Basketcase

Hobbyvenn blogged her knitting basket, and I wanted to do it too. So I did. Here it is, the place where I hide bills and empty candybags. It's also being used for knitting-related projects, the two active ones at the top. Flower Basket Shawl in purple/blue/turquoise Evilla art yarn, hope I'll get to finish it during February. (Yes, I'm slow.. I started it in December)
In front it's a spool of handspun alpacka/corriedale waiting to be plied. I'm not to sure about the color, it's very nice, but it's also not very me. Maybe I'll sell it, if it turns out OK.
And all the little socks in wacky colors? That's where the insanity comes in. I thought 24 knitted socks would be great as a Christmas calendar for my little girl. Luckily it's still some time until Christmas, as I've only made 5 or 6 socks... This smells like an UFO. Or perhaps stink.

From Hell to Heaven

I've been having some serious problems with my Elna for over a year, but for some reason I've never tried to open it and look inside.. Until now. And look! A huge lump of dust! I had no idea so much could pile up in there.. And now the sewing machine is a dream. It's silent, and doesn't "chew" up the fabric at all! I've got back the machine I once dreamt of, it kind of like christmas and birthday all over again ;)

I've been sewing some different things the past few days, as I've joined a frendship quilt-group. It's so much fun to "go crazy" with different patterns, foundation piecing and lots of color! I'm supposed to sew 8 blocks, 2 every month. My February-blocks are done, and hopefully they'll get in the mail tomorrow. Excited to hear what the recievers will think!

After making intricate blocks, it's always fun to do something fast and simple, like these. They're called Puss in the Corner, and I got the idea from the faboulus Norwegian book Quiltegleder. They will all be blue, beige and brown, and I'll get to use many different japanese fabrics, both prints and plaids/other heavier qualities/textures.
I've only made 4, but as mentioned before, they're quick, so I'll make some more during the weekend and will hopefully get some idea how this will turn out!

7th spin

I have a thing for purple, and I have a thing for beads too. Now I think I even have a thing for silk and merino!
This is a 3-ply fingering weight yarn, 1 strand of rayon thread, with 11/0 beads, two strands of merino and silk. This is a keeper, as the quality isn't too much to brag about. I think I'll make a lace shawl or something. Some day!

Oh Joy. One Year Older

I can't really remember when my birthday became just an ordinary day, perhaps when I turned 17. When I grew up, February 4th often was a stormy day. If the weather was bad enough, or if we've been out of electrisity during the night, the school often had to close. This happened 3 times while I went to elementary school, and it was great! But during the (boring) day at home I always started to miss that "something special" it is to get a year older.
Today I'm 26. I used to think 26 was the perfect age to get pregnant. But I couldn't wait longer than until I was 24 (and a half!) So what is 26 the perfect age for? What should I try to accomplish during the next 12 months? I will for sure try to make the road towards 27 as bumpy as possible, as I have a thing for that.
Maybe 26 is the perfect age to realize that cupcakes isn't dinner, and quilting should be done before midnight.

31

1. Hvor er mobilen din? Uvisst
2. Skildre kjæresten din? Varm
3. Håret ditt? Samarbeidsvillig
4. Moren din? Engasjert
5. Faren din? Kakemonster!
6. Hva er favorittingen din? Senga
7. Hva drømte du om i natt? Fremmede
8. Hva drikker du helst? Cola
9. Drømmebilen? Ikke-eksisterende
10. Hvilket rom sitter du i nå? Stua
11. Eksen din? Glemt
12. Din største skrekk? Utilstrekkelighet
13. Hva vil du være om ti år? Realisert
14. Hvem var du sammen med i går kveld? Familien
15. Hva er du ikke? A4
16. Det siste du gjorde? Spant
17. Hva har du på deg? Grønt
18. Favorittboka di? Renkesmed
19. Det siste du spiste? Minestrone
20. Livet ditt? Ekspanderende
21. Humøret ditt? Uberegnelig
22. Dine beste venner? Fantastiske!
23. Hva tenker du på akkurat nå? Wollknoll-katalogen ;)
24. Bilen din? Aldri
25. Hva gjør du akkurat nå? Planlegger
26. Sommeren din? Utforskende
27. Sivilstatus? Samboer
28. Hva er på tv-en din akkurat nå? Mørke
29. Når lo du sist? 21.10
30. Når gråt du sist? Søndag
31. Skole? Planlegges

Like you Could Resist Them!

The new year was a few hours old when I decided to join a fabric diet, and even wrote on the blog that I wouldn't buy any new fabric this year, unless I was on vacation, or needed fabric for frames/binding or backsides. I kept that promise for 23 days. That's not to bad is it?
I had no chance, when I came across the new naive japanese fabric club at Desiree
I'll get 5 more packets of yummy fabric, I can hardly wait!
But I'll try to do one thing right: I will not start another project using this fabric until I've finished at least one UFO!

On the Wheel Today

Another project in progress,purple merino and silk with a color which can't be described other than weird. Wonder how it turns out! I'm trying to make a thinner thread, thinner than I've ever tried before. Maybe it'll be more difficult to ply.. just one way to find that out, isn't it?
I'll try another new thing this time, beads! Tiny beads on a rayon thread matching the merino. This is exciting! I hope this yarn will be enough and suitable for a shawl.

This used to be a quiltblog

Somehow it's not that easy to get to spend some time alone in my playroom/studio nowadays, as I'm home alone most of the day with our baby. The solution for that is English paper piecing and scraps! I have no idea why, but the scrapbox just continue to grow, even if I don't sew anything.. How is that possible?! I'll bet it will grow during this project too, as I have a bad habit when it comes to scrap quilts... When I'm finished making about half the project I usually think the colors are dull, so I use some stash, just to make it more interesting. I will try not to do that this time, but I might use some stash for the background, since I don't have enough scraps for that.

And yes, I think it looks kind of dull. What does it need to look more exciting?
Buttons?

Still spinning

4th spin. Pure Spælsau/Old Norwegian Short Tail Landrace. I've dyed it myself, and I'm satisfied with the color, at least. This was difficult to spin! I'm not that experienced when it comes to carding, I guess I still have a thing or two to learn there.. This will be a pair of socks for my girl, I think. Maybe two pairs?

5th spin. Aaah, merino! So soft, so beautiful colors! Extremely satisfied with this spin, and it's also the largest. 250 grams. 12 WPI.

6th spin, finished today! Merino, some unknown wool, angelina, silk I've dyed. Fun spin, but I got some problems with the silk while plying. 14 WPI, 110 grams. (Enough for what?!)

Cute!

Favourite Garment

Urkigurki at Hobbyboden started a thread, asking for peoples favourite homemade garments. Here's mine. A wool/mohair scarf in a lace/rib-pattern with pink holographic sequins. Made it about 2 years ago and I LOVE it!

3rd spin.

I'm still crazy about my new spinning wheel, and finsihed my third yarn tonight. Merino again, this time in greens. Think it's about 150 grams.

My second spin

My second homespun is completed, this time blue and greens. It's actually a little bit more green than the photo shows. Pure merino, and it was soooo much easier to spin than the felting-wool I've used before. It's about 80 grams, and I hope thats enough for a pair of mittens. I've used all the fibers I had for this yarn, so it's kind of exiting if there isn't much enough yarn ;)
Right now it's a competition going on at Spinners home where you can win a drop spindle or some fiber just by telling a bit about your experiences and wishes when it comes to spinning.

Brighter days

The very first finished project this year. A Eastern/spring tablerunner, which was started in August.We had a lot of guests during last summer, so I got some time to stitch the hexagons by hand while chatting in the sofa. Then, in early December I came across the lilac/white rabbit fabric I've used for a frame, and knew the minute I saw it that it was perfect! Quite happy with the result.

It's about a meter long, quilted with a variegated YLI thread (grey/yellow) in a wacky diagonal-pattern. The binding is a large-scale Heather Bailey fabric. I've always used small pattern fabric or stripes for binding, so this was new.

I really, really like stitching hexagons, and believe someone once said it was addictive. So true! I'm planning a new project already, a treeskirt for next christmas. Or was it christmas 2009? I have some unfinished projects now, I'm afraid.

A goal for the new year

One of my new year's resolutions is to stop buying any quilt fabric for a year, unless it's for a project I've started last year (I need two blue fabrics for a teacup applique) OR if we're on vacation.Or if it's backside fabric... Or, or, or!
This diet is perfect for me, as I don't have a system in my fabricboxes (and baskets and shelevs) anymore, they're just floating over!

Happy New Potato-year!

I recently red in a local newspaper that we can look forward to 366 exciting days in 2008, one of the reasons for that is because UN desided this is the year of the potato! Yey! Wonder what Dr.Atkins would say about this enormous betrayal against "healthy" eating-habits. Coming back to my own eating-habits in a second...

CHRISTMAS 2007

It started out great. Elina looked adorable in her new, red Minnie Mouse dress, the dinner was a success,the tree was decorated, everyone was happy and looked forward to a great christmas...
Then it got even better! I haven't been som exited about a christmas gift since I was 11 (or so), and wouldn't even hope it could be a spinningwheel, even if the box was HUGE! I've been wanting a spinningwheel for quite some time now, and planned to buy a used one while we're on vacation in July. No need for that now..!
I had some trouble in the beginning, but over the next days I managed to make a little ball of yarn, my first one! The picture came out a little dark, but it's a dusty pink/brown/beige shade. The quality isn't much to brag about, but how much fun would it be to start out as an expert?
I even tried to dye som wool myself, using red and purple. I put white, beige/brown and grey wool in the pan before heating it, and got some different shades. But the sad part is that I'm not sure I'll use the wool at all, as it's better suited for felting than spinning. Maybe it can be used in a mixes yarn, with merino? I got my first merino tops today, and I have to say it was very different from the "ordinary" wool I had tried before. I'm pretty sure which quality I'll choose in the future!

I had big plans for the christmas when it came to quilting and exercise. But that was before I got hospitalized with a painful gallstone. It passed in a few days, but I didn't feel to good for days (for some odd reason, sleeping is your first priority when you're on strong painkillers)
I've started to quilt a spring/eastern/hexagon tablerunner which turns out pretty great, I think. But I'm getting even more delayed, as the sewing machine is full of batting, and needs to be cleaned. Hopefully I'll get around to that someday... Now I'm mostly into spinning, I want to learn this! Making my own yarn would be wonderful.

The greatest UFO.

I once loved crazy quilting. it's the perfect way to use my creativity, I love projects where I get to do several different things, and isn't told by a pattern how things are supposed to turn out. Crazy quilting is perfect! You just make a few bocks, find some embellishment you'd like to put on.. and let it develop. I've never had any idea how things were suppposed to turn out, just that it had to be purple, and I wanted to use a lot of beads and buttons.
But it's so slooow! I love the idea of using years and years making a quilt. I just don't love doing it. I have 4 6" blocks for this, and to be honest, I don't think there will be any more.

Merry Christmas!

Feel like becoming a diabetic?

Come have a taste! I kind of went crazy with the frosting for this gingerbread house! But it turned out pretty cute, I think. Luckily this is an once a year-thing, as I'm feeling sick after eating the leftover decorations.

I've got my second card

I've almost been running to check the mailbox as soon as I got out of bed the last days, since I was so curious about the second card I was going to recieve. And finally it came, all the way from Tiriltunge in Tromsø! Check out her blog, she makes some really nice stuff. I love the card, she's been using angelina and tulle, a technique I'm curious about, but never have tried. Maybe this was the inspiration I needed? Thank you for the beautiful card!

They both arrived safely!

Here's the two cards I made during the "christmas card-round", and today I saw both had gotten where they were supposed to! I was a bit nervous, as the cards are soft, easy to fold, and the stamps easily could fall off.

I've got the appliqued figures from a Norwegian book, called "Tildas julehus". It's so inspiring! I had a lot of fun making these, not like last year where I sat down by the sewing machine day after day, without coming up with an idea.

Here's the cards I made last year:

Your Christmas Song Is

Redneck 12 Days of Christmas Twelve-pack of Bud Eleven Wrastling tickets Ten o' Copenhagen Nine years probation Eight table dancers Seven packs of Redman Six cans of Spam Five flannel shirts Four big mud tires Three shotgun shells Two hunting dogs ... And some parts to a Mustang GT. You don't think that 27 strings of Christmas lights are tacky And you swear that eggnog from last year is still good!

What Christmas Carol Are You?

Look what I've got!

At Hobbyboden I've joined a "christmas card round", where a lot of people are sewing cards which are beeing sent to one of the others. I'm supposed to get two, and today the first one came, from Limola
Thank you for the beautiful card!

An early christmas present

I've wanted to buy the Quilting Arts magazine for quite some time now, and finally I did. It's great, but makes me feel like the biggest amateur in the world. People are so creative, have so much stuff they use in a new way that I never could think of! How do they do it? And where do they put all their art quilts? I'm new to this. I've done some crazy quilting in the past (will blog some photos of it soon), but never got my own style, and ended up stealing so many ideas that it ended up like something that wasn't completely mine. And it's slow too. Veeery slow. I'm not to good at bending crazy quilt-rules either, so I think I might make something in the middle. Between mixed media art quilts and (more or less) traditional crazy quilts. The comforting part is that I'm new to this. Maybe I'll develop over the years?
I bought some other small presents for myself too, a couple of rayon threads and top stitch needles. The thread is ment for machine embroidery, but I think it looks great as a quilt thread on smaller works as it is variegated and shiny. The green looks amazing, the other one I'm not to sure about. "Earth tones" can be almost everything!

I hope I get some time and inspiration to create something inspired by these great magazines during christmas.

As for now, I'm baking and cleaning for christmas. Which means I've baked much more than we'll ever manage to eat, and been thinking of and planning to clean several rooms, but haven't done any yet. And still I'm bragging about how I'm not getting stressed! I might say something else when there's not any more room in the freezer and the house looks like hell. (Or MORE like hell) I've been making gingerbread. For me it's the ultimate childhood christmas tradition, and they have to be decorated with frosting! I kind of went nuts and bought a 25 piece cake decorating set from Wilton, several cookie-cutters, some sprinkles (shaped like cows, jewish stars, dinosaures, mickey mouse and pink breastcancer ribbons!) A little childish perhaps, but my baby girl is my excuse. She's going to get a proper (childish and fun) christmas!

Here's a healthy alternative to the hearts above! Looking like this they got to be healty, right?

Countdown

I'm feeling the need to start panicing! The house looks like a mess, and the freezer is packed with different kinds of breads and buns since I have a "thing" for baking at the moment. Christmas is getting closer, and I'm just doing the things I want to do, not the things I should do. I'm spending too much time in stores and the kitchen, and I'm having a great time!

Look at this! So small! Is it the mother-instinct kicking in when I just had to buy them?

I even got to use the sewing machine a little bit! While making some cards I just had to make a few seams, as I felt I haven't got the chance to use it in weeks!