Sweet as cinnamon giveaway

Dawn Hay designs has a new blog name As sweet as cinnamon and is having a giveaway to celebrate the new name.

Another finish and a musical

The dress is finished and makes a nice set with the bolero. My GD is very pleased. So now we are hoping for warmer weather. But to keep the smile on her face I suggested wearing a t-shirt and tights underneath. She was happy with that. Oh yes, it fits!

Most of the dress is knitted and the bodice is crocheted. It looks really cute.

Each May, Bergen hosts an international music festival - a huge affair. So last night son #2 and I went to see a brand new musical - a black metal musical!! It's interesting because it's based on local history and the tragedy of Svartediket - "the black lake" in the Bergen mountains. The lake was used by some to get rid of unwanted children ca 1800 - even a priest was involved. Just the right sort of black story for black metal music! I like a lot of rock music and with two sons growing up I've heard my share of "metal". Son #2 plays the guitar in a band for fun. It's interesting that Bergen is looked upon as the cradle of Black metal music. "Svartediket" is the first Black metal musical.
It was actually quite good. I wouldn't buy the music to enjoy at home - but it suited the theme and lyrics. I really enjoyed myself (didn't even have to use my earplugs :) - and I wasn't the oldest one there. Great evening!

Wikipedia: Svartediket

Birthday giveaway

Jenny of Elefantz is having a lovely giveaway for her daughter, Blossom. It is her birthday on May 26th!
Great prizes!
If you follow my link to her site and join in, please mention you got the info from my site - yes, another chance to win :)

I'm a bag lady ..

Today's work - and a finish! New bag for the summer! It's big and roomy, wide straps that don't dig in your shoulder and a zipper pocket.

The pattern is from a local quilt shop. The squares are made from a charm pack I won in a giveaway - Moda, Glace (?). I loved the colours and patterns wanted to make something I could look at often. A few of the squares were more Christmassy, so I've saved them for something else.
The lining is something I found in town the other day - I passed a Bernina shop and they had some fabrics on sale ... well, I had wondered what Iwas going to use for the lining so I couldn't resist the urge to have a peek. And I found just the right thing.
I did make some mistakes - but all in all I'm pleased with it.

I hope you enjoyed your weekend, too.

This and that

The weather is beautiful and warm (on the terrace out of the wind). The strong light calls for easy projects that can be done almost without looking. And a summer hat is always great ... this one's a bit small though ... Nima has made a Hat pincushion giveaway. So if you want the pattern too, head over to her blog. I gave mine to the hostess of our knitting club yesterday evening.

This is how far I've got on GD's dress. I am happier with this one. But it is taking forever to get to the armhole. She'd better stop growing - I could finish a lot faster when she was tiny. :)

A picture from my garden. This is a mini rhododendron and a beautiful splash of colour in the spring. Unfortunately it doesn't weather rain very well - loses some of it's colour and sparkle. I should have taken the photo before it rained. I'll try again next year :)

I managed to tidy up my verandabox for the 17th (national day). I am waiting a bit before I get new lavender bushes - the nursery said they are more sturdy if planted out in June. I am not a good gardener - I love tidy gardens full of flowers, but the ones decorating my lawn are bright yellow and not very popular! I must say I think they are pretty, but I do wish they would stay in one little spot............

I hope you have a nice Whitsun weekend. We get an extra holiday on Monday so I hope the weather stays sunny. I have dug out the sun screen so hopefully no more red patches!

Not again!

I don't know if it is Google or Picassa that doen't like me, but I was told the photos for last nights post didn't load. I have no way of knowing, because when I look at my blog everything looks fine - photos and all.
So here goes ... again:
Here is my son's arm being decorated ... I really think it amazing how this is done. A drawn outline and the rest is done freehand.
There were quite a few sailors in my family and I remember the tattoos of hearts and ships etc. This is completely different!

And here is the cutie I babysat.

And here are the goodies I found in the quilt shop. I am going to try out the bags in cotton fabric before I cut the silk!

Weather report: The sun is shining, a slight breeze - so I am hoping it will be warm enough later to sit outside and sew.

A trip to town

Yesterday I had a trip to town. Braving sleet, hail and rain.
My son had an appointment with his tattooist and I went along as nanny. She likes to keep her hand in even though she is on maternity leave. So I gladly agreed to look after baby for a while.
This looks like fun - but sadly I can't draw! Maybe I could do a Smiley on his arm :)

Such an adoring angel. He smiled, danced and after mum gave him lunch, he went to sleep. I could cuddle him to bits!

And along the same street as the tattoo place - (shop, parlour? ) there is a quilt shop! I got two bag patterns (yes, I am a bag lady :) )
I'm looking for the right pattern to make a bag with my Chinese silk. I found one I like ... and another pattern for a summer bag.
I also got a pattern for magic triangles, so I'm going to try that ... looks fun. And I was given 3 pieces of fabric for free! (I think it was because I had used a bit of money there...but I was pleased anyway.)

Today I have been doing housework - washed floors, dusted, tidied, laundry - the works! I didn't dare take before and after pictures!
So glad to be done! And my plan is to use the next few days sewing!

Starting from scratch ..

The harsh winter killed off my herbs; lavender, thyme and mint. I'll have to start from scratch again. I love using mint in my cooking - reminds me of dinner at gran's. And my lavender bushes have helped keep gnats away from the terrace. It is getting warm enough now to get replacements, I think we are safe from more snow now.

But what do I see? And smell? Yes, this is definitely mint - we have a survivor! I'm glad I waited before throwing the plants away. Now I'll tidy away the dry stalks and make room for the new plant.

I have finished the 3rd Cat bom, this one is personalized (by the colouring) - the sisters being my sister and me. Not that she can sit long with Brutus on her lap - she will start sneezing soon :)
So now I must prep no 4. I love stitching in the evenings in front of the telly.

This was also meant to be TV work - the dress I started crocheting for my granddaughter. But I give up - the pattern is missing quite a bit and although I can work that out, it is going to be miles too big for her.
So I have started on a different dress, knitted this time and I am unravelling as I go. Maybe I'll save the lacy pattern bit and make a crocheted skirt out of it later - then I can put a ribbon in the waist and gather it in to fit "Skinny Lizzy".

Have a nice weekend.!

Thursday Night Knitting Club

Thursday evening we gathered for our knitting club ... well, we knit, sew, crochet, eat and talk. Especially the latter :)
The girls are colleagues from the school where I used to work and it is fun to meet and catch up. Not the most efficient work time, but we certainly have fun!

Looking really busy here ....