Under the tree!

Here is the last of the presents that went under the tree.

Mittens and mug rugs,
and two hats one crocheted and one knitted. Very uninspiring photos, I know!

And that's all for this Christmas!

Christmas swap 2013!

This was my first time in the Secret Santa Christmas Swap held by Chookyblue and Googygirl.
And oh boy what a lot of fun it was, Thank you so very much ladies!
Early in December I got my parcel from Michelle in NZ. Here it is after I had opened the ornament, which was allowed. I love the mitten with the snowman on!

And on Christmas I got to open all this

A beautiful stitchery with bells on and everything, I love it!!
A calender which is all my style, ornaments and Christmas chocolate.
Thank you so very much, Michelle, I love it all!
- - - - -
I sent my gifts to Sandi.
First was the star ornament to be opened at once,
and on Christmas Day she got to open the table runner I had made her.
I'm so glad you liked it, Sandi!

This was a really fun swap, Thanks again all of you!

Merry Christmas / God Jul

                                          I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

For Me, for Christmas

Yes for me, or for my couch.
I wanted to make a lap quilt for Christmas but for once I realised there wasn't time for that and decided on a cushion.

It came together very quick and easy. I started with the middle block with the ornament, you could find it HERE, and then just added fabric to it.
On the back it's closed with a zipper.

I'm very pleased with it and am linking to Ms Midge

About Lucia!

Lucia is traditionally celebrated in Sweden on the 13th of December.

Originally it coincided with the Winter Solstice in the northern hemisphere when it was on the 13th. Early popular belief believed it was a dangerous night, with the animals being able to talk. All Christmas preparations sholuld be finished before this day and was celebrated by eating and drinking some extra. Even the animals was fed a bit more than usual.

The tradition with Lucia as we celebrate it today started around early 1900.
Lucia, with candles in her hair, and her followers singing comes with light when it's the darkest in the year usually offering the people lussekatter and gingerbread biscuits.
Lussekatter is a form of a bun with saffron in it, only eaten around Lucia and Christmas. The buns could be made in a lot of different variations where the lussekatt is the most common.

Lucia!

I know Lucia was on Friday but I never got around to do a post.
I didn't celebrate very much but as usual I found Lucia and her little helper in the cabinet to take out, they will stay with us over the Christmas.

The candle I light every morning, it starts on the 1st of December until the 24th of December. Have to keep an eye on it so it's not lit for to long , wouldn't want to miss out on the next day.
On Friday I also baked Lussekatter and today we had a delicious afternoon tea.

FNWF - December

My Friday Night With Friends I spent on my couch. You could go and see what all the others were doing if you visit Cheryll at Gone Stitchin'.
First I finished these socks for me.

At this time of December I always could use some extra hours in the day. It's not until the beginning of this month I get all the ideas for Christmas presents all made by me.
One year I made 11 hats/beanis for my children, niece and  nephew and their boy/girlfriends.
This year I'm a bit late for that much, but I will make some mittens to put under the tree at least.
So on Friday I crocheted the green mittens, the smaller ones I knitted a few days ago. I do hope they will be used.

This weekend they could certainly have been needed. The weather has been terrible with a storm and a bit of snow. Brrr!

SSCS - parcel received

Today I got my parcel from Michelle in New Zealand!
OMG!!

I'm overwhelmed, not one but four gifts for Christmas day and a pretty card and a very cute ornament, a mitten with a snowman, that will hang in the tree when I put it up on the 23rd.
Thank you so much Michelle!

It's time to sign up for FNWF again, pop over to Cheryll's to sign up you too!
Because who doesn't need to get a few things finished this month!

1st Sunday in advent!

Today has been the first of advent and the first candle has been lit. As always our red pig comes to stay for a month with us, and for every Sunday we light one more of the four candles!

He has lost his tail and some paint but we still love him and the time to come!

Quite some time ago I received a parcel from Peg for being picked in the OPAM drawing one month. Just look at all the goodies she sent me, I felt really spoilt!

A beautiful charm pack, a kit for making a pear pincushion and a card of her own, all wrapped in the green fabric. Thank you so very much, Peg!

Not for the cat in the house!

I started this quilt early this year... and now it's finished right in time to put it under the tree in a few weeks time.
It's for my DD, she's a huge fan of the Cat in the Hat so I think she'll be very pleased with this lap quilt.

 It's extremely windy (and cold) today, so it was hard to get a decent photo of it outside. The only positive was the light!

 Here's one of it inside where it lay where it was put!

Today I'm linking this to Anthea and Christmas Through The Year
which could be found here.

FNSI - November and my MUM's quilt

On Friday night I worked a bit on some hexies and I did some secret sewing for the swap in the Secret Santa Christmas Swap held by Chookyblue.

You could pop over to Wendy's to see what all the others in the FNSI where up to!

Since I don't want to spoil the suprise for my partner in the swap I'm going to show the quilt I made for my Mum earlier this year. As you can see in the photos it was quite some time ago, right now there isn't any leaves left on the trees.

 The wind caught the corner on this one. And here's the other side.

I'm so happy that she loves it. She's showing it to everyone that comes into the house!

For Ho-Ho-Whom will it be?

My first finish for November (that I can show you that is) is a cabled sweater for a small boy. I hope it fits him when the time comes because for now it goes in the Birthday stash. I haven't decided if it's going to be a Christmas gift or a birthday present early next year.
I'm linking this to the Birthday-Love Stash over at Wendy's. Excuse the poor indoor at night taken photo.

Wendy is also hosting the Friday Night Sew-In that takes place tomorrow. Pop over to see who else is taking part and you could join in too!
I'm very eager to be doing some sewing since I've been in bed all week long with a terrible cold and I always get very restless after a couple of days!
Perhaps I'll be seeing you!

FNwF - November

Where does time flies?
November already and this friday I joined Cheryll with all the other lovely ladies in the Friday Night with Friends and actually finished the quilting on my DDs quilt.
Yes, the one she asks about all the time. Sooon it will  be finished to deliver!

After that we went out for tapas at the local inn. Delicious as always!

Tonight I was invited to see a hockeygame at the new dome in town. I haven't been to a game for ages but tonight was quite fun when Växjö Lakers defeated Örebro with 7-0. Yay, way to go!

Oh so late!

It's more than a week and a half since I joined Wendy and all the other lovely ladies in FNSI. More than late to report, I know!
Do you remember the secret sewing I was doing on the night for FNWF a fortnight or even three weeks ago. Actually I was working hard all week and had 19 finishes late at night for the FNSI.

8 larger and 11 smaller pouches to be sold, I sat up very late because I had to finish them before going away early saturday morning to the annual Knit Retreat in Habo held by Anna and Carin.
 I had a wonderful weekend just knitting, chatting and looking at what everyone else was doing, and there was yarn to be purchased, hrmf, well not that much so I haven't taken any photos of it. I actually sold a few pouches, and one dissapeared somewhere (I guess someone needed it badly). The rest of them goes into the birthday stash.
Now it's a whole year till next time!

Happy birthday!

I made a small purse for my niece's 18th birthday. I also put some euros inside for her to spend at her trip to Alicante in Spain. I hope she's having a great time!

I'm linking this to the Birthday Love Stash over at Wendy's!

Friday Night With Friends - October

Yes, I joined Cheryll and all the other lovely ladies in FNWF. Pop over to see who they are and what they were up to last night! I'm doing some secret sewing right now so this is all you're going to see for now!

A lot of cutting which I don't like very much. Soon there will be some more fun in the sewing!


Liv Aagot has a great giveaway, this is what you could win!

She's going all pink in October to get us to think about the Pink Ribbon action! Check out her lovely tablerunner for her daughter!

And I'll end with a photo from earlier this week on my way to work. The water is so low this year!