The Dice Rolls 5, again

Who would believe it!  For three weeks in a row, my pretty pink dice has come up with the number 5 from my UFO list.  And I gave it a really good shake around too.  But never mind – rules are rules, so number 5 it is again.  For those who don’t know, or have forgotten, that means that for the current week, I’ll be sitting at the sewing machine working on my black and grey blocks for grand-daughter Emma’s surprise horse quilt.

Number 5, three weeks in a row!

We were away in our caravan over Easter taking part in a huge Easter Rally (read about what we got up to here) so of course I didn’t have my sewing machine with me.  But I managed just a little stitching done on one of my Christmas ABC blocks.  We were on the go for the long weekend, and luckily the Easter Bunny managed to track us down, to leave us Easter Eggs and Easter Buns.  Muffy came along too, and spent the weekend snoozing her days away inside the caravan.  She is not too keen to venture out much these days, the world has turned into a scary place for her.

Muffy received an attendance ribbon

With Easter intervening, cleaning and unpacking the caravan, doing several loads of washing, I didn’t get to roll the dice till today, Tuesday.  So I plan to start the week off with slicing up plenty of sashing strips all ready to start stitching tomorrow.  I don’t really enjoy sitting at the sewing machine late in the afternoon (like today) so will be all ready for an early start tomorrow. 

Craft Fair at the Rally

Its always fun to see what is on display at a craft fair.  And there was plenty of choices at the fair held over on Sunday at the Easter Rally.  I climbed up on stage to get an overview of the stalls and shoppers – what a cacophony filled the hall.

A hall full of bargain hunters

There was plenty to tempt the shopper, as I found out.  I purchased a big pot of Manuka honey, (Robin’s favourite), 2 jars of home made jam, and a couple of apricot pastries for lunch – well, we do have to keep our strength up, after all.  And a cute little wooden mixing spoon with an engraved horse’s head, one of the grand daughters will love that, no doubt.

For one of the horse lover’s in the family

There was a fabulous stand full of bags with machine embroidered panels which caught my attention, created by Louise of Bagendbabe.  The calico bags had all sorts of embroidered sayings, and were nicely lined with fabric that continued the theme.  Yes, I know I can make bags myself, but these were rather special.  So I came away with one with an embroidered caravan on the front and back.

Front and back of my new bag

We had a great time at the Easter Rally which was huge, with 700 or so caravans and motor homes in attendance.  There was entertainment on every evening, and plenty on offer to fill in the day time hours too.  Or you could just relax in the sunshine with friends, if you preferred.  Being the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association (NZMCA) AGM Rally, people came from all parts of the country, some from Australia, even a bloke all the way from Ohio!  The plus for us was that it was held in our home town, just a short 3km drive away. 

Quilted Banners at 60th Rally

We joined 700 or so caravans and motor homes over Easter to join in the 60th (Diamond Jubilee) NZMCA Rally.  This huge event took place in our home town, so of course we had to attend, with just minimal driving required.  People came from all over the country, plus campers from Australia and USA.  Arriving later in the day than we would have liked, we were parked up in the adjacent school grounds, besides large trees giving us much needed afternoon shade.

At the Easter Rally

The official opening took place with a piper leading in the banner bearers, followed by speeches from VIPs, and then the rally was officially opened.  I went to check out the banners after all the dignitaries had left the stage, and there were some rather special lovely ones on display.  The Wellington group had created a new banner especially for the occasion, and it shimmered under the lights.

Wellington’s banner

The West Coast banner caught my eye, especially the clever use of New Zealand themed fabric.

West Coast banner

The banner from Auckland featured well known Rangitoto Island, a flowering pohutukawa tree, and a rather non traditional interpretation of the Sky tower.  

Auckland’s banner

The Marlborough banner showcased the region’s award winning wine growing business, and sea life frolicking in the Marlborough Sounds.

From Marlborough

It was great to see such creativity in these lovely banners – obviously designed and stitched by quilters! 

Black and Grey with a touch of Raspberry

The dice rolled 5 again so I’m working on my black and grey nine patch blocks for the second week in a row -  I knew this would happen sooner or later.  And no, I wasn’t tempted to have another roll of the dice, that would be cheating, and I can’t do that.  So project 5 it is again.  Although I am champing at the bit to get back to my Amandajean apron, and the Little Letters quilt which is now all pinned up ready for machine quilting.  But I’ll just have to be patient and wait till they get their turn.

I didn’t manage a great deal of sewing time last week, with all sorts of other commitments, and this week will be much the same.  With our 60s Up meeting in the morning, and visitors in the afternoon, yesterday was a write-off as far as any sewing time was concerned.  So I was determined to make the most of a day at home today. 

The first job was to carefully trim the embroidered horse head blocks to the size of the 9 patch blocks.  After I’d cut the first couple, I was seized with a terrible thought.  Had I actually measured the 9 patch blocks, or was I just presuming I knew the size?  You know that wise old saying – measure twice and cut once.  Thank goodness I had the correct size in my old grey head, so a catastrophe was averted. 

Horse head blocks, trimmed to size and pressed

Sashing strips were next, and I stitched, and stitched, and stitched some more, until I had a nice pile of 9 patch blocks with a sashing strip stitched down one side.  And I used the “leader and ender” technique to sew black squares on the end of sashing strips to go between each row of blocks.  I rather like the touch of raspberry with the black and grey blocks - what do you think?

The results of several hours at the sewing machine

I’m always rather intrigued with quilters in the Northern Hemisphere who lay their new quilts over snow to take a photo.  Doesn’t all that precious work get wet and grubby?  No snow down here in my part of paradise in New Zealand, but I can share grass and sunshine instead.

A little fabric buying

Just a little, mind you, to replenish my stocks of black fabrics so I could continue with the black and grey nine patch blocks.  So down to Krazy Cow quilt shop I trotted, with some blocks in my hand.  I wasn’t trying to match up the black patterned fabrics, but seeking to buy a few more different ones.  After peering at all the shelves, and checking out the fat quarter baskets, I’d made my choice.  And making choices can be difficult for me, as I’ve got a reputation of being a bit of a procrastinator!  You should see in in a cafe, trying to decide between this or that, it can be quite a long drawn out exercise sometimes.

The result of my shopping spree

The new fabrics were washed as soon as I returned home and hung out to dry.  Not everyone washes their quilting fabrics, I know, but I always like to.  Firstly, in case they bleed some of the dye, which doesn’t really seem to happen these days with good quality fabrics.  And secondly, to remove any dressing which is used in the manufacturing process.  Then I happily pressed all my freshly washed and dried fabrics, sliced them up and got stitching.

Once again, I had another good batch of nine patch blocks to show for my stitching time.  Perhaps I should have a count up now instead of just making more and more.  I’ll lay them out on the bed with the embroidered horse blocks to see just how many I have and how they all look together.

Another bunch of 9 patch blocks

This will be the end of my sewing time on Project number 5 this week, as we are taking a short journey away in the caravan for the next few days.  But I won’t be completely idle, my stitchery blocks and knitting will be coming away with me.  Plus a couple of books too, of course.

Sew Wot Tuesday

It doesn’t seem two weeks since I last met up with my Sew Wot buddies, but of course it is.  Heather B was playing hostess today, and she lives out in the country, and up a long rural road running up a hill.  I had collected Heather E and we drove up and up the road, until we came to a house at the end.  But it wasn’t Heather’s home, we had come too far, it seemed.  Oh dear, that’s what happens when there is too much chatting going on.  So we turned the car around, drove a little way down hill and stopped and asked a nice young farmer for directions.  Goodness knows what he thought, as we were practically outside the house in question!

It was lovely to catch up with everyone again, with just a couple of ladies away.  Everyone settled down to do a little handwork, or in my case, knitting for a change.   Pam brought along her  Row by Row quilt from a few years ago.  It was a bit of a mystery quilt, it seems, as clues were given for each row, with those taking part making their own interpretation of the words.

Pam’s Row by Row quilt

Helen was busy doing a little stitchery, which looked familiar to me.  It’s just like one I did and put on the cover of my quilt documentation folder.  The pretty little circular stitchery features a sewing machine, and is surrounded by a line of text.  Moira was busy hand piecing more blocks for her 1718 quilt.

Helen and Moira

Cover of my quilt documentation folder using the same design as Helen

There was a little story behind the cushion Carol and Heather B are holding.  Carol stitched this lovely piece, made it into a wall-hanging and then gifted it to Heather.  Who later decided to change it into the pretty cushion is is today!

Carol and Heather B

Walther the cat wasn’t shy when all the Sew Wot ladies came to call, and curled up on the coffee table while we were out of the room enjoying our delicious morning tea.  He certainly earns his keep, we were told, and so far this year has caught and dispatched 24 rabbits, 2 stoats and 1 rat.  Good on you, pussy!

Walther – the great hunter

It was a lovely morning, as usual, plenty to chat about, a little show and tell, a lovely morning tea, and a great time spent with friends.

What am I working on this week?

The dice rolled the number 5, so it’s welcome back to my black and grey 9 patch quilt for grand-daughter Emma.  She doesn’t know she is getting this quilt, so it will be a nice surprise when it is finally completed – however long it takes me.

I really need to take a trip to the quilt shop and purchase some extra black fabrics, so I’ll certainly be doing that in the next day or two.  So today I spent a little time on preparation, carefully washing the embroidered horse blocks which will be going in Emma’s quilt.  Once dry, they were carefully pressed – so that job is done.  I’ll trim them down to size when I’ve completed all the 9 patch blocks.   These little beauties came from King’s Treasures, and I’m thrilled with them.  The embroideries were very reasonably priced, and the service was great, they arrived very speedily.  Emma lives and breaths horses, so I know she will love this quilt.

One of the horse embroideries

The next little job was to cut some strips for sashing so I’ll be ready to go once I have enough blocks pieced and start laying them out.  To tell the truth, I wasn’t expecting number 5 on my list to turn up again so quickly – but that’s OK.  Whatever number I roll with the dice, that’s what gets my attention for my sewing time each week.

Strips cut for sashing