Something Old And Something New

 

I am naming and claiming projects, just like we did when Kris and Peg hosted OPAM (One Project A Month) many moons ago.

Being part of Chookyblue's Zoom group is very inspiring, and is so nice to chat and sew with friends from all over the world. 

It is productive and fun to find something in my sewing room and finish it, to use myself, or to put in the gift box. Maybe I have all the Christmas gifts early this year? One can but dream 😁💓

This big block I made in a class with Camille Roskelley many years ago.
I liked the block, but I never felt like doing a big quilt with this block.

As from today it is decorating my veranda table. I have not machine quilted much at all in the last 3 years, and I feel a bit rusty, but done is done.

My master plan is to finish at least 12 Ufos through the year. Lofty goals are good 😀

3 done, 9 to go!

I will have new starts too, promise 💓 

 Take care and sew on, wherever you are 

Hanne 

This & That–OPAM too

I have been working on something I am not at liberty to blog about (yet) and as soon as it was done and out of here, I could enjoy doing some EPP.
This is in fact the start of 2 different projects…..
Some will say I need a new project like I need a hole in my head – but sometimes I just have to do it, and my head needs some airing out.
I do not eat chocolate anymore, so fabrics and projects are my chocolate :-))

What a nice saying on this stitchery, thinking about all my project ;-)
Another block for the Life is Beautiful quilt is done.
My late father in law was very good doing the smallest cross stitch embroidery on national costume shirts, and I was so lucky to get the rest of his embroidery floss when he passed away.
I just discovered that one of the skeins was the right colour for my stitchery.
How nice it is to use his floss – I am sure he would have liked it. He loved my quilts too.

Two small finishes for OPAM – One Project A Month.
A crochet owl for DD2 and a finished pin cushion from a cute cross stitch embroidery I got for a present from DD1 a long time ago.
It will be used a lot – I love small pin cushions, especially when they are from special people in my life :-)

Our lives are like quilts bits and pieces, joy and sorrow, stitched with love

Hanne

Happy moments!

It has again been a busy week, preparing for a double 50 year celebration (DH and myself) + our silver wedding anniversary :-)

May Britt came to celebrate with us, and she gave me a hand with the last preparations, like making the name cards for the dinner table.

Even if the cards turned out very cute, we can not see a scrapping future for any of us - even my DH noticed that we would have been a 100 times more happy cutting fabrics instead of paper ;-)

We had the most gorgeous gourmet meal, prepared by a professional chef in my own kitchen, serving 15 guests.

Seafood for starters, breast of duck for main dish and sorbet with fresh fruit and berries for dessert, accompanied by the very best vines.
Sorry - I totally forgot to take photos, but the meal was the very best, and it was very beautifully served. You just have to take my word for it :-)

Today both May Britt and I realized that we did not have any finishes for OPAM (One Project a Month)  for October.
That can't be heard of - having had finishes every month through the year, so we made a joined effort and made some pin cushions.

Correction: I had forgot about the 2 gift quilts I made earlier this month.

After May Britt returned home this afternoon I found that I could finish this drawstring bag too.

Here is the outside, the lining and the stitchery  finished.

And here is the finished product Design Leanne Beasley.

From zero to 2 finishes in hours - feels good!

It has been a great weekend with favourite friends!

Hanne

More OPAMs for June

I forgot to blog these in June.
A new makeup purse for myself and a tote for a gift.

A while ago I gave my friends May Britt and Bente a challenge.
We all got a zipper, a piece of fabric and some silk ribbons.
I have used the fabric close to the zipper.
The silk ribbons was a little bright to go with the checked fabric, so I gave it a coffee bath :-)

This tote is a gift for a friend. I hope it will make her happy  :-)

Hanne

Care quilts day

Wednesday last week, my friend Bente and I joined forces in finishing more care quilts for children with long term diseases.

A friend of mine, Iren, is a wiz in making lovely quilt tops, and I have taken upon myself to make sure these lovely tops will warm children in need.

 

This last one was a kit made by a lady in Bente's quilt guild.
She who took it home to frame the printed squares returned it the month after because she did not have time to do the work.
It took me about 2-3 hours to finish the top and piece a backing.

We found backings, pinned, quilted and had coffees :-)

When we met on Tuesday, 6 days later, the status was as follows:

 
Done!

Done!

   
Done!

Done!

and Done!
5 down, 1 to go :-)

Bente carrying care quilts and more backings.
Never a dull moment for happy care quilt sewing ladies :-)

Sewing care quilts are very rewarding - try it and enjoy!

I will add 2 of the finishes to my OPAM list - the panel quilt and the happy colours square quilt.

Hanne

May finishes + being on the mend

Thanks for all the well wishes!
Yesterday the pneumonia cough took a turn to the better and I am now officially on the mend :-)
It has been a long 4 weeks indeed!

It is counting OPAM (one project a month) time again, and I can count 3 finishes.

A pair of pink girly lace socks knitted by yours truly for yours truly , who has not knitted since December 2006.

* I can promise you this will NOT turn into a knitting blog ;-)
* I can promise you I will NOT build a yarn stash!!
*  I can promise you I will keep to sock knitting when the urge hits me - fast and easy to finish, and not wearing my shoulders out! And, not to forget - I do neither want nor need knitting Ufos !

This weekend I attended (part time) a class by AnnaKa, a well known Norwegian quilt designer.
My cough prevented me from participating full time, but I enjoyed the time I was there, and it was a good source of Vitamin Q. Thanks Ann -  it was a great weekend!

I made this laundry travel bag for myself, and a new matching toiletry purse.

 

I was using my own toiletry purse pattern, adding Ann's inspiration in the decor.

I'll be back with more from the class soon!

Hanne

Several finishes :-)

Another care quilt done - and both are delivered now.

I made a gift for my favourite aunt - a keeper for knitting needles and crochet needles.

One can off course keep other things in it too, like hair brushes or painting brushes.

Miss Cat and I watched a nature program on TV last night.
She could  figure out where all the bird sounds came from, but the birds did not smell a thing and could not be caught………..weird……….  :-)

 
Sunshine Frolics all done :-)
This is a Block Of the Month. It was kits. I have changed the border and the binding.
It was to little border fabrics in the kit. I do not buy BOM kits from abroad anymore.

I used to dislike bindings, but I don't think I do anymore, as a binding in progress is a quilt very close to done!

Merete has done the machine quilting. It is lovely!

Hanne

An Easter Finish :-)

This weekend I nudged my friends May Britt and Bente to do something about this kit we bought in Gothenburg May 2009.

The kit is from Quilt My Design in Denmark, and it was very nicely labelled.
No doubth which piece of fabric going where.

Now I am done with the small sewing kit, measuring 6,5" x 5,25" folded.
A very good size for a bring along sewing kit.

I will take this sewing kit for a trip very soon :-)

Hanne

Busy days

A finish!

Machine quilted by Merete - beautiful!!

The last day of February, Sunday 11 days ago, I tried to finish this quilt too, but I had an ooops moment with the binding.

   
I grabbed the green fabric where the border fabric was and after sewing it on by machine, I found out it was the wrong colour and did not look to good on this quilt (even if it is a beautiful fabric too).
Well - I could leave it as it was, or take the job of cutting it off and do it again, with a finish in March rather than in February.
I had to call May Britt for some moral support, and as you can see above, I cut it off and put the right binding on, and the quilt is now finished :-)

Thursday the same week I was spending the day with my friend Bente to sew care quilts.

I was well prepared, with a pile of 6,5" squares ready to use.

The pile of squares was turned in to this top during the day,

and are now done and given to the Warming Quilts (Tepper som varmer).

Bente made this lovely quilt - sorry for the bad photo quality.
It is completed now too. A very clever way to use a fabric with repetitions :-)

 

*******

Friday I got my Svennebrevet back from Merete.
I shopped for binding yesterday, so this quilt will be on my March finish list :-)
 

 

I chose the pattern Fascination.

I am still working on my stars, aiming for a finish before long :-)

I took on making this table runner for my local hobby shop Trådsnella (The Spool)
It is AnnaKa's latest pattern, and it was fun to make.

If this is the beauty of the household, I must be the beast ;-)
Feeling pale and tired, and not very talkative.
A long hard winter is singing on the last verses.
As you see we still  have a lot of snow, but the days are longer and lighter :-)

I am wishing for spring here - NOW!

Hanne