Summer?

We had such beautiful summer weather yesterday! Warm and sunny, barbecue dinner, relaxing coffee on the veranda in the afternoon. And then a bit of rumbling in the distance, so I thought I'd better get my washing in, just in case.

And then it started: thunder, hail and then rain - the worst I've ever experienced! The area flooded in minutes. A brown river of clay poured down the hill behind the houses and through our gardens.

 A view of the neighbour's house. Both houses (semi-detached) got water damages indoors and their steps down to the road were washed away!

 We were unbelievably lucky - the poor little bushes in the foreground mark where our gardens starts and the water just skirted them and over to our poor neighbours.

This is our road! After 30 minutes the rain stopped and left mud all over the place. We are going to have a nice job clearing up. 
It was an amazing experience though - nature is an unrelenting force.

April finishes

MIL's 80th birthday present. It's ab. 140x175 cm. A bit more pink than it looks here.

We were all gathered in Stavanger this weekend for a confirmation, so we gave her the present a couple of days early - so she could take it home in the car. She was very pleased :-) 

 Confirmations are big here in Norway - family gatherings and presents galore. We gave our niece this bag (her favourite colours - how lucky) and some money to spend on something she is saving up for.

 Two pretty spring potholders for my kitchen - thankyou again for the yarn, Di, and see I made something for the kitchen challenge :-)

 Another preemie blanket.

And a new month waiting to be filled with new projects - enjoy!

weekend dreams

Every two years there is a big MC exhibition near us and that is a must for us. 

This is the latest model of our bike and it is a dream!

It's fun to see the more outrageous designs

Lots of shiny details

 This one must be specially designed for quilters ...

 And a little bit of sewing, another bag ... this time for me. Not easy to get a good photo - the flap looks too big, but the light was best there :-) And a finish for March already!

Last finish for February

Another make-up pouch - I like this size and the fabric, so I have decided to keep it for myself :-)

It was a new pattern my friend and I tried out on one of our sewing evenings. It is nice sewing with someone else, to discuss different options etc. I enjoy these evenings.

 And here is my opam December prize. One of Kris's patterns from http://tagalongteddies.blogspot.com and beautiful fabric and embroidery threads (green, not black). A lovely surprise!! 

 We have been away a few days visiting the in-laws;  the view from their sitting-room window
and a couple of shots taken the from the ferry showing the ice floating on the fjord.

They live on the west coast and spring is already on it's way there .... it will be a while before we see it here at home - minus 10 this morning. Brr! Back to sewing for me!

Keeping my head down ....

Because I have been working on this ... and it is finished at last! The first of the birthday quilts as I call them in my mind. This is for someone who doesn't read my blog. I am quite pleased with it. It has wool batting so it will be nice and warm and snuggly. 

It was difficult to get a good photo, but it measures ab. 170 x 140. 

 Poor Tiffi got bored and demonstrated by standing like this for ages (actually I think she likes to stretch her long back). She did get a treat for being patient and for not getting back on the (newly washed) quilt while my back was turned.

 My eldest son has moved to Australia to study and he wanted to test how long the post would take, so he sent me this cute little owl - my sister promptly named it Sheila!  :-) 

A year of celebrations

2013 is going to be a year full of celebrations in our family; birthdays 1 x 40, 2 x 50, 2 x 60, 1 x 80 and a couple of confirmations to top it off. And I bet I've forgotten something .... someone ...

However, I decided to make quilts for some of these days ....

 Here is a peek ... well, I laid out the blocks on a BIG tablecloth on the floor and rolled them to keep them out of the way until I had sewn them together. Tiffi thought she would try it anyway, this is taken from above, as this is what happens when she sees a camera ...

 No peace at all! But here is another peek after I got the blocks together and off the floor. No one told me that brushed cotton is a dog's hair magnet ... 

And this is slowly growing, too - I am keeping this one when it is finished. 

 But this was more fun (design: AnnAKa). Felt like making something summery while watching snowflakes floating outside my window. 

First finish

A busy week for me. A friend from where I lived previously has been here for a week. We trawled the sales, walked the dogs in minus 20 and just enjoyed ourselves and each others company. But today she had to go back home so life will go back to it's usual routine.

Here's Ollie - she brought him home a couple of days ago, for my collection. (She is always adding to it, very good to me). He is made of wool, very cute and I am just waiting for Tiffi's reaction :-)

 And here is my first finish for 2013! Tadaaa!! My heavy metal, guitarplaying son wanted a traditional Norwegian jacket! And here it is!

My friend has taken it with her and he is going to meet her at the railway station and pick it up. I hope he will be happy with it and that it will keep him warm for many years. (It will be a while before a new one is made. I love the knitting ... it's all the rest!!) 

The southern half of Norway is experiencing really cold weather at the moment, so I am pleased I got it done now.

And that means I have reached my first goal in Di's 2013 challenge; something made in wool!
Have a good weekend everybody!