Hemmelig (U)Venn / Secret (Not quite)Friend

I participated in a swap on a knitting forum, where your task was to send some of your "notsonice"-yarn to your "victim". This is what I received today.. 
This post will be in Norwegian only..

Da Uformelt-gjengen skulle kjøre en ny runde med Hemmelig (U)Venn fant jeg ut at det var noe jeg kunne melde meg på - og dermed bli kvitt noen av mine (vel, ja) irritasjonsmomenter når det gjelder garnkjøp. Heldigvis (?) ble min HUV kjempeglad for pakken. Jeg regnet med at jeg kom til å få igjen så det holdt - og, jada.. I dag kom pakken min..

 For et herlig (ahem..) utvalg!

Skal vi se.. noen rester Alfa og Easy (ganske alrighte farger).

Et ellers stort utvalg garn i babyull-kvalitet (legg merke til det delikate lakserosa øverst der). Nei, seriøst, en god del av dette her er faktisk veldig anvendelig! (Jeg tenker, barnehageklær.. og dukkeklær?)

Mohair.. auda.. *hosthostatsjohost* Dette skal jeg ærlig innrømme at jeg var forberedt på at lå i pakken - men ikke helt forberedt på hvor krislete halsen min kjentes av det.. o.O

Det var en ansamling bomullsgarn der også - både strikkegarn og heklegarn.

Og noen nøster uten merkelapp.. Hmm..

Norsk Ullgarn, alpakka og blandingsgarn. (Både det grå og det orange er veldig mykt og godt..)

Mange nøster oransj 100% ullgarn, et hespe spelsau (koksgrått), alpakka/silke og et (for meg) ukjent garn (det grønne).

Konklusjon: Mye bra - med potensiale - og en del.. njaha? Å skar'n gjørra med detta da, tru?

Jeg har et par idéer til hva som kan lages av en del av ullgarnet - og kommer nok til å donere bort en del av det andre (til barnehagen, kanskje?). Vi får se hva som skjer (jeg stresser ikke, for å si det mildt).

Somewhere along the line..

The contents of these boxes went from the idea pictured on the boxes, to..

something a little, well, off..

I think we both agree, the pattern is poorly written - and drawn. However, Ms Porcu-bear-pine and Ms Slightly-tipsy-pine are quite charming!

Duplo Lego

Good entertainment for big and small. ^.^

1st finish in 2012

Fresh off the ironing board, here's my first finish in 2012 - a stitchery by Melly & Me, stretched over a canvas. The pattern is from the Stitchery of the Month-club run by Under the Mulberry Tree (the fourth stitchery, but the first one I've managed to complete so far..).

Or, as an alternative, bring out the tequila.

The background fabric is light yellow with tiny white spots (the picture could definetly have been better, but.. it's January, it's 9PM and I'm in Norway..). It's stitched with the lovely raspberry red Cosmo thread. On the back of the canvas I glued on a piece of light green felt, to hide the raw edges of the background fabric - and the draw pins I've used to keep the fabric stretched. On each side I've placed an eye bolt and strung a piece of ribbon through these.

For my first attempt at stretching over canvas, I think it turned out pretty good. ^.^

***
Will be back with some New Year resolutions in a couple of days. It's back to work again tomorrow - too bad, I'm on a roll when it comes to getting crafty things planned/done these days..

Cheers!

I postes this picture on Facebook and Twitter last night. Here's to 2012 - cheers!

Just a few stitches more..

Before Plutt wakes up from his nap. ^.^

Back home - and spoiled..

Well, we're back home again after a few days in Trysil. We spent Christmas Eve with my mom and my sister, our niece and my grandparents, and I think none of us were prepared for the huge piles of presents under the tree! I think my mom was right, we could just as well have thrown out the tree and just placed a star on top of the pile of presents. ^-^

But, we drove down to Oslo again yesterday- Left the cool, clean whiteness of Trysil behind - to.. a wet, green, snowless Oslo.. Just look at the tree in the picture above. Before we left (on December 23rd) there was atleast a little snow around the yard, but now? Nothing. Absolutely nothing..


Luckily, I can sit and admire the gorgeous gifts I received in this year's SSCS! (Thank you, hhttp://chookyblue.blogspot.com, for arranging this again!) This year I was so lucky, I got to send two parcels to two (to me) new bloggers out there. I love the planning and preparations of the SSCS - I think it's even more fun than receiving a parcel (although, that's really exciting and fun too, don't get me wrong). My mom and I both placed our parcels under the Christmas tree, and opened them together with the rest of the family on Christmas Eve (after dinner and dessert).

Look at the gorgeous organiser Narelle made me! It fits perfectly over the side of the couch or the armchair, and included amongst other things, gorgeous embrodery floss and a measuring tape in the shape of a frog. Also in the parcel was a 2012 calendar featuring Australian wildlife and a lovely piece of fabric with both Australian scenery and animals. Thank you so much, Narelle!

The second SSCS parcel I received was from Fiona. She sent me a gorgeous bag, with so many pockets inside I instantly thought that this has to become my quilt guild meeting bag! I think I can fit most anything possibly needed for a meeting the quilt guild in this bag (it's bigger on the inside, I think we might say - one of mye favourite quotes from a brilliant TV-series, btw). And do you see the little guy with the red ears standing in the back there with his nose in the air?

Yes! This cute guy sat in one of the pockets of the bag! I don't have the heart to use him as a pincushion, but he seems to like the Santa next to him, so perhaps he can become his companion? Thank you so much, Fiona!

I took a picture in the mirror so that you can see the size of the bag. I love the colours!

Just before we left for Trysil, a third parcel arrived from Australia. This one took me completely by surprice - it was from Donna! Inside, Donna had included a 2012 calendar with pictures of Australian scenery, some of her own postcards and a notepad (yes, those are her pictures on the cards and the notepad - she is a wonderful photographer!). Thank you so much, Donna!

Christmas just wouldn't be the same without the Secret Santa Christmas Swap. This has been my fifth year participating - and I absolutely love it!

From all of us to all of you..

A Very Merry Christmas!

The Murder before Christmas

Dear Mister (or Miss) Caterpilar, who seemingly lived in our tiny tree..

I am very sorry for flushing you, but 1) this is Norway, in December - e.g. not a very happy place to be for a caterpilar - and 2) we're going away for most of Christmas, so there wouldn't be any one to look after you (or much for you to eat, unless you know how to open the fridge and make yourself a sandwich or something..).

Once again, I am very sorry for flushing you down the toilet - I hope where you end up will be some place better. Hey, look on the bright side, atleast you weren't eaten!


Sincerely,
The Caterpilar Flusher.

Saturday night's knitting

Some Norwegian favourites

Tonight I thought I'd post a couple of my favourite Norwegian (or Scandinavian) Christmas songs. Some you might have heard before - and some might be new for you. It'd be fun if you'd leave a comment if one of the songs/melodies are used for a different song in your country.

First off is a song called Det Lyser i Stille Grender (meaning something like "light shining in silent places"). This is one of my absolute favorites at Christmas times!

And then comes Julekveldsvisa (the Christmas Eve song). It's written by a writer/songwriter who's very known for his tales and songs for children (you might've heard about Mrs Pepperpot?).

Let's see.. Luciasangen (the song for St. Lucia) is also a very pretty one. I'm not quite sure if I prefer it in swedish or norwegian, though - both are beautiful! (But they definetly celebrate St Lucia's day the best in Sweden!)

Let's see.. hmm.. Deilig er Jorden (earth is good?) is also a very pretty song.

***

I'll leave you with another one of my English favourites, one that I (embarrasingly enough) forgot all about when posting my other favourite English Christmas songs. Who's not heard Jiminy Cricket sing When You Wish Upon a Star? It's just not Christmas without it..

Some more favourites..

The third weekend of advent is upon us, and tonight I'd like to share some of my favourite Christmas-y movies. These are (basically) the ones I watch (atleast..) once every year before Christmas. It's a tradition BF and I have, and that I think we'd like to transfer to Plutt (when he's older).

The first movie is one we usually watch some time between Halloween/end of October and Christmas - it's the brilliant masterwork of Tim Burton, The Nightmare Before Christmas. A wonderful stop-motion animated musical.

The second one is one of my all-time favourites (you might remember the title and the song from last week's list of Christmas songs?). If you haven't already seen it, the classic from 1952, then I urge you to do so. White Christmas is just as charming as it would've been back in the days (and the music is spectacular!). Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, do I really need to say more?

The third one is one I think most have seen. I mean, Home Alone, every one's seen it, right? (But it's still hilarious!)

The next one is one of my mom's favourites (well, movies, anyway). I know, I know, Die Hard might not fit the Christmas movie category precisely - but, it's set on Christmas Eve.. that still counts, doesn't it?

Let's see.. there's also National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Hilarious! And I hope none will ever have to experience a Christmas quite like the one in the movie - but, it's a good example to use if things go a little wrong (and you can say well, atleast it didn't go as bad as it did when the Griswalds celebrated Christmas). ;)

The Snowman is another animated Christmas movie that's just incredible well made - and definetly worth seeing, if you should stumble over it.

And finally, it's Shrek the Halls - where Shrek and Fiona are back for a short Christmas adventure. It's entertaining and it's got a few memorable quotes. I really like the Shrek-saga. Gotta love the extended use of references to other movies, music, the cast, etc.

***

I hope you have a wonderful third weekend of Advent, and that you're all getting ready for Christmas. Remember to enjoy yourself, and if everything's not done it'll still be OK. Christmas will come, regardless. ;)

I'm going back to knitting a bolero while watching a concert Linkin Park performed in Russia. The boys are sleeping, so it's mostly quiet here (exect for the neighbours, that is..). Not the worst way to spend a Friday night. :)

Finally!

It's here! ^-^

(Sorry for the poor quality of the pictures, cell phone camera + dark..)

The mailman

The mailman certainly did a good job this week - as in, look at these beautiful and adorable ornaments my Secret Santas sent me for this year's SSCS:

Fiona's adorable ornament.

Narelle's beautiful ornament.

Currently, they are both hanging in our tiny IKEA Christmas tree-bush (about 30 cm/12 inces tall) but some day I'd like to have a "real" (as in bigger) tree again (just, not right now, with young mister Iwannaclimbthat running around the living room, if you know what I mean..).

***

The second Sunday of Advent is tomorrow. Presents are being crossed off the list as we speak (more or less) but I'm still lacking some ideas for some people.. Atleast the gingerbread cookies are done.. 4 pounds/2kg dough. A bit too much, maybe, but they are really yummy! (And a bit untraditional, as we have both cars, santas, gingy's, ninjas, pirate ships and swords, and hedgehodges. Who said you only had to use the traditional cutters?) :D

Some of my favorites..

It's the beginning of the second weekend of Advent, and I've been thinking about Christmas music for some time now. So I decided to take a quick youtube-search and see if I couldn't find some of my favourite Christmas songs (in English today, perhaps I'll find some in Swedish and Norwegian some other time).

So here goes..

Do you remember this one? I was very young when the whole Band Aid first came around, but I remember that this song - and video - was played alot on the TV and on the radio when I was little, and although it's a sad song with an important message, it's just not Christmas without it (apparently, I'm not the only one who thinks so, seeing as it always seem to be on the new Christmas albums coming out every year).

Sticking to the 80's you just cannot get around Wham! Well, this is another one of those songs you just cannot seem to get away from - but it's sweet, and the video is nice (LOTS of snow!). I think every one I know knows the lyrics for this one.

I - to put it simply - absolutely love this song! (Did you ever watch the movie P.S. I love you? If not, watch it! The most hilarious memorial service - with the most unlikely, yet so loved by so many, Christmas-y song ever!

And, last but not least.. What's a list of Christmas songs without Bing Crosby? I've got two favourites.. I couldn't chose one over the other, so I'm just going to list them both.

Another movie you just have to see - if you haven't already seen it.. This man had the most wonderful voice..

And, finally, this one. Two unlikely partners in a duet that's simply out-of-this-world.

***

So, there you have it. These are some of my favourite Christmas songs (in English). What's your favourite Christmas song? Or do you, as I have, have too many to chose from?

1st Sunday in Advent

We're keeping it simple this year - candle holders from IKEA, mushrooms and trees from Søstrene Grene, and an old placemat from Stoff og Stil.

Only three more weeks till Christmas.. well, ok, almost 4. Our Christmas cards are ordered, hopefully they will arrive in a couple of days. Christmas presents? A couple done - several more seem to be a little more complicated this year, but I'm sure we'll think of something.

Still no snow in Oslo.. and about 5 degrees celsius. Strange..

Quiet Sunday

The boys are napping, and I'm cutting gift tags. I think we're going for a walk later on, there are at leser two Christmas fairs om the area - not to mention, the churros-guy is back in town.. ;)

Oh, what do you think of my new piggy bank? Owly bank would perhaps be a better name. :)

I...

..should be in bed - or, atleast on the say there - but I needed a few minutes to calm my mind after this evening's meeting in Tåsen Quiltelag..
My mind is literally buzzing, on the edge of painful, to be honest.
Lucky for me, knitting is quite calming. The knowledge that this project is nearly finished helps too.
A few more minutes, and I think that'll do the trick.

Halloween-venn

In norwegian only..

Happy Halloween, alle sammen! (Selv om det teknisk sett er i morgen..)

Hva synes dere om gresskar-lykten jeg lagde i går? How do you like my pumpkin lantern?

 

Sambo lagde en også, men den var dessverre ikke ferdig da jeg tok bildet i går kveld.. jeg får forsøkte å ta et bilde av begge lyktene i løpet av et par dager. ^.^  

Jeg var til og med så heldig at jeg fikk lov til å åpne en pakke i dag! Via forumet Uformelt var jeg med i en runde hemmelig halloween-venn, og jeg var så utrolig heldig! Bare se på bildet her:

Yup, mobilbilde.. beklager..

 Jeg fikk masse superdeilig luktende te (mmm.. lakris..), to hesper Hifa Hjertegarn (for meg, ukjent, men i en herlig mørkegrønn fage), artige lilla knapper (prøvesmakt - og godkjente - av Plutt), og en hel flokk med halloweenutkledde sjokoladefolk (som lever litt i fare.. de var veldig gode!). 

Nå har jeg litt av et detektivarbeid foran meg, for forutenom at avsenderadressa er i Eikangerfjord og kortet som fulgte med er skrevet på nynorsk, så har jeg ikke så mange hintene å gå ut i fra for å finne riktig person å takke. ;)

Gleder meg til å teste garnet - må bare bestemme meg for om jeg skal smugkikke på mønstre til meg selv eller til Plutt'en.. Hmmm.. *funderer*

Today in pictures, #3

After a nice cup of hot chocolate, sitting by the fire, we walked in the fog and fallen leaves down to Holmenkollen.