More Symposium Quilts

Ready for some more Symposium quilts?  OK then, here we go.  “Floral Explosion” was a mother and daughter composition who used a Silhouette Cameo electric cutting machine to cut out the motifs in red, black and grey.  Beautifully machine quilted in dark thread by Ruth Wheeler who obviously is completely in control of her machine.  I for one would never dream of FMQ in coloured tread – it would show up all my mistakes, skipped stitches and all.

Floral Explosion, by Joy Bier and Ruth Wheeler

I’ve never made a hexagon quilt and probably never will.  But that doesn’t mean I’m not impressed with those who do.  Sue Bracken made “Grandad’s Flower Garden” from (mostly) Kaffe Fassett fabrics.  The quilt was to honour Sue’s Dad and his love of flowers, which has passed on through to Sue’s grandsons.  I had to look closely at the dark green background fabric to discover that yes, it is all hand stitched hexagons too.  I love the different way Sue has designed her hexagon quilt.  

Grandad’s Flower Garden, by Sue Bracken

From flowers to birds – and “Sisters” by Vivienne Franklin was the result of a medallion quilt idea which didn’t work out.  Adding appliqué birds resting on branches amongst the checkerboard background makes a lovely innovative quilt, I feel.

Sisters, by   Vivienne Franklin

“Persian Dream” by Ansa Breytenbach was made to reflect the sentinel design found in Persian carpets, made in colours to reflect the tranquillity of an oasis in the desert.  The central design is machine appliquéd with added trapunto, and the quilt in enhanced with the most beautiful machine quilting.

Persian Dream, by Ansa Breytenbach

Camilla Watson made “Cathedrals, Castles and Ruins” in three large panels, designed to hang individually down a stair well.  What an impact these would make.  Made with photo transfers, and inspired by the modern stained glass windows by Jacques Le Chevaller installed in Notre Dame in the 50s, the panels were created from photos taken on a European trip in 2008.  What a huge undertaking to produce this stunning triptych of memories.

Cathedrals, Castles and Ruins, by Camilla Watson

The glorious free motion  quilting brings the leaves in “Autumn Splendour” to life.  Sheryl Meech’s original design was inspired by fond memories of holidays in Central Otago and the beautiful colours of autumn.

Autumn Splendour, by Sheryl Meech

And to complete today’s tour around the exhibition, one for the cat lovers amongst you.  Sonya Prchat stitched “True Bliss” from her own photo.  This amazing little quilt was whole cloth painted, thread painted cats, then free motion quilted.  I am truly in awe of those who can do thread painting and make it seem so easy.

True Bliss, by  Sonya Prchat

Quilt Symposium Manawatu Exhibition

I love a good quilt exhibition and the one at the Convention centre in Palmerston North had something for everyone.  As I crossed the street to the centre I knew I was in the right place when I saw the car dressed in a patchwork cover. 

This way to the quilt show

The five local quilt clubs have all worked together to run and organise the symposium, and they also ran a club challenge to show something special about the local areas we live in.  The clubs took part in a random draw to choose what colour they could work with, as well as black and white.  Turquoise for Rangetiki Quilters,  green for Cotton On Quilters, yellow for my own club, Town and Country Quilters,  red for Rose City Quilters, and purple for Foxy Quilters.  The three winners from each club hung together in the foyer to welcome guests to the exhibition.

Club challenges

A beautiful red and white medallion quilt caught my eye as I entered the hall.  “They are Bees not Flies” was made by Jenny Hall and features English paper piecing, appliqué and foundation piecing.  Full of life and stitched in beautiful rich reds, this quilt was a delight to study and admire all that intricate work.

They are Bees not Flies, by Jenny Hall

“Sparrows in my Garden” was stitched by the very talented Griet Lombard, who is a member of my quilt club, Town and Country Quilters.  Griet does the most exquisite work, and her quilt honours the sparrows who visit her garden.  Made with cottons, silks and synthetics, the crazy patch quilt was constructed using piecing, appliqué, embroidery and quilting, and showcased some vintage doilies and handkerchiefs.  This lovely work of art took my vote for Viewers Choice.

 

Sparrows in my Garden, by Griet Lombard

Jill Bowman had a wonderful African Safari holiday and what better way to remember it than to make a quilt.  She had her photos printed onto fabric, and surrounded them with African and complementary fabrics.  What a wonderful idea.

African Album, by  Jill Bowman

“I Never Promised you a Rose Garden”, by Sheryl Anicich has a lovely rose patterned fabric as the background, set with wonderfully intricate circular pieced  blocks.  Sheryl wrote that she got a bit carried away making her circular blocks, then had to find some way to showcase them in her own design.  She did a great job – this is a wonderfully feminine looking quilt. 

I Never Promised you a Rose Garden, by Sheryl Anicich

“Aotearoa  Blooms”, an original design by Nancy Neilson, was inspired by her love of New Zealand flowers and Barcelona tile designs.  The flower patterns were inspired by pictures in old calendars and Forest and Bird magazines.

Aotearoa Blooms, by Nancy Neilson

Another New Zealand plant is the Harakeke flax.  Helen Beaven had one in her garden and observed the changes in the colours as the buds developed into flowers, and then seed pods.  This is an original whole cloth design, stencilled with paint sticks, trapuntoed and quilted in a swirly pattern.

Harakeke, by  Helen Beaven

This is just a small taste of some of the lovely quilts in the exhibition.  I’ll show some more next time.

A different type of Mending

I was busy doing quite a different type of mending today – stitching up a New Zealand flag.  Robin likes to fly the flag at home, and as the previous flag was getting rather worn, started off the new year with a brand new flag on the flagpole.  But after just a week or so of flapping in the wind, the stitching was coming adrift.  Perhaps, I thought, it might be a good idea to re-stitch all around the outside of the flag.

Mending the flag

It’s just as well I did the mending on the flag, as it wasn’t very well sewn at all.  The double folded hem was just a single fold in some places.  Mind you, this nylon flag was not expensive at all, so I guess we got what we paid for.  But the extra rows of stitching I did will hopefully extend its life a little.  The flag certainly has a hard life, flapping in the wind day after day.

Flying the flag

The New Zealand Flag is the symbol of the realm, government and people of New Zealand. Its royal blue background represents of the blue sea and clear sky surrounding us. The stars of the Southern Cross emphasise this country's location in the South Pacific Ocean. The Union Jack in the first quarter recognises New Zealand's historical origins as a British colony and dominion.

The last of Christmas is put away

All the Christmas things have slowly been taken down and put away.  Robin has been up the ladder unhooking our few strings of lights along the fence and the gutters of the house.  Goodness knows how the people who really go overboard with Christmas lights get on – it must take them such a long time.  Our lights were rolled up and put away in the plastic crate till next year.

Outside lights coming down

Meanwhile, I was deconstructing Christmas inside the house.  Down came the Christmas wall-hangings.  Delicate items were carefully wrapped before being placed into the plastic Christmas crates.  I removed my trio of “gold” Christmas trees from the dining room window sill and replaced them with my three brass jugs.  Oh dear – that brass looked rather grubby, in fact I have several brass pieces and they all could do with a good clean before being put back in their original places.  So armed with a tin of Brasso, several cleaning clothes, and some old fashioned elbow grease, I sat outside at the picnic table to do a spot of cleaning.  You just don’t realise how dull brass gets until you see it polished up again.  Everything looked so much brighter.

   My brass elands all nice and shiny

So everything is back to normal once more.  The plastic crates full of decorations, Santas, my precious Jim Shore pieces, Christmas lights, and other assorted stuff have been moved upstairs to our storage loft.  And lastly, the Christmas quilt (hanging on my lovely new rod in the sitting room) has been replaced with “My New Zealand Bird Quilt”.   Hand appliquéd (never again, so much quicker and easier on the machine), and hand quilted, this was designed by Mary Fletcher and I completed it back in 2003.

My New Zealand Bird Quilt

Reflecting on 2014

It’s that time of year when we look back and see our achievements over the last 12 months.  Oh dear – I won’t be winning the contest for the most quilts completed, but that doesn’t really matter, does it?  I’ve still been  busy sewing away, and enjoying what I’ve been doing.  The sum total of two rather old UFOs were finally completed.  I had a bit of a mental block with my Maple Leaf quilt as I was working on it some years ago when I was diagnosed with cancer, and couldn’t bear to look at it for quite some time.  My treatment was successful, I’m pleased to say, and I finally found I could work on it again, after the memories of that worrying time had receded.

Maple Leaf quilt

There were no bad memories associated with my second quilt finish.  Wonderful memories really, as I purchased this pattern way back in 1999 when we were staying with my pen-friend Diane in Juneau, Alaska.  Diane took me to the local quilt shop, where I looked for something with a local flavour to remind me of our trip. The Eagle Spirit pattern was just what I was looking for.  Sadly, the eagle wall-hanging pattern lay forgotten for quite some time. I finally traced the pattern pieces out last year, and after working on it spasmodically, it was eventually completed in early 2014. The trees and the black eagle were machine appliquéd in place, then I machine quilted the whole piece. The eagle heads were constructed from ultra suede, and hand stitched in place.

Memories of Juneau, finally finished

What else – you may well be asking?  I made two cushions with stitchery panels on the front.  Give Thanks was completed in time to send to my pen friend Carol in South Dakota in time for Christmas, and was only recently blogged about.  And I made May our House be Filled with Love, a  Bronwyn Hayes design, for my sister Kathleen’s 70th birthday, earlier in the year.

For my sister’s 70th birthday

It’s just as well that I enjoy doing stitchery projects, as I’ve done a fair few these last twelve months.  I stitched nine of these Stitcher’s Alphabet letters, put them in little frames and sent them off to my quilty pen friends overseas.  These lovely  designs are by the very talented Michelle Ridgeway of Rag Tag Stitching.  Then later in the year I used more of Michelle’s designs and made a length of bunting for my Sew Wot friend Rae for our Secret Santa gift exchange.

For Natalie and Gail

Bunting for Rae

Both my grand-daughter Megan and our friend Dot welcomed new kittens into their lives during the year.  So of course I just had to make them a I Love my Cat bag each to contain all those bits and pieces that a kitty collects, such as a brush or comb, a catnip mouse, and whatever else is deemed important.  After doing the little stitchery for the front of the bag, I looked through my stash and  found I had quite a selection of cat inspired fabric to choose from to make the body of the bag.

Made for grand-daughter Megan’s kitten, Chicken

Selvedges also featured in sewing over the year.  I made two sets (of two) breakfast placemats using selvedges, and also stitched up a double handed selvedge oven cloth.  Then I discovered a knitting  pattern using selvedges.  I got the idea from the very talented Amanda Jean of Crazy Mom Quilts.  Read all about it here to make a knitted rag rug.   Just love all the different colours coming through, offset by the various neutrals.  I used up long lengths, and shorter selvedges too, whatever came to hand, but kept the short lengths less than 12 inches for other projects.  Here is the finished rug, it fits in nicely in front of my laundry tub, adding a nice splash of muted colour.  I’m really pleased with it.  Robin did wonder what on earth I was doing in the evenings, wrestling with large needles and a big ball of fabric strips,  which was regularly replenished.

Knitted selvedge laundry rug

Clack, clack, clack went the knitting needles in the evenings. Twelve dusters were knitted up using knitting cotton in various shades.   I made three little jerseys for my baby box using up some spare wool I had tucked away for ages. I’ve told my grand-daughters these are for the next generation, and I’m sure they think I’m crazy  But they are sure to come in handy one day.  The little bunny is so cute, and is one of those “flat” toys.  When I find someone to gift my little baby cardy too, the bunny can go along too.  They look so nice together, I think. 

Baby cardigan and toy

What else?  Oh yes, a little sewing for myself.  One apron, one summer skirt, and one nightgown.  Then I got the preserving pan out and cooked up some marmalade, kiwifruit jam, lemon honey and capsicum chutney.

I really enjoy my quilt club and if we are not off and away in the caravan I attended the monthly quilt club nights and UFO nights.  Then there are the Sew Wot ladies who meet fortnightly, and who all make the most delicious morning teas!  And while travelling around I attended quilt shows in Wellington, Wanganui, Marton, Hamilton and Feilding.  And visited a few out of town quilt shops too - Quilted Gumboot in Taihape, Angels in Gumboots in Ashhurst, Wright’s Fabrics in Morrinsville, and Grandmother’s Garden in Gordonton.

So even though my quilt tally of finished quilts is low, I’m happy with what I have achieved over the year.  Wonder what my first finish will be for 2015?

“Give Thanks” Cushion

I had been quietly doing the stitching on the “Give Thanks” cushion for some time.  It went with me to my Sew Wot stitching mornings, and got packed away in the caravan each time we went away for a few days.  The aim was to get the stitching finished, the cushion assembled, and packed and in the post in time for Christmas.  It was going to my pen friend Carol, who lives in South Dakota, and I breathed a sigh of relief when it began it’s journey several weeks prior to Christmas.

Give Thanks cushion for Carol

My pen-friend Carol and I have been exchanging letters for many years now. When I purchased the “Thanks” cushion I knew it would be perfect for her. Carol has been battling health issues lately, and I hope that the cushion will remind her that she is in my thoughts.  Carol has since been in touch and told me she has it sitting in a chair in the living room area so she sees it often and thinks of me. 

This pattern was designed by Kim Goodrich,and I used a variety of colours in Perle No 5 threads.The cushion was completed with a dark green print.

I enjoyed doing this stitchery so much that I am currently working on another one for myself!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone.  Wonder what the new year will bring?  Lots of time for sewing, I hope.

Do you make resolutions, someone asked me the other day.  I had to say that no, I didn’t.  But I would like to whittle down my pile of UFOs and WIPs.  I classify UFOs as projects not worked on for some time and put away.  Out of sight – out of mind. 

WIPs, on the other hand, may also not have been worked on for a while.  But……. they have not been put away in a dark place, by any means.  These projects are likely to be found in the basket beside my sewing machine, so that I can get them out from time to time and see what needs to be done.  Rather like the birthday quilt I am making for my daughter, but had to be put aside so that I could work on the memory quilt for my friend.  There are several such WIPs in that basket, I must admit.

But how would I classify those other things we want to do?  .  Perhaps a pile of fabrics and a pattern put away somewhere.  Or maybe just a sketch tucked away in a note book.  Are these really projects at all?  Or just thoughts making up a wish list?

One of my quilty pen friends once wrote and told me she started the new year by counting up all her UFOs.  But she got such a fright when she reached 80 that she stopped counting!  I’m sure I haven’t got anywhere near that number, but there’s no way I’m counting up mine.  In this case I feel that ignorance might well be bliss!