Ravenhill

Playing tourist and hexagon heaven

Please don't forget me, I know I have been on vacation for too long! The visit with my Dad really was wonderful and I just didn't find time to blog.

Mostly we just had a good time enjoying time together, but we did play tourist a bit in Oslo. The photo above is Oslo City Hall.

I had to take Dad to Vigeland Park as he had never been before. You see, on his previous visits he had been so sweet to come in the winter months, and the cold and darkness during those months make staying indoors much more inviting than going out to do touristy things. So he hadn't ever seen much of our city.

The sculptures are slightly larger than life and so very life-like they are.

It was a lovely day and we nearly had the park to ourselves.

While many of the sculptures seem happy or serene, this one seems disturbing.

Now we are back downtown again, getting around by foot and public transport as I usually do. This dome-topped building is the National Theater.

The waterfront was a great place for a little rest and a bit to eat.

While he was visiting I didn't spend as much time sewing or knitting as usual. I guess I really did have a vacation from my usual handwork. This is what I started on after our tearful farewell. I am going to make a hexagon pillow. This is English paper piecing. It is so much fun. I have been stitching on the sofa, in my sewing room and sometimes out in the sunshine.

I tried not stitching through the hexagon papers, but the fabric seems to sit better when I stitch right through the papers and it appears that the papers can still be used again and again despite the pin holes. I just cut off the threads holding the papers down as soon as the hexagon is completely surrounded.

I promise to be around more! I have much to show and a give away coming very soon!

  

Cherry Blossoms

Inspired by the cherry blossoms in our backyard.

I made Fru Stemland, who is in the shop.

May you too have a beautiful weekend!
 

Happy 17th of May to Norway!

Hipp Hipp Horrah!

I had to give you a taste of the gorgeous handwork that was on display on Norway's National Day, the 17th of May.

This handsome couple was seen among the crowds at the castle. Many of the men were even decked out from head to toe in hand made finery. I think the woolen cabled socks are wonderful, and I am sure he was glad it was a cool day.

You can just imagine the hours of stitching that went into each of these pretty garments.

   

Such inspiration for those of us who enjoy needlework! A big thanks to my father for these photos, he was the photographer for this post.
 

Spring has really come and soon so will a visitor!

We are in the throes of excitement here as we await a visitor from far off. My dad is hopping on the plane tomorrow to visit us! Yippee!

So I have tried to get some goodies into my shop beforehand!

As usual I have had a ball playing around with different fabrics: colors and patterns.

I just had to show you how incredibly fast Norway has burst into spring! 

Color has once again returned in full spectrum, the greys, taupes and other dull colors are being taken over by vibrant greens and dotted with lovely blossoms here and there.

Delicate wildflowers just budding can be seen underfoot in the woods and when I relax in the sunshine in my backyard I breathe in the sweet smell of violets that are all around in my flower beds. My little one is keeping the vases full of the prettiest blossoms.  

I combined several very special vintage fabrics on Fru Holmedal as well as some of my hand embroidery, and she is available in my shop (Sorry, she has already sold). 

 

Unbelievable!

This is what we woke to this morning. I think mother nature forgot to look at the date. It is actually May and our tulips are already starting to bloom. The one plus inch of snow that came down hard and fast this morning was really an unnecessary prolonging of a lovely season that already takes up more than it's fair share of the year.

It is good that I am knitting heaps of hats, mittens and socks. My husband misplaces them, the kids grow out of them, and winter just keeps right on month after month. I had already put away the winter gear prematurely it seems!

Sebastian was very sweet and agreed to let me photograph him wearing my latest hand-knits. Here you see the Noro socks I was working on are finished.  

They are not super matchy, but I love them and hope he will wear them at least a few times next winter, but if not I will be happy to inhert them. They fit both my 9 year old and I to a T.

These mittens I whipped up using the leftover Noro yarn for the dots and stripes. The other was a wool that I scored at a recent flea market. 

Britt, you really have provided me with a great deal of knitting fun, not to mention that they have been transformed into useful warm gear for the family!

I am hoping that today's surprise storm will be the last of the snow for at least a few months. I am working on such fun, colorful and sunny projects now which are keeping in what should be the season!