A little something for Oslo?.....

Well I'm off to the fair city this weekend and was rather hoping for good weather (well at least dry!) but unfortunately it's not looking too hopeful, but hey, I wouldn't be wearing this little number outside the hotel room anyway!

I made this as a cover up for the beach/pool side sort of jolly actually, but who's to say that it can't be worn in Oslo? .......

The nice idea with a wrapover instead of a kaftan on holiday is that its easier to take on and off when you're feeling hot, as kaftans can leave you in a pickle....well they do me!

Just a little close up to do it some justice - turquiose and pale pink go so well together.

Just need to book a holiday in the sun now!

Skal for Norge!

And a 'Happy Nasjonaldag!' to everyone in Norway today, and what better way to celebrate on Karl Johans Gate than to sing a little song about a Fairytale!!



And congratulations to Alexander Rybak for stomping away with the highest score ever awarded in the Eurovision Song Contest!

Hmmn....well I'm most definitely thinking about being in Oslo next year, especially if it coincides with 17th May, but no matter how much I wish for it, I can't see Morten hosting the competition - oh well!!

But I will have my own little celebration today and will be sporting something red, white and blue!

'SKAL FOR NORGE!'

Mxx

NYT LIVET (Enjoy Life) and other sayings........

I was sitting here just now twiddling my fingers, so I thought "Why not post pictures of the cushions I've made over the last few years?"

As well as sewing and crocheting and knitting, I adore cross stitching and some of these projects have been true labours of love for me.

This one has my motto on it 'NYT LIVET' (Enjoy Life) And why not....we only pass this way once.....

This cushion also has the flags of Norway, the Faroes, Iceland, Denmark and a particular flag of the Shetland Islands, in the colours of the Scottish Saltire, which was created to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the transfer of the Shetlands to Scotland (from the king of Norway and Denmark).

Definitely one of my favourite cushions I think!

For those who know Norway, these will need no introduction, but for those of you who don't these cushions represent the Vestlandet region, which is around Bergen, Stavanger area (West Coast) and the Sorlandet region is Southern Norway and all those beautiful little towns like Grimstad and Lillesand with their white clapboard houses with pretty picket fences (there's a clue to a song here for those who know a particular Norwegian band!)

This one was inspired by a trip to the Sorlandet region back in 2006, and especially when I stayed in Grimstad, with it's pretty little harbour and all the wonderful yachts - there was a nautical theme everywhere. This one was the most labour intensive of all as you can imagine!

And then I decided to make one with a Juletide tema and designing the Selbuvotter mitten was something I particularly enjoyed - aah, if only I could knit them..........

I have made so many personalised ones over the years, with different flags etc, that somebody recently asked if I had one for myself, which I didn't, so I thought it was about time I did own one, and here it is! Once again, I went for a nautical (but some may say military!) flag, with the addition of the Krone.

Hmmn, I wonder who I'm going to make one for next?.......

Ar Svenska Midsommernatt Drom

Hmmn....well I'm hoping that title is correct, as 'Jag talar inte Svenska' however, what I'm trying to say is that I thought this little outfit would be perfect for a summers night sleepover - that's if there really is such a thing as night in the nordic countries at that time of year!



Anyhow, the yellow broderie anglais was soo pretty, that I decided to add pale blue trims and give it a Swedish air!




And finished it off with tiny little bows everywhere!






Hmmn....now I'm wondering when a Norwegian version of this little outfit will appear......probably not long, knowing me! ;-)


'God Natt og Sove Godt!'....well that's how you say i Norsk!


This set is available to buy on Etsy.com

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25553104

Frillies for Flora

My friend Flora saw some of my designs and asked if I would make her one of my 'Boudoir' sets as she loved mine so much. "Yes!" I said "No problem!" and with that I made arrangements for her to come around for a fitting. When she did and we got chatting, I asked her what she taught, as I knew she was a teacher, "Textiles" was her reply.....so then, no pressure I thought to myself!

But this was one of the nicest and fun things I've ever made for anyone, because whilst I always like to make everything to the best of my ability, I felt that I had to go that 'extra mile' with it - and so I took great care to ensure that it was as perfect as I could make it. I decided to use broderie anglais material, as it always lends itself to my Boudoir sets.



The Boudoir wrap looks just as pretty with shorts, a mini skirt or in this case, Flora asked for 'lounge' pants, which, having finished them, I've decided that I must have a pair for myself!

They are finished with pretty cluny lace at the trouser edge and on the waistband.



They're soo slouchy they look wonderful on, but I also convinced Flora to go all out and have a mini skirt as well - and so she did!



The skirt sits slightly higher on the waist than the lounge pants and is finished with cluny lace and little bows!


I'm sure it will put a smile on her husbands face when he sees her in it! ;-)

It's amazing what you can do with a bit of scrap material....

and I love nothing better than seeing what I can dream up with just a small piece of material - have done since I was a little girl when my Mums dressmaker would give me a bag of leftover pieces of fabric and I would be off to create sexy little dresses for my Barbie!!

And so, in my usual way, I bought a piece of embroidered cambric material last year, and made a sweet little pair of shorts to go with one of my 'Boudoir' wraps and enjoyed wearing them here, there and everywhere -

But like always, I kept the leftover scraps and I was recently going through my material box when I came across what was left of the shorts fabric - which was only a metre in the first place, and with that, I came up with this little beach top - to match the shorts, of course!

Thing is, I really enjoyed imagining what this little piece of material would become - and now all I need is some sun to wear them both together!

A blouse fit for a bunad

I've always wanted to try a bunad on but have never gotten up the nerve to go to Heiman Husflid in Oslo, but one day I hope to.

My ancestors came from around the Bergen area, so the bunad for me would be from the Vestlandet region, but I understand that they cost a small fortune, so I'm thinking the nearest I may well get to wearing one is this blouse which I've made as an homage to the traditional blouses women all over Norway wear.

What's so nice about the one I've made here is that the lace panel is made up of pieces of crocheted cotton lace which I have been collecting for many years and comes from all over the world and two pieces of it were from my Grandmother, so they mean a lot to me in particular.

The neckline is elasticated, so it can be worn pulled slightly off the shoulder (not very traditional but nice for the summer perhaps with jeans!) but it does look rather pretty on (even if I do say so myself!)



I decided to put a lace panel at the back of the blouse for more detail



And finished it off with little bows here and there!


Skal for Norge!