at the café? Anyway, it was nice to meet the ladies, and to see the lovely projects of Ann Mari Duffy.
I completed the last hand-sewing of the runner, just in time to catch the last sun rays for the photo shoot. The runner is about 37" x 12", and it looks good among the spring flowers at the edge of the forest.

Quilting update

I have become a fan of free-hand quilting. This is my latest project, the '+ Table runner', and the picture shows a detail of the quilting. I have followed the online "class" of Leah Day in freemotionquilting.com, and this is her Free Motion Quilting Challenge. I am getting more and more comfortable with free-motion quilting, and I think it is looking better and better each time I do it. Tonight I will start on the binding for this table runner, so I can do the hand-sewing tomorrow at the "Quiltecafé'. Looking forward to meeting the quilters!

Maypole Dance

Here is my completed May Aurifil BOM, Maypole Dance. It is a sweet block!

+ Tablerunner

When I came back from Italy, my qulting- and stitchery fingers were itching badly. That's why I started two new projects as soon as I got some sleep, one tablerunner and the monthly stitchery project for May. The top of the + Tablerunner that was in SewWeQuilt some time ago, is finished. When I finish quilting, it will be a gift for a couple of friends.

Been traveling

Not much sewing or quilting has been done the last few days, because I had a work related travel. This was a good break from fairly cold May temperatures in Norway to 22 degrees in Milan, Italy. Full, blooming spring, and a great city. It is just a pity that we did not have too much time outside meeting rooms. But, we managed a couple of hours in the city center, saw the Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano), only from the outside, though.

Enjoying a Prosecco on a sidewalk café while watching people walking by, in addition to getting a good dose of Vitamin D, was perfect. Returning home to snow and 2-3 degrees C was a let-down. I should have stayed in Italy!