Little been done....

I'm quite sure all of you have heard about the tragedy in Norway; the car bomb blast in the centre of Oslo and the shooting of teenagers at the Labour Party's annual youth camp on an island just outside Oslo. I've been glued to the TV and reading newspapers since it happened Friday 22nd afternoon. It is difficult to take in the scale of what has happened and over the weekend I have felt kind of numb, unable to do much, thinking of the horror stories from some of those who survived. 76 people died and still people missing after the blast in Oslo as well as at the island...

Rose procession at the City Hall/Oslo - said to be 200 000 people in grief and solidarity.

Photo: Scanpix/Aftenposten

It's so touching to see the carpet of flowers outside Oslo Cathedral, Norwegians and people from other countries showing their solidarity and grieving together with us. I didn't know it was going to be that hard for me to be away from Norway, but I wish I could have been there to add flowers too... With 10000 km/6200 miles apart, that's not possible. 

My heart goes out to the Norwegian people; across the miles, you all are in my thoughts! 

Photo: Eirik Helland Urke/Dagbladet

 

Marked deep into my soul of what has happened, I haven't been able to do much over the weekend. Last week I decided to get a UFO - Easter wall hanging - out from the shelf... I was worried - lol - because it was the umpteenth time I got it out, trying to figure out a solution for the border around the center panel... Since this UFO has been sleeping on the shelf for at least 2 years - or perhaps 3 years - I can't remember exactly, I refused to put it back again! :)

Here's a sneak peak from from the wall hanging's center panel.

 While trying to figure out a border, I worked on a table topper, using the same fabrics. The latter was supposed to be a table runner, but wasn't satisfied after doing the center. Therefore I added fabric to the longest sides and worked it into a table topper. I have left to choose/find backing for both.

I've finished four more mug rugs. Indeed, making mug rugs is addictive! :)

Life goes into normal again and today I started working on something I have wanted to do for a very long time..... More about that in another post! :)

 

Not only bags

I don't think I will be able to make bags only! It's fun! Lots of fun! I have realized I need some quilting projects too for alternation. I'm not working on any specific project right now, but over the last couple of days I have finished hand stitching the binding on several small projects that took up space on my sewing table. I have two shoulder bags to do, but both of them need some 'brain-work'... :)

For the finished projects, I have used the leftover fabrics from the bags I made. I've used all the fabrics, except part of the stripes and panel (single houses used on the mug rugs) are left.

A small tablecloth....

Close-up of the quilting... I even managed to do a small flower on the blue square! :)

A pair of table mats... I tried braiding for the very first time, that is fun!

Close-up...

The quilting... I'm not very steady when it comes to FMQ, but I think it didn't turn out that bad! :))

Another small tablecloth, or perhaps it is small enough to be called table mat...

Close-up. I have not quilted the 'houses'. I haven't done much FMQ, but what I have noticed is it doesn't fit everywhere. If I had done FMQ on the stripe with houses, the houses had 'disappeared' - sort of - unless if I had used transparent thread..  Any comments on that, please?

 ... and not to forget;

 the mug rugs..... :)) Here are six, and I have four more to finish. :)

I'm not sure what I'm going to do next.... There are the two shoulder bags I mentioned, and I have some UFO's... and stitchery....  etc... Guess I'll have to think it over.... :)

Btw... do you want to meet 'Henrietta the 2nd'? Click here... :)

More bags

I really love to make bags. I'm still a newbie and have lots to learn. Since I'm new to it, I find it so challenging. The biggest challenge though, is to get what I need in this country, which is not always easy! Take bag handles i.e., I have checked around and the only one I have found, is a pair of transparent plastic handles... Not exactly what I'm thinking of, when I know there are so many great looking handles 'out there'.....

Well, I should not whine over what I don't get here... I know I'm saying it too often, but that is because it makes me frustrated, especially when I need things for completing a bag or other projects... 

I finished MIL's bag this morning. It doesn't have any 'hardware', hench easy to make. :)

I've used the same pattern as for the other two I made, but as you can see, the colors are different. Inside there is one zipped pocket, two open pockets and a clasp for keys or mobile phone. The bag is trimmed with ric-rac and buttons too.

I've made a small shoulder bag too. It is very simple, with one open inside pocket.

I've already cut fabric for another one, which I'm going to improve a little bit - I hope! I think that's the fun with bag making - at least for a newbie as me - what I have done so far; make one 'original' from the pattern and then make another one, two or three and manipulate the pattern to the better, or should I say my likings?! :)

And.... I'm almost done with a big shopping/market bag! I've left to buy buttons, do the buttonholes and the bottom. Here's a sneak peak...

Gosh! The fabric is not that red!

I thought of a walk to town today, but - brrrr - it's such nasty weather! ....