Confessions (and some actual sewing)

I've been having an affair.

With knitting.

I don't think it's over.

I finally reintroduced myself to my lovely Bernina after a summer away (and month back home). She is slowly accepting my apologies.

Here's what I have been up to: a hat and two pairs of socks. The hat and first sock pattern are available for free online. I've also joined Ravelry, so maybe I'll see some of you there! I promise not to abandon my blog or the quilting content, though (see below).

I bought this fabulous Marimekko Fiesta one meter remnant yesterday with hopes that it would inspire me to get back to my quilting.

It seems to have worked. (That and the guilt trip my mom gave me on the phone today about having a whole room dedicated to my quilting!) This is what I worked on in that room this evening - the start of one of my two minis for the 6-12" swap for September. I can't claim this birch tree idea as my own - I remember seeing it on a pillow on someone else's blog. I'll have to dig up the link to give credit where credit is due. (Anyone know off hand?)

I've also been teaching. (I've got to support these habits somehow, you know.)

Warning: Quilt Content!

I know, it's shocking that this quilt blog will include some quilt content after all the knitting of late!

I bought this top a few summers ago at an antique place in Winthrop, Maine for about $15. The fabrics seem to range from the 50s to the 60s or maybe even 40s-70s. (Please comment if you have any info about this.) It's in pretty good shape, just a few damaged blocks around the edges. I was thinking of hand-quilting it with perl cotton this winter - any suggestions?

I also received this cute little mini in the mail from Susan (aka Chickenfoot) of the 6"-12'' mini swap, since I haven't received my June quiltlet yet. Thanks so much!

I hope to make my two September minis this weekend - maybe these goodies I received in a care package from my aunt in Florida will be the inspiration. Look at all those beautiful buttons!

Catching Up

I've been pretty remiss in my blogging since my return to Finland a couple of weeks ago. As soon as I got home, I headed out on the road again - to eastern Finland for a peaceful weekend at a friend's uncle's summer cottage very near the Russian border. (That's the sauna, not the cottage - didn't get a good picture of the house, unfortunately.)

Then the next weekend, I celebrated the end of summer (Villaavslutning) near Vaasa at another friend's cottage and this weekend included a (day)trip to Stundars (an outdoor museum about 10 kilometers from Vaasa) for their Fall Market. There I met a very talented blogger, Kajsa, whose blog, Syko, I've been reading for a while now! (That's me holding my neighbor's wiggly new puppy.) I bought some of her beautiful printed postcards and an adorable owl pouch.

I haven't even turned on my sewing machine since my return and have to admit, I've temporarily turned my attention solely to knitting. This was apparent when I tried out Wordle on my blog (knitting is one of the largest words!):

Here is my first pair of socks, along with a hat I'm making using this free pattern. I'm a little afraid it will be too small for me, but I'm keeping my fingers (and yarn) crossed.

I promise to get back to some quilty content soon!