Finishes

News on Peg´s challenge.

I put what I want to finish on the right on my sidebar and now I have done number 1 and 3 on the list.

These are my first stitcheries ever.

This is the pincushion I made for Carin, she was my swap partner in Linda´s pincushion swap.

I also made one for my sister. She is just about to become a quilter :)

Iceland

Today me and my DH went for a drive, here are a few pictures I took. They are all from the part of Iceland that is inside the rectangle on the picture above.

Winner

This was fun, I had a lot of comments telling me about all types of things you knew about Iceland before you began reading my blog. Thank you so much for all the lovely comments, you are so kind.

I am a bit disappointed because I only got one comment from Iceland and that was from my sister, no Icelandic blogger/quilter took the time to join in the game although I see that there is some traffic from Iceland on my blog. But I got you and that is what matters.

I just want to tell you a little about the "cold" here in Iceland. The fact is that probably most of you have more cold during winter than we here in Iceland. Due to the Gulf stream we have never very cold winter days, around 0 down to -10° C, of course it can get colder but not for long. During summer we have around 12° C sometimes higher and often under that down to zero, but over 20° C is very seldom. We can have many types of weather the same day and you can never predict how it is going to be and that is a big problem. You can never plan ahead a party outside in the summer or a trip during winter, the weather might change all those plans. So we are not SO cold but NEVER hot.

Here is what is about the Gulf stream at Wikipedia:

Gulf Stream

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension towards Europe, the North Atlantic Drift, is a powerful, warm, and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico, exits through the Strait of Florida, and follows the eastern coastlines of the United States and Newfoundland before crossing the Atlantic Ocean. At about 30°W, 40°N, it splits in two, with the northern stream crossing to northern Europe and the southern stream recirculating off West Africa. The Gulf Stream influences the climate of the east coast of North America from Florida to Newfoundland, and the west coast of Europe. It is part of the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre.

Many of you mentioned Björk and Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, our hot water, the volcanoes, the Icelandic horse, long summer days and long winter nights and of course Reykjavík our capital city, some of you mentioned things I was surprised that you knew about.

Well at last we have a winner, I used random numbers and...

... the winner is Nadine

This is what I will be sending her, it is an Icelandic pattern with the fabric and napkins with the pattern from our "Lopapeysa" which I have shown you.

I had to draw another winner and number two is...
... Kristie

She will also get an Icelandic pattern with the fabric and napkins.

Then I decided to send a little gift to the woman that is responsible for my blogging and that is of course May Britt, she encouraged me to begin and when I began she advertised it on her blog so I got many, many visitors over from her. Because she is Norwegian we probably have the same ancestors because the first settlers here in Iceland were from Norway. I believe I have some Irish blood also because I have red hair :) As you all know May Britt is always stitching something so I bought her this book about old Icelandic embroidery.

I believe old Norwegian stitcheries are identical to this as our nations are so related.

I participated in Peg´s challenge to finish five before the end of July! This is what I have decided to tackle and then the pincushion in the swap Linda is hosting I haven´t decided on the 5th WISP I hope that is all right with Peg :) You can see the Logo on the right side.

Do you remember these?


Or these?

And my first stichery ever!

Nothing very big, but these are WISP that I would like to finish. I get grumpy when there are many projects laying around that I haven´t finished.

At last I would like to tell you about two awards that I have got.

This one is from Anne Marie

And this one from Laila

Thank you both so much.

One year

ONE YEAR OF BLOGGING

I had been reading blogs for one or two months and admiring all the quilts I saw and the friendship I experienced by reading the comments and the blogs. I really wanted to be a part of this world and began by commenting at May Britt´s blog and she really encouraged me to start my own blog so I took the plunge and haven´t regretted it a minute. I feel I have accomplished more the last year than ever before. It is like being a part of a big quilting guild. I have got to know so many wonderful new friends, especially YOU.

To celebrate this BIG milestone I am going to draw a winner on the 17th of June. To participate you have to tell me TWO (2) things you knew about Iceland BEFORE you began reading my blog, if you are from Iceland (and I dare you lurkers from Iceland to comment) you only have to tell me from where in Iceland you are and if you are a regular reader!

Royal mail

Today I received Royal mail, it was a thick envelope from Karol-Ann. Her DS made these drawings and envelope for me and included playing cards from S-Africa. He is such a cutie.

From Karol-Ann I received all those lovely fabrics and candy

and at last but not least this house block was in that envelope. I had mentioned on her blog that I liked the house block she did with the woman in the door and voila the block is at my doorsteps the next week.
How sweet can a friend be :)

On the 11th of June I will have a 1 year blog anniversary so stay tuned because there will be a small party, not as big as Bren is hosting, but I will think of something and if you haven´t been to Bren´s party I think you should at least take a peak because it is so much fun.