Tuesday 26 June 2012

Norwegian Knowledge (and a quilt question)

An ongoing project that saw light this week is currently known as Norwegian Red.  The main fabric is red, and it did come from Norway, and the quilt top may become a birthday present for a cousin I will see in Norway this  summer, but its name is also a pun - the traditional red paint used for a vast number of homes in Norway is called "English Red"!



These two cottages are owned by family members: the top one is on the West coast, and it was my grandmother's when I was a child, now my cousin's, and the bottom photo is of the boat house at mum's cousin's cottage just off Oslo - this was taken by a cousin at 11:45pm on Mid Summer's Night



Anyway, enough of the lesson, back to 'Norwegian Red'.  This has been stitched into strips, but now I'm not sure where to go next.  I originally planned to arrange the blocks so they were staggered slightly both vertically and horizontally (pic one) but then I quite like the brick effect in pic two (or are the vertical 'morter' sections going to be too fat?)

 Any thoughts much appreciated


14 comments:

  1. It is a lovely, rich red. Eyes instantly go to the staggered photo as more pleasing.

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  2. I vote for the one on the right :o)

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  3. Number 2 I reckon, and the mortar will shrink a bit into seam allowance too x

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  4. I votr for the number 2,right one.

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  5. definately the brick effect - especially since it would add meaning to it!

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  6. Oh yes, I think the bricks look is fabulous, Benta! I think the mortar looks just fine too. Your family cottages are gorgeous! Love the red!

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  7. I rather like the bricks too. I think it shows more of the red fabric. I love the houses in your family!!

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  8. Hi Benta! First, I have sent yesterday your bag!
    I just love those red houses - it's (was) very common also in Finland and at our summer place still the building next to the lake is painted like that. There is the sauna and storage. We call it 'puna multa'. Puna =red and multa=ground. It's amazing how much light there is in the summer even at night and here it's black dark immidiately when the sun is down.
    Difficult to choose for your quilt. I like also very much the brick-design, but also the other one is great ... sorry, can't help.
    x Teje

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  9. I like the one on the left xx

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  10. I so love these beautiful houses - I want to be right there. Anything that reminds you of this lovely place will be fine - the colours are a good match and however you arrange them is sure to turn out perfectly.

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  11. Both lovely, but I'd have to vote for the one on the left as being more visually interesting.....but it really has to be your choice, as you are the one making it!
    Interesting to hear the the colour is 'English Red' - I'd never heard that before!

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  12. I like the staggered bricks on the right and the houses are fab too!!

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  13. Both designs look great, but seeing for a while, the one at left shows a more interesting design, with an "S" line between squares. Also seems slightly a log cabin.

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  14. I know friends in this country refer to the dark red as 'Norwegian Red', but in large parts of Norway it is known as 'Barn Red' as in farming counties most of the barns are painted this red.

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