Frosty morning

Today was one of the first mornings this fall with subzero temperatures. A clear sky, full moon and stars sparkled together with the frost on cars, garbage sheds and lamp posts. 

I hope the pictures show a little glimse of the frosty norwegian morning, although they've taken with my Iphone. 

***

Have a nice day!

Sunset yesterday

I took this picture walking to the kindergarten yesterday - early sunset over the city. 

It's getting dark early these days - remember to wear reflective badges and bands (we call them reflekser in Norwegian).

Under the weather..

I've got a ton of things I want to do, and should have done, but for the past couple of weeks it's been hard to find the energy to get anything done. Long story short, I'm struggling with a cough which won't stop, resulting in a plague or cholera situation (choosing between two evils..). Coughing until I throw up - or drink a cough syrup with side effects (including nausea and drowsiness).. But! I've got my SSCS-parcel ready for wrapping and mailing, and a couple of projects on their way from ideas to products, so there's at least something happening.

I took a walk after work today, and saw that they've started to put up the Christmas decorations around downtown. Some of these have featured over the past couple of years - others are new this year. The twinkling lights (although about two weeks too early, according to my calendar) were lovely against the dark blue afternoon sky. It definitely makes the darker months of the year a little more manageable, and a lot less depressing. 

Stars on Glasmagasinet, as it has been for the past few years.

Disney'ish stars over Torggata, same as the previous years.

The old movie theatre which is now a huge bookstore, has
some new decorations this year. (I like the fact that they've
kept the old sign above the entrance.) 

***
Hope you all have your health with you.

The what now quilt?

Yep, that's the title of this post. The what-now quilt? What did you say? Seriously?

I was reading through the feeds in Feedly, and saw that one of the blogs I read regularly, Capricorn Quilts, had posted about a Sunbonnet Sue'ish book, and I had to look twice at the picture.. actually, I had to show hubby the picture - and then I had to take another look at it. I mean.. wouldn't you've done the same?

Have you ever seen anything like this?

Picture from weltbild.de

There's a full quilt in the same theme - a murdering Sunbonnet Sue.. I just thought that was too funny, and it made me smile, on a Monday which has been more stressful and busy than I'd like to remember..

***
Here's to Monday being almost over - and Tuesday's almost here!

Happy Halloween

Well, October has passed and we've reached November. 

On my walk downtown today (had an appointment with my hairdresser) I noticed that someone had added to one of the statues on the fairytale bridge (eventyrbrua).. and put a carved pumpkin on the princess' head! 

The pictures are, unfortunetly, a little dark, but the sun was so wonderfully bright and the sky so cheerfully blue, ot was the best I could do. 

***

Enjoy the weekend!

My project from the knitting class..

Just thought I'd show you a small glimse of my project from Tuesday's knitting class - "Icelandic Sunrise". I started my project in a soft gray color, but the picture is a little dark.. 

TGIF!

*Whew*

This past week has been too full of events and work and stress and not enough time to think.. It's been superbusy at work, leading to feelings of not getting things done, and leaving work in the afternoons with heaps of things having to wait for the next day. It's been like that for the past four days - but, finally! Today I was able to get every little thing on my list done, and some extra stuff that came during the day, and I have an almost clean slate awaiting my return to the office Monday morning (the only things left on the list, are things I'm going to do Monday morning (like, call and nag people for not replying to my emails and such. (It sucks, but it needs to be done.)

Anyway, besides work being a major factor of stress this past week, there was work to be done - both in our community (I don't know a better word for "borettslag") and in the kindergarden Mini goes to (every fall and spring there's an evening where the parents help out, tidying, cleaning, painting and doing other work around the kindergarden - and the same is done around our buildings, even planting and fixing the outdoor furniture - everything done to make things more cosy both at home and in the kindergarden). Now, this time the timing kinda sucked again, seeing as both events fell on the same afternoon. So we had to split up. Hubby went to the kindergarden, and Mini and I helped out at home, until he was "fourteen degrees tired" and wanted to go back inside.

But Tuesday was an evening spent in the light of creativity.. I had signed up for a class taught by Pickles (a yarn shop, both physical store and web shop, who also make a lot of patterns themselves), a two-hour knitting class where we learned a technique they called "Icelandic Sunrise". It took some time figuring out how to make the stitches come together in the kind of sun'ish pattern, but when I finally did, it was really fun! There were 10 people in the class - 9 women/girls and one guy. He'd joined with his friend, a girl from Australia (and he knitted!). There was a lady who'd travelled from a place called Moelven, a couple of hours outside of Oslo, and even a lady from Tønsberg (which is also a couple of hours drive away) - both of them came to Oslo just to join the class that one afternoon. (According to our teacher, we were the most quiet and concentrated class she'd ever taught, which I guess says something about the complexity of figuring out the technique..) I'm definitely joining another class in the future, if anything interesting comes up!

Alas, it's Friday. Well, not alas.. far from it.. More TGIF!!! We're a tired and quiet little mini-family tonight. Mini wanted to go to bed quite early and is already sleeping, and I think it's going to be a quiet evening for the remaining two of us too.. Poor Mini, barely wanted to watch children's TV tonight (barnetv) - but I enjoyed it - there was even an episode of Professor Balthazar! :)

***
Hope you enjoyed watching some Professor Balthazar and that you have a nice and quiet Friday evening, wherever you are.

Btw, did you have any favorite children's show/TV that you enjoyed growing up?

Still beautiful

We're still enjoying some amazingly warm and beautiful autumn days here in Oslo. Although the mornings and nights are quite chilly, the days and afternoons have been nice most days (except from Thursday, which came with this fall's first mornings of heavy rain). 

Where Norway's been showing off it's nature in shades of green all summer, autumn now shines in a rainbow of colors, raging from shades of green, yellow, orange, red-brown and brown. 

Above are some of the pictures I've taken on my walks to the kindergarden in the afternoons. The last picture I took just minutes ago. It!'s the church closest to us (Sofienberg kirke) and right next to it is a large playground. Mini is currently rocking the swingset, and there's about 50 or more kids here (from 0 to 10-12'ish playing (their parents are here too, of course). 

I haven't finished much lately - working on mostly secret or longtime-projects - but I'm almost finished with a knitted vest for Mini. Though it needs a wash when it's done, as we had a hot chocolate-incident with it last weekend.. 

The vest is in a grassy green color wool, nice and soft - and looks beautiful against the yellowy-orange colors outside the window (where it was drying). 

***

Are you enjoying autumn where you are?

Gotta love that autumn feeling..

The boys are off swimming, and I've had a good housecleaning-hour while they've been away (well, they're still out, but I'm having a break now). The floors are cleaned, the apartment is aired, and most of my summer clothes have been put away for this year (no need for shorts any more). 

I took some pictures earlier this week, while walking from the subway up to Plutt's kindergarden. It's been amazing this week : a little crispy chill in the air in the mornings, but later in the day the sun warms up everything and the sky is clear and blue. (Of course, this had to change when the weekend came, and yesterday saw rain for most of the morning - but the afternoon was wonderful and warm again). 

Plutt's been very interested in the changes in nature lately, and does a nice speech about how all the leaves change color - some green, some yellow, some orange and some brown - and then fall off the trees. 

The colors of autumn.

Clear blue sky over the nearby park.

A little blurry, the sun shines on the left side,
but still beautiful.

These past few weeks have been amazingly busy and short. Well, they seem short, when all I've done is work and sleep, but I'm finally starting to get on top of things at work, and am able to get some more things done in the afternoons.

This morning I had to leave my knitting to dry, as Plutt managed to spill an almost full cup of cocoa over the knitting (still on the needles) and the yarn. Well, I guess I was going to wash it after finishing it after all, but didn't plan to have it covered in cocoa first.. Luckily, the yarn is in a deep grass green, and not white (as the previous project was) so it shouldn't show afterwards.

It's finally October, and I can light all the candles I want without complaints (not that Hubby complains..)! Not only is it dark outside (and extra cosy with the burning candles) but the building is a little chilly, and hasn't quite adapted to the sudden cooler temperatures yet. The candles do give off a little warmth..

Well, I ought to continue my fixing of stuff while the boys are out.

***
Are you enjoying the autumn so far?

*Facepalm*

I just had to edit the title of my last post.. September meeting? Duh.. *facepalm*

October quilt guild meeting

Tonight was the October meeting in the quilt guild (Tåsen quiltelag) and there were guests! MaurTua had come to visit, and had brought along tons of inspiration, stories of how they worked - and, of course, part of their shop. (Yes, I did buy something..)

What's so special about this shop - and the ladies behind it - is that they specialize in reuse of old fabric, and mostly old shirts. It was very inspirational to hear them tell stories behind quilts they'd made, selecting fabric, trying to use every useful bit and piece of shirts, curtains and old bed linen. 

This quilt consist mainly of the labels from the back of the neck of old shirts.

Stripes from different colored shirts.

I loved the orange shirt used in this small quilt.

A larger version of the small quilt.

Notice the dresden plate in the corners?

The pattern for this little dress with the crochet top piece has been very
here in Norway this summer.

Hexagons!

Stars..

Left-overs from the stars in the previous picture.

Even more leftovers (blocks this time).

And another one.

Not just old shirts, but also mixed with "modern" quilt fabric
and traditional blocks.

Useful for both picnics in the summer - and setting the Christmas table!

Mugrugs with a twist (I loved the idea).

I have a charm pack-size pack of fabric from MaurTua (which I got back in March), and I have to say that after tonight, I really feel inspired to create something from it.. I just need some time to think.. and sew..

***
Anyone else got "startitis"?

Fall (and secrets)

I love fall. The cool nights and sunny days. Morning fog and evening darkness. Perfect to fill the living room with burning candles.. 

I'm not quite sure why, but I always get inspired to do so much - craftwise - when the waves of fall feelings come over me. So here I am, knitting, crocheting, sewing, planning and just being inspired. 

A small piece of one of my secret projects.. 

A few weeks ago saw one of Mini's not too good days. After a trip downtown he started complaining about aches in his stomach and feeling tired - he even fell asleep on the couch (which is totally not normal for him).. So after a night colored by restlessness (him waking up crying every now and then, and me not being able to sleep), he woke up at around 8AM Sunday morning, asking if it was morning yet. That day he was more or less back to normal again. A minor swelling in his throat, but eating and drinking again. Not quite sure what was going on that night, but we kept an eye on him a few days after that, and he seems fine now.

The picture above is a detail from one of my secret projects. I can't even express how happy I am with the way this project's turning out! I find an hour now and then to work on it, and I just can't wait to see the final result! 

I've also been thinking a lot about my SSCS-projects for this year. I have a couple of ideas that I'd like to do some more thinking about (before starting), but, you know, tempus fugit (time flies) and November will be here sooner then we know. (Jeeze, it's October already!)

The birds went flying..

With the birds out flying - Tailfeathers the quilt, that is - there was suddenly an open area above our couch.. It's a bit too early, I think, to hang my Winter Wonderland up on the wall - it's still just September, so I dug out another one, a little more fall'ish quilt. 

Meet Annie' Calendar Quilt. 

I made this a few years ago, as a BOM, together with my mom and a few others. Finding it again really reminds me of how fun it was to make, and I'm really pleased with the way it turned out. 

It reminds me of another BOM'ish project I have in my drawers.. Unfinished, but with a plan.. Hmmm...

My special tin

This tin, or box, once contained chocolate.. Very yummy chocolate.. 

Now it contains one of my secret projects.. And no, you can't see.. not yet, anyway.. Patience.. ;)

***

Do you keep any of your projects in special tins or boxes? Do any of them have special histories?

When the child sleeps..

The mother blogs, surfs the web and enjoys a glass of ice cold white wine (Riesling).. (Hubby, on the other hand, is busy working in his little office-corner of the living room..)

So, I promised in my last post that I had some news to share? Yes, well, while we were travelling (in southern France.. I'm starting to miss it already..) I got the news that I'd won a give-away! Would you believe it? In all my years of blogging, I think I've won one previous give-away.. so this was definitely a new experience for me.. What I won? Oh, you want to know that too? Hehe.. OK then.. The lovely Nancy posted about a pattern called U-Turn, which she was pattern-testing for the designer, Kristy. And in return, she was given a pdf copy of the pattern to give away. Which is what I was so lucky to win! :D I suggested that the pattern would be perfect to use all those mismatching, but oh so fun Halloween fabrics - and now I can't wait to start making my own U-Turn.. I just have to finish some secret stuff first..

Secrets, you say? Yes, secrets.. You see.. I'm joining again. You know.. the yearly fun elf'd by the lovely Chookyblue..? Co-elfed by the equally glorious Googy Girl? Of course.. it's the one happening of the year I cannot - will not - miss..

YAAAAAAAY!!! :D:D:D

I've received the details of my recipient, and have started the traditional sneaking and planning - and I just can't wait (!!!) for December!

So. I'm off to do some serious sneaking.. and enjoying my glass of wine.. and watching Halv 8 hos mig (the swedish version of Come Dine With Me, which is what Hubby concluded with being the only reason why we have the swedish TV channel 4 available.. I think I have a secret crush on the commentator.. he's simply too fun not to listen to...).

***
What ever you may craft, I hope you enjoy it.

New post on it's way..

I've got some news to share, and even a give-away I was lucky to win - but right now my laptop is a little busy.. Mini wanted to watch Little Charley Bear, so here we are.. He doesn't mind watching him with English audio. 

The past week..

The past week has truly flown by. Filled with new things, new experiences, and loss of other things. I had my last day at the "old" office on the 23rd, said goodbye to many, many brilliant and friendly people (well, actually, I said until next time, seeing as I don't like to say goodbye). 

Flowers..

 My old boss and colleagues gave me gorgeous pink and green roses, but I ended up giving them away on the way home. We were leaving for a six day trip two days later, and I figured the flowers deserved to go to someone who could enjoy them more than I could the two days I would've gotten to keep them. I hope they brought you some smiles, Vigdis. ;)

We had decided to take a weeks vacation in the end of August, and seeing as I left my old job, it seemed like a good idea to have a week of relaxing between ending the old job and starting the new.

Last weeks views..

So, where did we spent this past week? Well, on Sunday we travelled down to Nice, France, to a tiny and perfect little one-room apartment (condo?) right smack in the middle of central Nice (it was less than 10 minutes walk to the old town, and not much further to the Promenade des Anglais (the English Promenade). We arrived quite late (for traveling with a three year old) so Sunday was just spent flying down and finding our hotel.

Monday we spent getting to know the area around the hotel. We took the tiny tourist train around the old town and up to the top of a small hill (where there are ruins of an old castle and a cathedral). 

Tuesday we took the bus up to a small village in the mountains called Saint Paul de Vence. While we were walking around, we felt a few, small drops of rain fall, so we decided to find a place to eat. Lucky for us, we got seated at a restaurant with some kind of blinds over our heads, because about ten minutes later the sky opened up and the rain hit heavy on the poor tourists not yet under cover. We got to experience heavy rain, lightning and thunder - I think lightning struck not far from the village on at least one occasion. After a while, our "blinds" couldn't handle any more rain, and the nice people in the restaurant helped to find a table inside for us. We stayed there, enjoying a nice, late lunch, desserts and coffee while the elements finished raging outside. 

Wednesday we spent finishing off looking in the old parts of town, getting some shopping done - and eating a nice dinner out. (Since we were traveling with Mini, there wasn't much romancing and wining & dining at night, seeing as he's usually off to bed around 7PM - but we had breakfast, lunch and dinner out every day.)

Thursday we had a lazy morning before a late breakfast/early lunch on our way to the train station. We took the train from Nice to a place called Biot (Gare Biot was the name of the train station we stopped at). About 200 meters from Gare Biot is a place called Marineland! We had agreed to meet my uncle and two cousins there, and ended up walking through a glass tunnel through a huge aquarium full of sharks and fish twice (!), saw parts of a sea lion show (but Mini got tired of watching them), saw the killer whale show (I love that show - I remember seeing it the last time I was there, which was like, maybe, 15-16 years ago), and eating a lot of ice cream, before saying goodbye to the guys and taking the train back to Nice.

Friday we flew back home to Oslo - and that's a whole long story, but I'm glad I'm not flying Norwegian Airlines anytime soon.. Anyway, it's nice to be home - and tomorrow our extra vacation is over. Mini will go back to kindergarden, and I will start my new job. (Well, more or less same job, but new company..)

Yesterday and today we've spent most of the time relaxing and getting things done - like tidying up in Mini's toys and books, going to the hairdressers, doing some much needed shopping for pants, and having an impulsive playdate with Systeryster and Niece. 

A picture of mommy, made by Mini.

Mini's gotten really good at drawing headswithlegs (hodefotinger) lately, and it's fun to have your portrait presented by him. 

Mini and I, after visiting the hairdressers yesterday.

I've gotten some sewing done lately, and started some projects, but, I'm sorry they're kinda secret - at least for a while longer.. There are two competitions next spring which I'd like to enter, but I can't show you what I'm working on. You'll just have to trust me when I'm saying that I'm actually trying something I've never done before in both of these! (Yea, I'm surprised too..)

Oh, I've also decided to participate on a course too - in knitting! I know how to knit, but this is a new (for me..) stitch and technique, and I figured that for once, I'd like to take a course, and maybe I'll meet some new people too. It's not until the middle of October, but I'm really looking forward to it. It's run by Pickles - maybe I'll meet you there?

***

It's getting fall-ish outside, and I feel the urge to knit.. What are you working on these days? Are you sewing or knitting, or do you prefer to craft in another way?

Ever had that feeling..

Like someone's watching you..?

I had that feeling today.. in the bathroom, of all places. So I looked around (expecting to find a spider.. as usual)..

And found..

...


...


...


...


...

Well, hello there, Rex..

Feels like the first day of school..

Early this summer I did something that I might've thought about before, but didn't quite plan to do for another year or two.. I resigned from my job. I quit. I sent in my notice - and for the past three months I've, well, I guess I've kind of been living (working..) in denial, not quite daring to think or believe what I have done.

But the truth is that after almost seven years I'm feeling like testing new grass might just be a good thing. Seven years.. well, almost seven. I started as a hired-in consultant back in 2006, November 6th, to be precise. And signed the contract for permanent employment on July 1st 2007. I still think of November 2006 as the time I started working in this company, so I'm sticking to that date (I actually wrote stitched there.. would you believe it?). 

Anyway, this is my last week in this company. Four more mornings. Four more buses to catch at 06:24 (or earlier) in the morning. Four more afternoons stressing to get back before the kindergarden closes (or before Mini's the last kid left.. I hate it when that happens..). 

Next week we're off for a little retreat. A little time together, the three of us. But I'll tell you more about that later.

Retro apples? I'm sold!

September 2nd is my first day in the new job. A consultant, again, but with waaaay shorter travel (I think I can walk to the new office in about half the time it takes to take the bus to the current one). It'll be good, I think. I hope. I know a couple of girls there, former co-workers of mine, and we'll all do good.

The first day of school-feeling continues to build. Just look at the new lunch box (green apple), fruit box (red apple) and kitchen accessories (potholders and towel) I found in a shop downtown a couple of weeks ago. I couldn't resist if I tried (not that I tried that hard, haha..).

***
Here's to four more days with some of the most wonderful engineers (and friends) in the world!