Pink makes the boys wink

 Pink makes the boys wink, that is what we used to say when we were young pre-teen girls at school.  Don't know if it is really true, but I've got a bit of pink knitting this week.   First is a pair of very pink socks.  They started like this, using some pink sock yarn produced by Breast Cancer NZ as a fund raiser, a Mother's Day gift from my daughter, and I teamed it with a paler pink double knitting yarn.  Knitted together this makes my nice cozy 12ply winter socks which I like to knit, and wear.

Mother's Day socks

Knitted two at a time, they are finally finished, and the side seam stitched up.  I think they are very pretty, certainly nice and warm for my always cold feet.

All finished

After quite a bit of time out, I got working again on my cotton summer top.  The back and the front have been finished for a while, so I've been  knitting away on the short sleeves, and got them finished.  Just like my socks, I always knit sleeves two at a time as well.  So now I just have to sit down and stitch the pieces together. 

Two short sleeves for my summer top

I've recently finished reading a James Patterson/J D Barker book, this was not in the usual James Patterson style.  It was quite an exciting read and tells the tale of an imminent danger to mankind, and the clock is ticking.  Scientists were working on a project, and had been ordered to weaponize the experiment, with the President issuing lies and cover ups as it all got out of control.  I'm quite a fan of James Patterson and particularly like his Alex Cross detective series.

I enjoyed this one

Stitching something Purple

 It was purple sewing with a difference this week.  I've ben busy stitching myself another cowl neck top.  Although it is Spring here, there are still chilly days hanging about so I'll get some wear out of it before the warm sunny days arrive.   This purple/navy hounds-tooth knit fabric has been tucked away in a crate in the loft for longer than I can remember.  The crates have now been brought down for me by my granddaughter who had no fear climbing the ladder, to see what they contained, must admit I had forgotten after all this time.  Some of the fabric has been sent to the Op Shop, and some I plan to use.  

The pattern I used is very simple and didn't take to long at all to stitch together.  And will be handy to wear with navy trousers.

Cozy new top

I've also been working on a new quilt top for donation, more about that later.  But I thought you would like to see Gemma staking her claim on the floor.  I had laid out the backing, and batting, and went to get the quilt top to smooth down.  Gemma had other ideas, and was most reluctant to give up her cozy spot.  She had arranged the batting "just so" and was quite settled, thank you very much!  After all, didn't I put it there on the floor just for her?

I don't want to move!

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