Romany Quilting

One more Sleep to go

2012-02-12T15:19:00.002+13:00

Only one more sleep to go before we head “down south”. I’ve made sure that I’d packed my stitching away in the caravan - here it is all rolled up around a cardboard roll. I’ve got several projects traced onto fabric and all ready to go. And to keep everything clean I’ve wrapped it up in one of my fancy UK quilters tea-towels.

All wrapped up and ready to stitch

I’ve traced off the design for a “Herb Farm” cushion for my daughter, a gardening picture for a friend, and just in case I run out of things to do, I’ve added a couple of Red Brolly Christmas designs too. That should keep me busy.

Things to stitch

The South Island is full of wonderful scenery and you can follow our adventures on our Travel Blog www.romanyrambler.blogspot.com

Friday Stitchers get-together

2012-02-11T14:45:00.002+13:00

It’s been a long time since the last monthly Friday Stitchers get-together, so it was good to catch up with everyone again. This is the first meeting of the year, and will be my last for a while, as we heading south on Monday for an extended caravan trip. Seems that most of the ladies have been quite busy over the last couple of months, with several finishes brought along to show everyone. Joyce in particular had been especially busy, and had three quilts to show us. The black and white “Snail Trail” with a touch of red is all finished and ready for her grand-daughter’s wedding.

Snail Trial wedding quilt

Joyce had added a narrow folded inner border in red just inside the binding and this looked particularly effective, we all thought.

A touch of red in the binding

“Through the Cottage Window” was made by Joyce for the challenge at the recent Stonestead outdoor Quilt Festival – unfortunately I was away at the time so never got the chance to attend. Now let me see – that looks like a pussy cat gazing out the cottage window at several quilts hanging on the clothes line! What a clever idea Joyce came up with.

Through the Cottage Window

Anne was busy stitching down the binding on a very colourful house quilt she had made in a class at Thimbles and Threads, with trees of different shapes between the houses. The narrow striped inner border and the spotted outer border add a nice finish to the quilt.

Anne’s House quilt

Another bright and cheery quilt was the cot quilt just completed by Christine. This one is going to a friend for her little grand-son. Here’s more of the great striped fabric, and it works so well as sashing between all those colourful blocks.

Bright and cheery cot quilt

Back to Joyce again and here she is hand quilting her lovely quilt made with lots of New Zealand fabrics. That’s going to be a big job.

Joyce has started hand quilting

There were several other ladies busy chatting and sewing too. Several were working on hexagons, and Judith was stitching down the binding (more stripes) on her glorious blue and white hand quilted masterpiece, while I was working on my last teddy stitchery block. We had a lovely afternoon together, and it turns out that several of us will be enjoying holidays over the next few months. No doubt there will be lots of news to catch up with on my return from our South Island holiday.

Will I have enough?

2012-02-10T10:45:00.002+13:00

We are busy packing up the caravan for our fast approaching “South Island Odyssey” caravan trip, and plan to be away for three months. As I’m known to be a keen P&Qer, friends have asked me if I’m packing my sewing machine too. No, I’m not, as I expect we will be kept busy exploring all those wonderful out-of-the-way places down south. But I have traced off several stitcheries – just hope I’ve have enough. So think of me sitting beside a lake somewhere, or looking out over the coastline, or maybe gazing in awe at one of those fabulous mountains with my stitching in hand!

Also tucked away in my stitching bag is a stack of “rail fence” blocks, made in a variety of New Zealand fabrics and a pale green, together with my trusty Pigma pen. The plan is to write the name of the places we stay on the pale green fabric, and eventually make the blocks up into a memory quilt of our travels.

My travelling rail fence blocks

The tale of the Star Quilt

2012-02-07T17:40:00.002+13:00

Way back in the August 2000 I went to visit my Aunt Win and presented her with a quilt I had just finished. My Aunt had recently sold her home and had moved in to a rest home. Her room decor was rather bland but was carpeted in a pretty shade of blue. Checking my stash, I found a length of Indian striped cotton in blues and burgundy. That would be just right, I thought to myself. As I love stars, it was an easy choice of pattern, and I added a pieced border of half square triangles to finish the quilt off. Aunt Win’s quilt was backed with a soft pale blue floral winceyette (flannel) for extra warmth, and I machine quilted it with simple straight line quilting.

Star quilt for Aunt Win

My Aunt was rather excited to get such a large parcel and eagerly ripped open the paper to see what was inside. “Oh”, she said, “This is the nicest thing anyone has ever made me”. I laid the quilt over her bed and it really made a difference to the look of her bedroom.

Aunt Win with her quilt

Fast forward to late 2011 and I received a telephone call from my cousin. She told me that our Aunt had to change rest homes as she needed more care and couldn’t take the quilt with her. Would I come and collect it please? The quilt was handed over to me and I remarked that it didn’t seem to have been used much. It appeared that the quilt spent most of it’s life folded up and placed in a drawer. Oh dear, now what was I going to do with it? We were travelling north on the way to see my sister and her family and I took the quilt inside with me and related what had happened. My great niece, 12 year old Kate, saw the folded quilt. “Is that for me?’, she asked, “I just love it!” It looked very much like the quilt has found a new home.

Kate and her new quilt

Kate and I did a deal. I took the quilt back home with me for laundering – after all that time hidden away in a drawer the quilt could do with a bit of freshening up. I also added a new quilt label on the back, leaving the original label in place to show the family history. The new label reads: “This quilt is gifted to Kate from her Great Aunt Jenny and her Great-great Aunt Win”. Then I carefully wrapped the quilt and posted it back up to Kate. I’m so pleased that the quilt not only has a new appreciative owner, but also stays in the family. What a great outcome.

Cute teddy stitcheries

2012-02-04T22:52:00.002+13:00

I always pack a bag of hand stitching when we have a caravan weekend away. So far I’ve managed to do a little bit of work on my teddy bear stitcheries. I have a couple more to complete and then these little cuties will be made into gifts later on.

Our time away in the caravan is usually very “full on” so it is nice to take a bit of time to do something more restful.

Fixing up an “oopsie”

2012-02-01T15:26:00.002+13:00

I couldn’t hang my Christmas wreath at Christmas. Why? Because it looked like this! Not a pretty sight at all, I’m sure you will agree. And the reason why it ended up in this state is because Robin was trying to find something or other in the wardrobe in the spare room where it was safely stored, (or so I thought) , and lent on it. Then snap, it broke in two places. I had made this fabric wreath way back in the mists of time when I was quite new to patchwork and quilting, and didn’t even take a note of when it was completed. But I can certainly remember attending the class at my local shop, Thimbles and Threads.

It’s broken

To fix it I needed to purchase a new polystyrene wreath. But of course, after all these years, the wreath I bought wasn’t quite the same, and I wondered if in fact it was a bit fatter. Yes, it certainly was, and I couldn’t slide the fabric onto the cut edge. Luckily my design had a tuck sewn into the top of the fabric to make a small ruffle. Maybe if I unstitch this, I’ll have enough space to slide the wreath fabric on, I reasoned. So I sat out on the back deck yesterday with my trusty seam ripper in my hand to undo the row of stitching.

Let’s hope this works.

Success – there was just enough room for the fabric sausage to slip right over the polystyrene ring. A fellow crafter had suggested earlier that I cut a wedge shaped piece out of the ring giving more room to manoeuvre the fabric. Robin was in charge of finding some suitable glue in his shed to stick the wedge back in place. That done, we left it overnight to for the glue to set.

Ring with the wedge cut out

Today it was a quick job to hand stitch the seam in place and now my Christmas wreath is repaired and will be ready to be hung up next Christmas. And to stop the same fate befalling it yet again, it is packed away in a large “see through” plastic bag. Hopefully that will stop him manhandling my wreath again!

All fixed now

Marshmallows and Roses

2012-01-30T09:57:00.002+13:00

It wasn’t too bad a day for a BBQ yesterday. The wind was a little blustery to start with, and by mid afternoon had dropped right away and the temperatures warmed up considerably. It was a bit of a “bon voyage” get together, with our friends wishing us well on our upcoming “South Island Odyssey Tour”. We supplied the sausages, bread rolls and tasty roast potatoes, and everyone else contributed with salads. One friend brought along a lovely big plate of home made chocolate éclairs, which complemented my Boysenberry Marshmallow Dessert. I’ll share the recipe as it is so easy to make and looks good when you need to a dessert for a pot luck meal. Do try it and let me know what you think.

Boysenberry Marshmallow Dessert

1 dessert spoon gelatine, 1/2 tsp vanilla, 1 pkt soft marshmallows, 1/2 pint whipped cream, 3/4 cup boiling water, 1 tin boysenberries

Dissolve gelatine in boiling water, add vanilla and fruit, and leave to cool. Add marshmallows cut in half. Fold in whipped cream, place in bowl and refrigerate.

Boysenberry Marshmallow Dessert

Our friend Trish (of chocolate éclair fame) brought along a big bunch of roses from her garden. Trish loves her roses and spends a lot of time caring for them, but told us that the rose bushes were getting rather battered about with the incessant wind lately. This mixed bunch of varieties not only look lovely, but have a most delightful scent too.

A beautiful bunch of roses from Trish

Pinestream Quilters 1st meeting of the year

2012-01-27T15:34:00.002+13:00

It seemed a long time since our last quilt club meeting, way back in November, so that probably explains why there was such a happy bunch of quilters all chatting madly together last night. The January meeting is always rather informal and we do not have a speaker for this month. Instead, members have the opportunity to set up stalls to sell their extra quilting goods. Most of us have plenty of these, don’t we, - in fact sometimes we wonder if some of our “stuff” doesn’t get together at night and breed! I shared a table with Jenni F and we laid out our fabric, buttons, orphan blocks and books for members to peruse and hopefully purchase. We didn’t sell everything, but both of us went home with less than we arrived with, so that’s got to be good. I noticed that some of the other tables had smaller pieces of fabric packed up in “grab bags”, and these sold very well.

Then it was time for show and tell, although I must admit that after all this time between meetings there didn’t seem to be an extra lot of quilts on show. Perhaps everyone was away on holidays and didn’t have too much time to spend sewing. These two pretty little quilts were made to be donated to the Neo Natal Ward at Hutt Hospital. Our Pinestream members are very committed and make lots of little quilts for this good cause throughout the year.

Two quilts for the Neo Natal Ward

Sharon brought along her quilt which will be donated to brighten up the Palliative Care Unit of Wellington Hospital. Those cheeky looking cats came in a panel, she told me, and then she carefully pieced all those stripes for the sashings. She completed the quilt with a checkerboard border. What a lovely quilt, and it will surely be most appreciated.

Sharon’s cheeky cat quilt is hospital bound

Another bright and breezy quilt was this one from Anne, full of black and white spots set off with plenty of colour. This was a class from Thimbles and Threads, and it certainly looks like it would have been a lot of fun to make. There’s stars in there, houses, trees and goodness knows what else! Anne’s quilt was machine quilted by Sue B, who always does a great job.

Anne’s fun quilt

Burgundy and cream as a colour scheme always looks good, and Barbara bought along this lovely quilt. Very simple, with log cabin blocks in the corners, and a nice restful colour scheme.

Barbara’s burgundy and cream quilt

Katherine is well known for working with wool, and she brought along three quilts for show and tell. I rather liked this one with the addition of blue crosses stitched behind sheeting, making it look quite ethereal.

Wool and sheeting quilt made by Katherine

So those are the highlights from our January meeting, and as usual it was a great night out. The supper was as delicious as ever, especially the hand made chocolates – I was very restrained and only had one! It was good to catch up with members I hadn’t seen in a while over the Christmas break.

My Hero

2012-01-26T11:16:00.002+13:00

I’m the first to admit that I am not the computer expert in this household, and tend to work on a “need to know” basis. As long as I have the necessary know-how to do the tasks I want to on the computer, I’m happy. All this behind the scenes stuff is too much for me. But then again, I’m not a complete dummy, after all, I do know how to e-mail and write letters, documents and blogs. However I needed Robin’s help recently, as I’m trying hard to get my quilt documentation up to date. There’s no trouble with the more recent projects as the digital photos are stored on the computer and I know how to do that. But I’ve got heaps of old photos that needed scanning and uploading. After being shown several times and failing miserably, I asked Robin to do it for me. We worked as a team, with me running up and down the hallway to place each photo in the scanner, and with him uploading them onto the laptop. Isn’t this new fangled wireless technology wonderful! So Robin is certainly my hero.

Robin busy uploading my quilt photos

Writing up the story behind each quilt is quite a slow process, but I’m getting there. It will take some time to get the whole job done, so I try and do a bit each week, writing then printing off the pages. Luckily, along with the old photos I have kept details of the size of each quilt, and fabric samples as well. I’d forgotten about some of the quilts I had made long ago and given away, so it is a real trip down memory lane.

.Quilt document folder – made by my daughter

Not a single stitch

2012-01-24T14:33:00.002+13:00

We’ve just come home from a long weekend (3 day) caravan rally at Opaki School, Masterton. This is a lovely rural school surrounded by large mature trees, and we noticed a whole lot of scare crows surrounding the school vegetable patch. Most of them seemed to be in quite a state of disarray and were practically falling over, so I imagine they had been on scare crow duty for quite some time. There was fun and entertainment arranged for us campers all weekend, from a Dutch Auction, BBQ meal, and a musical evening too. Then we had morning teas and happy hours every day, so it was certainly all go. The weather ranged from hot and sunny with us sheltering under a shady tree then changed to wet, wild and windy. The forecast promised us some hail as well, but that didn’t eventuate.

One of the scare crows seen at Opaki School

Sadly I didn’t have time to do a single stitch of my hand-work which I had diligently packed in the caravan. . But I did notice one happy camper doing some stitching in the hall, so went over to have a look at what she was working on. She was doing cross stitch, and her pattern had been digitally produced from a family photo, some how or other. I understand that there are computer programmes which can do this.

Am I stitching today now we have returned home? Sadly again, the answer is no. But I’ve done a large load of washing, and will be ironing shortly before the day is out. We’ve unpacked the caravan and cleaned the fridge and bathroom, then vacuumed the floor. What I really need to do is to get my light box out and trace out a couple of stitchery patterns. We have an extra “looooong” caravan trip coming up soon and I must make sure that I have plenty of stitching all prepared for me to work on. There’s sure to be some time in between the travelling and sight seeing when I’ll be able to relax over a bit of hand stitching.

Shirley’s Wild Animal Quilt

2012-01-18T16:42:00.002+13:00

We met up with two other couples, old friends of many years, for lunch yesterday, and surprise, surprise, the other ladies are quilters too. We weren’t always quilters, but as the years moved on, we started quilting, one by one. Shirley had brought along the quilt top she had just completed for us other two quilters to admire. It is a large single sized quilt, and her husband Lewis is completely hidden behind it as he holds it up for the photo shoot.

Shirley and her Wild Animal quilt

This was a “block of the month” quilt and Shirley purchased it from Grandmother’s Garden Quilt Shop in Hamilton. The fabrics supplied were lovely batiks and Shirley enjoyed stitching each block as it was sent out. There was an awful lot of work involved in this quilt as every spot and stripe on the animals is appliquéd onto the body fabric. This will be a gift for her little grand-daughter in Auckland, who is sure to love it for years to come. Shirley did a wonderful job, and as she commented, she now just has to quilt it!

Aunt Dawn

2012-01-17T19:34:00.002+13:00

I had lost touch with my Dad’s side of the family when my parents split up many years ago when I was just 8 years old. My sister Kathleen had been researching the family tree, and after discovering a formerly unknown cousin, the pieces all fitted together and we made contact again several years ago. My aunt wasn’t anything like I had imagined. Everything about her was dainty, from her slight build to her tiny hands and feet. She had grey hair, cut in a fashionable bob, and her eyes twinkled from behind her glasses as she talked. I really wanted to know about my father, as my mother refused to talk about him while we were growing up. “Your Dad really had to grow up early”, Dawn told me. “He left school at 12 to work in a grocer’s shop and as he was bringing home a wage, he really was the man of the house”. Dawn told me that she had often wondered about us two girls over the years, and crocheted us both a lovely woollen rug as a “welcome back into the family” gift.

Crocheted blanket

We called in to see my aunt today and she proudly showed me her sewing area she had set up in the garage - as she doesn’t drive she has plenty of room for her sewing supplies. Dawn loves to potter around on her sewing machine. “Perhaps you’ll be taking up quilting next?” I asked her. “Oh no”, she replied, “I’m couldn’t be a quilter like you”. That’s all right Dawn, I don’t know how to crotchet!

Dawn at her sewing machine

Letters from the Past

2012-01-15T16:36:00.002+13:00

I was sorting through set of drawers in the spare room and came across a whole pile of old letters which I had kept and tucked away. I knew they were there, of course, but it had slipped my mind. So you can imagine just how long it took to sort through them, and then, decide just what I was going to do with them all. Shall I keep them, or toss them out? What did I find? A whole swag of letters from two elderly aunts, one has since passed on and the other one is now in a rest home. There were half a dozen huge epistles sent from my friend in Dunedin. She used to start writing a letter, lose it, find it again weeks later, and just carry on where she left off. I found letters from my sister, and from my son when he left home to go to Uni, and he carried on writing the occasional letter to his Mum when he moved to Auckland. My daughter was a much more prolific letter writer and wrote very regularly when she was a young stay-at-home young mother.

Letters from my son and daughter once they left home

I’ve decided to keep the letters from my two children and have put them away safe and sound in a box. They others I will let go after I have re-read them. So what have I learned from all this tidying up? That the power of a letter is very strong. In these days of e-mails, texts and quick calls, there is nothing like a “real” letter. There is absolute joy of finding a letter from a loved one in the post box, which can be savoured and read again. I decided to sit down and write to my elderly aunt, as her days in the rest home are no doubt very long, and a letter could well brighten her day. I will also write a proper letter to my sister, and my two children instead of making contact by phone or email. Hopefully they will get as much pleasure receiving their mail as I get by putting my thoughts on paper.

Mending, then making Rhubarb Chutney

2012-01-13T17:10:00.001+13:00

It’s just as well that I’m not adverse to a little mending, as it seems to crop up quite frequently in our household. Some of the stitching on a few of the hems on our vertical blinds come apart and the little weights had dropped out. I think that the sun rots the stitching and no doubt the wear and tear of opening and closing does not help at all. It’s a quick enough job to run them through the sewing machine and put a double row of stitching along the hem line. The hardest part is unhooking them from the top track and the little chains that hold them all together at the bottom, and that’s Robin’s job. There, all done, ready to be hung back in place. I expect this to be an ongoing job, as I know I re-stitched the hems on some not so long ago.

Slats from vertical blinds needing re-hemming

With that little job out of the way, it was time to make some chutney. I’d come across a recipe for rhubarb chutney which sounded quite different. Our crop of rhubarb is growing very well, so that’s the main ingredient ready. What else? Onions, brown sugar, vinegar, mustard seeds, mixed spice and ginger – I’ve got all that. The recipe called for sultanas, but not having any I substituted raisins instead, this small change shouldn’t really make much difference, I hope. Everything went into the preserving pan and simmered away for about an hour until the mixture reduced and thickened. The mixture made three jars, and it is rather tasty. It is so satisfying making this sort of thing, and the benefit is that you know exactly what goes into it.

My rhubarb chutney

As there is still quite a lot of rhubarb left, I’m going to try another new recipe. How does rhubarb and orange jam sound? I’ll let you know when I make it.

Unveiled – 200 years of Wedding Fashion

2012-01-12T17:01:00.002+13:00

Like most “girls” I love a good wedding, and love looking at beautiful gowns, veils, and everything else that goes with the most romantic day of any girl’s life. I spent a happy couple of hours at Te Papa Museum, Wellington, wandering around the wonderful collection of wedding gowns, the travelling exhibition from the V & A Museum in London. The entry fee was $15.00 with a concession charge of $13.50 for seniors, (just love those senior prices).

Te Papa Museum

Two gowns were displayed outside of the exhibition and this gown was worn by Lucy Cacroft when she wed James Ferguson in 1914. Made of crepe-de-chine with a flowing lace veil, this gown reflected the trend of wedding dresses inspired by evening wear.

Crepe-de-chine dress from 1914

When Margaret Broadbent married William Arlington in 1955, she wanted a dress with simple lines. This dress was made by the bridal department of Thompson’s Silk Shop in Wellington. How many Wellingtonians used to shop at this fabric shop before it closed down, I wonder?

1955 wedding dress

Photography was not allowed inside the exhibition, as I expected. Such a shame, as the exhibition was full of so many beautiful gowns. So the best I could do was take a quick snap before I handed my entry ticket over.

This way to the wedding gowns

The exhibition was split into ten areas in different time frames from 1800 right through till the early 2000s. “Creating Traditions” told how lace veils were expensive in these times, and bridal caps and bonnets were often an alternative until plain tulle veils became fashionable in the 1830s. Roses and myrtle signified love, and orange blossom was for fertility and virtue, and were used as head dresses and trimmings. A display case showed pretty garters, leather gloves and a lovely silk purse. Silky underwear for the trousseau was in another case, and the fashionable bride made sure that these dainty items had her initials embroidered on them.

The exhibition showed wedding styles from Victorian times, artistic styles from 1900 till 1930s, and gowns from society weddings of the 20s and 30s. Although I was a young woman in the 60s, I’m afraid I wasn’t at all taken with the mini wedding gowns displayed. (What does that say about me, I wonder, perhaps just that I am a romantic at heart). One bride in the war years found a way to beat the ration book. Upholstery fabric was not rationed, so her dress was made of pretty patterned lightweight upholstery fabric, found in the “From Austerity to the New Look”section. Romantic gowns re-appeared in the “Nostalgia, Romance and the Modern Age section of 1970s to 2000s. The last two cases contained gowns from “Celebrity Weddings” and “New Zealand Style”. Check out Te Papa’s blog for photos of the wedding dresses.

News reel footage of royal and society weddings ran continuously in the “Film Area”. All the ladies (and a sprinkling of men) enjoyed watching Charles and Diana, William and Kate, Elizabeth and Phillip, and the Queen Mum and George VI as they posed for the cameras. The exhibition was delightful, and I enjoyed it immensely. Strangely enough, my pick of the gowns was not made for a wedding at all. Known as the “Television Wedding Dress”, it was designed by Barbara Milne and used in TV adverts for Renault's Clio car. It was a beautiful form fitting embroidered lace gown worn with a fine veil. My second choice was a Hartnel designed gown, encrusted with pearls and a huge train, worn by Margaret, Duchess of Argyll at her wedding to Charles Sweeny in 1933. This gown was a bit “over the top” for ordinary mortals, but obviously just the thing for a Duchess to wear, and quite beautiful never the less. Floating home with my head full of all the lovely dresses, I wondered perhaps that I will need a return visit, as there was so much to see and take in. For those who live nearby, or can make the trip to Wellington, do go and see the exhibition, you won’t be disappointed.

The downside of a summery Christmas

2012-01-10T17:20:00.002+13:00

Down here in the Southern Hemisphere we celebrate Christmas in the summer season. No Yule logs and snow for us, but sunshine all the way. We get to enjoy BBQs, days at the beach, and relaxing under the sun umbrella while we sip a cooling drink in the afternoon. So just what is the downside of living in paradise? I don’t want to grizzle but I’ve spent the afternoon melting in the humid conditions while I have taken down the Christmas quilts, and hung the others back in their rightful places. Then I carefully wrapped up my Christmas ornaments, and put them all away in their plastic crates. Then…….I re-hung the photos in their usual places and put the other ornaments back where they belong. All the time hot, damp and dripping in the heat. I’m not a pretty sight, I imagine, with my damp red face. But it’s all done now – although I did notice that my collection of brass is badly in need of a polish. Not today though, I’m just too darn hot!

Family photo back on the wall, sister Kathleen with me on the right

I’ve got Mail

2012-01-09T14:36:00.002+13:00

Don’t know where the Post Office has been hiding my Christmas parcel sent by Carol in South Dakota, but it finally arrived today. What a lovely surprise it is to get a parcel of goodies through the mail. And a nice long letter too, so it was good to catch up with Carol’s news. We have been pen friends for quite a few years now. My gift was wrapped in some pretty black floral fabric with gold highlights, only a fellow quilter would think of using fabric to wrap the gift in. Now, what’s this inside?

From my quilting friend Carol

The pretty little purse has fancy stitches down the white stripes with pastel variegated thread. It is a handy size to put some of my sewing bits and pieces in. And the orange flower brooch was a real surprise. Closer inspection revealed that it had been made from a zip, carefully rolled in the middle, then folded to make the flower petals – what a clever idea. Thanks so much, Carol.

It’s been a good year

2012-01-08T15:54:00.002+13:00

I’ve been checking back, and can proudly announce that 2011 was a reasonably productive sewing year for me.

I’ve made two large bed quilts for family members – a burgundy and cream cobblestone quilt for my niece Lisa’s belated 40th birthday, and a shaggy floral quilt to celebrate 50 years of marriage for my sister Kathleen and her husband. Then another shaggy lap quilt for a friend who had a major health scare.

“Remembering Graeme” was a wall quilt made for my friend Kathryn using pieces of Graeme’s shirts and ties and other various items. I also made a table runner for Kathryn utilising some lovely silky paisley fabric from Graeme’s dressing gown. And for another friend who collects buttons I stitched a cushion featuring a jar of buttons.

Smaller items included two table runners, and a padded book cover. Then there was the tablecloth made from a collection of New Zealand fabrics, and my library bag makeover with stitchery panels.

I did quite well with Christmas projects this year, and started off early last January when I made my second Rudolf the Reindeer stocking, just so Robin and I could have one each. Later in the year I stitched a set of six Christmas placemats for my daughter, then another two for us to use in the caravan. The two Snowman felt gift bags were fun to stitch for my grand-daughters, I also rather enjoyed making my “Tree of Christmas Cheer” with it’s stitchery panel.

Knitting also featured last year – a black and white scarf for a birthday gift, and I finally completed the edging on a knitted baby blanket, which I will tuck away till needed by a new arrival.

I’m also quite proud of making plum jam, grape jelly, kiwifruit jam, and lemon honey during the year.

And for the book readers out there, for the first time ever I kept a list of books read during the year, a grand total of 68 books. 28 were thrillers with James Patterson and Lee Child figuring prominently amongst my favourite authors. The balance is made of of biographies, animal stories, quilting books, history and cookbooks.

With quilt club meetings, stitching groups and my monthly book club meetings, it’s certainly been an interesting year. And for 2012, there are still quite a few UFOs hanging about waiting for me to be getting on with!

One of my many UFOs

Home again

2012-01-05T17:21:00.002+13:00

Here we are home again after a lovely Christmas/New Year break in sunny Carterton. The weather was just as it should be during this time of year, hot and sunny. I’ll admit to a couple of rather wet and soggy days, but it seems that the whole country suffered with the rain, and some places were really hard hit. On arriving home we saw something strange in the hall way. “What’s that?”, Robin asked. It was a pile of quilting magazines all over the floor. It seems that an earthquake had sent the box flying off a high shelf while we were away on holiday. Luckily this was the only damage and was easily put right.

Earthquake had sent the box of magazines flying off the shelf

Once home, we got on with the long job of unloading the caravan. Empty the fridge, and wash it out all ready for next time. In and out we traipsed with armfuls of clothes, books and and other sundry items. While all this was happening Muffy decided that her holiday wasn’t quite over and settled back down on the caravan couch for yet another snooze.

Muffy back in the caravan while we are unpacking

The caravan is now a “Christmas free zone”. The Santa wall-hangings in the caravan have now been taken down and the usual ones put up in their place. I removed the Christmas red-work cushion covers and put the freshly laundered plain ones back on. No doubt they will all come out again next time. Happy New Year to all readers and fellow bloggers, may 2012 be a wonderful year to you all.

Holiday Read – St Holst

2012-01-02T14:43:00.002+13:00

I have been reading “A Home Grown Cook”, by biography by Alison Holst, who is affectionately known as St Holst in our household. This unassuming Kiwi woman first appeared on New Zealand television many years ago to show home cooks how to prepare healthy, affordable and tasty family meals. Who can remember Chef Graeme Kerr of the Galloping Gourmet cooking shows who used a plethora of high priced and exotic ingredients which were out of the range of most of us? His show was a bit much for ordinary Kiwis to cope with, and we embraced Alison's style and down to earth presentations. Alison Holst tells of her family history, idyllic childhood and how her cooking career progressed. From tutoring, television appearances, to representing the Egg Board and Meat Board, she took her cooking skills throughout New Zealand and overseas. She has also been a prodigious fundraiser for charities. Alison Holst was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal in 1985, and appointed Commander of the British Empire for Services to Home Science in 1987. In 1997 she received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Otago, and in 2011 was made Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

The chapter “Cakes and Quilts” tells how Alison started quilting after seeing a Toronto friend’s quilts. A trip to the local quilt shop was a revelation, and Alison purchased fabrics and stitched her own designs of appliqué blocks during her long hours of travelling. She designed the blocks to tell the story of her life and family, the Maple Leaf block to honour her first visit to Canada, and a block with scones and a tea pot in memory of her Mother. The strawberries were for daughter Kirsten who picked the fruit during a holiday job, and a rooster in memory of all the family chooks. Alison appliquéd two figures in centre of her quilt, herself and her beloved husband Peter, depicted gathering the bounty from their garden.

Hand appliquéd quilt made by Alison Holst

Alison Holst has produced 99 cookbooks to date, and a quick check in my kitchen shows that I have 9 of them. A couple of them are falling to pieces, a sign of a well used cookbook indeed. And wrapped up for Christmas was a nice new addition to my cookbooks, “100 great ways to use slow cookers and crockpots”, by Alison Holst and her son Simon. Many thanks to grand-daughter Megan for this gift, it will be much used, I am sure.

Look what I got for Christmas

We have had a change in our holiday weather and the hot sunny Wairarapa sunshine has been replaced by heavy rain. So the shorts and sandals have been replaced with warmer clothing, shoes and socks and the gazebo has been forsaken. It was a good time to visit Pukaha Mount Bruce and get a peek at the rare white kiwi chick. Pop over to our other blog at www.romanyrambler.blogspot.com and read all about this rare and beautiful fluffy white baby.

Sew Carterton

2011-12-30T11:36:00.002+13:00

We are currently enjoying our caravan holiday at the Carterton Motor Camp, soaking up the lovely Wairarapa sunshine. Walking uptown, I came across Sew Carterton, and popped in to check it out. I didn’t realise that Carterton had it’s own craft shop, and Pam, the owner told me that she opened her shop in March 2011. Being so new, it’s no wonder I had not discovered it earlier. It is always so nice to look through a quilting shop on our travels.

Pretty quilt on the wall

Sew Carterton has a nice range of quilt fabrics, and I enjoyed having a look through the shelves. Pam has lots of the New Zealand themed fabric in store too, this is very popular with locals and tourists alike, she tells me.

View of the shop, with Pam at the counter

Quilt fabrics on display

This shop also caters for knitters and those who do all kinds of stitching. There is a huge selection of buttons and lots of interesting trimmings to be found displayed in the wall cabinet. This is a lovely shop and everything is very nicely presented, so do pop in if you are passing by. I certainly wish Pam well with her new venture.

Threads, buttons and trims

I haven’t been idle just because we are on holiday, and never travel without my bag of hand stitching. To date while relaxing under our shady gazebo in camp I have completed a little Christmas stitchery, and am currently working on a couple of teddy bear stitcheries. And read a couple of books, chatted to the other campers, and generally having a relaxing time. We have been out and about too, checking out the local attractions. Do check out our travel blog on www.romanyrambler.blogspot.com to follow our adventures.

We climbed up to Castlepoint Lighthouse

Hand Made for Christmas

2011-12-26T12:10:00.002+13:00

Now that the big day has been, and the pressies have been opened, it’s time to show the “hand made” gifts which I have been working on recently. I stitched these cute little Snowman gift bags from felt for the grand-daughters, just the right size to slip a couple of small things in. They really tickled my fancy – and the girls thought they were “cute”. The pattern came from “Handmade Country Christmas Crafts”, Vol 28 No 6.

Snowman Gift Bags

There was a bit of a production line going as I busily stitched up Christmas Placemats. This set of six were made with red seasonal fabric and appliquéd Kiwis sporting a Christmas hat and were made for my daughter, in the quilt as you go style. As the red border fabric was all used up, the placemats are finished off with scrappy red binding, using up all sorts of small pieces of Christmas fabric in my stash.

Six cheery red Christmas place mats for my daughter

As I had two Christmas Kiwis left over, I then made a couple of placemats for the pair of us to use in the caravan, using burgundy fabric to tone in with the colour scheme. They’ll be great to eat our meals off over the holiday period.

Two place mats for the caravan

My 16 year old grand-daughter Megan is very handy in the kitchen and had made me quite an assortment of hand made gifts for Christmas. There was chocolate fudge all nicely wrapped, one packet each for Robin and me, so we don’t have to share. The bottle of elder flower cordial will be a tasty variation when I am looking for a refreshing sunny day drink to sip. And she had also made me a jar of lemon curd, so yummy.

Tasty goodies made by Megan

Megan had also been busy making goodies for the bathroom and presented me with a fizzy bath bomb, and a small bottle of bath crystals. She is a very talented young lady indeed.

To make bath-time special

So that’s my bit of secret Christmas sewing. Can’t wait to do some blog-hopping and read what others have done for gifts.

Do you send Christmas Cards?

2011-12-23T07:47:00.003+13:00

Some people I know have had enough of the whole Christmas Card performance each year. It all takes so much time, buying the cards, writing each one, adding special messages or letters to those who we don’t see very often, buying the stamps, and finally posting the cards. Of course, overseas cards have to be done early so that they don’t miss the cut off time. I still write cards but try to cut down a little if I can. I know that some people have washed their hands on the whole Christmas Card issue, and perhaps send e-mails instead. My lovely pen friend Rose from UK sent me a copy of this poem (enclosed in her Christmas Card) and I would like to share part of it with you. Guess I’ll still be sending cards as I know it means a lot to some, especially those who live alone.

I have a list of folks I know, all written in a book

And every year at Christmas time I go and take a look

And that is when I realise these names are just a part

Not of the book they’re written in but of my very heart

And every year when Christmas comes I realise anew

The biggest gift that life can give is knowing folks like you

And may the spirit of Christmas that forever and ever endures

Leave it’s richest blessing in the hearts of you and yours

Merry Christmas to friends, readers and fellow bloggers. May you all have a Happy Christmas with family and friends, and if travelling, stay safe.

It’s been a very warm day

2011-12-22T17:31:00.002+13:00

We have had a busy old day today, a bit of house painting, a trip to the library and the shops, then Robin was working away under the blazing sun cutting the lawn and pruning the grapevine. Then we started on packing the caravan. This takes many trips up and down the path of course. Our clothes are in, and most of the food except for perishables. Whew, it makes me tired just reading about it all. Muffy is flat out on the bed, snoozing the hot afternoon away. No doubt she will wake up when things cool down a little and come to the kitchen demanding food please, and now! This lovely warm weather is meant to last for the next few days, so we certainly hope so. We have a large hebe bush growing in front of the house and the purple blossoms are just covered in bees. It is nice to see them all busily gathering the nectar in the sunshine. We are not very good gardeners so it is nice when plants flourish without any help from us!

Our flowering hebe bush is covered in busy bees

Making lists

2011-12-21T15:09:00.002+13:00

I’ve been making lists, and getting things organised. Christmas will be here in a couple of days and we have to get the caravan packed up. Luckily all the shopping is done, the presents have been bought (or made) and they have been delivered and posted away. Whew, that’s one job done. We have brought all the essentials like Christmas Mince Pies, and Christmas Cake, ham and new potatoes. Perhaps I should hang my head in shame and admit I have never ever made a Christmas cake. The Christmas Day menu is worked out and all the extras brought. Then I had to fossick around and find the Christmas lights which we put up around the caravan while we are away, such as the spiral multi coloured rope light Christmas Tree which we put up under the caravan awning, and the pretty little fibre optic Christmas Tree which stands on the dining table. Not forgetting a few strands of twinkling lights which get strung around the outside of the caravan.

I was really surprised when Robin asked me if I had sewing organised to take away - guess he does notice when I sit and stitch. Yes, my bag of hand stitching must be packed, as well as a few library books I picked up the other day. And we mustn’t forget to take our beautiful Birman Muffy, and all her assorted paraphernalia. Muffy even has her own “toilet bag” to keep her own personal things in!

Muffy’s Bag

One last thing, we mustn’t forget to take the pressies, or there will be nothing to open on Christmas morning. (I’m hoping for some chocolate peppermint creams, my favourite kind of chocolate). So…… how organised is everyone else, I wonder?

It was a good buy!

2011-12-19T17:37:00.002+13:00

I’m up to the last metre of my “ever so useful” Christmas fabric. This was purchased as a 20m roll several years ago in a post Christmas sale at 75% off the full price, so I bought it at a really cheaply. This cream fabric printed with Merry Christmas in red and green has been used as backing for one large (sadly still not completed) and innumerable smaller Christmas quilts, and as the backing of my Christmas stitchery cushion covers.

My Christmas backing fabric

Last year I made two Christmas aprons with an “Old World” Father Christmas appliquéd on the bib, one for myself and one for my daughter. Nicky’s apron was made from cream homespun and I used the Christmas fabric for mine.

Nicky and Jenny modelling the Christmas aprons

And just in time for Christmas this year, I have completed two sets of placemats – will show these after Christmas. Once again, I used my handy fabric as the backing. No doubt I will find another small Christmas project to stitch next year, to use the remainder of my fabric up. There’s no doubt about it, that roll of fabric was certainly a good buy!

High Tea at Kiwitea

2011-12-18T19:20:00.002+13:00

It was time to deliver the pressies to my daughter and her family, who live in the tiny rural hamlet of Kiwitea, so we drove up to spend the day with them. We exchanged gifts, with the proviso being that they were not to be opened till Christmas morning, despite the half hearted pleading from the grand-daughters. My daughter Nicky told me excitedly that we were to have a High Tea for lunch, and she was busy putting the finishing touches on the table. Knowing I like coffee she asked me, “You do drink tea, don’t you?” Of course we do (occasionally) I assured her, after all, the table was already set with dainty tea cups and saucers. It wouldn’t have looked the part with some big chunky coffee cups towering over the pretty bone china cups and saucers. Our lunch was lovely, and the three tiered cake stand was full of bite sized goodies. We enjoyed asparagus rolls, small lady-like sized egg sandwiches and dainty little savoury muffins served with smoked salmon and cream cheese. We followed these with scones topped with jam and cream, then nibbled on chocolate truffles and whole strawberries.

High Tea, Kiwitea style

The Christmas decorations were out, and I noticed several which I had previously made for the family. There was my “Countdown to Christmas” quilt hanging on the wall, and I certainly remembered making the red Santa with a bell on his hat, plus a couple of other items that I had given to the family over the years. It took a little persuasion to gather the two girls for a three generation family photo – I’m sure they weren’t quite this difficult when they were youngsters! Finally everyone was in place, and we managed to snap a few photos for posterity.

G-D Emma, Jenny, daughter Nicky and G-D Megan

We had a lovely day together and caught up with all the family news. We won’t be spending Christmas together but both families will be camping at different campsites. Here’s hoping for warm sunny weather over the holiday season.

Kirks Christmas Shop

2011-12-15T16:13:00.002+13:00

I love Christmas, and boarded the big orange bus for a trip to Wellington today to see the Kirks Christmas Shop. The weather was wet and drizzly but very warm, and the hills across the harbour were covered in mist.

On the way to Wellington

Nobody does Christmas better than Kirks Christmas Shop, in my view anyway. Kirkcaldies and Stains department store (affectionately known as Kirks) is a Wellington institution and has been around since the early days of settlement. It was founded in 1863 by young Britons John Kircaldie and Robert Stains as a “men’s hosiers and linen drapers”. The tradition of a Christmas Shop started in 1988. As we have come to expect, the shop windows were beautifully decorated and groups of excited youngster watched all the moving displays in fascination. Unfortunately, the reflections in the windows would not allow for good photos.

I climbed the curving staircase up to the 2nd floor and joined the many Mums and their offspring to gaze in wonder at all the Christmas delights. The staff were quite happy for me to take photos.

Views in the shop

There was a whole wall of little village houses with their windows all lit up and shining out across the supposed winter wonderland. (We celebrate Christmas in Summer down here in New Zealand) Each one could be purchased separately and you could chose from the Donut Shop, the Gingerbread Factory, Day Care, House of Chocolate, Fire Station, St Stevens Bell Chapel and many more. They were all so perfect in their own way and a purchaser would be hard pressed to make a choice, I expect.

So many little houses to chose from

Black and white tree

Lots of little cuties

I was amused to see a whole range of special Christmas toys for those with pet dogs. No doubt the dog would make short work of this Christmas chicken.

Especially for the dogs

There was so much to take in that I had to walk around several times. Displays were all themed and colour coordinated and the whole Christmas Shop was delightful. Many of the automated toys were up and running and the shop was filled with the sounds of happy songs and music.

The Ferris Wheel was turning

A woodland scene

It certainly is a magical experience to wander through the Christmas Shop. I read recently that Kirks are trying to modernise their image, so I do hope that the tradition of the Christmas Shop continues.

Another peek at Christmas in our house

2011-12-14T17:08:00.002+13:00

It is so nice to get the Christmas quilts out each year. Most of them get hung in their own special places, and anything new can cause a mild case of panic. Not that I have a new Christmas quilt this year, my newly completed item was my Tree of Christmas Cheer (shown in an earlier post) and I found a space for it in from of the gas fire. Here a a few of my Christmas quilts hanging on the walls, some made by me and some are gifts.

Christmas Stars, made in 1992, and hand quilted

Two Christmas stitcheries, made in 2006, hand quilted

Christmas tree made with triangles, oops, forgot to date it

Little Robin Redbreasts, 2002, gift from Rose, UK

Christmas Baubles, 2009, gift from Diane, USA

Selvedge Christmas Tree, 2010, machine quilted

Each and every one of our Christmas items is special, aren’t they? Whether we have enjoyed the time to stitch our own, or received some as treasured gifts. I have more hanging up, plus several versions of Father Christmas, and a variety of small trees. No doubt I will continue to make and find space for another Christmas quilt, another Santa, or whatever takes my fancy. And last but not least, I would like to share a Christmas poem written by my grand-daughter Megan when she was just 11 years old. We had her poem printed and framed, so that she could give one each to her parents and grand-parents.

December Stitching Monday

2011-12-12T17:23:00.002+13:00

My goodness, this is our last Stitching Monday for the year. The sewing machines were stitching feverishly away as everyone worked hard on their projects, and the hand stitchers were tucked away in the corner. Heather brought in a lovely little angel to show us, made for her by her niece to hang on the Christmas tree. Very pretty, and the beads are so tiny.

Beaded angel tree ornament

Heather also brought in two more tops from her “Great Shirt Project”, and commented that op-shop shirts must be getting hard to find, as several other quilters she knows have now taken up the challenge. Quilt number five is all pinned up ready for machine quilting, and quilt number six is in quite a different colour way with touches of yellow.

Heather’s shirt quilt, pinned ready for quilting

Quilt top number six

Joyce is another who works hard all month and then stuns us with her output when we get together. She was stitching a backing for her black and white Snail Trail quilt, using some of the left over fabrics to make a centre panel.

Joyce making a quilt backing

“You’ve all seen this one”, Joyce commented, as she laid her Crop Circle quilt out to show us. No, we hadn’t, this one must have been stitched in secret, we told her. Joyce has used lots of New Zealand patterned fabric in this quilt, which has both Snail Trail and Star blocks.

Crop Circle quilt

Jo was stitching a “commission” quilt for a workmate, in a stunning palette of teal and purple. This is sure to look quite stunning, so we will be interested to see what the finished top looks like.

Jo’s commission quilt

Fay was quietly stitching away, making a set of placemats as a gift for her overseas visitors to take home. These are being made in New Zealand designed fabric, so will be a reminder of their trip to this country.

Fay’s placemats are coming along nicely

As this was our last meeting for the year, we all brought along a festive plate for a shared lunch. “Don’t start eating till I take a photo”, I told the ladies. It was all delicious, especially Heather’s yummy carrot cake.

Ready for our lunch

And as for me, I did a bit of sewing on my burgundy and cream log cabin blocks. Then I switched to sewing some little selvedge blocks for an idea I had for a bag. I’ll have to see how that idea progresses, I think. Thanks so much, ladies, for another year of stitching and friendship. It’s been great to come along each month and sew together.

Button Cushion for Barbara and Bill

2011-12-11T20:33:00.002+13:00

Barbara and Bill are caravan club friends. They recently celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on Armistice Day, and I wanted to make them something special. Barbara loves buttons and has a huge collection in many beautifully shaped glass jars. I made them a cushion featuring a jar with a red lid and stitched a selection of buttons inside the jar. The brown fabric used is particularly suitable as it is printed with little jars of buttons with red tops. I gave them their new cushion at our weekend caravan rally.

Bill and Barbara with their new cushion

Barbara and Bill were very touched with the gift, and Barbara spent a lot of time looking at all the buttons I had stitched on. She proudly showed it off to the other caravan club ladies, and I know it has gone to a good home. It will find a place on the couch amongst the knitted cushions Barbara has made and decorated with some of her own button collection.

Jar of Buttons cushion

The caravan gets a Christmas touch

2011-12-09T09:52:00.001+13:00

We are off this weekend to our Caravan Club Christmas Rally, so it was time to get the caravan looking Christmassy. Being such a small space, it really doesn’t take too much effort. Over the last few years I have stitched away and made several “red work” Christmas cushion covers. The existing covers come off, and the Christmas ones go on, it’s that easy.

Three Christmas cushions in the caravan

One more cushion and Santa Bear

While I had the original covers off, it was time to give them a good wash and hang them out to dry, making them fresh and clean for another year of caravan adventures.

Cushion covers on the clothesline

Then a few Santas stand to attention on the shelf above the door, and up goes my red work Santa wall hanging. That didn’t take too long at all, did it?

Six assorted Santas

Christmas has arrived at our house!

2011-12-08T07:40:00.002+13:00

It always takes longer than you think, doesn’t it? I’ve been busy bringing out the Christmas quilts and other decorations. Some time ago I read a good piece of advice – to make sure the Christmas decorations fit into an existing space. So…… I take a picture down, and put a quilt up in the same place. Then after Christmas all the festive stuff comes down, the original stuff goes back on the wall, and the house returns to normal.

I have made something new this year, not a quilt, but a Christmas tree, and I’m really pleased with it. The pattern is “Tree of Christmas Cheer”, designed by Ami Downs of Hatched and Patched. The simple stitchery panel really sets it off, and tells of:

“Mistletoe and eggnog, plum pudding and turkey, family and Christmas cheer”.

Although the pattern used a multitude of fabrics in all different colours for the tree, that didn’t appeal to me, as my tree had to be green! I had a dark green fabric pattered with gold coloured fir branches tucked away in my Christmas stash which was perfect. The tree has a pouch of plastic pellets in the base to make it more stable, and is stuffed with fibre-fill, and I found a gold star button for the top.

Tree of Christmas Cheer

The tree joins a couple of other trees and a few Santas in front of the gas heater. No, they won’t get singed, as down here in the Southern Hemisphere we celebrate Christmas in summer.

Trees and Santas

The top of the heater has been cleared of brass ornaments and replaced with some of my Christmas collection. Pride of place goes to “A Stitch in Time”. Here’s Santa sitting at the sewing machine busy repairing his Santa hat before he heads out on the big day delivering all those presents. This was a gift from my pen friend Carol, of South Dakota.

A Stitch in Time

And standing on the hall table is a mixed selection of “gold” trees and roly poly angels, a couple of Santas and a snow man, a snow globe and two lovely Jim Shore ornaments.

An assortment of ornaments

This Jim Shore piece came from Gail in Canada

Now that the house is all Christmassy, I’ll have to turn my attention to the caravan – but that won’t take too long. It’s our Caravan Club Christmas Rally this weekend, so we’ll have to make sure we take our Santa hats – ho, ho, ho!

Friendship Group Christmas Meeting

2011-12-06T12:06:00.002+13:00

It was the last meeting of the year for my Friendship Group, and as it was December, of course there was a Christmas theme. We meet monthly for a stitching evening, and work on our own projects, and occasional group projects. Show and Tell is always a fun part of the evening. Debbie couldn’t make our previous meeting when we had our Christmas Decoration exchange, so she was thrilled to receive her hand made gift this month. A beautiful stitched panel covered a wooden cotton reel (the wooden reels are hard to find these days) and the decoration was finished off with dark red glass beads.

Debbie’s Christmas Tree decoration

Helen is a wonderful cook who is so generous with her baking and often brings along a plate to share at our monthly meetings. In appreciation, Margaret presented her with a special award, a pretty little cup cake mug mat.

Thank you to Helen

Everyone had brought along a gift and placed it in the basket. After an hour or two stitching and chatting we were asked, “What shall we do first, presents or supper?” Presents first, we all decided, and Maureen, as our oldest and wisest member, was asked to walk around the table and hand the gifts out. My gift contained some yummy Russian Fudge, think I’ll save that till we go away over Christmas.

Maureen is being Mother Christmas

My gift

The supper was delicious. There were savoury muffins and pikelets, cup cakes, sponge drops (just like my nana used to make, one of our members commented). Chocolate cake, slices, brandy snaps, and more. Everyone really excelled themselves.

Christmas supper

Thanks everyone for your company and friendship during the year. I have certainly enjoyed our monthly get-togethers.

Hoffman Challenge Quilts

2011-12-03T20:45:00.002+13:00

The annual Hoffman Challenge quilts are touring the country, and luckily for me, were just around the corner at Thimbles and Threads. I took my friend Dot with with to view these works of art. The chosen fabric for this year was from Hoffman’s Penny Lane collection, with a flowing paisley design in rich hues. As always, the quilts for this challenge had to be less than one metre in any direction, and be neither square nor rectangular. “Ride with Me”, by Joanne Mitchel won both the Best Overall Quilt, and Viewers Choice. Featuring a prancing white carousel horse, with an ornate saddle and livery, the quilt was harbouring a little secret. A sensor starts the lights to flash and the carrousel music to play when someone walks close by. I had to agree with the judges that this quilt deserved it’s awards. The front horse is beautifully done, as are the background details.

“Ride with Me”, by Joanne Mitchel

The iconic Combi van has been a favourite with young Kiwi surfers and campers for many years. This one, stitched by Wendy O’Neil, was sporting paint job straight out of the swinging sixties.

“Hippie Wagon”, by Wendy O’Neill

“Indian Chief War Shield” by Jenny Scudder was a little piece of calm amongst the riotous colours of the other items on display. We had to really look to see the challenge fabric hidden under the feathers and clothing. This little gem was very well thought out and executed and was my second choice.

“Indian Chief War Shield”, by Jenny Scudder

Another small offering which took my eye was the little “Indian Elephant”, by Brenda Reading. This lovely little elephant was dressed in a pretty cover, finished off with beading. Quite simple, but very effective.

“Indian Elephant”, by Brenda Reading

The award for Best Contemporary Quilt went to Cindy Watkins for “Masquerade”. The young lady’s face was peeping out of an extravagant mask, as she fluttered her matching fan to great effect.

“Masquerade”, by Cindy Watkins

The Barn Embroiderers of Chesterfield, UK, worked together to make “Ladies Day at the Races”. This group of embroiderers were unaccustomed to quilt making and they had to think completely “out of the box”, they commented. Inspiration came from ladies attending Ascot Races. I think they did a marvellous job working together to create this beautiful quilt of a lady at the Ascot Races sipping on her cocktail under her shady hat..

“Ladies Day at the Races”, by the Barn Embroiderers

It is always a delight to view the Hoffman Challenge, and it was interesting to take a non quilter with me and watch her reaction as she studied each quilt.

First day of Summer at Stonestead

2011-12-01T22:27:00.002+13:00

Today is the first day of Summer and what a glorious day it was, so nice and warm that the Stonestead Stitchers sat outside in the lovely garden, instead of meeting upstairs as we had done over the colder months. We dragged one of the large timber picnic tables over to join two up together to give us a bit more room. Luckily there were nice big sun umbrellas shading the tables, and Kevin from Stonestead also provides the much needed insect repellent. Another quilting friend, Jenny H, came over to see what all the noisy chatter was about, and kindly took a group photo for us.

Stonestead Stitchers working in the garden

We all worked on our own individual projects, and the conversation ranged over all sorts of topics, Christmas of course, and family and food got a mention as well. I was working on a Christmas project, and put the last few stitches in, I’m pleased to say, and will show it closer to the “big day”. Ruth had brought along her lovely piece of Mountmellick embroidery. This is a long term project and she is making good progress with it. She hastened to add that she has also been working on other projects too.

Ruth’s Mountmellick embroidery

Dorothy was adding green hexagons down the side of her Grandmother’s Flower Garden blocks. This popular pattern is made with in the English Paper Piecing method to ensure accuracy, and seems to be enjoying quite a revival lately.

Dorothy’s pretty flower blocks

Pretty little gift boxes seemed to appear like magic from Vicki-Ann’s talented fingers. She makes lovely cards too.

Vicki-Ann making gift boxes

Christmas must have been on Cheryl’s mind, as she had brought along two Christmas quilts to work on. This lovely large Christmas quilt was a “block of the month” and Cheryl button hole stitched around all the appliqué blocks. She has now machine quilted around the blocks, and still has hand quilting to do in each block. It’s a big quilt, so that will keep her busy for a while, I expect.

Cheryl’s Christmas quilt

Cheryl had brought along another projects “just in case”. She is making this Christmas wall hanging as a gift for her SIL, and just has the binding to complete.

Christmas wall hanging

Now it is December, we just have one more fortnightly meeting of the Stonestead Stitchers before Christmas is upon us. Hope it is another lovely fine day so that we can enjoy sitting in the peaceful garden again.

Lovely Lemons

2011-11-30T16:08:00.002+13:00

Although I’ve got quite a sweet tooth, I just love the sharp citrus taste of lemons, and I’ve been given a whole heap of them lately. So I’ve done a bit of baking and my favourite lemon recipes at the moment are lemon muffins with sugary lemon juice drizzled over the tops while just out of the oven, and lemon slice, made with a crunchy base incorporating rolled oats. Kept telling myself that I really must have a go at making lemon honey, but I was a wee bit worried about how to do it. I’m pleased to say I finally got around to trying it. It’s such a simple microwave recipe, that I really don’t know what I was worried about. Just sugar, eggs, butter, lemon juice and lots of lovely little curls of rind using my very handy little lemon zester. Here it is just about ready to go in the hot sterilised jars.

My microwave lemon honey

It just needed another short burst in the microwave and then I poured it into the jars. These microwave recipes don’t make a huge amount but there was enough to fill two medium sized jars, (plus a little for me to enjoy straight away).

Doesn’t it look yummy?

Luckily for me, Robin doesn’t really like lemon honey that much, so it is “all mine”. It’s so delicious on a piece of toast for breakfast, wish I’d made some years ago. Thanks to Dot for sharing her recipe with me – I’ll be sure to make some more before too long.

The Material Art Show

2011-11-27T14:32:00.003+13:00

The Material Art Show was a showcase of hand-made quilts, knitted baby clothes and Christmas stockings, all donated by talented crafts people of Wellington. All items were hand-made by volunteers and are for sale with funds raised to support sick children and premature babies at Wellington Children's Hospital. My friend Kathryn and I called in to “The Atrium” on Friday, the light and airy foyer of the recently rebuilt Wellington Hospital to see what it was all about.

Quilts for sale to aid Wellington Children’s Hospital

Volunteers were on hand, and as we were admiring a happy looking quilt made up of African animal faces, the young man on duty was quick to point out that this was his favourite quilt of the display.

Our volunteer’s favourite

The quilts ranged in size from small to large bed size, in a great variety of styles and colours. Here is just a small sample of a few which took our fancy. They all seemed to be very reasonably priced too.

Fresh and pretty floral quilt

A tree full of parrots

Kathryn rather liked this dog quilt, even though she is really a cat person

Display of Christmas quilts and stockings

There were people in the Atrium looking at the quilts, like us. Patients, visitors and staff also walked past as they all went about their business. I hope that the sale was a success and that lots of money was raised for the Wellington Children’s Hospital. We had a cuppa at the adjacent cafe and looked out into the courtyard. During the recent rebuilding process the original frontage of the hospital was saved and stands proudly in the courtyard. I can well remember climbing these steps and entering through the doors many times through the years. Not as a patient, I’m happy to say, I can particularly remember when I was a young working lass coming to visit my Mother as she recuperated from one of her several stays in this hospital. In those days visiting time was quite regimented, and I had to wait around for a couple of hours after finishing work for the wards to open in the evenings. Then afterwards, catch a bus to the station, and a long train ride home, making it an extremely long day. Visiting family and friends is so much easier these days.

The original frontage of Wellington Hospital

Pinestream Quilters Christmas Meeting

2011-11-26T08:01:00.002+13:00

It was the last meeting of the year for my quilt club, Pinestream Quilters. Christmas tablecloths, water, juice and fizz were on each table (no wine, as we all had to drive home). There were Santa hats galore, Christmas earrings dangling from many ears, and this gorgeous dark haired angel sporting a beautiful pair of wings. On closer inspection, that’s no angel, it’s Tricia!

Tricia wearing her angel wings

As usual, there were lots of lovely quilts at “show and tell”. Pat had made this pretty Oriental themed quilt for her daughter as a Christmas gift, and has quilted it with both hand and machine quilting.

Pat’s Oriental quilt

Rugby is our number one winter sport here in New Zealand, and June had made a rugby quilt for her grandson. He has been selected to play for the Manawatu Representative team, she proudly announced.

Rugby quilt for June’s grandson

The simple nine patch can make beautiful quilts, and this Wedding quilt was made by Ruth. The photo doesn’t really do it justice, as the dark squares are made from a beautiful purple and blue floral batik. Some of the lighter fabrics feature writing, I noticed.

Batik nine patch made by Ruth

Another nine patch brought along was made from tiny one inch squares. Sandy’s nine patch quilt also had some square in a square blocks scattered throughout. This design would help use up some of those smallest scraps that quilters often keep, just in case.

Sandy’s nine patch quilt

Fay was stitching the binding on her lovely jewel toned quilt on our last Stitching Monday, and here is the finished quilt. I believe that Fay won some of the blocks at a club night and made some more to finish the quilt. She added a pieced border around her quilt which really complements the design. Those colours just glow, don’t they, and the quilt was beautifully quilted by Sue B.

Fay’s quilt

Christine had been working away quite happily doing hand appliqué on this colourful child’s quilt not really knowing who she would be giving it to. That all changed with the exciting announcement that her son and his wife are expecting their first baby. The appliqué patterns were a free internet download from Susan Claire, and Sue B once again worked her magic on the quilting.

Christine is hiding behind her quilt

Jan brought two striking bags along to show us. She made one for herself, and one for her sister. Aren’t they great?

Two bags for two sisters

As this was the last club night of the year, we all participated in a Christmas quiz. After a great start of getting the first 9 out of 10 answers correct, sadly our team bombed out. Some members took part in the Christmas Gift Bag challenge. This was a little different, as the bags had to be made without using either Christmas themed fabrics, or Christmas colours. Viewers choice was Gaye and her lovely embellished book bag.

Viewer’s choice in the challenge

Our meeting concluded with a yummy supper with all sorts of special goodies. Pride of place went to the most delicious Christmas cake baked and iced by Joyce. It was so popular that I don’t think there would be any left for Joyce to take home. Hard to believe that this is the last club night of the year, and Christmas is just around the corner. Merry Christmas to all Pinestream Quilters, and your families.

Lucky me!!

2011-11-24T11:53:00.002+13:00

The lovely Lis, who writes the Piece’n’Peace blog, was offering several give-aways recently to celebrate her 500th blog post. (We had to relate the story of our first ever quilt, so that reminds me that I should share that story here one day, I guess). Thanks Lis, for sending me the wonderful “Inspirational Strippy Quilts” magazine, there is certainly lots of good reading in here. Plus an extra gift of a pack of three hanks of Perle thread in bush colours, “Hand dyed in South Africa” the label says. Thanks so much Lis, and many congratulations on your 500th plus blog posts, may there be many more to come.

My prize from Lis

We met up with Lis and Alan in April 2010 when they were out here on their New Zealand holiday. They were staying at Paekakariki on the Kapiti Coast, and after exchanging a few e-mails, we arranged to drive up and meet them in a local cafe. You know what it’s like when quilters get together, even if they haven’t met before, it’s just chatter, chatter, chatter. The the two husbands weren’t doing too bad, either. We decided to share one of those delicious pizzas that the cafe specialises in as we got to know each other a bit better.

Lis and Alan looking forward to a slice of pizza

The two of us together

Mmm, I’ve just checked “my” blog numbers, and this will be number 328, so I’m a long way from Lis and her 500th. I’ll just have to keep writing! Do pop over and visit Lis’s blog. She is looking forward to an upcoming textile trip to Japan, so that will certainly make interesting reading.

November Stitching Monday

2011-11-23T10:02:00.002+13:00

The months of the year are galloping by, and it was the second to last Stitching Monday of the year. With the silly season just around the corner, it was no surprise that several of us were working hard on our Christmas projects. Petronella was stitching the binding down on her Christmas table runner. This is a gift for her sister and she is hurrying to get in finished, and posted away to Holland.

Petronella’s Christmas table runner

Serviettes for Christmas Dinner were being cut and hemmed by Pamela. She had bought the white with gold fabric several years ago in a sale and thought it was time to make something with it. Pamela commented that sewing these simple items took so much longer than anticipated – that’s usually the way, isn’t it.

Pamela sewing Christmas serviettes

I was doing some Christmas sewing too. As this is to be a gift for my daughter I can’t show anything just yet, but I was using these fabrics. I just hope she likes her gift.

Fabrics in my Christmas secret sewing project

Gaye was all set to spend the day free motion quilting her grand-son’s Solar System quilt. Here she is warming up and getting some practice in before tackling the quilt.

Gaye practicing her free motion quilting

Joyce seems to work very quickly on her projects, and has a new one underway. She is starting on a striking black, while and yellow quilt for her grand-daughter’s 21st birthday next year, using an off centre square in a square pattern. It’s nice and easy to sew, Joyce said.

21st birthday blocks

Two ladies were sitting together by the window, hand stitching and chatting the day away. Fay was sewing the binding down on her beautiful jewel toned quilt and will take it along to “Show and Tell” at our next club night. Maureen was appliquéing some figures onto the backing for her latest creation.

Fay and Maureen stitching together

I saw Margaret down on her hands and knees during the day as she laid out the blocks for her little grand-son’s “I Spy” quilt. She is making two of these nice bright quilts, one each for the two little brothers who live down in shaky Christchurch, and this is number two.

Margaret’s I Spy quilt

Once again, Heather has been working wonders. She is in the middle of her “Great Shirt Project”, and has been collecting cotton shirts from op shops to use in charity quilts. Nothing is wasted: the fabric is used in the quilts, and buttons are passed on to a friend who knits tiny woollen garments for the hospital. Margaret used the collars and cuffs in her fabric art, and even the French seam strips have been re-purposed! These go to a friend who chops them up and adds the pieces to her worm farm.

Three of Heather’s recycled shirt quilts

Heather with quilt number four

It was a wild, wet and windy outside but we were safe and happy tucked up inside doing what we love. I ducked out between the showers to have a look at the trees that had been felled recently on the property. The wood-choppers were no where to be seen, in such bad weather.

Fabrications Quilt Display

2011-11-20T17:37:00.002+13:00

I thoroughly enjoyed my morning at Fabrications yesterday looking around all the vendor stalls, and chatting to fellow quilters as I moved around the two adjacent halls. An added delight were the number of quilts on display. This was not a quilt show as such, so there were no programme printed listing the quilt makers names and the quilts were not judged. The colourful quilts hanging on the frames were a delight to see. Some I remembered seeing from earlier shows, and some were quite new to me. So without further ado, here are some that took my fancy, although as they were not named the makers will have to remain anonymous. Maybe someone local knows who these quilt makers are?

Buxom bathing beauties

Colourful strippy quilt

Log cabin quilt with machine embroidered blocks

Close-up of embroidered kowhai blossom, and leafy quilting motifs

A striking medallion style quilt

Narrow log cabin variation

This was just a taste of some of the quilts on display. It is always inspiring to see the work of others, and I came home with my head spinning with ideas.

Fabulous Fabrications

2011-11-19T21:54:00.003+13:00

What is Fabrications? Fabrications is Wellington's first event focussed on textile arts of every kind, a day event for everyone who loves to play with textiles. The idea came from a group of ladies from Capital Quilters, Lower Hutt, who realised that quilters are interested in all sorts of textiles and techniques. So the idea of Fabrications came about, a fun day of 30 vendors, raffles, a quilt display, and a cafe. I went along to see what it was all about. This big event needed a lot of space, and covered both the Horticultural Hall and Town Hall. (These halls were very much part of my social calendar in my teenage years. During my High School years I attended the local Youth Club on Sunday afternoons, rock’n’rolling the afternoon away in my full skirted dresses held out with my stiff petticoats. And when I started work I enjoyed many Saturday night dances here. Those were the days!) I arrived early, paid my $5 entry fee, and bought some raffle tickets. How great it would be to win one of these big baskets full of goodies.

Raffle baskets

The hall was buzzing with vendors selling all sorts of things, fabric, wool, books, buttons and beads. Several quilt shops had stalls with their own unique style of fabric and notions. Here’s Yvonne from one of my local shops Sawmillers Quiltery, giving me a cheery smile.

Yvonne from Sawmillers Quiltery

The Wellington Quilters Guild had a stand and I stopped to talk to Sharon who was busy with some of her friends stitching small blocks. The aim was to sew enough blocks to make up into a charity quilt. What a good idea, and it shows non quilters just what is involved in cutting and stitching a quilt block.

Happy in their work

The Wellington Embroiders Guild had a stand close by and I came across Kim working on a lovely piece of silk ribbon embroidery stitched on teal blue fabric. The ladies on this stand told me that their group make and donate Christmas Stockings to the Neonatal Unit in Wellington Hospital each year for all the little babies. They also make quite a range of items for the hospital shop to sell to raise funds.

Kim and her silk ribbon embroidery

Hand made lace speaks to me of the timelessness of an age old craft, and the romance and beauty of this most wonderful of trims. I love the look of lace and spent some time watching the Faultline Lacemakers working their magic. One lady was working on Milanese lace, and another on Tonder lace. It’s quite easy they assured me, you just follow the pattern, as they deftly moved their lace bobbins around.

Making Tonder (Danish) lace

Hand made lace pieces on display

Crafters love buttons, and Ruth Meier, known as the Button Lady, had lots of old and interesting buttons on display. Ruth has worked selling buttons all her life, and is extremely knowledgeable about this simple little item. I noticed military buttons on sale, plastic, bone, and all the colours and styles imaginable, and nice little mixed bags on offer at a very reasonable price. Definitely something for everyone.

Buttons galore

After looking at all the stalls, and admiring the quilts on display (photos of these next time), it was time to rest my weary feet and relax in the cafe corner. I joined my fellow Pinestream Quilter members Joyce and Gaye at a table and contentedly consumed my coffee and cake in good company. Thanks to Jane from the Kapiti Coast Quilt Guild for happily agreeing to take our photo.

Enjoying morning tea with Faye and Joyce

I had a lovely time at Fabrications and have my fingers crossed to win one of those wonderful raffle baskets. The organisers did a great job and are to be congratulated. Here’s hoping this turns out to be a regular event.

The Great Unveiling at the Friday Stitchers

2011-11-18T21:34:00.002+13:00

There was an air of excitement at our monthly Friday Stitchers meeting today. We had all been taking part in a block swap over the last six months or so. Each of us decided on what block we would like, and stitched a couple to show our preferred colour palette. Instructions were included and any fabric (if any) that the maker wanted repeated in each block. The bags were then rotated around the group, keeping it all very secret. And today we got to see just what was in those bags.

First to see what we had done to her blocks was our hostess Christine. She had chosen the “Disappearing Nine Patch” block in black and white, and provided the turquoise fabric to tie it all together. Black and white always looks good together and the turquoise added just the right touch of colour to the blocks.

Christine’s black and white blocks

Margaret wasn’t sure of the name of the block that she chose, and it incorporates a centre nine patch and rail fence blocks with a square in each corner. The criteria was for this to be made using both warm and cool colours in the prescribed placement to blend in the the floral sashing fabric.

Margaret’s blocks

Everyone loved the beautiful underwater hues of Anne’s blocks. She supplied the centre square fabric and the block was to be made using turquoise, purple and green.

Anne’s blocks

These blocks and border strips for Judy came together very easily. She asked for the blocks to be made with bright fabric either patterned or plain and supplied the dark blue fabric for the sashing.

Judy’s blocks and borders

Unfortunately neither Linda nor Audrey could make it to our meeting, but we still got to peep in their bags to see the blocks made for them. Linda provided a paper pieced pattern and asked for her blocks to be made in purple, cream and burgundy batiks.

Linda’s paper pieced blocks

Audrey had asked for her Sunshine and Shadow blocks to be done scrappy, any colours at all, just adhering to the light, medium and dark placement. There is certainly lots of variety in these small blocks.

Sunshine and Shadow blocks for Audrey

When I received the bag containing the Drunkard’s Path blocks for Joyce I wondered how I would cope with those curved seams. But I’m glad to say that they were not difficult at all to sew, and came together very quickly. Joyce asked for a soft palette of florals and creams, and has stitched a whole lot more of these at home, she told us.

Drunkard’s Path blocks for Joyce

Another soft and pretty block was Fay’s choice, and once again, very easy to put together. Don’t those colours look lovely together?

Fay’s pretty blocks

It was so exciting to get to open my own bag full of blocks. I had chosen Log Cabin, and supplied McCalls printed tissue paper patterns. My blocks were to be done in shades of burgundy and cream, and I am so thrilled with how they look. I have also sewn more blocks at home, so will have to lay them all out to see how how many more I’ll need.

My burgundy and cream Log Cabin blocks

It was fun to see this “great unveiling” and we all had such a lovely afternoon. Wonder who will be the first of us to turn our blocks into a finished quilt? It won’t be me, I’m sure of that!

Bouquet for a Golden Wedding

2011-11-16T09:25:00.003+13:00

We took a caravan trip to sunny Hastings for a very special mission, to hand over the gift of a quilt. My sister Kathleen and her husband Dennis will shortly be celebrating their Golden Wedding but unfortunately we will be away travelling on the actual date. But there is nothing wrong with an early gift, is there? 50 years together is certainly a wonderful achievement and I have been quietly working away on a shaggy quilt for them both. “Bouquet for a Golden Wedding” features all sorts of soft floral fabrics set against green, to give the look of a cottage garden. And for a 50th wedding anniversary touch, I added golden flowers appliquéd against a white background.

Kathleen and Dennis with their anniversary quilt

I made the appliqué blocks first, then a whole heap of the three layer floral blocks, floral square on top, then a winceyette (flannel) square, and a green background square, all secured with two corner to corner quilting lines. All these blocks were laid out on the living room floor while I crawled around arranging the blocks. You know what it’s like, you just can’t have two pinks together, and perhaps I need a bit more contrast just there. Rather than sewing the squares together in rows, I tackled the construction by stitching a series of 9 patches together. With a shaggy quilt, there is no extra quilting to do, but oh my, all that snip, snip snipping that has to be done!

Time to snip some more seams

A quick wash, and the quilt was hung up outside to dry on a breezy sunny day, and finished off in the dryer to make sure those snipped seams are really fluffed up. Stitched the label on and there, all done and ready, with plenty of time to spare. That’s certainly a good feeling!

50th Anniversary quilt

Thanks for calling

2011-11-12T11:40:00.001+13:00

We were spending the weekend at a caravan rally in Clareville, just north of Carterton, in the Wairarapa. A car pulled up in the grounds and a young woman with a big beaming smile asked me “Are you Jenny?” It was fellow quilter and blog reader Helen from the Wairarapa who read that we were staying “over the hill” and called in to say hello. What a lovely surprise! Helen said that she felt she knew us, as she keeps up with both our caravan adventures and my quilting life through our blogs, and the pair of us had previously exchanged several e-mails. She kindly brought some home baking, still warm from the oven, and smelling divine. We spent a lovely time chatting, swapping stories, and getting to know each other. Thanks so much for calling Helen. It was so nice to finally meet you, and spend some time together.

Not once, but twice!

2011-11-11T12:57:00.002+13:00

How did he do it? Robin had caught the pocket of his shorts on a protruding part of the caravan, and ripped a right angle tear in his shorts. Never mind, I told him, I’ll probably be able to fix them for you. He changed his ripped shorts for another pair, and blow me down, but he did it again. How did he do it - not just once, but twice? He was mortified, and really wasn’t quite sure how it had happened.

Two pair of ripped shorts

After I had partially unpicked the pocket to give me room to manoeuvre, I put a patch behind the rip and zig zagged it securely in place. Then stitched the pocket back, and threw the shorts in the washing machine. The mend should hold just as long as he doesn’t do the same thing all over again! What is a wife to do when mending is required? It makes me appreciate sewing for pleasure the next time I sit at the sewing machine.

My birthday is finally over

2011-11-09T16:54:00.002+13:00

Two more parcels arrived from overseas from my quilting pen-friends and now my birthday is finally over. It is so nice to get parcels in the mail, instead of bills! Rose from UK sent me a parcel containing several interesting things. She had made the lovely little purse, using floral fabric that is very similar to our native pohutakawa blossoms. Here in N Z we call the pohutakawa tree the New Zealand Christmas tree, as it is covered in red blossoms tipped with yellow and always flowers in time for Christmas. Inside the purse was a brooch and a charm, and Rose sent me a lovely Christmas panel as well. We have been lucky to meet Rose and her beloved Bill (now sadly passed away) on our two trips to England.

Goodies from Rose in UK

My last parcel came from Carol, in South Dakota. Carol and I have been corresponding for many years, in fact she was my very first quilting pen-friend. We have shared such a lot over the years, letters, photos, news of family and of course our quilting stories too. Carol sent me a half metre of fabric showing all the States, plus two pins.

From Carol, USA

It has certainly been an exciting few weeks with several parcels arriving for me. But my extended birthday is finally over, thank goodness says Robin, I'm sure he thinks it has gone on much too long!

Out with the Cats and in with the Hearts

2011-11-08T22:19:00.004+13:00

It was time to change the quilt. Our winter quilt has nice cosy wool batting and is so deliciously warm over the cold months of winter. With fluffy flannelette sheets on the bed too I am toasty warm, just as I like it. With the weather warming up it was time for a change. The winter cat quilt in pink and grey was getting grubby and needed a wash, especially as our cat Muffy liked to snuggle up on the same part of the bed night after night. As soon as a nice breezy day came along that quilt was off the bed, carefully washed, and flapping in the breeze. The pale pink background fabric has faded over time, as have some of the cat blocks, but this quilt is just so lovely and warm with the wool batting.

My favourite winter quilt

Our anniversary is 5th November, so I like to have our special anniversary quilt on the bed by then. This one was made three years ago for our 25th Anniversary, and is full of hearts in various sizes and shapes and stars. It always looks so fresh and bright after all those different hues of grey cats on the bed over the winter.

Anniversary quilt

Then after a month or so I will no doubt have yet another quilt change. That’s what happens when one has an assortment of bed quilts, after all that work that goes into the making, we want to give them all a turn. What do other quilters do? Do you ring the changes with the seasons too?

Christmas Tree Decoration exchange

2011-11-07T15:06:00.002+13:00

Names were pulled out of the hat a couple of months ago at my “Friendship Group”. The criteria was that we had to make a small decoration to hang on a Christmas Tree, for the person we were allocated. For a procrastinator like me, that was rather daunting! First step was to browse through my collection of Christmas magazines. Mmmm, how about this, or maybe that? Perhaps this other one will be better? I had about a dozen projects earmarked, then it was a process of elimination. And as I kept looking, the time was steadily ticking away. With two weeks to go, I finally started work on my secret project. I knew that “my” person liked the traditional dark red and green of Christmas, as I had previously seen her working on a quilt in these colours. So I cut out the fabrics, and diligently stitched away. The finished item didn’t look too bad, but I felt it needed a little something extra. The addition of cording made all the difference, but it took an absolute age to stitch on. At last it was finished, with a whole week to spare. Thank goodness for that. I do hope Helen likes it.

Christmas Heart I made for Helen

We met last evening for our November meeting. Happy chatter filled the room as we caught up with everyone and did a little hand stitching. After “show and tell” to see what had been finished during the month, the little gifts were exchanged. As each one was opened we all shared in the excitement, oohing and aahing as the Christmas tree ornaments were opened, then held up for us all to admire. There were hearts, Christmas stockings, angels, a Christmas ball, Christmas pillows, cute little mice, and something I’d never seen before, a set of delicious smelling cinnamon tree ornaments. Every item was personalised to the recipient, and they were all beautiful and gratefully received. We laid them out on the table so we could have a close look, and take photos.

Look at all these lovely Christmas decorations

Cheryl’s gift to me, to be filled with choccies, she suggested

It was a lovely evening, and we all took home a very special hand made gift made “just for us”. Thanks so much, ladies, they will all be treasured, I’m sure.

Not quite a rugby quilt

2011-10-31T10:21:00.002+13:00

Now that all the hoopla surrounding the Rugby World Cup is over life as we know it can get back to normal. No doubt some quilters with mad keen rugby supporters in their households have whipped up a rugby themed quilt or two, as I’ve noticed rugby panels for sale in my local quilt shop. Robin already has his own quilt with a slight rugby theme – although not quite a rugby quilt it has many memories attached.

For Robin’s 60^th birthday several years ago, I wanted to make him something special. Some of his unwanted tee-shirts had interesting pictures so I decided to use them in a quilt, a sort of “this is your life” quilt. I used iron-on non stretch Vilene to back the knit fabric, and a black and white New Zealand silver fern print as the background. The quilt is backed with winceyette and is machine quilted.

Robin’s tee shirt quilt

The six tee-shirts used were:

Hawkes Bay Brewery (now closed) purchased after a tour through the factory. Hard Rock Café, Honolulu, purchased on our first ever overseas holiday. New Zealand Rugby World Cup 1991 tour, featuring commemorative stamp issued by New Zealand Post. C J Pask Winery, Hawkes Bay, purchased on a wine tour. Norsewear New Zealand Ltd, brought from the iconic factory in Norsewood which previously made a range of woollen items, (now sold to another buyer and producing socks). Taihape Centennial 1994, purchased at Taihape after arriving in style on a steam train from Wellington.

Rugby World Cup 1991 tee-shirt

Down the side borders are logos from former workplaces, New Zealand Post Office, New Zealand Fire Service, Cityline Buses and Toops. Also included is a logo from Caravan Camping NZ, and one from a treasured and sadly worn out Rugby World Cup fine red wool jersey. I named this quilt “Memories of Work and Play.”

Pinestream Quilters October Club Night

2011-10-29T12:05:00.002+13:00

Seating seemed to be at a premium on our October club night, but we all managed to find somewhere to sit on this, our second to last meeting of the year. Our speaker for the evening was one of the owners (sorry, but didn’t catch her name) from Creative Craft Supplies from Johnsonville, Wellington. She brought along a selection of products for those with an arty streak, telling us that a lot of what they sell are for those interested in “burning, slashing, dyeing, gluing and painting”. I can’t be trusted with those messy applications as I would be sure to get the glue, paint and dye all over me instead of what I was working on. The company also sells quite a range of machine and hand embroidery threads, and did a roaring trade at the end of the meeting.

Members looking at the goodies

“Show and Tell” was the highlight of the evening, and as always, very inspiring. Both Silvia and Maureen brought along some little Neo Natal baby quilts to be donated to Hutt Hospital. These two ladies both work very hard on this project, and are to be commended for their generosity. Another finish for Silvia was her Susan Claire designed appliquéd child’s quilt. Isn’t it just wonderful? Several other club members are also doing this pattern so no doubt we will see them all in the future as they are completed.

Silvia’s appliqué quilt

Our club President Brenda brought along her version of the ever popular “Disappearing Nine Patch”. This version used black and coloured fabrics, and is machine quilted.

Brenda’s Disappearing Nine Patch quilt

Here in New Zealand we don’t usually make a big deal of Halloween. But after living for several years in USA Clare is hooked on Halloween and brought along a couple of items she had made to show us. This is her version of a Baltimore, and she calls it her Halloween Baltimore. I can see bats, witches, owls and black cats in here.

Halloween Baltimore quilt

I thought this was a little purse, but Clare explained that she hangs it over the front door handle, and has made other seasonal door decorations too.

Halloween door hanger

A group of friends who meet weekly all took part in a challenge recently and were given a piece of purple batik to use in their creation. All the ideas were quite different, and I loved what Janet had made - this gorgeous little wall-hanging featuring a beautiful singing bird.

Janet’s challenge entry

We know Christmas is coming up with a rush, but Sandy was the only member to bring a Christmas quilt along to Show and Tell. Perhaps there will be more at the next meeting? Sandy used a nice selection of Christmas fabrics, and the striped border and binding look great.

Sandy’s Christmas quilt

Another good meeting, with plenty of quilts to look at, many more than I have photographed. It was great to catch up with fellow blogger Julz again, who is planning to join Pinestream Quilters. And as for the supper, just yummy. Hopefully the ladies who brought along the microwave Brownies, and that delicious Lemon Cake will send their recipes onto the Newsletter Editor so we can all try them at home?

New Zealand in Vogue

2011-10-27T17:13:00.003+13:00

New Zealand in Vogue exhibition is a long term exhibition currently showing at Te Papa Museum, Wellington. In 1957 British Vogue magazine established Vogue New Zealand, the first Vogue magazine published outside of America and Europe, but sadly was only printed from 1957 to 1968. The exhibition is inspired from its pages spanning this period. Sheila Scotter was appointed editor and her role was “to lead, inform and guide a relatively unsophisticated fashion industry”. These garments are from 1965. The silk sari evening dress was made for opera singer Kiri Te Kawana.

Fashions from 1965

Vogue writes “there is simply no stopping the black dress for evenings in or evenings out this winter”.

Little black dresses

Black mini dress with diamante trim

Vogue offered a range of paper patterns in three categories, Vogue Paris Original, Vogue Couture Design, and Vogue Young Fashionables. These were marketed to “those of you blessed with dressmaking talents, or the possessors of a little woman around the corner”. Home sewers could even request a Vogue label to sew into their clothes. While I certainly did enjoy the exhibition, I have to admit that neither the Vogue magazine or patterns were ever part of my life. Sadly my sewing talents were no match for those tricky Vogue patterns, I used the much simpler Simplicity patterns. And by the mid 1960s I was a young Mum, with no time to sew for myself. With two babies born 12 months apart, I can remember sewing little dresses, shirts and shorts, and winter pyjamas. Not to mention all the baby and toddler knitting I did back then. As the blurb says: “This exhibition draws its inspiration directly from the pages of Vogue New Zealand. It showcases garments from top New Zealand designers, and those made here under licence from the world's leading fashion houses, such as Christian Dior.” This exhibition has another 12 months to run, so do pop in to see it next time you visit Te Papa Museum.

Happy Birthday to me!!

2011-10-26T18:12:00.002+13:00

I celebrated my birthday last weekend while away at a caravan rally. It was the Wellington Caravan Club’s 60th Birthday Rally, so it was a rather busy weekend with all sorts of things going on. In fact, there were two birthday girls at the rally, and the MC called us both up to the front of the hall while everyone sang Happy Birthday to us. We joined in the singing too – after all, you have to celebrate your special day, don’t you?

All singing along

Some exciting looking parcels had arrived in the post during the week, so I packed them in the caravan to open on Sunday. It’s always fun getting parcels. Want to have a peek at what I got? First up was a lovely new diary for next year, and a tube of hand and nail cream from my good friend Merilyn, in Dunedin. With aloe vera, plus vitamins A, B, and E in the mix, the hand cream is sure to work wonders for my washer woman hands.

New diary and hand cream

Two parcels arrived from England, from my quilting pen friends. Glennis sent me a fat quarter of Easter Egg fabric, plus a packet of note-cards showing scenes from the Cotswolds, the lovely picturesque part of the country where Glennis lives. And my pen friend Janet sent me a silk scarf in lovely shades of pink and lilac, with a cute little hardanger piece to hang up somewhere – on the Christmas Tree perhaps.

Received from England

My daughter Nicky sent me a bright and pretty tea-towel featuring New Zealand native flowers, together with a Penguin book, Lady Chatterley’s Lover, by D H Lawrence. Allen Lane started Penguin Books back in 1935, when he despaired of finding a good book to read on his railway journey. The aim of the company was to produce a range of intelligent books for the public, at a low price. Penguin Books were prosecuted under the Obscene Publication Act at the Old Bailey in 1960 for publishing this book. The jurors returned a Not Guilty verdict, making D H Lawrence’s last novel available for the first time to the public in UK. I’m sure I’ll enjoy reading this classic story – no doubt a little tame by today’s standards.

From my daughter Nicky

Amongst my cards was one containing this poem by Emily Matthews which certainly reflects my stage of life.

What we value most in life, the years may change somehow

What once seemed so important, may not matter to us now

For over time we learn and grow, and find, as we’ve matured

The things that mean the most to us, are those that have endured

With two more parcels winging their way from overseas, my birthday is not over yet. Lucky me!

Stonestead Stitchers meet again

2011-10-20T15:33:00.002+13:00

Our happy group met up again for the fortnightly stitching group. Some ladies make it each time, and others come as time and circumstances allow. No matter, whoever is there makes for a happy group, full of chat and helpful advice. Some ladies had long term projects on the go. Mary was working away hand quilting her Christmas Welcome Banner, and Carol was stitching down the last few felt leaves on her little wall-hanging. Dorothy decided to alter some of her Grandmother’s Flower Garden hexagons to add a contrasting hexie in the centre of each flower. It was quite a bit of extra work to deconstruct the flower and change the centre, but she is really pleased with the finished result.

Dorothy’s Flower blocks

Ruth had something new to show us – she had recently attended a class on transfer dyeing ran by the local Embroiders Guild. The design was transferred onto nylon fabric, and she is hand stitching around each design. The embroidery will then have a border added and will end up as a cushion when the stitching is completed. The colours are so fresh and pretty and we all look forward to seeing the completed project.

Made in a class on transfer dyeing

Vicki-Ann was getting ready for Christmas cooking with her newly completed Christmas oven mitt all ready to help her take the turkey out of the hot oven. It is made with a cheery Christmas print, and finished off with lime green satin bias binding.

Vicki-Ann getting ready for Christmas

It was just a matter of stitching down the binding on a lovely bright kiddie’s quilt which Cheryl had brought along, and it was all done. This fabric was sourced from a “specials” bin in the local curtain shop, so it was a very economical project indeed. There are no immediate plans yet for this quilt, and it will get put away for sometime in the future. It is such a bright and happy quilt that whoever gets it will be sure to love it. Cheryl was making a matching changing mat too.

Cheryl’s cot quilt

At our last get-together Cheryl had showed us the top she and her SIL were making for a family wedding. It has now been commercially quilted in an over-all pattern, the binding is stitched down, and the label added to the back. “Mystic Magic” is all ready to be presented at the forthcoming wedding.

Cheryl with Mystic Magic

I didn’t have a great deal to show for my morning’s work, certainly nothing worthy of a photo. I pinned down a quilt binding and started sewing it down, then some unpicking with my trusty “Quick Unpick”. Where would we be without these handy little gadgets, I wonder? Thanks for your company, ladies, it is always nice to sit and sew with you.

On the cutting board

2011-10-19T20:12:00.002+13:00

I’ve been busy at the cutting board today. With several Christmas projects planned, I thought I should get on with it. First I cut out this green fabric, and interfacing. Any guess what this will be?

Green Christmas project

Next was some rich traditional Christmas red and green. This is for a swap so it’s still a secret.

Fabric for a Christmas Swap

I love Christmas craft magazines and have collected quite a good supply over the years. My secret swap pattern is in this one, an Australian Handmade magazine, and so far I’ve traced off a couple of hearts.

Handmade Christmas magazine

I don’t know how other people cope, but I tend to get a bit stressed with Christmas approaching, with my long list of Christmas projects. Some I really must make, such as my swap. Then there are a few items I would really like to make, if I can fit them in OK. And did I ever mention the large Christmas quilt which is sitting there feeling sorry for itself as it is still only half machine quilted after all this time? Guess my “time management” skills need a bit of a shake-up!

October Stitching Monday

2011-10-18T16:24:00.002+13:00

Just a small group this month, only six of us this time. But there was plenty going on, Three were machining and the other three were busy doing handwork. Jo had brought along all her sewing things in her newly finished big bag, big enough to hold the cutting mat, rulers and all those sort of necessary things that one wants on a sewing day. She had also made a matching thread catcher with an attached pin cushion, all done in retro autumn prints.

Jo’s new bag and thread catcher

A friend of Jo’s was downsizing and had a big bag of patchwork scraps looking for a new home, with lots of kiddie’s prints included. Jo snapped them up and thinks she has enough in the bag to make a bright quilt for her grandson. She was busy pressing fabric, cutting, stitching, then cutting the blocks down to size. At the end of our stitching day she had made all these. There were lots of interesting prints in the bag and I bet her grandson will love the alien fabric!

Jo’s wonky blocks

Margaret was making a quilt for her grandson too, in fact she was making quilts for two grandsons. She held up this lovely Eye Spy top to show. This is from a Kaffe Fasset pattern and is made up of squares in three different sizes.

Margaret’s Eye Spy quilt top

Maureen was completing another little neo-natal quilt for Hutt Hospital. A horse drawn carriage is pulled past a fantasy castle in the central motif, and the quilt uses two different prints featuring cute little babushka dolls.

Maureen with her neo-natal quilt

We were all very impressed with Joyce’s black and white Snail Trail blocks. There were just three more blocks to stitch, and once these were done Joyce laid them all out on the carpet. With an adjustment here and there, they were soon arranged to her liking. She made a good start of sewing the blocks into rows before it was time to pack and and head home. This quilt will be for her grand-daughter’s wedding.

Snail Trail blocks

Heather likes to have hand work to take along and she is working on some lovely needle turn appliqué blocks. The design is Wild Rose and each one has four different creams in the background. When assembled, the green stems join up to make a circular pattern. This is going to be a really pretty quilt.

Wild Rose appliqué block

I was stitching away diligently sewing buttons onto a “secret” gift I’m making, I didn’t realise that sewing buttons on would take me so long. This is for a special occasion, so I can’t show a picture just yet. I had taken another couple of things to do “just in case” but didn’t even get them out of the bag. Never mind, there’s always next time.

What’s in a Name?

2011-10-15T22:07:00.002+13:00

Recently some of the blogs I follow have been telling the story behind their choice of blog name. Perhaps you might be interested in the background behind Romany Quilting? So here is my little story to add to the others.

It all began when we started our Travel Blog. With an exciting 10 week trip planned to the UK in 2008, we decided to start a blog so that we could record our adventures. The name we chose was Romany Rambler, because I had discovered that way back in my family I had a gypsy connection. My great, great, great grandfather Robert Beresford was of gypsy descent, and I can just imagine this darkly dashing young man sweeping a young lady off her feet. Oh, the romance of it all, but I do wonder what my great, great, great grandmother’s family made of his marriage proposal. Perhaps my (rather watered down by now) gypsy blood explains why we have a caravan, and why I love to travel. But I didn’t inherit those dark flashing eyes, or a head of long lustrous black curls either.

As much as I enjoy working on our travel blog, I really wanted to write about quilting too, and didn’t feel it was appropriate to include my stitching stories in the original blog. So Romany Quilting was born – still using the gypsy connection in the name.

We have been travelling in the caravan this last week, and I spent a little time on my stitcheries in the evenings. Happily I can say that I have now completed all my “Under the Sea’” blocks, finishing off .the Sea Snake and the Seahorse blocks. Of course the next job will be to trim the blocks and sew them all together.

Final two blocks completed

If you would like to read about our travel adventures over the last week, please go to www.romanyrambler.blogspot.com. We travelled over 1200kms to Hamilton and back and saw some glorious scenery. Sadly I didn’t stop at a single quilt shop – that wasn’t very good planning, was it?

Kiwiana in the Caravan

2011-10-08T21:03:00.001+13:00

I’m doing my bit to bring a little Kiwiana into the caravan. I’ve been busy stitching away, trying to use up some left over pieces of New Zealand fabric. Several years ago I made four quilt tops out of these sorts of fabrics. These were then given away as gifts to my English quilting pen-friends during our UK trip in 2008. Now at last I have my own Kiwi inspired top, which I turned into a tablecloth for our caravan. I think that those New Zealand prints all go so well together, with the black sashing. There is a mixture of flora and fauna fabrics, and Maori designs.

Caravan tablecloth

Hanging on the wall is my little kiwi wall-hanging. This was made with a hand painted panel purchased from a market during a trip to the South Island. I added borders in a burgundy fabric to tie it in with the soft furnishings. Just a little machine quilting was needed to to finish it off, and here it is, my very own “golden kiwi”.

Kiwi wall-hanging in caravan

And hanging over the door is another tiny quilt with a New Zealand flavour. The tree and flax panels were appliquéd onto a cream New Zealand fabric. Can you see my kiwis up there on the ledge?

New Zealand bush scene, where the kiwis like to hide

So that is my little bit of Kiwiana flavour in the caravan. We are currently on our way to Hamilton to get some repairs done on the caravan, and staying at Turangi overnight. Just over the fence are 100 free range chickens, and they are delightful to watch as the go about their business. They scratch in the dirt, peck at the grass, and just enjoying being chickens the way they should be, instead of being cooped up in cages all their lives. The owners showed us around the hen house, and we bought a dozen freshly laid free range eggs, still warm from the nesting boxes. You can’t get much fresher than that, can you?

Chickens at their self feeders

In the nesting box

Both Robin and I feel that everyone should be proud of the country they live in. New Zealand is often referred to as Godzone, a running together of the words “God’s Own Country”. You can follow our trip to Hamilton and back and catch up with our sightseeing adventures on our other blog: www.romanyrambler.blogspot.com

October Stonestead Stitchers get-together

2011-10-07T15:16:00.002+13:00

The weeks roll around and it was time again for our Stonestead Stitchers get-together. There is always something new to see, as the ladies bring in what they have been working on. Whether a finished piece or still a work in progress, it is always good to see everyone’s projects. Ruth has completed her two lovely little pieces of Carrickmacross Lace, the same sort of embroidered lace that adorned Katherine’s royal wedding gown. Two is enough, she decided. They may be tiny, but this sort of work is so fine and very labour intensive. Ruth plans to hang these on the Christmas tree as decorations.

Ruth’s hand made Carrickmacross lace pieces

Mary has been diligently working away on her Welcome Christmas Banner for the last few months. It is now all assembled and she has just started the job of hand quilting it. Perhaps it will be finished in time for this Christmas, or perhaps not, she will just see how she goes with it.

Mary working on her quilting

Mary’s Christmas Welcome Banner

With a family wedding coming up, Cheryl and her SIL have both been working on one half each of a wedding quilt for the lucky couple. These two halves have now been stitched together, and she brought it along to show us all. It is a lovely pattern in shades of purple, green and cream, and they have used mostly batik fabrics.

Cheryl’s quilt for a family wedding

Liz has put her hexagon quilt together but now feels it isn’t quite big enough. Luckily she has plenty of fabric left, she said, so will make even more hexagons till she is happy with the size.

Liz is hiding behind her hexagon top

Therese is not really a stitcher, she told me, and she enjoys paper crafts like card making. She brought in these little book marks that she had made recently. Those cute little designs are inserted on top of giant paper clips, and will make nice gifts for children who enjoy reading.

Book marks made by Therese

And what was I doing? Stitching sea snakes on my “Under The Sea” stitchery block. This one is almost finished, then I just have the last panel to stitch. All in all another enjoyable fortnightly meeting, with a tasty Devonshire Tea delivered to us at lunch time.

Library Bag Makeover

2011-10-06T08:50:00.003+13:00

I love our local library, and usually pop in a couple of times a week. The library buys a selection of new books each week, and I like to see what is on offer. Any new books by my favourite authors or others that take my fancy can be ordered for $1 each and I take advantage of this service. This saves me from having to keep looking for them on the shelves. I purchased a Book Bag from the library some months ago and it is certainly handy to keep my library books all together in one place. But……..these bags were all the same, and I decided to give mine a “makeover”. My bag started off like this.

My library bag

Flicking through some magazines, I came across a stitchery pattern featuring books which would work quite well with a change or two. “Scrappy Vintage Favourites” was the name of a quilt featuring stitchery blocks and designed by Michelle Ridgeway. This pattern was published in Creating Country Threads, vol 10, no 9. I stitched the names of a few of my favourite authors on the book spines, added a narrow border, and stitched the panel on the bag.

My library book stitchery panel

For the other side I stitched a heart with the words “I love to read”. Then I undid the stitching holding the handles in place, added the floral band to the top of the bag, then stitched the handles back. I’m rather pleased with how my “personalised” library bag turned out.

The other side of the bag

Yesterday was the monthly Book Club meeting and the theme was “Kiwi Made”. This could be books written by a New Zealand author, or something about New Zealand, fiction or non fiction, the choice was ours. To me, Barry Crump is a real Kiwi bloke who writes books, and I talked about one of his which I had only just discovered, called “Scrap-Wagon” – quite a light read I thought. My second choice was written by Barry’s brother Colin Crump, “In Endless Fear”, an autobiography which tells of the the horrendous violence the whole family endured at the hands of their cruel father. Colin Crump decided that the thing he most wanted in life was “not to be like his father”. One of his aims in writing this book was to explain to Barry Crump’s sons why his brother Barry, their father, turned out the way he did, who with his upbringing, was never going to be happy living the family life in the suburbs. When relationships went wrong for Barry, he just “went bush”. Even though this book was hard to read in places, I can certainly recommend it, and I was moved to tears by the story. Well worth a read for those who want to gain an appreciation of the early years of Barry Crump, New Zealand’s original “Good Keen Man”.

A good day for sewing

2011-10-04T14:36:00.002+13:00

What’s happened to the weather? It’s wet, misty around the hills, and quite cool. Too wet to be outside, but just perfect for a couple of hours at the sewing machine. I’ve been busy cutting strips from my New Zealand designed fabrics and stitching them together with some pale green homespun. I’m turning them into Rail Fence blocks and I stitched the last of them today. I’m planning ahead, and these blocks will be coming down south with us next February when we undertake our “South Island Odyssey Trip”. The plan is to use these blocks as a trip record. The pale green strips will be ideal to write the name of places we stay, sights we see, and maybe, the names of any friendly South Island quilters who I come across.

Rail Fence blocks all done

“But what about”, I hear my conscience reminding me most accusingly, “the blocks for the signature quilt you took to England in 2008? You haven’t even finished that yet!” That’s true, I haven’t, and I took a whole pile of half square triangles around with me as we travelled from B&B, to churches and cathedrals, on planes, boats and trains, even Buckingham Palace, getting people to sign them for me. In my defence, I have made a start on this quilt, and stitched a couple of sections together. Perhaps I should make it my next project to finish? But then again, I’ve got lots of UFOs, so just which one shall I chose next? Procrastination – it’s the story of my life!

UFO Signature Quilt made from blocks taken on our UK trip

Happy to Help

2011-10-03T13:41:00.002+13:00

Dot’s quilt has been in the UK for the last five years or so, covering the bed on their boat “Narrowboat Gypsy Rover”. After selling Gypsy Rover the boat, Dot and Derek now travel around in Gypsy Rover the motor-home, and they have recently returned home to New Zealand. After all that time travelling, the quilt was getting rather grubby. “Give it to me”, I offered, “and I’ll wash it for you”. After all, I am a quilter, and used to carefully laundering such a prized possession. On a recent perfect sunny day, with a little breeze, I soon had that quilt washed and hanging up to dry. There is nothing like a bit of sunshine to make the laundry smell nice and clean.

I remember when Dot wanted to make a quilt to take away on their narrowboat adventure. Dot and Derek had rather liked the quilt I made for the bed in our caravan, and thought that one of their own would be nice. “I’ll help you make a quilt”, I told Dot, “it will be fun”. First of all, she had to choose a pattern, nothing too complicated for a first quilt. Dot chose a simple block with cornerstones, put together with a plain alternate block, an adaptation of “Daisies won’t Tell” from my book “"Triangle Free Quilts”, by Judy Hopkins. Then it was time for fabric shopping – and the chosen palette was burgundy and cream. We found a lovely burgundy batik, and a lighter Fossil Fern to go with it, with a darker burgundy print for the sashing.

As I had all the necessary tools of rotary cutter, ruler and board, I took over the job of cutting all the fabric. The pieces were pinned together, and I showed Dot how to assemble the blocks. She didn’t want any help with the sewing, as she was determined to do all the sewing herself. As each block was stitched, then pressed, they were laid out in rows, and the rows then stitched together. The triangle borders were easily put together using half square triangles. In no time at all, the top was done. On my suggestion, it was commercially quilted, in a nice all-over design. Then I showed Dot how to attach the binding, and once again, she was keen to do every stitch herself. A first quilt is a big learning curve, and she did a wonderful job.

Dot’s quilt, all freshly laundered

“You must have a label”, I told her, “so how about a photo label?” Perhaps she will need to add a second photo label as they now have a motor home?

Photo label

Dot and Derek are sure to have all sorts of exciting travel adventures now they are back in New Zealand – there are roads to travel, places to explore, and sights to see. And their nice clean quilt can grace the bed again. It was no trouble at all - I was just happy to help!

Kapiti Coast Quilters Exhibition

2011-10-01T19:33:00.003+13:00

Oh goody, a quilt show, and I had been really looking forward to going to this. I travelled up SH1 to Waikanae – about an hour’s drive away, to meet up with my friend Shirley. Shirley is a quilter too, and it is always so much nicer to attend a show with a quilting buddy at your side as you look at all the quilts on display. Just in the door and after paying our $3 admission were the ladies with the raffles. There was a raffle quilt and several interesting baskets full of goodies. Wonder if I will be lucky enough to win one of these wonderful raffles?

The raffle table

There were several vendors with stalls and Diana from Kapiti Coast Bernina was demonstrating “Slice Fabrique”, a digital fabric cutter. This interesting little machine cuts selected appliqué shapes and alphabet letters at the touch of a button, and cards are available to purchase for extra shapes, such as the Christmas Collection. This could be a very handy tool for those who do a lot of appliqué.

Diana demonstrating the appliqué cutter

The hall looked so colourful with all the quilts hung on the display frames. We wandered slowly along, taking in all the details. I loved this stitchery quilt by Sandra White, titled “Snowman Collection”. It won a ribbon for Best Quilt for Children.

“Snowman Collection”, by Sandra White

What could be more “Kiwi” than these long legged pukeko native birds? “Playful Pukekos” was made by Barbara Parker for her first grand-child. This is a counting quilt and the panels say “One pukeko, two pukekos, three pukekos” and so on, ending with “and more”.

“Playful Pukekos” by Barbara Parker

“Eastern Dreaming”, by Robin Goring, was a beautiful bed quilt with a Japanese flavour, with motifs stitched in the black alternate blocks. This quilt won an award for Innovative/Traditional with a Twist.

“Eastern Dreaming” by Robin Goring

The alternate blocks all had different designs stitched in gold thread

And here is my friend Shirley with her entry “Supernova”. Didn’t she do a good job? This spectacular design is an “exploding star” and Shirley has quilted stars in the borders.

Shirley with “Supernova”.

Black and white is always a winning combination, and Valerie Cameron made this very striking quilt “A Touch of Red”. The arcs give this quilt a lot of movement.

“A Touch of Red”, by Valerie Cameron

There was a whole lot of little ladies displayed together. “Tea Cup Friends” were made by members of the Kapiti Coast Quilters at a recent workshop.

Lots of Tea Cup Friends on display

We decided to stop for a cuppa at the cafe tucked away in the corner of the hall. This was being run as a fund raiser for the Paraparaumu College Cricket Club for their school trip to Australia. Boys from the team were helping out serving the food and drinks, and no doubt the Mums provided all the delicious food. We enjoyed a light lunch of home-made pumpkin soup, followed by a piece of some of that delicious baking each. After that we were feeling fortified and ready for more quilts, and had spotted a Baltimore variation from the cafe, so went to check it out. Judith McDonald won Best Appliquéd Quilt with her entry, “William and Me”, using William Morris fabrics, and was beautifully hand quilted.

“William and Me”, by Judith McDonald

Shirley and I were both taken with this simple little Charity Quilt, made by the club for the Hospital. As we looked at it we both commented that it would be an ideal pattern to use up some of those never ending scraps that we all seem to have so many of. Made up of nine patch blocks teamed with half square triangles, it would be reasonably quick to assemble.

Hospital Charity Quilt made by club members

The Club Challenge was to make something reflecting “Kapiti – our Coast”. First prize went to “Moody Blues”, showing a stylized tui flying past Kapiti Island – sorry but I didn’t take note of the maker. A quilt showing Happy Feet the Emperor Penguin was part of the challenge, as he was found sick and lost on nearby Peka Peka Beach.

The challenge quilts

Best in Show was a wonderful quilt by Eleanor Barker. Called “Historic Buildings of the South Island”, the inspiration came from photos of these lovely old buildings taken during a trip down south. Each building was then translated into an intricate appliqué with the details heavily embroidered. Close inspection revealed all sorts of details, from the embroidered fence and bicycle, and lots of embroidered trees and flowers. We can just imagine the time taken to make this hand appliquéd, hand embroidered, and hand quilted masterpiece.

Best of Show by Eleanor Barker

Close-up photo showing embroidered lavender hedge, trees and flowers

There were so many lovely quilts, wall-hangings and miniatures on show but I could only share a few of my favourites with you. Shirley and I had a lovely time checking them all out, and catching up with other quilters who we knew. Now, wonder if I could just manage to win one of those wonderful raffle prizes? That would really make my day!

A help or a hindrance?

2011-09-28T21:13:00.002+13:00

I have been stitching away quite merrily lately on a couple of projects, but nothing quite finished yet to show off. Our cat Muffy has been “helping” me, or so she thinks, sitting up on top of my sewing cabinet. At least she is not trying to touch any moving parts, and sits quite still, just watching. Muffy really wants to stay close by, and gets quite upset and cries piteously if she can’t find us. We think that as she is getting older, she is starting to feel a little anxious. She loves to spend the early evenings cuddled up in our laps, either one will do, she is not really fussy. Then at bedtime she settles down quite comfortably on the foot of the bed. I remember reading somewhere that cat owners have lower blood pressure than non cat owners, as petting a cat is very soothing. Don’t think anything could be more comforting than a purring cat curled up on your lap, do you?

Muffy is helping me sew

Dolls of Joy

2011-09-26T13:30:00.003+13:00

Tucked away in rural Ekatahuna is “Dolls of Joy”, Joy Cole’s much loved collection of 2000 dolls beautifully displayed in four rooms. This collection started slowly, as most do, and Joy started collecting dolls from markets and op shops. They usually needed new clothes, and the knitting needles were kept busy producing beautiful woollen garments to dress these dolls. Prams, pushchairs, cribs and highchairs were collected too, and once Joy and hubby Bruce retired, they discussed how best to display the collection for people to view when visiting their other love, Waieka Country Garden. The one room planned was not big enough, and this increased to four rooms, packed with dolls of all shapes, sizes and colours.

There are some family heirlooms on display too. This pretty blue dress was worn by Joy’s grand-daughter when she was flower girl at a family wedding.

Grand-daughter’s flower girl dress

And here is Joy standing with a doll wearing the flower girl dress from her own wedding many years ago. How special is that?

Joy with her flower girl’s dress

I’m sure we all can remember the inevitable tea parties we enjoyed with our dolls. Our dollies were arranged “just so” and were always well behaved, as I remember.

Dollies Tea Party

A collection of Asian dolls

Native American dolls

Two little gollies

Even more dolls

We loved looking at the beautiful knitted outfits, the tiny hand smocked dresses, pretty dresses with ruffles and lace, and a collection of wedding dolls too. The “Twin Room” had twins galore, plus a smattering of triplets as well. Dolls were arranged by country, then by manufacturer. There were several little quilts hanging up on the wall adding another touch to the collection. We had a lovely time admiring Joy’s collection. Our visit there was rather like walking into girly heaven.

Have you tried Kiwifruit Jam?

2011-09-24T20:16:00.002+12:00

I’ve been busy in the kitchen cooking up a batch of kiwifruit jam. I much prefer home made jam to what we buy in the shops. At least with home made jam you know exactly what is in it – fruit, sugar and no nasty stuff to make it thicker. Kiwifruit jam has lemon juice added too, and is rather nice on a piece of toast at breakfast. There is something very homely about seeing a big jam pot of fruit bubbling away, and the smell is divine. I sterilize the jars in the hot oven, and put the seals in boiling water. So far this year I’ve made plum jam and grape jelly, and now my new batch of kiwifruit jam. I’ve just been given a whole lot of lovely lemons, so I'm going to have a go and making lemon honey next. Wish me luck, I’ve never made that before.

Kiwifruit jam

Pinestream Quilters September Club-night

2011-09-23T17:07:00.002+12:00

The hall was packed on our club-night and we had a very full programme. Award winning quilter Fyvie Murray was our speaker and she related her quilting journey. Fyvie’s first experience of patchwork some years ago were duvet covers, now in use on the cat’s bed, she told us. Then her daughter signed her up for her first class, and she has never looked back. Fyvie had a slide show presentation of her work, and also brought several quilts, so that we could see them in the flesh. For someone who only came to quilting in the 1990s, Fyvie has produced an amazing number of Baltimore Album quilts – most of us would be delighted if we managed to do only one. After mastering the traditional needle-turn method of appliqué, she has perfected a method of doing a needle-turn variation on her sewing machine.

Two of Fyvie’s beautiful Baltimores

This talented quilter then went on to experiment making a Baltimore using a palette of cream and white for the appliqué blocks. She decided that the quilt needed some extra colour so added some dark pieced stars. I have seen this work of art displayed in a quilt show and it is just gorgeous.

White and cream appliqué with star blocks

Pinestream Quilters club members have been making quilts to cover the beds at Te Omanga Hospice. Our local quilt shop, Thimbles and Threads, has been very generous with providing fabric, batting, and quilting services. Two staff members from the Hospice attended our meeting and Margaret, our Charity Quilt Co-ordinator, together with our President Brenda, made the presentation to them.

Presenting the Hospice quilts

Show and Tell was delightful, as always. Here are just a few of what caught my eye, there were lots more as well, as our members are always very prolific. Several members had made little quilts for the Neo Natal Unit at Hutt Hospital. These little teddy bears are so cute and will certainly brighten up the ward.

Neo Natal quilts for Hutt Hospital

Sharon had brought two quilts along, both pink, and both will be donated to Wellington Hospital. Sharon also expertly quilted these on a long arm machine. The plan for this one, in retro pink colours, is to be given to a teenager who is sure to love the bright, trendy colours.

To be donated to Wellington Hospital

Who doesn’t love Christmas? Cathy started this Christmas wall-hanging in a class, and it is just lovely, and heavily embellished.

Cathy’s Christmas quilt

Another nice wall-hanging was the country style chicken house, made by Claire. The rooster is keeping an eye out for danger while his flock go about their chooky business.

Claire’s fowl house

Blue and white colour scheme is always a winner and Margarite brought along her Bear’s Paw quilt to show us. She certainly made a very nice job of this.

Margaruites Bear’s Paw quilt

Some lucky rugby supporter is getting his very own quilt for Rugby World Cup. Fay made this for her husband using a panel, and coordinating fabric for the borders.

Fay’s rugby quilt

June teaches quilt making each week in the women’s prison and brought along a couple of quilts in progress from her pupils. Here she is hiding behind the quilts. June is always very grateful for the support from the club, and the many donations of fabric she receives from the club members.

Two quilts made by June’s girls

It was another great club night, with an interesting speaker, tasty supper, and plenty of quilts to look at. It is always good to catch up with other members too.

More of Barbara’s Treasures

2011-09-21T11:28:00.002+12:00

We visited our friends Bill and Barbara yesterday, to take Bill a little “Get Well” gift after his recent surgery. Barbara is a keen crafter and she likes to keep her hands busy. She was keen to show me her lovely Witch Doll, a gift from her daughter.

Barbara and her Witch Doll

Two knitted tots were sitting on a chair. They are so cute, a little Gingerbread Man and a doll dressed in a pretty knitted lemon dress and hat.

Two knitted toys

I noticed a little basket on the table full of pretty pincushions in lovely soft colours. A couple were embroidered, there was a blue-mauve patchwork pincushion, and a lemon heart shaped pincushion embellished with ribbons and lace. And can you see the tiny little doll in the front with her pretty lace dress?

A collection of pincushion

And look what I found displayed on the bathroom window sill. Two glass jars shaped in the female form filled with tiny coloured pebbles. I haven’t seen anything quite like this before.

Pebbles in glass bottles

Barbara has the most interesting collection of all sorts of treasures, and there is always something different to see each time we visit.

September Stitching Monday

2011-09-20T11:49:00.002+12:00

Who would forget our previous Stitching Monday when the snow kept falling down all day? I was really worried that my little blue car would have a nervous breakdown and not get me home safely. No snow this month, just cold and persistent rain. Luckily we were all warm and cosy inside the hall with sewing machines whirring away, cups of coffee as required, and plenty of friendly chatter to keep us going. Some members had new projects underway, and others had ones they were still working on. Joyce was working on a new project. She is making Snail Trail blocks in black and white for her grand-daughters upcoming wedding. She laid the blocks out on the carpet and we all helped with views of the arrangement, after all, you can’t have two blocks with the same fabric together, can you? Several of the ladies offered their black and white fabrics to Joyce, and she cut off a few pieces to incorporate into her quilt. This is going to look stunning when it is completed.

Black and white Snail Trail blocks

Maureen was sitting quietly doing hand appliqué on her teddies and butterflies block. This will end up as another little quilt to be donated to the Neo Natal unit at Hutt Hospital. Many of our club members like to make these little quilts and they are really appreciated by the new parents of the tiny babies who have to stay in the ward.

Cute appliqué block

A beautiful selection of Hoffman fabrics with a Japanese flavour are going into Pamela’s current project. The pattern is Kaffe Fassett’s Garden Tapestry, and Pamela is making this lovely quilt for her herself. Just look at all those gorgeous fabrics in such lovely soft colours.

Garden Tapestry blocks

Gaye wasn’t stitching at all, but playing with paper and glue. She was working on a series of “colour studies” for her Level 1 City and Guilds Embroidery course. Pictures showing the required colours had been collected from magazines and made into a collage.

Gaye’s colour studies

Stitching the quilt binding down is a good job to do on a day such as this. It always takes longer than anticipated so it is a good thing to tackle while chatting away to friends. Christine is up to this stage of her soft and pretty 1930s Irish Chain variation.

Christine’s 1930s quilt

Fay has recently celebrated a very special birthday and brought in her extra special birthday gift to show us all. It is a beautiful little fabric book made by her quilting buddy Margaret. All the pages have a very special meaning and there are several photo transfers which make it so personal, along with lots of embellishments. This is certainly a treasured gift.

Fay and her birthday book

Margaret seemed to be buried under a whole pile of fabric. She was busy cutting out pieces of bright kiddies fabrics to make I Spy quilts for two little grandsons. I spotted the Hungry Caterpillar, Dr Seuss, animal prints and lots of other interesting fabrics in her pile.

Margaret busy cutting fabric

And what was I doing? First I made some more of these New Zealand Postcard blocks. I had previously made four quilt tops and a set of place mats from NZ fabrics to take away as gifts on our UK trip a couple of years ago. So it was time to make something with a NZ flavour for us too.

New Zealand Postcard Blocks

Then I went on to make some Rail Fence blocks, again with a New Zealand flavour. I will take these down south early next year when we do our South Island Odyssey trip and write down all the places we stay at on the pale green rails. So this will eventually end up as a memory quilt of our trip.

New Zealand Rail Fence blocks

After lunch I packed my sewing machine away and spent the last hour doing a little hand stitching on my Christmas project. We all had an enjoyable day, and thanks again to everyone for allowing me to photograph their work.

All the Seasons Table Runner

2011-09-16T14:57:00.002+12:00

I love doing stitcheries, but I’m the first to admit that I’m quite slow. After all, I’m still plodding along with my “Under the Sea” blocks, and they are still not finished! But…… in the meantime I stitched four little seasonal blocks, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, designed by Scrubber Creek. Each block shows the outline of a tree, and the differences as the seasons progress. I stitched my Spring tree with light green leaves, and pale pink blossoms. Summer shows the tree with darker green leaves, and rosy red apples, while the leaves turn gold and brown for Autumn as they fall onto to the ground. The tree is bare in Winter.

Four seasons

The blocks are designed to be made into four individual wall hangings, but I wasn’t really keen on that idea. So I stitched them into the corners of a small table runner, and measuring 24 inches by 20 inches, it just right for the caravan.

Seasonal table runner for the caravan

The green fabric used is the last piece of Debbie Mumm fabric from long ago. I used this green check in a quilt for my grand-daughter Megan, completed back in August 1999. I can be sure of the date as I remember hurrying to get her quilt finished so I could give it to her before we departed on our big 3 month OE to England. We had stop-overs at Disneyland then Juneau, Alaska on the way over. Then had seats booked for the Edinburgh Tattoo, after which we travelled by car around Scotland, Ireland and England. Followed by an 8 day whistle-stop bus tour of Europe, before finishing off with a week’s R&R in Hawaii on the way home. That was some holiday!

Megan with her pinwheel and bunnies quilt

Megan is quite the young lady these days at 16 years of age, and I have made her several more quilts over the years. I am sure her tastes have moved on from the bunnies and pinwheels in this quilt. Guess she would like a proper “grown-up” quilt now she is in college, I must ask her what her preferences are now she is all grown up – no doubt like most teenagers she will want something with black in it.

Any day is Washing Day

2011-09-14T16:01:00.003+12:00

It’s a great day for washing today. The sun is out, although the temperature is rather on the cool side. But the breeze is blowing nicely, and the load of washing is flapping outside. There is nothing like washing dried outside in the sun, is there? But laundry waits for no one, even in cold wet wintry weather. During the winter months I hand my washing out of the rain and in the garage. I’m one of those people who quite enjoy doing the washing, and I have this hanging above the washing machine. I rather like ironing too.

Wash Day – made in 1994

My little wall-hanging “Wash Day” has been over seeing the laundry duties for quite some time now. I made it in a class in the local quilt shop in 1994, and remember the tutor telling me that it was a hand appliqué class. But that didn’t appeal to me and I was the only one in the class to do my appliqué by machine. The Holly Hobbie girl has a little quilt, a pair of pantaloons, and an apron pegged out on her clothesline.

Yesterday’s weather was quite spectacular with thunder and lightning and a freak hail storm which hit the capital and continued up the Hutt Valley. Over 500 lightning strikes were recorded in the city, the temperatures dropped dramatically, and hail rattled down. Just as well it’s a much nicer day today.

Photos by MATT VELDE – hail in Wellington

To my Hubby on his Birthday

2011-09-12T15:54:00.002+12:00

It’s Robin’s birthday today and the card I bought him goes like this:

Sometimes I’m absent minded, sometimes I’m kind of cross

Sometimes I do make out as if I think I am the boss

Sometimes I shop too much (quilt shops) and you get kind of worried

Sometimes I’m just plain stubborn if I think I’m being hurried

Sometimes I act the Diva, sometimes I’m nutty too

But there’s one thing I always am, and that’s in love with you!!

Robin told me I’m all those things, from time to time. Now, just what does he mean by that, I wonder?

Happy Birthday, Robin.

Embroideries on the wall

2011-09-11T16:55:00.002+12:00

As a quilter, I am always delighted to come across any sort of textiles when we are out and about, especially if they are hand crafted. We were away at a caravan rally over the weekend – staying not too far from home at Camp Elsdon in Porirua. Friends from our club invited us to join them for Saturday lunch at a little Indian restaurant they enjoyed going to. So six of us drove down to the Cobham Court shopping area to enjoy a curry for lunch. We strolled along under the covered walkway decorated with various carvings and soon arrived at Curry Village.

Covered walkway in Cobham Court, Porirua

The restaurant offered $12 lunches: your choice of curry, rice and a delicious puffy naan bread, (yum, I just love those naans), and a soft drink. Very good value, I think. The meal was delicious, and the restaurant nicely appointed.

Ready for our lunch

I noticed there were several framed embroideries hanging on the walls, and approached the desk to ask if I could take some photos. Yes, certainly, was the surprised answer. After wondering if they had perhaps been stitched by the owner, I was told that they had purchased to decorate the restaurant. So they were not family heirlooms as I had thought. Some were appliquéd and others were embroidered, and I think the owners were quite surprised by my interest. Unfortunately the lighting was very subdued, so I had to use my flash. The photos aren’t perfect, but you can get the idea of just how attractive these wall-hangings are.

Hanging on the walls at Curry Village

Stonestead Stitchers September meeting

2011-09-08T17:09:00.002+12:00

Here were are, it’s two weeks on and time for the Stonestead Stitchers to meet up again. The birds were fluttering around and chirping away in the Spring–like conditions outside, and we thought we could hear a donkey. Or perhaps it was just a gate swinging on rusty hinges that we heard? We will have to check with Kevin if in fact he now has a donkey on the property. Liz, Dorothy and Bridget had all brought their hexagon projects along and were busy stitching.

Liz showing off her hexagons with Dorothy holding up the other end

Mary’s Christmas banner is coming along well and she was stitching the last appliquéd block for her Christmas banner, the final “E” of Welcome, she said. Then it will all need to be assembled. It is going to look great with all those nice fabrics.

Last appliquéd letter of Mary’s Christmas banner

Ruth had recently attended an embroidery class run by tutor Jean Rothwell and had something quite new to show us. The class taught was Carrickmacross Lace, the same sort of embroidered lace that adorned Katherine’s royal wedding gown. Carrickmacross lace is stitched over organza and netting, with the paper pattern underneath. Ruth’s first sample was almost complete, just needing a little extra stitching to finish it off, and it is such beautiful, delicate work. Her second sample being stitched shows the paper pattern underneath the layers.

Carrickmacross embroidered lace

I did a little stitching on a new Christmas project. As I said to Robin, no, I don’t really need another Christmas item, I just really like making them! No doubt I will find just the place for it amongst the other things at Christmas.

Quilting Book Cover

2011-09-06T16:46:00.002+12:00

I quite enjoy doing stitcheries and took this one away with me when we travelled around the East Coast a couple of years ago. Called “Stitching – I love it”, it is a design by Jacqui Tegal and was published in Country Threads magazine volume 5, number 12. Once completed, it sat lonely and forgotten in my sewing basket.

My stitchery block

This stitchery was designed to be part of a cushion, but I had other ideas for it. I decided to turn it into a book cover – and I had just the fabric to use with it. My friend Elaine had sent me a piece of the most delightful fabric one birthday, featuring cats running wild in the sewing room. (Elaine and her husband are caravanning friends from Australia, and it is thanks to my influence that Elaine took up patchwork and quilting, she likes to say). But how to go about it? I had a general idea and had seen journals with padded covers, although I was using a larger lever arch folder. After a bit of “thinking time”, I decided to bag out the feature fabric, lining and pellon. Then I turned the ends around the folder as pockets, and stitched through. It doesn’t look too bad, but perhaps there is a neater way.

Covered folder

Back view showing cat fabric

My daughter made me this pretty covered ring binder book some years ago with a nice little cross stitch on the front, although this book is much narrower than the one I have just covered. This was such a pretty gift and it is a shame that I have not started making use of it before now.

Made by my daughter, and still unused

I feel really guilty that I have not put my quilting history in order up to now. All my photos and notes about the various quilts I have made have been pushed in a plastic bag and just left. I have finally started work dealing with a few of the many quilt photos and fabric samples that have been tucked away. Each story needs to be put in words, the why, when and how behind each creation. Guess this is going to be a long job, and I started with the story of my padded book cover, and have gone on to do about ten stories so far. Once printed, I attach my fabric samples to the page with a blue Magic Dot or two, and place my page(s) inside a plastic pocket – to pop inside the lever arch. Luckily we have an excellent scanner and colour printer, which makes the process much easier, although at the rate I’m going, I’ll be using up all the coloured ink cartridges.

How do others file their quilt histories, by date of completion or by category? Do you use separate pages, like I am doing, or perhaps write things up in a journal? I thought I would use my daughter’s book for items like cushions, bags and table runners, and file the quilt stories in my larger folder. And for those who are interested, I’ve been quilting since the mid 1990s, so I’m a bit late starting this quilt history project, wouldn’t you say?

I love surprises

2011-09-04T14:25:00.003+12:00

I love surprises, and I received a surprise packet in the mail. Wonder what it is? Oh look, it’s a whole pile of selvedges, sent from Roz. How kind, she had promised to send some and here they are. It is a good assortment too, with a nice amount of the patterned fabric left on. Amongst all the colours I spotted a black and white selvedge from “Grease – Paramount Pictures”. And as an extra surprise there is a little white pussy cat cut-out – for Muffy perhaps? I have a couple of selvedge projects in mind so these will come in very handy.

Thanks so much, Roz

I first met Roz in March this year on our travels after exchanging emails now and then. She reads our blogs and had asked if we could pop in next time we travelled through her town. Roz is kept busy stitching for the Sano Diyo quilt project, and her aim is to complete 50 quilts to send over to be distributed to the orphanages in Nepal. Thanks so much for the parcel, Roz.

Spinners and Weavers – Heritage Month

2011-09-03T10:16:00.002+12:00

The Upper Hutt Spinners and Weavers are just one of the groups featured in Heritage Month this September. Their group is celebrating 40 years of spinning and weaving and recently had a demonstration in the local shopping mall. My only wool related craft is knitting (from time to time) and I was interested to go along to see what it is all about.

Spinners and Weavers demonstration

First I talked to a lady doing carding. Now, I do know that the raw wool is carded (teased out) before being plyed, but I didn’t realise that there was a mechanical way to do this, I thought it was brushed out by hand. The fleece being carded is alpaca, and is wonderfully soft. This lady knows all about machine embroidery and is keen to start taking classes, so I intend to catch up with her shortly about this. Perhaps I should mention that I have an embroidery module for my sewing machine that I have never used, and didn’t know how to get started. So it must be fate, or maybe good luck, that I went along to this demonstration.

Carding alpaca fibre

What’s next? Of course, it’s spinning. There were several different spinning wheels on show, and I didn’t realise that there was so much variation in design. This one is a mini spinning wheel and the wool being spun is corriedale.

Spinning, spinning

There were a couple of small table looms set up, and one young visitor was really keen to have a go. She was doing very well too for such a young child and was carefully listening to instructions.

Weaving

Another lady was doing Tunisian crotchet, which I had never seen before. It looked like knitting on a crotchet hook. She was making a strap for her bag, after first weaving the body of the bag.

Tunisian crotchet

Another example of Tunisian crotchet was this beautiful white rug, which took three years to make, I was told.

Rug made by Tunisian crotchet

The Spinners and Weavers also have a small display in the local library, together with a good selection of books relating to these crafts for people to borrow.

Display at the library

A “jelly dyed” garment? I’ve never heard of that before.

All this wool everywhere on show is making me think of getting my own knitting needles clacking again – I know I have something almost finished in my knitting bag. And once that is finally finished, I could start something new, couldn’t I?

A handy gift

2011-09-01T10:16:00.002+12:00

Do you have one of these ever so handy “thread catchers”? Or something similar? This was a hand made gift from my daughter many years ago and I’ve used it constantly. It goes to stitching days with me, and the (very) occasional classes that I attend. It’s not to say that some snipped threads and the like don’t end up on the floor – they certainly still do. But it is a gift I treasure, and is always in use.

Thread catcher, a long ago gift from my daughter

As usual, I seem to spend a little sewing time first doing some mending. The thread around the sleeve of Robin’s tee-shirt had come undone. “Can you fix it?” he asked. Of course I could. This is a very old tee-shirt but one he likes to wear around the house, and was a long ago millennium souvenir tee-shirt. Gisborne on the east coast was designated the “first place to see the sun” in New Zealand, so we joined some caravan friends there for this historic occasion. I remember that we spent New Year’s Eve with thousands of others gathered around the town clock being entertained by bands as we waited for the clock to strike midnight. Then we spent the night on the beach to wait for the sun to come up on the first day of the new millennium. It was certainly a magical time and I am so glad that we were there.

Gisborne Millennium tee-shirt – all repaired

What next – it’s time to work on some more log cabin blocks. I am using McCall's pre-printed tissue foundations for this quilt, and it works very well for me. Goodness knows if I would be able to construct nice tidy log cabin blocks without using this method. This is a fairly slow block to make, with 17 logs in each. To speed things up I now do 6 blocks at a time. This way I stitch one log, trim the seam allowance, then press all six at once, then on to the next log. These blocks are being stitched in burgundies and creams, and is one that I sew in-between other projects. Some blocks are also being stitched for me as part of a “Block Swap” run by the monthly Friday Stitchers group, so it will be exciting to get those blocks back in due course.

Foundation pieced log cabin blocks

Hanging Kathryn’s Quilt

2011-08-29T14:01:00.002+12:00

“Remembering Graeme” was stitched from shirts, ties, and tee-shirts and given to my friend Kathryn to commemorate the first anniversary of the passing of her partner Graeme in July. After proudly displaying the quilt to family, friends, and workmates, Kathryn returned it to me with the request for a hanging sleeve. That was easily done, and Robin duly cut a timber slat to size, and purchased the necessary screws and hooks. With a few tools to do the job, we visited Kathryn so that we could hang her quilt. She had just the spot for it, she told us. So Robin duly measured, marked the spots where the hooks should go, and before you knew it, the job was all done.

Kathryn with her quilt

Kathryn had asked if I could make her a table runner “sometime”, and I had just the fabric in the bag full of clothing I used for the quilt – a rather nice paisley in browns with a touch of orange. This silky fabric needed to be stabilised as it was very slippery. I added some apricot with white spots fabric from my stash, plus some cream for the background, and used the brown paisley as the binding. After tossing around all sorts of ideas for the table runner, I finally decided to stick with the star theme. The lounge curtains are burnt orange, so both the quilt and the runner tie in nicely with the colour scheme.

Table runner

After a nice cup of coffee and a piece or two of chocolate cake, Robin set to with the tools again and put the hall door back on his hinges. “That was easy”, he told us, and I think he rather enjoyed his bit of Builder’s DIY.

Pinestream Quilters August Club night

2011-08-27T10:28:00.002+12:00

Our speaker for this month’s meeting was Claire Smith, (well known for her love of “spiky trees quilts”), who gave a slide show presentation about her recent trip to the Tokyo Quilt Exhibition. And what a huge exhibition is was – several slides gave us an overall view of this extremely large complex. The slide show started with several pictures of monkeys soaking in hot pools surrounded by snow. We have all probably seen these animals on TV, and Claire had some marvellous close-up photos of the monkeys, completely at ease, as the tourists snapped away at them with their cameras. Then came slides of the quilts, all very beautiful. Claire mentioned that most quilts in the show were hand quilted, and hand appliquéd, probably due to the very small living conditions of most people in Japan. We saw several quilts featuring the Japanese favoured taupe colour scheme, and most of the quilts photographed seemed to have that “WOW” factor with intricate piecing, appliqué and hand quilting. As the show was so crowded, often with 10 deep all looking at a particular quilt, Claire often returned later in the day to take photos when the crowd had thinned out a little. She also showed us some delightful sightseeing slides. The beautiful buildings, parades, and cherry blossom all captured the essence of Japan so well.

Patricia had brought along a Japanese inspired quilt for Show and Tell. Using a commercial panel, she had accented the design with hand embroidery using silver thread. Those colours are just beautiful against the black background.

Geisha Girl quilt

Another panel quilt on show was made by Jo for her 14 year old grand son, who is obviously a motor bike enthusiast. Any young budding biker is sure to be delighted with his Nana for making such a quilt.

Jo’s motorbike quilt for her grand-son

My friend Jenni brought along her stunning bag. The blocks are made from multi layers of fabric, stitched in circles, then the fabric cut away to expose the under layers. The circles are then quartered, and stiched back together again. It was a good lesson in putting colours together, she said. And such lovely shades too, just like the colours of a paua shell.

Jenni’s bag

Such pretty soft colours in Faye’s nine patch quilt, beautifully set off with the appliquéd border.

Faye’s quilt

I’m sorry that I didn’t catch the names of who brought in these last few items I photographed, but they are certainly well worth including. This lovely little beauty is a donation for the Neo Natal Unit at Hutt Hospital.

Neo Natal baby quilt

And I rather liked the knitting needle bag which rolls up neatly. I heard that this is to be a gift, for an aunt, I think, and is made with knitting themed fabric. Can you see the sheep busy with their knitting needles?

Knitting needle roll

And last but not least was this vibrant Island tivaevae cover. The large leaves and fruit have been heavily embroidered then appliquéd to the teal blue background. These covers are traditionally left as tops (not quilted and no wadding used) and used as bed covers in the Islands. I understand that a church group is making these tivaevae for sale to Island supporters who will be visiting New Zealand during the upcoming Rugby World Cup games.

Tivaevae cover

Another excellent monthly meeting, with a very interesting speaker. It is always good to catch up with others, and see what they have been working on during the month.