Nero’s and Hanna’s Christmas Post!

Vof Vof Vof!!! Tomorrow it starts, the Christmas celebration! I have been out and tried to see if Santa is coming …

I wear my Santa hat so he can see me from far away! I asked Hanna to help me and look to the other road – we don’t want to miss Santa.

Nero, do I really need to wear this hat? It’s too big and I have just fixed my hair! Okey, I’ll do my best because I want to meet Santa, too …

Hey, Nero, come here … please help me! Something has stucked to my fur … huge snowflakes … I don’t know if I like this  …

Relax Hanna, I’m here! Everything is fine and we are ready for Christmas party … you see what Santa has already sent to us …

… and we have doggie goodies, too (I ate half of them, but don’t tell Hanna)! Teje has started her traditional Christmas puzzle …

… one sleeve = one star … someone is loosing his shirts, I hope Santa brings him new shirts …

This will be puppie-friendly quilt. Teje said that she uses only strong fabrics because anyway I’m the one who makes the bed every morning. This beautiful design is from Kaffe Fassett. She tries to follow the pattern this time …

Our dear artist friend has made this quilt and she was so kind that she sent her templates to us. Here is her wonderful quilt with her beautiful, sweet puppy …

We have put Christmas lights and cristalls to the windows …

Now we shall go for the last food shopping and then we can just relax and enjoy this magical time! Look,  there he is! I’m sure I saw Santa …

… oh and my hat had felt down! If he didn’t see me? Hey Santa, I’m here and I have been really good boy all the year!

Thank you so much for all your lovely comments and beautiful Christmas cards! We sent our cards three weeks ago but it seems to be that everything we sent that day, has disappeared in the post. We are so sorry if you haven’t received our Christmas cards.

We wish you the most wonderful Christmas time and all the best, health and happiness for the New Year 2013!!! We hope to see you before the new year! Hugs and Kisses!

NERO, HANNA & TEJE

Read Full Post »

CHRISTMAS tutorials and recipes

Hi everyone! Hopefully you don’t have stress with your Christmas schedule and preparations! I haven’t done any so I thought I could share my earlier Christmas makings because there is still one week to bake coocies, make decorations, sew something …

Last two Christmases I have made many needle felted decorations with dog hairs. When I brush Nero and Hanna, I collect the ‘wool’ from the brush. You can make also yarn from that and my mom used to do that. I makes the most warm yarn! But to these balls now …

You know my sweet Golden Retriewer friend London. When I have been taken care of her, I kept some wool to make Christmas decoration to her mom. I made something very simple and natural. Few branches from cypress, ribbon cutted from fleece, paper ‘ribbon’  and paper cord … two woollen balls … almost like snow balls …

I add also very thin metal wire for hanging and if you like you can add beads etc. for extra festive look. Next photos show one that I have made with Nero’s wool and the materials you need (needle for needle felting and those very light balls). You can make also hearts, wreaths etc.

Crochet snowflakes are different project – great one – for those you can find good tutorial from Lucy at ‘attic 24′.

Last year I made little, white Christmas tree which became very famous and loved. It is really cute and easy to make. You can read all the post where I show how I made it HERE.

This year I have been sewing a lot, but not Christmassy things. Last year I made lots of mini-mini quilts, mug rugs, Christmas mats and tutorial how to make them.

One small decoration I made suddenly and with a moment’s inspiration, was this felted cover for candle glass. HERE you can see how easy it is to make.

And then lets start to bake … oh I can smell Christmas … my ‘must’ bakings are Ginger Coocies and Christmas Stars. I do hope I shall make them also this Christmas!

Here you can see the recipe for Christmas coocies and here how to make Christmas Stars.

Oh how I wish I had now those stars with my afternoon coffee! I have bought all the things I need to make them, so perhaps I shall have tomorrow baking day instead of cleaning!

Every Friday I’m happy to join linky parties at ‘Natural Suburbia’ with Linda , ‘Felicity Quilts’ with Felicity and at ‘Wisdom begins with wonder’ with Andrea! Thank you ladies for hosting lovely parties!

When I was looking for these Christmas photos I ran to one with Hanna. I just have show you her sweet face and with this Hanna’s relaxing moment, I wish you wonderful week and do try to relax even I know you are very busy! Thank you so much for visiting my little blog and for leaving always so appreciated and enjoyable comments! See you soon!

TEJE & HANNA

Read Full Post »

FABRIC BOWL process and Christmas links

Hello Dear Friends and Welcome! I’m happy you found a moment to visit us - everyone is so busy these days. I almost gave up with all small projects and started to make a new quilt. I have been thinking to make a quilt as my ’holiday’ sewing. But then standing in my attic and thinking what I could/should do, idea came. Not exactly new but nice. When I said to my father earlier that I made a fabric basket, he said smaller could be for eggs! That sounds cosy – to have our fresh boiled morning eggs in a FABRIC BOWL!

Yesterday I cut pieces for two bowls and I left my sewing table like this as you see in the first photo. Starting in the morning I thought you should see the whole truth, one of my ironing mountains. You see it on left corner? All that is not from the floor! There is a chair under the mountain but on the far left there is an other similar chair. Did I really need to tell this …

Fabric baskets, boxes, bowls look quite simple to make. And they are someway but there are many steps to pass till they are finished. First I have cut the squares from 4 different materials. Then I have quilted the outside pieces, trimmed them again.

Then I sew all the four sides with the bottom piece. I press with iron those seams because later it’s very difficult. Then I sew the sides together. Then there is the lining to be sewn. When those two boxes are ready I cut the binding and pin it on it’s place. I sew the binding this time first from outside and then from inside.  Then I cut three more squares … quilted them … made the binding … to be a mug rug/potholder/plate for the bowl … as you wish …

Both of these fabrics are from Ikea. If you like to see what else I have made with those fabrics, here is the TABLE CLOTH I made in summer and several PLACE MATS made earlier (this post has Nero’s view also).

I was looking my earlier posts to see what I have made with Ikea fabrics and they happened to be with some great Christmas posts – I think you would enjoy them. With red-white fabric I made the ‘Peppermint’ bag and in this same post Nero is having a lesson with his School bag! There I show you also one idea how to hang and show your Christmas cards!

With the same red-white fabric I made a zipper pouch and with green-white-black and other zipper pouch. In this same post Nero features fluffy knitted scarf and I show our Christmas tree, decorations! This post is exactly two years ago and Finland had just celebrated the Indipendense day, as it does again today! Congratulations Finland!!!

Wonderful Christmas things are now every where. MIA from ‘Handmade by Mia’ and PENNY from ‘Planet Penny’ are sharing everyday something Christmassy! They have always so great ideas, beautiful decorations and something to give us lots of inspiration! Don’t loose their Christmas Calendar posts!

Today we have had half day rain and half day less rain, changing every half an hour, a little bit sunny moment between. I was really lucky to be outside with my eggs and mandarins when the sun showed out! Fabric baskets and bowls are great because you can fold them lower if you like. For me this bowl looks more ‘elegant’ and beautiful when it’s not folded …

Today I’m really happy with less colours! White, black and of course a spot or two orange, looks good! Now I go to continue with green and white and later red and white.

You remember the ‘Travellin Pic Stitch’ blog hop  where we made english paper pieceing blocks? Now it’s voting time! My block is in the European linkup and the number is 1 – I do hope so because there are fantastic presents to win! So if you liked my block and post, could you please vote at Laura’s blog  ’Quokka Quilts’ HERE!

Thank you for visiting and writing such a sweet comments! I wish you already wonderful weekend and have fun with your Christmas preparations!

TEJE

Read Full Post »

Boots, Books, Brooch, Basket …

… Barbecue, Butterfly, Beautiful, Pinwheel …  I started to look words to find a name for this post but they were too many! Today all my items starts with B or P! But first I want to wish you the most beautiful December! And now let’s go – with my new boots …

I love this photo! for my surprise this very close up photo came out so well and sharp as you see. I have saved these boots for a while … then I made a block but the idea stopped there …. till yesterday …

Sweet little book with boots – needle book!

And there are the tickets, too! This fabric is Punctuation by ‘American Jane Patterns’ Sandy Klop for modafabrics.com and it’s sooooo goood! This lovely fabric has 4 different green prints in same & blue and orange tickets and boots on the selvage!

Because I finally managed to make this needle book, it was easy to continue with some other special fabrics. What about Moomins? Do you love them?

Here you are ‘Moomin’ pink and sweet needle book. It insisted to become so cute and girlish – I hope I’m not the only one who loves girlish things!

Pink ‘Moomin’ needle book is in MY ETSY SHOP and I have just finished second Moomin needle book with green fabrics. Our friend Mia from ‘Handmade by Mia’ asked what we wish to get from Santa. I said boots and ment real, great boots! So I guess my little boots are on their way to my shop, too.

Butterfly! These crochet butterflies has really got so much attention! I made the red polka-dot zipper pouch and this green was on it’s way. Now finished and in my shop. A while ago I received wonderful e-mail from a sweet lady who asked if I could make some butterflies to her – I was so happy that she didn’t hesitate to ask when she got a lovely idea to use these butterflies on a craft she was making! I haven’t forgot that many of you would like to get pattern for this butterfly. I hope I have time to do it in winter. The pattern is not mine so it’s a little bit difficult issue. I have tried to contact the blogger where I found it, but I think she has stopped her blog.

If you remember I made one fabric basket with written fabric with lovely red checked fabric. Now I have made the smaller one and it’s also in my shop.

And more and more Bees … they are brooch …

I ordered brooch pins from etsy and they came very quickly. So now I have been able to finish some brooch with these pinwheel stars. Also in my shop now …

Did I say any other word with B? Yes, B.B.Q … here your go, fishes from grill two days ago and yesterday we had B.B.Q. with pork chops and ate outside wearing t-shirts! First of December, isn’t that great! Today has still been very warm but too strong wind to sit outside. And you know what they say for the next weekend? Only +7 for us and for more north under zero!

As you can guess, I have seen again lots of fantastic ideas and sewings! Here are few links to give you inspiration:

‘Rainbow Hare Quilts’. Janine has made a beautiful quilt ‘I saw A Fish’!

Beautiful Christmas ornaments made with felt by ‘PurlBee’!

‘Sew French’ has always something inspiring to see! Now it’s a Christmas tree skirt!

I’m linking at Quilt Story’s ‘Fabric Tuesday’!

My garden doesn’t has lots of flowers but now there are beautiful rosies! But for an other B as Beautiful I wanted to show you my beautiful Nero. You see where he enjoys himself?!

Laura’s blog hop with English paper piecing has reached the end and the linky party. ‘Travellin Pic Stitch’ was my first ever blog hop and also I tried first time English paper piecing. Both so much fun – mostly the blog hop! I hope Laura has soon again new great idea as this was and invites me, too! When I crapped the plate with feta and centered it on my block, I didn’t realize that it could be fun; I saw only the colours. I had a good laugh with Laura’s funny words for my feta cheese block!

Time to go … I wonder what you are doing in the beginning of the December? I have made some cards to write and some sewing ideas are waiting in my thoughts, fabrics on my table … and some special fabrics are on their way to me! Can’t wait to show them! Thank you for visiting and for your sweet comments! I hope I inspired many of you to knit and to start to knit! Hugs to all of you from all of us here!

TEJE, NERO, HANNA & NELLI

Read Full Post »

Cats and Boats and Coasters

Hi! I hope you had a great weekend! I met this cutie at the weekend …

We had a lovely lunch with dear friends at the fish restaurant and there are always many kittens around waiting to get their share.

This little girl was special; it had so beautiful fur mixed with some long hairs!

It was still beautiful weather and there were people on the beach … and something else … a sailing boat! We don’t know what has happened to this poor boat!

We were eating under the white roof and on the far left you see the sailing boat. In Marathi there are also lots of fishing boats.

All the morning was sunny and later there came some clouds … still no rain and the warm continues.

Even I’m not fan of sailing (I feel uncomfortable in boats and ships), I like to see boats … it’s fun to read their names … the first one is “My Dream”.

From the sewing table … I have made some coasters and I am preparing also tutorial for these. These are like mini quilts and if you haven’t made any quilt yet, by following my tutorial you can easily learn all the basics. These are made with patchwork blocks …

… and some more with raw edge applique … green/turquoise to match with this tea cosy …

… and of course also in orange to match with orange tea cosy!

And now some great links:

*Janice from ‘Better of Thread’ has made adorable block with Santa’s hat and then she made the most fun and beautiful pillow with four blocks! I love that! And she made also TUTORIAL for the block and pillow! I’m sure you love it, too!

* Faith from ‘Fresh Lemons’ has made fantastic star block and pillow with that! Also here you have TUTORIAL!

* If you like to see my Santa’s Hat block from last Christmas, it’s HERE. I made lots of mini quilts/mug rugs with different pictures. I made also TUTORIAL  for the mini quilt/mug rug.

I hope you find inspiration for your Christmas sewings! I’m still trying to cope with my autumn sewings?! I have had beautiful scene on my sewing table and today I have cut also some ‘written’ fabrics …

Thank you for stopping by and for your lovely comments! Soon it’s my turn at Laura’s Blog Hop with EPP = english paper piecing!

TEJE

Read Full Post »

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!

Vof Vof Vof! It’s me Nero here and I am really happy to see you just before the Christmas!

I have been around in the garden to show you how it looks here in the winter time!

Behind me it looks like this …

… I can see snow up on the ‘White Mountains’ …

… beach is empty …

… in my garden it’s very green …

… yesterday it was raining …

… olive trees …

… rosemary full of tiny flowers …

 … with Nelli we like to sit front of the door …

 … and with Hanna we run to our hill to see if Santa is coming …

I have heard that tomorrow is the big day when Santa Claus begins his trip from Finland. If you look from the window in the evening, you just may see him going from home to home with his big sack full of presents … I wonder if he can be here tomorrow …

Would you like to join me for a Christmas coffee? I made special Christmas cake for you with red whortleberries, brown sugar, youghurt, cinnamon … !

WE WISH YOU MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

LOTS OF HUGS AND KISSES TO ALL OF YOU OUR DEAR, SPECIAL FRIENDS!!!

TEJE, NERO, HANNA, FOXY & NELLI 

Read Full Post »

How to quilt ‘My Dream Quilt’?

Hello and welcome! I hope you are fine and enjoying yourself with all the lovely Christmas things … baking … knitting … sewing …

I have finished the top for my dream quilt … almost … I think I shall add still turquoise border to have exactly the size I want.

… keeping the rows and lines in order …

… something left … in ice cream boxes … more left overs …

I have very big wooden tray from our old restaurant and it is perfect to keep my work in process.

I was so lucky to have still today lovely sunshine to take photos for you! Funny thing is that some water drops felt at this moment … but from where … there were now clouds over me?!

Yesterday I went to ‘my’ local crafty shop and found exactly the right turquoise thread I wanted. This one is from Bolos in Greece. Also this magic marker pen I have found from the same shop. It’s so great for my scrappy works – you just draw and after a while it disappears! That shop is very small but you just can’t imagine how many things they have!

So … I want to start to quilt this during the Christmas days … but HOW? It was so easy with the hexagon quilt – just to follow the lines but with this one I ‘m not sure. I have something in my mind but I don’t know if it’s going to work. I would be really happy if you could help me how to quilt ‘My Dream Quilt’!

I am linking with Heather and Megan at ‘Fabric Tuesday’ - from them I won these beautiful fabrics!

We are doing our best with Nero to get some Christmas feeling. It’s so nice to see your Christmas and winter photos with snow and lots of lights! Have a lovely last days before the Christmas!

TEJE & NERO

Read Full Post »

FELT COVER FOR CANDLE GLASS – tutorial

Hello my Dear Friends!

Today I show you how I made this easy cube from felt. This is very easy and quick project! Don’t worry, you don’t need to felt. This material is not wool but something synthetic and you can buy ready sheets in many colours. I happened to have dark brown and it’s good colour because I got the idea from here …

First I cut 4 squares 4″ x 4″ and then I drew stars and hearts on them …

When you start to cut the figures, you may need small scissors to make the first hole.

After cutting the pieces decorate them by stitching or something else – use your imagination!

When you have the four ‘walls’ finished, sew them together keeping the shape of cube. If you like you can add also bottom to make a box.

I wish I had this material also in white because it would be so beautiful with red stitching and some red wooden beads! Go to see also what my dear Finnish friend Mia has made for her candle glasses! Oh, so beautiful – at ‘HandmadebyMia’!

And here it is ready with the candle glass! I think it’s quite nice! That photo which gave me this idea is from the Country Homes & Interiors. Last week I was lucky to get all these great magazines !

If you like to get new recipes for your Christmas baking, you find my Finnish Christmas coocies from this post, Christmas Stars from here and Finnish cinnamon buns from here! I have add also buttons to my side list for a while. Have fun and enjoy!

Have you ever done paper stars? I haven’t but I like them very much and always wanted to try. Now I found very good tutorial! It’s super simple and easy to follow! Visit ‘Annakata’ to read her tutorial!

I wish you wonderful week with your last Christmas preparations! Enjoy and have fun - no stress!

Thank you for your visit and your sweet comments! See you soon!

TEJE

Read Full Post »

MORE QUILT BLOCKS

Hello and welcome! I hope you are fine and not too busy with all the Christmas things! Once again it is beautiful, sunny day with bright blue sky, but from the weekend we are going to have a cold winter!

I have put aside all the Christmas sewings and I continue to make fish blocks to my dream quilt. Some change has happened and I think I will fix the blocks like this. I like the repeating pattern and to get nice colour change in the edges, I made every second row to swim to the right and every second to the left ( up and down).

This quilt takes much more time than the earlier quilt with hexagons which I made suprisingly quickly. I have made lots of blocks for this but I think I need still quite many. I am hoping to quilt this during the Christmas … we’ll see it that happens.

In the beginning I made also white fishes, but now I’m not sure if I use them with this quilt. Perhaps I make a pillow with them.

If you are sewing, quilting and like to make ornaments with fabric, you should visit this lovely blog ‘No Chicken Spring’! Debbie has made  some really beautiful ornaments using an old quilt! Her idea is fantastic and the result just adorable! I made some experiment with my materials but that didn’t work as I wanted. Next year I will make ornaments like Debbie!

Yesterday I was so happy to receive a letter from my artist friend from Finland! And what I found … an amazing potholder!

Hanna as a sweet girl, was smelling the rosies but Nero were more interested about the potholder. Perhaps he smelled the cocker spaniel, my friend has. That ‘spot’ down left is from Nero’s wet nose.

I love this potholder which I will hang to my kitchen and it will never touch a pot! This is also so great idea – wonderful linen fabric, lovely lace and so cute sheep with her baby!

Do you love to knit scarfs, shawls shawlettes … perhaps you love also mouses?! If so – you need to visit this lovely blog ‘Flowermouse Design! This link goes to the post with scarfs and shawls, but look more around – you will find inspiration!

I have been writing comments like grazy these few last evenings – hoping to win fabris! I wish you Good Luck, if you have done the same! There is still time to enter to the give aways – buttons are up on my sidelist and in my previous post.

I want to thank you for your visits and your sweet and unique comments! You are just so amazing and supporting! Yesterday site views of Nero’s Post reached an unbelievable number 40.000! That looks so wonderful because it means that we have managed with Nero, to give you enjoyable moments! I thank you from my heart and send kisses to all of you and Nero send his big, furry hugs!

Yours TEJE & NERO

PS. I’m not very good in the a kitchen, but this turkey with potatoes and carrots I want to make!!!

Read Full Post »

FOREST MINI QUILT & info

Hello Dear Friends! This is a great Monday – lovely date 12.12. and also very exiting because there is lots of happenings in the blogland …

I made yesterday mini quilt for myself. While doing all those mini quilts, I made also this base with some special patches. Yesterday I thought to clean away Christmas sewings to continue my Dream Quilt and so it was time to finish this.

I didn’t want this one to be only for the Christmas so I made winter in the forest! Those small spots on the trees are cones! Sometimes the snow looks blue because of the winter light, so the snowflakes and the small hill are blue.

… one more thing to my Forest series! I still like very much this ‘Finnish Forest’ quilt and ‘Finn Forest’ pillow! This blanket was the first one I quilted by hand and I made those stitches too tight. But I love the trees, the colours and the log cabin is always so good block! 

I want to tell you that there are so many giveaways going on around the blogland this week! I have add two buttons up on my sidelist. Quilting Gallery celebrates their 4th Birthday with a whole week  blog-hop giveaways! Visit Quilting Gallery’s site to find the list of all the 241 bloggers who are participating!

There is Accuquilt Christmas Theme blog-hop and giveaways! SewCalGal is one of the participating blogs and visiting her blog you can enter to her giveaway for a GO!Baby! and see the list of the participating blogs!

And one more! SewMamaSew is having a traditional giveaway day 12.12! There are many, many blogs participating! I think from this afternoon bloggers can start to add their links to SewMamaSew’s giveaway site.

So this week there will be so many lucky crafters winning fabrics and other sewing supplies! I don’t deny that I do wish I’m one of them and win some fabrics!

Look how our lawn/grass is growing … climbing over the walls! When we made the lawn we added only very small amount these seeds. It is good variety because it’s very strong and covers the ground well and also it spreads too well. But now it starts to be too much!

There are some flowers in the garden -  these little, blue sweeties and rosies – but mostly the garden is now really green!

I think I have to go … I smell something reeeaaalllly gooood …

… applepie is ready! I wish I could send you some!!!

Thank you so much for spending a moment with me and thank you for all those amazing and sweet messages you have send to Nero! He was so so happy to hear how much you liked his photos with the Santa hat and his letter to Santa Claus! Nero is sending his warm hugs to you and I wish you a wonderful week and good luck with all the giveaways!!!

TEJE & NERO

Read Full Post »