Together

Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things. ~Author Unknown

It is always good to spend time with friends, and it is good to take the first step into the life after 22. July surrounded by friends.
From sending news 24/7, both radio and TV are slowly returning to normal sending schedule, and everyday life is slowly returning in every way.

We met at May Britt's yesterday, sharing coffees, thoughts, laughs and sewing.

Tour de Fibre came to a halt on Friday, in the light of all the events in our country.
Sunday Tour de France ended, and so would Tour de Fibre have done.
We had done many stitches through our Tour, having had all kinds of stages, just like in the cycling Tour - team stages, climbing stages, speed stages and all.

May Britt and I had planned a prize for each other, and it was time to give each other the big surprise:-)

I got a beautiful glass jar filled with goodies! Am I not the luckiest girl ?
A lovely cat scissors fob, fabric, silk thread for applique, buttons, refrigerator magnet with a lovely saying. Lucky, lucky me!
The tin box with fabrics is my prize for May Britt.
Tour de Fibre with May Britt was great fun, and I am planning on doing it again - do you hear me May Britt - what about you?? :-)

Rusket took his task as quilt inspector very serious, arranging Bente's star blocks :-)

Today, after a late breakfast, it was time to go home again, and we decided on visiting Karin at Sy-Sammen (Sew-together), at Stange.

Karin's shop is filled to the ceiling with all kinds of fabrics and goodies.
She is very well stocked on fabrics, thread, rulers, patterns, books, batting and not to forget, double width backings in all colours.

May Britt is hugging her new found treasures :-)

Karin also collects vintage hand crank sewing machines. The second one from the top Karin bought from me some years back, as I had bought it, even if I had one, and I could not really fit in my house. Here is has a very good home :-)

Here are my treasures - backings, battings, a few Japanese treasures, a booklet on embroidery stitches - there are always some new to learn - and some notions.

Love is a fruit in season at all times,
and within the reach of every hand.
~ Mother Teresa

Hanne

Thanks - and looking to the future

My town Oslo has changed forever, and the direction of the future is changed too.
In the matter of short time, he who wanted to plant hate by his actions,
made a whole nation, in fact the whole world, unite in love and caring for each other.

As said so well by a young girl surviving the Utøya massacre:

If one man can show that much hate,
think of how much love we can show.
Stine Renate Håheim

A young man started the action on Facebook that ended in 200 000 persons gathering downtown Oslo on Monday, with roses in hand to honour the victims of the bombing and the shooting massacre.
There were speeches and music, and the Crown Prince and the prime minister gave very touching speeches too.

All the killed are not yet identified, but DD2's friend is amongst the victims of the shooting.
We are so sorry for her family and friends!

A special thanks to all of you sending hugs, prayers and good thoughts!
You made a difference through the darkest days of my country.

In union there is strength. ~Aesop

We will never forget 22. July 2011!

Hanne

Our hearts are bleeding

We are lighting candles for those losing their loved ones in the Oslo terror bombing and Utøya youth camp massacre.

We have a been lucky in our family, all things considered, having had good news about 2 young boys we are connected to.
A friend of DD2 is reported missing after the shooting - we are hoping and praying for her rescue, and are keeping her family in our thoughts.

Sorrow makes us all children again - destroys all differences of intellect.
The wisest know nothing.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hugs are the best gift - one size fits all !

Hanne

Tour de Fibre - Thursday - Decisions

2 more stars today - 8 to go + framing on all :-)
I aim at being done in a week's time, ready for the sashing when the fabrics arrive.

May Britt asked me to talk about decisions - yes, well - I have some, as well as having some WISPs (work in slow progress)
This spring has been special in many ways, also some that do not meet the eye.
Some events has given food for thoughts, and in the long run, that is good :-)

I feel an urge to finish more of my WISPs and use more from my fabric collection :-)
I do need finished quilts more than I need a stuffed sewing room!

I have more WISPs - not to worry ;-) but I do not really know where to start, yet :-)

Stars first!

If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me smile,
the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand.

Hanne

Tour de Fibre - Wednesday - Star struck :-)

I love these stars :-)
The progress is not that fast, but I do enjoy every stitch and every fabric combination.
The kits from Lappemakeriet are Great - plenty, and fun to work with!
There are a few fabrics in packet # 4 I am really looking forward to cut in to - tomorrow :-)

10 more stars to go!

Tour de France update - Norway won the stage - we are so proud :-)

PS.
I see May Britt has given me a challenge - more on that when I get daylight to take photos :-)

When twilight drops her curtain down and pins it with a star,
remember that you have a friend though she may wander far.

Hanne

Tour de Fibre - Tuesday progress

I am working away on my stars - soon I hit the half way through the quilt mark :-)
I have also been out shopping today, all by myself, on 2 crutches!
As we speak, I am paying for it with a swollen sore foot, but I have a wonderful tunic to show for it!

Love never fails; Character never quits; and with patience and persistence;
Dreams do come true. Pete Maravich

Hanne

Tour de Fibre - Monday

This is one star for yesterday and one for today :-)

Yesterday went fast, as DD2 had a guest in the house, and later we celebrated DD2's 20th birthday, with cakes and family.

The Tour de France bicycle riders have a rest day today, and I have been resting too.
It is nice to be on 2 crutches instead of wheel chair or walker, but it takes energy and strength. I like the freedom to move around the house as I like :-)

.“We need quiet time to examine our lives openly and honestly. . . spending quiet time alone gives your mind an opportunity to renew itself and create order.”
Susan L. Taylor

Hanne

Tour de Fibre - one for yesterday

The best laid time schedules can be skewed by sunshine :-)
In this part of the woods you never know how long the sunshine will last and when you can get more ( weather forecast says rain showers and no sun for the next 8 days now )
I had pieced the star below in the early hours of the day, indoors, and star # 2 came outdoors with me.

I also spent some time going through my fabric collection (aka stash) yesterday, sorting out fabrics for care quilts.
We were going for a barbeque with friends in the afternoon, and the lady of the house is also a quilter.
She is very good at making care quilts, and it is fun to add to her fabric collection. The fabrics I am bored to see and work with are new and fresh for her :-)

I have been slowed down so much by my foot this past year.
It has hurt to use the sewing machine, especially the last 6+ months, and even if I have made many care quilts, I am behind on other more intricate quilts, which in the long run is what I love to do - the more work the merrier - or something like that :-)

Pain is never a good motivator, and neither was it good for (my) concentration.
The care quilts were very good for practising left foot on the pedal sewing though, and now I can actually use the sewing machine pedal equally good with both feet - more or less.

The foot is better day by day now ::-)
I do not walk to well yet, and it still hurts quite a lot, but not all the time, like a tooth ache, like it used to do.
I have been told that it will take months before it is pain free, but I can absolutely live with that, now that I can sew again!
I am a very happy seamstress!!

Here is the shelf for my red and yellow fabrics after I had gone through them yesterday.
Someone said in the comments the other day she would love to visit my fabric collection ;-)
Some of the darkest reds - like very deep vine red, went into the care quilt paper bag, but that was just a handful.
If you wonder what my favourite fabrics are these days, I must say Japanese fabrics and CW repros are sky high on my list. I also love to mix the two :-)

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
Eleanor Roosevelt

Hanne

Tour de Fibre - Friday

Today's stage of Tour de France was great - Norway won!

As the Tour de France stages are quite long I made the last of the Dresden plates while watching.
Maybe I should keep my walker permanently decorated with quilt blocks ?
I have advanced from wheel chair to walker / crutches over the last few days :-)

One more star for the BOM quilt too :-)

Hanne

Tour de Fibre - Thursday - a day in the sun :-)

I have finished a few more red and green blocks, as well as cutting the rest of the pieces for the rest of the blocks.
It has been a lovely sunny day, and I spent some hours outdoors, on the veranda, piecing the star block for my BOM and just enjoying myself, soaking up sunlight and let the body warm up in the best possible way :-)

Remember that life's most treasured moments often come unannounced

Hanne

Tour de Fibre - Wednesday

Today I have enjoyed working with my sewing machine again. I am happy :-)

Remember all the thread I got a while back ?
Today DBIL brought me this lovely box of thimbles from the same source. Thank you!

We do not remember days; we remember moments.
~Cesare Pavese, The Burning Brand

Hanne

Tour de Fibre - Tuesday

It has been a long time since I started a new project, and it was great to do so :-)
I am sorting through my red and green fabrics and it is a nice challenge to pick from my fabric collection only.

The preemie hat from yesterday is done.
Several nice people has asked for a pattern, but I do not have a pattern - I am making them up as I knit.
I do cast on 68 stitches, knit 2, pearl 2 for 10 rounds and after that just play with the thread.
You can do braids, lace, stripes, whatever you like, for 4" (total length) before casting off by knitting 2 and 2 stiches together until you have 8 stitches.
I use thin baby wool and 2,5 mm needles.

Why not learn to enjoy the little things -- there are so many of them.

Hanne

Tour de Fibre - Monday

Just wanted to share my new piece of jewellery with you - I love it - I love heart jewellery and the text is so nice.

I had an appointment for my foot at the hospital today, and I was nervous, so my waiting room work was done before lunch - and my appointment was after lunch.....

I had to cast on for another preemie hat before leaving, and that was good, as I had to wait for a while before the Dr. arrived, after having x-rayed my foot.

The cast is off!!
I do have to wear sturdy shoes all the time, and walk with the walker or 2 crutches for the next 4 weeks.
In 4 weeks the foot will be x-rayed again.
The skin is very very sore, and I have had an antiseptic foot bath, and I will be wearing a sock until the skin heals.
The surgical cut is right where the leather of the shoe meets the foot, on the side of the right big toe.
The foot is stiff, sore and strange, but it is mine, and I will make it work again, take as long time as it need!

DH bought strawberries for dessert today. I do love the look, the smell and the taste of fresh strawberries :-)
We had these berries without any additives - no cream, no sugar - these were the sweetest, most tasteful berries.

This has been a very long day, and a little more knitting and hand piecing in front of the TV, with the computer on the side was nice.

Hanne