Every Little Thing She Does...

... is Magic!

The Aurifil's Designer of June is Wencke Wolff Hatling from Norway. Police's song was her inspiration to design block called 'Magic Star'.

I was also trying to make some magic by choosing a rare gem for my block's color...

... may I introduce to you

an alexandrite.

Alexandrite is one of the rarest jewel stones. It's specialty is that it can change the color from red to green depending on the available light source. In natural light alexandrite is blue-green, in candle light it's raspberry red. So it's kind of magic stone... Somewhere I read that it increases the capacity to experience the joy in life. And if you hold it close to your heart, it calls love by your side...

Here's all my gem (Aurifil) blocks together...

1. Emerald, 2. Ruby, 3. Amethyst, 4. Yellow diamond, 5. Peridot and 6. Alexandrite

Hmmm... Are they too tame?

Anyway it was fun to make little sewing thing after a break...

I wish you a little magic to your week!

Summertime....

... my enthusiasm for the crafts always fall when the temperature rises.

Of course, summer work has it's own impact on it too... 

Normally I work, when the other people spend their vacations ;o)

which is one really negative aspect of the profession, when you are a garden worker, but...

... fortunately, I no longer need to travel far to be able to enjoy the palm trees and...

... Sahara!

Jotkut lukijani muistanevat / tietänevät, että Kairo meillä täällä Kotkassa jo onkin ;o)

So daily work and this EARLY ? hot summer weather have caused that I have no much to tell about...

Although 'Gentle Art' (May's Vintage Schnibbles) is quilted, the binding is still unfinished.

The lace, which I'm crocheting is now so long that it is enough to two edges of the cloth.

Blaah! I'm sweating!

In Stitch - A - long -group we have a small (summer light) project in June.

It's Little House -pincushion from Natalie Bird's Red Home book.

Hexagons and tiny appliques and stitchings are perfect to take along outside, when it's all too hot to sit inside...

Now it's too hot to drink a cup of hot tea...

... but I want to show you...

... the finished butterfly, pattern by Arne&Carlos.

The pattern and the result was so fun that I would like to do many other butterflies... if I had only time...

By the way it was a present for one special lady and I've heard she liked it;o)

But now the lace is calling me...

I wish you a relaxing Sunday!

Näpertelyä...

... since last time...

I have been tinkering...

with a thicker cotton yarn...

(a butterfly pattern can be found in a book written by Arne & Carlos)

... and with a thinner cotton yarn...

This month 'Gentle Art' is the Vintage schnibbles quilt.

 I sewed and pieced all 25 spool blocks together for the top... but then I had to make - again - decisions! Yes... what kind of borders I would like to have? I think the original pieced border is too restless(?) for my 'Gentle Art'.

But you won't never believe...

this time I got a real mad idea to crochet a border lace myself!

I have no clue, when it will be crocheted... so far 13 tiny pieces is crocheted, what is enough for one border...

And... so that life wouldn't be too easy ;o)...

... after I had sewn the last block of the 2013 Designer Mystery BOM called 'April Showers' (the block pointed by the yellow arrow), I decided not to follow the instructions of the finishing kit.

When I became such a rebel? Or do I only try to be a little too creative...

in a fool way?

Here is the all twelve blocks...

 ... in Fenix's way ;o)

KRR... I had to iron the blocks again!

We wish you a HAPPY WEEK!!!

Some Kind of Wonderful...

... BAG,

designed by Anni Downs...

... is our May's project in Stitch-A-long group.

Guess what? I was so busy bee, that I finished it already yesterday!

... now I have more than a half of the month time to do 'something else'...

 Ups! My SKofW bag is just not the same as Anni's...

I made some changes (= well justified scam tricks?), but I'm very pleased with it ;o) Especially I love the shape of the bag... the bottom of the bag is made with a gusset. Otherwise it's very simple... no inner pockets, no zipper or buttons. I think it's a perfect summer bag!

It's measurements are 10" x 12" x 3".

Ups! Look how a nasty looking cat... left hand!!

Fenix has a bad day... or he does not like that I put that silly collar to him on the bag...

... in reality at this minute he noticed a fly and he prepared to hunt for it!

More beautiful SAL projects you will find here. There you find also my reasoning for those changes.

By the way...

... I have now decided to assemble the border of Mill Girl's quilt like this...

... color arrangement of hour glass units is similar to that of the color wheel.

NOW the question is...

shall I sew them together as shown in the right side...

or as shown at the top...???

Decisions... decisions...

... maybe might be better to do something else...

... with the joys of Spring...

HAPPY WEEK to YOU ALL!!!

'Sparkling' Sunday

***** ?????????? *****

No, I didn't met a man of my life today...

... handsome, nice, funny, rich...

... although clearly I see hearts!

No, I didn't drink sparkling wine today...

... I would have liked to have one glass of...

... although clearly I see bubbles!

No, I didn't also fallen and hit my head today...

... this tale sounds very odd... 

 ... although I clearly see STARS!

... at least three 4" and one 8" Chevron Stars...

After I sewed those four stars, there was still six finished middle parts for the stars left! What's happening here!?!

I got the material for the pinwheels, when I trimmed the corners of the flying geese units. I didn't follow Oh, My Stars tutorial, when I sewed the middle parts of my Chevron stars. I sewed them like an hour glass block... so automatically I had one extra hour glass per star! 

OMG! Six stars more today!?! Are you sure, Satu?This is becoming very star-maniac Sunday!

... and I didn't realize how much time it actually will take... the sewing the points for SIX stars... even though I sew them with quick-piecing method...

Surely this amount of sparkle is enough for today...

... and maybe enough for next week too...

I think I deserve a little pleasure moment now...

 ... nam!

***** Sparkling Sunday *****

One More Time...

HAT Trick!

It's now quilted and binded

 - just in time (= Leijonat start their first match in this year's World Championships) -

Once again I thought the quilting figures for a long time...

... this time I decided to stitch quite densely. Although first I figured that I would stitch along the seams, but after all I'm happy that I practiced a sewing with the Bernina's Stitch Regulator. And I realised that I need much more practising...

'Hat Trick' is 81,5 cm x 81,5 cm (= 32" x 32")

I'm ready!

But the question is, are YOU ready, Leijonat?

Now it starts... the first game, FIN - GER... Here we go!!!

I wish you ALL an exciting Weekend!!!

Rock Around the Clock

Have you ever heard of precious stone called peridot?

I hadn't heard of until yesterday, when I searched for color ideas for my block of the 2013 Aurifil BOM 'Rock Around the Clock' designed by Jackie Kunkel.

Peridot is a gem-like olivine, which color is yellow, to yellow-green or olive-green, to brownish or sometimes  lime-green to emeraldish hue. So I orienteered to the fabric box of green stars...

and I found these fabrics.

Of course I had to find out what kind of power stone qualities it has... 

... peridot opens up new doors, removes the stress, fear and activates personal growth. It also releases old burdens and negative thought patterns.

Hmm... it sounds that I should have it in my pocket...

... but maybe I just admire it in my quilt ;o)

By the way Pat Sloan gives her own tutorial for 'Rock Around the Clock' block here. I cut and sewed the block like she did... but I noticed, that if you cut your HST squares at 4 1/4" x 4 1/4", you will have even more less to trim.

And BY the WAY

 it was very relaxing to visit at Youtube and watch Bill Haley's song!

It's an eternity since the last time I heard that song.

See you soon!!!