Birthday, CTS, New Project ect

My birthday came - and went... One year added to my age - should I feel any difference? No, I don't - as long as I'm young at heart... etc. The only difference I have noticed over the years is my body going downhill... No, perhaps I shouldn't say it like that, but - the fact is I have to realize I'm not 20 anymore! :))

I didn't have a birthday party... but I did make a cake!

I have always wanted to make 'black forest' cake, which is a chocolate cake with cherries.

I don't know how many shops I've been to, asking for cherries in sugar syrup (tins), but the only cherries I get here, is frosted (?) cherries, which is not the same! 

On my birthday itself, we went to Curepipe - the town on the plateau. Brr - it was cold up there! We went there because I wanted to have a look for flannel and I had to buy floss for the Christmas tree skirt (CTS). We decided to go to the supermarket there too, and guess what I found?! Yes, cherries in sugar syrup (tins)!!! It wasn't the dark, sour cherries that is used for the cake - but at least it was CHERRIES!!! :)

I didn't fancy decorating the cake as the photo on the recipe. To make the cake layers juicier, I used a mix of the sugar syrup and cocoa liqueur! My gosh it turned out so yummy! I think it's the tastiest cake I've ever made! 

If you'd like to try, here's the recipe. 

NNC craft group is known for its activity. :)) This year I've signed up for the birthday gift exchange, and I received such a wonderful gift from Diane (no blog). 

I'm always worried when parcels go through the custom; I've had some bad experiences where they have not treated parcels very carefully at all! :(

This is how the gifts looked like after they were opened by the custom. To my 'surprise' they did manage to re wrap the gifts, except one - perhaps it was too complicated??!!

Even the card was opened.....

...which I think is to invade ones privacy!

And here - at last - are the lovely gifts I received from Diane;

12,5 inch square ruler, marking pen, some cute charm packs, some precut cat fabrics (I collect cat fabric for a lap quilt) and a darling bell pull! What a gorgeous birthday gift!!!

A close up of the bell pull - isn't it gorgeous?! I love it!

Dear Diane, THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH!!! I love it all! :) And a thank you to Margaret (no blog) at NNC for arranging the birthday gift exchange!

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I've been working on the Christmas tree skirt over the last days. There are 8 blocks (4 of each) to be applique, and here's the third one almost done. I ran out of floss and since none of the craft shops here in town have that specific color, I have to go to the neighbor town...

 

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I think I was sort of bored during the weekend... I've started a new project!!!

I intended not too, but since I didn't have more floss for the CTS, it was too tempting.... For some months a layer cake and jelly roll have been staring at me... I've stared at them too... Perhaps they didn't want to stay in that plastic bag anymore... they wanted to be turned into a project - I guess! :)

These were the first layer cake and jelly roll I've ever bought. I think I bought it more out of curiosity, because I didn't bother that much about the color... What was more important; they were 50% off full price - how to resist?!

The collection is 'Hello Betty' by Chloe's Closet.

On Friday I gave in.....

Here it is - on the kitchen floor. It wasn't easy to place the blocks and sashing, but I'm quite content with this layout. Yesterday I managed to add one row of the blocks together.

I don't like it that much; the colors don't appeal to me.... but I still hope to finish it - not let it turn out to be a UFO!

Split Hourglass quilt & other WIP's

I'm tired of UFO's!!!

After finishing 14 - almost 15 - UFO's since January 1st, I got the urge to do something new. Inspired by Nat and Ria (scroll down) 'Klosjes quilts', I decided to do a 'Split Hourglass" quilt. (Thanks for your inspiration, ladies!) The pattern is from an Australian magazine I received from my dear penfriend Jocelyn (no blog) in New Zealand. I have wanted to do this quilt ever since I received the magazine, but there has always been other projects.

I have used scraps. Such a quilt is perfect for using up scraps. I had to buy the very light blue tone-on-tone background fabric though.

 

The last border and binding are supposed to be dark blue, but that color doesn't suit my quilt. I intend to use a medium blue. I have so many different blues, but 'of course' I don't have enough! I need a little bit more than 1 yard, all blues I have is less than that.  At the moment I hate searching for fabric at the net - terrible slow internet connection - so instead I'm going to see if there is a blue I already have that will be fine, and I'll check if it is still available.

Ragna (no blog) in Norway - if you are reading this post - I'm sure you recognize many of the fabrics! :)) (I received a lot of fabrics from Ragna a few years ago).

OMGosh! I googled 'klosjes', and I'm surprised how popular these blocks are! Take a look at Julia and Karen's blogs... 

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Last year I promised my dear friend Johnny to make a Christmas Tree skirt...

 

I fished out the fabrics yesterday evening. When I had read the instruction, Birre-Liten decided HE needs attention - not the fabrics! :)) He was a bit angry, because DH was late in feeding him his favorite food; boiled sheep liver!

Birre-Liten got tired of waiting, and I cut part of what is needed for the tree skirt.

  

I made the star for the center piece this morning. There's a lot of applique and many small pieces to fit together on the remaining blocks.

This is a pattern from 'Art to Heart'; Star of wonder.

  

My friend Johnny's mum is moving house within a couple of months.

I'm going to make her a lap quilt, using fabrics from the 'Cider Mill Road' collection by Nancy Halvorsen - Art to Heart.