Ravenhill

A good book

Things have been busy here lately. Nothing special, just the daily activities with two children and a husband. We are enjoying signs of spring.

The snow is still covering a larger percent of the ground than I would like though... but the other day my little one squealed: "Look Mommy, grass!" That is a sight for sore eyes after many months of snow coverage.

When I found this incredible book, Yllebroderier, by Ingrid Eggimann-Jonsson, from the library, about wool embroidery I nearly wanted winter to start again.

The link will get you to a site where you may purchase this book if you get the desire.

I think she is so talented and want to try doing this myself... I will just show you a few more photos...

I just wish I was more adept at reading Swedish. It really isn't that different from Norwegian, but different enough that I find it rather tedious.

I am sure you recall the recent swap I told you about in my last post, well, now Anne is hosting a give away of one of my matryoshka dolls if you would like to join in! These two happy mamas, Fru Lind and Fru Blomdal are in my shop.

Garlands and more birds

My garlands have been making a few appearances here and there. My first one is sold so I made another.

I am rather embarrased to tell you that I got more fabric in the mail, even Lilly can't keep her hands off it:

I know, you must be wondering where I put it all... This package was a bit special to me because a very talented fabric designer, Anne Sutton, sent it to me!

We agreed to a little swap: her wonderful fabric for a couple of my matryoshkas!

She is going to keep one of them and the other she'll be giving away on her blog sometime soon. I'll let you know when! In case you should feel the urge to sew with her wonderful fabrics, you can shop here. Thank you so much Anne for this huge stack of your beautiful fabrics!

Dolls for Anne are now packed and ready for mailing, and these have just appeared in my shop!

 

Fru Lawson and Fru Rype. I have had a bit of extra time these past few days as my hard working husband took two days off. Yesterday we cleaned off our outdoor table and chairs, put the cushions on the seats and soaked up some sun while our big boy was at school and our little one played merrily in the garden. I think it must have been close to 70 F or 20 C in the sun yesterday and today we got a dusting of snow! I am enjoying every sign of spring though and the extra daylight is making picture taking so muc fun!

Lots of great mail!

Your jaw is going to drop and you might turn green with envy...

This wonderful stack dropped into my mailbox all the way from Jan! She has such a kind heart, understanding my appreciation of Japanese crafting. Thank you for all of these treats which I will share a bit of today!

These photos are from the Handmade Zakka book from the top of the stack. I think the leaf potholders are adorable.

And here I really like the bees!

Thank you for the pile of crafing reading that I will enjoy over and over again! I will try to show more soon too!

Feast your eyes on these scraps from Ira, who sent me the left overs from making the most beautiful bags which she sells in her shop.

Some of my favorites...

The quality of these fabrics is incredible.

I am mad about the patterned and textured ones. Thank you so very much Ira!

Finally, Just wanted to show you the highlights of the surprises I sent to Jan. I hope Jan liked the package I sent her as much as I loved the crafting magazines. Since Jan collects dishtowels I was thrilled to find this vintage one at a flea market.

This sweater my friend Anne Katrine gave me to give to Jan. I love the collaboration of these swaps. I know Jan sent me some vintage textiles from her neighbor one time too.

 

If I remember correctly Anne Katrine's aunt made and owned this cardigan sweater and it was passed down to Anne Katrine. Well, I guess I am keeping the post office busy these days.

Inspired...

I met up with three sewing friends this past Saturday with great anticipation as we were going to the annual quilting meeting for Norwegian quilters. Last year's event was amazing so I had high hopes for what this year's would offer.

There was a nice variety of quilts from traditional to a bit more uncommon.

If there hadn't been quilted signs posted everywhere you looked I think this one would have had a few squeezes.

This beauty won a prize and was one of my favorites with its warm and vibrant colors.

I would love to try something like this one. The hand stitches make it so special. After pouring over each and every quilt we were super motivated to make something ourselves so we needed to shop for fabric from the many fabric shop vendors from all over Norway.

I didn't have any particular plan when I bought from this shop and that shop, but when I took them home I found I had selected many that went together so prettily.

I had a hard time deciding the colors to buy in these luxuriously textured cottons, but eventually settled on these fresh spring-like colors. I have never seen any like these before, they have such a nice weave, sheen and soft feel. The fabric reveals nothing as to who has produced these and I am hoping maybe someone can tell me in case I need more?

I am just ga-ga about the Japanse Daiwabo fabric in the middle with the sweet berry-laden circular branches. My dear friend who I was riding home with was so patient with me, as I am the slowest shopper ever! I think she had already been to every shop when I was only half way through.

Happy with dirty knees

It's Friday night and date night. Well, I have a nice date with the computer! Why not blog on a Friday night? After a long week with my husband working so much overtime that he can take two days off with pay next week I am ready for some peace and quiet. I did find the time to make these:

A pair of potholders for my Great Aunt who just turned 86. It was only a year and a half ago that she finally settled down in an apartment after traveling cross-country in her camper for years. She loves to bake cookies so I thought some potholders might be welcome.

If you are a Liberty of London fabric lover you'll recognize a few of those fabrics on them.

I also made this for my son to use as a gymbag. He helped me selecting fabrics that weren't too girly, no easy task.

 

One Saturday awhile back when I dragged the kids to do errands and go to the fabric store Sebastian asked me to buy this bright fabric and cord. This drawstring bag will be useful for storing one of his many collections.

Now that it is the weekend I am going to relax with a cup of tea and some books. Tomorrow we'll likely spend the morning working in our ever expanding garden (as the snow melts around the house we have ever more area to garden in!)

The first flowers of spring are so bright and full of promise of sunny summer days

Click on image for large version...

I have to show you my muddy, happy children! Check out his gardener's knees! (Last three photos were taken by my very talented husband who is also having tons of fun with our new camera. We sometimes have to wrestle over who gets to use it.)

Happy weekend to you!

From Mai in Japan

Last week I sent off a package to a sweet person I have been getting acquainted with via blogging. It's funny, I have more time for blogging friends then friends I actually get to meet in the flesh. It is easier to grab a few minutes here and there on the computer than setting off several hours to meet up.  Well, I don't recall how I first found Mai's blog and Etsy shop but since the happy discovery I visit her shop daily as she is continally adding something new and charming to it.

What pretty colors she uses and such delicate embroidery.

She sews everything entirely by hand.

I couldn't stop taking photos of everything she sent me... there were just so many delightful little details to appreciate!

Even her packing material was unique and wonderful! She is both environmental and thrifty using several layers of pretty newspapers instead of an envelope.

Everything she sent was wrapped individualy in cellophane bags and decorated with her original cut outs... these bunnies holding hands are the sweetest!

You can just imagine my exclaims of delight on finding all of these beautiful Japanese fabrics and lace in one of the cellophane bags.

And more... It was a treat for the senses, to feel the different and unusual fabrics and enjoy the sight of the  pretty patterns and designs.

This one has the look of Liberty lawn, with the detailed design and ever so fine fabric, but I think it must be a Japanse fabric and I just love it.

Mai's fingers are most dexterous, these tiny oragami were such joy for my children! There were even more goodies in the package, some Japanese green tea, many more paper decorations and even some gorgeous Japanese silks! Mai how can I begin to thank you for your thoughtfulness? I am already using the bag for a knitting project and the fabric I will look at often until I decide what to make with it. Thank you so very much Mai!

Since Mai said she fancies Scandinavian knitting I made her a pair of mittens.

 

You can see the other goodies I sent to Mai on her blog.

 

 

New faces!

When I first heard about the CPSIA (Consumer Protction Safety Improvement Act) I got pretty bummed and worried about getting sued for doing something inadvertently wrong. I stopped making dolls and basicly dropped out of the Etsy scene for a few months while waiting to find out what was going to happen with the law. Awhile back I found out that for most crafters the new law will not take effect at this time. However, for any painted surface the law appllies.

(I am back to making treasuries again! If you would like to see it in person and comment... click here.)

So my hand drawn and hand painted faces would need to undergo expensive testing to be legal to sell in the US. I have made a few dolls with embroidered faces. These faces are very different from my painted ones and I decided to print my own fabric faces at Spoonflower.

I was thrilled with the results! Meet Fru Holm and Fru Amundson (Sorry, she is sold) whose faces are made with my self-designed printed fabric (Kaffe Fassett fabrics and others were used for the bodies)!

I am grateful to Spoonflower for enabling me to print my own fabric faces. They were so kind, helpful and speedy with shipping it to me overseas. Now I am skipping off to make more dolls!

Pretty useful

Do you too have the delicious feeling of anticipation of the weekend? Well, I sure have it bubbling up inside me.

Things are stacking up nicely here and I have even had a chance to list a few new needlebooks in my shop.

I thought it would be nice to try one in chocolate:

 

Making good use of my vintage fabric finds lately got me wondering what else I might make with it. My mother and a good friend have both mentioned needing knitting needle cases. This vintage piece was perfect and this cheerful one is listed in my shop.

Besides my happiness at using some of my cherished vintage fabrics, I fancy making things that are useful. I like thinking of them being enjoyed for their pretty fabrics and their utility.

 

I have to remember to tell you, Julia is having a give away. You might recall that she gave me this wonderful piece and when you do you will surely want to enter!

I loved finding my garland on this French blog which I spent far too much time perusing... And how fun to see that it popped up on Sina's blog too.

Wishing you a lovely weekend!

Scary new project... and recycling

I have been really embarassed over my ugly and watermarked ironing board cover. I have wanted a new one for ages, but I have never attempted making an ironing board cover before and that meant I had the usual fear of not knowing how to do it properly hanging over me, preventing me from doing it. I don't know what finally got me going but one day last week I found myself removing the old cover, finding a fabric that was big enough to use to make a new cover. (That was the hardest part. I usually buy only a fat quarter at a time. I had some vintage peices that were suitable though.)

This pretty, decorator weight floral was once a curtain and now it is reincarnated as my new ironing board cover. I am so pleased that I am overcoming my fears of takling new projects.

I am also delighted to have found a good use for this wonderful textile.

A warm sunny day recently I had my first photo shoot of the season outdoors! Again I am upcyclying a thrifted linen curtain in perfect condition and have combined it with a couple of Japanese cotton fabrics. This bag is the perfect size for toting around a knitting or sewing project. I made it the same dimensions as a bag I made for myself and have used near daily for my sock, mitten or hat knitting projects.

The linen is the most beautiful palest of sage and makes me think of spring. It is coming isn't it? Just wondering... because tomorrow they are calling for more snow.

Thanks to Whipup, Vintage Glam Wedding and The Long Thread for featuring my doily garland.

Perhaps you'd like to see. I sent a little un-birthday package to Mervi - I have such a poor memory I was dreadfully afraid I might forget her birthday after she sent me the nicest surprises on mine. So I surprised her back, only it wasn't her bithday.

Lacy garland

I have realized that you can't have too many doilies stockpiled in your stash. I can't get enough of the pureness and simplicity of it coupled with the beige linen.

This garland is among the many new items I have stocked my shop with today. Lucky for me flea market season is right around the corner so that I can hopefully replenish my dwindling stash of doilies. I took upteen photos of this bunting with my new camera and there weren't many good photos in the bunch. Although it can be frustrating, learning something new is so much fun!

Now that I have a new camera both children have cameras to use. This is my old one which I loved but that stopped focusing properly about half the time I tried to take a macro. My little one is loving being able to use it. The third camera we have is one that is really drop-proof and water-proof. You can clearly see how my little one takes after me in liking to be behind the lense.

Sweet mail!

The sweetest packages have come my way lately and I can't tell you how much we have enjoyed them. I think I must be one of the luckiest people around because I won two more give aways!

 
Thank you Suzie for this pile of beautifully wrapped presents.

Lilly had trouble keeping her fingers off while I took a photo!

There were treats for the entire family, but here was one for me, this pretty heart shaped pincusion. It is getting acquainted with my other pincushions, including this much used mushroom one from Kristin.

Mom sent us a package last week too! She sent us all gifts and Lilly's mouse insisted on scurrying round the pincushions!

This sweet card accompanied the wonderful goodies from Chara Michele, the second give away I won.

The colors she used are so vibrant and uncommonly pretty together.

Not only does she have an eye for color but also such thoughfullness. She backed this beautiful scarf with the softest robin's egg blue flannel which will feel so lovely warming my bare neck on a cold day.

She surprised me too with some fabric treats! I guess I shouldn't enter any more give aways, I feel guilty now. I should give some other people a chance to win!

I haven't made so much lately. I have been spending time getting to know our new camera in my free time. Lilly and Sebastian have inherited our old one. Hopefully I will get the hang of the new one before too long! My husband took this shot today.

We've had some deliciously sunny days this week giving us a tease of spring despite our knee-deep snow. We mothers found ourselves with eyes closed, faces towards the sun, just soaking in the rays with tingling pleasure as the children frolicked in the snow.

I have oodles of new dolls with embroidered faces in my shop today available to ship worldwide!