The child in me still loves Lego Advent calendars and Christmas crackers. I can’t wait to open them and reveal their unknown contents. The pop sound of the Christmas crackers makes me laugh, just like popping bubble wrap. The bad jokes inside the crackers are perfect for head-shaking and groaning!
Every year I think I will make a set of holiday crackers blocks and every year I forget. Not this year! Last week I ignored my other projects, spent a LOT of time drawing Christmas crackers and writing the pattern files. I started sewing them as soon as I was finished with the patterns.
I found these sweater checks leftover fabrics under a pile and thought they resemble paper. The snowflake background fabric was inside the surprise package that my friend Kris sent me couple of months ago.
I played around a little more and came up with a total of eight Christmas cracker quilt patterns. By combining different pieces I can see so many more possibilities. Most of these blocks would be great for fussy cuts.
Each block is 5″ x 10″. They are the perfect size to make Christmas stockings with. I am pretty sure I want to make place mats with mine though.
I had so much fun making them that I already picked out fabrics for another set. I am calling them Holiday Crackers because I didn’t want to stop at making them only for Christmas.
I have also been working on the Sweden photos. Last time I spoke of driving to Stockholm from Falun, which was not a very long drive. As we were having dinner in Stockholm, we decided to visit Uppsala the following morning even though we had no plans for going there originally.
The primary reason for the Uppsala visit was Carolina Rediviva, the university library. The library contains many manuscripts and first editions, some of which were on display. Photography was not allowed, and for once I was happy about that. It gave me a chance to enjoy the papers without fussing about getting good photos of them.
Right around the corner from the library was the towering Uppsala Cathedral. The inside of the cathedral is as impressive and beautiful as the outside. We walked around the cathedral and the beautiful university campus before driving to Gamla Uppsala.
Gamla Uppsala is a short drive away from the University. The path goes through the royal burial mounds.
Panoramic View of the city of Stockholm
Once we were back in Stockholm, we set out to explore the city.
A visit to the Vasamuseet was a must. Although the ship Vasa capsized after travelling only 1422 yards in calm water, the size and the detail carvings on the ship are sure to impress anyone.
Gamla Stan in Stockholm
Afterwards we started walking around the city. I LOVE to walk. I continue to walk every path possible in an old city until I can see my tiredness reflected on my husband’s face, or he just outright rebels against another footstep. I walked so much that day that I had to take painkillers that night.
Next day we drove further southward and at midday, we made a stop at Västervik.
This cluster of tiny red houses were chosen as a location of the film The Bullerby Children written by Astrid Lindgren. They are the cutest little houses I have ever seen in my life.
The day ended at these windmills at Lerkaka. Windmills are strewn about everywhere on the island of Öland. Lerkaka has a cluster of quite a few of them. A couple of them were open for us to go inside and take a peek at the mechanics of the mill. It was a beautiful place to end the day’s journey.
Thank you so much for travelling along with me so far.
Previous Sweden Travel Stories
Until next time,
-Soma
23 thoughts on “Holiday Crackers And More Of Sweden”
Connie December 21, 2015 at 08:48
Beautiful work and thank you again for sharing all the wonderful photos of your trip!
Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts December 16, 2015 at 19:49
I love the picture of that little street in Stockholm….I would love to walk that! Your holiday crackers are adorable – thanks for a great pattern! And thanks for sharing on MCM. :)
Katherine December 16, 2015 at 16:14
Love your holiday crackers – that fabric works perfectly! Lucky for us you wrote a pattern too, thank you for sharing your talents with us.
Wow. Gorgeous photos!
Jennifer December 15, 2015 at 10:50
Your holiday crackers are so pretty. I love all your travel pictures. The ship, cathedral, and windmills are amazing as are all your pictures. Thanks so much for sharing them.
Jayne December 15, 2015 at 08:36
Those crackers are amazing! I’ve never heard of these before, but it sure looks like a lot of crazy fun! Your photos are amazing. Such beautiful sights!
Mary Huey December 15, 2015 at 07:41
Love the Holiday Crackers!! Thanks for getting that idea off your “to-do” list so we can get it onto ours!!
Rebecca Grace December 14, 2015 at 11:46
Thank you for sharing your beautiful pictures of Stockholm! I’ve never been to Scandinavia; that’s definitely on my bucket list since I have Norwegian ancestry. Your Christmas Cracker design came out great, too. I agree; fabric choice is key and the ones you chose really do resemble the decorative wrapping papers.
Cynthia December 12, 2015 at 14:49
Well done on your Christmas Cracker pattern. They are beautiful. When we travel we love to walk and explore as much as we can around where we are staying. You can see so much more on foot, close ups and details you can’t see from a moving vehicle.
Carla December 11, 2015 at 19:34
I long to travel one day and this is making me get itchy feet! Lovely
Lara B. December 11, 2015 at 13:48
Holiday crackers! What a fun pattern Soma! And what beautiful fabrics to use in your first renditions! My father-in-law was very fond of crackers and so we started including them in our Christmas traditions for him. Before that, we always thought they were the type of crackers you eat.
your trip and the places you explored look so exciting. I would have wanted to walk until I dropped too. (Only for me, that is not very far) That was an opportunity not to be wasted. I am very curious about the ship Vasa that sank so quickly and now want to look it up.
Mary December 11, 2015 at 08:24
First of all, the crackers are adorable. Your fabric choices are absolutely perfect.
The photos from Sweden continue to awe me. The detail in your photos is amazing. I know that tired and aching feeling after so much walking. There have been days when my feet burned so badly and my back was killing me – especially on those cobblestone streets! You certainly took advantage of seeing everything you could while you were there. You will have a lifetime of memories.
Kathleen December 10, 2015 at 20:21
Well, I’m revealing a little about myself here . . . first thing I thought of when I saw your Holiday Cracker pattern is what a great wine gift bag they would make!!
Love the picture of the cathedral. Very dramatic.
Wendy December 10, 2015 at 16:28
Your holiday crackers are just perfect! I love the little bows on them, and I think they would suit a placemat or table runner just because it’s at the table that you pull the crackers.
Again, you have impressed me with your visit to Sweden. I like the way you seem to just travel around wherever you want. Beautiful shots of all the places. What an amazing shot of the cathedral! I must put Sweden on my bucket list ;)
Carol December 10, 2015 at 16:00
Beautiful photos and adorable crackers!
Dixie December 10, 2015 at 15:29
Fabalous cracker patterns, Soma!
What a lovely journey you had in and around Stockholm. So much to see and do…good for you two!
Thank you so much for sharing.
I am off to find out more about the “Vasa.”
Janice December 10, 2015 at 15:16
I really enjoyed my travel with you in pictures.
I am sure I will never get to see those sites in person
Janice
krislovesfabric December 10, 2015 at 13:20
What a beautiful trip – love those pictures, especially those little red houses. I thought I would never walk again after going down Bright Angel at the Grand Canyon, my feet were so on fire that night!! So good for you that you set the pace – I think my guys just allow me to hobble behind!! Your Christmas Crackers are beautiful, I have seen them in stores before but I don’t know anything about that tradition- it sounds like fun :) I can’t believe how well you must have used that snowflake fabric, wasn’t it just a fat quarter??!!
Kim Sharman December 10, 2015 at 13:07
Another lovely pattern from your imagination. That fabric is perfect for crackers. I am enjoying this armchair stroll through Sweden and seeing all the wonderful places you have visited.
susie December 10, 2015 at 12:29
What cute Holiday Crackers you have created! The Snowflake fabric is really pretty with the crackers!!
I had never heard of crackers, until my sister Amy had them at her house. She had Canadian guests for the holiday , and had learned of this tradition from her friends.
I love your photos. It makes me want to visit Sweden now!
Susie
Susan December 10, 2015 at 11:25
The crackers are cute. I had never heard of crackers until about 7 years ago when I was playing for a group of Morris dancers and they had them at one of their Christmas parties. I occasionally see them for sale. I am enjoying seeing your pictures and hearing about your trip.
Cheryl December 10, 2015 at 11:20
Very cute patterns! I have never heard about a Lego advent calendar. Both of my kids love Legos, I am going to have to search for one for them next year.
Karen December 10, 2015 at 10:43
beautiful photos – I have never been there so it is a treat to see
mdmdsamm December 10, 2015 at 10:15
Ohhhme too I love crackers..in fact I just got some with a buffalo plaid..this pattern is perfect…so cool….you really are talented…x