Wedding gift

An acquaintance got married on Saturday - congratulations to the lovely Tanumine and her handsome B!!! (pic of the happy couple is lifted from Leisha's blog). Since I heard they had wedding plans I've wanted to make them a table runner - just to let them know I thought about them on their big day. I was hoping Bernie would be back home so I could get it done fairly quickly, but no such luck. So for the first time in my quilting life I have finished a project completely by hand:

Three LeMoyne stars in a row. The light background is the same in all three blocks and also used in the outer border; the dark blue is the same in all the blocks and in the binding, but I have chosen three different light blues.

It is not very heavily quilted, a squiggly line in the inner border, a half LeMoyne star at either end, and an "echo" just inside the seam on the light blades on each star - hopefully it will hold up well

I am really pleased to see how much my hand quilting has improved.

Even the binding was attached by hand - need I say "sore fingers?" *lol* But it was finished in plenty of time and handed over to the maid of honor to bring along. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out, and I hope the recipients will enjoy having it on their table :o)

Hugs and stitches from Anne Ida

Cherries and a block

So have I actually done any sewing lately? Not much I have to admit... My dear friend had a birthday in the end of July, and she wanted something with cherries. Since it's summer I decided to make her a summery table topper:



Very simply double four patches in some fruity colours. Turned out pretty cute, if I do say so myself ;o)

And I have cut into my precious stash of Elm Creek Cross-Country Quilters fabrics. Three blocks have been cut, but only one is stitched (still need to be pressed):

I do have a vague idea of what this will become, but since it's hand appliqué, it will take time and I might change my mind many times yet ;o)

Hugs and stitches from Anne Ida

Sewing lots of little things

Bernie and I have been quite busy lately, and most of what we have been playing with has been small things. A couple of weeks ago a dear friend of mine let me know her little make-up purse had been worn out, and could I make her a new one? Of course!! So looking through my fabrics I found something quite far away from what she asked for, but (fingers crossed) I have a feeling she might like it anyway



While I was at it I made a couple more - one which was given away to someone having her birthday on Monday:



And a larger make-up bag my mum had asked for as a present for someone I have never met:



It is kind of nervewrecking making something not knowing what the person's preferences are, so it is pretty neutral, and my mum think it will be well received.

My mum's birthday was yesterday, and she has a table runner I made years ago laying on the dining room table almost year round - even though it is very wintery in cream, pine green and christmas reds. So I figured she needed something more summery, and made another DNP runner - this time in oldfashioned pink, muted green and florals on cream:

...and I had a ball quilting it - heaps of lines, straight stitch and zig-zag.

Another birthday present has been put together, the bindings were finished at lunch today. And when I was going to take a picture I just couldn't help myself but had to lay the table:

They turned out very bright and cheerful. Hope they will be liked and used!!

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Perhaps there is time for some me-sewing soon? My fingers have been itching since this parcel arrived last weekend:

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I do have plans.... *lol*

Hugs and stitches from Anne Ida

DNP

This was my weekend project:



I started on Friday evening and finished the top before bedtime, and then got it quilted and bound on Sunday. It is very simply a disappearing nine patch made from a Hartfield charm pack. *

And look what I found in the kitchen window this morning:



Summer is here??
Hugs and stitches from Anne Ida

Parcel, progress and finish

Oh, some mail box goodness popped up today - me all giddy! *lol* A little while back I won the draw on Lise/Chocolate Cat's blogiversary giveaway, and this morning a bag of yummy treats showed up. Look at this:



Some gorgeous multi-coloured hand dyed embroidery floss, a lovely stitchery pattern by Robyn Allen-Waters, two great FQs, some chocolate/caramels, and something I've never seen before; a Floss Winder - intrigued to find out how this contraption works ;o) Tusen takk, Lise!! I'm thrilled!

In my last post I promised some quilty updates... I have been making a little progress on my Tender Moments quilt - three more cute little stitcheries are done, and I've started a fourth. Still have a long way to go on this quilt, but I'm enjoying every step of the way.



And I have a little finish - a quick gift for someone's sunroom who is decorated in blue and yellow (so no, I've not become a Sweden-patriot *lol*).



This little table runner measures 10.5" x 16" and took me aproximately five hours to make - would probably have taken lot less had I not mucked up the appliqué on one of the flowers and had to un-sew - I'm not a speedy ripper ;o)

Hugs and stitches from Anne Ida

Happy Christmas!!!

The binding on the last table runner was stitched down while watching Criminal Minds last night:



My bag is packed, Anton is fed, and all that is left is to do some last tidying up before I head out to my parents for white holidays:

Warm wishes for a very happy Christmas to everyone!!!

Hugs and stitches from
Anne Ida

Two down, one to go

My table runner production continues. I have finished two more over the last few days. One "romantic, old fashioned kitchen" runner with stars:



The white isn't as white as it appears in the pic, and there is a pale blue floral print on it. I have stippled the background, and done a four-hearts stencil in the centre of the stars. This is a pressie for someone - hope they will like it!

And another one of the "Runner in an Evening" I mentioned earlier my Mum had asked for; the grey/lilac one - and I'm still tempted to keep it *lol*:

The quilting on this one is the same as the first one I made. The third (and for now last) table runner is quilted and the binding is attached, but I have still to stitch it down in the back. I'll show a pic when it's all done.

Hugs and stitches from
Anne Ida

Table runner(s)

My Mum has asked me to make a couple of table runners as birthday pressies, and of course I said yes (even knowing I have more than enough to sew at the moment). Two runner tops are on my ironing table at the moment - ready for pressing, layering and quilting. A third table runner for a friend who had a birthday yesterday was finished by this weekend:



The back (love that centre stencil!):

The pattern is "Løper på en kveld" (Runner in an evening) by AnnAKa, from Quiltemagasinet 5/09. The other two table runners I'm working on are the same pattern, one in brownish purples, and one in grey/lavender. Pondering keeping the grey/lavender one *lol* Show pics when they are done!

Hugs and stitches from
Anne Ida