This and that

Pew... What a week it's been here at my casa. I can't even begin to describe it without you would think I was nuts, but my son ended up in the hospital for appendicitis last Monday, and because everything else was pushed aside for that I ignored some pretty hefty signs (like a 3-day fever on 103) that I wasn't well either (you Moms out there know exactly what I mean and yes it is possible to ignore you're ill) so I was admitted with sepsis chock on Thursday and for the next 5 days this was my view:

 Just to add to it all, my sweet mom fell the other night in the wet grass and broke her arm. And we're seriously  the family that normally doesn't get sick... 

Thank goodness my son is home and well again and I'm on the mend too. Unfortunately there'll be no quilting for my mom the next 5 weeks though.

I'm no sorry at all to leave las week behind. Only positive thing there is to say is that I had my iPad in the hospital and lots of time to browse the Bloggers Quilt festival.

So, on to happier notes... I made the last blocks for my LongJohns last weekend when I was in Sweden, but sadly haven't even looked at my sewing table since. There is a giant pile of blocks all ready to sew together. I was running out of the patterned fabrics but found this one in my stash - New York tall buildings. Isn't if fun. I wish I had found it sooner and made more blocks with that fabrics. It really makes me smile big.

I also got myself some more fabric last weekend in Sweden. While not classical quilt fabric it will be perfect for bags, coffee warmers and other fun projects.

Some magazine front as panels

Linnnen with angels, text and music notes

Colourful owls

So all I need now is energy - let me know if someone has plenty - and everything will be back to normal.

Quilt festival 2013 - my dresden quilt.

Amy is again hosting the fabulous quilt festival. I think this is among the highlights of the year quilting wise – I’m always amazed by the amount of wonderful, inspirational quilts that are displayed and are looking forward to browsing this year’s quilts.

 

My contribution this time is a quilt that I started this spring and finished a few months back – a Dresden quilt.

 

Facts:

Size 80x60 inches

Methods: piecing, appliqué, machine and hand quilted

Fabric: scraps and basically just various  fabrics from my shelf

The initial idea came about when I wanted to use my black/white fabrics and spice it up with pops of color in a rainbow quilt. At the same time I wanted to embrace the classical Dresden in a modern setting. I'd seen a picture of something like it in one of Katy Doughty's books but i wanted to make it different. In the process of making this quilt, I will admit there were times where I wasn't so sure that it was such a good idea anyway. Luckily the story had a happy ending and I love how it turned out in the end.

As usual a little bit of planning ahead might have been a good idea, but I just jumped right into it and without much more than just a vague idea of the direction. The rainbow quilt didn't really happen except on the back, but then that's life. It rarely go as planned :)

Some of the background is fabric my son gave me - very graphic fabric just like kids love it - cows, zebras, forks and spoons. I’ve had it for a few years and honestly struggled with how to use it. Making it part of the background was a good solution. He sees it but it’s not too obvious. I also got to use a lot of black and white scraps and various fabrics from the shelf. In general, there's very little planned about this quilt. It's sort of made go-with-what-you-got-and-do-what-you-feel-like approach.  

 

The quilt is both machine quilted and handquilted. 

For the binding I selected a black/white border with dots so it frames the quilt and still mixes in with the background. The background is just a plain polka got dark grey with a rainbow.

This quilt was a fun and creative journey :)

 

Join in the fun:

 

Though most are not in this Quilt Festival to win, but to share inspration, there are tons of sponsers who are kindly giving away prices for both category winners and for Viewers Choice.  A huge thank you to all sponsors and to Amy for making the festival a reality once again. 



Flabbergasted...

Near my mothers place in Sweden, right next to a beautiful lake, Diane lives. Besides the beautiful view and a quilt on the barn, she has a long arm :)

When I was in Sweden last weekend, I took my kingsize quilt to her. She kindly invited us to her house and we had the most inspirational afternoon I've had in a long time. Not only did she pull out one beautiful quilt after the other, served amazing homemade cakes - no - she also encouraged us to try the long arm. Needless to say I was petrified but it was actually so much fun.

This afternoon (yes - 4 days later) a mail dropped into my inbox showing me pictures of the finished quilt. I think flabbergasted I'd the word that first comes to mind. I can't stop starring on the picture and want to go back to Sweden to pick it up right away.

 

Just a peek on the background - the color is off. It is actually blue.

 

I mean... It's not just gorgeous. It beautiful, perfect and beyond. The lattice border proved very difficult and I had expected the quilt to be somewhat wobbely, but Diane has worked wonders with it. Thank you Diane for making this quilt come to life with your wonderful quilting and for improving it so much.

Stats:
Size: Kingsize (2,5 x 2,5 metres)
Batting : 80/20
Fabric: Amy Butler's Lark and Kona Dresden Blue
Pattern: Centre is handpieced EPP, the borders are from the book 'Modern Quilts'

French coffe press cozy tutorial

Here's an idea for a super fast and easy present - perfect for a quick gift for the hostess or as an extra little fun thing under the Christmas tree. Or even something for yourself  :)

The coffee presser is the most commeon way to make coffee here in Denmark. Bodum is a Danish brand,  but I know it is pretty common also in the States. The tutorial can easily be adapted to other brands and sizes as well. 

As much as I love my coffee made this way, I feel the coffee cools too quickly in the presser. I like my coffee warm, so I made a coffe sleeve/cozy/warmer today. I dont know if anyone agrees that warm is better than cold, but just in case, here's a quick and easy way to make your own.



This tutorial is for the middle size Bodum - 5-6 cups of coffee - be sure to measure the circumference and height of you coffe pot and adjust accordingly. The larger size is 8-10 cups of coffee. You can easily make that one too with the same directions. Only difference is the size of the batting, background and top which I've written in paranthasis with red (like this)

Materials:

• Scrap fabrics
• Thermo batting
• Velcro

1. Cut a piece of thermo batting 15 x 8 inches (17 x 8 inches)
    
2. Make the front with the QAYG methods using your favorite scraps. Alternatively cover the batting with one piece of fabric and quilt it the way ou like it.
3. Trim the piece to 13 x 6½ inches (15 x 6½ inches)
    
4. Cut a 2,5 x 6 inched fabric for the flap. Fold it on the long side right sides together. Sew along the long edges and leave the short edge (2,5 inch) open
5. Turn and press the flap.
6. Cut a 2 inch piece of your velcro, seperate the velcro sides and place the softer of the two strips on the flap in the centre. Sew along the edge to fasten it.
    
7. Cut the background fabric 13 x 6½ inches. (15 x 6½ inches)
8. On the table first place the front side facing up. Place the flap with the velcroside up in the center aligning the raw edges. Secure with a pin.
    
9. Now place the background fabric on top of the front side , right sides together.
10. Pin and sew along the edges leaving a 3 inch gap in the opposite side of where you placed the flap.
11. Turn the coffe warmer inside out - be sure to 'poke' the corners with a pencil or hera marker.
12. Press and quickly handstitch the 3 inch opening to close it.
13. Sew a 1/8 inch all around the main part of the coffe warmer (not the flap)
14. Test it on your coffee pot and mark where you wan the other side of the velcro placed, mark and attach the velcro with stitches.
     
15. Cut all threads, call your best friend(s)  and go put on the kettle. 

 

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More Roundhouse pictures...

I promised more and better pictures of the Roundhouse quilt. Today is one of those beutiful autum days and in lieu of my private oath to take the time to make better pictures,  I took DH, two quilts and my camera for a walk today. He's the only one tall enough to hold up the quilts :)

We live in a beautiful area - shame on me for not exploring that more often. This lake is about 200 meters from our house in the middle of the forrest. In the summer there is a small beach and a wooden bridge to jump into the water from. The bridge has already been taken down for winter though.

I brought both the Roundhouse quilt and the Dresden flowers quilt.



The background on the Roundhouse quilt is just plain polka dots in blue - it works great with such a busy front.




When I took pictures of the Dresden flowers a familiy of swans joined the party



Just behind the lake, there's a little pond filled by a water stream from the forrest. I love how the quilt is refected in the pond.



What a wonderful, beautiful day it is...

Getting there...

Slowly but surely I'm getting there... LongJohn. It will be a Christmas present for my oldest.

Went to get more solid fabric last weekend and finally made the last blocks this morning. 

I'm still undecided about the final size. Ideally I want to add another row but have run out of the pattern fabrics and at the quilt shop I couldn't really find anything to match both the large graphic designs  and the color scheme at the same time. I think it will be plenty big for him, so I might also just start sewing the blocks together.

'Sigh' it's definitely autumn

It definitely autumn here... It's just over 6 pm and already getting dark. I just came home from work and wanted to share the quilt I finished yesterday late evening. I managed to get some pictures but I was rushing and the quilt deserves better really. Oh well, unless you want to wait until spring, here's a peek.

I love this quilt and it would look great in my livingroom. But my sweet sister think its equally wonderful, so I'm wondering if I should save it for Christmas? Am I going to be the generous or the selfish sister?

Pattern is Tracejay's RoundHouse from American Quilting Sept 2013 issue.

Fabric: various Amy Butler lines

Size: app 65 x 80 (really should measure it)

Background: polka dots on blue

 

The batting is a new test. I ordered 3 different ones from the UK. This is polyester, very warm (like a thin duvet actually) and light. It has quite a loft. I have never used only poly batting, but all things considered it is actually great. You all know this family like our quilts big and warm - this definitely is both :)

My first QAYG purse

I made a fun little QAYG purse this morning with scraps from the LongJohn quilt. Its 10x7 inches and has been filled with lovely secret things. It's currently en route to a friend, who deserves a little fun surprise.

Oh boy, I'm just realising how easy I could develop a very unhealthy relationship to the QAYG method.