Harvest time already?

The end of summer is coming closer a day after a day. I recognized that autumn is approaching in my Gardener's Journal too - there is a harvest time. I have stitched two little patches, 'Garden tools' and 'Vegetable patch'.

We have this year a lot of wild raspberries in the forest. Our family has eaten a lot of them. Our family's delicace is a mocha-raspberry cake and now I have to hotfoot if I want to get a piece of it.

Building up a first block

I have'nt made all the stitcheries of A Gardener's Journal quilt, but I could'nt help myself to building up the first block of the quilt. I have cut almost all pieces of quilt block fabrics now and I just wanted to see how it'll look like together. Some of the pieces are quilt tiny but I like that it makes the quilt look like a full of life.

Meteorologists in TV have promised the sun is shining and no raining in this weekend here in Finland. Let's take on all heat of this lovely weekend in case of dark and cold winter days.

Have a nice weekend!

Hand quilting links

Thanks for your lovely comments in my earlier post! Here are all links about hand quilting which I got from Karen. Maybe they will help somebody else too.

http://www.handquilter.com/html/newtip.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAiBobVNpVY
http://www.hgtv.com/videos/easy-hand-quilting-tips/6654.html
http://video.about.com/quilting/Hand-Quilting-Techniques.htm

My main problem was that the quilt was pulled too tight in the hoop. There is a video in the second link in which you could see clearly how loose the quilt is pulled - this was the biggest and the most important perception for me.

I wish you 'rocking needles'!

I have a dream

I have had big problems with hand quilting. I have read many guide books but I have'nt caught on the technique of it. I have dreamed that some day my stitches will be even and beautiful but at same time I have been almost sure that it never will happen. Because I can't learn it. But now my dream is stronger than ever! I do believe it can be true, some day.

Thanks to one wonderful people here in blogland! I asked help from Karen about hand quilting. Karen is a very talented quilter and I have frequently visited in her blog and admired her fabulous work. Karen sent me some tips and links to quilting videos which I watched through. And guess what happened when I took my quilt and tried to follow advice - my needle begun to rock for the first time!!! I don't know why I suddenly felt it easy ... THANK YOU KAREN, you are so lovely and helpful person. Now I have to practise 'needle rocking' in order to quicken my quilting. But because my fingers are now sore and my shoulders are aching - I have to contain myself a few days.

There has appeared some new stitcheries in A Gardener's Journal: 'Putting the seeds' and 'Smelling the roses'. Only three stitcheries to go before starting to build up the blocks.

Shopping

I have made some shopping via internet. And in this week my packages have kept a local postman busy :) Today arrived a packet from Cotton Patch (UK). It carried a qulting hoop with a lap stand! I have'nt had my own quilting hoop since I have borrowed my friend Virpi's hoop. Now I can return it and I have to learn how to use my own hoop - how thrilling!

Do anybody have alike? I love to hear what you have liked it. And maybe you can give me some tips with it ...

The hoop was'nt the first postpackage which I got. Earlier in this week I got a package from Sweden. Lapp-Elisa is just celebrating her 8 years in business and she had a wonderful offer of AnnAka patterns in 22th of July: buy three AnnAka patterns and Elisa will choose the fourth pattern for free. I have looked up to many Norwegian quilters who have made wonderful table cloths designed by AnnAka. So I could'nt help myself to catch hold of the offer - here you see the result. And the free pattern which Lapp-Elisa chose me was Lovise's veske pattern.


Have a nice weekend!

An Apology!

I'm so sorry! I promised you to show a few days ago a new picture of a Gardener's Journal - and I have forgotten! Please, forgive me! Here it finally is: Watering garden -stitchery.

I'm sorry, the colours of the photo are not right. This was the most difficult part of work (hitherto) to copy and to stitch because there were so many little marks - water, grass, haws in the bush - and I did,nt always know which is which. I'm happy it is now done and the final result is quite ok for me.

Some Christmas in July

Time has gone quickly. I have mainly done some stitcheries and today I'll show you the first peek about one of my projects. Or in fact it is'nt really the first peek because I have already shown a little of it after I had drawn the pattern on the fabric. Well, I'll show then the second peek ;)

You might remember the skiing snowmen - and here they are again! Unfortunately they have'nt learnt to ski as yet. Snowmen are on their way down to the village but it seems like their journey is not getting anywhere.

So I have also had a little Christmas in July when I have done this. The initial pattern is redwork but you know why my work is'nt... Oh, this has been so fun and relaxing! But there is still much work left with this pattern and my vacation is nearly at an end. I have copied the second part of this pattern on the fabric and I soon started with it.

Here you'll see the whole first part of pattern "Twas the Night Before Christmas". Pattern is from Crab-Apple Hill - and I love it! Maybe I am a little childish 'cause I love so much all kind of fairy tales :D

I have stitched one more 'picture' in the Gardener's Journal too. I will bare it to you not till tomorrow.

Hobby-horses from Stable of Mitternacht

I have stitched but I'm gonna show it you later. Now I want to exhibit something which my DD3 have made almost by herself. I just have helped a little and sewed the pieces of cloth together. Here they are - sweet hobby-horses! Aren't they fabulous? I'm so proud of my DD3 - she has done now six hobby-horses and she has founded own 'hobby-horse stable' called Mitternacht. Unfortunately I haven't any photo of a hobby-horse called Bubba but here you see the others.

Here is Trombi and it is a stallion.

And here is Vinur which is an Icelandic horse and also a stallion.

Oona is a typical lady - she wants to look up a reflection of herself.

Lady is here very tired. She has galloped and jumped fences so long that she had to rest awhile.

Mini is the youngest of the hobby-horses of the Stable of Mitternacht.
He was born today but he is already a brisk and energetic horse.

And in the end - one photo of delightful riding:

A bird dog (or a gundog?)

My Tilda dog had a new friend yesterday as you can see in the photo. But dogs had only one night time to spend together because the new one will travel today to Jyväskylä. He will have a new home by family Rastas (which means a thrush) - he will be a real 'birddog' ;D That's why he has a leash in his paw and a dog tag in his collar.

I can assure you that he is very kind, don't bark or bite - and he hates all kind of guns but loves kisses and hugs.

Birds in the tree

I have a terrible summer flu, I had to stay home today. My throat have been sore - couldn't speak or eat much. I haven't made many or 'big' things today but a little stitchery any way. It was one motif from a Gardener's Journal called 'Birds in the tree'. Aren't they cute?

Have a warm and happy summer weekend!

Chores on the Midsummer

We spent last weekend in our parent's summer cottage and celebrated the Midsummer. The weather wasn't very sunny and it was raining on Saturday. I had a lot of time to stitch. I have forgotten which stitcheries I have already shown to you. So in my photo there are some which you have seen, but there are also many new ones.

In the winter when there are in Finland dark even in the middle of day I have a little difficulties to see exact but now there a light everywhere and it helps a lot with stitching. I am 'suffering' from presbyopia and I think I have to buy eye glasses next autumn.

Pots, seeds and a bag

Newsreel of a Gardener's Journal: "It has been today a perfect day for potting seeds and plants."

I have admired Lappeklipp for her skill of making beautiful bags. Today I desided to make a humble try to make a bag from squares. It was fun! My bag isn't ready yet but I want to show it to you. I'm not altogether content with the seams in the sides of bag - but this is my training object.

Lappeklipp has given good advice about making a bag. It was very easy to comply with them. Thousands of thanks for you, Lappeklipp!

Annual Garden Show

"We recently had our Annual Garden Show and yet again Chrissie, Rona and I had outstanding entries."

I'm very poor gardener. Regardless of that I love flowers and perfume of them. But I'm unable to take care of them and after a while flowers wilt. My favorite flowers are roses, lilies of the valley, lilacs, apple blossoms, hepaticas, wood anemones, bluebells, etc. Some of them are now blooming. Maybe that's why I like early summers most.

I'm so proud for myself!

I have spent a lot of time for learning how to signature my blog posts. Now I have learned it, at last. Now I can concentrate to create a more beatiful signature when I know the technique. You'll see a new signature soon. So far this is good enough :)

A sneak peep to next project

And another stitching project has been started to build up. I show you now a little sneak of it. I hope it will be finished before next Christmas.

More stitching

I have started a new stitching project a couple of weeks ago. It might be familiar for some of you. The designer is an Australian Anni Downs who has designed many lovely works in which stitching and quilting are connected. I have made the very first stitcheries of the Gardener's Journal. It's to be one of my slowly progressing works!

Make some progress

At last I was lucky and I found some more fabric which I have used in the background of the blocks. In fact it is now several weeks ago when I bought the fabric but I have been really busy last weeks at work and at home too. Today I finally had some time to collect blocks together. You'll sure want to see it? I'm sorry that the photo is out of focus. I'll show you better ones when the quilt is finished ;)

The Princess and the Pea

Some people are very sensitive about almost everything and some aren't. Sometimes it is a good thing and sometimes not. As you know - the real princess was so sensitive that she could feel a tiny pea even if it laid under numerous of cushions. It was difficult for the princess to get to sleep but after a night with a little sleep she got an enormous prize: the Prince Charming asked her hand <3

Now I have finished all nine blocks of Once Upon a Time quilt. I feel a little plaintive because I have enjoed so much to stitch these. Before I can put blocks together I have to do some shopping. In the sashings I want to use the same fabric which I have used in backround of stitching. But I haven't it enough - I hope I'll still find it.

The Three Little Pigs and the Ugly Duckling

I have finished two blocks of Once Upon a Time quilt more. The other one represents a fairy tale of the Three Little Pigs who moved from home and made own houses. The third pig was the most assiduous brother and made a strong house of bricks. The first and second pigbrother made weak houses and they were menaced by a big bad wolf. Fortunately the third pigbrother was a very kind too. He helped his brothers and they all were in safe in the brick house.

The eighth block of quilt represents the Ugly Duckling. The appearance might sometimes delude us - everything is not always the same what it first looks like. Other animals were rude and mistreated the ugly duckling because it was unsimilar to other ducklings. But the ugly duckling brought up as a beautiful swan - to which all the others looked up.

Thumbelina

I'm back in blogland :) The fifth block of Once Upon a Time BOM is Thumbelina. Thumbelina was very small but she had many friends who helped her during her adventure. She also met many other beings who had a different way of life and different values. Yes - everybody who has a friend is a lucky one. The best friends will stay with us in ups and downs. But people who agree always with me aren't necessarily best for me. I think that it is very fruitful to get to know other cultures and other ways of living - as Thumbelina did.

I have found friends from blogland. Thank you for everybody to visit my blog and especially thanks for all of you who have shared your blogs with us!

Little Red Riding Hood

The things are not always as they first appear. Little red riding hood noticed it when she went to her grandmother's cottage and met a big bad wolf here. The wolf had attired in grandmother's clothes. Little red riding hood became soon aware that there was something strange with her grandma but she didn't trust her perceptions and the wolf managed to catch her. Fortunately there was a hunter nearby and he rescued little red riding hood.

I have learned that I should always follow my nose even if it seems to be absurd. When I have done so it have turned out to be good decision.

Have you ever felt bad about the wolf? I have sometimes wondered if the wolf really was so bad or was he just misunderstood...

A pouch

Not sewing or stitching much during last days - I haven't felt very well. This is what I have done: a little make up bag or a pouch e.g. for pencils. I got a pattern of the pouch from my quilting friend Tuula. The pattern is practical because it is easy to change the dimensions of the pouch. I need to make them more and all sizes, little and bigger ones. And you can use your imagination with embellishing it. This time I made a choice to decorate it with a heart.

March

I stitched this little quilt yesterday night when I watched Finnish 'Dancing with the stars' on the tv. I am waiting so much for spring and flowers but here in Finland there is much snow and tonight it is snowing more again. But the days are coming brighter day after day - the spring is under way.

Cinderella

I have been so bursting to make these blocks of fairy tale. I have had so fun! And Now I have finished the third block of Once Upon a Time quilt - and bibbidi bobbidi boo, here is Cinderella! You must know Cinderella's story so I don't need to tell it ;) I have found just right place for this quilt when it will be completed. I will hang it up on the wall of my workroom.

Jack & Beanstalk

Second block of Once Upon a Time quilt is now finished. In the block you find Jack climbing up beanstalk. He arrived in a hig up in the clouds where he had a little adventure in the giant's castle. Jack managed to return happily back home with treasures.

Jack had courage to grab at the opportunity which brought out. Do I have the same courage as Jack - do I even notice opportunities straigt ahead me?

Hansel & Gretel

Okey, you get what you want! The colours of this quilt are bright. Almost too bright - I think now. I have to consider carefully what kind of sashing I'll use between blocks.; maybe dark blue or something light as they are in the pattern. But the first block of Once Upon a Time BOM is now finished and I'm very glad about it :) Eight more to go!