NNC Bookmark Exchange 2009

Another exchange done. This time it was a secret partner bookmark exchange, and the organizer was Zarina from NNC. Since it was a secret partner exchange I had no idea who my partner was, which made it more fun. It took some time before I received the parcel due to some postal problems, but it was sorted out. Not even at the Post Office I could guess who my partner was, because my address was printed and there were no sender's name on the envelope. I was so curious I could die!!! :) I rushed home - open the parcel - and my partner was Anna from Malaysia! Here are the two lovely cross-stitched bookmarks she made for me:

This one has my name...

...and this one has lovely flowers shaped as hearts.

Anna was so kind to send some stash too; lovely flowers and red- and green silk ribbons. Thank you so very, very much Anna! I love the bookmarks! Since this is the first bookmark exchange I've joined - I'll treasure the bookmarks even more! :)

My secret partner was Paul. When I signed up for the exchange I already had in mind what kind of bookmarks I wanted to make. It was ages since I had done Hardanger and thought that would be a good idea. Here are the two bookmarks I made. The other one is appliqued.

I really enjoyed the secret partner exchange - and would love to join again. Thanks so much to NNC and Zarina for organizing the exchange!

Rustic Retreat Bed Cover completed

The bed cover is completed! This is what I have been working on the last days. The quilting is done in the ditch around the trees, around the tiny houses, the horizontal- and vertical seams and the binding. For the quilting I used red- and green Madeira thread and brown thread for the binding. The size is 112 x 210cm (44" x 83"). Today I'm working on a tablecloth in the same pattern with the same fabrics. It's for Johnny too! :)

Debbie Mumm designed the pattern as a wall quilt. I had to increase the length - not the width - to make it fit Johnny's four-poster bed. I love Debbie Mumm designs and like working on the fabrics; the colors appeal to me - the feeling of rustic country.

...and here is Johnny's four-poster bed waiting for the bed cover! The bed dates back to the 1890's and belonged to his great grandparents - Louise and Karl - who came to the farm in 1875. Isn't it wonderful to be in possession of such an antique treasure?

I completed something else this weekend; a Hardanger table runner! I found it in a box while I was looking for something else. I had completely forgotten about it and that I had left to do the hem... I stitched (with the sewing machine) around the hem and then cut around it. I can't remember when I started working on it, but I believe it must be more than 10 years ago... Time to complete it - wasn't it?! :)

I've bought myself a birthday gift! The pattern is a combination of stitchery and quilting - and it is done in black and cream! Wonderful! It's not so easy to see on the photo, but the stitchery part shows a family traveling in a horse drawn sleigh through the snowy woods, across the river to grandma's welcoming farm house - hence the name; "Over the River and Through the Woods" - designed by Crabapple Hill Studio.