34 Jars of Jam Later...

I was distracted a bit longer than I expected! The price dropped, so I had to buy some more strawberries, and then finding apricots proved difficult, but not impossible. This recipe received rave reviews last year, so I was determined to make it again this year. Between all the cleaning, slicing, boiling, etc., there was also some knitting going on. I love the new Novita yarns, so I'm trying to use up some stash before I buy the new stuff. I did give in and buy one skein of the lakka (cloudberry) already. I love the berry names - there's also puolukka (lingonberry) and mustikka (blueberry). Yum. Need to wait a while until those are ready for jam making...

In the meantime, it's back to the sewing machine. I finished piecing this top today. (Sorry for the blurry photo - I just took it and although there's still some light, it's not exactly midsummer anymore!) I started this quilt nearly three years ago! I'm thinking of doing some very simple quilting - just wavy (oceany) lines across the surface. First, though, I want to quilt the Q4L top that's already basted and to finish a small hand quilted project. Back to work!

Distraction

Back soon with more quilt content!

Three Posts in Two Days?

Yes, folks, it's true. Three posts in two days. Summer at home is a good thing.

I had a great visit today with a crafty friend - look at the lovely crocheted potholder she so generously gave me! You can check out her yarn adventures on her bilingual blog. I have been considering relearning to crochet - and now have two very capable friends to teach me - but the question is: do I really need another addiction hobby?! For now, the answer is no.

I pin-basted the latest red and white quilt today and hope to start quilting it tomorrow, but in the meantime I was inspired to dig out a UFO from three summers ago. It's the Marquee pattern from Modern Quilt Workshop. I had everything cut, so it was easy to get started with it again. I ironed everything today, including the binding. This will actually be the fourth quilt I'll have made from this book (and the one closest to the original pattern!), but I shouldn't count my chickens before they're hatched! Here are the others, especially for folks who haven't been reading my blog since 2006/7 (and for those who fear that I've given up quilting for sock knitting!):

Zipper

Love Beads

Confetti

Group Efforts

A finished top today, but not just by me... This was a group effort for Quilts for Leukemia (more info here). Blocks made by (from the upper left): Tanya in Japan; Joyce in Canada; Sue in the US; Heather in KS, USA; Katherine in Canada; Anne in the UK; Michelle in OK, USA; Caron in MN, USA; Bea in Germany; Anne in the UK; me; and Caron in MN, USA. (Please let me know if these links aren't correct - or if there's one I can add!)

To be totally honest, I think it's a bit busy! If I had it to do again, I'd put in some more white around the original blocks, but hopefully the quilting will help!

Another group effort update - in Irish Quilting Magazine! Back in the fall of 2007 I won a give-away on Kate's blog. A few months later, I wrote to Kate and asked her permission to use the blocks for a doll swap quilt for Sherry. And now the quilt has found its way into the issue #4 of the magazine! Thanks, Kate and Sherry!

Back in Finland

I've been home a week now and have no idea where the time has gone! First, and most importantly, there has actually been sewing! This is just a tease - more to come very soon! (The colors might be a clue...)

When I got home, a great package was waiting for me from a friend who's leaving Damascus after two years. This cross-stitch wall-hanging is incredible. There was also a great apron that hit in just perfectly with my blue zigzag mood back in May!

Finally, I finished up these spiral heel-less socks. I was skeptical at first, but my mom convinced me to give me a try. A bit boring to knit around and around, but they really do fit well!

A Few More Sources of Inspiration

I'm heading back home to Finland this weekend after a nice, but rainy stay in southern Germany. Here are a few more photos I've taken to inspire future quilts. The photo above is from the outside of the newly opened Brandhorst Museum in Munich. (The inside of the museum is even more fabulous than the architecture, especially the room designs for works of Cy Twombly.) Below, two shots from Walhalla, near Regensburg.

There has also been some knitting... (more details on Ravelry)


Looking forward to the light nights awaiting me up north!

Inspiration Sammlung

I'm in German-speaking lands, gathering quilt inspiration (among other activities)! My mom and I were very lucky to spend a day at the Swiss Quilt Festival in Solothurn a week ago. Here's a link to the people's choice winners. Unfortunately, no photos were allowed inside. Here are a few other inspiring photos from my travels: