Sanity

This project started out about two years ago as something to keep me sane and calm whilst trying to get my two little girls to sleep. I spent hours and hours sitting and stitching as they battled and raged against sleep. Thankfully we have now passed this phase and I have been slowly but surely adding these little hexies together whenever I have a few minutes. I am aiming for a lap size quilt and I am not too far off. My husband says I am mad but hey I still think it is keeping me sane!

Caroline x

Pin wheels

Part of expat life is the steady flow of people leaving and arriving. It keeps you on your toes and means that you meet loads of different people. It is also an excuse to make quilts for friends (we all know quilts make great leaving presents). One of my good friends has just moved to the US and I wanted her to have a quilt, but with only two weeks notice it had to be a quick one! She loves aqua and teals so I went for a very cool colour palette, mixing teals, aquas and greys.

To quilt it I did an all over stipple. It was quick and easy and I really love the texture it created.

It is now in its new home in the US.

Cx

Hexies

I started these hexies over Christmas. They remind me of winter in Finland. I am missing the snow and ice right now!

I think I shall add in some navy blues and make it into a winter cushion cover.

Carolinex

A Finish!

Well long time no see. Things have been busy here as we all settle into this new country and new routines. It has been tough at times but we do seem to be getting there now and I have managed to do some sewing.

I finished my scrappy star quilt last week and am really pleased with how it has turned out.

I pushed myself out of my comfort zone for the quilting and did some bubbles. Lets just say they are organic! They do give a lovely texture though.

I bound it with fabric left over from the stars. It truly is a scrappy quilt! It is now headed off to my sister for Christmas.

Caroline x

Low Volume Stars

Today I finished my low volume stars quilt top. I really enjoyed putting this one together, particularly playing with the low volume charms. I also think I am finally getting the hang of half square triangles and even trimming them was not too bad!

I decided not to sash between the stars, primarily because I had no idea what to sash them with. But I am pleased with how they have turned out.

I just need to find somewhere to buy batting now and decide how to quilt it!

Carolinex

Pay it forward

Last year I was lucky enough to sign up for the Pay it Forward that Catherine at Knotted Cotton was running on her blog. Just before we left Finland my fabulous gifts arrived. There were squeals of delight I can tell you. Look what I got!

Beautifully wrapped goodies and card

A lovely drawstring bag filled with gorgeous bunting.

The bag is currently holding my hexies and I am going to have to fight two small girls for the bunting! Catherine also sent some fabric goodies (including some of my most favourite Just Wing It by Momo) and some tea (a precious commodity when living away from home).
Thank you Catherine. Your gift put a big smile on my face at a time when things were really stressful and rather crazy.

As part of the PiF rules I am now going to offer to make 3 people a little gift.  It will be a surprise and it's arrival will also be a surprise but will be within the next year. If you would like to participate please leave a comment saying you do.

Carolinex

Made it!

So we made it to the Netherlands. We are settling in ok, it doesn't quite feel like home yet but it will do. It is so lovely all four of us being back together again as a family. The girls and I are mastering the buses and there is a fab ice cream parlour opposite the house. Just need to learn some Dutch now!

Way back in January I joined the Modern Mini Mystery Round Robin that Michele from Quilts from my Crayon Box was hosting. In a group of 5 other fabulous ladies, I sent off my centre block and duly received their blocks to add to. Everything was kept secret and none of us knew what was being added to our quilts. This is what I sent off.

Just before we left Finland my mini quilt came back to me. I was gobsmacked when I saw it.  I love it.

As soon as my sewing machine arrived I quilted it with random straight(ish) lines.

It now has pride of place in our living room. I feel really privileged to have been part of this round robin. I want to thank every one of the ladies that have worked on this quilt and made me something so beautiful. Thank you.

Cx

Low Volume Stars

Now this probably isn't the time to start any new projects since we move in 3 weeks. But start one I have. These stars are going to be for a quilt for my sister.

I am using up some low volume charm squares and some other low volume fabrics I have been hoarding in my stash. I love how they all look together.

I might even finish this before we leave! Carolinex

Moving on

Life is a little unsettled here at the mo. My husband has a new job, which although fantastic does have a fairly major down side. It is not in Finland but in the Netherlands (not that I have anything against the Netherlands). Anyway he moves there tomorrow and, for the moment at least, will commute back to Finland at the weekends. We still need to decide if or when the rest of us will join him. I had hoped our next crazy international move would be back to the UK but this might not be the case. Everything is still so up in the air, so many decisions to make. This is not helped by the fact that I am a worrier and am not too good with change.

Anyway, to help us all keep in contact during the week, hubbie has bought a new tablet computer. Obviously it needed a little cosy cover to protect it.

It is basic but it does the job.

Carolinex

Clammies

I finished my clam shell mini quilt this week. I hand quilted around each of the clams with a little orange thread.

It is a bit hard to see on the front but you can see it on the back.

It is now happily hanging in my sewing space making me smile.

Carolinex

Really Random Thursday

It has been a really random couple of weeks. There have been trips away, mud, puddles and aardvarks. Here is a little selection.

- If kids have not seen mud for six months you can pretty much guarantee they will find the smallest patch and make the biggest mess.

- The same is true of puddles.

-  Dusseldorf airport has the biggest giraffe in the world in its Atrium.  How on earth did they get it in there?

- If you are going on a bug hunt you need to wear a bunny mask/ladybird costume/hat and toilet roll telescope. It is to make sure the bugs don't recognise you, obviously!

- Aardvarks are really big and they have tails like giant rats. We saw them at Arnhem zoo. I was astounded, so astounded I forgot to take a photo!

Linking up with Really Random Thursday

Carolinex
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Fresh Sewing Day

I hope you all had a Happy Easter. Ours was nice and relaxed. We even have some chocolate left!

March was a bit of a slow month but I managed a few bits and bobs.

Here is to a productive April!
Linking up with Lily's Quilts

Carolinex

Spring

Well not quite but we did go above freezing for the first time in months this week! The sun has made things a lot more cheerful. It has also prompted me to try something a little more challenging. I have a plan.

And have made a start.

Happy sewing

Caroline

Slowly does it

It has been very slow on the sewing front around these parts. I have little inclination at the moment to be honest. I have however, managed a little hand sewing, finishing my second Rose Star.

I have no idea where I am going with these but I have cut out the pieces for another one. I am hoping they will inspire me to get back to the sewing machine and my impending bee blocks!
Linking up with the lovely Catherine at  Knotted Cotton's linky party for Slow Bloggers. I certainly am slow at the minute.

Happy sewing

Carolinex

Yippee a finish!

I am on a bit of a mission at the moment to clear my backlog of unfinished projects. Last year I had a fairly bad case of startitous and very little was finished. I am trying not to let this happen this year.  So this week I finished my Tetris quilt. I started it as part of Melissa at  Happy Quilting 's QAL last summer.

my glamorous assistant had to battle quite hard with the wind!

I quilted it in a grid pattern, extending the grid into the purple border. 

This was my first attempt at straight line quilting and I have to be honest I almost lost the will to finish it. I think I need to invest in a walking foot!

Happy sewing

Carolinex

a sparkly finish

I finished the sparkly baby quilt this week. I kept the quilting to a minimum with just a bit of echo quilting round each of the stars.

 I did break out the orange thread and hand stitch around all the little stars. The stitches are by no means perfect but I think they are pretty.

We have sun here for the first time in months so we are off for ice cream at the beach. I have been converted to the Finnish belief that ice cream tastes better eaten in the snow,  after all at least it doesn't melt!
Happy sewing
Carolinex

woolly grannies

I have been working on my crochet grannies this week. I finally had enough squares and I have been gradually attaching them. They went together really quickly. Weaving all the ends in however seems to have been a mammoth task! I snipped my last end this morning and am in love.

It is so warm and snuggly! 

I think there might be fights over this one, even my husband has his eyes on it!

Hope you are all keeping warm

Carolinex

sparkly!!

I finished the sparkly baby quilt top this morning. I love how the mix of three star blocks and one star blocks work together. I think I will just do a bit of echo quilting around each star. I am tempted to use orange thread but I think I might need to test it first.

We have oldest daughters' fifth birthday party this weekend. Ten little people running around the place. It will be carnage! Now I am not a very experienced baker but am going to try and make a cake.  A pink and chocolate cake has been requested. I have had a practice run and it wasn't too bad, so fingers crossed I can make it again. I am certainly hoping it is easier the second time round now I know what I am doing!!

I though I would leave you with this photo. This is what the sea looks like round here at the moment. Minus 23 forecast this weekend. Thank goodness for underfloor heating and saunas!!!

Hope you are all keeping warm
cx

Jacks, Owls and Stars

The small people have gone back to nursery this morning and boy is it quiet! I miss them. However, the bonus is that I have had some sewing time (and a cup of coffee and chocolate biscuit) without interruption. I got these 4 wonky star blocks finished. They are for a baby quilt for one of my friends. 

I thought stars would be pretty but not too girly. I need to get this finished pretty quickly as the baby is due any day, so am on a bit of a mission.

I thought you might also like to see a couple of bee blocks I managed to finish over Christmas. The first is for Colby in We Bee Modern Too. I just love the blue fabric!

The next one really pushed me out of my comfort zone. Debbie in Stash Bee wanted an applique owl. Well  I have never really done machine appliqué and my owl drawing abilities are not great but this is what I came up with.

It is now winging its way to the US. It was good to try but not sure I will be doing it again in a hurry!

Carolinex

The trees have turned white

The trees have turned white and not just because there is a tonne of snow on them. They are actually white. I know that sounds bonkers. I can't quite explain it, but it is as if someone had dipped them all in icing sugar. It is the most beautiful thing. I wish I could capture it on film for you to see but my attempts have failed miserably!

Anyway onto the sewing. I have started making Rose Star blocks. Here is my first one. It took quite a while to put together so this will not be a fast project but will be something I can work on on these cold dark nights.

Hope you are all staying warm.
Carolinex