Monday, December 22, 2014

Merry Christmas



Christmas is here...



....and family is gathered.
  Children, partners and our lovely Selma, they are all at home.
How lucky we are!

It has been a great year, so much of joy.

A baby in the family, a great adventure in Himalaya to mention some things.

But in the studio it hasn't happened so much.
 Creativity has been good but I have probably chosen to do otherwise than sew.
 I've spent a lot of time to train and work in the garden. 
There is so much that is fun to do, right?

But the most important quilt is finished.

Selmas




Well, I promised you pictures of the finished quilt but I need light!
This time of year it's so hard to take good pictures that shows the colors.

....so here's some details.

We had the darkest day of the year yesterday....so light is coming! 

  

   
I wish you all 

A Merry Christmas and a Happy new Year!

I look forward to another new year visiting your great blogs
 and thanks for your kind comments. 

Margreth


Sunday, December 7, 2014

Hurry up!




Time flies and it's full speed ahead in the studio !!!
 Christmas gifts should be finished and stitches
 are added to  stitches. 
This year we plan to buy fewer Christmas presents and instead be involved in recycling 
and make presents yourself.

 It will be very exciting!

And of course.....Selma, our grandchild, will get her quilt as a Christmas gift.

It's not finished yet...but....soon! 





There's still some work to do... .....applique....embroidery....quilting and ...

Puh........!

I hope to show you the result soon!

Happy Quilting!
Margreth 


Monday, November 10, 2014

Adventure and the Greatest gift

I've come home after three weeks of adventures in Nepal
 and trekking in the Himalaya.
What an experience!
 It's hard to describe the magnificent, breathtaking scenery and pictures only tells part of the truth. 
To experience this together with loved ones makes it even more amazing and what memories to cherish.


I've dreamed of seeing the roof of the world and there it was!
Wow..there is Mount Everest!.




We managed to climb to Mount Everest base camp, 
a great feeling, despite snow and wind that made
 the view  equal to zero.

Yeaaa!



.....and how about this?






There is so much to tell about both experiences and the rich culture but I show just a glimpse for you.


Oh...do you recognize the hats I knitted for us girls?
The tassels looks like tiny clouds :)





Now the greatest gift!
 We have become grandparents!
 Our first grandchild is born.
Welcome little Selma!

The most adorable little baby.

Yes of course.....I'm knitting and planning a quilt!

More about that next post!

Happy quilting!
Grandmum






Monday, September 8, 2014

Around the World Blog Hop


I received an invitation!


Today, I'm participating in the "Round the World blog hop" after being invited by the Swedish quilter Jenny at Tankar om tyg. The whole idea of this hop is to get to meet other bloggers and to learn a little more about one another by answering 4 questions.

 A lovely idea!
 Now it’s my turn to tell you a little about my life as a quilter.

Join me..here are some answers!





1)  What am I working on?

I have for quite a long time been working on a quilt that is a sequel to "Catwalk".
 Catwalk is a quilt that reflects on how the models in the fashion world may look like.
 An image of a female ideal, slim and beautiful. After that quilt it seemed natural to reflect on another feminine ideal, curvy and beautiful.
 And now the top is finished!

 First a look at Catwalk!




Then Curvy ladies...this is the projects name..
I haven't decided if that's the final name of it.


Here is a small gimps of how it's done.
 A very simple drawing....a finished block.
..and all the blocks.  


 

Three hours later the blocks are sewn together....



Now it's time for a really nice job.....decorate with stitches, paint and???
Then quilting!

Now...




2)  How does my work differ from others its genre

I think my signature is that I make my own patterns and designs. Characteristic of some of my quilts is how I build my blocks in a free manner. Each block will be unique and in disproportionate shapes. It makes the quilt more interesting, I think.
 Many of my quilts have houses as a motif. I've always liked houses.
 It's no ordinary houses that I sew, but houses in different shapes and colors to produce a tension and something interesting in the quilt.

In recent years, chairs have become a new motifChairs can look almost anyhow and a very fun and exciting object to interpret in different ways.



Here are some examples of House quilts.


Barns






Colts foot





Red cottages


 .




This is a quilt I made standing up cutting and sewing and cutting again...most fun!
I had a postcard as inspiration.





  Chairs!

There's a lot of different designs!




Let's dance!



Design






3) Why do I write/create what I do?



Sewing is a way of living! ..sort of lifestyle!
 It gives me an outlet for my creativity and desire to create. There is relaxation from everyday life and work. A way to fill up with energy and joy to be able to create something unique. I have always enjoyed working with my hands and preferably with the color, shape and textile materials. It has been with me since I was a child and my mother inspired me.
And a great studio is an inspiration too!






4) How does my writing/creative process work?

. I start making a very simple drawing which I develop as the project progress. I keep trying to find technical solutions how to sew in order to put together a useful block.
 I know what the motive is when I start but rarely how big the quilt will be.
 An exciting way to work!
 Inspiration comes when I’m visiting exhibitions,  reading books and magazines and of course by staying in different environments.
 And don’t forget internet and all lovely blogs! Great inspiration!

 I'm a person who can easily see colors and shapes at any place. It can be a combination of colors that triggers my thoughts and I get pictures in my head. Exercise and movement is important to me. Running, skiing or hiking in the mountains are a source of much inspiration. When I run the brain are released in a fantastic way and pictures of quilts and patterns emerge. Try it! 
Then I have a sketchbook where I make simple drawings and small notes. Absolutely necessary to remember! Then the ideas can lay in a drawer for years before they become a project in progress.

If you want to see more quilts...visit the gallery!



Finally I want to introduce an amazing quilter and blog to you.

Namely Jacquelin and her blog Bind story .
 Look at her amazing quilt Flowering Snowball Quilt at her latest post.
 Jacquelin will write the next post at Around the World Blog Hop next Monday.
 Good luck Jacquelin!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Quilting!
Margreth






Sunday, August 31, 2014

What fun!

It's so much fun and exciting that makes life rich
 and so full of joy. 
 It has been a lovely time lately with hiking and an exciting project that requires a lot of training ahead of me. 

I tell you....

First some glimpse from my time in the mountains.

My daughter with boyfriend and I walked three days in the mountains and we experienced both the storm and bright sunshine. Reindeer, glorious waterfalls and amazing views...mmm lovely



.
The next trip went to the Norwegian and Swedish mountains where I and my husband walked with friends. 
Fantastic hiking .... including a boat trip ....  bear tracks and a dip in a mountain lake.

...mmmmm





But how was it with the challenge ....?????? 
Well ... at the beginning of October I, my daughter with boyfriend and my three siblings go to Nepal to hike in the Himalayas. A journey of 20 days and our goal is the Mount Everest base camp 1.
 A great challenge and sooooo exciting. So then you can understand why a lot of time goes into training and preparation. 

One preparation is to knit......






We need warm hats. 
I've knitted three hats in alpaca wool and tassels made ​​of lamb skin.

 Warm and cuddly!





One for each of the girls in the group .... a gray to Nettan, light blue to Sofie and a yellow to myself.

Now we have at least ..... cute hats! 





I have actually worked a little in the studio too with my project  Curvy ladies, all blocks are finished.
 You'll see in my next post!

Until then..

Happy Quilting!
Margreth

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Astrids quilt


Astrid's quilt is finished. 
She is already four months and my brother's grandchild. 
 We now have four grandchildren in the family and just as many quilts are sewn.
 A very enjoyable task for me! .... 
This time I've chosen a bright color scale that is a little for the girls!
 Maybe not quite ok in a perspective where we want to erase the typical girl and boy roles. But the colors are nice together. :) 




Astrids name in cross stitch. Cute name!






A flower...





Two flowers....






...then a leaf. 






The quilt is machine quilted with leaves and circles.





....the back..


And then.....







Astrids quilt is 29x35 inch and made of two different blocks.
You see which!

And a big, varm hug to Johan, Maja and Astrid!

Happy Quilting!
Margreth


Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Summertime!

Oh yes ... I'm here Louise!
 It's been a while and I do everything except sewing. 
How did  it come to be this way? 
Probably because it's so much fun to do :)
Such as.....





...scraping and painting our summer house....
...swimming in the sea.





.....be with family and friends 
......knit... 
.....wag my toes...





It's summer and what a lovely one!!!!
And .. I do have a quilt going on that soon will be ready ... when the heat wave is over, I sew ... I promise!

Happy summer!
Margreth



Sunday, May 11, 2014

I'm here!!!

Well .. I'm here!

It really was a long time since I wrote a blog entry. What can you possibly do that is more important or enjoyable?
There have been some truly exciting weeks and the studio has been empty.
First of all.....I, my sister and six women had four days in the mountains. Four fantastic days on skis ..... snowy ... windy .... sunny ..... both fantastic and exciting. I met six women I had never met before ... it's a bit special in a situation where you have to stick together in the group, cook and sleep together.
But everything went well and became
 an unforgettable ski trip.





A few days later we went to the summer house on the west coast. There it was as if summer has already arrived. I swam in the sea and lying on sun-warmed rocks.
 Talk about contrasts!!!!
 Ten glorious days with the family.

....and now...back in town..

...... I've opened the door to the studio and started to sew Astrid's quilt.
 A little ''Spring Girl'' is born and need a quilt!





I had no clear picture of pattern or colors ... so I started with a nine block and then continued with another block . 
One thing led to another and the colors start to fall into place. We'll see how it develops ........

Nice to be a quilter again!

Happy Quilting!
Margreth


Sunday, April 6, 2014

A hot trend!

A couple of weeks ago I was in Stockholm and garden fair. There, you could see several trends and one of them was .... growing in what you have in cupboards and storage.
There were grown in tin cans, tires, oil drums and various tubs...just name it!




I found it very inspiring so when I was back home, I was looking out for cans, newspaper and glue. 
Then I dressed the cans with photos in a collage and covered everything with glue.
 I got cans looking pretty neat and absolutely 
with a personal touch.




Some plants, twigs and strings ..... does the trick!



...but can you grow in cars?? 




Obviously......isn't it cool?

Happy Quilting!
Margreth









Sunday, March 30, 2014

Sew corner!

Last weekend I was in Stockholm visiting Vårsalongen på Liljewalchs art museum. An inspiring exhibition that showed a variety of art and expression forms. I was struck by the textile works that were represented more than I had expected. There were embroidered, crocheted, applications and paintings on fabric.

The most impressive work of art was.....! 

''My previous sewing corner''




I could hardly believe my eyes when I discovered that everything ... absolutely everything was covered with embroidery. 
Chair, table, sewing machine, thread roller, shoes, and even the electric plug ..... absolutely fantastic and fun!







It is also a wonderfully well-made pattern .. completely in very tiny cross stitch.




 A masterpiece in my eyes!

The artist is Ulla-Stina Wikander who is engaged in dressing  ordinary things with cross stitch embroidery .

Margreth