Curtains for my cabin kitchen

My cabin kitchen curtains are finally done, I am very happy with the result. Fabric and kit from "Stoff & Stil". The challenge was that the tree fabric was not wide enough, so I have to extend it and make it match. I used a YouTube video to figure out how to do this; How to join patterned fabric

I also made a pair of pillows. The pillows are based on pattern: 5 minute pillow covers tutorial by "The Wonder Forest". I made the back overlap wider and added some buttons.

The table and bench are made by my husband, except the table top which is a defective top from "Lom møbler". The table top defect is cut off, then sanded and oiled.  Placemats from Kid Interiør and plates/glass and chairs "Børje" from Ikea.

Kitchen from "Kistefos Møbler". Love the kitchen, but not happy with the customer service.

We have also stained and painted the cabin this summer, very happy with the darker color.

Log Cabin pot holders

My dream has come true, we are now owners of a log cabin in the Norwegian mountains. We are still busy getting installed in the cabin. A log cabin pot holder I have made for the cabin.

I am so proud!

My quilt "A lovely foursome" is inspired by Judy Martin's quilt "Loveland Log Cabin" in her book "Judy Martin's Log Cabin Quilt Book". On her home page, she posts photos of quilts  made by viewers. I sent a picture of my quilt, not really expecting anything. Then I got this mail, from Judy herself:

Hi, Mona,
What a clever variation! I love the way the background logs form chevrons where they meet. Great colors, too. My readers are going to love your quilt. We'll email you when we have had a chance to post your quilt online. Thank you for sharing.

Judy Martin
 

And today I got another mail from Steve that my quilt is available online. I am so proud! Take a look at the page!

My Hawaiian Vacation

This quilt is my original design, but with inspiration from the book Positively Pinapple.
The quilt represent a dream come true. I visited Hawaii in 1991, and the colors are from the Hawaiian nature. Blue is the ocean, the red is the colors of the sand and mountains. The green is the vegetation which was faboulusly green and the yellow/orange is the sun and moon. Hawaii is an island, the frame. I did not like pineapple before, but I got it served for breakfest every day, and that was faboulus, freshly picked.

I entered the quilt in the Norwegian Quilting Association annual competetion, but that was not a sucess. The jury did not like the frame, especially the blue fabric I used.

But someone in the jury liked it a lot too! At least, my quilt gave the competetion a dash of color!

Cats and quilts

What is it with cats and quilts? I see the close relationship in my cats and also in pictures taken by other bloggers.
This last week I understood that this is ancient history. I spent a few days in London with my family, and at The British Museum there where mummies of cats from 50 BC. Notice that this cat is wrapped in fabric in a log cabin pattern!


The larger museums are free in London, and highly recommended!

We also visited Busckingham Palace. In the closeby parks the easter lillies, crocuses and snowdrops was just starting. My best shopping experience was Harrods and Marks & Spencer on Oxford Street. We also went to a show; Thriller live, which was good, and also enjoyable for my 11 year old son. We stayed at the Corus Hotel Hyde Park, which was nice but it does not live up to the pictures.





Like last time in London , I was amazed by some creative heart handbags, signed by Marc Jacobs.

Mona's Cable Scarf

The scarf has 36 stiches, and the yarn and cables as on the pillow I made eatlier, see instructions. If I should knit this scarf again, I would have started with a cable, it now curles up on the sides. Thanks to my husband for being a model. This scarf could be a good present for a man, since he did not object too much...





Another preview of the Pinapple Dream:
I am now done with the 36 blocks, and have picked off the paper. Piceing them together.Adding a frame and quilting still to come,unsure how I will do that, but it will come to me!

Sneak Preview

This was a sneek preview on my current quilt work; work title "Pineapple Dream". Paperpiecing. The paper pattern is from the book "Positively Pinapple" by Lynda Milligan & Nancy Smith. The design is inspired by this book, but not a copy of a specific design.I am playing with the idea of entering a competition with this quilt, but I am not sure.

I have just finished the historical novels by Wilhelm Moberg, "Utvandrerne" og "Innvandrerne". They tell the story of a swedish family leaving a very hard life in Sweden, immigrating to Minnesota to start a new and challenging life. The books are available in many languages and is recommended.

I am very fascinated by this time period, amongst others due to my family history. My great Grandmother Lydia emgigrated, leaving my grandfather to grow up with her sister. He was born outside of marrige. He had a hard time with his history this the rest of his life. She married a man in Iowa without having met him and started a new family. She was joined by other sisters who also emigrated; Kristine and Karoline. I am still in contact with some of their decendants, and I have visited them and they have visited me.

Note! The latest issue of Quiltemagasinet (Nr 5/08) is a very good issue! Lots of good projects.

Log Cabin Class

by Eva S. J. and Kongsberg Sysenter. Thank you for another great class! My results from participating in the class is:

Traditional Log Cabin

The quilt was inspired by Tove Fevang's book "Lappeteknikk Slik gjør du det".

ISBN 13: 978-82-02-23238-2
"Veggteppe med 16 Log Cabin blokker", page 48.
The book was a christmas present from my parents last year.
Dark fabrics was purchased from the "Lunt & Godt" shop in Gol.
Light fabrics from Panduro Hobby in Sandvika.
Some scraps from earlier projects.
Somewhat inaccurate result, possible due to
- cutting too quickly/inaccurately
- a quick sewing techniques
- and me workig too late at night?

Tried to make feather quilting, not successful, ended up machine quilting instead.
I need a class! I am pleased with the overall result, and have some useful experiences for later projects.


Table Runner
Crooked Log Cabin

Pot Holder
Quilting on paper templates

Here I ended up making a heart instead of a log cabin. It was a revelation to try quilting on paper, I have not before understood how this is done.
My experience so far says that it is to be preferred when you have small fabric pieces to work with.
I also was recommended and purchased at ruler called "Add-A-Quarter", it was very useful for this teqnique.
The heart pot holder was named "Aunt is thinking about you" and sendt as a gift to my sister's daughter, who recently left the nest.
Due to my color selection, it turned out to be more a picture than a quilt.

The cristmas fabrics in the last two projects was purchased from Kongsberg Sysenter and some scraps from earlier projects.