OPAM Challenge May

I suddenly saw it's the 28th already, and as the grandchildren are coming tomorrow for their long weekend (Whit Monday is a general holiday here) I found out I had better post my finishes now. So potholders (again!!! ) and my new bag.

Tote no 1

About time to overcome my dread of the sewing machine, I thought - so how about something summery (the weather is supposed to get better tomorrow) and easy - like a tote (a great tutorial on Moda bake shop). I had bought some pretty fabrics when I was in town Monday and I happily made the squares and laid them out making sure two of the same weren't beside eachother. I then sewed it together and look!!!

Didn't see that coming! That was lesson no 1. My machine has no extras for quilting so I decided to quilt in the ditch. Lesson no 2: that isn't as easy as it looks either. I think my brain has trouble with straight lines! So I machine embroidered a row of flowers along each row of squares hoping they will catch the eye and not my wonky seams. Quite pleased with that, so next time I'll go for a stronger contrast.

I did manage to put in a little innerpocket for my phone - I don't know how many times I've had to turn my bag upside down to find it. Quite a few bags have phonepockets, but they aren't always deep enough to keep the phone in there. Mine is!!

Lesson no 3: next time I'm going to put in one of those magnetic buttons.

Otherwise I'm quite happy with it and will certainly make more - maybe some on a smaller scale? But this is going to be great for the summer - just right for those extra bits when taking the grandchildren out; cardies, bottles of water, wipes, toys they can't be bothered to carry anymore...... you know! Pluss my junk!

And I think I have hit on an idea for my sister's birthday in August.

AND I have a finish!

Basket no 5.

I have been busy lately - reading! Dear, oh dear! When I get my head stuck in a good book, I can't put it down. But today I have worked on basket no.5 from Bunny Tales. And it is done!
That means I have the rest of the week to do some of the things I keep putting off - and hopefully finish something for my OPAM challenge. The weather is just right for working as it has been raining now for days and doesn't seem to be clearing the next few days either. So I must rummage in my boxes and see what I can find...
Actually I think I must start tidying the house as a friend is coming over for lunch and a natter tomorrow. So bye for now , Anne-Lise

Update - what I've been up to lately.

Well, I have got the Shabby Roses boms 2 and 3 done, and I am quite pleased with them. And looking forward to the next ones.
I have also finished the potholders for my son's new place. (Pics at end of month)
And I have started getting my workroom in order, so I thought I'd better get a photo before I mess it up. I have still got to put in bookshelves and something to keep my fabrics in, but I am quite happy at the moment having a table that is my very own... I have to make sure I have enough room for pulling out the sofabed, as the room must double as a guestroom for now.
I can see I must have more light in here for the winter, but I use my Brightlight which is also very handy as a lightbox for tracing patterns.
I have been spending quite a bit of time enjoying my new "den" - and the dogs have followed suit. Tiffi immediately got on the table and grabbed the cat, and Filix found a nice cool spot under the table. So I have to be careful about stretching my legs!

So this is where I now enjoy my morning coffee while reading your blogs!

So back to work,

hugs

Anne-Lise

Thank you, Di.

The post arrived today with an envelope from the US. Oooo, so exciting!! And there were two dainty packages inside.

And a lovely card from Di.(Quilting is blissful, Di.) A new friend I have made through blogging. How wonderful! And look what I got! The fabrics are lovely, just my colours. And the "Angels among us" fabric is sooo cute, I can't cut into it, Di. I have it on my table and I keep having a look at the sweet angels.

And look at these cute buttons. I have such a hard time getting buttons like this here, so these are such fun.

And all this just for saying Happy Birthday! Thank you very, very much!

Hip, hip, hurray!

Hurray for the 17th May! Today is Norway's national day - celebrating independence from Denmark (1814), then Sweden (1905). The day is a general holiday (shame it's on a Sunday this year) and traditionally celebrated with children in processions, singing and waving the flag (and blowing whistles and horns, just generally making a racket). Afterwards there is usually fun and games at the schools. Hotdogs, cakes and icecream are also important ingredients. Kids of all ages love this day!

This year we have been blessed with nice weather. So I was up early and got my little angels all poshed up and took pictures before they left to have a fun day with their parents. Aren't they cute! And now I can relax and listen to the birds singing and occasional whistles blowing far away. That is until son no 2 turns up for dinner!

Here is my first Shabby Roses bom. I'm not completely happy with it. The fabric for the applique didn't stand out as much as I thought it would. And the pencil I used to trace the pattern didn't come out as it should, so I have got some marks on the material. Oh well, maybe I'll make another later. I nearly finished no 2 last night while watching the eurovision song contest - (which Norway won)!! I quite enjoy the stitching, although I must work on shorter and more even stitches.

Have a great day everyone!

Embroidery tips 1

"Here is a simple method of keeping silks and embroidery threads separate. Buy a two-penny (! sorry, just had to exclaim) notebook - the accountbook kind is the biggest for the money, as a rule - and slip a skein in at each page. Put an elastic band round the book to keep in its contents. You can cut down the book to make it narrower, if you wish."

(News Chronicle; Needlework and Crafts).

I do enjoy reading this book!

Oh, and I found out what my long-hook crocheting is called; Tunisian crochet or Afghan stitch. It has also been called Shepherd's knitting, hook knitting and Railroad knitting (apparently working class girls waiting for the train to take them to the mills would keep themselves busy this way).

You can even find good, easy instructions and patterns on the web. (If anyone wants to have a go and can't get the hook, just let me know and I can help out.) One day I might even progress from pot holders. :) Making another pair for my son to have in his new place.

See you later!

Back on my feet - I hope.

Well, I'm practically back on my feet... at least I can move today without reminding everyone of Quasimodo. So I hope it lasts! I'll just take it easy (yeah, right! The place looks bombed!) and only do what I can manage - like sewing and picking out fabrics for May's basket.

My two fluffy nurses are getting a bit bored, too - the dog run isn't much fun. But they have been very good, competing on who could cuddle closest to me and getting in the way of my laptop. And here are the fabrics I got in town last week. The one in the middle is for the thing I'm making for my granddaughter. The other two are for the Shabby Roses bom. The one on the right is pale pink and will be the background. I can't wait to get started.

So I'm off to potter around, so will say cheerio for now.

What a week...

As you can see above my needle is idle - and I thought I was going to get such a lot done.
Friday my youngest son (29) moved out ... again. He has been staying here while looking for a place to live near his shop. So now he and a mate who works in the shop have found a flat only 15 mins walk away. Saves them an hours drive each way! But I will miss him even if he hasn't been home that long.
My eldest son and his two children came to stay the weekend - and J (6) suddenly got a headache and very high temp. So that put paid to any plans the rest of the weekend. She was still poorly when they left - but don't worry she is right as rain now.
Tuesday I had an appointment in town and I managed to pop into the quilting shop and get some fabrics I needed for the shabby roses bom (among others that came home with me). Photos will be forthcoming later).
Yesterday I was all set to get started, but woke up with a killer headache. So as I couldn't look at anything without crossing my eyes, the only thing I got done all day was walk the dogs and bake bread.
Tasted good though!
And today? Well, I was only reading blogs this morning and got up to get something and my back went. Can't stand, sit or lie down.
So now I am really fed up and down in the dumps. This had better pass quickly because I want to sew!!
Sorry about moaning, promise to be happier next time!
By the way, I have been meaning to ask - do you always prewash fabrics?

Bye for now, Anne-Lise

Sewn - new site

Hi again!
Click on "ALL SEWN UP" button on sidebar for info on new exciting site on it's way. I'm signing on for the Launch Party Giveaway, and will give away 2 x 0,5m fabric + a couple of surprises. So post a comment or send me an e-mail if you would like to take part in my first giveaway.

White rabbits?

May 1st - and have you said "white rabbits"? My Nan taught me that you have to remember to say "white rabbits" every 1st of the month. It should be the first thing you say to bring luck and not tears the rest of the month. Anyone else heard of this? I must admit I still say it, although not always first thing....

And today is a national holiday here in Norway because May 1st is the International Labour Day. Traditionally celebrated with unions parading and/or protesting. In my more youthful days, I'd be on the barricades for women's causes. But thinking about it now I see that we have actually realised a lot of the things we fought for. Good childcare facilities for nearly all that want it, paid leave for new mothers and fathers, equal pay for same job are some. Things to be proud of, although todays generation take all this for granted. That makes me feel sooo old - as if I had been a suffragette handcuffed to railings.....

Over to some things I want to show you:
My garden is very natural. Mostly trees and bushes. I'm not a good gardener, so I tend to let things run wild. So I don't have a lot of flowers, but I do love this rhododendron. It has a wonderful blast of colour, but sadly it doesn't last very long. At the moment it lifts my spirit every time I look out the window.

I do have some other splashes of colour - plenty of this vivid yellow and green! Why did someone have to name it a weed? They are like little dots of sunshine. And they are faithful, strong and willing. Just the thing our planet needs? I have been doing some other stuff than meditating on my garden. This is a peek at a beginning of something.. bigger than anything I've done before. It's going to take time, but I'll let you have a glimpse now and then.

With love and light,