Tuesday, 9 June 2015
Monday, 18 May 2015
Autumn in the garden
Between the rain showers....
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| Beneath the silver birch, the fungi are emerging... |
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| pushing the soft, wet soil out of the way. |
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| The crab apples await the arrival of flocks of hungry wax-eyes. |
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| Pure white nerines.... |
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| and a camellia named after Christmas, but trapped in the wrong hemisphere. |
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| The hydrangeas have faded.... |
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| and the hostas are rotting, turning into a brown, slimy mess. |
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| A bright note of colour. |
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| The last of the birch leaves, attached to skeletal branches, outlined against a winter sky. |
Sunday, 17 May 2015
A quilt for Zaden
Well, instead of finishing the Postage Stamp Quilt, I made another quilt top, and have just finished pin-basting it.
I must say, the floor is very far away these days, and I'm not sure knees are supposed to make audible noises when you unbend them. I may have to investigate a spray glue to baste in future. Or, start taking some joint supplements. I would baste on the table, but my daughter has appropriated that on a permanent basis for her quilting.
Nevertheless, the pinning is done, and the top is ready to be quilted.
Its a very tight squeeze in my kitchen fitting a quilt top in. But since it's the only non-carpeted floor, other than the laundry, I make do. The kitchen was "designed" in the 1980's. I use the word "designed" very loosely, since the set-up is bizarre, and the kitchen is so bad I stopped baking when we arrived here. Probably a good thing, considering I also stopped exercising.
We were going to renovate the kitchen after we bought the house, but life happened, and now the renovations are on hold. I am determined to get rid of that blue this summer though!
The quilt is for my niece, Zaden. Her step-siblings were all given name quilts when they were born, and she has been apparently asking where hers is.
The letter blocks are from a Dr Suess panel, surrounded by some grey homespun from Spotlight, and some lightweight canvas with a multi-coloured arrow print. The backing fabric is a lightweight denim that I found for only $3.50/m at Murray's Emporium. It's an unusual mix, but with the fabrics pre-washed, I am hoping it will be okay. The quilt has to be hard wearing, so I chose the materials with that in mind.
For the quilting I plan to either run straight lines down the quilt, or do a simple grid.
First I suspect I had better clean my sewing machine, and buy some jeans needles.
Linking up to Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts and WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced Modern Quilts.
I must say, the floor is very far away these days, and I'm not sure knees are supposed to make audible noises when you unbend them. I may have to investigate a spray glue to baste in future. Or, start taking some joint supplements. I would baste on the table, but my daughter has appropriated that on a permanent basis for her quilting.
Nevertheless, the pinning is done, and the top is ready to be quilted.
Its a very tight squeeze in my kitchen fitting a quilt top in. But since it's the only non-carpeted floor, other than the laundry, I make do. The kitchen was "designed" in the 1980's. I use the word "designed" very loosely, since the set-up is bizarre, and the kitchen is so bad I stopped baking when we arrived here. Probably a good thing, considering I also stopped exercising.
We were going to renovate the kitchen after we bought the house, but life happened, and now the renovations are on hold. I am determined to get rid of that blue this summer though!
Of course I was interrupted just before the finish by an insistent cat, so I ended up trimming the quilt with some company.
The letter blocks are from a Dr Suess panel, surrounded by some grey homespun from Spotlight, and some lightweight canvas with a multi-coloured arrow print. The backing fabric is a lightweight denim that I found for only $3.50/m at Murray's Emporium. It's an unusual mix, but with the fabrics pre-washed, I am hoping it will be okay. The quilt has to be hard wearing, so I chose the materials with that in mind.
For the quilting I plan to either run straight lines down the quilt, or do a simple grid.
First I suspect I had better clean my sewing machine, and buy some jeans needles.
Linking up to Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts and WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced Modern Quilts.
Kapiti Quilt Show Part 2
Since one blog post would be ridiculously photo heavy, I thought I'd post the remaining photos today. These were not prize winners, but lovely quilts that tempted me to start something new.
Behind me temptation!
Not all of these have labels. Note to self for next time, take photo's of all labels.
Behind me temptation!
Not all of these have labels. Note to self for next time, take photo's of all labels.
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| Lovely stitchery in Celebrating the new kitchen by Margeret Jones. |
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| White diamonds by Alison Tierney |
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| Mrs Zebra by Judy Boyle. |
The following three quilts were made during a Griet Lombard class, called "Fading Roses".
Thats the last of the photo's. Todays task, now that I have vacuumed, done laundry, cleaned a child's bedroom, gone grocery shopping and booked the car and my teeth in for a service......is to relax with some hand quilting.
This afternoon I might try basting Zayden's quilt. More on that later in the week.
Saturday, 16 May 2015
Kapiti Quilters Show
I managed to drag the hubby along to a quilt show this weekend, solely because it was held in the Southward Car Museum. At only $17 entry, it was cheap entertainment for the period of time he spent.
Needless to say, although I have since sit through his car photo's, he won't be reviewing any of the beautiful quilts that were on show.
The vendors were out in force, and I managed to find some Art Gallery Fabric, a rare event in NZ. I also stocked up on some newish Kaffe fabrics to enhance the stash.
A few of my favourite quilts, which also happened to be prize winners are below:
We finished the morning by going down the coast, though it wasn't really the weather for beach visiting. Even the birds were having a tough time of it. Just a grey, autumnal day, though at least it wasn't raining. Roll on spring!
Needless to say, although I have since sit through his car photo's, he won't be reviewing any of the beautiful quilts that were on show.
The vendors were out in force, and I managed to find some Art Gallery Fabric, a rare event in NZ. I also stocked up on some newish Kaffe fabrics to enhance the stash.
A few of my favourite quilts, which also happened to be prize winners are below:
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| Climb every mountain by Valerie Cameron, and quilted by Maria Munro. |
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| Sustainable Development by Sara Boland |
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| Some of the detail, I love the use of text and hand stitching. |
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| Magnum Opus by Barbara Jones |
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| Crystal's Quilt by Sandra Killin |
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| Jewel Box by Sandra White |
We finished the morning by going down the coast, though it wasn't really the weather for beach visiting. Even the birds were having a tough time of it. Just a grey, autumnal day, though at least it wasn't raining. Roll on spring!
Sunday, 10 May 2015
Stitchin' along
A quick update of how my first version of Jen Kingwell's Gypsy Wife Quilt is coming along.
I am using perle 8 cotton is various colours to quilt it, and having never done anything like this before, it is taking quite a bit of time.
The pattern suggested stitching in all the blocks first, then adding a line of stitching down each of the shawl ribbons. However, I am finding the pin basting gets in the way, so I am doing a bit of both at the same time, working in from the edges towards the middle.
This is taking a while, so I have started Season 3 of Longmire on Netflix to stitch along to. That, and watching a few documentaries like Constantine's Sword. It sort of feels like a vacation, since I'm having several hours a day, just sitting and stitching.
I am using perle 8 cotton is various colours to quilt it, and having never done anything like this before, it is taking quite a bit of time.
The pattern suggested stitching in all the blocks first, then adding a line of stitching down each of the shawl ribbons. However, I am finding the pin basting gets in the way, so I am doing a bit of both at the same time, working in from the edges towards the middle.
Just enough stitching in the blocks to stabilise for now, but I will revisit them later. I quite like Jen's cross stitch version of quilting too, and am adding a bit here and there.
This is taking a while, so I have started Season 3 of Longmire on Netflix to stitch along to. That, and watching a few documentaries like Constantine's Sword. It sort of feels like a vacation, since I'm having several hours a day, just sitting and stitching.
Guest speaker Kay Haerland
At Saturday's Tote n Gloat we enjoyed listening to Kay Haerland describe her quilting journey, including her recent foray into producing quilting videos.
Her work is amazing, with pieces taking seven or eight months to produce.
I think she said this owl had 150 pieces in it alone.
Anyway, anything I say will only detract from these gorgeous quilts, so I will just post the photos of her work, and sign off.
Her work is amazing, with pieces taking seven or eight months to produce.
Anyway, anything I say will only detract from these gorgeous quilts, so I will just post the photos of her work, and sign off.
Saturday, 9 May 2015
Colourful quilting
Yesterday I attended my Quilt Guild's annual Tote n Gloat. We parade our quilts in front of each other, enter a variety of challenges, listen to a guest speaker, and buy lots and lots of fabric. Its a full days worth of quilty goodness.
A friend of mine, whose quilting house group I attend, entered the Christmas cracker challenge. She made a 3D cracker, adorned with beading.
She didn't get a prize, but other versions of a cracker in more traditional Christmas colours did. It sort of got me wondering about colour, and taste in the world of quilting.
Her quilts are fairly "out there", and she loves colour, decorative stitching and throwing as many fabrics in as possible in her "I spy" quilts. She is generous with her time, her home, and her coffee. And, it sort of bugs me when I see her work passed over, just because of colour choices.
Personally I love quilting that incorporates a fully integrated fabric line, perfectly co-ordinated, in which the colours just sing together, all following the same tune. Bonnie and Camille, love it. Low volume, love it even more.
But surely we can make room for the quilters like my friend who use exuberant colour, with no shades or tints forbidden. Maybe a new quilting award, for Fearless Use of Colour in Quilting.
A friend of mine, whose quilting house group I attend, entered the Christmas cracker challenge. She made a 3D cracker, adorned with beading.
She didn't get a prize, but other versions of a cracker in more traditional Christmas colours did. It sort of got me wondering about colour, and taste in the world of quilting.
Her quilts are fairly "out there", and she loves colour, decorative stitching and throwing as many fabrics in as possible in her "I spy" quilts. She is generous with her time, her home, and her coffee. And, it sort of bugs me when I see her work passed over, just because of colour choices.
Personally I love quilting that incorporates a fully integrated fabric line, perfectly co-ordinated, in which the colours just sing together, all following the same tune. Bonnie and Camille, love it. Low volume, love it even more.
But surely we can make room for the quilters like my friend who use exuberant colour, with no shades or tints forbidden. Maybe a new quilting award, for Fearless Use of Colour in Quilting.
Sunday, 3 May 2015
Arts Recycling Centre vintage fabric finds
Saturday was a good day. I finally had time to get to my hairdresser to get the damage done by a quick, cheap haircut repaired, had coffee and cake, then took the youngest to the ARC to volunteer.
It was our first time there in several years, and it has had a necessary makeover. Gone are the piles of junk, and in are the little piles of assorted threads, metallic ribbons, perle 8 cottons, and polystyrene. It is manned by two part-time employees, and a number of volunteers.
The best room of all is the fabric room. Piled to the ceiling with upholstery samples, and recycled stash. While talking to the volunteers I managed to find several pieces of vintage cottons, some of which were lying on the floor. One turned out to be a poly-cotton, but I'm sure a use can be found for it. Unfortunately one of the volunteers also hit the floor, which was a bit alarming. A rescue was required, and I think when we return it will be with a chair that has no wheels, since this was the cause of the accident.
I am planning a vintage quilt (or two), but haven't quite figured out what pattern. Vintage fabrics being quite hard to find, I don't have enough selection to make anything but a scrap quilt. I'm not too sure that's what I want, so I will keep collecting.
The pink floral is large enough to be a cot sheet, while the plaid is about a yard long. The rest are unfortunately a lot smaller. Total cost was $3.
It was our first time there in several years, and it has had a necessary makeover. Gone are the piles of junk, and in are the little piles of assorted threads, metallic ribbons, perle 8 cottons, and polystyrene. It is manned by two part-time employees, and a number of volunteers.
The best room of all is the fabric room. Piled to the ceiling with upholstery samples, and recycled stash. While talking to the volunteers I managed to find several pieces of vintage cottons, some of which were lying on the floor. One turned out to be a poly-cotton, but I'm sure a use can be found for it. Unfortunately one of the volunteers also hit the floor, which was a bit alarming. A rescue was required, and I think when we return it will be with a chair that has no wheels, since this was the cause of the accident.
I am planning a vintage quilt (or two), but haven't quite figured out what pattern. Vintage fabrics being quite hard to find, I don't have enough selection to make anything but a scrap quilt. I'm not too sure that's what I want, so I will keep collecting.
The pink floral is large enough to be a cot sheet, while the plaid is about a yard long. The rest are unfortunately a lot smaller. Total cost was $3.
Its great to have selvedges, and a little online research happened after the purchase. Peter Pan fabrics is now defunct, but appears to have been involved in litigation, presumably over their patterns.
When we return this Friday, I shall start sorting some old Quilters Newsletters to take home. And maybe another rummage in the fabric room.
Monday, 27 April 2015
A noisy companion
This charming fellow kept me company while I sewed last week.
I'm guessing it was a male tui, as he was a bit on the slender side. He guarded this tree from all-comers, and was very noisy. Not quite a dawn chorus, but he did his best.
I'm guessing it was a male tui, as he was a bit on the slender side. He guarded this tree from all-comers, and was very noisy. Not quite a dawn chorus, but he did his best.
All stitched up
The week away was productive, with my first version of Jen Kingwell's Gypsy Wife quilt finally finished, basted and the hand quilting has begun.
I sewed the sections I had already completed, shortly after arriving.
I sewed the sections I had already completed, shortly after arriving.
Next came sections 8, 9 and 10. It was slow going, and being a bit under the weather with the first cold of the season meant section 9 was unpicked four times.
Nevertheless it all came together with a bit of perseverance.
On the way home, I stopped at Waipakihi Road on the Desert Road for a photo. There is an extensive red tussock-wire rush mire there, but we stayed on the road for the photo. Unfortunately the wind was up a bit, so I will have to wait for a fine sunny day at home for a decent photo.
The No.8 perle cotton is out, and quilting has begun.
Wednesday, 15 April 2015
A scrappy Postage Stamp quilt.
When I started out as a newbie quilter, I thought it a good idea to undertake a postage stamp quilt to play with fabric, get to enjoy something improvisational. I enjoyed shopping for little bits of fabric, 10-15cm wide, from every shop in town. I used up scraps from a couple of earlier quilts, and using my old Bernette, tried to achieve a perfect quarter inch seam.
Like most of my projects, it turned out to be a little more colourful than I originally anticipated.
As I quilted, I discovered that all those fabrics played and stitched differently. Some were stable, some stretched. My quarter inch seams were irrelevant given the stretch in some cheap fabrics, compared with the batik scraps I used. And so I learnt to buy more expensive fabric (it's $30-32/metre in NZ), and stay away from budget fabric stores, unless they just happened to have some designer fabrics come in.
Luckily my youngest daughter loved the colour(s), and calls it her happy quilt. I go away on retreat next week, and the plan is to finally quilt and bind this one, in time for winter. Her love for the quilt doesn't go far enough to undertake that aspect herself.
Like most of my projects, it turned out to be a little more colourful than I originally anticipated.
As I quilted, I discovered that all those fabrics played and stitched differently. Some were stable, some stretched. My quarter inch seams were irrelevant given the stretch in some cheap fabrics, compared with the batik scraps I used. And so I learnt to buy more expensive fabric (it's $30-32/metre in NZ), and stay away from budget fabric stores, unless they just happened to have some designer fabrics come in.
Luckily my youngest daughter loved the colour(s), and calls it her happy quilt. I go away on retreat next week, and the plan is to finally quilt and bind this one, in time for winter. Her love for the quilt doesn't go far enough to undertake that aspect herself.
It will certainly brighten up her bedroom!
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