a very quiet

celebration of this blog. It's been 3 years, today, since my first post.

The celebration is quiet, due to a shoulder that still needs rest. Also quite knocked out by a throat infection - bubbles and antibiotics is never a good match...

Still, three years is a reason to celebrate. My blog has been the source of so much fun for me:

sharing process and results, learning by doing tutorials and swaps, being inspired by others and getting lovely feedback...

The blog as a journal of my creations and connections is also important to me. I tried printing my blog about a year into this adventure. It's different from the blog. More like reading a diary. Since then I order a copy every 6 month - spring and fall issues...

Here they are - my quilting chronicles:

Thank you all for your nice contributions. They are cherished a lot!

; )

january finish

prewash and pre binding...

washed and crincled...
I started this quilt two years ago. The quilt top has been waiting in line for quilting. For a while I was considering hand quilting it. Funny how a stiff neck and sore shoulder can help in the decision making on how to finish a quilt?

Anyway, it is quilted on a long arm, using Quilters Dream Select (cotton) batting. My Bonnie's Stars is 64" * 80", and my shoulder is still hurting from sewing the binding down by hand. (Couldn't help myself, too tempting.)

Sorry about the complaining, ladies. I am very happy with the final quilt, love the weight and feel of it.
Ready to be used...

The last picture compares the color palette of my three "winter quilts". The top one was started first. The other two has wool batting.

Is the similarity of colors by chance or is it some kind of subconscious choice? I am happy about how well they play together...

Still bleak winter days with poor light. Still cold. No sewing before my neck and shoulder improves. What is a girl to do????

(taking a break from sewing makes one appreciate it even more...)

Be well and have fun with it!

make a boob ...

This week I have made a few "boobs" for Nina Lise aka Mrs Moen. Maybe you have heard about her breast cancer project? This is a short introduction from her Make a Boob blog:

Make a Boob is a project about breast cancer.

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The project has two mail goals:

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offering people with breast cancer to participate in workshops where we decorate boobs. These workshops are set up in co-operation with the local chapter of the Cancer Association. Participants can decide to keep their work or to donate them to Make a Boob Art.
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to create awareness and involvement through
- making circles for workshops
- participating in workshops and decorating boobs
- exhibition of Make a Boob Art

She invites us all to participate. Stop by her blog for more information.

I used some colorful old ufo's, hoping they will have a future as part of a bigger picture.

Wish you all a lovely week!

bee friends flimsy

First letters of 2011...

This weekend I pulled out my bee blocks from the Eurovision Quilters. Sketching a bit brought out an idea of organizing the blocks into columns.

Putting all the blocks up on the design wall, my first step was to put their bare feet in some grass, connecting them and emphasize the columns. I chose white to bind it all together, contrasting the sky blue background in the blocks.

Then there was room for more. I had an 10" by 11" free space to fill... and I wanted to add some letters. A bit more planning on paper first:

The dresses are partly from Denyse's Katie Jump Rope line, and as a play on words this phrase just stuck on my mind.

Here they are, all playing nicely together...

The top is 50" * 67" and I have started thinking about batting and backing. One step at a time...

; )

Wish you all a lovely week!

a small gift

This is the first finish of 2011. A 4.5" coaster, heading for the Tokyo Quilt Festival.

I have joined with Ayumi's group to make a set of coasters for the fabric artist and quilter Suzuko Koseki. I was assigned the letter "u".

My first encounter with Suzuko was through Penny's quilt-as-you-go quilt-along. I enjoyed this qayg technique so much, and purchased her lovely book.

My coaster doesn't use any of Suzuki Koseki's lovely fabric (haven't got a stash - yet). Inspired by her qayg technique I adapted it into building the letter u.

The back is a sweet print for a coaster, I think.

It's a small gift on it's own, but I think it will be lovely as a part of the whole set. Looking forward to hear from Ayumi's about meeting with Suzuko and presenting her the gift.