Ravenhill

Birthday Roses, a bug, and a small project

These beautiful pink roses were from my husband yesterday on my birthday. I had a lovely day except for getting a tummy bug.

My 9 year old son who also got the tummy bug in the middle of the night last night got to stay home from school today. He has improved as the day has gone by and borrowed the grown-up camera and took the above perfect shot of my birthday bouquet. That is the nice thing about tummy bugs, they can be quite intense but generally pass quickly.

This morning while my husband slept until nearly noon (yes, he got the birthday tummy trouble too and stayed home from work.) the children and I spent a bit of time going through fabric for a little tiny project I am going to do. My son took this photo too of me looking trough some treasured Japanese fabrics.

These are the two Japanese fabrics I chose for the 9-patch squares I am going to be hand sewing together. This is a very small project I am doing, from the Yoko Saito book, which I believe is called Square and Triangle.

By the way, if you ever want to preview or purchase Japanese books and magazines online I often use ebay. Many of the sellers scan a good portion of the book onto the site to give you a good idea of what you will get. I go to ebay.com, then I do a search for Japanese crafting magazine, Yoko Saito, Japanese quilting book, etc. You should get up a number of results and then when you click on one that looks interesting, give the page time to download and you can browse to your heart's content. Here is a good peek into the Square and Triangle book!

And here I am sewing according to Yoko Saito's instructions. Using a water soluable pen I traced a paper square onto fabrics that I cut out leaving a .7 seam allowance around the blue marks. Then I sewed two squares together on one end. The stitches should start beyond the blue line. You can just see my knot on the outside of the blue lines. I did a running stitch all the way across. It goes pretty quickly.

As you can see I have sewn three rows of 3 squares together and have finger pressed the seams in alternating directions.

 

Yoko recommends pinning the pieces together as I have done here. Can you tell I am having a ton on fun?

Now I have ironed the 9 patch, cut out two layers of cotton flannel, several cm larger than the 9-patch. I cut the bottom layer of fabric the same size as the flannel. I have once again used the water soluable pen to mark where I will be doing my quilting stitches. Now I am ready to baste the sections together.

I look forward to working on this over the weekend. Perhaps you have some nice project to work on this weekend too? Wishing you a lovely one!

A fabric basket

I told you yesterday that I never seem to have enough containers. I have been wanting to try making a larger fabric basket for some time.

These woven fabrics got me started. I used the brown as a bias tape for the top of the basket. The other fabrics were Japanese prints.

Between the two layers of Japanese fabrics I used a layer of flannel, in order to give the basket a bit more substance and help it to hold its shape. It wasn't hard to make and I can imagine making them in many shapes, sizes and colors.

Buttons, take two, in color

Here are my trapped flower buttons again. This time in color. I wish I knew more about them. They seem so special and unique. If anyone has an idea of how they make these, when they were made or other information about this type of buttons I would love to know.

The jars are also from one of my thrifting adventures. I can never have too many containers.

I wonder if you thought the buttons prettier in black and white or in color?

I wonder what you did this weekend and if it seems to fly by for you too? I spent a bit of time sewing and lots of time laughing with my family. My son has been annoying us for a time by scaring us, you know, jumping out from behind a curtain and roaring "Raaaah!" We finally realized that he really wanted us to scare him! Now we are having the most outragous time trying to frighten him. He loves it and we all laugh hysterically, every single time.

Black and White buttons

The vintage buttons in the forground are some of my favorites. I was going to use them on the secret Valentine's gift I mentioned yesterday, but then had another idea. When I got them out though I thought I should show them to you. I found them at a flea market. I should explain something about many Norwegian flea markets. They are held by sports teams or bands, to raise money for the group. All items for sale are donated by people wanting to help or to simply get rid of no-longer-wanted items. So someone just gave these wonderful buttons away.

The flowers are actually pink. I think I will have to show them in color soon too. I added two new bags to my shop today. They are bright and colorful and wouldn't really fit with today's post.

I am already dreaming of flea market season opening in a few months. Better yet, talking with mom today and discussing possible dates of future visits! This is really going to help me through the remainder of the winter.

Catching up

I don't know why but January always seems a great time to finish up forgotton projects, do mending and take stock of my goals. So each week now I have been slowly but surely finished up project after project.

Here is one such project, finally completed. These linen and vintage lace and button dolls were cut up and on my sewing table taking up space and to put it bluntly, getting in the way of whatever I was working on. Then finally, I decided it was time to finish them up. What a lovely feeling to have finished and have really cleaned up my sewing table.

I have actually been sewing lots lately but today was the first day with any amount of light to take photos of what I have been making. I can't tell about some secret Valentine's Day gifts I have made yet, but soon.

Second Post of today

This is unprecidented, writing two posts in one day. The first one from today is below. I had to write again when the very kind Tia let me know of my terrible mistake. You see the Japanese book I told you I used to make the slippers for Lilly was the wrong book. Poor Tai had gone out to buy the book and when she got home she looked and looked but didn't find the slipper pattern in it. I am so sorry and I had to write immediately in attempts to prevent anyone else from buying the wrong book.

Here is the book with the pattern for the slippers I made for Lilly:

Here is where you can pick up the book on Amazon.
ISBN-13: 978-4834727142
You can see the book's version of the slippers below. I love the hand stitches on the straps.

Please forgive me for my error. I will try to double check things from now on. Since I was already scanning for this post I thought why not show a bit more of this great book?

This is a dress I really want to make for little one before summer, or it might make a nice tunic over a turtleneck and tights for winter.

Isn't this a cute purse, with pretty Liberty of London, lace and linen?

This little number I would like in my size. I haven't time for making things for me though, today I finished two pairs of super-fast and simple elastic waist pants for my 9 year old son. Now Lilly is clamoring for some new pants too.

Black and White at the Folk Museum

Once again I must take you back to the Norske Folkemuseum's annual Christmas market.

I loved these heart baskets in the traditional red and white and these in black and white were also beautiful.

A wreath made out of lichen, simple.

Another one in a heart shape.

This one really took my breath away. Those leaves must be lambs ear. I would love to make one this myself.

I had to show you a bit more of the textile work at the market. Perhaps they will inspire someone for the upcoming Valentine's Day?

New Norwegian Tilda fabrics

It brightened my day to visit Emma's wonderful blog and discover she had included Lilly's little slippers in the cheerful and pretty line-up yesterday!

I have been to the local hobby shop for a bit of after Christmas sale shopping.

I found a couple of Tilda fabrics on sale and the brown that wasn't.

The black and white heart trim I think would be marvelous paired with some natural linen.

I have made a few dolls with the new Tilda fabrics.

Both Fru Bergman and Fru Dommerud are now in my shop hoping to soon travel to some exotic location to spread good cheer.

Upcycled luxury knitting

I got to put my feet up for this foto shoot!

I didn't get to keep the socks though. They were a Christmas gift for my dear grandmother-in-law. The socks are fantastic though. I loved them the 5 minutes I wore them to take the photos. They are pure cashmere. Recycled! Yes, I bought the wonderful yarn on ebay from one of the sellers there who painstakingly unwinds sweaters to harvest the yarn.

This is the third time I have bought yarn this way, and yes it does come a bit kinky. However, each time I have made wonderfully soft and beautiful things from the upcycled yarns for just a fraction of the cost of what it would have cost to buy the yarn new. I didn't even steam these socks and they came out lookiong nicely I think. The pattern is from the really marvelous book: Favorite Socks, by Ann Budd and Anne Merrow.

The pattern was so simple and fun to do. It is definitely one I would like to make again.

Meanwhile I have another project to work on. Here is another upcycled yarn, this time merino and angora. The halo around it is so nice as is its feel, pure softness. I will be making some super fast and simple socks for my little one who really does't like to wear socks very much. Hopefully this pair will persuade her that socks can be a good thing.

Japanese magazines and mushrooms too

I discovered this new embroidery magazine, Needle, while cruising the internet today and thought you might like to take a look. They seem to have the entire first issue online and for free!

I just got a big order of Japanese crafting inspiration in the mail from Amazon in Japan. It is funny because the first time I ordered from them I had to wait for an entire month for its arrival. This time it was a mere 3 days!

I was positively blown away when the package arrived at the door! Yes, they send it door to door!

The base rate for shipping from Japan is steep but then there is just a small fee per book on top of that making it affordable if you buy less frequently but in large quantities at once!

There is something about this Japanese style that is so appealing.

I also find the photo instructions most helpful. As my son says it would be nice to be able to read Japanese too.

I will surely be sharing more of my new purchases with you soon!

I don't know whether or not you have noticed that I have a few new dolls in my shop that don't have hearts on their behinds, but mushrooms! Above is Fru Hammerstad.

Fru Dahle.

and Fru Langsom. The mushrooms take a bit more time but they are so much fun to do!

Little slippers

Today a few of my newest matryoshkas were featured on Cuteable! Fru Stabekk wasn't featured but she is one of my newest creations in my shop.

The icy air doesn't seem to want to let up and as I have mentioned before is giving me a wonderful excuse to stay indoors and keep warm at my sewing machine. What is the point of going outside actually when it is -20 Celcius? So I made these slippers for little one to keep her small toes warm on our now chilly hard-wood floors.

I used this Japanese book for the pattern. Here is the link to it on Amazon.jp:

The slippers make the second project I have completed in this book and so far so good. I have enjoyed both immensly and they have both turned out as I had hoped. I blogged previously about another Japanese book and my projects here and here.

The bottoms are three layers, with the bottom two quilted together as you see above. I used the same fabric for the insole and underside, and for batting I used a vintage wool blanket. The thick blanket and quilting give good structure to the slippers and warmth as well.

I dug into my mother-of-pearl button jars to find a couple of matching buttons to add as decoration on the straps. I have used snaps for closure. I still (sheepishly) haven't learned how to make button holes. Maybe Mom will teach me on our next visit? I selected Jennifer Pagnelli's wonderful fabric from the line Dance with Me for the outer fabric.

And here we were today playing concentration and little one is wearing her new slippers.

She still doesn't even know all the numbers or letters on the cards but she can match them! Getting a photo is hard work too when they are moving around as much as this little energetic one does. It is a good thing I have learned how to lose with grace because it happens alot when I play cards with my kids.

I hope you will have a lovely weekend!

Lilly's new doll and doll clothes

Lilly was excited as can be at Christmas when she opened up her doll and doll clothes from Grandma and Papap (her grandfather.)

She was promptly named after me, because of the curly hair.

Here is one of the beautiful peices of clothing my mom stitched up for little Emily. I wish this little red fleece with the beautiful black glass buttons was in my size!

Mom made this beautiful dress too. The fabric is delicate with the pretty blossoms scattered all over it and is so lovely, trimmed with dainty lace. Lilly's intense concetration gives a good indication of her pleasure in playing with her new dolly.

Carved out

Christmas is over, but some of us still have a few decorations up and I never had time to show you these amazing carvings that I saw at the Norske Folkemuseum's annual Christmas market. They ones above are wine corks and they are just filled with character.

And what a great amount of time it must have taken the artist to not only carve but paint the tiny details onto her.

This little gnome also has the most beautiful details, like the walking stick, lantern and pocket knife.

These are busy little gnomes, here is an elderly granny, knitting away. When I tire of knitting and sewing I think I will take up wood carving and make my own wooden figures. I am certain they would get on well with all my matryoskas!

At the moment though I am immersed in sewing, knitting and a bit of embroidery. (Not to mention, cooking, cleaning, reading aloud, playing cards and games, etc.) I finished up these drawstring bags today and they are in the shop.

The beige fabric is a linen and cotton blend which I adore. Anyone who has read my blog for awhile knows how fond I am of Liberty of London fabric, which I used for the hearts and the drawstring casings to add a bit of color to the tops of the bags.

 

Back to Black and White Monday

The snow we got during the holidays made everything white and lovely.

It seems it tastes pretty good too. Yes, there are some fine things about snow in the winter.

A couple of my favorite gifts this past holiday

This adorable little mousie was a gift for the entire family from my dear little daughter. What a great project that they made at her nursery school, where they felted the body, glued on the parts and then even made a house.

She had us all curious as anything about the gift and she allowed her big brother the honor of opening it up.

This was another gift that I just love! Mom and dad treated me to this sea urchin ornament from an Etsy seller who I know well, Estella!

I have long admired her work with finds from nature and must have mentioned this to my mother since she surprised me with it!

Estella actually works with her mother making things and have an impressive total of 4 shops on Etsy. This fabulously creative duo has an incredible range in their abilities. Thank you Mom and Dad for this beautiful ornament! I is also a lovely reminder of the beaches of Maine and all our trips when I was growing up, where we discovered sea urchins, crabs, starfish, etc. in the warm tide pools.

Gossipy ladies

My shop is filling up again with the most charming of ladies. They are all gaily dressed and are in the best of spirits.

They are all bright and cheery as can be.

Oh, but one, Fru (Mrs.) Elvenes is resting her eyes. She might be a bit sleepy but she is already a wee bit famous - just spotted at Chelsea Ann's blog.

I snapped this shot the other day after one of our big snow storms. My husband got a good workout lifting all those shovelfulls of snow! Now we are wondering two things, what the rest of the winter has in store for us and when spring is going to come? I suppose it really is too early to start counting the days... I am so enjoying all the guilt-free time indoors knitting, sewing, playing cards with the family or reading to the children.

Happy New Year!

Mom loves to knit too and she made these for Lilly.

She made up the design herself! I sure love how she combined the two-colored knitting with the cables.

 
This time of year I miss the family a bit more than usual, so we are already dreaming about our next visit together.

Meanwhile we are enjoying the snow! This hat I made for Lilly. It is really nice on cold days, made from alpaca. Things actually warmed up today, it got up to -8 celcius. We were all tired after staying up until l past midnight to see in the new year so today was a good day for snuggling on the sofa and reading good books.

Have a fabulous weekend!