A Quilty Day Out

Yesterday eight members of my quilt club met up for a quilty day out, organised by the committee.  We headed north in two cars, ready for anything.  Jude was our driver, together with me, Mary, and Elaine.  First stop was to Aimee's Homestead Quilts, in Palmerston North.  It had been quite some time since I had last been here, so it was good to make a return visit again.

Here we are at Aimee's

We gathered in the classroom and Aimee told us about her various classes, and "block of the month" which sound a lot of fun.  There were lots of beautiful class samples on the wall, and tucked away, as she pulled one after another out to show us.  Aimee  designs quilts, and is an accomplished machine quilter too.  Aimee explained the wonders of EPP, she is a real fan and excels in this.  She had lots of samples to show, including Christmas ornaments, and had small kits available for sale for those who wished to try this technique, or further their knowledge.  It certainly was an interesting talk, and we all loved looking at the quilts.  Then it was time to peruse the goodies in the shop.

There were beautiful fabrics everywhere, tucked away in  nooks and crannies, around corners, together with patterns, threads, and anything else you would want.  I noticed a wonderful range of New Zealand fabrics, animal prints and lots of panels too.  Something for everyone, choices galore.  As often happens, I was a bit overwhelmed with all the fabric on offer, so no fabric came home with me.  

Aimee at the shop counter

There was a bit of time to spare before our lunch booking so we all went to the local Spotlight store.  That suited me fine as I needed another cushion inner and wondered when I would get to Spotlight again to make a purchase.  I think most of the ladies bought fabric there, there was yet another sale on and the prices were excellent, as they usually are.  Then it was off to lunch, to Cafe Esplanade in the Victoria Esplanade gardens.  

This lovely old building started life as a Post Office in 1895, and the building was subsequently moved several times when it was no longer needed for that purpose.  In 1988 the building was donated to the Palmerston North City Council, cut into three pieces and moved to it's present location in the Victoria Esplanade.  It has been welcoming people into the cafe ever since.

The cafe was a busy bustling place, just as well we had a table booked for us.  The lunch queue never seemed to get any shorter, so we just had to tag on the end and wait our turn.  We were all hanging out for coffee by this stage, and our lunches didn't take too long at all to be served.  

Around the table, Gail, Sandra, Kay, Annette, Jude, Eileen, Mary and Jenny

After lunch, we had one more place to go, Hidden Hollows quilt shop, situated in the Massey University grounds.  A new experience for me, I had never been there before.

This must be the right place, I spy a quilt!

And through this door

There was nothing arranged for us here, just the chance to browse through this lovely airy shop.  As always, looking at the quilts on display gave plenty of inspiration.  I found the wool room, and sat and checked out knitting patterns, and chose some yarn for socks to take home.  Some more quilting fabric jumped into the other's bags, I noticed.  The staff member on duty was lovely and friendly, didn't catch her name, so helpful, and knew several of of group quite well.  I had to admit this was my first visit.

Lots of wooly goodness here

Hidden Hollows was the last thing on the agenda for the day, so we loaded the cars up again and headed back to Levin.   It was a really nice day, thanks for Sandra and the committee for organising it, and for the two car drivers for taking us.  

I may have mentioned that I have been having a problem with Blogger not updating the blogs I read for the last week or so.  Success, I thought, it all seemed to be working properly again today.  But sadly not so, some blogs have been updated, but not all.  Hopefully, it will all be properly fixed very soon.

Yellow Strings

 I've been working away on my yellow string baby quilt.  The blocks started like this, a bag of yellow strings of various widths sewn onto a backing of tracing vilene.  The blocks always look much more presentable when they are trimmed.

Yellow string blocks

Then the blocks were stitched together and Gemma decided to check them out.  Mmmm, not too bad, she said.  I always like to make the binding too, at this stage, then I know it is ready and waiting for me.

Gemma the quilt inspector

Next step, layered and safety pinned.  Luckily there was a piece of batting I found that fitted well, plus some wnyceyette (flannel) tucked away in the wardrobe.  I always like to pin my stitching/quilting  rows well, and worked on the quilting steadily throughout the week, using my favourite serpentine stitch.

Quilting time

With the quilting complete, I finished stitching the binding down today.  There, all done, a cheerful little baby quilt which will be sent to a new home sometime.    And I'm pleased that it used up my bag of yellow strips.

All finished

As you know, I'm an avid reader, and recently finished Pure Evil, by Linda La Plante.  It's been a while since I've read any of her books.  This features (new to me)  Det Jack Warr, and certainly was a gripping story - I certainly do enjoy a good detective book, and I'll be looking for more in this series.    I hadn't discovered  the author Tony Parsons before.  Your Neighbours Wife was one of  those hard to put down books, telling the story of the deadly consequences of a long ago one night stand, with an unseen twist in the end.  

Recently enjoyed library books

Sew Wot Tuesday

 This week Mary was the Sew Wot hostess, and we were all there with the exception of Helen who is enjoying a holiday in UK, how exciting!  Mary started off the show and tell with her recently completed knitting, a pair of socks and fingerless gloves.

Mary's knitting

Sandra had knitting to show as well, three little baby jumpers for donation.  The stripey one used up some part balls, it's always good to get them used up and gone.

Three little baby jumpers by Sandra

Then Mary presented Heather with a belated birthday gift.  What's in the parcel?  A pair of fingerless gloves and a tiny little fabric basket with a selection of interesting bits and pieces.

A birthday gift for Heather

We all admired this lovely purple hued quilt hanging on the wall.  It was made with "stack and whack" blocks and Mary used some of her mother's embroidery.  Such a great way of showcasing these beautiful family treasures.

Mary's beautiful quilt is so special

Morning tea is always a highlight of our get-togethers, so tasty.  We all loved the toasted asparagus rolls topped with cheese, they were a real hit, I had to quickly take a photo before they were all eaten.

Morning tea is served

We all had another very pleasant morning, knitting away, and chatting, like we always do.  Many thanks indeed to Mary for hosting us.  And I came home with two bags of goodies.  A selection of Perle 5 thread, which I use for stitcheries and big stitch quilting, from Heather.  I don't use stranded cotton at all, it is just not my thing.

Thank you Heather

And a big bag of Aussie fabrics from Mary, for donation quilts and draw string bags, plus a few other bits and pieces too.  I certainly had fun looking through this bag when I got home.  Gemma thought it looked rather interesting too.

Approved by Gemma

Hello Teddies

 The teddy cushion panels have finally received the last of their big stitch quilting.  Not at all difficult, but this project got put aside more than once while I worked on other things.  I do find hand quilting nice and relaxing, especially doing big stitch quilting.   These pretty cushion panels came from the  Sew Wots who often bring along items looking for a new home to our get-togethers.  I gladly picked them up to take home, they will be perfect for cushions for the foster kids, I decided.  

I outlined the teddies with big stitch quilting

Then it was a simple matter to add a lining to cover my stitching, then add an envelope opening for the back.  I had recently purchased some cushion inners so they were all ready and waiting to be stuffed inside.   The teddy cushions will be donated to Grandparents Raising Grandchildren and will be  handed out  as a Christmas gift for someone to cuddle.

Two teddy cushions

We all know that bears, and teddies too, are very fond of honey.  I wonder if they would like a taste of my lemon honey I made in the microwave this morning?  Mmmm, it's delicious!

Lemon honey, freshly made

 

A little purple stitching.

 I had a rummage through my "bag of bag bits" to see what I had tucked away in purple, I was sure there were a couple of suitable pieces of fabric just waiting to be found.  What's this, two orphan blocks in shades of purple, a small piece of alien fabric and a stripey floral.  So I gathered toning fabric for the backs plus some lining fabric and started cutting and pinning.  The bags turn out to be different sizes, depending on how big the piece of focus fabric is.  The orphan blocks were stitched first.  One was a leftover block from my Batik Beauty quilt, and I think the other one was sent to me by my pen-friend Carol, quite some time ago.  So it was good to use them both up.

A new life for left over blocks

Aliens came next, and I'm sure a young boy would like this to put his treasures in, then I completed the final bag, a pretty piece of lilac and yellow stripey floral.  Luckily I had enough suitable cord for these bags so didn't need to go out and buy extra.  So that is the bags done, nice and early  for September.

Last two purple bags

And keeping with the purple theme, I spotted these pretty little flowers growing outside in a pot.  I'm not much of a gardener and think these may be hyacinths.  but I could be wrong.  I'm pleased that they pop up and flower each year without any help whatsoever from me!

A pot of purple pretties

Trip to the Vet

It was time for Gemma's trip to the vet for her annual vaccination.  She has been very healthy all her life so this is the only time so goes for a visit.  I had to be a bit sneaky in the morning.  Gemma has her usual routine, get up, have breakfast, then a morning snooze.  I didn't want her getting in to her hidey hole in the cat tower since we were going out.  If  I went to pick her up by reaching right into the tower and she didn't want me too, she has been known to get rather hissy.  Cats always seem to know when the usual routine is different don't they.  So I shoved a couple of cushions into the tower to keep her out, and shut the sitting room door to keep her in the room - that should work.

Tricking the cat, keeping this area cat free

She settled down on the dining room chair, and was soon scooped up and put in her carry cage.  Then off to the vet we went, just a short drive.  She is no trouble in the car, and barely makes a sound.

Ready to go

Once inside the vet clinic, out of the cage and onto the consulting table, Gemma was not very brave at all, and buried her head against me while the vet checked her over, and gave her the vaccination.  "Would she like a treat?"  the vet asked, and put a couple down for her.  No way, Gemma wasn't going to be bribed, and couldn't climb back into her carry cage fast enough.  She is in excellent condition, with a great coat, I was told.  I commented that Gemma was now 8 years old.  Eight years, four months, and so many days, I can't quite remember the actual number, I was informed.  Obviously there is a running total of her age on the computer screen.  The consultation was quick, professional and went very smoothly, so we returned home in no time at all.  She gave herself a quick groom, and settled down, not too bothered by her trip to the vet, and happy to be back home again.

As Gemma now goes into the cattery if I go away. I need to show proof that she has been vaccinated.  She always has been,  of course, we would never have compromised on her health.  But I guess not everyone takes pet health care seriously.

I noticed there was a sign on the clinic door not to bring dead birds inside and had asked if this was a problem.  Not so far, I was told, but because that nasty bird flu had reached New Zealand and killed some birds, it will surely get worse over time.  The public have been advised not to pick up sick or dead birds, and also to stop feeding them in the garden, as that brings birds into close proximity.  I had recently put a seed cone outside for the birds over winter, but will not be repeating that till I have heard it is safe to do so again.

No more feeding the birds for a while

I have been spending a little time at the sewing machine, and knitting too, but nothing really to show just yet.  And made some more soup for lunch, broccoli and blue cheese soup, delicious.  It's rather green, so it's got to be good for me!

Slow Stitching, and Birthdays

 Today was a lazy Sunday at home, and after I had dealt with a few chores, I settled down with some slow stitching.  It's been a while since I worked on my teddy bear cushion covers.  It was nice to sit down and do some big stitch quilting around the bear, with a cuppa at hand.  Luckily Gemma didn't want to jump up on my lap, there wouldn't have been much room for her as well.  But she was quite happy having a nice comfy snoozy nap on the sofa.  That cat certainly knows how to while away the hours while she is snoozing!

Teddy Bear cushion covers

Both of my adult children celebrated their birthdays this week.  Son Michael lives in Christchurch, in the South Island, so I didn't see him, but had a nice telephone call to wish him happy birthday.  My daughter Nicky takes the whole week off work for her birthday, good on her.  I wouldn't have thought of that while I was working.  I took the bus up to Palmerston North and met her for lunch on Monday, so that was nice, and grand-daughter Emma has Sunday and Monday as her weekend, so joined us as well.  We went to Cafe Cuba which has been recently refurbished, great food and coffee.

Emma and Nicky

Nicky and me

My children were born way back in the mid 60s one year and four days apart, so I was a very busy young Mum indeed.  Some years ago I wrote a poem about this time, and would like to share this with you.  If poetry is not your thing, we'll say goodbye now.  

The Toddler and the Baby

With a toddler and a baby, going shopping's quite a feat

I tuck the baby in the pram and strap the toddler in the seat

With a heavy bag of shopping, food items that we need

I walk on home and then, it's time for baby's feed

With a toddler and a baby, I'm busy washing all the time

I hand wash little jumpers, and hang the nappies on the line

They both wear bibs at mealtimes, so there's plenty in the wash

Shirts and shorts and dresses, and little cotton socks

With a toddler and a baby, there's not a minute free

One is up, and one's asleep, I'm as busy as can be

With just twelve months between them, I'm on the go both night and day

But though my days are hectic, we still have time to play

The toddler and the baby, they fill my heart with joy

My precious baby daughter, and my handsome little boy

Do they know how much I love them, my little blue eyed pair

These children of my body, for them I'll always care.