My Rose Valley

Dreamer or doer?

2012-02-26T12:38:00.005+01:00

I dream of living more true to nature.
I dream of having chickens, a pig and a goat.
I dream of learning more about growing vegetables.
I dream of becoming more self-sufficient. That would be fantastic!
I dream of baking and cooking more.

I dream of creating every day without limitations.
I dream of enjoying every day chores instead of dragging it.
I dream of decluttering and organizing the house.
I dream of having more blue china...

I dream of learning to play the guitar and sing by an open fire.
I dream of paddling a canoe in shimmering glimmering water.
I dream of getting into a routine of doing yoga every day.
I dream of being healthy and fit for a long long time.
I dream of being more present in life.

I dream of a garden full of beautiful flowers. Preferably wild and naturally planted.
I dream of a Swedish veranda where I can start and finish my days quietly.
I dream of playing cards and have everyone involved and loving it, even when they loose.
I dream of having friends popping in and out of our house like it was their own.
I dream of connecting more with my loved ones.
I dream of being together - for real.
I dream of having my family come to visit more often.

I dream of finishing my WiPs.

I dream of starting new ones.
I dream of colors.
I dream of laughter.
Of blue skies.
Green grass.
Rain on a warm summer day.

The smell of flowers.
I dream of balance.
Of being true to myself.
I dream of conquering the French language.
I dream of trips alone with my man.
I dream of caravan trips with the whole family.
I dream of so many things...
I dream of making all my dreams come true, but It is going very slow...
I dream of being a doer instead of a dreamer...
Are you a dreamer? Or a doer?

Kärlek
Annette

Green...

2012-02-24T14:49:00.000+01:00

I am craving green. Maybe because today it feels like spring time and I am looking all over for green. But there is no green to be find in nature. Not yet. So I dragged out all my green stuff. I am getting quite a collection of green.

Fat Quarters.

Vintage sheets and yard fabric.

I took a moment to make a green pillow for Nelly. She dreams of a jungle. She wants a jungle room. Preferably a real jaguar as well... We pretend that Frankie Boy is her jaguar. This pillow is a jungle pillow. It has an envelope backing with orange pom poms... But I didn't take a picture of it.

A perfect match to Nelly's own patchwork pillow.

Now I can leave for vacation in a dreamy fog of green...

Do you crave for green as well this time of the year?
How big is your stash of green?
Ever thought of making a project just in green and what would that be?

My next green project may be curtains for Miss Nelly's room made from one of my vintage sheets. That would make a great jungle feeling. Take care and see you all in a week or two.

Kärlek
Annette

He is...

2012-02-23T13:42:00.000+01:00

He is seven and on his way up the hill...

He is almost there...

He is getting ready...

He is taking off...

He is going down hill... in the mud...

He doesn't care that there is no snow.

For a long long time (years...) he's been wanting to do this.
And today he wouldn't take no for an answer anymore.
The conditions didn't matter anymore.

He was determined to do it.
To fulfill a dream.
To go snowboarding.
And he did. ♥♥♥

And watching him doing this makes me realize that anything is possible if you just put your mind to it.
Kids are a fantastic source of inspiration, enlightment and fun discoveries.
I love you Luca Bo. ♥♥♥

Kärlek

Annette

PS. If I won't have time to post again soon I wish you all a fantastic upcoming week. Me? Well, we are going on ski vacation for a week in Gstaad. And Luca Bo can practise his snowboarding skills for real. In the snow. :D ♥♥♥

Natural Patchwork - a book review

2012-02-15T12:02:00.000+01:00

Hi darlings. As promised a while ago I today have a full book review of Natural Patchwork by Suzuko Koseki.
I got myself this book for Christmas, ordered it on Amazon. My kids gently wrapped it up before I had a chance to see anything else but the cover. The cover itself is gorgeous isn't it? And it really reflects the contents of this book. It is just as gorgeous on the inside!!!

The author Suzuko Koseki tells us the story on how she started patchwork as a little girl. How her grandma used to save every piece of fabric from her clothes to curtains, table cloths etc and carefully took care of every inch of it, making beautiful and functional patchwork items. There are nice and delicate illustrations, written step by step instructions and even pictures at times to guide you through a project. Sometimes I find the instructions and illustrations a bit confusing but maybe that is because I don't really have an experienced eye. They are also kind of small, maybe because they should fit in with the light and spacious graphic design...

The photos are amazing. I fell head over heals for the Scrappy Slippers that I gave a go a while ago, totally winging it. I wasn't to successful at the time but will give them another try soon as now have the right scale of the pattern. I love them so much and my kids are begging me to make them Scrappy Slippers to wear at school.

Because of copyright matters I won't show you to much but some samples from the 26 different projects in this book doesn't hurt, does it? Love these place mats. These are actually hand pieced and hand quilted and there is a whole section with photos showing you step by step how to hand sew squares together. How I adore the vintage style fabrics she uses and the Japanese perfection...

And this quilt is to die for!!!! But O M G how much work would it be to make a quilt like this. The squares are actually made from diagonal strips which gives the squares a completely new dimension.

The hot pads a really cute and I love the scrappy style she uses throughout the book. All and all I adore this book. I can flick through the pages over and over again. But I have to admit I won't try out all her projects as the difficulty level some times is above my own abilities. But for anyone who wants inspiration, eye candy and to dream on in the world of Japanese perfection this is a book to own. I so do not regret buying this book. It will be treasured for a long long time.

Natural Patchwork
Suzuko Koseki
Price approx: 16-20 £
I give this book: ♡♡♡♡+

Kärlek
Annette

And the winner is...

2012-02-14T20:11:00.000+01:00

After a busy day at work I now have had time to pull a winner in the Spontaneous Pin Cushion Give Away. I wanted to make it all cute with small folded up paper pieces in a hat but I ran out of time soooo...

The Random Number Generator picked RENEE as the winner!!! Renee wrote:

"Time for a deep breath and to slow things down. Your creative mojo has kicked back in just fine. And the pincushion with the pink/red/white center is the loveliest of all."

Thanks for playing the game Renee. Send me your posting details and I will put your pink/red/white centered pin cushion in the mail the next couple of days.

Sending lots of love to everyone else on Valentines Day. Hope you had a lovely day. ♥♥♥

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Kärlek
Annette

♥ More fun! ♥

2012-02-12T21:46:00.000+01:00

I tidied my crafty table today. Then I pressed, pinned and sew 12 scout scarves. Yay! Finally getting some boring scarves done. I soooo deserved some fun play time after that. I started on my first ever Dresden Plate using this YouTube tutorial. I love how it is turning out and it is so much easier than I thought! All fabric from my scraps. Another great scrappy project. This is so much fun!!! ♥♥♥

Oh, if anybody missed it, you can still enter my spontanious Give Away by leaving a trail on my previous post. I will pick a winner for Valentines Day.

Kärlek
Annette

Color therapy works - I am back!

2012-02-11T18:38:00.004+01:00

Darlings! I love you all! Thank you for all your comforting words, supporting shouts, hugs, kisses... and LOVE. Who would have known a couple of years ago that I would have so many blog friends caring for my well being. :D This is truly amazing. And I am back. Have decided that the drama time is over. Lets not pound this trauma anymore. Lets move on. Lets have some fun. And what is the best way of having fun? Play with colors of course!!!

Thanks to the most fantastic chiropractor I am doing very well. For the first time in a year and a half my arm is hardly bothering me at all (crochet arm - read about it here). I am on a roll, back with the hook - again!!! It has been so long that I have almost forgotten how much fun it can be.

I am determinant to finish my Gypsy Blanket this year. This WiP has been going on for a good year and a half now... I am making small squares. Adding a second colorful row . ♥♥♥. Fastening off threads carefully as a go. Looking at them. I hold them. I thought if I only prepare a bunch of these colorful magical little squares it will be quicker and easier to finish this blanket. :D

Color therapy is the best when feeling down. I have played around with my scraps a lot the last couple of days. I really should have done other stuff but, who cares. Playing is fun!

My crafty mojo was gone for quite some time. Not being able to steal my moments in my crafty corner at home as a result of busy everyday life, work and trips skiing on weekends, made me blue. Actually my whole house is a mess but I could care less. I guess we all can get together for a big spring clean when the day comes... Spend a whole week sorting, organizing, polishing, washing, vacuuming... Because it isn't THAT important to have a perfect home.

I didn't tell you before but I had a bit of another drama just a week before the car accident. A drama that had to do with my marriage. Me being convinced, with proof black on white, that there was a mistress... This awful thing that only happen to others (because it does happen) but it would never happen to me - it happened. For 60 minutes flat I was a betrayed wife. For real. All I could see was a big sign saying DIVORCE in front of my eyes and my whole life fell apart... Everything I believed in... Just to find out it was all a huge HUGE mistake from my side... Five minutes before confronting my man I suddenly realized that my evidence was an old text message in my phone from May 2011, sent to me from him... Not a message for a mistress that by mistake was sent to me... An old text message which, taken out of context, rocked my world so violently that I actually had to stop my car and vomit at the side of the road. Wow, did I feel like a fool? Now I can laugh at it all but then... It was terrible to say the least... And then the accident on top of that the week after. Phew! So it isn't that important to have a perfect home. When life crumbles it is the last thing that matters, really. Keep that in mind when you tear your hair because the kids dragged in dirt on your newly cleaned floors...

So with my perfectly imperfect home including dust bunnies and piles of stuff on every surface, a laundry pile big as Mount Everest and everything else falling behind, today I am just happy to be here. To be married to the most wonderful man who is faithful. :D To have my three extremely special children that drives me both crazy like a mad cow and happily weeping as they give the most fabulous evidences of unconditional love daily just by being who they are. And of course, lets not forget about the crazy cats...

The lust to create has returned, as you can tell... I have a long list of " I - want - to - make". And I also have a list of "Things - I - have - to - make"... Not so fun. Like a drape for the hall way... Dragging the project but it really needs to be done. Mending clothes... How fun is that? And making 35 scout scarves... The scarves need to be finished soon. The dead line is getting closer and closer now. I started out cutting triangles, did pretty well. I even came to the pressing seams and pinning stage... And got slightly distracted. I just so happened to need another pin cushion soooooo... Scarves were put aside and one pin cushion turned into two, and three... Now this is fun! Playing with scraps making small teeny tiny pillows. Inspired by the pin cushion in this post. Color therapy is the best!!! Who wants one? Why not? Tell me which one you want and I will pick a winner on Valentines Day. :D Now suddenly this turned into a spontaneous Give Away. How lovely life can be! Yay! :D ♥♥♥

Tonight I have promised to watch a movie with Emmy Bo, with the hook in my hand that is. Adding some more mini granny squares to my Gypsy Blanket. Looking forward to that. I should really get going on my scarves right now though... Uuuuuuhhhhh, as Nelly Bo says more and more often nowadays... I really don't want to but it has to be done.

Sending lots of love your way. I promise to catch up more soon. Thank you for being there for a friend in need. You make me feel good! And you all rock my world in a good way. Happy Saturday!

Kärlek
Annette

Life is fragile...

2012-02-01T11:25:00.001+01:00

I got up at 6.30 am like normal. Took a shower and got dressed like normal. I woke up the kids at 7.00 am, like normal. Prepared school snacks, signed papers and agendas for school, packed my lunch and my crochet bag for work. Like normal. We all sat down and had breakfast at 7.30 am. Cereal of many different kinds as everyone has their own favorite. We are lucky that we can afford to choose. Mine is Special K with red fruit. Like normal.

The oldest took off for the school bus at 8.00 am and the rest of us brushed teeth and put on winter overalls, hats and gloves for school. It is all white and pretty outside from the new snow that came last night. Luca walked to school, Emmy and I drove over there in our little practical Fiat Punto and I dropped her off a few minutes before the school bell rang. In time for a change, as I always tend to be a couple of minutes late. It felt good. I had my favorite flower dress on with black cable stockings, my favorite black cuddly boots. I forgot to put mascara on this morning, but it is okay. I look okay for work even without it. I waved off my dear little Emmy who happily skipped into school on her own. Like normal. Everything is like normal.

I get back in the car to take off for work. Like normal. A friend calls on my cellphone. I pull over to have a quick chat and a laugh. We haven't spoken in a while and she gave me a tip of an advert of some kind. That is so sweat.

I pull out in traffic and the road is covered with the new snow. Probably about 5 inches. I love new fluffy snow. But the plow man has not been out yet so I have to drive more slowly than I normally do. But it is okay. There is no rush to get into work this morning. In a curve my car lets go a little bit and I slow down even more. The snow keeps on tumbling down. Big fluffy flakes. Beautiful. I am happy. The morning has been calm and nice. My husband Jay is coming home tonight after working in Gstaad for the weekend. It is all good. Our village get smaller in the rear view mirror as I leave it behind me on the small road through fields and forests. I know these roads with my eyes closed. I've driven here so many times. It is all routine. Everyday routine. Like normal.

I concentrate hard as I enter a part where one S-curve is followed by another. Slowing down even more. Suddenly a big black BMW X3 shows up in the corner of my upcoming left curve. He looses control over his vehicle and the back of his car slides out in my lane. There is nothing to do but to hold on to the wheel, close my eyes and wait for the big bang...

Silence... I can only here myself screaming... For a second I think that the car will roll over but it stops. I here myself sobbing. I can't think straight. There is smoke coming out from behind the air bags. It smells of burnt plastic. I have to get out. I can't get out! The door is stuck. I crawl out through the passenger door. Grabbing my hand bag. It gets stuck around the gear stick and I am desperately trying to get it off - succeeding and tumbling out in the snow.

I walk away from the car and fall down in tears at the side of the road. A gentleman comes up to see how I am. "Ca va Madame? Ca va?" I think I am fine. I am trying to feel. I think I am okay. I can't see any blood. My neck hurts. My back. But no I think I am fine.

I reach out for my phone to call Jay but he doesn't have any reception in the kitchen where he works. I am crying and trying to find someone else to call. But the freaking touch screen only makes my phone book list roll under my fingers. Stupid new technology!!! How I wish I had a normal phone with buttons on. The man helps me with my phone. He forces me to look at him and tells me I know him. I suddenly see him through my tears and it is my dentist... I am relieved. And chocked. I cry on his shoulder like a 5-year old. He helps me to phone a friend but it takes a while. I don't know who to call. I have no family around. And Jay is at least 2 hours away. Eventually we get hold of a neighbor who comes out within 5 minutes to help me. The police has already arrived.

The man in the other car is okay. He is calm and settled. He is concerned about my condition. He apologizes deeply. I am the only one being hysterical and in chock. My car looks like a smashed beer can. The wheel lying horizontal to the ground. The front all wrinkled up. There are pieces of plastic all over the place. I think "Thank God I didn't have the kids in the car!".

Time goes by, we go to the police station to fill out forms. My friend brings me to the Emergency room. Jay is on his way home from Gstaad. I spend the next 4 hours in hospital being examined, having x-rays and being propped up with neck support supplies. Nothing major. Rest and anti-inflammatory drugs for the rest of the week and I should be fine.

All day I cry on and off. Of fear of what could have happened if things would have been different. Of relief that I am fine. I survived. Of the enlightenment that life is not to be taken for granted. Every second counts. It has been close to disasters so many times before in life and every time I have gone "Phew, that was close", but this time it wasn't a 10th of second that saved me. This time the timing said it would happen. And it did. Full on.

I am hugging my kids a little bit extra, I am holding my husbands hand in mine. I look at my house and think that it is a great place to be, with all its flaws and imperfections, messy but warm appearence. Life is perfect like it is. It is now that matters. Who knows what happens from one second to another? Life is fragile. I am taking time out for a little bit dear friends. Take care of every moment you have.

Kärlek
Annette

Spreading blog love - Scrap projects

2012-01-29T21:51:00.002+01:00

I am obsessed with scrappy projects for the moment. I am so in love with scraps and what they can transform into. Just look at these lovelies, dear friends. Take out your scraps and lets play!

Memory game out of scraps anybody? "Genial", as we would say here in French speaking Switzerland. Inspiration from The Craftinomicon.

Tissue bags and note book covers. Drop dead cute. Inspiration from Erleperle.

Pretty gift tags. How clever is that? Inspiration from WIP.

Build houses. I think they are adorable and they will make a wonderful wall decorating quilt when finished. Fabulous. Inspiration from Dutch Sisters.

Yesterday I fell head over heals over these pin cushions. Aren't they just the cutest? Inspiration from Happy Little Cottage.

Or these lovelies. Mini cushions for pins. I am a sucker for everything teeny tiny... Inspiration from Helen Philipps.

Happy Little Cottage even shared these patchwork tin jackets and I actually just have to make one of those and have at work to spread some patchwork love in the office. Ahhhhh - so cute!

What about making yourself a pair of patchwork curtains? These are fab-fantastic. I've spotted samples of similar curtains a little bit everywhere in Blogland but these are from Summerfete.

A sweet hearty lavender bag to spread some nice scent. Adorable. Inspiration from CraftStylish.

Okay, I have to stop now... But this stylish shopping bag just has to be mentioned as well. This beauty is on my "I - want - to - make - this!" list like so many other things. Inspiration from Jojoebi.

Hope my blog lovin' has inspired you too. I am certainly overwhelmed by inspiration, my head spinning like a hula hoop of excitement. :D If I only could make it to the sewing machine also and just not get stuck by the computer and with my daily chores... (sigh...). Which one of the above is on your "I - want - to - make -this!" list?

Kärlek
Annette

Scraps, a new book, hand quilting, skiing...

2012-01-20T08:40:00.000+01:00

Life is busy right now... We are going back to Gstaad skiing this weekend. I am bringing this lovely book and some of my scraps. I will iron and sort, organize in sizes and shapes. Hand quilt a few stitches. Next week I give you a full book review. Have a lovely weekend!
Kärlek

Annette

This weekend...

2012-01-13T09:05:00.000+01:00

... I will practise my hand quilting. :D
Kärlek
Annette

Tomorrowland...

2012-01-12T20:08:00.003+01:00

If I was to re-live my 20's I would just HAVE TO go to Tomorrowland. Fasten your seat belts. When you click the button you will go on a 13 minute hell of club dancing ride. This place looks like Alice in Wonderland with bright colored mushrooms and plants, weird characters and all these happy people screaming, laughing, dancing, crying...

How I wish this existed in the 90's... It is just beautiful! This is Annette getting goose bumps, adrenaline highs, being in her happy place and never ever wanting to be a day older than 24 in her soul. I would just LOOOVE to be there jumping up and down and screaming in delight with everybody else. Am I insane for feeling that way?

And btw Happy weekend. We are off skiing.

Kärlek
Annette

Blue Squares to Belgium

2012-01-11T14:45:00.002+01:00

These blue and white 5 inch squares from My Etsy Shop are on their way to a girl in Belgium today. I wonder what she will make???

Something similar to my Boat Quilt that I made last year maybe...

So when I sell something I add something new to My Etsy Shop. Like this classy FQ bundle of 7 different Scandinavian/Dutch style fabric in blues, reds and whites. Comes with 2 1/2 yard pretty ribbon as shown below. :D

Another listing is this cute Folklore trim available to purchase separately in yards/meters.

And while on this Scandinavian and Folklore trend I have also added a listing with these cute candle holders. In this part of the world people collect them. I think they are just the cutest to decorate any bookshelf or window sill. All to be found in My Etsy Shop. :D
Kärlek
Annette

Square Off!

2012-01-08T19:26:00.003+01:00

Like I said before, thank you for all your great comments on my Pam Kitty Morning project. I truly had set my mind on a stripy quilt but... Something, just something held me back. So I took out my quilting books (my collection isn't big but I have a few...) and started to search for inspiration.

I found this block. It is called Square Off. As I really wanted to mix up this fabric line with some plain whites to make the beautiful florals jump out more I thought this would be an excellent choice. So I got to it.

Made a few blocks to try it out and although I need to do more cutting than I am used to and piece more than just squares together they come together really quick and nice. Every block is made from one big square and four small ones that are sewn on to the corners and then you cut off the corner left over, fold out and press the white triangle in place and VOILA - you have a hexagon! Big hexagon. The pattern was found in Easy Quilt Projects from Better Homes and Gardens.

As you cut off the corners you end up with lots of scraps but I decided to piece them together as I go to small squares and maybe they will end up becoming a matching pillow or something. :D And the best of all. After that I am left with NO scraps at all. Ain't that just amazing?

I love working on this project. I am not sure how big I will make this quilt though. We'll see how far my bundle of PKM fabric will get me.

I need to buy some backing fabric as well. Maybe floral on white background. Or plaid... And I would love to get a ticking stripe to bind it with. Or dots. But more urgent than anything else I need time...

Kärlek
Annette

I got the monkey bug...

2012-01-07T17:20:00.000+01:00

Hi darlings!
What great response on my last post. :D I guess I am not the only one loving the roses and cozies... Thank you so much ladies. It has been very helpful to read your comments and so much fun to brainstorm with you. I have made a decision. And I will show you a sample very soon. Just figuring out how to make this block. I can tell you I am challenging myself a little bit, taking my quilting to another level... Not toooo advanced but a teeny tiny bit more advanced than just squares. And I am loving it!!! Maybe I will be able to take some snap shots tomorrow. :D

So, what happened? Well, I guess I got the monkey bug... I had an event at work before Christmas. A little Quilt Show, showing my baby quilts for all the other girls. I whipped up this Funky Monkey Quilt to add to the variety as the pieces had been cut and has been ready to be pieced for a long time.

I sold 4 quilts and received 1 customized order so that was good fun. :D Not that I am planning to turn myself into a quilting machine or anything but I am glad that the blankets I have made during my first year making quilts, are ending up comforting small newborns all over the place instead of just lying on my shelf at home. It has been a great learning journey to make all these baby quilts.

I fell head over heals for this monkey print last spring and I have only been waiting to use it. Originally this was meant to be for my friend Hanna's babygirl Lea, but when Lea arrived she seemed to be more of a floral girl than a funky chick so I made her this quilt instead, Lea's Quilt. And now this quilt is a lonely quilt looking for a funky baby girl to use her.

You can find this quilt in My Etsy Shop together with my Groovy Monkey Quilt in turquoise and red. I am a sucker for monkeys, that is just the way it is...

Kärlek
Annette

Pam Kitty Morning, Lakehouse...

2012-01-06T06:47:00.003+01:00

That is the name of this new stash of beautiful fabric that arrived yesterday in my mailbox. Purchased at SoDeerlyLoved. A new project to dive in to. I am sooooo excited and I loooooove all these fabrics. Although I can't really make up my mind on what to make with them... So I have been playing around a little bit before I actually cut into these darlings.♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
PS Sorry about that terrible flash picture... It is so much more gorgeous in natural light I can assure you.

Traditional squares?

Irregular stripes?

Triangles?

Squares with white?

I need it to be relatively quick and simple as this is for someones birthday at the end of the month... I am feeling good with the stripes I think, but the regular squares are nice too... Which one is your favorite? Any other suggestions? I will keep on playing until decision time this weekend.

Kärlek
Annette

Scrappy slipper attempt #1

2012-01-04T22:56:00.000+01:00

To excited to wait for a photocopy machine to enlarge the pattern. This is my first attempt on scrappy slipper.

Improvised the enlargement of the pattern and didn't do to well with the fitting of sole, heal, toe or lining... But the toe looks very pretty with the scrappy piecing.

I don't think this shoe will ever get a mate though. Maybe it will become a wall decoration... It makes me happy. :D

Kärlek
Annette

Gstaad

2012-01-03T20:22:00.009+01:00

We are lucky. Thank to Jay's work he has a wonderful flat in Gstaad for the season, and the best part is that me and the kids can come to visit whenever we want to!!!! Yeay!

We sneaked up for the New Years Weekend to spend some time skiing and rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous. I so do NOT have any desire to be rich a famous. But they are sure fun to look at when you walk down town Gstaad. :D

Gstaad is located in the German part of Switzerland only 1 hour and 45 minutes from our home. So perfect and drop dead gorgeous with the mountain tops surrounding the valley. The top picture is our view from the flat. Ain't that just amazing!

We got lucky with lots of snow. I mean LOTS. I am talking about 20 inches, 50 cm... Emmy went to ski school for the first time and won a Gold medal for being the fastest down the kiddie hill. :D Me proud Mama!!!

We went skiing and dining, raclette of course, and yes, Jay just can't look normal in a picture, I am sorry about that but that is just the way he is.

We celebrated the New Year in our flat, in ski long johns and fleece shirts. Had a wonderful Jay the Chef dinner that of course were miles better than any restaurant food. I am a lucky woman having a professional chef cooking for me almost every day. That girls, is a real treat!

Kärlek!
Annette

♡2011♡

2012-01-02T23:14:00.005+01:00

♥ Discovered patchwork and quilt making. I learn new things everyday in quilt making and sewing. I am growing. I am loving every minute spent in my crafty corner. Gosh it is so wonderful to learn new things!!! Love love love!

♥ Crochet elbow got better. If not fully recovered, well able to work on some old WiP's aswell as starting some new ones. Gosh I love love love to hook. And I did manage to finish a couple of fun projects like the Zig Zag scarf and my Christmas Ripple that I haven't even showed you yet ! Ooops!

♥ We got puppies - and we had to give them back. Big tears! So we got Frankie. A crazy little tiger striped cat. HAPPY!

♥ Emmy Bo learned how to ride a bicycle - just like that!

♥ Nelly Bell started to play piano - very nice! She got a "best friend forever", Sarah. That is good. :D

♥ Luca Bo started dreaming in French. His hand writing is stunning. He is THE king of extreme sports!

♥ Discovered the joy of shopping fabric. Call me fabricoholic. Yarnoholic. Craftoholic. Anything containing color or being crafty easily slips down my shopping bag on my many visits to online shops as well as thrift stores. I love love love my addiction!

♥ Jay swopped driving his motorcycle like a crazy person on the roads to driving his new race bike like a mad 18 year old in speeds like lightning on a race track instead. And I feel so much better knowing he now drives his road bike like an old man, nice and slow...

♥ New job for Jay. And for the first time in our 10 years together we are both working and providing. big change for everyone and a bit of a challenge needless to say.

♥ Married for 10 years. I still can't believe that 10 years went by so fast and all the things we have cranked in during this period of time is amazing. What a journey. Looking forward to the net 10 years with my man! Love love love being Mrs Ciccarelli.

♥ Vacation. Wonderful vacation at Mallorca, Spain and Väddö, Sweden. So many friends. So much family. So nice weather. So many adventures. So much laughter. So much joy. So much love. Love love love our vacation in 2011!

♥ Sweden. Was blessed to go "home" not just once, but twice and three times in 2011. One ski trip with my dear girl friends. One trip for a gorgeous wedding and the big trip with my whole family for my first Swedish summer vacation in 5 years! Love love love being able to visit and share my roots.

♥ Together! This is a big one as Jay always had to travel with his previous employer and spent lots of time abroad... This year we have become a family of five for real. A Mama, Papa and three wonderful crazy kids. I love love love having my own family!

♥ Mega harvest! The vegetable garden thrived in the sunshine and just the right amount of rain this year. We were very blessed with everything from tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, carrots, lettuce, eggplant, corguette, green beans, red beets, strawberries, raspberries, currants, plums, cherries, apples, pears...

♥ Geraniums. These beautiful and very tolerant flowers decorated my garden and windows beautiful and I am finding myself becoming a geranium collector... almost. Love love love geraniums because they love love love me I don't die.

♥ Family visited from abroad. Jay's niece Alexandra came across the Atlantic to stay with us all summer. It was a blast to see her get to know her cousins for real. And us too for that matter. It is something special to have family around. ♥♥♥

♥ New blog friends! The number of readers on My Rose Valley shoots through the roof suddenly. Exciting! And scary at the same time! I am meeting so many new blog friends, finding so many new beautiful and inspiring blogs, getting so many encouraging and flattering comments from you all and I am beside myself. Little me having so many visitors is overwhelming. Thank you! I love love love you all! ♥♥♥

♥ I cut my hair short. Is this a statement of some kind??? I am not sure. I will analyze it all some other time...

♥ I opened an ETSY store. And it is so exciting. And when a first order shows in my inbox I am thrilled. This is so much fun! And it feels great to be able to pay for my hobby and not feel guilty of splashing out on fabric purchases even though my shelves are already overfilled...

♥ And much much more. It has truly been a fantastic year. And I have a feeling that 2012 will be just as good. I can't wait.

2012 I want to:
♥ Become a do-er instead of just being a dreamer
♥ Finish my on-going projects
♥ Learn more about sewing, quilting, embroidery, crocheting...
♥ Be a more relaxed Mama
♥ Blog a bit different. More about living abroad, everyday life and of course all the crafty fun! Not only eye candy, no matter how much fun that is. Share more. Blog love more. Give more.
♥ Laugh more
♥ Decorate my house (we have finally settled I have realized...)
♥ Become more fluent in French ( I don't really want to but I actually have to...)

And there are so many more things I would like to improve, change, grow with, do, make... A longer list is probably going to be published soon as I am a bit of a Listoholic as well. All these addictions...

Shouldn't be that hard should it?

Happy New Year everyone!

Kärlek

Annette

Christmas unwrapped...

2011-12-25T14:13:00.000+01:00

Don't get me wrong... I adore Christmas... But I also love when it is over... Now I can focus on a New year, New plans, New projects, a New future to explore...

Sending lots of love to you all. Hope your Christmas was as delightful as mine. ♥♥♥

Kärlek
Annette

An ornament as a gift...

2011-12-15T16:55:00.000+01:00

Do you give Christmas gifts to your kids' teachers at the end of school term? Well I try to... Having three kids and every child has at least 2 teachers it is adding up on the gift list. I have done chocolate, flowers, home baked cookies, drawings... I am running out of ideas on what to give all the wonderful teachers. So when I went Christmas shopping I totally fell in love with the Christmas ornament department. Especially these beautiful hand painted Christmas balls. I bought almost a dozen to give away.

We made cute paper tags from paper prints of Santa that we glued on and attached it all with a cute red ribbon to the ball. What are these paper prints called in English? In Swedish we call them "bokmärken". I used to collect them in a special album. They are like stickers but without the glue. And I adore them.

On the back of the gift tag I wrote Happy Christmas and Thank you teacher for this term. And then each child signs with their name. Simple and cheerful. :D

I have already given away a couple of these. One to my physio therapist and one for Luca's psychomotricity therapist. As a thank you for all their efforts in helping, guiding, teaching and caring for us. So far the receivers have been very smiley and touched by their gifts. I think I have come up with a success gift this year. I guess I am not the only one who loves Christmas ornaments.

If you, like me, have struggled to come up with what to give this year, give this a go! Fun and less expensive than a box of chocolate to purchase. The tag is so simple to craft and I just wrap these up in cute paper gift bags with a bow on. These gifts are pure pleasures to give.

Kärlek
Annette

Groovy Monkey Quilt

2011-12-11T16:31:00.000+01:00

I have finished a cute little Monkey Quilt. I adore the groovy monkeys!!!

It is backed with soft baby blue fleece.

From the scraps I made a matching little security blanket. You know the kind with lots of labels and ribbons sticking out, as babies love to suck and chew on those things.

I made my own ribbons using the fabric I used in the security blanket. Just folded it nicely, finished off with a zig zag around the tags as well as the teeny tiny blanket. It is backed with a piece from a towel. What do you call that type of fabric in English anyway?

This set is for sale if you are interested. I will soon list it in My ETSY Shop. Just drop me a line if you can't wait until then.

Kärlek
Annette

Blanket make over - VOILA!

2011-12-07T08:45:00.000+01:00

It is snowing! Yes! Yes! Yes! Finally! And when I saw the big snowflakes tumble down from the sky I thought that this is the perfect photo shoot set up for my Blanket Make Over project. Look how pretty! This is making, not only me heart skippy happy, but my kids too. They literally JUMPED out of bed this morning when they found out it was snowing. Happy days!

I found this old wool blanket at my favorite thrift shop Emmaus a couple of weeks ago. I first put it in my basket, put it back on the shelf thinking "Nahhh...", and then just before paying I rushed back and grabbed it. And I am so happy that I did. It only cost me 3 dollars at the most.

At the same time I bought all the lace and ribbons showed in this picture, and a few more for only 5 dollars!!! It always feels GREAT to make a bargain doesn't it? Love was in the air when old wool blanket met pretty lace and ribbons. In a short delirious crafty time I transformed old wooly to the most pretty Christmas blanket I've ever had!

This is my favorite and my best! Isn't she lovely?

And the snowflakes adds to it. Although it was cold, wet and windy it was with great joy I took these snap shoots in my garden. And it is everything but easy take a picture of yourself I'll tell you...

Ooooh, I am so happy for this blanket! It will add so much Christmas spirit for my home. I am looking forward to wrapping myself up in this blanket with a cup of "glögg" during the Christmas holidays. And I am absolutely going to look out for more wool blankets to transform. So, for now dear friends - "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!"

Kärlek
Annette

Blanket make over

2011-12-06T10:05:00.001+01:00

Red old wool blanket - worn and a bit out of shape - meets happy ribbons, lace and some gingham fabric.
This will be a transformation in good old Cinderella manner without doubt. A VOILA is soon to be expected...

Kärlek
Annette

Dinosaur Quilt - VOILA!

2011-12-04T15:50:00.002+01:00

I have made a dinosaur quilt.

My nephew Elyas is CRAAAAZY for dinosaurs and for quite some time I've been wanting to make him his special Dinosaur Cuddle Blankie. I found some great dinosaur prints at Fat Quarter Shop and now I am on a dinosaur roll... I wanted to mix in some gingham and dots to make it a bit stylish as well as fun and although I was worried that it would be boring I think I caught a Jackpot here. Dinosaurs and gingham actually work!

And when asking Jay for advice on the layout for this quilt, he thought the flowers were boring for a boy. But as I love this Michael Miller flower print in lime green, I quickly declared that vegetarian dinosaurs LOOOOVE flowers... I hope Elyas will agree about that too... soon this quilt will arrive in Stockholm, Sweden... mailing it on Wednesday.

Quilt facts
✗ 46 x 46 inches / 117 x 117 cm
✗ The squares measures 7 inch each
✗ The border is 4 inches wide with 4 inch squares at the corners
✗ Backed with polar fleece
✗ I tied the quilt together with A blue Pearl Cotton thread
✗ Most fabric are new designer fabric purchased at Fat Quarter Shop mixed with an upcycled cotton gingham found in a market.

Kärlek
Annette

Christmas spirit coming on

2011-12-03T17:31:00.000+01:00

Happy Christmas!
Lovely to hear some of you will give the Christmas mushrooms a go. Like I said before - you won't be disappointed. Please share your creations with me. I am so curious to see in which way you will display them and use them. Always fun with new ideas. :D

I've been crazy busy this week. Good busy. Decorating my house for Christmas busy. I love the build up and my home is now starting to get really REALLY cozy. I have put up lots of light arrangements, Christmas flowers that already are in bloom!!!

The little tacky train that the kids love to death is up and running around the mini Christmas tree...

The latest great addition to the Christmas spirit is a Christmas CD by Michael Buble. It is a joy to listen to. Michael Buble is my favorite and my best! A wonderful singer in a pure vintage way if you may say so. A 2011 version of Frank Sinatra, the smooth voice, the classy articulation, the jazzy sound... And he is not so bad looking either. :D Always a plus... Listen to some samples here and make your own purchase. Lets make us Christmas happy!!!

I haven't had much time to be sewing crafty though. I am still working on my crochet Christmas ripple and I think I only have about 20-25 rows left to go now... I also want to make Christmas pillows, sew new curtains for my kitchen and a big drape for the front door to keep the chills out... Wonder when??? However, I am not allowing myself to be stressed this year. I am trying to keep cool. Sipping my hot "glögg" and humming around to the Christmas tunes, putting a chocolate or two in my mouth every now and then or a delicious Anna's Pepparkaka, ginger cookie that is.

Today I spent some time in my crafty corner, arranging, tidying... And instead of finishing off the Wool Scarf Blanket, or finishing the Summery Pillows I started long ago, I started on a couple of new project... Yes, typical me. Do you do the same thing? I'll tell you more about my new projects next time. Above you can see a monkey Business Quilt in progress. But I am so excited about my other project. A clue? It is a make over project. More to come.

Now it is time for pizza making with the kids followed by Nelly's dance performance on the annual big Gym Show in the village. Today is a good day. :D

Kärlek
Annette

Crochet Mushroom pattern in English

2011-11-30T09:06:00.001+01:00

In my last post I told you about these gorgeous small mushrooms. Pattern is to be found at IA Nyckelpiga in Swedish and she has been so kind to let me translate this pattern into English. Thanks dear blog friend. :D

IA Nyckelpiga has made a lot of fun small crochet creations, often something for a kid's kitchen play such as toast with cheese and cucumber, wild strawberries on a straw, fried eggs, apples etc. She also makes her own crochet pillows, stuffed up animals and afghans in the most beautiful color combinations. She makes her own patterns and shares them on her blog. You should really pop in and see her. The picture is of IA's mushrooms from her blog.

Well lets get to mushroom making, shall we?

Preferably use a very fine lace yarn and small hook, hook size 1.5 - 2.0. This is a little bit of a fiddly project so be patient. The results are so much worth the effort I will assure you.

Abbreviations as follows in UK/US terms:  
ch - chain 
dc/sc - double crochet/single crochet
sl st - slip stitch  

The hat/top of the mushroom

Red yarn

Row 1:
Chain 6, sl st into 1st ch to make a magic ring.

Row 2:
2 dc/sc in every chain, sl st in 1st dc/sc (= total 12 dc/sc) 

Row 3:
Increase every other stitch like this - *1 dc/sc, 2 dc/sc in same ch*, repeat * 5 times, sl st in 1st dc/sc (= total 18 dc/sc)

Row 4+5:
dc/sc in every stitch, sl st in 1st dc/sc

Change to white yarn

Row 6:
Decrease every other stitch crocheting dc/sc in the front loop only, sl st in 1st dc/sc.  

Row 7:
Decrease every stitch crochetiung dc/sc in the front loop only, sl st in 1st dc/sc. Fasten off and weave in the end.

The foot of the mushroom

Row 1:
Chain 6, sl st into 1st ch to make a magic ring.

Row 2:
2 dc/sc in every chain, sl st in 1st dc/sc (= total 12 dc/sc)

Row 3+4:
dc/sc in every stitch, sl st in 1st dc/sc

Row 5:
Decrease every other stitch crocheting dc/sc in the front loop only, sl st in 1st dc/sc.

Row 6+7:
dc/sc in every stitch, sl st in 1st dc/sc. Save a longer end to sew on foot to the top with.   

Stuff the foot, not the hat. Sew on white pearls or embroider spots.

Enjoy your mushroom making and please share them with me. I would love to see your version.

Kärlek
Annette

1st of advent in the house

2011-11-27T10:31:00.000+01:00

I brought down the Christmas boxes yesterday. Today is the day to start the decorating for this big holiday we call Christmas. I love this part. The build up. Adding something new every other day to my home to make it warm, welcome, nice and cuddly.

So I started out this morning by making Christmas porridge. It is literally a round rice slowly boiled in milk mixed with water, add a pinch of salt and a cinnamon stick, a sting of vanilla - VOILA! Creamy Christmas porridge coming up. Very Swedish indeed. I love sprinkling sugar and cinnamon on top and I always have this mixture handy in a cute little jug. Yum. My favorite and my best!

♥ Christmas porridge ♥

250 ml round rice

800 ml whole milk

500 ml water

Pinch of salt

1 cinnamon stick

Sting of vanilla extract

Boil and stir regularly on low heat for about 30-40 minutes.

I couple of years ago when I was new to crochet I spotted the cutest little crochet mushroom over at IA Nyckelpiga and I made some for my advents candle holder (although hers are much more adorable than mine...). They now come out every year and make me smile from ear to ear every time. So darn cute they are. Her pattern is in Swedish but I am sure I can get her to make a translation if need be, she is a good blog friend of mine. Or I might even get the blessing to do it if you would like. Let me know and I'll talk to her.

So happy advent to you all. I am going to take the kids on a moss hunt in the woods as I have run out of moss for my hyacinths... Have a lovely Sunday. Christmas is coming to town!

Kärlek
Annette

Vintage FQ's in the shop

2011-11-26T15:21:00.002+01:00

How lovely to hear from you all. I really missed being in Blog Land. All your happy comments have made me really heartskipping happy! Thank you my lovely blog friends . Thank you. Now some business talk. Or business and business, well I guess it is a small business... Business to provide for my hobby, that is what I have had in mind at least... well, however. I've been listing some stuff in My ETSY Shop now when my computer is back up and running. :D

First in were these pillow covers. My favorite is the big floral one in green and blue which I have a whole bed sheet of. If anyone would like to have a larger cut just let me know. I think it would work perfect for a bag lining or similar. I have a bed sheet of the French pastel floral too, made myself a pair of PJ pants form that fabric... Much nicer than my clown spotty ones that I usually pot around in I can guarantee!

These pastel lovelies can be found in My ETSY Shop as Fat Quarters. Some of them are available in larger cuts, just drop me a line. They are all upcycled vintage sheets in cotton and cotton/poly blends. The softest imaginable. Perfect for patchwork and other crafty sewing projects.

And I have also listed some more bold and colorful FQs like these. My favorite is the 70's orange one and the 80's summery flower one.

Peep over and take a look at My ETSY Shop.

Kärlek
Annette

DMC wool treasure = HAPPY!

2011-11-24T09:46:00.002+01:00

We rushed in to the Emergency Room and our Dear Mac was quickly put into the intensive care unit. He has been suffering for while now being lethargic, working in slow motion... Diagnosis said brain damage, heart failure... Not much hope. And he just turned 2!!!

The specialist Dr Apple suggested a transplant and with worry we left Dear Mac in Dr Apple's hands. It has taken a week but everything went well. A new hard drive has been put in, updated system and software. It was pricy, no insurance will cover this type of surgery... but we are SO happy to have Dear Mac back at home. And he runs like lightning. Swisch, swisch, swisch... Funny how effected one can be by loosing her computer for a few days...

So we are back Dear Mac and me. And I have lots to share so lets get started.

I found a magic box at my favorite thrifts store Emmaus and Curious George in me opened the lid...

... and found this! The box was loaded with DMC tapestry yarn bundles. I started to pick out colors and soon I just couldn't hold them with one hand or even two... So many shades of colors. So hard to choose. Little Emmy Bo, clever girl, looked at me with her big brown eyes "Mama, why don't you buy the whole box?" So I did. I bought the whole box!

Lets play sorting colors and shades. Ohhh beautiful blues and greens.

Beautiful earthy reds, pinks and purples.

Ooops, Frankie Boy wants to play too but "No No! Not with my DMC yarn."

Look at that. A wheel of pure color bliss!

I have no clue on what to make out of this but to only have them and look at them does the trick. Color therapy on high level. This might just be perfect for a new granny project one day, when all the other crochet WiPs have been finished that is. For now I will just look at them.

Aaaaahhh, it is good to be back. Will catch up with you all in blog land the upcoming days, feels like I've been gone for ages. :D

Kärlek
♥♥♥ Annette

Mac disaster on the grump side. A table runner VOILA on the smiley side.

2011-11-13T20:07:00.001+01:00

My computer is acting up. It is a Mac. Running incredibly slow for the moment. I can't do anything on it. So after a week of annoyingly sloooooooow computer I reinstalled my system. Better? No. Anyone who has any advice on what to do? I am terrified to delete pictures or preferences... But I think I have to deleete the hard drive completely and start all over. Maybe I will turn in my Mac for a tune up. Pay for it although it is probably easy peasy...

However, I have something smiley to show you. My table runner is finished!!! VOILA!!! I am so happy with this table runner (sorry about the bad light in my pics, not so easy to take pictures indoor this time of the year...).

I had this idea in spring, cut out all the pieces and got distracted. Like always. It is really a summer table runner but I will use it for another couple of weeks before my Christmas table runner will be taking over.

I really enjoy making table runners. So easy and so satisfactory. No matter what fabric you will use it always turns out fabulous. And do you see the big blue fruit bowl. My latest find at a market. I couldn't resist. I might have to give it its own post as it is absolutely adorable. I l♥ve l♥ve l♥ve it and am so happy I found it. :D

And what else has been going on around here? Well, I have made 15 scout scarves. Spotty scarves. I still have 35 more to make... But 15 is for now. The rest will be for spring time.

It is for a friend who is a scout leader and she really wanted something different for her scout group on the next scout happening. I think they look great in all tehir spottyness... Although I am not sure I will take on such a project again... Triangels are very difficult to cut and sew...

Oh, and yes it happens to be my birthday. Tomorrow. But we celebrated today. It has been a great day, although turning 40 + is nothing to really brag about... I am quite happy with this birthday passing by in a bit of tranquility and silence... See you again soon.

Kärlek

♥♥♥ Annette

Waiting for a moment to quilt...

2011-11-09T20:02:00.001+01:00

This is what I am working on right now. A table runner for my kitchen in blue and white. Two pillow covers from my dear rosy pozy left over fabric that I used for Lea's and Grace's baby quilts. Now I am waiting for a moment to quilt this... Maybe tomorrow. Color me happy!

Kärlek
Annette

The last of the last...

2011-11-05T19:53:00.004+01:00

First of all - thank you so much everyone for your encouraging words about my Gypsy Blanket. I need a bit of a push to finish that project I have to admit, and reading all your comments makes me so motivated to continue. Thank you. I heart you all!♥♥♥

Today was a beautiful day. The autumn sun made things look magic and couldn't help but wanting to catch this moment in pictures to share. It feels like it is a bit of "the last of the last" hanging in the air... Before snow comes and the landscape will turn all white.

The last of the last flowers in my garden are in bloom. Making me go AAAHHH just looking at them.

The last of the last few days to be able to dry my laundry outside. How I love watching laundry on a clothes line... Have I mentioned that before? Oooh. Actually Laundry has its own label on my blog now. That is how magic I think this is.

The garden is almost all cleared, the last of the last veggies like chard and some Italian black cabbage is the only greens left...

And my geraniums is showing their last flower buds and flowers before they will be taken inside for a quiet and dark winter rest in the attic.

And even though it is the last of the last of autumn days it is the start of a new season - winter - and what can be better than to start on a warm winter blanket?

This is a ripple in Christmas colors. And it is making me go OOOOHHHH. I am following Lucy's pattern over at Attic24. And the fabric you might spot behind will become matching pillows if things go as planned. I love doing the ripple. A bit of a struggle in the beginning but now I am on a roll. It is growing very quick compared to my Gypsy Blanket which is a nice feeling. I really hope it will be finished in time.

I am so looking forward to winter and snow. And Christmas. I have already started on some Christmassy crafts. More about that another time. Now it is time for some X Factor USA and adding a few more rows to this cozy blanket. Happy Saturday evening. See you next time.

Kärlek

Annette ♥♥♥

Granny squares - now 166 of them

2011-11-03T19:40:00.000+01:00

I am not sure how many of you who have been hanging around my place long enough to have seen this crochet WiP before. I started this project way back in July 2010 but I was quickly forced to take a crochet break for 5 months as I got struck by pain in my crochet elbow. Since then I have been very careful with the crochet. Going slow. And my oh my, this project really is sloooooooowwwww.

I am now up to 166 squares and if I have calculated it all right I have another 86 to go... But I don't mind that this is taking forever. I am really enjoying the making of each and every square. Combinating the colors, joining the squares as a I go and watching the blanket growing...

What I like less is to tie in ends... So therefor I do one row at a time. To avoid getting overwhelmed by all the million ends. But they are quite pretty to look at. :D Says a crochetoholic... Nobody else would understand that.

So while the blanket is growing, I am finding new favorite color combos (with a tendency of loving everything involving white or blue)... I have another crochet WiP going on as well. Something Christmassy. I'll show you soon. Thanks for popping by and I hope you enjoyed my little Gypsy blanket update.

Kärlek
Annette

Walnut harvest

2011-11-02T16:08:00.000+01:00

I couldn't resist taking pictures of the walnuts our dear landlady have harvested from the big walnut tree out on the field behind our house. Previous years we have picked some for ourselves as well but this year we missed out on it all... I guess we were busy with other things. What a shame.

These nuts have the sweetest and mildest walnut taste. Just to walk past these boxes and baskets makes me happy. There is such joy to see true harvesting. Right there. Outside Madames front door they have been sun drying for days before she brought them inside to store them. Yum... Maybe I can send the kids over with some drawings and they will come back with their pockets full of walnuts... She always gives them treats when they pop over for a chat... Sneaky me...

Kärlek
Annette

Zurich with Nelly

2011-11-01T23:17:00.000+01:00

Zürich was great! It was an adventure. The weather was a bit comme ci comme ça... The trams were very fascinating. The shopping successful. Time went by fast. To fast. And again... We loved the trams! And almost got lost when "tramming" to the theater to see Mama Mia. And Mama Mia was... "Dancing Queen - young and sweet only seventeen - da da da da da da da da..." Fab-fantastic! Nah nah nah nah... la la la la.... We now got ABBA fever at home. Or at least I do.

We indulged ourselves with multiple visits to Starbucks in only 24 hours. :D That is luxury considering a coffee costing nearly 6 dollars... for a SMALL one. We strolled down the streets on an early and quiet Sunday morning and watched the birds from the bridges. We hugged. We laughed. Giggled. And were the best friends ever! It was a moment to treasure for life. Happy! And I added on quite a few squares to my Gypsy blanket on the train ride home. More about that next time.

Kärlek
Annette

Weekend trip

2011-10-28T20:01:00.001+02:00

We are off. Me and my 10 year old girl. Only Mama and daughter. Destination Zurich.

We will go shopping, sightseeing and have cake and soda.

Tickets are reserved for Mama Mia musical, the original version direct from London. :D

We will stay in a hotel over night. Just me and her. Have a lovely weekend. We sure will have a blast!!!

Kärlek
Annette ♥♥♥

A Wonderful Family Day

2011-10-25T06:49:00.002+02:00

Fall is here. Saturday was all sunshine, crisp and beautiful. We went to Morges by the lake Geneva for a stroll. Some last colorful flowers to be seen. My kids united. Happy! ♥♥♥

The kids wore inlines. Emmy just learned. Luca is pure talent. Fearless. Like always.

Nelly found something in the water. Soon all three were checking out what was found in the water.

Crayfish. Very exciting indeed.

Some late season sailors could be seen. Other people going for a stroll just like us.

The kids found a great tree to climb with vines. Three little Tarzans...

And I can't believe that this girl was born a decade ago (on Thursday that is...) in a hospital down under... Cairns, Australia. How did that happen? I better go and check out my wrinkles for real...

Kärlek
Annette

My ETSY shop and wool scarf quilt WiP peak

2011-10-23T18:04:00.000+02:00

The doors are officially open to my dear little Etsy shop. Please stop by and check it out! You can now find it in my right margin.

I will be serving you handmade unique quilts and patchwork from recycled fabric mixed with new designs for a special twist. Fabric, yarn, vintage sheets & other fun supplies to make you happy! ♥♥♥

I am in the progress of listing items and will of course let you know through my blog right here about what is coming up next. I am delighted to be able to share my creations as well as fun vintage inspired supplies with you all. I really hope my pre-cut Quilt Squares Sets will inspire any aspiring quilter to take the big leap on making a first quilt without fear.

And yes, I got name tags. Aren't they just so cute? I am so proud.

So I got a lot going on here right now = messy studio (and poor picture taking but hey... you get it right?) . I am preparing a Give Away to celebrate that I am opening shop. Stay tuned. And I have about half a dozen projects going on.

The wool scarf quilt is one WiP that I am so so SO excited about. So dead simple, this will be my favorite for the cold winter to wrap myself up in. Unless it will become a Christmas gift as I planned in the first place... I am not so sure I want to give it away anymore... I hope to finish this quilt soon.

Love to all. Autumn is fantastic. The weekend was pure pleasure. Will share some of that later to.

Kärlek
Annette♡

Another baby quilt - lets call her Grace!

2011-10-20T14:19:00.001+02:00

A few days ago I showed you Lea's quilt. Adorable with ginghams and flowers in pink and blue. Well, I got a bit obsessed with the theme and made another quilt but this time with green as an accompanied color. I am calling this Grace's Quilt.

I backed it with fleece that is patched up half way with some scraps from the quilt top. I have to say that I really do love making these baby quilts with the fleece backing. They are so cuddly.

This quilt measures 33 x 33 inches (84 x 84 cm) and is perfect for the stroller, a car seat or a crib. It is made from recycled fabric I have thrifted on markets or other blog friends like Popetotrora (again, the same fabric as in Lea's quilt - oooh I love this fabric!) mixed up with some new designer fabric. I just think that the mix of old and new gives a patchwork a special twist. I would like to call it a My Rose Valley twist if I may...

This quilt is actually for sale if you would be interested. Just drop me a line. And more big news to come as I have opened my own ETSY shop. So, I am a bit busy... I am filling up shop and preparing a give away for the big public announcement in a few days. See you next time.

Kärlek
Annette

Scrappy tips - craft a butterfly

2011-10-19T14:07:00.001+02:00

I have lots of scraps. And a young daughter who absolutely neeeeeeeds to be with me when I am working in my crafty corner. So I pulled out the scraps. Cut it into small pieces. Outlined a butterfly on thick paper and gave little girl a glue stick. After we cut out the butterfly neatly.

This is how happy a 4 year old gets when she can craft with mama.

And this is how proud a Mama gets when her daughter has created a beautiful scrappy butterfly like this;
1. She praises her daughter until she can't take any more praise
2. She brings out the camera to do a great photo shoot of the process and the result
3. She just has to share it with the world.
4. And last but not least the art has to be show cased in the little girl's bedroom. This was great fun!

Kärlek
Annette

Lea's Quilt - VOILA!

2011-10-15T20:07:00.001+02:00

I am on a creative high. Spending lots of time in my studio corner at home. Cutting, sewing and taking care of scraps. Scraps can actually be fun. I'll tell you about it later.

Today it is about this quilt. Lea's Quilt. Lea was born on the 17th of September this year. She is a cute little bundle that makes my hormones go crazy and when I look at her I just so so sooooo much want another little baby like that.

With innocent eyes staring into yours. It is pure love cutting through you like a knife without hurting. Unconditional love. I am fulfilled. Alive. Here. Now. Ahhh, babies are such a blessing... But naaaahhh, my baby journey is over. The best thing I have ever done for sure, but after holding a little cute bundle like this and sounding rediculous with funny baby talk for a while it feels good to be able to hand her over with a stinky butt and say. "Thanks for the coffee, I got to run. See you next time!". You know what I mean.

Lea's Quilt is made from 6 inch squares and measures 33 x 33 inches / 84 x 84 cm. I like it when a baby quilt is in this smaller size as it is more useful for a stroller, car seat in a cradle, basinet or similar.

It was the fabric with the small pink and red roses on that got me started. I got this fabric from Petra at the blog Popetotrora as an extra gift (LUCKY ME!) when I bought a piece of another gorgeous fabric form her not long ago. I wanted this rosy fabric so bad, but it was already sold and Petra was so kind to cut off a piece from the piece she had kept for herself. How generous is that? I will be forever in debt to you dear Petra. :D You should visit her blog, she is always on the go with something fun and crafty that she shares.

I backed the quilt with thick white flannel and quilted with diagonal lines. This makes the quilt very thin and soft. It also makes it extra crinkly after being washed and I kind of like that authentic quilt crinkle look. The binding is made from all the fabric in the quilt top and machine stitched on. Oh my, this quilt even get my hormones ooooozzzzing around. Why didn't I quilt when I had my babies so I could have covered the m up in a pretty quilt like this? Those feelings actually makes it even more fun to give this to little Lea and her mom Hanna. Congratulations and welcome to this world.

Kärlek
Annette

PS Can you see that the light in my pictures are different? I sure can. That is autumn sunshine. Completely different... ANd actually quite hard to work with in a photo shoot.

Fruitful thrifting

2011-10-12T21:36:00.001+02:00

Every Wednesday afternoon my three kids are out of school. Both me and Jay are off work aswell so Wednesday afternoons often turns into a mini-Saturday. It is a luxury to have the chance to hang out as a family in the middle of the week like this. In the winter time these afternoons often becomes skiing afternoons, in the summer they are pool or beach afternoons. And also, very often, they are just "hanging-out-at-the-house" afternoons. I am not sure how I could live without it in my life before Switzerland. Because this is a Swiss thing. All kids have free afternoons on Wednesdays. Well, at least in our Canton*. Isn't that a treat?

Anyway. This Wednesday Luca went on a motorcycle ride with Jay and me and the girls went to a big Brocante**. And it turned out to be a very VERY fruitful thrift shopping afternoon. Just look at all this yarn that I picked up. And they had so much more yarn. It is Acrylic and Acrylic Wool blend yarn for a hook size 4 and although I am still working on my Gypsy Blanket *Seems to be a forever project...) I can now see a new blanket project starting. A ripple. Yes! I want to make a ripple from this yarn. I have some grey yarn at home to add to the blue and green colors...

I can see that happening... something like this? The Stripe Generator is so much fun to play with.

I also thrifted these wonderful wool plaid scarfs. "So what on earth is she going to do with 8 wool scarfs?" you might wonder. You watch me. I am, of course, going to make a wonderful wool quilt from these scarfs. I can't wait to get started! It will be a perfect Christmas gift for someone dear.

And last but not least. This Wednesday afternoon was a great time for thrifting blue and pink fabric and sheets. Just look at this pile. Aaaaaahhhhhh. And I even found a vintage sheet pillow case, still in its packaging. I love that

I really REALLY get a buzz out of going thrift shopping, I have to say. It puts me on a high for hours afterwards and my creative mind works on a super gear (like a gear 10 or something!) with all projects and possibilities popping up like small idea bubbles around my head. Pop! Pop! Pop! Can you see them?

But still, I kind of regret I didn't get more yarn. I might just have to return tomorrow again... Good night lovelies. Don't let the bed bugs bite. I am not sure if I will be able to fall asleep at all with this buzzzzzzzzzz going on...

Kärlek
Annette

* Canton (Wikipedia) = territorial/administrative subdivision in some countries, notably Switzerland

** Brocante = flea market

Zig Zag Scarf mönster på svenska

2011-10-10T22:04:00.036+02:00

Oh my! The Zig Zag Scarf was a huge success, wasn't it? I love it. You love it. Everybody loves it.

Big thank you to Mam'zelle Flo who shares the Zig Zag Scarf pattern on her blog and on Rivalry. Without it I would never have figured it out. Her pattern is in French and many of you are struggling with that... I totally TOTALLY understand. French is NOT an easy language... That is why Flo has been so kind to allow me to share this pattern with you in Swedish. Yeay! So here it comes the Zig Zag Scarf - in Swedish. A million thanks to Flo for letting me spread the crochet love and this pattern.

ADDITION TO POST 14 oct 2011: THE PATTERN IS AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH OVER AT MAM'SELLE FLO NOW! YIPPI!!!

Oj oj oj! Zig Zag scarfen var tydligen populär. Jag är tokig i den. Ni är tokiga i den. Alla är tokiga i den. :D

Stort tack till Mam'zelle Flo som delar med sig av sitt mönster där och på Rivalry. Utan hennes beskrivning hade jag aldrig listat ut hur man skulle göra. Nu är det ju så att hennes mönster är på franska och många av oss tycker att det är svårt att förstå. Och det är därför som jag, med godkännande från Flo, fått lov att dela med mig av detta underbara mönster i svensk version. Tusen tack till Flo som är så generös.

Jag uppmanar er att besöka hennes "tutorial" här eftersom hon har bra bilder och illustrationer som kan vara till god hjälp. Jag tyckte faktiskt att det var lättare att få kläm på det hela genom att titta på hennes bilder, men det är ju en smaksak.

Material:

Jag använde ett mediumtjockt ullgarn och virknål 4 och min scarf mätte ca 7-8 cm i bredd. Det går inte åt så där jättemycket garn, kanske ett par nystan totalt, men jag använde 7 olika färger. Med förmån kan man använda upp rester till den här scarfen eftersom ett varv kräver ytterst lite garn. Så Klara - Färdiga - Nu kör vi!

Förkortningar enligt följande:

m = maskan

lm = luftmaska

sm = smygmaska

fm = fast maska

st = stolpe

st gr = 4 stolpar totalt i grupp, på engelska kallas denna grupp "cluster". Jag kan inte hitta något ord för det på svenska och därför får det helt enekelt heta stolpgrupp.

1. Virka 6 lm, 1st i 4:e, 5:e och 6:e m fr nålen = 4 st = 1 st gr. Varv 1 har 1 stolpgrupp totalt.

2. Byt garn. Virka 6 lm, vänd ditt arbete, 1st i 4:e, 5:e och 6:e m fr nålen = 1 st gr, sm i 3:e m i sista st på föregående st gr (den e klurig...).

TIPS! Det kan kännas konstigt här eftersom dina stolpgrupper hänger och dinglar men om du ser till att ha avigsidan fram på föregående stolpgrupp så är det lättare att se vart du ska göra en sm och när du väl gjort den så ser du hur rätt det blir.

3. Virka 3 lm, 3 st runt sista st i föregående st gr = 1 st gr. Varv 2 har 2 stolpgrupper totalt.

4. Byt garn. Repetera steg 2 och 3 tills du tycker att din scarf är tillräckligt bred. Varv 3 har 3 stolpgrupper, varv 4 har 4 stolpgrupper etc.

5. Nu har du kommit till läget då du ska sluta att lägga till mer bredd. Se bara till att sluta och börja i kant med ditt arbete. I början kan dte vara lätt att göra en st gr för mycket eller börja i fel ende men du får snart till det.

TIPS! Vartannat varv från och med nu påbörjas med 6 lm och st i m 4/5/6 från nålen, precis som i punkt 1 och det andra varvet startar med 3 lm och 3 st runt stolpen i föregående st gr.

Som du kanske har märkt nu så blir ju starten rak och det sista varvet diagonalt avslutat. Om du vill ha en scarf med diagonalt avslut, som min scarf, gör du två delar och syr ihop. Var då uppmärksam på att du startar med rätt färg för att diagonalen ska fortsätta i rätt färg när du lägger ihop de två delarna. Lite tricky (jag repade upp typ 3 gånger innan jag fick till det...) men det är ju det som är tjusningen vet ja.

När du väl fått kläm på det hela så susar du iväg varv efter varv och innan du hinner tuanka efter har du en färdig scarf! Visa gärna. Jag kör gärna lite länk-kärlek för att visa era kreationer så att vi kan inspirera ännu fler att virka Zig Zag Scarfs. Have fun!

PS Säg till om något är oklart eller om jag gjort något fel i beskrivningen. Tack.

Kärlek

Annette

Boat quilt - VOILA!

2011-10-09T18:53:00.000+02:00

Here it is, The Boat Quilt. A custom order from a friend back home in Sweden. Directions said "Blue and white but not with boat motifs".

At first I made big 10 inch squares like in my Wedding Quilt, but with the traditional patterns and only blue, white and a sprinkle of red it didn't feel right. So I cut up the 10 inch squares to 5 inch squares instead. And I choose to put the squares in a diagonal pattern. To make it more quiet. I also added a border all around the small squares to frame it.

The binding is a stand out stripy one. I decided to quilt in horizontal lines all through the patchwork and then frame quilt it all around in the border. I am very pleased with it.

I used an fusible batting from Hobbs, low loft cotton/poly blend. Using a low loft batting like this makes the quilt really soft and cuddly.

The good thing with a fusible batting is that it is very easy to sandwich your quilt and you don't need to glue spray. You just put your layers together, iron on top and - VOILA, ready to go. But... if you don't quilt your quilt right there and then the glue will let go and your quilt sandwich will start to fall apart... I used safety pins as well just to make sure the sandwich stayed together.

I rarely have the chance to quilt for hours on end. With 3 kids, part time job and a big house to care for I kind of steal my moments for my hobby. It is 15 minutes here, 20 minutes there. Maybe an hour in the evening, if I am not to exhausted... And there is actually another down side with the fusible batting. It is very crinkly when you take it out of the packaging and if you choose to iron it you have to do that with a piece of fabric on top to avoid your iron to get messed up with the glue... I am not sure if I will use this type of batting again if I'm gonna be really honest...

Here are the facts all lined up:

- The quilt measures 66 x 50 inches (170 x 130 cm).

- I used 13 different fabrics; 1/4 yards x 12 different fabrics for the squares, 3 yards for the backing, 1 yard for the border, 1/4 yard for the binding. Roughly. I do have some left overs I have to admit.

- I bought my fabric from Fabric.com, Cotton-Color.com and a couple of the fabrics are markets finds.

And the label. Here you can find my tutorial on how I make these labels.

I am very happy with this quilt. It makes me wanna go sailing in an instant. Wrap myself up in this quilt on a cliff somewhere in the beautiful archipelago of Stockholm. I really hope Cathrine is going to be happy for this quilt.

Kärlek
Annette

When a baby girl is born...

2011-10-06T22:48:00.001+02:00

A baby girl is born. And a baby blanket is to be made. And when I am quilting this blanket I can't help but wondering why we women are such suckers for pink, blue and white? Why are we drawn to floral and gingham pattern fabric and cute little polka dots??? My thoughts spirals off to why my girls automatically entered the princess stage at age 3, without anyone encouraging them to. Why is it that when a girl is born we are dying to buy pink, lace and pretty flower outfits? Why is it that Laura Ashley, Cath Kidston, Greengate, Tanya Whelan and many more within this theme makes us all go "Oooooohhhhh, aaaaahhhhh I want that!"? No matter if it is a wallpaper, table cloth, coffe cup, tray, bag or apron. This is a weard phenomenom. I am starting to think this is pure nature. Biologically our destiny. I just can't get enough of this prettyness...

Kärlek
Annette

The big harvest report

2011-10-02T14:24:00.000+02:00

Oh my oh my! 2011 has been a very fruitful year and putting this post together makes me realize how lucky we are with our vegetable garden. Bless dear Jay who puts his heart and soul into this garden - as I hardly lift a finger with the weeding, binding up tomato plants, watering or caring.

Thank to him we have the freezer packed with poached pears, de-seeded cherries, blanched off chard and spinach and corn. We got jars full of apple sauce and pickled beets, our cellar full of potatoes, carrots, pears and apples. We have enjoyed green beans to its full and tasted the sweetness of strawberries, wild and from our garden. This year we have even had a small treat of currants and raspberries, hoping for more to come next year so that we can make syrup and stock up the freezer with these goodies too. It is fantastic. I never thought I would have my own garden like this. It is a lot of work but well worth it. So here comes a fantastic potpurri of harvest pictures. Enjoy!

Kärlek
Annette

Crochet scarf - VOILA!

2011-09-29T21:18:00.001+02:00

Once upon a time (many many times...) I visited dear Vanessa over at Coco Rose Diaries and amongst all her treasures I spotted this scarf. I knew in an instant that I just had to make one for myself. Vanessa's blog is a dream place. A fantasy world of pastels, roses, vintage, colorful crochet creations and adorable must have pottery and dreamy stuff for display and kitchen. Just look at her banner, it says it all... Her posts are sincere and honest and her photography fabulous. I wish I could snap pictures like her...

The pattern for this scarf was found at Mam'Zelle Flo and I got started. Tried out a number of different color schemes but didn't really find any satisfaction until I put together the classic blue, red, white, pink, green theme a la Cath Kidston style.

The rows of crochet stitches flew by in front of the TV at night and before I knew it I had a good yard and a half (almost) of scarf lying in front of me. And a gazillion ends to fasten off.

I decided to edge it with a row of single crochet. But to be honest it was just as gorgeous without it. When I get tired of it I might just rip the edge off and VOILA, it turns into a new scarf again.

And hello everyone! Here she is, the founder of My Rose Valley, Annette herself, wrapped up in her pretty scarf. :D... Not very photo genic but this is me.

I've been wearing it non stop since it got finished even though the weather is still warm. It is quite warm as I used wool yarn for it. It will be perfect when weather cools down and autumn approaches.

Next time I'll tell you about my Boat Quilt. It is finished despite from the personal label. The binding was a bit of a hassel as this little fellow Frankie just wouldn't stay out of the way... I ended up finishing the binding with him on top of the quilt next to the machine...

Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite. See you soon with another VOILA post.

Kärlek
Annette

Back to hook and yarn...

2011-09-28T09:01:00.001+02:00

I've been back with the crochet quite a lot lately. Working on my Gypsy blanket but also experimenting with colors with small projects. This is a small new project I have on my hands for the moment. I love the color combos in this WiP. The red and the pink is kind of overexposed in this particular picture, I think it is because of the light from my parasol... However. They are addictive. I'll show you the result soon.

Kärlek
Annette

Give Away at Sarah London's!!!

2011-09-26T20:08:00.000+02:00

You just can't miss this opportunity. She is the one to be. The Granny Square Queen. The superstar of crochet stardom. Living in the world down under, she makes the most colorful, eye catching granny square creations, amongst all the other stuff that she makes.

She is generous and inspiring, encouraging and helpful. Always giving a helping hand with her hook and yarn to people in need.

If you haven't met Sarah London yet you have to visit her place. She has been one of my idols since I started my crochet journey a few years ago. She is just fabulous. And now I am running out of adjectives.

She wrote a book. Granny Square Love. And she is on book tour. Right now. And she is giving away a signed copy of her book. You just can't miss the opportunity, can you. Join the fun. I am of course hoping to be the happy winner. Sign up for the give away right here. Let the games begin...

Kärlek
Annette

Daisy Square tutorial in US terms

2011-09-25T09:23:00.001+02:00

Do you remember the Daisy Square?

I have had quite a few requests on translating my Daisy Square tutorial into US abbreviations and as the majority of my readers are from the big country across the Atlantic Ocean I have now updated my Daisy Square tutorial.

It is quite simple. The only thing you change in the tutorial is the UK treble crochet (tr) which in US abbreviations is a double crochet (dc). Find the tutorial right here and enjoy making your Daisy Squares. And please, please, please - share your creations with us!

Kärlek
Annette

Fusible batting

2011-09-24T12:41:00.001+02:00

I have sandwiched my boat quilt with a fusible batting from Hobbs. Instead of spraying the adhesive spray all over the batting like I usually do it is already added on to the batting. :D All I need to do is using the iron all over and - VOILA - the batting is lightly glued on and now it is much easier to pin the layers in place. Because I do use pins as well, just in case... I think this is really clever.

Kärlek
Annette

The best green beans!

2011-09-22T16:25:00.000+02:00

The best green beans are those from our garden of course. We are about to harvest the last of them any time now...

Cooked to perfection to make them as green as they possibly can get, drizzled with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and sprinkled with some salt. The kids love them too. We will fight over these at dinner tonight...

Kärlek
Annette

It is yet another pillow...

2011-09-18T11:38:00.000+02:00

Thank you for welcoming Frankie Boy to my world. He sure is adorable and your comments are, like always, so sweet and fun. And I would like to take the chance and thank for the Versitile Blogger Award that I got from Winkieflash at A Creative Being AND from Saritha over at Rainbow Bunting. Thank you thank you girls!

I have played the game a couple of times before and I have to admit I am not the greatest at following up the good fun. I really appreciate the Awards (I should probably put them in my margin like everybody else have done...) but I just never seem to get to it. There are so many good blogs around that it is hard for me to pick just some of them out. I suggest you check out my blog list and visit some of the places I follow. They are all fabulous, inspiring and sweet in their own way. If you would like to read some secret stuff about me check my Award button.

No something creative. This was a quick project I have to say. It always feels good to make a small project at times where you can start and finish in a swisch. It fits perfect in one of my chairs.

I used some of my red and blue stash, trim and ribbons with a folklore twist to it. The backing is from an old IKEA pillow with the zip included. A little bit of cheating in some peoples eyes but I just think that is so clever. :D

I might go ahead and make another one as I like to have a friend for my pillow. I think they always do best as a couple.

Today is a rainy day. I kinda like that for a change. Maybe I will get the chance to sit by the sewing machine a little bit now without feeling guilty. I always feel guilty sitting inside when the sun is out. I think fall and winter is the best time spent by the sewing machine or with a hook and yarn in front of the TV... Yes, I am hooking a little bit actually. My Gypsy blanket is growing slowly. I'll show an update soon.

Kärlek
Annette

Denim, red, trim and lace...

2011-09-17T08:16:00.000+02:00

This is something new I am working on. I have been craving something with denim, red, trim and lace lately. More to come...

Kärlek
Annette

Meet Frankie Boy!

2011-09-15T10:50:00.002+02:00

He is absolutely nuts.
He is hyper.
He is everywhere.
He is fast like lightning.
He is impossible to photograph...
He climbs our walls.
He attacks my nightgown in the morning.
He bites on my toes.
He jumps me from the back when I am doing computer business.
He steps on the keyboard.
He jumps your leg when you walk by.
He is like a rock climber on our sofas.
He attacks Emmy's hair when she is twirling it.
He tumbles around in the curtains.
He sleeps sitting up - for 2 minutes only.
He slides our floor like a hockey player on ice.
You never know what to expect when you enter a room...
He cuddles up with Nelly at night.
He purrs like a lawn mover.
He miaus like a teeny tiny baby.
He curls up like a big fur ball to impress on Charlie.
He follows Charlie everywhere and Charlie doesn't really like it.
Charlie looks like a big lion compared to the little one.
They do get along, but aren't best buddies yet...
We laugh at him.
We talk to him.
We cuddle him.
We play with him.
We love him.
His name is Frankie. We call him Frankie Boy.

Boat quilt - ready to sandwich

2011-09-12T20:01:00.000+02:00

The quilt top is ready. I am ready to sandwich this quilt. It is just a question of time...

Kärlek
Annette

The winner is...

2011-09-11T10:27:00.002+02:00

Thank you all for joining the fun. It has been LOTS of fun to read your commments throughout the past week. I am so flattered and warm inside from all the blog love you've given me. Wow!

So the winner is... Neele from Holland! Neele wrote:
"WOW, I would like to enter the giveaway. Emmy's Quilt is really beautifull and makes me smile :)
Greetings from Holland"

Thank you for your sweet words Neele. ALARM: I can't get in touch with you though! Please contact me again so I can get your contact details to send this colorful bundle of squares to you. :D

Kärlek
Annette

Give Away!

2011-09-04T16:00:00.001+02:00

Dear readers and followers. Thank you all for the sweet comments on Emmy's Quilt. I think this quilt is right down everybodies alley with the red-pink-turquoise-flower-dot-stripe theme... :D

I've been talking about throwing a give away for ever and ever... but I just have not been able to put my act together and actually DO IT myself. But after showing you this quilt, now is the time for it!

I've been blogging for about 2 years plus now and it has been the most lovely journey. I've learned so much, met so many nice ladies in Blogland, grown in my creative self and built up my self esteem big time. Yes, that is true!

And it is all thank to you who share your knowledge without fuss, who drop the most precious small messages in my Inbox daily. You who inspire me to try out new things and who keeps me awake at night as I am suffering from inspirational overdoses... You who love mixing colors in any way possible and with anything available - it could be yarn, embroidery thread, markers, buttons, china, pins, clothing, fabric, trims, lace, paints, cars, flowers, stones, food, shoes... You who share your everyday lives with all the good and the bad. Thank you all for being around. I now know I am not alone. We are so many in the same boat out there. With the same cravings, same struggles, same passions and the same everything. But still so different. Girls can at times be quite naughty in a group larger than two but here in Blogland it feels like we all are jumping on the slightest chance to praise, help, give a tip or cheer eachother up. I love that!

So I've been saving this special pile of squares especially for this moment. When I started on Emmy's Quilt I ended up with some left overs. It is a pile of 64 gorgeous 5 inch squares, enough to make a good size baby quilt or anything else you have in mind.

It is a mix between recycled old vintage sheets and newly purchased modern prints. To enter the give away just leave a comment on this post. The game is on until Friday the 9th of September. I will announce the winner next weekend.

Kärlek
Annette

Emmy's Quilt - VOILA!

2011-08-31T13:59:00.001+02:00

It took some time for me to finish this quilt. I started it in January, finished the quilt top by the end of January, quilting it in May, binding it in June and now first I am ready to post about it. So many things came in between in the progress of this quilt - birthdays, other quilts, sick kids, vacation, life... But now finally. VOILA. Here it is - Emmy's Quilt.

It is the size of a single bed, 50 x 80 inches ( 127 x 203 cm)
I have used 5" squares, a mix of vintage sheets and new fabric. 144 of them in total. I was totally inspired by Beata over at Rose hip who makes the most beautiful quilts with vintage sheets mixed with new designer fabric. You should really pop over there to have a peek. She also makes gorgeous pillowcases with a crochet trim that is to die for.

The backing is from Lecien fabrics, The binding is a Tanya Whelan stripy fabric. I added a pin dot fabric from Robert Kaufman as a border and used simple straight stitch machine quilting 1/4" from all seams.

When I made this Emmy had a single bed in her room but now she got a new bed, a growing-in-to bed... So, the quilt is now to big for her bed... A reason to make another quilt, have more fun and buy some more new fabric maybe... And this quilt will be loved and used anyway waiting for Emmy to grow into that single bed one day in the future...

And as Emmy was throwing a tantrum at the time for my photo shoot (yes those things happens still at times...) Nelly jumped in as a reserve. Loving this quilt and wanting this quilt. Maybe she can have it on her bed instead?

And yes, keep tuned. My first give away is connected with this quilt. Give away coming up soon. I know I have said that for a while (like months...) but this time it is true. Maybe because a give away makes me all nervous... Why is that? Anyone else feel that way?

Kärlek
Annette

Sweden Part 4 - Chantarelles

2011-08-28T19:18:00.002+02:00

Golden paradise it was.

Jay definitely was in his happy place...

"What is most fun? To find them, pick them or eat them...??? I don't know..." says a extremely happy husband of mine.

The photos says it all...

Kärlek
Annette

I do NOT like cutting!

2011-08-25T22:02:00.002+02:00

I have to admit I am NOT a big fan of cutting. If there was such a thing as a cutting machine I would probably buy it.

First of all it is time consuming. And I don't really have a lot of time on my hands.

Second of all you need a good, easy accessed cutting space. And I don't really have a cutting area. I do it on the kitchen counter and by saying that you get it, right? A house with 3 crazy kids, cooking, snacking, doing dishes, messing about... The counter is seldom clear from clutter. And so it is not really a convenient place to cut my fabric on as I always have to clean up first, make sure no meal times are coming up within the next hour or two... Well, enough said about this. I am completely getting off focus here. Starting to sound like a whiner.

The good thing :D about cutting is that it is very satisfying once you get to it. The pieces are so pretty to stack up and you feel very good about yourself when you are done. The fabric transforms under the knife depending on size and shape you cut the big piece into. It can be magical.

I managed to squeeze in some cutting time the other day. I cut 5 inch squares. For a new quilt project. Actually this quilt is a custom ordered one. The client has asked for a blue and white color theme quilt for her boat. But NOT with a traditional sailing theme... Blue and white it will be. You'll have to wait and see what it will look like when I start piecing it. I personally LOOOOOVE blue and white and I really enjoy working on this quilt... I only have to figure out how to lay out my pieces and get started.

Kärlek
Annette

Sweden Part 3 - Crayfish

2011-08-23T11:43:00.000+02:00

My brother Thomas is nature himself. He went out fishing crayfish before he came out to visit at the summer house. And not only did he fish crayfish. He brought them alive in a bucket to show the kids.

Here he is holding a biology lesson about crayfish for the kids, and do I have to tell you that they thought it was VERY interesting?

Nelly even dared to hold one later on. Me to but when it moved a little I screamed so loud and almost dropped it that the rest of the family thought the house was on fire or that I had stumbled over something dead. I won't hold an alive crayfish again...

We boiled the crayfish. I always thought this was difficult procedure but it is actually dead simple. Water with LOTS of salt and dill, bring to boil. Add one crayfish at the time. They die instantly but it is important to wait for the water to come to boil again after you have put one in. If not, the crayfish will be in pain. Boil the crayfish for about 10-15 minutes, let cool. Finished!

And in the evening we had a crayfish party, Swedish traditional style. Yum!

Kärlek
Annette

Tutorial - tying a quilt

2011-08-22T06:39:00.000+02:00

This is how I tied my Summer House Quilt. I am sure there are different ways of doing it but this worked out really well.

I used Pearl Cotton #8 as a thread. Cut a long piece and thread a needle with a sharp point and relatively big eye but not to big. It is a bit fiddly to get the thread in but with patience it works.

I choose to tie in the cross between the squares. I started about 1/4 inch (0,5 mm) from the corner pushing the needle through all layers and pulling the thread leaving about 2-3 inches on the top of the quilt. I then pushed the needle up again 1/4 inch (0,5 mm) from the corner on the other side of the 4-patch cross. At some 4-patch crosses I could do this in one go - down and up at once - but because of the seams it sometimes got to thick to push through.

I then did another stitch on top of the stitch and left two ends of thread on the front of the quilt, about 2-3 inches (4/5 cm) each.

I made a simple double knot. I have read somewhre that you can make a special type of tying know but I haven't tried it out. This worked out just fine.

When I had tied all the knots I cut off the ends and made them all about 1 inch (1 1/2-2 cm) long. Finished. A fun alternative to the traditional machine quilting. My thumbs got a bit sore, I did pin myself a few times, I even started to bleed a couple of times, but it was worth it. I will absolutely use this technique again.

Have a go!

Kärlek
Annette

Sweden Part 2 - Fishing

2011-08-21T09:01:00.023+02:00

We did a lot of fishing from the dock. A few perches every day was on the nibble menu.

My children loved it. My husband loved it even more. I think he loved it the most at night when he went out in the boat with my brothers. The didn't get a single fish but he said watching the sun go down in the mirror flat water was incredible. The silence. To be one with nature. Just present. Alive. Happiness that is.

Kärlek
Annette

My Summer House Quilt - VOILA!

2011-08-19T22:29:00.000+02:00

My summer house quilt is finished. I finished it the day before my brother came over to visit and I gave it to him for his birthday... Yes I know. It is not very manly but this quilt is made for the summer house that my brother owns. A place we are free to use and live in whenever we want, for how ever long we want.

This quilt was a rather quick project. I used mostly some ready cut squares that I have had lying around for probably about a year or so, just waiting to get used. I bought them from different ETSY shops after bumping in to the "vintage sheet" world and falling head over heals for these fantastic fabrics.

It is always extra satisfying to make a quilt out of recycled material, although I really like to give it an extra twist by using one or two new fabrics in the mixture. Can you guess which fabrics are the new ones in this quilt?

Ever since I made the Ms Green & Orange Baby Quilt I wanted to make a big quilt with fleece, just because it makes it extra cuddly. So now I had my chance. With a little time on my hands I simply sew together the front with a fleece backing, front side down. I left a little opening at the short end and turned the blanket inside out.

I then sew a seam all around, about 1/2 inch in from the edge instead of attaching a binding. And VOILA! Finished in a swisch! It is a bit tricky to work with fleece though as it stretches a bit but with patience I got it right.

Instead of machine quilting this piece I choose to try out a new way of attaching the front to the back - tying the quilt. By using this technique I didn't have to stress to get the quilt finished. I actually brought it with me on the airplane and I got some tying done in the airport as well as on the flight. :D I finish the quilt during the following two nights at the summer house.

I have to admit I suffered from a bit of separation anxiety form this quilt. I love the fabrics so much. It makes me so happy, but now I know it will come to great use in a place where I love to visit. My happy place kinda. Just look how cuddly this looks. It is Emmy somewhere underneath...

I should take my chance to share some great links to some great vintage sheet shops... I'll do that in a separate post with some pictures a real blog love later on.

Kärlek
Annette

Sweden Part 1 - Swimming!

2011-08-18T21:19:00.001+02:00

I am back from a fab-fantastic vacation in Sweden. I am still all warm and fuzzy, fluffy, cozy, cuddly inside from the fantastic time we had.

So just to let you know - I am back, and I have about 8 loads of laundry to take care of, 3 kids school starts to prepare for and some child caring issues to deal with... But I am back and I feel good. First out of many things to report - swimming in the bay by our summer house. 20 degreece / iiiiihhhh. But yes yes. We all did it. And we had so much fun! And the archipelago is stunning!

Kärlek
Annette

Off to Sweden

2011-08-10T10:23:00.000+02:00

I quick note. We are off on vacation and I am all loaded up with pressies for my nephews and little niece. Aunt Annette's drawstring bags with a dinasaur collection, tin tea set and fun rice bags to play with I hope will be a big success. See you in a week or so.

Kärlek
Annette

Almost done...

2011-08-09T07:13:00.000+02:00

I am trying something new. I am tying this quilt. Almost done.

Kärlek
Annette

Bales of hay

2011-08-07T20:37:00.000+02:00

Bales of hay on a field are pretty. Right now you can see them everywhere here in Switzerland.

We were lucky to have a few on the field behind the house.

And my kids were naughty enough to climb them and taking their chance to play around with them, even though the farmer would probably go through the roof if he knew...

Good for them! :D
Kärlek
Annette

Garden report July

2011-08-06T15:18:00.001+02:00

Pears are getting big. Garden is very wild and green as we haven't really had time to catch up with it after our Mallorca vacation...

Zucchini here, zucchini there. We have zucchinis everywhere. Big ones, small ones, shiny and big at times. We have grated zucchini, sauteed zucchini, in pancakes zucchini, gratin zucchinis, oven baked zucchinis and just raw in salad zucchinis... And we still have more zucchinis to harvest...

Carrots big and beautiful. Potatoes just as great. Emmy luuuuuuves to help out in the garden, dig, pull, clean and later cook. And I am so proud to have children who actually knows where their food comes from. Proud as a parent for giving my kids the knowledge about how to grow vegetables and fruit.

Happy to be married to a professional cook who teaches our kids about cooking and caring for what type of food we eat. Healthy living and healthy habits. Especially after watching Jamie Oliver's show Food Revolution (the link is only an example of many other chocking YouTube clips from this show...) that even got us questioning certain food purchases and choices that we make at times... I just feel very lucky when I look at my own garden...

Corn growing tall and starting to give fruit (and Jay's niece Alex is out here taking photos with me as well...).

Many many yummy tomatoes... Which I like to celebrate with a favorite poem I wrote a couple of years ago when we did our first year of gardening.

Life is good. Garden is fruitful. I am excited!

Kärlek
Annette

Swing love...

2011-08-04T15:06:00.000+02:00

Tranquility. Peace. Silence. Rocking motion. A moment to breathe. Feel the swing love. I love swings. My kids loves swings too.

Geranium love

2011-08-03T07:20:00.000+02:00

My middle name is "plant killer". I just don't do well with plants. I don't have so called "green fingers" and every flower I buy dies within days in my care.

But not the geranium. I love geraniums and geraniums love me. I have a collection of them and I don't know them by name. Maybe the light pink one is a Mårbacka...

Some call Geraniums grandma's flowers. I think they are adorable even in a home without a grandma. They are just representing love and comfort to me. And maybe the grandma label is just that - comfort.

My mother has told me to water them with flower extract every now and then, not to often. She has told me to break off the old flowers from the blooming crowns to nurture the buds to come in bloom. To nip off old crowns to give energy for the new ones coming in. And all this I do. I can. I can care for a geranium. There is something soothing in nipping off those old crumbled dry flowers. To care for a geranium is to be mindful. Right here, right now with no distracting thoughts or stress. Yoga for my mind and soul. Just a few minutes now and then and look how beautiful they become. And the best part is that it doesn't matter if I forget to water them, they will survive for weeks... Geraniums is love to me.

Kärlek
Annette

My moment of the day...

2011-08-01T12:13:00.001+02:00

What do you do when you get a couple of hours for yourself at home and the weather is fantastic and all you want to do is some crafty stuff? Sit down with a book in the sun? Naaahhh. Work in the garden? Naaahhh. Make a phone call to a friend? Naaah. Go for a walk? Naaaahhh. The desire to be creative was to strong for any of the above alternatives that I could have chosen.

I decided to move my cutting board and fabric outside. Why not? At least I wasn't stuck inside the house feeling bad about not being outside.

The wind was a bit of a problem at times but a little pebble kept my cut squares in place. It was rather nice cutting fabric outside today. And I am looking forward to start piecing these squares. It is going to be a quilt for my summer house in Sweden. I think I just had my moment of the day. :D

Kärlek

Annette

Laundry - poetry in motion

2011-07-31T10:12:00.003+02:00

Thank you for all the wonderful comments on my stripy pillows. It makes me so happy to read your notes. And welcome to all my new followers. I am excited to have you around.

Vacation was good. Being back home even better. Summer is busy with family time and happenings. As you can tell by the lack of blog posts this summer, my time for blogging is way down on my priority list for the moment. I am enjoying summer, the children and the time we spend together. I have started a number of posts the last month but never really made it to the actual posting button for some reason... But when I spotted our laundry moving in the breeze outside my kitchen window during dinner, I just had to capture the moment. Share this moment. Isn't this just poetry. In motion. Some of you already know. I have this thing about laundry drying outside. I just simply love it!

Another week of vacation is coming up. Destination Sweden this time. I have started on a new project. Actually a few projects... And finishing one. The one that will be connected to a give away eventually. Maybe when school starts and things settle in to old routine.

Hope you all are enjoying summer as much as I do. Even if weather sometimes is cloudy and rainy (we sure have had our part of it all in July...). Today I send you all some blue bird sky-sunshine-puffy cloud-love. See you all soon again.

Kärlek
Annette

Stripy patchwork pillows

2011-07-05T22:05:00.000+02:00

I wanted to do a little pillow love sharing before I head off on vacation.

I just finished these stripy pillows. Made from recycled sheets, aprons, shirts, pillow cases...

My first attempt on a zipper. Not to bad. But it took me abouut an hour or so. :D

And the big squeeeeeeeze test. By the one and only Emmy. Say cheese. So I see you soon. I am now off on an airplane to our old home in Mallorca.

Kärlek
Annette

Picture update

2011-07-03T16:13:00.003+02:00

A little something from over here. This is what we are up to.

Kärlek
Annette

Tutorial - to label a quilt

2011-07-02T10:29:00.001+02:00

I have recently started to label my quilts that I give away. I think it puts that little extra on to it. I thought I would share how I make my labels.

I use white solid fabric for my labels. The size can vary but I tend to make them big as a souvenir card if the quilt is a big one.

Cut out a piece of fabric slightly bigger than a souvenir card, maybe 1/2 inch-1 inch/ 1 1/2 cm-2 cm bigger (picture 1). Also cut out a piece of light weight iron on interfacing/stabilizer, just the size I want the label to be (picture 2). Lay the interfacing/stabilizer centered on the fabric and iron it on (picture 3). Fold over the left over fabric and iron it around the stabilizer, one side at the time starting with the long sides, to form folded squares that I will cut out in the corners (picture 4).

Cut out the folded square corners, a straight cut from the short sides and slightly angled from the long sides (picture 5). Write who the quilt is for or the name of your quilt, who made it and when. I use a fabric wash proof pen (picture 5). Press again to make the label neat and rectangular (picture 6). Hand sew the label on to the back of the quilt, only through the backing fabric, using a blanket stitch. For this label I used embroidery thread in pink.

All finished and very nice. And hopefully the quilt will last for a long long time and the label will stay intact telling a story about when and who made it and why. Isn't that neat?

Kärlek
Annette

Torparglädje - Cottage happiness!

2011-06-29T21:24:00.000+02:00

I am dreaming of a Swedish cottage. I have lived abroad for 10 years now and when I get homesick this is what I long for. A red little cottage with white corners.

Located in the most adorable environment with the greenest grass and the most colorful flowers around.

Preferably wild flowers. Wooden fences and pretty dirt roads.

Dirt roads that lead me to a row of mail boxes where I can pick up my mail. Probably located a good five minute brisk walk away from my home. Just to get my blood running through my body and making me feel refreshed.

Cute porches. Maybe a gravel path to my front door.

Delicate and wonderful windows.

Isn't this heaven? How I dream dream DREAM of a place of my own like this. All pictures taken in Gränna, Sweden.

Kärlek
Annette

Wedding Quilt - VOILA!

2011-06-23T18:48:00.001+02:00

I have been to a wedding. It was beautiful. Not a dry eye around as Sabina and Rickard shares a very special love story. It was a fantastic trip. And even if the rain hardly stopped during my 4 day Sweden visit, I enjoyed every second of it. Just look how beautiful the newly weds are.

And how happy this stunning bride Sabina is.

And my gift, a wedding quilt, was very much appreciated. I got so many compliments from other guests and the wedding couple that I got all embarrassed and kind of hid away in all the gift unwrapping commotion. Silly me, I have always had a hard time taking a compliment.

Here it is. My Wedding Quilt. The front.

I made a patchwork from 25 cm/10 inch squares. The fabric is designed by Tilda. Only a couple of recycled gingham fabrics was added.

The back. Made from a gingham I found at a market and patched up with some Tilda left overs.

I used a brown pin stripe binding. And as I ran out of time I machine sewed it on.

I machine quilted in the ditch between all squares and finished by making diagonal seams to get a cross/square effect.

And I labeled it with a hand written label, hand sewed on with dark pink Cotton Perle embroidery thread using a blanket stitch.

Unfortunately the weather wasn't the greatest for a photo shoot, maybe a reason to make another quilt just like this. Thought this was my best one I've made so far and I totally agree. I love the fresh light color scheme and Scandinavian touch. I am proud. Very very proud. And now back at home I can actually let the compliments sink in without blushing.

More to come about my Swedish trip, but right now it is a lot of other duties on teh list... Laundry, house cleaning, preparations for a number of excursions in school, birthday parties, midsummer feast... Busy busy. Thank you for popping by and I see you soon again.

Kärlek
Annette

Kurbits & thank you... or the other way around

2011-06-14T23:09:00.002+02:00

First of all THANK YOU for all your supportive comments on my last post. Unfortunately the situation was the kind where there were no good solution to find so the best one was to find new homes for the pups and we did. Monday. After all we can a only blame ourselves for not reading the contract properly before we decided on getting puppies and we can only blame ourselves for not asking the land lady for permission before we actually brought the dogs home. Sure, I have been angry, wanting to leave and all that, but the fact is she has a dog phobia. I mean PHOBIA. She scrunches up only to the word dog and would probably die of a heart attack if she knew she had dogs next door 24/7. So, we are moving on. With crushed hearts. Life continues and we love our house and our garden. We don't really want to move so maybe we will just put this puppy thing on hold for a couple of years to see what life has to unfold. But really. Thank you so much for all kind words and shared emotions of devastation. Thank you! We are hanging in there.

So, moving on. I am getting inspired by Swedish traditional folk art - kurbits. This type of decorative painting was very popular in Dalarna in the middle of Sweden during mid 1700s to mid 1800s.

I have had this idea about making a Swedish folk art quilt (one of my first ideas even before I made my first quilt) and I am now collecting fabric and ideas for it. It will probably be a bit of an applique project and take forever but the plan is to have it as a piece of art hanging in the living room above our sofa. I am still far from starting this project but just indulging i fantastic pictures of kurbits makes my Swedish heart pound fast of joy. I really, truly love this type of art. The above photo is from the blog Glorious Applique. It is not really kurbits (or on second thought I guess it is kurbits...) but still a fantastic piece of art. Absolutely stunning applique work.

So lets indulge in crazy kurbits! I found these at Mocklis. So cool!

This cool skateboard is designed by Mattias Norström at Moustache ape.

Kurbits decorated modern clogs from Åsa Westlund.

Traditional Dala horses made in Nusnäs. A typical Swedish souvenir.

A more modern kurbits twist on the Dala horse.

Beautiful banner for a fun Swedish blog about the art of kurbits, named Kurbits.

Kurbits decorated clogs from Clogs 4U.

Modern kurbits art form Los Formos.

Old-fashion kurbits art.

I hope you enjoy this art as much as I do and I wish you all a good night. Now I am off to bed.

Kärlek

Annette

Puppy love & heartbreak

2011-06-13T09:02:00.001+02:00

For over a year the family has campaigned to win me over on the puppy issue and just about a few months ago I started to soften up. We decided to add a new member to the family and began looking for pups. It has been intense. Nelly has been searching the puppy sites daily. We have called on ads but not found. Until yesterday.

The most adorable puppies in the world. Jay and Nelly went the 2 hour drive to "look". Called me up and said "Lets get the two of them.". And I hesitated for a moment but when I heard the joy and excitement in Jay's voice I thought "Lets go wild!". I trust his judgement. If he says we can have two puppies we can have two puppies. So we got two puppies! Completely insane. I know. The last two brothers in the litter.

Me, Luca and Emmy puppy proofed the house. Got out the little fenced cage area, bowls with food etc. Waited. And just before they arrived Luca bumped into the neighbour, who also happens to be our landlord, and she said "NO!". Just blank "No!. No dogs allowed. It is written in the contract".

Jay arrived and Nelly had grown up 2 years in maturity, bringing the puppies out of the car. But the excitement quickly, within a minute, turned into heartbreak. It never crossed our mind we couldn't have a dog as we already have a cat. It never crossed our mind that it would be stated in the contract as our French was so poor 3 years ago when we signed the contract. And here we are, with two adorable puppies, Jack Russel mixed with Fox Terrier. 2 months old. And we can't keep them.

I instantly fell in love. More than I wanted. And although I am a grown up I wanted to yell and scream, cry and sob just like Nelly did. What can you do as a parent when things go this wrong? Not much more than understand, comfort and let your child cry herself to red eyes and desperation. Feel the pain with her. Her first real heartbreak and I feel so stupid.

It has calmed down a bit now. We will put out an advert to find new owners. The landlord won't change her mind. She has dog phobia. And for the first time I feel like moving somewhere else, just so we can have a dog. Yes, that is me. The one who DIDN'T want a dog. Now I want one more than ever.

The love is instant. The laughter. The joy. Those two puppies brought us all together in a magical way. I laughed like I haven't laughed in a long time with those puppies. So from puppy love to heartbreak it is here at home. And now we are enjoying every second of tumbling around with these two cuties before they have to leave........ So stupid...... How could we miss out on that information?

Kärlek
Annette

Quilt with tape

2011-06-12T12:14:00.002+02:00

I've been machine quilting this quilt in the ditch between the big 10 inch squares and I wanted to hand quilt crosses in every square. But I am running out of time. So machine quilting it has to be.

As the squares are so big it is difficult to get straight seams all the way through a square without having to mark the lines before. And I don't want to make marks on this quilt as I am unsure I will have time to wash it before I give it away. So I came up with the idea of using masking tape. Maybe I have read about it somewhere before or maybe not. I can't remember but I decided to give it go.

I let the sewing foot follow the edge of the masking tape.

The seam came out straight and nice after I ripped off the tape. I re-used my tape pieces multiple times. It worked great!

I am very pleased with the results. See how neat that is. Just the way I wanted. Now I only got binding and labeling left.

Kärlek
Annette

Blog Love

2011-06-11T09:18:00.001+02:00

I got some blog love. A Kreativ Blogger Award from 4 Lil'Girls. Thank you Karen. I am so flattered and happy to inspire. That is why I do this. And to learn. There is no better way to learn that through blogging about what you want to learn. I love the way we all share tips, tricks, patterns and tutorials to help each other out.

Karen is new to the blog world, loves pastels and is fabulous at applique and sewing. You should visit her blog. My favorite so far is this ripple blanket. Beautiful, don't you think?

So I will share some blog love too. I want to pass this award on to following 3 blogs:

Gilly Flower
She is fun and I particularly like her patchwork. Simple and advanced, fresh colors. Light. Crispy.

Me Me Rose
She is blue, purple, pink and white. And a crochet maniac. :D Produces in the fastest speed and always has something new to share. Even though I am not a pastel girl I love the consistency in her work.

Popetotrora
A Swedish blogger who makes happy and colorful quilts from vintage sheets, decorates her doll house with the most precious little things and does amazing crafts with anything vintage I would say. She is fun!

And so going back to my last post,. The new fabric in the scrappy quilt is the multi colored dot one. I promised I would tell you. And now I am back on working on my latest quilt WiP as it has to be ready on Wednesday... Am I ever going to make it in time I wonder...

Birthday party today as Luca is turning 7, looking at puppies tomorrow (yes, we might have a puppy soon... me happy? try scared and with big butterflies in my stomach as I have never owned a dog...). Jay's 17 year old niece is coming from the States next week to stay the summer and the house has to get ready for her big arrival. You see, I got a lot on my hands but will peek in to you when ever I have 5 minutes left over. Have a lovely weekend.

Kärlek
Annette

My Scrappy Baby Quilt

2011-06-04T16:13:00.002+02:00

So another baby quilt is finished. It is a joyful recycle project, almost all fabrics found in markets and thrifts stores. I call it My Scrappy Baby Quilt.

This quilt contains of old aprons, shirts, bed linen, baby girl dresses, napkins. The only new print is... Can you guess which one? I'll tell you in my next post...

It is backed with soft fleece. When backing with fleece the quilt gets really soft and cuddly. It is a bit challenging to work with fleece though as fleece stretches a bit... My only problem now is I don't have any baby to give this blanket to... Sooner or later I guess someone will have a baby that I can give this to. I wish I had made it bigger. It would have been perfect for my Luca... I guess I have to make another one with the same type of prints. :D

Kärlek
Annette

Bits and pieces coming together nicely...

2011-06-02T15:38:00.000+02:00

My new quilt WiP is coming together really nice. It is strange how bits and pieces patched together like this can make me extremely, sensationally happy. I feel all cuddly, warm, fussy and puffy inside when I look at this quilt. Next will be to sandwich and quilt, bind and attach a personal label. Hopefully it will be ready in time for the big event coming up...

Kärlek
Annette

Today I want...

2011-05-29T10:38:00.002+02:00

The dish rack... I have the blue color on my crafty shelf, I have the strawberries in my garden. But I don't have that dish rack... Found something similar here but it is black...

Photo: Lantliv

The rib-backed chairs. I have an old-fashion iron stove. I have summer flowers in the field behind my house. But I don't have the rib-backed chairs. I will absolutely start searching for rib-backed chairs on markets and thrift stores...

Photo: Lantliv

I want rag-rugs. Everywhere. I LUUUUUVE rag-rugs. Preferably made from our own old bed linens. I have some rag-rugs that I bought from IKEA. But it is not the same. I think I might have some at the summerhouse in Sweden. Handmade by my late grandma Eivor. Maybe it is time to bring them across Europe to my home???...

Photo: Magasinet Jeanne d'Arc Living

White wild flowers in a white jug reflecting in a mirror. I got the white wild flowers, a white jug with a pink rose on and that could be just as pretty. :D

Photo: Magasinet Jeanne d'Arc Living

I have a lot after all. Everything I really need. But sometimes it is nice to want and dream too...

Have a lovely Sunday!

Kärlek
Annette

Cutting new fabric

2011-05-26T07:06:00.001+02:00

The fabric arrived and I started the cutting process. I don't particularly like cutting. I think it is fiddely, time consuming, hard, boring. Especially if you get poorly cut pieces of fabric from your supplier (Grrrrrr....). But the results are very awarding.

The scraps are crazy pretty (only a big fan of quilting may think so as others probably only see "a bunch of fabric scraps tossed up in a pile").

The left overs are inspiring for a complementary project (a pillow case to match?).

And the squares makes all the difference in the world. Can't wait to get started on my design wall and plan it all out.

Have a lovely day.

Kärlek.
Annette

Just an idea about a new quilt in my head...

2011-05-18T22:16:00.000+02:00

Playing with fabric on a design wall... It is fun. A friend is getting married... I was thinking light and flowers for the theme. Maybe trims between the squares. Then I thought "There is a man living in that house too...". Maybe it needs a bit of plaids and stripes. Or paisley or more geometric patterns...

And when I found this wonderful collection from Tilda...

...and mixed it up with some ginghams and stripes, I think I just found what I am looking for. Classy, fresh, crisp, girly romantic, manly, old fashioned and modern all at once.

I am thinking big 10 inch squares and backing it with a nice pic-nic style gingham, preferably in beige or brown. Any suggestions on where to find that backing fabric...???

Just brainstorming with myself (and you guys...). I am sure this quilt will change appearance a hundred times before I actually buy any new fabric...

Kärlek!
Annette

Quilting Emmy's Quilt - finally!

2011-05-17T20:17:00.000+02:00

Hi there. This project has been hanging over a cabinet door for about... is it 1 month or 2 months...??? First it was the border fabric that needed to be ordered. And then life came in the way just being to busy for me to even get started on the sandwiching. And then I got carried away in crochet land with new and old lovely projects. And then suddenly, magically all kids had playdates Sunday afternoon and I did it!

I finished the quilting of Emmy's Quilt. So now there is only the binding left. Maybe it will take me another month or so to get that part done, or maybe not. I am quite excited now so maybe I will be able to finish this soon. Plus... Sorry to say but I did over do it with my hook. AGAIN! My arm is acting up and all the crochet is once again put aside. So when one can't crochet one can sew right?

Kärlek!

Annette

Enjoying life...

2011-05-12T17:44:00.000+02:00

In 2 weeks it is officially summer here in Switzerland, but it feels like summer already is here. Today it is raining for the first time in weeks. Bless the rain that helps our vegetable garden grow.

This is our first strawberry. Unfortunately a slug found the strawberry before I got the chance to pick it. The little hole you see is nothing compared to the completely empty inside! Darn slugs...

So it is still spring but look at these summer flowers me and Nelly picked yesterday after dinner. Aren't they just heavenly summery and gorgeous? I love wild flowers.

And our garden in the rain. With Emmy running around it bare feet (she is in the far back of the garden - you can hardly see her...). Laughing and screaming in delight. "Iiiiiiihhhh Mama! It is raaaaaaining! Iiiiiiiihhhh!"

Emmy is turning 4 on Saturday and this is my 3rd batch of cup cakes (as for some weird reason they tend to just disappear as soon as I turn my back to the kitchen... I wonder if I will have hungry kids at the dinner table tonight or if it will sound moire like "Mama, I am full... I can't have anymore...". I have promised cup cakes in creche tomorrow. And cup cakes it will be! :D NO matter how many batches I am forced to bake.

And a new little crochet project. Going for the blues. I got so many project going on but find it hard to finish them off... And also, the give Away. Coming up... Coming up. It is just that this weekend I might be a bit to busy for it. Soon dear friends. Soon. Have a lovely evening. Ia m very much enjoying my day.

Ciao!
Annette

The pattern is found - Bohusrutan!

2011-05-09T18:16:00.001+02:00

And the blog world can be such a wonderful place! :D

Just look at this. Pattern is found! Just like that. You see my grandmas square from my bed throw I wrote about yesterday? Down there in the bottom right corner? It is called Bohusrutan.

Read more about it over at Sofisan's The (Yarn) Stashbuster Blog. She was so kind to share this information with me (probably just as excited as me). She just started her blog to document her joyride of using up scraps of yarn (Scraps? We are talking tons of it - I think she is a yarn addict like so many others of us. Hi hi hi!).

I can't wait to give this square a go just to feel the work eivor once did for me. This is fantastic! And fun!

Ciao!
Annette

Photo: The (Yarn) Stashbuster Blog

Mother's Day - about a bed throw

2011-05-08T15:30:00.001+02:00

Today it is Mother's Day in Switzerland and my dear children celebrated me with handmade gifts and cards they had made in school. I guess I could have shared it here but as the gifts are very special and unique to me they might not be as wonderful for anyone else to see in a picture... It is the gifting part, the proud faces, smiles and my hugs in return that makes them so special. Without that they are only kids' crafts. Any kids' crafts. So I decided on skipping that part. Instead I want to share some words about another mother who now is in heaven looking down on us.

Eivor was a hell of a woman. Independent and devoted to life in the old fashion way. She went fishing, berry picking, mushroom hunting. She was baking, sewing, crocheting and knitting. Embroidery. Yes, you name it. A real grandma with all the old fashion skills. She made jams and compotes and filled our cupboards with homemade cookies and breads. In blueberry season we had blueberries in a big bowl waiting on our doorstep. Cleaned and ready to eat with milk and sugar. We had chantarelles for the autumn roasts. The freezer full of gooseberries, raspberries, cherries and cranberries. To make crumbles. Or just eat as they were, sucking on the the frozen berries like candy. I still do. She made wonderful blankets, made us rag-carpets from our old bedlinen and clothes. She was fantastic in many ways. A quiet woman though, prefered to be on her own.

Eivor made me this bed throw when I was 16. At the time I guess I didn't really reflect over all the work behind it. It was on my bed for years up until I met Jay and moved from Sweden. The bed throw ended up in our country house in Sweden, in a box, like so many other things that I owned. I found it last year and was overwhelmed by its beauty.

After starting to crochet myself I suddenly realized how precious this piece of art is. I brought it home with me. It stays at the bottom end of our double bed. It is beautiful. And I love it. I can't really figure out how it is made though... It would be fun to try and make a square...

Thank you Eivor for such a great gift. Happy Mother's Day to you up there in heaven. Thank you for being an inspiration to me. For making me realize the importance of continuing using the old fashion skills of making homemade produce, artisan crafts and the value of hard workmanship. I will do my very best to teach my kids about these skills as well. I want the next generation to know and understand the pleasures you get out of making your own things and growing your own food. I wish I had understood how beautiful this throw really was back then, but better late then never.

Ciao!
Annette

Lotta's blanket

2011-05-04T13:42:00.000+02:00

My Flower Power Quilt is nicely folded, ready to become a parcel and get sent off in the mail to my dear friend Lotta.

Last night I finished the label I wanted to make for it. Very simple with white muslin, interfacing and a permanent textile pen. I hand stitched it on to the backing. It says (in english) "Lotta's Blanket, The year you turned 40".

I feel so much love for this blanket and so much love for the receiver.

Ciao!
Annette

Garden report

2011-05-01T22:23:00.000+02:00

I have been neglecting the garden totally. Well to be completely honest I am a plant killer of high degree and anything I touch from the flora dies within seconds (or at least days after me forgetting to water and care and love...) But Jay loves the garden and I am very happy to show you that his passion now is starting to give us produce.

We have salad. Ruccola and normal salad. No more buying salad in the store for the next 6 months or so. The Ruccola we eat plain as a salad or cook with pastas, potatoes or just plain as it is, like spinach. It is delicious!

And red beets and carrots are showing up with their small teeny tiny leaves above the ground.

Strawberries are in bloom.

Ooops! Not just in bloom! They carry fruit!!!! Already! Please please please, don't give us bad weather now... I don't want them to die.

And I have planted my geraniums in pots. And I was beautifully accompanied by the cows' bell orchestra just a step away. I love having the cows right outside my door step.

This year I am going to plant some seeds. Flower seeds. I have decided to become better with the greens. To be more careful and nurturing. Successful. Concentrate Annette. Concentrate and don't forget to water the plants. "I can grow plants. I don't have to be a plant killer. " The mantra has to be repeated over and over again and maybe, just maybe - I will be successful.

The cows now leave for the night and walk up the hill (it is funny how they have their inner clock set and walk up the hill every day at the same time, 5 pm sharp.) See you again another day.

Ciao!
Annette

Thrifted rug

2011-04-30T19:50:00.000+02:00

I just couldn't resist this little beauty at the Emmaus thrift barn...

I always wanted to make baskets and rugs like this. But when you find one that is this perfect and gorgeous to a great bargain price you just have to buy it instead of making it yourself. There are just so many things I want to make and so little time soooooo...

Aren't the colors just very happy and perfectly summery fresh? I find them to be very very Scandinavian somehow... This rug is perfect for me.

PS... I am planning on having my first give away soon. I am a bit nervous, I have to admit, but I thought it is about time I join the Give Away train... Well, now I've made it official and I already feel the pressure... Ahhhh! It will be fine... I am just about to finish an old WiP and the give away will be the icing on that cake so keep tuned. I am excited and terrified at the same time.

Ciao!
Annette

Gypsy blanket WiP - 117 squares...

2011-04-27T09:13:00.001+02:00

First of all welcome to all new followers. I am so flattered and excited to have you here watching every step I take in my blog life. And I am overly excited about finding new fantastic places to visit and my blog roll is growing in quite a speed I have to say.

Today I thought I would share my Gypsy Blanket WiP that I actually started many many months ago. Many of you oldies goldies may remember that I tragically got struck with a tendinitis problem in my elbow and this project was put to rest (as everything else crochet) for quite some time.

To much hooking and a computer based job did some serious damage to my tendons and I am still not 100% cured. So slow down dear crochet friends. You don't want to end up where I am...

Blog world can sometime turn into a marathon of crochet, almost a competition of how fast and how much we accomplish in this and that time. So many things we want to make, so addictive this hobby. But yes, just take care of yourselves. :D

After months of physio therapy, rest and medical treatment my arm is back in the game with Mr Hook and I have been hooking away happily in front of the TV in the evenings. In January I had made 67 squares, check it out here.

I am now up to 117 squares! :D Still got probably as much to go but boy do I love this project. And I am in no hurry. This is going to be my very special blanket for life I think. And to create something precious like that, I would say have to take some joyful hooking time.

Every now and then I will update you on this WiP as it grows bigger and bigger. I really hope you will enjoy the ride as much as I do. Even though it might take still many months before we reach the finish line.

Ciao!
Annette

Fabric mania - Part 2

2011-04-24T16:59:00.000+02:00

Do you remember me going nuts buying fabric online? I showed you Fabric mania - Part 1 a while ago. Well I got a bit distracted by life itself. As usual. Here comes Fabric mania - Part 2.

May I present a bunch of brights. From Stoff & Stil in Sweden... I think it will become a stripy quilt eventually. Right now I am just looking at it as it lies in a big pile on my sewing desk... I just love the hearts on the yellow. I think that is my favorite and my best in this bright stash.

Ciao!
Annette

Happiness is... riding a bike!

2011-04-22T20:42:00.000+02:00

We took the training wheels off and Swisch! Off she went. One of thse moments to cherish in life. Pure happiness for everyone. :D Happy Easter!