Ati's little world.....

a new block for my wool quilt

2012-01-24T14:09:00.000+01:00

Again a block ready for my wool quilt. size 20 x 40 cm. (8x16")
The TAST stitch samples are in the future on my Flickr photosite.

wisp block 12

2012-01-21T10:06:00.002+01:00

Again a block ready for my wool quilt. Size 20 x40 cm. (8x16") The pink pieces are not that pink but more magenta. It is difficult to make nice photos with flashlight.
Five to go of this size and four corner blocks.

tast stitch, week 3

2012-01-20T13:35:00.001+01:00

Three variations of the tast stitch for week 3: feather stitch.

I added buttonhole stitch, lazy daisy and french knots.

Journal: Treasures of the past.

2012-01-18T14:17:00.000+01:00

The journal is ready. If you like to see all the pages large and read what I have written below them about the stuff which is sewn on the pages; go to my Flickr photo stream and click on next photo until you have seen all 12 :)

CQJP 2012, January block

2012-01-17T14:41:00.000+01:00

Here is my January block. The size is 8 ".
I 've planned to make a kind of calendar from the 12 blocks.
We don't have snow yet so my block is mostly green with a bit of white from the few snowflakes and the hail storms.
It is unusual weather for January this year. Even the meadows around our house are still green and our neighbour farmer has the sheep out every day!

tast week 2, buttonhole stitch

2012-01-16T21:25:00.001+01:00

Three variations of the buttonhole stitch on my wool quilt.

tresures of the past

2012-01-13T14:46:00.001+01:00

I am making a journal called: Treasures of the past. I have inherited so many needlework treasures, just bits and pieces. Some unfinished.
I also got beautiful bits and pieces from my friend Eva K.
When I keep it all in a box, what will happen to those bits and pieces when I am gone?
That's why decided to make a journal to keep it all together.
I make single pages and double pages and try to arrange it free.
Just a bit shabby chic style like my other journals.
To be continued.....

fabric-book pages

2012-01-07T09:23:00.000+01:00

This is the fabric book page I made for Ritva in Finland. Ritva asked for "Hundertwasser".
I sewed lines from a building on the background and made needlefelt 'trees'.
Below the page Helinä also from Finland made for me.
She likes paintings from the painter Cézanne and this is her interpretation.
I like it very much.
Those pages are 15 x 15 cm.

tast week 1

2012-01-03T16:27:00.001+01:00

Today the TAST (take a stitch on tuesday) has started. Week 1; fly stitch. I spent a part of my day to make two seams on my wool quilt with a simple fly stitch and two fly stitch items.

new start

2012-01-01T09:48:00.001+01:00

The start of a whole new year!
It lies in front of us and we are free to fill it with our dreams and wishes.
The year is empty as the CQ blocks below, white and clean.
It is up to all of us what we do this year.
So many choices. I hope we all make the good ones.
I wish you all a happy, healthy and creative new year!

Those blocks will travel trough Europe soon. Every member of the group has to embroider one block. They will come back to me in a six months time.
In the meantime I have to embroider the blocks of the other ladies.

review 2011

2011-12-30T09:20:00.000+01:00

A little review from what I did in 2011.
I like to say "thank you " to my blog friends and followers, whether you are just looking or leaving a comment.
Please know that I really do appreciate the fact that you take the time to read and to look what I did.
I wish you all a nice new years eve.

Christmas cards

2011-12-23T15:17:00.000+01:00

In November I made some Christmas cards to sent far away. They have reached their destination.
Now I can show them to you too. I have printed a vintage Santa postcard on fabric and assembled some lace and other things in a corner.
I wish I could send cards to all my followers but that is not possible.
With the photo from my handmade cards I wish you all a Merry Christmas!

BD cards

2011-12-22T09:49:00.000+01:00

Last month I made some birthday cards for the ladies of the FF group I am in.

The whole year round we have to send cards and when I had my bd I got 16 handmade cards in return.

Those three are the last ones this year and they all have reached their new homes now.

They are made in the shabby chic style.

Julekuler

2011-12-18T22:11:00.001+01:00

A while ago I got a gift from my eldest daughter. A book.
Just for fun , she said. It was not a hint ;) no, no.
But she loves the knitted Christmas balls and she cannot knit with 5 needles in the round... so...
What would you have done?
I have sent her to the shop and ordered 2 skeins yarn: 100% wool. Viking superwash.
I have used 5 needles 3 mm. (US 2,5)
And have knitted 4 balls for her Christmas tree.
Below the book with 55 patterns. Very good knitting instructions and clear patterns.
The book is translated in 8 languages!

outside it's snowing but inside, mmm

2011-12-17T14:10:00.000+01:00

Wish you could smell it :)

fabric "Mothers" book ready

2011-12-14T13:59:00.002+01:00

The fabric mothers book is ready. And I am happy how it turned out.
I have started the pages with the eldest mother and worked toward the present time.
The page with me is the last page of the ten I made.
Working on those pages made me think of all those women whom have lived before me with their struggles and joy. Of all of them I have something inherited in my character and existence.
This book is made to honour the women I come from.

On an old linen napkin I simple embroidered the word Moeders, which is Dutch for mothers.

My page, the last one in the book. On the left page a piece of an old doily which I have embroidered when I was about 10 years old. I remember when I got it as a present, printed with the cross-stitches. And 3 skeins of DMC floss, green, red and yellow blended.
In the upper right corner of the left page a piece of my wedding veil and a few flowers of the wedding crown. A little silver ring of my childhood and some buttons from dresses. On the right page pieces from my clothes and a part of a bobbin lace doily which I grabbed from the side table a week ago :)
I have made bobbin lace from 1980 until I moved to Norway in february 2002.
You see also a little piece of the inside cover which is made from a Dutch farmers handkerchief.
I made a pocket on the back-cover and will tuck a little notebook inside with the stories from all the mothers.

the last great grandmother

2011-12-10T14:33:00.003+01:00

The grandmother of my grandmother. Unfortunately I don't have a photo of her but I have her handwriting! A page in my grandmothers poetry album which I have printed on fabric.
I have used original fabrics from the period she lived and original laces! On the right page a piece of handmade bobbin-lace and 5 original red coral beads. Necklaces with those beads were often used in this period on sundays.
On the left page a front of a nightgown with handmade Swiss lace and hand-made buttonholes.
The nightgown itself was used for something else but the front with the lace was still in a box at my aunts house when she had died. On the left pages also a piece of a fashion magazine from 1898.
I printed a part of a page on fabric.

In a shoebox on the attic in my aunts house there where little bits of fabric of an old blouse. All the clothes in this period were sewed by hand and the left overs were saved too.
And the original blouse was there!
I like to show you the blouse I have from Grietje Baan. Saved in five generations!
My aunt told me that.
It is hand sewed of course and worn out. But never thrown away!
Is is a blouse in Empire style, made in about 1840. Worn with a long wrinkled skirt.
I have asked my neighbour girl to show it and here are the photos.
The blouse of 150 years old and the jeans from 2011 :)
Wish my great-grandmother could see this!

Thank you very much Malin being the model!

wisp block number 11

2011-12-08T09:08:00.000+01:00

A new block for my wool quilt in old style. Block number 11. Made from old clothes.
Only embroidery, no lace, no beads. It is difficult at this time of the year to make nice photos.
Too little daylight so I had to use flash. The colors are much richer in real.
This block measures 20x40cm. ( 8x16")

fabric book-pages

2011-12-06T14:32:00.001+01:00

Here are two fabric book pages from the Fibre Fever group swap.
Above the page I made for Peggy (USA). Peggy's theme is "all shades of pink".
I made a page for her in crazy quilt style, size 15x15 cm . 6".
Below the page Juliette from GB made for me.
It is an impression of a landscape by van Gogh.
Juliette likes the van Goghs landscapes very much, she wrote to me.
She made it from wet-felted wool and added some machine stitching.

An other great-grandmother

2011-12-04T16:24:00.000+01:00

This is a new double page for my fabric mother-book. The grandmother of my father.
The fabric and lace on the left page are authentic. The braid and the bobbin-lace on the right page too. And a few pieces of fabric on the right page and the buttons of course!
This is the only photo which I have of her. Scroll down for more :)
Below a detail photo of the antique laces. On the left the hand embroidered Swiss lace, on the right the handmade bobbin-lace which was used for the caps. ( made in Belgium) The Swiss embroidery is wrong side up on purpose so that you can see it is hand embroidered.
You always can click on the photos to enlarge them!

Below the family photo with my great-grandparents and their children. Taken in 1904!
Some of the older girls were married at that time and their husbands are also on the photo.
The tall boy on the right is my grandfather.
This is the farmhouse were I grew up.
The beautiful wooden gate is replaced by a smaller iron one in the '50.
I remember that. This wooden gate is given away by my grandfather to the open air museum in Arnhem (the Netherlands). When I visited the museum in the '80 I didn't see it!
Maybe all the parts are still in a storage place??

chair pillows

2011-12-02T14:17:00.001+01:00

I am sewing pillows for dining table chairs. The chairs are old Ikea chairs and painted by DD.
They are hers. But grandson said: they are too hard and cold, mum!
That's why I decided to make pillows.
I have used the leftovers from this quilt to make the tops. Patchwork squares 2,5 ".
I never made chair pillows before. Sewing the tops was easy!
But making them fit for a piece of 2" thick polyester is an other story!
The first one was a disaster, Grrr... The second one went better and the third one is good :)
Now the fourth one will be a piece of cake , I guess.

an other great-grandmother

2011-11-27T14:26:00.000+01:00

This is the other grandmother of my mother; Grietje Belie. The mother of my grandfather.
My mother always spoke very warmth about her.
On the fabric page a photo of her when she was 18, I think. Most of the girls in the northwest part of the Netherlands got the gold or silver jewelery for the traditional cap when the became an official member of the church. I have chosen fabrics on both pages from the era she lived.
The lace on the right page is original handmade bobbin-lace which was used for the cap.
On the left page the poem she wrote in my mothers poetry album.
Below a photo taken in the fields with her husband and two of her sons.
The photo is taken in 1928, my great-grandmother was 64 years old than.
Strange enough she looks older than I am now and I am 69!

great-grandmother

2011-11-21T09:00:00.001+01:00

Here is a new double page for my "mother" book.
This is my great-grandmother, the mother of my grandmother.
She lived in the east part of the Netherlands. She was born and raised up in a poor family which lived in a peat cottage. My mother told me that a long time ago.
She married in 1891 to Jan Koning which was a house painter.
This great grandmother got 12 children. One little boy drowned when he was 8 years old and one little girl was still born. Ten children grew up, my grandmother was the second child.
On the left page I have used the original pillow sheet fabric which was used for straw mattresses.
( the blue striped one) I also made two buttonholes by hand to go with the vintage buttons.
The fabrics on the right page are all vintage, except for the little dark grey triangle which is a replica.

Lucky me :)

2011-11-18T19:20:00.000+01:00

Today I got the surprise baggie from Susan, from the blog "Plays with needles".
A while ago Susan had a give away and I won! Of all of the 166 comments she got, she picked me!
The goodies are sparkles, bought by Susan on a New York trip.
She was shopping for her "Tiffany" block at that day.
It is beautiful material, real mirror glass. I is much more beautiful than the plastic substitutes you see everywhere.
She also added a photo of the great butterfly she made on the Tiffany block.
And look at the stamps!! One of my favorite movie stars when I was young.
Thank you very much Susan.
On a beautiful day I will use it on a special CQ block!

middagslur-teppe

2011-11-16T12:54:00.002+01:00

My crochet blanket is ready to use! I am very pleased with it.
The final size is 110 x 165 cm. (43x66".)

I have used 3400 meters yarn. ( 3700 yards) Hook 2,5 mm.
Yarn: 13 skeins Filcolana Merci ( 50% merino wool 50% cotton) and 4 skeins Filcolana extra fin merino.
Super soft and warm.
Border: 2 rows lilac sc. ( vasten) 3 rows dark and light pink dc.( stokjes) one row white sc. ( vasten)

look at this

2011-11-12T14:37:00.000+01:00

My Babette blanket is coming to an end. I am finishing section 14 now.
Get almost crochet wings ;-)
Now it has a useful size. Just a few squares to make....
And than a border, maybe 2 or 3 rounds. It depends how much yarn I have left.
I am rather proud on myself, it took much more time than I had calculated and much patient to make all those squares.
I like the pattern but when I make it again, I have to choose thicker yarn!
I mainly crochet in the evenings in front of the TV.
But now I am sewing some parts together to see what sizes and colors I need to make the last row also nice.

fabric book pages

2011-11-08T08:45:00.001+01:00

Here are the last fibre pages I have swapped. The "winter" page went to Maria in Portugal.
Maria's wish was to get pages of all seasons. I saw she had received both summer and spring pages so I made a winter page for her.
Made from sheep-fleece on the embellisher and some hand embroidery. In the white snow I have added a few angelina fibers for a 'sparkle'.
Below the page I got from Kath. She lives on the isle of Crete.
Kath has woven an impression of a painting by Paul Klee ( sailing boats).
The original painting is on the third picture.
I asked for impressions of art paintings. I am very happy with this page!
The pages are 15x15 cm. ( 6")

grandmother book-page

2011-11-04T15:05:00.003+01:00

This is my grandmother (mothers mother).
On the left page her handwriting and a piece of her apron (left side below with the black background). I remember her in brown and blue dresses.
The white triangle part is a piece of an unused hankie with a bobbin-lace edge made by my mother.
She died only 60 years old. It is a pity that I only was 12 years old at that time so that I never have had the chance to learn how she was.
She must have been a courages woman. When she married my grandfather she moved to the other end of the country!
In 1918 it was far away from her parents, brothers and sisters.
I bet that she didn't understand the people when she came as a new bride in the west part of Holland.
She was born in Drente (NL). She met my grandfather when he was placed as a soldier at the eastern border of the Netherlands in the years 1914-1917.

Below: the page approved by Madame Mini :)
do you know: when you click on the photos they enlarge!

mother-book page

2011-10-30T14:29:00.005+01:00

This is my mother. The photo was taken when she was about 30 years old.
My mother made bobbin lace when she was young and I added a piece of one of her hankies with lace ( on the left page) and on the right page a quarter of her "well-used" doilies.
She also sewed all of her clothes and the clothes for us children.
Therefore there were many bits and pieces left when she died.
I took all with me, not knowing that I, on one day, should make this :)
The fabrics on both pages are from her clothes. The left pages fabrics have been pyjamas.
And a page of my "poesie" poetry album, where she wrote a poem to me when I was 8 years old.
The painted button is made by Gerry K. I got it from her a long time ago when I had sent her much tiny,tiny beads from my mothers stock.
It is a painting from the farmhouse my parents lived in, in the Netherlands.
Now Gerry,the button has come to its place :-) Thank you again!

weekend...

2011-10-29T21:47:00.000+02:00

My house is smelling like a bakery, new baked bread!
I always make our bread, just forgot to tell you that.
I embroider pages for my "mother-book". In a few days I shall show them.
Wishing you a very nice weekend!

mug-rugs and table runner

2011-10-17T14:51:00.001+02:00

A while ago I sewed 4 mug-rugs and a teapot mat for my daughter. For the mug-rugs I used leftovers from the couch-quilt I made for her.The white parts are from a vintage table-cloth. I got a piece of that from my friend Eva in Austria. Thank you very much Eva. Now you see that I used it :)
The teapot mat protect the table for the hot teapot. It has two layers of batting inside.

This is a table runner made from a half yard of fabric. The fabric is so nice of its own that I used it as it was. Only added lace on the border and a binding from an other piece of fabric.
As a bonus a photo from a week ago when we drove home along the road E16 from Fagernes to Lærdal in Sogn og Fjordane (Norway). As you see the winter is coming soon! Already new snow on the mountain tops!

Fabric book-pages

2011-10-12T21:38:00.000+02:00

The page above is made in the theme from Lorenza (Italy). Lorenza's wish is pages from paintings from Vincent van Gogh. I made Souvenir de Mauve. As a young girl I had a copy from this painting on my bedroom wall. I liked it very much and I still do.
Making it from fabrics was a challenge. For the blossoms I choose little sequins.
Below the page Lorenza made for me. The theme of my book is: a impression of a painting you like. Lorenza made "the scream" from Edvard Much.

new socks

2011-09-27T21:42:00.001+02:00

An other pair of socks ready for DD 1. Walking socks or night shift socks ;)
Made from hand-dyed yarn by Spinning Martha ( Germany)
It is Zitron trekking XXL, super sock yarn!
Pattern from the yahoo group: sokken breien. Size 41 EU.

fabric book page

2011-09-21T09:20:00.000+02:00

I made this fiber book page for Kath in Greece. Kath's theme is "the sea".
I sewed all kind of fibers on a blue/grey background trying to get a look of waves.
Our place is surrounded by the sea and it looks different every day!
The fabric book page for me from Portugal is a little late.
I show that to you next month when it has arrived.

Birthday cards

2011-09-18T10:25:00.001+02:00

Three birthday cards made for ladies of the Fibre fever group.
There is a small group within the FF group who are in the birthday card club.
When I had my birthday a few months ago I received 15 beautiful handmade fiber cards!
Those three are flown away a month ago and now received by their new owners.

some handwork

2011-09-13T12:09:00.000+02:00

I crocheted two potholders again and made from the rests of those colors cotton two dishclothes.
I have made the dishclothes larger than the pattern says.
Now the apple green cotton yarn is used up!
Below the start of a new pair of socks.

fresh sweet peas

2011-09-06T19:03:00.002+02:00

In our kitchen garden we also have sweet peas. In spite of the cold wet summer they grow :)
It is late in this summer but now we have sweet peas from our own garden.

This morning I had a bucket full and more to come!
I peeled off the peas. The waste is more volume than the peas.
The waste goes in the compost bin and that compost will be used again on the garden.

I have blanched them for one minute, the taste remains better after doing that.
I had four meals, three went in the freezer and one for the dinner this afternoon.

That was cod from the oven, peas with carrots and mashed potatoes. yum, yum........
The fish dish recipe:
about 150 grams white fish without bones per person.
neutral white sauce
salt, pepper,grated cheese.
Heat the oven 200 degrees Celsius.
Cut the fish in large pieces, put it in an oven dish and add little salt and pepper.
Place it in the middle of the oven until the fish is white, about 10 minutes.
In the meantime cook a neutral white sauce.
Poor the sauce on the fish and top it with grated cheese.
Ready when the cheese is melted and golden yellow.
Bon appetit!

Babette blanket grows

2011-09-05T15:01:00.000+02:00

The blanket I am crocheting at the moment is called Babette.
It is sewed together from crocheted squares in different sizes.
The pattern says you have to crochet sections and than sew it together.
Here is section 1-9.
Only section 10 is left on the pattern.
BUT because my yarn is tóóó thin I have to design more rounds by myself!
I like that it becomes a useful size and not the little blanket I have now.
Have to order some extra yarn too but that is not the problem.
The whole blanket will cost much more time now to crochet.
My goal is to create a blanket about 120 x 155 cm. ( 48 x 60")

late summer and socks

2011-09-01T13:09:00.000+02:00

Today the weather was nice enough to take a walk trough the garden to the sea. Very wet and slippery but I have rubber boots :)
As you see the colors outside are changing to Autumn already.
An other pair of socks ready. Made from Drops fabel, knitted on 4 needles 2,5 mm.
shoe size 41 EU.

Babette blanket

2011-08-26T12:06:00.000+02:00

For two weeks ago I have started crocheting a Babette blanket.
I started without the pattern but bought it after crocheted two squares.
Then I discovered that my yarn was too thin.
I already bought some which matched nice the yarn I had left from a shawl.
Well I have continued and here are the first five sections sewed together.
I have to extend the original pattern with a round or two but I'll see when I arrive at the end of the Babette pattern.
My blanket so far feels super soft, I love this yarn!
Merci of Filcolana bought at 123 knit.dk
I also have a few skeins of Arwetta extra fin merino.
Use crochet needle 2,5 mm.

harvest

2011-08-22T09:15:00.001+02:00

In our backyard we have a little greenhouse. Only 9 square meters.
Mainly for growing vegetable seeds in the early Spring when it is too cold outside.
When the little plants are big enough they go in the kitchen-garden outside in the front of our house.
The only place where we could have a kitchen-garden is in the front of our house because it is flat there. As you see the backyard isn't!!
This photo above is taken in June.

DH has planted little green bean plants in the start of the Spring in the tiny greenhouse and now we have green beans :) The harvest has started!
A bucket full of the nicest green beans I ever have had from our garden.
Outside in the garden the green bean plants only have flowers, no bean at all because of the cold, wet weather this year.
We had a nice meal yesterday and the rest went in those preserving jars for the coming winter.

Some CQ

2011-08-21T11:46:00.000+02:00

This is a DYB (do your block) block for Candji in the Yahoo group Crazy Quilt International.
The theme of this round is 'tone on tone'.
I was the quilt angel for this round. One of the members had to drop out.
It was the fifth block which I had to embroider. Lucky for me I could see what the others have done on the other four blocks. They are all very beautiful.
Below a photo of all six blocks. just click on the photo to see it large.
Now the blocks are returned to Candji in the USA and she herself must do the last block and assemble them to a wall hanging or whatever she wants.
The size of one block is 15 x 15 cm. 6".

Gooseberries,stikkelbær,kruisbessen...

2011-08-18T21:32:00.000+02:00

This morning DH and I picked the gooseberries from the two bushes we have in our garden.
About 6kg. wonderful sweet berries in spite of the bad,wet, cold summer we have here.

With every 1750 grams of berries I added 250 grams of soaked dried apricots and 2 kg. sugar.
(I smash the apricots with the blender before I start cooking the jam.)
The apricots give this jam a lift and an unexpected nice taste.

After a day hard work I had 17 and a half jar of fine jam.
Very good for breakfast on a slice of home baked bread :)
My shelf in the cellar cupboard starts looking nice with the new supply of homemade jam!

potholders and socks

2011-08-14T09:44:00.000+02:00

Because Anne på landet has had a potholder week on her blog, I couldn't avoid the let you see the potholders I have made. This is the third pair, they are for me!
The pattern is from Anne and I like it very much. take a look on Anne's blog, you 'll see much more nice work!
They are large which is nice and they are double. The back is more simple.
No burned fingers anymore when I take my bread out of the oven.
That's always very hot: 225 degree Celsius!
The size is 21 cm diameter, a bit more than 8 inch.
I made them from Gjestal bomull sport and crochet hook 3mm. Nice cotton yarn to work with and the potholders are thick and sturdy.

Below the latest pair of socks I have finished. I call them Tomato socks because of the color :)
Shoe size 41 EU. Made from Trekking hand dyed, super yarn to knit with!
Very elastic too and the user ( my DD1) says they fit perfectly.
Pattern HERE. And not difficult to knit.
I have to say that I only used the pattern for the motive, the heel and toe are knitted in my own way.
I used 70 stitches instead of 60 as the pattern said.

Fabric book-pages

2011-08-09T15:22:00.001+02:00

I have made this fabric book-page for Juliette (GB).
Juliette's theme is 'the landscapes from van Gogh'.
I made this page on my embellisher machine from colored sheep-fleece. And added some stitches with embroidery threads.
The title of this painting by Van Gogh is called: willows in sunset.
The size of those pages is 15 x15 cm. 6".
Below the page I have got from Peggy (USA) in my theme: an impression of your favorite art painting.
Peggy made an flower painting with sequins and embroidery. The painting is called:
Yellow lady slipper by Bob George.

busy day

2011-08-05T19:12:00.000+02:00

Today was a very busy day. First thing we did this morning was picking the black currants.

(solbær på Norsk) ( voor de Nederlanders: een kruising tussen zwarte en rode bessen)

I had good help from DH :)

We picked over 8kg. from two bushes.

The next step was to clean the berries from the leaves, spiders ;) and stalks.

I have frozen 2 kg, to use later and cooked jam of 6 kg. berries.

Two kilogram berries and two kilogram sugar at one time.
That's the right amount, you get delicious jam !
It took the whole afternoon to make the jam. 16 jars with filled sunshine :-D

After making the jam I had a handful berries left, just enough to make

muffins . Instead of blueberries I used the solbær and because I didn't have brown sugar I used white.
But they taste good!!
Now I had just enough energy left to let you know what I did today.
How was your day?

Circles of Love

2011-08-03T16:34:00.001+02:00

The circle quilt is ready :)

I am happy with it. It is machine sewn and machine quilted.

Quilting the circles was not as easy as I thought. Special in the middle when I had a bulk of fabric between the needle and the machine.

So a little mistake can be spot here and there ;) Nobody is perfect!

But the most important thing is that the quilt is made with love!

I made the quilt for my DD to use on the couch in the living-room.

I made the back of two different fabrics. My DD liked the fabric in the middle very much but I didn't have enough of it, so a bit of grey was added on both sides.

The size of the quilt is 196x158 cm. ( 77x62")

The inspiration for this quilt came from Amanda. Thank you crazymomquilts !

Below a detail.

quilt update

2011-08-01T14:48:00.001+02:00

Here a little update from the quilt I am sewing at the moment. The top, batting and back are layered now and pinned with safety pins. I hope I have it quilted in a few days.
Below a couple of potholders which I have crochet in the evenings.
Made from Gjestal cotton, hook 3 mm. They are double and very thick. No burned fingers anymore! Size 20 cm. diameter. 8".

collection?

2011-07-29T14:40:00.001+02:00

I own a little collection of old milk jars. I didn't collect them, they just came to me.
From my mother, both grandmothers and great-grandmothers.

The same happened with the thimbles. When my children went on holidays they took a thimble home for their sewing mother :) The same did my sister and now my grandchildren also take a thimble home with them for their quilt-sewing granny.

I have thimbles from all over the world, Guatemala, New Zealand, New York ,USA and many European countries and cities. Each timble tells a story.

Do you like to see more collections?

Go to this blog http://www.privetandholly.com/

planning 2

2011-07-27T13:59:00.003+02:00

So far , so good with the planning of the quilt. Now I have sewn the quarter circles in the squares and have 80 squares. The next step is sewing the squares together in strips. Third step: sewing the strips together.
Fourth step: adding a small dark grey border and a larger pink border.

No words.....

2011-07-24T08:25:00.003+02:00

No words for the terrible attack which happened on friday afternoon in Norway.
My thoughts are with the families who lost a dear relative......

Planning

2011-07-14T08:36:00.000+02:00

Planning to make a new quilt for DD1. To use on the couch in the livingroom. A new color scheme :)
It should be ready before the cold evenings arrive. I have bought a template to cut 160 pieces and have started to sew the pieces together now.
It will take some time because the weather is nice and I like to spent some time in the garden too!

Fabric-book pages

2011-07-07T09:38:00.003+02:00

Here is the fabric book page I have made for Helinä in Finland. Helinä's theme is Cezanne.
I have used the painting Bibemus-Quarry as inspiration to make a needlefelt page with some machine stitching.

This is a page Ritva in Finland has made for me. Inspired by a painting of Egon Schiele.
Not special her favorite painter but she likes those paintings with wonky houses.
I am very pleased with it.
The size of the pages are 15 x 15 cm. as usual.
This swap is a monthly swap in the Fibre Fever group.

Little book swap, recieved

2011-06-30T16:47:00.000+02:00

Today I got my three little books from the little book swap at Lenna's.
They are só lovely. They are from Sarah Boblit,( with the fabric cover)Corinne Marie ( pink cover and folded pages) and Maggie Muller ( green book with large rings and fabric paper pages with lovely images). Thank you all very much for making those little treasures!
The little books I have sent away a long time ago are HERE.

socks

2011-06-27T18:59:00.001+02:00

Recently I have knitted four pair of socks. All are made of sock yarn 75%wool,25% nylon.
Needle 2,5 mm. (US 1,5) More information about yarns and pattern here.

fabric book-pages again

2011-06-22T08:12:00.001+02:00

Above the fabric book page I have made for Anne in Germany. Anne's theme is 'vintage'.
I made this page in CQ style. The size is 15 x 15 cm. ( 6")
Below the page Evi ( Germany) made for me. The last page for my 'Japan/China' book.
Now I have to make a cover and bind the pages from this swap.

wisp block 10

2011-06-19T14:17:00.000+02:00

Here is the 10th block for my wool quilt. The start of a new round of 12 blocks to make this quilt larger. The size of this block is 20 x 40 cm. (8 x 16 ")
No beads or laces, only embroidery. I use mostly Sassa Lynn threads.

Fabric-book pages

2011-06-08T11:29:00.001+02:00

This fabric book page has the theme "your own mola".
I drew a butterfly/moth from an aboriginal painting and made this in mola style.
I have used 5 layers of fabric to get this result.
The body is the first fabric, second white, third orange, fourth black and on top the dark green.
It flew to Helga in Germany.
The size is 15 x 15 cm. ( 6")
Below the page I got from Robin ( Australia).
Robin made a page inspired by her favorite painter: Sir Sydney Nolan.
This is a painting from 1970, Paradise Garden series.
An unknown painter for me but that is the fun of my theme: "an impression of your favorite art painting", which I choose for this new swap round in the Fibre Fever group.

summer ??

2011-06-07T10:35:00.000+02:00

The clouds are so low today, only a few hundred meters above sea level. Here a photo out of my window. It is very cold this Spring, today only 11 degrees Celsius.
Do you have nice weather? Please send a bit of it to Norway ;-)

Paper collages, music theme

2011-05-30T09:25:00.001+02:00

Music theme, paper collages. Above one book page 11 x17 cm. Like the old photo of the little boy who does his utmost to produce a sound out of the trumpet.
Below a double page, 22 x 17 cm.
Love the photo of the violin player. I placed him in old Europe where the gypsies came from with their magical music.

more fabric-book pages

2011-05-24T07:59:00.000+02:00

Here is the fabric-book page I have made for Angélique ( France). Angélique's theme is : Forest and forest animals. I have made a crazy quilt page for her and she wrote she likes it :)
Below a page in my theme Japan/China made by Helga B ( Germany).
Beautiful addition to my fabric-book; a silk Chinese lantern.
Those pages are 15 x 15 cm. (6")

Fabric-book pages

2011-05-20T11:17:00.001+02:00

Here is the fabric-book page I have made for Helga B in Germany.
Helga's theme is "games"( no sports).
I made a quarter of a scrabble board and the words Fibre fever ideas.
The swap is in the Fibre Fever Yahoo group.
Below the page I 've got from Angela (GB).
My theme for this swap is: an impression of your favorite art painting.
Angela wrote that she likes the old paintings with Victorian ladies and flowers.
The size of those pages is 15 x 15 cm. (6").

paper collages

2011-05-18T10:36:00.001+02:00

I have forgotten to show you 2 paper collages I made a while ago.
Above a bookpage 11 x 17 cm. Called: A lovely rose.
Below a double page in my Moleskine notebook 14 x 17,5 cm. I named it: Benediction.

Talking (about) socks

2011-05-11T16:47:00.000+02:00

Here are the socks which I have knitted from rests of yarn. Leftovers from the shawls from last year.
The dark purple is

Saffron Dyeworks Enya Sock: Superwash Merino

The pink yarn is

Slackford Studio, LLC Pathway Sock

The light violet is Slackford Studio, LLC Bonny BFL Sock
All three super nice yarn!
I made the socks a little different from each other with the stripes.
Then people on my DD1's work have something funny to talk about ;-D
I guess they will look twice!
The fit perfect. I knitted them the same way as the candy socks from a week ago.
Shoe size 41 EU. I have used less than 100 grams.

Candy socks

2011-05-06T10:34:00.001+02:00

Here is the second pair of socks for DD1.

I call them candy socks because of the color. It looks like candy to me :)

Made from Regia 4-ply. 75% wool 25% polyamide. Needle 2,5 mm. (US 1,5)

She is very happy with them, they fit perfect. I changed the normal pattern for socks a bit because she has a high instep. In stead for decrease every other round I decreased every third round.

And I made a reinforced heal so that she can use them also in her walking shoes.

Below the start of the third pair.

I knit those of rests of sock yarn I have after the shawls from last year.

Shabby chic notebooks

2011-05-03T13:47:00.001+02:00

I have made three shabby chic note books with a vintage fabric cover.
Size 6,5 x 4,5 ". 16 x 12 cm.
The old photo is printed on fabric. Not paper!
Every note book contains 12 pages.
All the pages have a little embellishment but enough place for you to write on.
The pages are white sturdy paper , easy to write on.
They are for sale in my Etsy shop.
A lovely present to a friends birthday.

Or maybe to yourself ;)

Fabric book pages

2011-05-01T09:06:00.000+02:00

Here are two fabric book pages for the swap in the Fibre Fever group.
Above the page I made for Wendy (USA). Wendy's theme is Peacock.
I bought a white lace peacock and painted it with Ozecraft dye.
Made a CQ background and sewed the peacock on the background.
Below the page Lorenza(Italy) made for me in my theme Japan/China.
Lorenza made an 3D 'origami' page.
Beautiful ! A nice addition to my fabric book. Two more pages to go in this round and than I can sew the book together.
The pages are 15 cm ( 6") square.

Progress wisp quilt

2011-04-27T15:34:00.000+02:00

This is the centre piece of my wisp quilt now.
I have sewn together the blocks I had ready with embroidery.
Many new seams came up ;)
Now the new seams have embroidery too.
This centre piece measures now 80 x 80 cm. ( 32 x 32 ")
The whole quilt will measure, when ready 120 x 120 cm. (48 x 48 ") and a border of course.

Now I have done this so far I more and more admire the antique crazy-quilts with all the embroidered seams. This quilt get no beads and lace, only embroidery.

Easter holiday

2011-04-24T11:52:00.001+02:00

DH and I are on a little holiday on the island Leka in Norway. We rented a family cabin and a little fishing boat.
Here is my view from my cabin window this week. I took those photos yesterday. The weather was beautiful! Today also! Below the little boat and the fish DH got yesterday.
In the afternoon we clean the fish and freeze it. On friday we drive home and take the frozen fish with us.
Most of the fish is cod, delicious!
I knit, read and embroider on my wisp wool quilt. And walk a little. And cook the meals of course ;-)
As always you can click on the photos to see them large!

Happy Easter

2011-04-20T08:52:00.000+02:00

This little girl ( and I) wish you happy Easter days.
Paper collage. Double page in my Moleskine journal.
Background: torn papers and a bit gesso and some stamping.

Violet socks

2011-04-17T11:17:00.000+02:00

The violet socks are ready. Knitted from 100% wool yarn.

Slackford Studio, LLC Bonny BFL Sock

Pattern: February Lady Sock by Kate Atherley. (Raverly)
Shoe size 41 (EU). Made for DD1.
The second pair is on the needles. Other pattern :)

new journal ready

2011-04-13T15:33:00.001+02:00

New shabby-chic journal made for DD2. Book size. 22 x 14 cm.
It has 40 pages . You see nine here.
I will not show them all, otherwise it is no surprise for her when she gets it!
Many pages to write on for her :)
I think ?? this is my last journal for a while. Now I have other things to do.

three little shabby journals

2011-04-10T12:57:00.001+02:00

The last few days I spent my time making three little shabby journals for the swap at Lenna's.
I hope the receivers like them. They can write in it, little phrases, poems or notices.
They go in the mail now.
If you are interested in this swap it is not too late to join.

A mess and 50% socks ready

2011-04-07T21:37:00.000+02:00

This is the mess I get when I start making a journal. The whole large table in my sewingroom full of papers, glue, lace pieces, ribbons and other embellishments.
The mess on the floor is almost the same ;-)
Below the socks I knit. One ready, the second just started.
Yarn: Slackford Studio, LLC Bonny BFL Sock
Pattern: February Lady Sock by Kate Atherley ( on Raverly)

new fabric book pages

2011-04-05T09:17:00.000+02:00

In our monthly swap in the Fibre Fever Yahoo group we have started with a new round. ( although the other round is not finished yet) In this new round I made this page above in CQ-style for Birgit in Germany. Birgit's wish is pages in creme/white.
Below the page Anne from Germany made for me.
My wish for this round is: an impression of a painting from your favorite art painter.
This painting is from Joan Miro, the name of the painting is: woman in front of the sun.
I think it is very special and I like it a lot.
Anne likes special the color blue in this painting, she used lutrador for the background, which was precise the color she needed.
A new adventure began with this page, 10 more to come. That can become a very interesting book!
The size of those pages are 15 x15 cm. ( 6")

Blue leaves shawl

2011-04-03T12:47:00.001+02:00

The blue shawl is ready too. I fact last week but I had to block and dry it.

It is a huge shawl, very soft and warm, like a cardigan :)

Pattern: Leaf and Flower shawl by Linda Choo ( on Raverly)

The yarn is: Merino silk made by Hjertegarn.dk.

It is 60% merino wool, 20 % silk and 20% bamboo.

I used nearly 6 skeins and needle 3,5 mm. (US 4)

The size of the shawl is: wide: 191 cm. (75")

High along the spine: 82 cm. (32")

Made for myself :)

journal

2011-04-02T12:08:00.000+02:00

After 3 days of hard work, gluing, stamping, and sewing is here the new journal.
It has 40 pages, many empty. It is for a young woman to write in.
Here you see a collection of nine photos. If you like to see them separate, go to my Flickr page, click here. And simple click on next photos.

starting new things

2011-03-31T11:00:00.002+02:00

Above the start of an other leaf and flower shawl. It is easy to knit in the evening when there is nothing interesting on TV. This one is for me!
Below watercolor papers which are drying on this photo. They are painted on both sides.
Made to make a new journal for a gift.

The weather inside and outside today

2011-03-28T09:03:00.000+02:00

Outside new snow and cold, inside warm and cosy :)

paper collages

2011-03-26T12:13:00.000+01:00

Here are two of my paper collages I made last week for the Green paper collage club.
The idea was to build a background from torn papers and make it look that they fit together.

I gave them both a title.

This one: When I am grown up.....
I also become a famous sea-captain like Michiel Adriaanszoon de Ruyter ;0)

Bookpage, 11 x 16,5 cm.

This one:
Do I look like the queen?

:o) Queen Wilhelmina also started posing as a little girl!

Bookpage, 11 x 16,5 cm.

(photo: Mrs Inman,( Flickr)

Leaf and Flower shawl

2011-03-24T12:58:00.001+01:00

The yarn is fyberspates scrumptious 4ply and is made of 45% silk and 55 % merino wool.
Beautiful shining and soft. The color is called Blossom. I used needle 3 mm.
The pattern is easy and I like the result.
Pattern name: Leaf and Flower shawl by Linda Choo.
Size: wide 185 cm ( 72 ") high along the spine: 80 cm (31,5")
It goes in my Etsy shop.

Crazy quilt block

2011-03-19T12:15:00.000+01:00

Eight inch block made for "Hearts and hands for Sendai" project from the CQI Yahoo group.
If you like to participate, more information HERE.

fabric book pages

2011-03-16T14:17:00.000+01:00

This is the fabric book page I have made for Ulla in Sweden. Ulla's wish was flowers and beads.
I have made the needlefelt background from wool fleece on the embellisher.
The lace flowers are painted with Ozecraft dye. The other three flowers are from a silk plant.
The flower-hearts are filled with beads.
Also a swirl from beads on the needlefelt.
The size is 15 x 15 cm. ( 6")
Ulla wrote that she likes it :)
And she also wrote this:
A book page for March reminding me of Japan and the cherry blossom but also the sadness I feel for all the people in Japan and the contrast between a cherry blossom in March and the situation in Japan just now.

That are the same feelings I have.
It is a coincident that both March pages remind us what is happening in Japan.
I feel very,very sorry for all those people who have lost everything.

Below the fabric page Margreet in the Netherlands made for me with the theme: Japan/China.
I think it is a beautiful page and a nice addition for my next fabric book.

knitting bag and shawl

2011-03-12T20:34:00.001+01:00

A while ago I made a knitting bag from the edges of the fabric of this quilt.

At the same time I tried some fantasy stitches on my sewing machine.

I started knitting a new shawl and because the dark blue one is not ready yet I made a bag special for this one below.

The yarn is fyberspates scrumptious 4ply and is made of 45% silk and 55 % merino wool.

Beautiful shining and soft. The color is called Blossom. I use needle 3 mm.

The pattern is easy and I like the result so far. I have started with the edge pattern today.

Pattern name: Leaf and Flower shawl by Linda Choo.

new cards

2011-03-05T15:26:00.002+01:00

Here are the cards I made last week. They are for birthday girls in the Fibre Fever group this year.
I used the printed old photos from a while ago.
It's always easy to have some cards ready in advance :)

mother book 3

2011-03-03T11:22:00.002+01:00

This is the 3rd double page for my "mother book".

This is the grandmother of my grandmother. She was born 100 years before me!
The handwriting which is printed on fabric is hers.
The off-white embroidered fabric on the left page is also original. It's from a nightgown.
The lace in the upper corner on the right page is original hand made bobbin lace from Belgium called: Beverse kant or Rijselse kant. It is the type of lace that was used in the cap on her head.
The pages are each 20 x20 cm. ( 8")

Journal and fibre book ready

2011-02-25T18:30:00.001+01:00

This is my yellow pages fabric book. The pages in this book are made by Fibre Fever group friends all over the world. They are all different but because of my theme: yellow, they go great together!
Really like to see the pages together now.
Choosing a color as a theme is not very usual but the result is very nice!
Thank you all FF group friends!

Below the Seasons journal which I made the last weeks.
Ready now to use :-)

Fabric book-pages

2011-02-21T11:33:00.000+01:00

I made this page for Monika. ( Germany) Monika's theme is : faces.

I have tried to make an impression of one of the most famous faces in the Norwegian art.
"The scream" ( 1893) made by Edvard Much. ( 1863-1944)
size 15 x 15 cm. 6". Needlefelt made with embellisher machine.This is the original painting.
It is in the Much museum in Oslo.
More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scream
Below the fabric page Maureen in Australia made for me. My theme in this swap is Japan/China.
Isn't it beautiful? I do like the print on fabric and the sashiko quilt-stitching.

journal progress 2

2011-02-19T14:26:00.003+01:00

Here are most of the journal pages which are embellished now. Of course there are many almost empty pages too.
After all it is a journal meant for writing things in. Things which happen in the seasons this year.
I have started with Spring. For me the year starts in Spring : 0)
Now I have to make the cover and sew the pages into the cover.
As always you can click on the photo to enlarge or go to my Flickr photopage to see all the photos in detail.

journal in progress

2011-02-16T13:26:00.001+01:00

Here you see what I did with the water-color papers I made a while ago.
I have teared them up to a book-page size, stamped on them added pictures and pieces of napkins.
As you can see now this journal becomes seasons related.
Now they have to dry a few hours and than the sewing begins!

paper collages

2011-02-12T13:59:00.002+01:00

Here are two of the paper collages I have made lately.

I am in a group called 'Greenpaper collage club'.

We get twice a month instructions and collage sheet which we can use or not.

The collage on the left is a collage I made for Mary Green's challenge of the month February.

I have made several paper collages the last week.
Those two are one bookpage each: 11 x 16,5 cm.
6,5 x 8, 25 inch.

Below is a fantasy of me.

I call it : the old pharmacist.

If you are interested to see more of my paper collages, go to my Flickr page HERE>

new fabric-book pages

2011-02-08T09:25:00.001+01:00

I made this fabric book page for Maureen in Australia. Maureen's theme is Autumn.
This page is made with my embellisher machine. I have made a needlefelt background from colored sheep fleece and silk roving. The mushrooms are made separate and than punched on the background.
Some embroidery stitches and a few embellishments.
Below the page Monika in Germany made for me. My theme in this round is Japan/ China.
Monika made a ginko leaf.
I like it very much.
Those pages are 15 x 15 cm. ( 6")

table runner and mug-rugs

2011-02-01T09:12:00.002+01:00

This is the table runner I made last week and quilted in the weekend.
I had so much fabric strips left from this quilt and didn't know what to do with it. On a nice day I saw a quilt on Flickr and that give me the idea to use the left-overs.
When the table runner was ready there were just a few fabric strips left.
Just enough to make two mug-rugs to go with the table runner.
The size is 55 x 157 cm.
It goes to DD1 .
They have a large dark brown dining table.
I hope they like it.

What I did......

2011-01-30T19:55:00.001+01:00

What I did in a dull, grey and rainy weekend: I machine quilted a table runner in a meander pattern.

I prepared pieces of watercolor paper to make a new shabby chic journal.

I have printed vintage postcards and photos on fabric. They are so nice to have in stock when I have to make fabric postcards.

I nearly didn't notice the dull, grey and rainy weather :-)

birthday cards

2011-01-27T09:52:00.001+01:00

This birthday card is made for Peggy in the USA.
The background is vintage crochet lace.
A pin with the Norwegian and USA flag.
And a strip in the flag colors.
Below an onion label.
I thought the Norwegian letters are maybe interesting for an USA lady ;)

They don't have the Ø and Å.

This card is made for Helga ( Germany).
Background in crazy quilt style.
I have hand-painted the lace flower spread with Ozecraft dye.

Both ladies are members of the Fibre Fever group and are in the birthday card swap.
That means that you get 16 nice handmade cards on your birthday this year.

I am almost looking forward to that event, not the fact that I become a year older ;)

fabric book pages

2011-01-23T10:27:00.000+01:00

Here is the fabric page I made for Marja in the Netherlands. Marja's wish was one large butterfly on a page. The photo is a side view,than you see better that the butterfly is three dimensional.
I have melted several layers with organza on each other and added sequins and beads. The butterfly is sewn on the page in the middle.
Below the last yellow page from this swap in the Fibre fever group. This page is made by Doreen in Australia. Isn't is lovely?
Now it is my turn to make a cover for those yellow pages and turn them into a fabric book!
The size of those pages is 15 x 15 cm. ( 6 ")

Mother book 2

2011-01-17T15:20:00.010+01:00

This is page 2 of my "mother book". This is the mother of my grandmother.
I have used original seam tryouts on linen on the left page.
Also her handwriting from my grandmothers poetry album. This is is printed on fine cotton, also the photo.
The black woven fabric is also vintage. The lace on the left upper corner is antique.
Don't think I am a barbarian who cut up antique laces. This are all bits and worn-out pieces which I have collected over the years. The cap on her head is sewn from this type of lace.
This cap was used on Sundays to go to the church and with special occasions such as weddings.
Those few centimeters was the best piece from a piece of 20 cm. The rest was only holes and frayed. My great-grandmother wore a gold "westfriese "( North-Holland) cap with handmade bobbin-lace from Beveren ( Belgium). If you are interested how such a cap is sewn, here is a link where you can see the whole process.
The three buttons are also antique, maybe from her dress?

My grandmother and her daughter saved everything. Thanks a lot grandma and aunt :)
As always you can click on the photos to see it large.

New project, mother book 1

2011-01-07T14:10:00.003+01:00

This is a new project. I have saved many things for this for a long time now. I'll make a "mother" book. The first page I finished before the new year. This is my grandmother from fathers side. The page on the left is a photo as a young women, the page on the right was taken on the day that she was married for 40 years to my grandfather. This grandmother was very! good in crocheting! In the left corner a piece of a doily which she made and the little circle also.
I loved my grandmother very much. It was a pity she died just a few months before our daughter was born. She looked só forward to become a great-grandmother.
I have handwriting and photos of all my grandmothers, great grandmothers and great-great grandmothers unless one. It becomes an 'in between' project.
It will take a while, special now I have got the flu a week ago, no energy to do something!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T10:13:00.000+01:00

A new year has started. What will it bring?

I like to wish you a good health, prosperity and much creativity!

card from my private card collection.

birthday card

2010-12-31T09:51:00.001+01:00

This is the last photo of this year. The card is for Ritva ( Finland).

Ritva's birthday is on the last day of the year!

Thank you all for your visits and comments throughout the year and I hope to meet you again next year.
Wishing you a nice new-years-evening!