MIA - or, How to Test Ones Patience



Image from the internet.

 I've been a bit MIA (missing in action) lately, mainly because of our apartment looking like a construction site (well, perhaps not that bad, but..). The old kitchen's been torn out and we've had carpenters, plumbers (and next week an electrician's coming) and stuff going all over the place (the fridge is in our bedroom, stove in the living room, and the freezer box is currently in Mini's room).

Yesterday the last missing pieces were supposed to be delivered (the remainig cupboards and stuff) - yes, you read correct, supposed to.. but, when hubby phoned IKEA, wondering why they hadn't called to set a time for the delivery truck to come, they suddenly informed him that the delivery had been moved three days - so they weren't coming yesterday, but rather on Monday! (Apparently, there's alot of deliveries to be made these days.. well, that sucks, because we'd made our order almost a month ago, and had carpenters that were to come in today (Friday) to get everything done..)

I find it very strange that they didn't even bother to call or email to inform about the change in schedule.. I mean, we'd made plans with everybody (carpenters, electricians, etc) and there was quite a fuzz to have to reschedule those guys too. (Not to mentioned the fact that we've now been without a proper kitchen for more than two weeks.. and I'm getting pretty sick of it all..)

So, should I dare to hope that things will (..finally..) be finished and back in order Tuesday night? Or is that keeping my hopes waaaaay to high?

Blooming.

Due to the late spring in Norway this year, it's taken some time for the grass to turn green and the flowers to bloom. 

I thought I should show you some pictures taken these past few weeks, showing some of the blooming going on.

First off is a bouquet of flowers which arrived on our door a few days ago. Long story short, but I've decided to change jobs, and my new employers sent me this bouquet of bright yellow, happy flowers, welcoming me onboard.  

Flowers from my new employers.

We've been spending some extra time on our walks back from kindergarden, because Plutt wants to pick flowers. He's obsessed with picking dandelions! So when he was busy picking dandelions, I found  some rainwater trapped in these leaves.

Raintrappers?

So for the past week or so there's been a glass of water and dandelions on our living room table. So very charming, Plutt's first flowers.

Dandelions were never more beautiful.

And these guys are finally blooming too! In Norwegian we call them syrin, but I think they're called lilacs in English. On my way to the bus I pass at least two different kinds - light purple and dark purple. I like the smell of the dark purple ones, the lighter ones smell a bit stronger in a way.

Lilacs / syrin.

Plutt and I met this guy on our way back from kindergarden one afternoon. Not quite sure what kind of bird it was, but it looked like it didn't mind us passing by quite close to it.

A bird with a view.

And finally, our pink tree (don't ask me what kind it is.. I have no idea..) bloomed suddenly when the heat came - and just as sudden, it was over and all the pretty pink flowers were gone..

Backyard beauty.

***

Well, this is all for now. I've got some projects that I'm working on, but seeing as I have a couple of days planned to be packed with sewing activities - the summer meeting at the quilting guild, amongst others - I ought to have something to show in a little while. 

Until the, take care!

Sunday baking.. again.

Another Sunday - another batch of cinnamon rolls. Yum! 

Hot coffee

Taking a walk carrying hot coffee is no problem - when you've got the übercool sleeve for your cup (from http://jacobs-quilt.blogspot.com)!!

Looking for advice..

I've got a couple of projects in my mind, but I think I might need a few things before I can start to do more than just thinking about them..

Like something similar to these ones :

Or this :

I think I saw them around (quite a bit) a few years ago, but I don't know where to start searching for them at the moment.. Any ideas?

I'm also looking for tips with regards to a new quilting frame. The one that I've got, I've managed to break one of the fasteneres, so it's not that good anymore. I haven't decided if I'd like a round one or a square one, but would really appreciate your views and advice, if you have any.

Is there such a thing as thinner?

Last Friday I killed some time browsing in one of the shops downtown in Oslo (Husfliden) and came across what I think are the thinnest knitting needles I've ever seen. 1mm needles (European standard) actually reminded me of uncooked spaghetti..

Knitting needles, from size 1mm (European standard).

I didn't buy them, but I'm curious about trying a pair from the same producer. I mean, I've knitted (mainly) with wooden needles (bamboo) for a while now, and these are made of carbon fibre with nickel plated brass tips. (They come in twin tip, single tip and round., and - according to the producer, are ideal for knitting lace/with lace yarn and socks.) The feedback I've read so far gives quite a good review. (But I think the pricing is quite high, even for Norwegian standards.. though, if the quality is good then the price is often worth it.)

I'd love to get first-hand feedback, though.. Has anyone tried these?

Sunday baking.

After spending the day in Popsenteret on a rock concert for children (a band called Rockebandet Plopp) a batch of cinnamon rolls seemed like the perfect way to end the weekend.

Yummy.. cinnamon rolls..

Plutt ate three - I think that's as good as any mark of quality. 

A light in the dark..

I like candles. I like the glow of burning candles, of the spheres of light they provide in the early darkness of dusk or in the close to total black-darkness of the fall. Heck, I like the burning glow of candles in the spring, summer, fall and winter. It's close to the middle of the month of May, and I've lit my candles. 

Hubby's Grandpa Lowell's homemade candlesticks,
with a slight improvement (I've added the glass bowls for the lights).

Greenish retro glass owl.. found it in a store a few weeks ago
- it simply "spoke" to me.. 

Do you light your candles all through the year - or is there a special season which you like to light up with the playful, hopeful glow of the burning flames?

Never leave home without..

A project in your bag. 

Currently knitting in a café, enjoying a double-latte with white chocolate syrup, waiting for hubby to finish at work. Can't remember the last time I was at a café..

Lately..

There hasn't been much going on lately.. Well, some practical jokes going around the office - like the keyboard that met one of the guys when he came back from a trip..

Practical joke going around the office.. Luckily, not my keyboard.

And I got a parcel in the mail last week - some of it's content's going to my mom and Vigdis, and some of it's going to stay with me (I've got plans for how to use it.. just wait and see).

Beautiful shadings of yarn..

The full content of the parcel is pictured below - six balls of Kauni (100% wool) from To Damer. (They're incredible! The parcel arrived almost before I was able to press "submit order".. well, not exactly, but I made the order on Thursday and could pick up the parcel on Monday. Doesn't get much faster than that!)

Back left : two balls Kauni rainbow, one ball offwhite.
Front : two balls Kauni blue-to-black, one ball offwhite-to-light-brown.

The two balls of rainbow Kauni,as I mentioned, are going to Trysil to Vigdis and my mom - the offwhite one I'm thinking of combining with some rainbow that I already have in my stash, and the remaining ones (blue-to-black and offwhite-to-light-brown) I plan to use in a knitted project I'm going to start soon (just need to finish a project or two first..).


I bought a pattern/kit from Katrines when I was in Sarpsborg for the NQF-weekend. The kit included fabric for all three sizes of zipper pouches, one zipper and the pattern. Unfortunetly, the plastic for the front of the pouches was not included, so I had to buy that a while later (didn't notice it was missing until someone told me.. jeeze.. paying attention, much?). Anyway, my experience with sewing with zippers hasn't been all that good (meaning, I've avoided it up until now..) so I thought this was a good way of learning something new.

Started out with the smallest size - and had to restart, I think, four times (!) until I finally got it (more or less) right. Not quite happy with it, but it's still cute..

Tried my hand at the biggest size, and only had to redo one section (which, I guess, means that I learned something from strugglig with the first one). And the third one was a joy to make! Almost perfect, actually.



Zipper pouches! (Or zip locks..)

Unfortunetly, I'll have to take some new pictures, as these ones appear to be slightly out of focus.. not good.. :( But you can see the colours pretty well (and not all the stains on my ironing board - or just how horrible the smallest pouch really is...)

***
Until next time..

More baking from the birthday celebrations.. and knitting inspiration.

Well, there wasn't just lemon cookies served on the celebration of our birthdays, but also apple cake and cupcakes (and swedish chocolate cake, but didn't take a picture of that one this time.. there is one a bit further back on the blog, I think..).

Apple cake, served with vanilla ice cream.. 

Chocolate cup cake with a touch of butter cream
and fondant topping..

This is what a birthday boy, who completely wiped-out,
looks like when he's fallen asleep..

I've been spending some time browsing Ravelry for inspiration and patterns (knitting, mainly) and I wish I had a little less yarn then I have in my stash (easier to shop some more without having the volume of my stash hanging over me..). I even got a book of knitting patterns for my birthday - and found at least three or four items in there I'd love to knit for myself (ego-knitting) but - once again - it would mean buying more yarn. If (that's a really big if, by the way) I'm good, I ought to knit up a few balls of yarn before I start one of these projects (and buy more yarn).. I've made a small start, and knitted a baby vest (size about 0-4 months), but one ball of yarn doesn't really make much of a difference, I'm afraid.. :P

Have you ever checked out Ravelry? It's addictive..


***
I'm spending a couple of days in Trysil this week - it's my Grandfather's funeral tomorrow. It's such a beautiful and sunny late afternoon tonight, and I'm hoping the sun shines tomorrow too.

Here's to a peaceful evening and a beautiful tomorrow.

New toy!

I bought my laptop a few - well, ok, closer to 5.. - years ago, and for the past year it's been somewhat less than portable, seeing as it got overheated when the battery was in (weird..?) so it only worked with the power cable in (making it a sit on the couch-kinda computer). Well, I've been wanting a Mac ever since I went to University, and had my mind more or less set on buying one some time this year. So when hubby saw that there was a we've redecorated our shop-sale in one of the down town stores, lo and be hold a brand new MacBookPro ended up in my lap.

Here it is, still in it's box. 13" MacBookPro.

So far I've only had time to do some basic playing around and changing of settings, but have noticed the new keys and structures of the keyboard that I will have to learn. Lucky for me, hubby's been using a Mac for quite some years, and even uses one at work, so I've got my very own Mac-support at home. ^.^

In the crafting department, I've been working on a stitchery for Christmas, crocheting on a blanket (which is a never-ending-as-long-as-I-have-suitable-stash-&-leftovers kind of project), knitted a kitchen cloth (kopptue, in Norwegian), and sewing mug rugs. I entered a mug rug swap organized by Quilting Gallery back in January, where we received the patterns to make two mug rugs (or inspire, as the colours were to be of our own choosing). I sent my two mug rugs off to Canada in the beginning of March, and finally received mine earlier this week. (Actually, I thought the pattern was soo adorable, I decided to make two of each when I was sending them to my partner, so that I could keep one set for myself.. sneaky, I know.. but now I've got four new mug rugs to use - and I love how different they are!

The mug rugs I received from Ellen.
Don't you just love the colors?

Copies of the ones I sent to Gailene. 

Miniman turned three earlier this week, and had two celebrations that day - first in kindergarden, and then again in the afternoon when his Grandma and Emma came for dinner/a playdate. This weekend we're having a third (and hopefully final..) celebration of his birthday - throwing in a minor celebration of mine too. So tomorrow I'm putting on my apron and will spend most of the day baking. Perhaps you'd like to see the results?

Here's a sneakpeak from Wednesday evening..

Lemon-flavoured cookies.
Yes, dinosaurs, tractors and apples..

***
Until next time.. happy crafting!

Ridiculous.. *rant*

*rant*

The office where I work is just down the road from a pretty big arena (actually a football/soccer stadium, but there's been more concerts and other arrangements than football matches there since it opened) and next week there'll be a series of three concerts.. with Justin Bieber.. (I never thought I'd be writing that name on my blog, but there you have it.)

To make sure these concerts are run smoothly and prevent stupid things to happen (like, people crossing the road or causing mayhem i traffic, etc) fences will be put up along the road, the bus won't be able to stop on the usual stops and traffic will be rearranged from 9AM - and there are even shuttle buses coming in from downtown Oslo (and the surrounding area too, I think) from 12PM. (Seriously, even my office has posted a rather large notice with regards to change in security policies during these three days.)

I'm not quite sure how this will affect me, but I chose to take the more pessimistical approach - and rather be positively surpriced if things do run smoothly - rather than think that none of my business will be affected. I mean, coming to work in the morning won't be much of a problem (I might have to take the bus a couple more stops because it won't be allowed to use the usual stops) - however, I'm more concerned about going home in the afternoon..

Considering the chaos that occured last year, when he held a concert downtown in Oslo, I won't be surpriced if something happens this year too. I'm definetly not going, not for anything in the world, and I am very happy I don't have kids in the Belieber-age..

There's so much good music out there - why do they have to bring that little, annoying guy here..?

*/rant*

Happy Sunday!

From me and my little friend. ^.^

Happy Weekend!

What came first..

The chickens or the eggs?

Dear Gods of Seasons and Weather..

I think you've misunderstood something.. Where's Spring and what did you do to her?!? o.O

Exhibit in Sarpsborg / Annual meeting in NQF

Last weekend was the annual meeting & gathering in NQF (the Norwegian Quilt Association), and this year Sarpsborg was where it all happened (Quality Hotel Sarpsborg, to be precise).

I travelled down by bus Saturday morning and stayed until Sunday afternoon (the weekend kickstarts Friday afternoon and lasts until Sunday afternoon). I hadn't signed up for any courses, but had voulenteered as a Quilt Angel (helper), so spent some hours "working" (it was too much fun to call it work-work) both Saturday and Sunday. Other that that, there were shops visiting (with too many tempting kits, patterns, fabric and notions.. I have a few regrets, and a parcel coming in the mail, but am very happy with what I came home with), people to chat to, coffee to drink (consumed a few cups, yes.. even black coffee - which I normally don't drink) and an exhibit to check out and admire.

I didn't take very many pictures of the quilts in the exhibit, but I know that there are many others who did, so if you're curious to see some of the quilts, please visit Abyquilt. She took many pictures of the diverse and wonderful quilts on display. But! I did get a few shots of my quilts (of course..). So here they are - finally - two of my little (haha..) secrets this past winter :

My version of "Tailfeathers", a pattern by
Cinderberry Stitches.

It's no secret that I absolutely adore the patterns made by the lovely Natalie Lymer/Cinderberry Stitches, so when she made Tailfeathers, I just knew I had to make it. Four (or was it five..?) years ago I finished her BOM Truly Scrumptious, and when Tailfeathers was announced the year after there was very little doubt in my mind. I think I finished most of the stitchery blocks the year before Plutt was born, but then everything went into pause mode, and stayed that way for almost two years. Last summer I finally picked up the blocks again and finished it - and my mom helped me quilt it.

You might notice that there are some parts missing? Well, the missing birds decided that they wanted to be made into a table runner, to match the quilt on the wall, and so they did (you can see a picture of the table runner a few posts down). When birds tweet you these things, you listen. ;-)

My entry in the jubilee competition
(NQF celebrates 25 years this year).

I wanted to make something simple, yet me for the competition, and ended up with a quilt consisting of four "blocks" where I tried to describe my "evolution" (you might call it) as a crafter. I remember one of the first quilts I made, which was with the little Sunbonnet Sue (who didn't start their crafting/quilting careere with SS?). After a few years of buttonhole appliqué, I started playing with hexagons and flowers (I still have a rather big quilt with about 170++ of these flowers). I know that some time after the hexagons came the big wave of stitcheries, and I got completely stuck here. Stitcheries - to me - is what makes me the most relaxed. I know that all I have to do, is follow the line. And you don't need to think. (Well, unless you're stitching with many colours, then it might be good to keep your mind on using the right colours at the right places..)
Both Leanne Beasly and Natalie Lymer are represented in my quilt, as I've been inspired and learned so much from both of them - through both their patterns and from reading their blogs.

Ready for Saturday's big dinner.

Saturday is also when the big festive dinner is held. This year I think there were about 260 of us gathered in a huge hall and being served nice food. (Yes, I did take pictures of the food.. but not sure if you're interested in seeing them.. are you?)

I'll see if I can get pictures of the treasures which followed me home from Sarpsborg.. Not much, I have to be honest, but I'm very happy.

Teambuilding with dinner

Last week the group I work with had a teambuilding (played curling - no photos, sorry but the idea of iPhone + ice didn't sound too good..) and went out for a rather nice dinner afterwards.

We went to a restaurant called Eik Annen Etage, and had a nice dinner. And, as alot of my colleagues did, I took pictures of each dish.

(I think it's a rather new trend here, where people take pictures of the food and post online - either on blogs, Instagram or Facebook. A neat way of advertising, really, and most of the restaurants welcome you to do so.)

Appetizer. Goose paté, I think? (Foie gras?)

Fish on cauliflower mash. Really really good.. (Not pictured : potatoes.)

Veal. Yum..

Cheese, crackers and yam (of passion fruit and apricot).
I'm not a big fan of these types of cheese, but the yam was nice.

Dessert - chocolate icecream with a piece of what tasted like homemade
marshmallow and white chocolate. (I LOVED the orangy-brown plates!)

I've tried curling twice before, and actually think it's rather fun (although I am a bit afraid of falling on the ice.. ice and me go waaaay back, and not in a good way..). I ended up scoring two points for my team, and we ended up on 5th place (of 6 teams..). ^.^

Bakko!

Greetings from the March guild meeting!