Time flies in a strange time.

 

I was very optimistic last time I wrote that I would be back very soon, but here I am, - a long time  after. Now spring is here in Norway and life is back to normal after the covid lockdown.

We have got some new habits, but we can meet and see friends and family again. Even the flee markets have started again, and here is what my granddaughter bought me yesterday to have the first spring flowers in.

 

I have made a lot of things since last I wrote here, but I’ll just show you one wall-hanging. It was made for the competition In The Norwegian Quilting Association -NQF this year. My title was New years wishes 2022 for Europe. I wished that Europe could wish the boat refugees welcome the same way.

 I don’t make competition quilts because I think I am and fabulous artis, but I want to be a better quilter, and the judges give me a very good description of what is good and what can be better. And just to send in is a big step too.

Time flies, but some finishes to show.

 

I had good intentions to write here once a week in the autumn, but nothing has been normal the last year and not my writing either. But l I’ve have had my quilting and a lot of shops and quilters having lessons and online meetings that have held my interest going. I’ve finished a lot of project and sorted out my cupboards, shelves and banana-boxes so my sewing room is a good place to stay in when I go there.

One of my projects I’m really proud of is “Farm Sweet Farm”. The pattern is by Lori Holt and it’s free on her blog-page. All you need to buy is some plastic templates if you have enough fabric and don’t want the original fabric. I bought a fabric kit, and I finished the quilt 2 years after I saw someone sewing a block. It’s a variation of hand-applique the Lori Holt way and machine sewing. Loved it!

I even quilted it myself so I’m so proud of myself. The only thing I didn’t do was the block on the backside. Here I made my own tag.

 

 

I don’t like to have too many projects going on at the same time, but when I work on a big quilt, I need to take a brake now and then. This table runner “Piano runner” by Northern quilt, was a fun project to do.

 

Next time I ‘ll tell you about my banana box projects. Have a nice week!

Good shops give inspiration and good help!

 I've been quilting for nearly 35 years and I've seen shops come and go, seen how internet shopping has grown. I hope we can find a balance between shopping local and on the net because we need our shops. Shops where we can get help when our project stands still, inspiration to a new project when our ideas are out, and a place where we can touch and have a look at new fabric.

Some of my favourite shops are good at making new projects of the new fabric very quickly, some make new variations of old patterns  and some make small gatherings  for quilters where they show models, fabrics and all other new quilting must have stuff. They use Facebook and Instagram to keep us all updated and get the feeling I must buy……..

I’ve had a really big collection of fabrics and everything, but after I became an early age pensioner, I had a big clean up. I’ve reduced my fabric “collection” and stash “collection” and try to buy what I need instead of what I think I will use some day in the future. I have much better time to sew and quilt so I can still buy new fabric to new projects. I can call the shop I saw had a nice fabric on Facebook or I can have a trip to town and touch and see.

This table runner I made after a Facebook picture from one of my favourite shops KathrinesQuiltestue in Oslo. The shop and staff are good at everything .