Too pretty not to share

My birthday is well and truly over, although the cards are still out on display.  Included amongst them are two rather lovely quilty cards, which I would like to share with you.

Glennis from Chipping Norton, UK,  sent me a hand made card featuring a ginger cat behind an old fashioned crank handle sewing machine.  There is a tiny reel of pink thread attached to the front of the card, and the inside is decorated with baby sized buttons and a piece of tape measure.  It certainly is a lovely card to send to a fellow quilter.  Glennis has travelled out to New Zealand and stayed with us twice over the years.  In fact, Glennis and her friend Sue were staying with us for the royal wedding celebrations, and we had a party night in front of the TV to celebrate.  She returned the favour when we went to UK back in 2008 and stayed at her home for several days.

From Glennis

I’m sure that most quilters are familiar with the cards made from paintings by the very talented artist Diane Phalen.  This one is from her painting “Hole in the Barn Door”, and feature colourful quilts, cats of course, and a view of rural Pennsylvania.  Sent to me from my pen-friend Carol of South Dakota, she wrote, “We’ve been quilt pals for how many years?  Knowing you is a plus, so glad to be your friend”.  We have not met up yet, but who knows, maybe one day?

From Carol

I enjoy writing and receiving “real” letters, so much more satisfying than an e-mail, I always think.  Luckily my pen-friends feel the same way, there is nothing nicer than when an airmail letter occasionally pops into the letter box, it really makes my day.

More Pressies in the Post

Arriving home from a four day weekend away in the caravan, one of the neighbours presented us with a big bag of mail, including three parcels.  He didn’t want them left out in case they went astray, so kindly collected it all for us.  Plus a fair amount of junk mail too of course, glossy flyers from this and that chain stores, exhorting us to buy up big.  It’s fun when a birthday lasts a while, isn’t it.

My pen friend Janet from Australia was thinking “festive” and sent me a pretty little Christmas wall-hanging made with yo yos, and beautifully decorated with stars and tiny beads.  I will have to find a special place for this little beauty when it is time to start decorating for Christmas.

Christmas Tree wall-hanging from Australia

And for something a bit different, Glennis from UK sent me a “Don’t worry – be happy” bag.  Inside is an eraser – to make the little mistakes go away.  Five pence – so that I will never be completely broke.  A marble – for the days when I have lost mine.  Elastic – to help stretch beyond my means, and string to hold it all together.  And when it all seems to fall apart, I have a chocolate treat to remind me that someone cares.  All very clever, and it certainly gave us a chuckle.

My “Don’t worry – be happy” bag, from Glennis

And lastly, a plaque to hang on the wall, a gift from my oldest friend Merilyn, of Dunedin .  We go right back to those long ago school days, and she is a true friend indeed.  Such lovely words, and made by “Sentimental Block Art”.  Thanks so much, Merilyn.

 

Lovely sentiments

So that’s my birthday over for another year.  I should really have made myself a birthday cake, after all, Robin got a Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese icing for his birthday last month!

Quilty Birthday Gifts

It’s always fun opening parcels from quilty friends.  I have several pen friends who share my passion for P&Q and we have been corresponding for quite some time.  We don’t bother with Christmas gifts these days but usually share a small gift on birthdays.  I’ve been saving my parcels till the big day, and I found these delightful gifts inside.

Carol from South Dakota had made me  a Coffee Mug cover with a difference.  It has pockets to pop pens and pencils in, so I think it is made for storage rather that to keep the coffee warm.  It comes complete with a pin of an American Angel.

Coffee cup cover

And look at this beautiful little sea horse which was made by Janet from Cromer in UK.  I’ve had a good look and it seems that the body is made from lots of different sparkly snippets of fabric and thread under a layer of organza.  Such a lot of work – I just love her.  She has to be a girl, as she is so pretty and sparkly, don’t you think?

My sea horse from Cromer

Rose lives close by the New Forest in southern England and sent me these two fabrics which she says are the seasonal colours of the forest now the days are getting cooler.  We have been lucky enough to have twice visited this area and  travelled along the winding roads, catching glimpse of the world famous New Forest ponies.  The New Forest was originally a royal hunting preserve, and the thriving working forest  has survived for nearly 1000 years.

Fabrics from Rose

So I had a great birthday, with a bit too much yummy food.  And I haven’t even started on my choccies yet, but I expect I will have to share them with Robin.  We are off today on a 4 day caravan trip over Labour Weekend, and have packed my Christmas quilt and the handy unpicker so hopefully I will get a bit of time to work on undoing that machine quilting which I messed up.  Or not, I’ll see how things go.

Happy Birthday to me

Another year older – and still going strong!  I had a lovely day today, with cards, phone calls and texts from family and friends, plus a few interesting parcels to open as well.  And not forgetting the obligatory photo taken wearing the “Happy Birthday” hat.  The hat was a gift from my friend Merilyn several years ago, and gets trotted out each year – even Robin has to take his turn for a birthday photo.

Another year older

Robin didn’t know what to buy me for my birthday, so I gave him a hint.  I just love chocolate peppermint cream chocolates, so that’s what I got, together with a couple of packets of chocolate peppermint biscuits, plus some of my extra favourite boiled sweets for car journeys, acid drops.  Simple tastes, but then, we have a big celebration coming up soon, (more on this later) so that will be a bit more expensive.  Robin went shopping yesterday, bought a fancy carton to put everything in, and wrapped it all up nicely.  He did very well, getting me just what I wanted!

We had a fun day out today, drove approximately 35km down to Waikanae where we boarded the train to Wellington.

This way to Wellington

Then we hopped on a big yellow bus through the city to attend to a couple of errands.  This didn’t take as ;long as anticipated so we decided to take a ride on the Cable Car.  Well, what a crowd there was, all with the same idea.  A large cruise ship was in port and it seemed that most of the passengers were taking a ride too.  So we waited, and waited, as the line shuffled slowly forward, and the cable cars came, filled up with passengers, and left.   Soon it was our turn, and we boarded the cable car for the short ride to the top.  There are always such fabulous views, looking out over the harbour and the city.

View from the top of the cable car

It was getting on for lunch time, and being the birthday girl, I got to chose where to go.  Kirkcaldie and Stains of course, upstairs in the cafe, known and loved by Wellingtonians for ever.  (I fear I’m turning into my Mother, as she liked to come here too, years ago).  We had a lovely lunch, a tasty fish croquette for me, and a chicken and kumara pie for Robin, all nicely presented with coffee to follow.  Plus a Neenish Tart, for a special treat.

My tasty lunch

Suitably replete, we wandered slowly down to the station to board the homewards bound train.  I can’t possibly cook tonight since it’s my birthday, so we are having take-aways for tea, pizza for a change.  Oh dear, it’s all about food today, isn’t it?  Never mind, we are celebrating!

Coffee Club Morning

The monthly ladies Coffee Club morning organised by the local branch of the Cancer Society has rolled around again.  The speaker today was someone we could all relate to, Cancer Support Nurse Jude.  She told about her role and the help and support she and her fellow nurses give to newly diagnosed cancer patients and their families.  Those finding themselves in this sort of situation are understandingly feeling rather shell shocked. Bombarded with all sorts of information from the hospital specialists, it can be very hard to take it all in.  The nurses can help with putting things in perspective, and once treatment has commenced, physical help with dressings is invaluable, and assurances that what one is experiencing is normal can certainly alleviate anxiety.  Nobody can take the fear away, but understanding what is happening is empowerment at this stressful time.   My own particular Cancer Support Nurse (several years ago) was bright and breezy, called into our home regularly, told me what to expect as the treatment progressed, and always had time for a cuppa.  They are worth their weight in gold. 

Our meetings always conclude with a tasty morning tea, all generously contributed by the Volunteer ladies, most of whom are cancer survivors themselves.  A lovely raffle basket of goodies called my name, so I hope I have purchased the winning number, wouldn’t it be great to win?  But if I don’t, I know that my donation has gone to a very worthy cause.

The weather really turned to custard after lunch, with howling winds and driving rain.   A good afternoon to curl up on the couch with my Christmas quilt, get on with unpicking some more of that free motion quilting which resulted in wavy borders, and catch up with watching a couple of programmes we had recorded on My-Sky.

 

Here’s hoping the weather improves tomorrow as we have a big day out - taking the train to Wellington City.  Should be fun.

Oh no – not more unpicking

I thought I was doing so well with my Christmas quilt.  Finally finished quilting around the blocks yesterday, then it was on to the borders today.  Perhaps some free motion quilting around the poinsettia flowers, I thought.  So I sat and stitched for a while, and almost finished one side.  But why does it look a bit wavy down that end?  That won’t do at all – I’ll have to unpick the stitching !*&%# (insert a mild expletive here).

So while I was in the stitching mood I decided to quilt the opposite border, this time doing a large stipple.  That didn’t go well either, another wavy border that will need to be unstitched.  What is going wrong?  !*&%# (things are getting a bit heated here now).

On reflection I don’t think I had pinned it enough, and the layers were obviously moving.  Perhaps the top fabric has a little too much “give”, who knows?  More haste – less speed, perhaps?

But first things first, I’ll be sitting down with the quilt together with the “quick unpick” in my hand for a while, I can see that.  Then, I’ll give the borders a light press, and securely safety pin it all together.  Third time lucky, I’ll try quilting it once again.  If I don’t persevere, I’ll probably never want to work on it again.

I hate unpicking!!

My Navigation Skills Fail Again

Perhaps  I‘ve mentioned that I’m hopeless finding my way around sometimes?  We drove up to Palmerston North today, stopping several times to get the things on my list.  Robin has no trouble negotiating the various twists and turns of this city, but I have to admit that I find it a bit confusing.  Our last stop was at Spotlight – I needed some black homespun to complete a couple of projects.  After waiting, and waiting, (why does this shop only have two people on the counter, when there is a large crowd waiting for service?)  it was finally my turn to be served.  Transaction completed, I recrossed the road, back to the car park.

But where was our car?  I was sure it was on the end of one of those rows.  Up and down I walked, starting to get worried.  Luckily I had my cell phone in my pocket, so gave Robin a call to see where he was.  Just hope he answers, his phone could well have been left at home.

Our conversation went like this:

Me:  Have you moved the car?

Robin:  It’s where we parked it.  Have a look around and you will see it.

Me:  Where?  It’s not on the end of the row.

Robin:  It never was.  Look over here – can you see me waving?

Me: No, I can’t.  Oh, there you are. 

I opened the door and slunk inside, mortified that I had lost the car.  Mind you, they all look the same these days.  My navigation skills have failed yet again!