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Julehjerter - Scandinavian Christmas Hearts

12/12/2010

A few days ago, I commented in a blogpost that I'd already bought something from the NorthernQuilts website, and here it is - "Julehjerter" (translated this means Christmas Hearts). And no, it's not completed yet - (don't get too excited) - but I have finished the stitchery hearts...

...this BOM has been running for 4 months, and each month I received the traceable pattern and full instructions(in English - wooohooo!! - no need for Google Translate!!). The final part has arrived, and now I just need to have a rummage in my box of Christmas fabrics to pick out something suitable for the blocks and borders and binding - when it is completed, it can be a cloth for the table or a wall hanging.

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More shopping from Norway :)

12/12/2010

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In an earlier blogpost, I wrote that May Britt and Hanne were having a competition on their blogs, to win a pattern for an embroidered baking cloth (here in the UK we don't use anything as nice as this, and usually in the Foreman kitchen, any old T-towel will do!!) - well, I didn't win the competition, but never one to be deterred, I ordered the pattern and fabrics to make the baking cloth directly from NorthernQuilts. It arrived promptly, and the fabrics are lovely - especially the linen, which is really beautiful, and this will be my first Norwegian project for 2011.....

...and I'd also done a little bit of shopping over here at Lappelåven(Patchwork Barn), and ordered this beautiful kit to make another AnnAKa pattern "Høytidsengler" (translated means Holiday Angels) - I had already bought the pattern a while ago, from Lapp-Elisa Quilts, and this will be my 2nd Norwegian project for 2011, ready for my dining table NEXT Christmas. How organised is that??!! This kit has all the buttons and embroidery thread to complete the runner, and the fabrics are beautiful.

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The Perfect Christmas Tree blogpost 2

12/12/2010

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It's all looking very festive at "Foreman Towers" - well, the tree is decorated, (my daughter Beth spent yesterday afternoon doing this), the mistletoe is hanging up and the fire is glowing. Oh and check out all these cute little pine cones! Last night we could hear a gentle "popping" noise as they are slowly opening out in the warmth of the room. ..and I've got a red and gold runner on my dining table - this is another AnnAKa pattern, called "Adventsløper" and was in Quiltemagasinet issue 4/2008...

my Christmas centrepiece has pride of place in my lounge - just hope the dog doesn't try to eat too much of it - she's already sampled the dried tangerines and bay leaves!!

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The Perfect Christmas Tree.....

12/12/2010

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Well after a super duper trip to Framlingham, we toddled off to Iken in pursuit of "The Perfect Christmas Tree". Now I'm a bit fussy about my tree - I like to have a real one, and a few years ago, after a days shooting, Mr F bought home not only a brace of pheasants, but a Christmas tree too - and it had a few pine cones on it!!! It looked fantastic, and smelt wonderful - so every year since then, we've got one from the same place. So, off we went. Mr F had his trusty saw and loppers in his hand, while I strolled along searching for "Just The Right One". when Mr F went searching for "The Tree", the woods looked so deep and dark that I wouldn't have been surprised if a Gruffalo had appeared..... anyway, here is Mr F standing proudly with a prize-winning specimen..... it is absolutely covered in pine cones, and it smells wonderful, so job done...

...this isn't a Gruffalo either - we saw this handsome beast and a few of it's friends in a field on the way home!! And on the subject of Christmas trees, I bought some cream fabrics from Quilters Haven, ready to make some tablerunners for Christmas presents, and 2 of them have got Christmas trees on. I will probably use a tried and tested AnnAKa pattern for these fabrics.

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The Pretty Birdcage

11/12/2010

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My friend Carolyn has just opened a fabric and wool shop in Framlingham, and I popped over to see her this morning......this is Carolyn outside "The Pretty Birdcage"..... Carolyn has been on some of my classes with her mum Jenny, and I was sooooo envious when she told me she was opening her own shop - so I popped over there today - ooops - I've already said that!!...

..anyway, as soon as I walked through the door, I was like a child in a sweet shop - unfortunately Mr F wouldn't let me buy EVERYTHING that my big blue eyes saw, but I did manage to purchase a bundle of fat quarters..... this is "Dino Dudes" by Michael Miller, and just what I wanted for a quilt for a baby boy as I didn't want anything too pale and pastel - think this will be perfect!...

...I also had time to have a quick look round the rest of Framlingham - there were lots of stalls in the market square selling all sorts of Christmassy stuff. I bought a moss covered bowl filled with greenery and festive goodies - bay leaves, ivy, a house leek, fir tree, euronymous, curly hazel, cinnamon sticks, dried tangerines, walnuts - and oh yes, and I bought a BIG bunch of mistletoe too - well, you never know who might come to visit over the Christmas holiday - I'll be putting my lipstick on ready !!! - then it was off for a trip to Iken, to find the perfect Christmas tree.

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It's still snowing.....

2/12/2010

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It was snowing hard this morning at 7am....and my usual 20 minute journey into Ipswich took me 2 and a half hours. This was the wintery scene outside as I left for work.....and it was exactly the same when I got home this evening.....just more blooming snow!! Glad I'm not rambling in the woods with the dog in this weather - she's getting the shortest walks ever!! In an earlier blog-post I showed you some blocks made with some snowflake fabric - and here is some more of the same fabric! A couple of years ago I used a Crabapple Hill Studio pattern to make a cushion for my mother-in-law for Christmas, and last year made one for my mum - the snowflakes are embellished with beads - although it's a time-consuming project, it's well worth it and the finished result is stunning - I've got a couple of these on the go at the moment.....(the wording says "from simple things come simple joys)...

...and these quilted bottlebags were made for some of my very special friends - oh and with as very special bottle inside of course!! This is a pattern by Janelle Wind, another fab Australian designer. I'll be busy stitching these again this year.

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Bakeklede/baksteklede..... T-towel/pastry cloth

1/12/2010

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Oh dear..... I didn't win the competition over on May Britte's and Hanne's blogs :( The prize was a pattern to make a beautiful baking cloth - these are traditionally used in Scandinavia (I just use a plain, boring T-towel to cover my baking!!) - anyway, the patterns were from NorthernQuilts so I've had a little peek at their website and found the pattern - and also a kit to make this baking cloth. I have ordered patterns from this Norwegian shop before (more about that in a future blog post, where you'll see what I've been busy sewing ready for Christmas), and been really pleased with their prompt service, so I couldn't resist buying this..... the next time I bake cheese scones, they'll be covered with a beautiful cloth instead of a manky looking - oooops - I mean a plain boring T-towel :)

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Baking..... and a free giveaway

1/12/2010

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My friends May Britt and Hanne are having a free give-away on their blogs - I had to post a picture of baking on my blog, and tell you what I prefer to bake best, bread or cakes, and I could be in with a chance to win a pattern to make a Scandinavian baking cover - (see their blogs for more details and pictures)... unfortunately, I couldn't find a piccie of me baking (it's tricky to photograph yourself when you're up to your elbows in pastry and flour hehe!!) so used a piccie of my eldest daughter - this is Beth baking cupcakes when she was about 3 years old - she'll probably kill me if she finds out I've put a picture of her on my blog - so please don't tell her!!!
I love baking cakes best of all - Victoria Sponge, Lemon Drizzle, Chocolate Muffins..... oh the list goes on and on.....

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Forward>>

Julehjerter - Scandinavian Christmas Hearts

More shopping from Norway :)

The Perfect Christmas Tree blogpost 2

The Perfect Christmas Tree.....

The Pretty Birdcage

It's still snowing.....

Bakeklede/baksteklede..... T-towel/pastry cloth

Baking..... and a free giveaway

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