Two weeks of sun and relaxation

Most of January was spent working, but at the end of the month I got to enjoy the fabulous Christmas present from my parents - two weeks of total relaxation at a resort in Cabo Verde. Not very much to do other than enjoy the sun by the pool and at the beach, catching up on some reading, play some board games and basically relax. I thought I'd share a few of the pictures I shot while there:

Hugs and stitches from Anne Ida

Godt nyttå!r/Happy New Year!

Hugs and stitches from Anne Ida

God jul/Merry Christmas

 

Wishing everyone a wonderful and pieceful holiday!
Hugs and stitches from Anne Ida

Front cover

The latest number of the member magazine for the Norwegian Quilter's Association arrived last week and I just have to share - my Loyal Union Sampler is on the cover:

I'm so proud! And it's relly fun that both my large Elm Creek Quilts samplers have made the front cover of the publication of our national guild - no. 4/2011 and no. 4/2013 are looking good together, aren't they?

And of course someone jus had to be in the picture - wondering what his twolegs are up to

Can you believe we have lived together for just over four years now? He is such a little sweetie and just a part of the house ;-)
Hugs and stitches from Anne Ida

Värmland winter light

Just wanted to share a few pictures from a walk my friend K and I took while visiting their family house in Värmland in Sweden this weekend - loved the light on Saturday

Only a little sewing has been going on, but haven't shot any pictures of it yet.
Hugs and stitches from Anne Ida

A weekend of vitamin Q

On Friday nine women packed our sewing machines, fabrics and notions, ongoing projects and patterns for new ones, and went for a weekend stay at Lapp-Elisa's in Lennartsfors in Sweden.

I think we all were in need of some vitamin Q. Lots of sewing was done, all of us working dilligently on our projects. Friday night I finished my last block for my Christmas quilt (and forgot to take a close-up picture, but it's the one on the top left corner), and yesterday I worked on the setting for the blocks.

I managed to get all the sashing stitched, the center of the top together and add the inner border before it got too late Saturday night

And before breakfast this morning the outer border was attached. Just as the blocks in this quilt is from a Jennifer Chiaverini pattern, the setting is found in her pattern book Traditions from Elm Creek Quilts, however my borders are a bit narrower. 

A few pictures of the sewing room with some of Elisabeth's colourful quilts and quilt tops, as well as all our stash spread around. the tables

We have already started planning our next get-togeher here - the date is set and we have started thinking of what to do.

Of course I spent some money, but I haven't unpacked my bags yet, so that will have to be shared in a later post.

Hugs and stitches from Anne Ida

Back from an adventure in India

This year the birthday present from me to myself was a trip to Northern India.  Along with my friend K we have had a wonderful week with lots of impressions in an area filled with sounds, colour and scents.

I have lots of pictures to sort through, lots of memories to save in a scrap book, and even some materials for a new quilt.

Hugs and stitches from Anne Ida

Blogger's Quilt Festival

I have been following the Blogger's Quilt Festival for a few seasons now, and I have been amazed by all the beautiful quilts made by the talented quilters out these. When Amy's e-mail arrived earlier this fall I immediately knew I would enter my recent pride and joy: Anne Ida's Loyal Union Sampler - here hung on the attic wall:

I was and still am thrilled to have been able to make this quilt ahead of the Loyal Union Sampler book being published, and honored a picture of my quilt was included in the book.

My quilt consists of  the 121 sampler blocks featured in the pattern book, and 56 Birds in the Air blocks for the border - each block 6" square. The quilt itself measures 90" square.

The few bits of applique in this quilt is done by hand, but most of blocks are machine pieced and the quilting is done on my Bernina Activa 135 - also known as Bernie :-)

Hugs and stitches from Anne Ida