Has it really been three years?

First of all: thank you so much to everyone who has come with suggestions on what to do with my CC quilt! I love the fact that so many have put their two cents in. I have now decided what to do with it - and it includes lots of more triangles ;o)

On January 30th 2007 the "Quiltoholic" blog was founded. When I started it, I had no idea it would bring me in touch with so many lovely people all over the world. Nor did I realize how much inspiration and support there are in Blogland. I want to send a warm thank you hug to everyone who have left me a comment or more over these three years!

And keeping with the tradition of blogiversary celebrations, I have a small giveaway. I have thought long and hard about what to do, and have decided to give away this little 12.5" stitchery quilt:



It is a Bronwyn Hayes design called "My Friends", and is from her Polka Dot Girls patterns - I'm thinking it is appropriate for this occasion.

If you want to be in the draw for this little quilt, all you have to do is leave me a comment and make sure your e-mail address doesn't show up as noreply-comment@blogger.com (or at least make a link to your blog), so that I can get in touch with you if you are the lucky winner. The draw will take place on Thursday around mid-day Norwegian time.

Best of luck, and wishes for a happy and creative weekend!
Hugs and stitches from
Anne Ida and

Is it a quilt top? A frustration post...

I have been thinking and re-thinking... The subject being my Carolina Christmas... After laying out my blocks over Christmas, I figured I'd leave this quilt borderless. This works well - just take a look at Christine's lovely version. I have finished sewing the rows together and I planned on basting it tonight. Just for fun I placed the top on my bed - sorry about the bad light:



And here's where the re-thinking comes in... There is a good 10" drop on each side, BUT there are no margins at the top/bottom. Now I'm wondering if this will annoy me... should I sew borders on it after all????? If so, what kind of borders should I do? I'm not too fond of the pyramids Bonnie has chosen... and if I choose borders, will the overhang on the sides be a bit too much? On the other hand, will I be using this quilt on my bed at all? I have several quilts large enough for my bed, but the one I'm using is this:

It is only lap size, jut I just loooooove this quilt! I have many times regretted not making it larger, but... Ok, it looks like I might need a little more thinking time, and if you have any ideas/suggestions, they will be very much appreciated!

Hugs and stitches from
Anne Ida

Another DJ block

Not much sewing here lately, the CC rows are on my desk waiting to be joined together, but I haven't felt up to those loooooong seams. I have however finished another block on my eternal Jane:



J3 - Rick's Volleyball Net. The tips on the Dear Jane website recomends appliqué, but as you might know I have a bit of an a-phobia, and since I'm doing these blocks by hand, those curves are pieced. The block has 17 pieces. My DJ has now 55 blocks, 753 pieces.

Wishing everyone a good and creative weekend!
Hugs and stitches from
Anne Ida and Anton

Turning criminal?

Anyone got some chain cutters to lend me? *lol* I have been so tempted to commit a theft ever since I discovered this outside the 7-Eleven down the street:



Gorgeous, aren't they? And soooo fitting for a quilter! But no, they are probably not worth turning criminal over ;o) In stead they can be of some inspiration! I have done a 12" test block:



Not sure what I'll do... Perhaps someday it will be sewn into a quilt, a table runner, a one block cushion, or maybe it will just end up in the orphan blocks box?

Wishing everyone a wonderful and creative weekend!
Hugs and stitches from
Anne Ida

Resolution and priorities

I have been thinking a little on how to prioritize my quilting for 2010... Last year Rose and I made a pact to make what we love and finish what we started, and it actually worked!!! With one exception I finished what I started in 2009. So I have made a small adjustment to the text in my side bar, and will keep on making what I love and finish what I start!

-and work on a few of those pesky UFOs in between ;o) However I do have three projects that will rank high on my list of priorities for this year:

1. The Sugar Camp Quilt
The reason for the resolution last year... I just ran out of time for finishing it between all my Christmas sewing, but it is ready for layering and quilting. The backing fabric arrived in the end of December, I have batting on the shelf, and the stencils for marking my quilting lines ready. Just have to get around to basting it!



2. Carolina Christmas
This mystery quilt was started in the end of November and I really had no hopes or plans of finishing it in 2009. I did spend some time during the holidays putting the blocks together, and now have to assemble the top. Not yet sure if I'll do the pieced border Bonnie suggests, or if I'll do a plain border for this one; or perhaps no border at all? Backing fabric is bought and in the drawer, and I think I'll either do some "quilting made easy" (I still have a few rolls laying around somewhere) or some stippling on it.



3. The Winter Quilt
Ehhhh... this is in the category UFO... Rose and I started working parallel on this quilt back in September 2007 with plans on having it ready for the Aussie winterseason 2008, but none of us are even half way on the blocks. I have all the pieces for the whole quilt cut out and ready to sew, and they are kept in the recliner in my bedroom:



Wouldn't it be better to have a finished quilt in the recliner ready to snuggle under with a good book?

Hugs and stitches from
Anne Ida

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Wishes for a happy, healthy and creative 2010 to everyone!!!

Hugs and stitches from
Anne Ida