Thread catcher, Pocket book

One thread catcher and a bread basket.

This pattern I found at Lin's blog  

well not really the pattern,  the link to the pattern.

The bread basket I made much bigger, instead of 9" I did 20".

This is a beautiful little notebook my son made for me,

it is leather and some hand dyed fabric (which I made).

The hexagons are beautifully inline with the leather.

Inside at the back is a small pocket.

This knitted sweater I finished in January,

for my son

It was fun to do.

And I knitted myself a dress, for the winter, 

but now the spring has arrived

I can put it away.

 The yarn I bought at Pickles in Norway.

They do have some beautiful yarn. 

One more block for Downton Abbey Quilt finished.

Happy stitching 

Paula.

Downton Abbey

Who doesn't like Downton Abbey?

Well I love it, and most of all I love the Dowager Countess.

 This photo is all over facebook and I just have to share it with you.

I signed up for "Downton Abbey Mystery Quilt Along" which started in November 2013,

had no chance to start mine until late February, having a guest in the house for two months, no time for sewing.

I love the quote from the Dowager Countess, when Cora's mother was visiting from USA (Shirley  MacLaine).:

"No guest should be admitted without the date of their departure being known".

There are so many brilliant quotes from her, like:

"Parenting is difficult even when you like the child".

"I am a woman, Mary. I can be as contrary as I choose".

"Of course it would be a foreigner. No Englishman 

would dream of dying in someone else's house".

These are just a few I could think of for now.

This is the fabric for the DA quilt.

and some of my blocks.

Oh yes one more quote:

"I was right about my maid. She's leaving - to get married!!!

How could she be so selfish?"

Well that is all for today.

Enjoy life, it is so beautiful.

Paula

Quilt, knit, dye

This beautiful yarn from Pickles in Norway 

is 100% wool and silk mohair

And this is what it turned into,

a coat with a twist at the back.

I'm rather happy with the outcome.

This is a quilt top for my grandson (the pianist), 

was supposed to be Christmas present, but will be a birthday present.

No time to finish it before Christmas.

This block filled my chart, (on the right) JustTakes2.

Making dye for wool.

Birch, Wild thyme and Mint.

I've  signed up for New Years Day Mystery Quilt - Time Flies.

It is free at Craftsy.com but one can

donate to fundraising for cancer, which I think is a good thing.

Have you watched Downton Abbey?

Well, I bought the series at Amazon and just started on disk one,

 and I must say, I'm loving it.

Have a lovely week

Paula

Sweet Nostalgia

Sweet Nostalgia finished at last.

It only took me 12 months to stitch the 12 blocks. Then it took me more than a year to finish it.

Of course I have been working on other thing too.

 I'm happy it is finished and 

I do like the quilt. 

The pattern was some years ago a block of the month  from Dorothy  

A sweater for my son, the writer, 

the pattern is from an old Icelandic book, called Skaftafell's Book.

By Jon Einarsson, (1731-1798) a skilled craftsman from Skaftafell. 

The yarn is Icelandic lopi, I must say I don't like lopi 

and I told my son, "this is the last time I use LOPI for knitting".

(I might have said that before).

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." Albert Einstein     

Until next time. Happy quilting.

Paula

Red and White

Catch up on Red and White Schoolhouse Quilt

Double X - block 15

Card Trick - block 16

block 17

All from Just Takes 2  

Provider:   Brenda and Gay

October Aurifil   designer is Allison Harris

You can see some more blocks here

Not a month without a knitting

 This little jacket was knitted for baby Katrin.

The yarn was bought in "Litla Prjonabudin" in Reykjavik,

but is actually Danish from Askeladen very soft and nice to work with.

Here you can see how it is worked  with short rows 

(the colour in this photo is not right).

I'm still quilting Sweet Nostalgia, I have rested Love Entwined for awhile.

Want to spend some time on Dear Jane.

Happy quilting, knitting, stitching or what ever you are working on.

Paula

TLIG

Not a lot of stitching to report around this house,

just came back from a Pilgrimage in the Holy Land,

following the steps of Jesus.

It was a very challenging tour with True Life In God.

About 700 people attended, from 60 countries.

This was my third Pilgrimage.

The next one will probably be in Jordan 2015.

I did take some sewing with me (hexagons)

but there was no spare time, the program started at six o'clock in the morning

and lasted until eleven o'clock at night.

I was exhausted when I came back home.

Now I have gathered some strength and finished 2 blocks

from Aurifil block of the month. 

August block, designed by Jill Finley

September block, designed by Kimberly Einmo

You can see some more blocks at flickr

you can even join up. 

Each month they pick one random winner that has

 made a  block from their designers and that random person receives 

a Full box of  Aurifil thread as the  prize!

I haven't won yet, but I've got very nice 8 blocks.

  

This was waiting for me when I came home.

I was a winner on the Quilting Gallery blog for 

Gudrun Gisladottir's (GE designs) 10 years anniversary party. 

Lucky me. 

My Rainbow Dear Jane is growing slowly but surely.

Happy stitching.

Paula

Zigzag border and more

Love Entwined

The star-flowers have been sewn.

For the little flowers I used batik 

The zigzag border is being prepared

The center will not be finished tomorrow when Esher's 3 part will be released,

That's  alright, it is not a race, I enjoy every stitch. 

This is a crochet hexagon in progress.

And my hand dyed yarn will be used in crochet squares. 

The yarn was dyed with birch and others plants.

I will have to make some other colors too, so this autumn I will start dyeing again.

Enjoy whatever you are doing.

Paula

Triangles, JustTakes2, Knitting

The triangles are been sewn on - one by one.

I drew the pattern on the back and basted,

 so it showed up on the front.

I got this idea from Carin 

It is really easy to appliqué this way.

 Just Takes 2

Block number 12. 

It's from Brenda this time, the next one will be from

Gay at sentimentalstitches.com

Siggy

This morning I received this very pretty siggy from Aurora in Italy.

And the postman also brought these wonderful magazines

I will busy myself to day reading "Fast and furious" 

by Gudrun Erla (Icelandic lady),

Quilt mania and Quilting Arts.

All very special.

There will not be much stitching today!!!!!

 Knitting

Finished this pinafore dress for the baby.  

The yarn was more beautiful in the skein,

I hope the baby won't look like a plump bee wearing this.

Happy stitching

Paula

Hexagon and Compass

It's a long time since I've done hexagon flower,

however, I made one this morning for the 

Flower garden border.

I'm trying to keep it not to much, still not very empty.

Maybe few more leaves.

A hand stitched Compass

I decided to join Esther Aliu along with other ladies doing 

"Love Entwined" 1790 Marriage Coverlet BOM.

This is the start, middle - Compass.

I'm going to use my stash.

Nevertheless one can always add to the stash.

Some French General fabric arrived this morning.

That is all for today.

Happy stitching 

Paula