Welcome to my corner of the quiltaverse ! I’m so excited to share my passion for quilting with you. Let me introduce myself and give you a little background on how I got started in this wonderful world of fibers and fun fabrics.
I grew up in the picturesque art nouveau town of Ålesund, Norway. Nestled among fjords and mountains, it was the perfect place to cultivate a love for creativity and crafting. From a very young age, I was always drawn to making things with my hands. Picture this: a kindergartener knitting her first scarf for her great-grandma. It was a vibrant piece in red and beige, a little wonky, but it filled me with pride and sparked a lifelong love for crafting (although I don’t think my great-grandma could even fit the scarf around her neck.)
When I was six, with immense help from my mother, Grete, and her sewing machine, I made my first sewing project—a flannel blanket and a bonnet for my beloved My Little Pony toy. Just a couple of years later, I received my very own sewing machine as a Christmas gift. I was over the moon and immediately set to work on new projects.
(The caption reads: «Christmas eve 1988 – I got a sewing machine, and guess if I was happy!» PS: can you spot the patchwork pillow behind me?)
In my early teens, I used to make stuffed animals, doll garments and other handcrafted goods with my neighbour Ann Elisabeth. To make money for more materials, we used to put up a booth at a local market, selling our goods to tourists and locals (and relatives, who sometimes showed up and spent money just to be nice, I guess.) We had a blast – and the experience not only nurtured my crafting skills but also gave me a sense of entrepreneurial spirit.
A significant turning point in my crafting journey came when I was 16. I traveled to Wisconsin, USA, as a foreign exchange student and stayed with a wonderful host family. My host mother, Janine, was an incredibly skilled quilter, and it was under her patient guidance that I made my first quilt—a Farmer’s Daughter quilt. This project was particularly fitting as my host family were dairy farmers living in the charming rural community of Alma, WI. Brian and Janine’s beautiful farmhouse was the perfect place to learn the intricate art of quilting.
(Pin basting since 1996!)
Janine and Brian, my wonderful host mom and dad
While in high school in Wisconsin, I also took a Fiber class, where I had the opportunity to further develop my sewing and quilting skills. This experience deepened my love for quilting and reinforced my desire to continue this craft long after returning home.
Back in Norway, I kept the momentum going, creating several hand-quilted quilts as gifts for family and friends. (Anyone else hand-quilting queen size kaleidoscope quilts for wedding gifts as 23-year-olds? Raise your hand!) Each piece was made with love and care, reflecting the joy I found in the process of quilting. With the exception of my first few quilts, I’d usually never use a pattern. I’d find inspiration in vintage quilts from books, or find some fabrics that would look good together, and wing it from there.
When I became a mother to two wonderful boys, my sewing skills found a new purpose. I began sewing clothing and baby carriers, both for my boys and for sale. This phase of my life allowed me to combine practicality with creativity, crafting items that were both useful and beautiful.
However, life as a full-time working mom with a busy family life doesn’t always allow much time for time-consuming hobbies. As I have a creative career, working as a freelance graphic designer and illustrator, for the last decade my creativity has been focused more on the computer screen than on my sewing machine. I didn’t even realize how much I had missed it until I woke up one morning and just knew I needed more sewing in my life again.
Changing around some of the rooms in our house has allowed me to set up a former bedroom as my dedicated sewing space. This new setup has sparked a fresh wave of creative spirit and enthusiasm for quilting – and a desire to spread the love of fiber arts. I’ve also come to understand that while I myself prefer to make quilts without a pattern, a lot of people actually prefer to use one. And it came to me that my profession actually had provided the skillset I needed to put all the quilts in my head out in the world via patterns. And that’s how Scandiquilts was born!
I find inspiration in the environment around me: The stunning Norwegian nature, cultural heritage, mountains, fjords, and even traditional food (check out the Waffles and jam quilt pattern!) provide endless sources of creativity. Another significant source of inspiration is the Scandinavian design heritage. Many of my family’s everyday objects, such as furniture and tableware, are great examples of this beautiful and functional design tradition.
Now, I am thrilled to launch this blog and connect with fellow quilting enthusiasts from around the world. Through this blog, I hope to share my projects, tips, and inspirations, and perhaps inspire others to pick up a needle and thread. Quilting is not just a hobby for me; it’s a lifelong passion that brings joy, relaxation, and a sense of accomplishment. I look forward to sharing this journey with you and hearing about your own quilting adventures.
Thank you for joining me on this exciting journey. Let’s make some beautiful quilts together!
Warm regards,
