Happy New Year!

I wish you all a happy new year! May the next year bring prosperous times and good health to us all.

Big hug from

Siv Hege

Merry Christmas!

The last few weeks has been pretty hectic, with me getting promoted at work and all the Christmas comotion. Exiting times lies ahead!



Here are my last two finishes, make-up bags for my nieces, Ingrid and Sandra. The sewing machine has returned to its place in my sewing room, and for the rest of Christmas I plan to enjoy myself with hand sewing projects.



I got this cute mugrug from Sue in England. Thank you, Sue! I love it!! I didn`t have one, and this I am bringing to my new office. When I get stressed I can touch the lovely fabrics :)



So to all my friends out there, I wish you all a very, merry Christmas!

Some finishes

I have made a few gift bags, cute christmas presents don`t you think? The bags made of chistmas fabrics I am giving to the annual christmas marked. I will fill them with decorations for the christmas tree. (Do you call it trimmings??)




The two bags below I have made for two of my friends. I think I will fill them up with....chocolate, yum!




Have fun sewing!

Siv Hege

Making Christmas Presents and goodies for the sweet tooth

I have enjoyed a couple of lazy days off work. I have done some seriously pre-advent cleaning around the house (did I say lazy days??), and finished a couple of presents as well. And I am working on a little christmas design, which is not ready to show yet.



My step mom has for several years whished for pot holders to display in the kitchen, and this year I have granted her wish. I made these cute pot holders from an AnnAka design (Norwegian designer, unfortunately no blog or home page).



One of my nieces is getting this cute little bag. I made it in a couple of hours this morning.



My twin boys turned 11 yesterday, and today we celebrated inviting family for cakes. I am pleased to see that my baking skills has past on to the next generation. DD made these cute cup cakes all by himself. I only got to watch from a distance. The batter was hand made and perfect, he did an excellent job :).


Have fun sewing!

Siv Hege

Meeting good friends

This weekend the girls I sew with met at a lovely cabin for lots of sewing and nice company. It is such a beautiful cabin, in the forest by a lake.



Snow outside and a warm fireplace inside. What could be any better?




The next generation of quilters, a little bit shy ;)




Delicious food is a must. And we ate!!





I finished the top of my DD Cosy Quilt, which he is getting for Christmas, at the cabin. Poor thing has almost given up hope of getting his mum to make him a quilt. Today I finished the quilt while he was out fishing! I hope he likes it.

Have fun sewing!

Siv Hege

Happy owner of first issue of Vignette!!

I went from being exhausted to jumping up and down when I got home from work today and saw that the postman had delivered. The very first issue of Vignette, Leannes new magazine.




It is the cutest little magazine, giving me lots of positive energy. At first I thought it seemed a bit thin, with its 35 pages, but when I started reading I just felt happy :)





In this first issue Leanne is starting a Mystery Quilt, that will last over the eight first issues. I will definitely keep on subscribing. I get my magazine from Barbara at Quilt Design.

Have fun sewing!

Siv Hege

Fighting my zipper fobi

Man, do I hate zippers! It is not that zippers are a bad thing, it is just the feeling of not "getting it right" that erks me. Therefore I hardly ever makes something that requires a zipper. You will never see me change a zipper in anyones jeans. I am a quilter, not a mender! That is why I feel quite proud now, showing off my two fresh made pencil cases.



I know I know, it is not the most advanced zipper, no curves or anything. Mind you, I did put in the binding simultaneous with the zipper! I tell you, I felt like a genious, lol. And I had no pattern, just started sewing hoping it would turn out right. (I don`t care that the fishes are upside down on one side, those are the fish from down under. (Get it???)

Have fun sewing!

Siv Hege

Two finishes

Today I have joined Sue and her Christmas quilt-a-long Saturday. I believe it is the last quilt-along of the year, but Sue has promised to continue next year as well.



I have finished two shoe bags today, both Christmas presents. I used a pattern from AnnaKa, a Norwegian designer (no blog or homepage). The table cloth you see under the bags is a piece I made a couple of years ago. Before this weekend is over I hope to have made a pencil case for my DD.

Have fun sewing!

Siv Hege

Making Comfort Quilts

Last Saturday my guild organized a come-together-and-sew-comfort-quilts-day. Twice a year we meet for a Saturday of sewing together, eating cake and enjoy each others company. My guild is a major contributor of comfort quilts, and many of the members makes quilts all year around as well.



Two eager and deeply consentrated ladies at work.






Hege made the top for a dino quilt, the one hanging over the iron board. She had brought her darling little boy, who entertained us with his cute little baby talk :) Music to my ears!





This time I actually manage to finish a top, although it didn`t turn out the way I planned. That is what you get when this blonde works with no strategy, lol. Here you see the top laying on a cute bear fleece, which will serve as backing.


Have fun sewing!

Siv Hege

Working my way through The List

Finally I am getting started on my christmas present list. I don`t know how I every year manage to fall behind, especially since I have my New Year ritual (January 1th I put up this years Christmas present list). So here I am, soon mid November, and barely starting making presents. Today I have been a good quilter though. I got up at 0730 am, and after a quick breakfast (yep, still eating cabbage) I started making bread baskets.



After four baskets I ran out of batting (I use Habalon) and had to place a quick Sunday internet order. I still have to make som baskets for the annual Christmas Raffle we put together in our village.

Have fun sewing!

Siv Hege

My first win!

I never win give aways and such, so naturally I was tickled pink when I won a prize at QuiltSues Christmas Quilt-along a few weeks back. I do love surprises (who doesn`t?), especially when chocolate is involved.



Thank you Sue for the cute book and book mark! And for the candy!! Which is a bit difficult to show as it was eaten before the camera even came close to it...........

Have fun sewing!

Siv Hege

A last minute finish

Talk about waiting to the last minute! I woke up this morning knewing it is the last day of the month, and I had no finished project to show for. So what to make? It had to be quick, because I also had to carve out two Jack the lantern and make dinner, and other boring stuff. And I didn`t want to make a bread basket this morning. As I stood in my sewing room trying to figure this out, I thought back on yesterday. Max and I attended our very first indoor dog exhibition yesterday. It was really crowded and loud. I had brought the stupid plastic cage, which does not work well at a exhibition. I swore that next time I would bring the other cage. I didn`t bring that cage because it had no cover, and a little doggy needs a cover so he can escape from all the impressions he gets on a exhibition.




And then I got it! I would make a cover today!! I was lucky to find a thick denim fabric so I didn`t have to use batting. And having little time to spend, I decided to sew the cover in one piece. So I layed the fabric over the cage, grabbed my scissors and started to cut. All the time I was doing this I kept thinking what a lazy fool I am, and that this will never end good. Would this come together???




It did!! It fits perfectly! The cover is a bit long, but will fit perfectly then I attache the wheels.



A window is a necessity so that a little doggy can peek out and check out if there is any good looking lady dogs around :) Helps the ventilation too.

Have fun sewing!

Siv Hege

A busy week, a way too short weekend!

A busy week has kept me from sewing, and the weekend goes by so fast....sigh. The only thing I have manage to get done is a heart block for the Christmas Heart table cloth. I am actually on track with this BOM, which is the first time ever, lol.



Have fun sewing!

Siv Hege

Autumn is definitely here

It is strange reading blogs from down under, where it is summer and hot, while winter is closing in up here. What an amazing planet we live on!



Autumn is my favourite time of year (I am allergic...). The air is crisp and pollen free, and the colours are amazing. Sitting in a warm house with candle lights, listening to the storm outside is quite cosy. My children are allready making their Christmas wishing lists...




I finished stitching this block on Sunday. The block is for the Christmas Hearts table cloth I am working on. Now I just have to stitch the first heart again (drew it the wrong way last time..) and I am back on track. I wonder what the next BOM is like?? This is exhiting!!!

Have fun sewing!

Siv Hege

Christmas Hearts table cloth

Here is what I`ve been woorking on so far this weekend. This lovley Christmas table cloth, a BOM from Northern Quilts. I love the fabrics, and they are very "Scandinavian" looking. Under you see the working space of a messy quilter, lol. I sew this table cloth the american way, on the line, and I have occupied a table in my living room for this purpose.



I do like sewing on the line. It is accurate, and I have no problem with size or fitting the parts. Well, that is, until I discovered that there is a error in the pattern. The square template that came with BOM number two is 4 1/2 ", that means it is 1/2 " too big. In other words you need to make your template 4" if you are sewing on the line or with English paper piecing. I mailed this problem to the author as soon as I noticed it, and she will print a correction and send it with BOM number 3.




On this picture I still have one row of squares to sew onto the center piece. Believe me, sewing on the line is no slow process. It is actually quite fast. And when I hand quilt the table cloth it will achieve a very nice soft look. I enjoy machine sewing, but I find it much easier to get the more "complicated" blocks accurate when I sew the "oldfashion ways".

Have fun sewing!

Siv Hege

It is time for Christmas Quilt- a-long

This is the first (but not the last) time I have joined Sue in England and her Christmas Quilt-a-long! I am just so pro Christmas, that my family has to hide away the Christmas CDs most of the year. And this event really makes me wanna find all my Christmas movies too. No time for that now, I must focus on this Christmas Quilt-a-long. I am working on a Christmas table cloth as we speak (or blog), and I will soon come back to show you (just have to take a picture first).




Have fun sewing!

Siv Hege

Goodies!

So far there has been little time for sewing this weekend. Yesterday I made lunch for a group of quilting ladies that are taking a weekend class, arranged by our guild. The theacher is non other than AnnaKa (no blog), one of Norways biggest quilt design names. She has come down all the way from Tromsoe to inspire and teach.



On our last guild meeting Quiltegaarden came all the way down from Thondheim (550 km!), and put up a fabulous shop for us. I bought this book, lovely quilts and receipes :) Yum!




I had to buy some fabric as well! There was so much to choose from, but these fabrics ended up going home with me. I forgot my camera that evening (happens a lot...), which is a shame as the show and tell was great. I will try to show you some photos later on.




New magazines has landed in my mailbox this week :)





And finally back to this weekend. Lappeliv (no blog) was called for on Friday night when many of the ladies realized they were missing some of the materials required for the class. Liv has the cutest little shop, so she turned up next day with lots of goodies. I couldn`t go home empty handed, could I? Nope!! So I bought a little iron which is very handy when I do my quilting the american way. And I just had to have the gorgeous white and red fabrics. Lovely!!

Sunday is here (weekends sure goes by fast, sigh...) and this is what I am going to do; bake a cake, groom my little Max, hopefully do some sewing, and tidy up after the quilting ladies.

Have fun sewing!

Siv Hege

And the winners are........

My give away has come to its end, and it is time to announce the winners. I have used the Random Number Generator to pick the two lucky winners.

The winner of the Lecien Sushi Roll is:

Rosehagen

The winner of prize number two, for those who linked me to their blog, is a lucky lady. This is the second time she had won one of my give aways!

Anne Lise`s Hobbysider

Congratulations girls. Please send me your adresses, and your prizes will soon be on their way.

For those of you who did not win, better luck next time :)

Have fun sewing!

Siv Hege

Some finishes

The end of September is here, and for ones I actually have some finished projects to show for. I am much better at starting than at finishing. I really should do as many of you do, choosing a focus project each month.




I have made three bags from this gorgeous fabric I purchased a while back. I first thought of cutting the fabric into panels for another handbag, but I felt it would ruin the motif on the fabric.




So far I have made two bread baskets, both christmas presents for family members. I used japanese fabrics, and I think they turned out good.




The cute book cover is designed by May Britt, and was one of the many patterns the Stitchers Angels 2009 could dip into. I write down receipes in this one, just love it, couldn`t part from it!

Tomorrow is the end of my give away, that means there is still time to join in!

Have fun sewing!

Siv Hege

A double give away!

I have decided to have a give away - a super duper double give away! The rules are simple, and you have the chance to win two prices. Ok, here we go :)

Leave a comment on my blog and you get a ticket for this great price!



A sushi roll from Lecien, The 30`s from Mrs. March Collection.

But wait - there is more! If you tell about my give away on your blog, you get another ticket for my next price. But remember - you have to let me know so I can put you down for a ticket.



You can win this cute goose stitchery from Tilda, Aurifil thread and gorgeous beeds!

I hope you like my give away! It lasts until midnight September 30th (Norwegian time), and I will announce the winners shortly after.

Have fun sewing!

Siv Hege

PS. I send world wide.

Another block finish

This weekend I have finished another block from Leannes BOM. This one didn`t have much stitchery, but I decided to applique the heart one more time. I was not pleased with the first result, but back then I didn`t know much about hand applique either. I first thought about keeping the heart, to show the progress I have had over the years, but I changed my mind. I would only look at the heart, and it would probably annoy me tremendously. So, now it`s gone, bye bye.



I used freezer paper for the heart, a technique I like a lot.

Have fun sewing!

Siv Hege

Stitching away

I started working on this BOM from Leannes House a long time ago, longer than I care to remember. (We are talking years). Finally I have finished a block (only eight to go, puh), and I think it`s adorable. The stitching truly makes this quilt.



Before I start on the next block I have to make a new heart block, as I managed to stitch the last one wrong (see previous posts).

Have fun sewing!

Siv Hege

A finish and some more

Christmas is coming (ok, I know it`t not her yet, but...) and I have started making presents. Yesterday I finished a bread basket, and soon I have finished another.




This evening I finished the stitchery for a BOM I joined at Northern Quilt. (yikes! I have stitched it the wrong way.)It is a gorgeous christmas table cloth in red and white. I can`t wait to get the next block :)




Have fun sewing!

Siv Hege

A happy rainy day!

Well folks, there is no longer any doubt, autumn is here. I woke up to a wet and foggy day, one of these mornings when you just wants to stay in bed.




Not today!! Lena and I got up early, eager to visit Lille Stasjon and their autumn sale. The shop has recently moved into new locations, and I have to say that it is now my number one favourite quilt shop.




Here you see the shop owner. She and her staff is as sweet as can be, always helpful and kind. This is a must for my comfort, and is in my opinion the key factor for a shops success.





Tons of fabric and goodies everywhere. I like the fact that they stock whole series of fabric, not just a little bit of this and a little bit of that.





They have a whole corner with beautiful things from Green Gate. I have been drooling for these things for years, maybe it is time to start collecting? Lena is busy taking pictures for her blog. So - did I buy anything?





Oh yeah! Lots of gorgeous fabrics for half the price or more. Rulers and Easy Scallops that will come in handy someday :)





A big box to put my ever growing collection of patterns into. And a bunny pattern. Indeed a happy rainy day!

Have fun sewing!

Siv Hege