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

Kiruna To Umeå

Umeå To Falun

Until next time,
-Soma