One more runner!

Wow, this is great - I actually started finishing the things I make :o) Two runners in a couple of weeks! I started this some time ago, but the flowers required a bit of stitching and handsewing, so it took me a while. The designer is norwegian, AnnAKa.

The colours are a bit darker than this picture

Another block in Fat Quarter Star QA. This is actually a design that I found and not the one I was supposed to make. I wasn't too thrilled with the original star.

And I made another which was a total disaster.......

And I have joined another BOM at Fat Quarter Shop called Merry Merry Snowmen. It was so cute I couldn't resist it... I haven't started it yet, but hope to soon :o)

Wishing you all a cheerful week :o)

Another two.....

Bloggers BOM blocks done! And believe it or not - I finished the last block just after it was released :o) Wow....

Block 5

Block 6

Hope you all have a relaxing friday evening :o)

Spring is on its way :o)

The last week we have had lots of rain and bad weather, but today the sun was shining, everybody was out enjoying and it really felt like spring.

This is a very popular place for kids to go and feed the birds. And also to walk the dogs, and so did we :o)

As you can see it was a bit cold, ice on the lake, but it was barely holding the ducks. If they had a little rough landing, they went through :o)

But it was not too cold for these lovely flowers to bloom!

I have also been doing some sewing, some runners I have to finish in a couple of weeks. One of them is the runner from the embroidery machine class some weeks ago. I was planning to finish it today, but when I was cutting the binding, it was not enough fabric left...

This is as far as I got. The binding is going to be the same as the frame around the embroideries. A little closer look at the blocks - they are really beautiful!

I have another runner coming up aswell, a red one - I love red :o)

Its only half way done. On both sides I will add some flowers, Im doing some stitchery on them now. I believe it will be nice in the end :o)

I will try to post more often, but I need more hours in the day.... In the shop we are busy preparing for the annual meeting in the Norwegian Quilt Association. This is my first time participating, so Im really looking forward to it :o)

Wishing you all a wonderful week :o)

This has been a good weekend :o)

The last few weeks we have been redecorating the room next to my sewing room, and that meant - no electricity or lights for me - and, as you probably already have figured out, not much time spent by the sewing machine.... But now its back to normal, and I have been sewing again :o)
First of all, I have made Oda the makeup-purse she has been promised for a while now.

I made this some time ago

And this yesterday. Can you see the difference?

I'd say they look quite the same, if I didn't know better :o) Not easy, you say? What if I put them together.

No? Maybe its the photographers fault :o) I'll tell you. The first one I made was without stabilizer on the bottom part, I simply forgot. So it just collapses when put on the table, I dont recommend to do that, much nicer with the stabilizer :o) This is a very nice purse, and it can take a lot.

I have made these two aswell, just to try the locks. I thought I hade some laces to hide the stitches at the top, but it seems I have to get me some.

Im a bit behind on the two BOM's Im in. I managed to make block 3 and 4 of Bloggers BOM - nice :o)

So all in all, it has been a productive weekend and Im very content :o)

A new week is coming, hope it will be a joyful week for all !

I have tried machine embroidery :o)

And not just on any machine, but the new Pfaff Sensation! This weekend our store hosted a class on making blocks on embroidery machines (with Marit F Johannessen). We were 14 ladies making runners, and Marit brought a couple to show us.
 

And there were a lot of different beautiful variations.

Beige

Grey

Purple

Pink

I was a bit nervous, because amongst all these skillled ladies, I was a real newbie. I had only tried a few embroideries before, and didn't know much :o) But they were so kind to me and encouraged me! I wanted to make a runner in brown and beige. 

Sensation in action

And wow - this is fun! We used laces and put on sashing and the result was really nice. 

I managed to finish two blocks, almost 3 and assembled two of them. So all in all, Im quite satisfied :o)

So in the next few days I have to finish the 3rd block, make one more and assemble them. I hope to finish it fast so I remember how to join them:o) 

Wishing you a joyful week!

Washed and dried

In the last post I was searching for some experience regarding drying a quilt in a dryer. And Im so thankful for all the great advices, both as comments and in mails. So during this last week I did finish the quilt and was ready to try drying it! I was quite excited, as I had never done before - and this was a gift... And yes - I do agree - its stupid to experiment on a gift, I know.... But I did it anyway.

This is the quilt before washing it

As you can see its quite plain without wrinkles. The thing with this quilt is that the top and batting is cotton, which is organic and the backing is fleece which is synthetic. So I was a bit worried that the cotton would shrink too much compared to the fleece. I washed it in 40 gr C and it looked fine. Then I put it in the dryer for about 30 min and had a look. Still no problem! It was not quite dry, so I put it in for another 30 min. Then it was completly dry and it looked just fantastic :o))

It has a bit more wrinkles, especially on the fleece on the back. You cant see it very clearly on the picture, but its there. Not too much, just a little. I would say its just the way it should be :o)

I like the colours!

And, of course, I have to show a picture of it when its folded - it looks so nice :o)

And now it is on its way to Oslo to its new owner :o)

Wishing you a wonderful week!!

I know I said...

I was going to do the rest of the blocks... But the urge to quilt one of my tops came over me! And since I have to finish it within less than two weeks, I couldn't ignore it :o)

I quilted with straight lines along the stripes, simple but nice.

I chose fleece for the back. It was easier to quilt than I thought, I thought maybe it would be thick to sew. But I had no problem :o)

I also made the binding, so its all ready to finish the quilt tomorrow.

Because Im giving it away to a little babygirl, I want to wash it. And put it in the dryer, because I finally got one :o) What are you experience with quilts in the dryer - anything I need to be aware of??

How happy can a girl be......

I'll tell you - unbelievably happy if she gets to sew from time to time....

And so was I today! It has been a while since I had the time to sit down and enjoy my sewing room. I have fallen behind on the two quilt alongs that I do, and my goal is to minimize the gap as good as I can. So I sat down today to do some of the blocks, 4 to go on one of the QA's and 2 on the other. To chose what fabric to use is the hardest part I think and that takes some time. So I only got to finish these two blocks today, hopefully more tomorrow :o)

To all my blogging friends - wishing you a wonderful and creative weekend :o)

Wishing all of my friends a happy and prosperous new year :o)

Hugs from Merete

I have something to show you :o)

No, I havent forgotten about you, and I certainly hope you havent forgotten me... Its just that December has been really really busy, so I havent been able to make much - or blog about the things I didnt make :o)  I have some days off after tomorrow and will have a loong new year's weekend :o) And then I plan to catch up on the two BOM's that I joined and doing some quilting.

But today I was in the shop, enjoying myself. And I took some pictures that I want to show you, proud as I am :o) I used my phone, so I see its not the best quality....

Welcome to my world!

A little table with this and that

Some of the fabrics

The sewing machines

And a few of the beautiful quilts on the wall

So this is where I spend my days, I bet you can understand Im happy :o) We also have a web-shop, www.quiltekroken.no. Once I have learned how to manage it in full, it will be constantly updated and filled with all the new stuff we get! There is already a lot of goodies there, so have a look :o)

Wow, how time flies.....

when you are having fun :o) I am almost two months into my new dream world ( that is my new job) and I can tell you - I love it, love it, love it !! Its busy and lots to do, but I come home smiling every night, having had yet another great day :o) But as strange as it may seem - working in a store filled with fabrics, notions and sewing machines, tons of inspiration every day, I get less time for sewing..... So, today I decided I wanted to make room for some sewing - I wanted to try a new pattern.

And Im quite pleased with it. A lucky girl will get this for x-mas - can you believe its only 2 weeks away! I will have to make a few more.

Wishing you a wonderful week!!