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

 

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.

Here comes a Tuatara

I've spent a little time stitching around a tuatara on my New Zealand panel.  I've been lucky enough to hold one of these rather special creatures.  Those spines on the head and back are not sharp, but rather feel rubbery - yes, I had to touch and see for myself.

Stitching a tuatara

The tuatara is endemic to New Zealand and is known as a "living fossil".  They are the only surviving members of an ancient lineage (Sphenodontia) that thrived alongside dinosaurs, and are unique because they are not lizards.  Introduced predators brought in by settlers have taken their toll, and tuataras are now only found on predator free off shore islands and in fenced sanctuaries.  They can live for 60-100 years.

As well as a little slow stitching, I'm keeping busy with knitting, and have started another pair of socks, using the pink 4ply sock yarn my daughter gave me on Mother's Day.  Because  I prefer thicker socks, I'm pairing it with pale pink double knit.  And doing flat knitting, two at a time, because that's the way I like to knit socks.

A new pair of socks for me

Guess I'll have to admit to having several other knitting projects on the go.  A couple of babies hats,  my summer cotton jumper, and a 12 ply blue cardigan are waiting to be picked up and worked on too.  Just like  quilting, with lots started, it seems I'm just the same with knitting as well.  But they will all get finished sometime, I'm sure.

There has been quite bad weather over parts of the country lately.   Once again, the ferries and planes were cancelled, there has been bad flooding and road damage,  but it seems to have missed my area, luckily.  Today has been cool but sunny here.  Gemma has been soaking up the sun streaming through the venetian blinds while relaxing on a dining chair.  She likes to tuck her head under the corner of the tablecloth.  Cat's have the best life, don't they?

Gemma does a great job of relaxing

But it is mid winter so that means plenty of home made soup.  I love making, and eating soup, and this pumpkin soup was nice and tasty with a little curry powder and cooked bacon added.

Pumpkin soup for lunch

The days have been cool but sunny, with the mornings and evening cold enough to enjoy the ease of the heat pump.  I can remember the years of open fires, buying and stacking wood, chopping kindling, cleaning out the grate,  lighting the fire after returning home from a long day at work.  Fires do look so cozy and comforting, and have a wonderful relaxing ambience, but I'm pleased things are so much easier for me now.

Slow Stitching Teddy Panel, and Lunch with Friends

 I've been sitting doing some slow stitching this afternoon, on a rather dreary day.  It's grey outside, and showery.  Not that it matters, I'm nice and cozy inside, happily big quilt stitching one of my two teddy bear cushion panels.  And I've finished.  Gemma gave Teddy the once over.  I wonder if she noticed the little brown bird in the tree?  These will be made into cushions for foster kids when they are completed.

Is that a birdie?

First panel done

I enjoyed a lunch with three old friends during the week.  Robyn and I drove down from Levin, and Trish and Shirley drove up from Waikanae, we met at a cafe in Otaki.  I met these friends at a social group way back in the 70s.    We used to meet up as couples, but sadly,  one by one, the husbands passed away - in later years it was a standing joke that my Robin was "the last man standing".  So we go back a long way, and try to get together every three months or so.  

Shirley, Robyn, Jenny and Trish

Our lunches were very nice, I enjoyed some delicious chicken liver pate.  I used to make pate years ago, I told them all, cooking up the chicken livers, putting them through the blender, and smoothing the mixture out into a small ramekin with a topping.  I thought I was so clever, and keeping up with the trends back then, but I don't think I could deal with chicken livers these days.

Lunch at Reds Cafe

Teddies, and a Giant Moa

 At our last Sew Wot get-together, Heather had a table of free stuff she wanted gone.  I swooped on two teddy bear cushion panels that took my fancy.  Just the thing for a couple of cushions for kids in care, I thought. These are now layered with batting, and pinned up, ready for me to do big stitch quilting around the motifs.  

Two cushion panels from Heather, ready for quilting

I've made a start of Father Teddy sitting on the window seat, reading his book.

Father Ted

I've also hand stitched a label on two secret quilts I've recently finished.  These are secret because the recipients don't know I've been making them, and they are due to be passing by, and meeting up with me shortly.  I'll be pleased to gift them at last, then all will be revealed.

Stitching on simple labels 

I met my daughter for lunch the other day at Sanson, a distance of 50km from home.  We were trying The Wool Shed Cafe, neither of had been there for quite some time.

In the grounds was a statue of a large moa.  These huge flightless birds  used to roam New Zealand and there were other smaller varieties as well.  The moas became extinct between the 14th and 15th centuries, after the Maori people arrived and settled in New Zealand.  Evolving in isolation without predators, the birds were ill adapted to human hunting, habitat burning, and introduced predators like the Polynesian dog.

Giant Moa

Our lunches were nice, the coffee was great, and as usual there was plenty of news to catch up on.  Nicky had brought me down a bag of the last of her feijoas, and a pumpkin/sweet potato pie from GD Emma, and I had some things to pass on to SIL Robert and granddaughter Megan from Robin's shed.  The day was beautiful indeed, sunny with a clear blue sky and reasonably warm for the time of year.  

Today is the shortest day of the year here in New Zealand, which of course means we have the longest night.  On the other hand, from tomorrow it will slowly but surely be counting down till Summer, so that's got to be good!

Another Lovely Day

I can't believe this run of calm, mild, sunny weather we have been having lately.  No complaints of course, but Winter is starting tomorrow 1st June!  I've been sitting outside for an hour or two, once again, making the most of the gentle warmth.  Gemma joined me too, once she woke up from her afternoon nap.  She is always very interested in this small bark garden when she comes outside, especially in the far corner.  I can't see anything which would catch her attention, but maybe there are some tiny ants running around in the bark, who knows?  But it certainly holds her interest.

Wonder what she can see?

I was working on my New Zealand Land and Sea panel again.  The other day I went to my favourite quilt shop, Foxes Cottage, In Foxton, and purchased two skeins of Perle no 5 which I needed.  But I still needed a couple of shades of turquoise which I couldn't find on the stand.  The helpful staff member then directed me to another stand, which had reels of Sue Spargo threads, including the colours  I was looking for.  I didn't realise that this brand was available, so that is certainly another option  for me in the future.

Filling the gaps for my stitching

So today I worked on finishing up this gull, he needed his head, face and feet completed.  Slow stitching indeed, but so restful, and nice to be sitting outside.  And I gave my thread bag a tidy up, so that is good.

Hello, Mr Gull

How about a knitting finish?  This was easy and simple and was my evening TV knitting for the last wee while.  Some time ago at my Monday craft group, one of the ladies bought in a box of stuff she was going to take to the Op Shop, she wondered if any of us would like to check the items out first.  We certainly did, we were like bees around a honey pot!  There were all sorts of goodies, I selected a pink fat quarter and  some eyelash yarn to take home.

Eyelash yarn

Then I cast on 25 stitches on very big needles, and set about knitting a scarf.  Each evening I would knit some more rows, and it grew, and grew, till I had used up all the yarn.  It's a little bit prickly so I'll give it a wash and maybe add some fabric softener to the rinse.  I will be donating this to Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, and maybe a pre-teen girl might like it.  When I met the co-ordinator Fleur last week, she told me she was starting to gather up Christmas gifts for all the children, so the scarf may be just what someone will love.  

Pretty white scarf

So that's what I've been up to lately.  It's time to wish Autumn goodbye today and say hello to Winter tomorrow.  I do wonder how much longer the weather will play nice and allow me to sit outside?

Slow Stitching and Knitting

Well, we certainly can't complain about the weather today.  It was warm and sunny enough to get the washing dry outside.  And pleasant enough for me to sit outside on the patio, under our Arch-gola.  It's hard to believe it's almost the end of May, and it makes me wonder just what Winter will have in store for us all.  Just have to wait and see, I guess.

So, this afternoon, I took my New Zealand panel outside for a couple of hours to do some more big stitch quilting.  Today, I was working on a heron, slowly stitching away with a cuppa and biscuit to help me along.  This is such a soothing a meditative pastime.  and I thought about this and that.  Gemma was curled up inside on a dining chair, with the sunshine coming in the window.  You know what cats are like, sleeping is their number one hobby!

Hello heron

I need some more colours of Perle no. 5, in particular a couple of shades of teal/turquiose and some blues.  Although my favourite quilt shop has a good range of colours available, I couldn't get everything I needed last time.  Guess another trip is in order to see if they have restocked again.

This is the state of the bag I keep my threads in.  I tend to rummage around, looking for something in particular, and I suppose that is why it is so messy.  Oh dear, I think it could do with a good tidy up.  I'm sure most of you wouldn't put up with this!  I cut and plait my threads, that was always a job Robin helped with.  He would happily hold them for me while I got busy plaiting.  

It's a bit of a mess

After been put into time-out for a while, I retrieved my cotton summer top which I'm knitting.  I'm up to the front neck and had to figure out what to do, as the actual pattern is a cardigan, not a jumper.  With the help of a notebook and a pen, I made a few notes and luckily my calculations worked out fine.  I'm pleased about that, as it had been worrying me for a while.  So that is the back and the front now finished.

The front is finished at last

So now I'm ready to cast on the short sleeves, I'll knit both of them at the same time.  

Sleeves are next

I've just finished reading another book.  This one was about the secretive Bletchley Park and the important work taking place there.  It tells the story of three young women from quite different backgrounds who were recruited because of their knowledge of the German language, decoding intercepted Luftwaffe messages.   This novel was quite a different read for me, and I really enjoyed it.

Slow Stitching a Sea Bird

 My quilting club had a "Stitching Day" and I tool along this big bag of slow stitching to do.  I made this bag in a class  many years ago when we lived in Upper Hutt, and I think it might be called a pumpkin bag.  I can't manage my heavy sewing machine these days, it's much too heavy for me to unplug, put in the case, carry it to and from the car, then the return trip home.  So I always take some hand stitching along instead.  Plus a packed lunch - that's most important too.

  Mmmm, what's in here

After quite a long time I decided to work on my Land and Sea Panel, which I am big stitching.  I really like this panel, and plan to hang it above the sofa in the sitting room, where I rotate seasonal quilts.  It really doesn't matter how long it takes me to stitch, I'm enjoying the process.

Land and Sea panel

There was plenty going on during the stitching day.  Two of the ladies were finishing up their table runner tops from a recent club class.  Another was hand stitching a Sue Spargo design bird using wool, so pretty.    Hexagons were tacked up ready to stitch, and as usual there was plenty to chat about.  

I finished stitching the sea bird, he might be a gull, I think, then stitched some of the surrounding background.  It certainly was slow stitching,  but peaceful and enjoyable.  The gecko will be next, I think.

Big stitch quilting

It was a lovely day indeed.  One of the ladies brought along some freshly baked muffins to share at morning tea, and another had a big bucket of feijoas to give away.  How kind.  As for my hand quilting project, I'll have to make sure that it is not tucked away, out of sight - out of mind, again.

Teddy Bear Cushions

 I've been slowly hand quilting these three panels of teddy bears sitting around enjoying watermelon in the sunshine.  This fabric panel was looking for a good home at one of our Sew Wot meetings so I took it home.  The quilting had already been started so I worked on it off and on, a little time here and there when the mood struck me.  The idea was to finish the quilting then make three cushions for donation.

Three teddy bear panels quilted

Planning ahead, I had three cushion inners ready and waiting for this project.  A quick look through my stash to see what to use for the cushion fabric - plan A was discarded as there wasn't enough fabric in the piece I was considering.  Plan B was some left over backing fabric from an earlier project.  So I measured, cut and stitched till the cushions were done.

Three teddy cushions

I'm quite pleased with how they turned out, and should make some little girls happy, I hope.  I met up with Fleur for coffee last week, she is the co-ordinator of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in this area.  Together with the cushions I handed over some pencil pouches with coloured pencils, a couple of bags of marbles, and some toiletries for her to pass on to the children.  With Christmas fast approaching, she was very grateful for these small gifts to pass on to the children.  

Finishing up the pencil pouches

And talking about Christmas, I think it's time to get a few Christmas quilts out for display.  One day this week, hopefully.  

Still recovering

 Sadly, not a single finish and just a little time working on my craft projects this last couple of weeks.  I picked up some sort of nasty lurgy from my recent coach tour and after two seeks I'm still not over it.  Cough, cough, coughing, generally in the evenings, and luckily I'm no longer trying to sleep propped up on pillows at night.  But I am feeling tired so need a Nana Nap most days.  Would you believe I have purchased three different types of cough lozenges - two from the chemist and one from the supermarket.  One lot tastes awful, the second one is very strong and irritates my throat, and the supermarket variety tastes the best!  And I'm drinking hot lemon and honey too, that's quite soothing.

Cough lozenges, take your pick

I did venture out to a craft afternoon during the week, and did some more hand quilting on my teddy bear panels.  This was going free to a good home donated by one of the Sew Wot ladies some time ago and the quilting had been started so I took the teddies home with with.  There's  only a small amount of stitching to finish on these, and my idea is to make three teddy cushions for donation.

Teddy bear panel

I've done a small amount of machine stitching, but nothing much to show.  And a little knitting in the evenings, a few rows here and there.  There are two projects on the go, a little toddlers cardigan in the brown hand spun wool, and yet another pair of socks, of course.

Knitting on the go

The asparagus season has started here so I took a drive up to Lewis Farms (25 km round drive) on Saturday morning.   I bought a kilo of asparagus, a nice hot coffee, and two cheeky chocolate peppermint marshmallow fish jumped into my bag as well.  This was always a pleasant morning trip Robin and I enjoyed together.  After our purchases we would sit at the picnic tables, he would enjoy a fresh fruit ice-cream, and I would have a coffee.

At Lewis Farms

It's a very warm pleasant day today.  The washing is pegged up outside on the clothesline, blowing in the breeze,  and I've been outside on the patio sipping my honey and lemon drink.  I do hope everyone is keeping well, and I must assure you, despite all my grizzles, I really am slowly getting better.

Purple Haze

 My purple clam shells are finally finished.  This quilt started way back in May 1993 when I attended the 5th National Patchwork and Quilting Symposium in Upper Hutt.  This was a very exciting time for New Zealand quilters.  Big name American quilters like Caryl Bryer Fallert and Ruth McDowell were taking classes, along with Australian and New Zealand tutors.  Sadly, I can't remember the name of the tutor I had for the clam shell class.   We were shown how to cut out the clam shell shapes with an acyclic shape and a small rotary cutter, and how to stitch them in rows.  I had selected a range of purple fabrics, and wanted to arrange my rows in  lights and darks.  I got this far, and then it got put away, lost and forgotten for many years.

I made a start way back when

The  bag of purple clamshells finally surfaced and I decided to  just get on and get it finished.  Needed lots of pins to get those curved pieces in place before I stitched.  This must be why the project got put aside, presumably.  But I persevered, and slowly, row by row, the clamshells were stitched in place.

I needed plenty of pins

In between times, I had lots of other stitching taking place.  The monthly Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks to make in the nominated colour of the month, the monthly Chook Shed Challenge, donation quilts, and knitting to do.  But I pushed on with the clam shells, finally completed the top, and added a light border.  As for the quilting, what to do?  Big stitch hand quilting, I decided, was the way to go, and I used a variegated pastel thread.  I don't do a lot of hand quilting, but really enjoyed working on this quilt.

Big Stitch hand quilting

Stitching the binding down, and adding a label is always the best part, in my view.

Binding time

Finally, I added a hanging sleeve, and there she is all done, hanging over the sofa.  What's 32 years in the scheme of things between starting and finishing?

Purple Haze, 32 years in the making

Slow Stitching and Knitting

It's about time I worked on my purple clam shell quilt again, goodness knows when I last got it out of the bag.  This project came with me to a monthly craft group I recently joined.  We can take anything we like to work on,  there was knitting and crochet happening, needle felting and one lady was setting up a hand loom, that looked rather tricky to me.  After doing big stitch hand quilting around all the clam shells, I'm now up to the borders.  I won't tell you just how old this project is, but believe me, it's elderly!

Hand quilting the borders

It's about time I got on with my pink sock knitting too.  The sock yarn was a gift from my daughter Nicky back in Christmas 2024, and it is lovely wool indeed.  Not too far to go on these, I'm up to the foot, not too far to the toe shaping.  As I'm sure I've mentioned before, I knit my socks flat, two at a time, then sew a seam up the side.  None of those tricky little double pointed needles for me.   I pleased to say my daughter Nicky is knitting her very first pair of socks, using my pattern.  She hasn't knitted for years, and is doing really well.  I wouldn't be surprised if she completed her socks before me.

My pink socks are coming along well

Sunday Slow Stitching

Today is a great day for some slow stitching.  It’s cold and windy outside, a typical Spring day, just the right sort of day to stay inside and do something creative.  I’m working on my rather old clam shell quilt, started quite some years ago.  It had been tucked away in a fabric covered hat box, a gift from my daughter.  Of course, I knew it was there, and occasional got it out from time to time, just to check and fondle the fabric.  Finally I decided, why not just get it out and finish it!  So I did, and now I’m big stitch hand quilting around the clam shells.

Purple clamshells

Remember my mystery knitting project from a couple of weeks ago?

What was I knitting?

It’s now finished – and is called a Bunny Blanket Buddy.  Nice easy knitting with a stuffed head.  This was knitted in quite thick acrylic type yarn, and will be added to my Foster Hope donation box.

Who is a cheeky bunny?