Plenty to see at the Kapiti Coast Museum

We visited the Kapiti Coast Museum recently, housed in the former Waikanae Post Office building.  I was particularly interested in any old textile, clothing or sewing paraphernalia and I wasn’t disappointed.  Two lovely old sewing machines were on display.  I learned to sew as a youngster on an old treadle Singer, just like the one set in the stand!

Old style sewing machines

There was a nice display of “Ladies Toiletries” – all sorts of things which the colonial lady might well have on her dressing table.  With an  assortment of hats to chose from, plus a fur cape, the lady in question would be well dressed for any occasion.

A Lady’s dressing table

I just love the look of these vintage underclothes.  Made with fine soft cotton, decorated with pin-tucks and lace, these all in one combinations must have been all the rage many years ago.

Vintage underwear

Wonder if the bride is wearing one of those all in one combinations under her beautiful wedding gown?  The young page boy in his outfit of gold coloured brocade looks almost as dashing as the tall dark and handsome bride-groom.

The bridal party

Lady in red

I love looking through these small town museums, as you never quite know what will be found there.  There were lots of household items, kitchen tools, laundry items and old toys on display, but sadly I didn’t see a single quilt.

Pinestream Quilters October Club Night

Was this the quilting club or a knitting circle we wondered?  The number of members sitting knitting at our October club night was amazing.  Everywhere we looked, the needles were clicking away busily – just goes to show that quilters can do lots of other things too.

The speakers for the evening were our two shop owners, Sharon and Dianna, who brought along new goodies from their respective quilt shops to tempt us.  Sharon van der Gulik from Thimbles and Threads took the floor first.  Sharon’s message was to “treat ourselves”, enjoy our hobby of P & Q, and buy the very best to help us in our stitching.  Sharon’s selection of products ranged from Daylight lamps, (we are all getting older and need help to see),  flexible rubber bobbin holders, (drop them and the bobbins stay put), to easy to hold rotary cutters and scissors.  Rulers with yellow lines make it so much easier to see where to cut fabric, and I rather liked the yellow chalk pen which makes a fine line, must buy myself one of those, I decided.

  Some items to make our quilting lives easier

Dianna Carol from Kapiti Coast Bernina then showed us some new products.  She demonstrated how the lines from the Frixion marking pen can be erased by a hot iron.  Fusible web to join lengths of batting together is a relatively new product here, as is the fine bobbin fill threads.  But the highlight of the evening was a glimpse of a brand new Bernina sewing machine.  Maybe some lucky quilter from our club will find one in her Christmas stocking soon.

New Bernina and a selection of threads

Show and Tell was interesting as usual.  There were bags galore, and two special birthday quilts which were proudly displayed.  Cathy is another member making quilts from Op Shop shirts, and brought along quilt number three in the series to show us.  The Neo Natal Unit will be pleased with the selection of little quilts finished this month, together with knitted baby blankets, singlets and tiny little socks. 

It was another interesting meeting, and as always, great to catch up with other members.

Happy Birthday to me

It was my birthday yesterday, and yes, I know I’m a day late.  But we were away at windy Himitangi at a caravan club rally over Labour Weekend.  We had fun and laughs with our caravan buddies over the weekend, a meal out at the local pub on night, and a BBQ meal another night.  Pity about that unrelenting  wind, it was just too cold to sit outside at all, such a pity because we did have sunshine.

We visited my daughter and her family over the weekend, and I came away with an intriguing gift bag.  (Had a wee peep when I received it, then put it away till the actual birthday).  Arrived home to a mail box full of birthday cards and a couple of parcels, and a phone call from my son in Christchurch,  to wish me “Happy Birthday”. 

So, want to see what exciting goodies I received?  This selection came in the mail from my pen friends.  A fat quarter of pussy fabric from Carol in South Dakota, a pretty little “kitten” coaster from Glennis in the Cotswolds, and Janet from Cromer, UK, sent me a tea towel relating all the good things one can find in Norfolk.  (I love getting little parcels from overseas!)

Goodies in the mail

My friend Shirley gave me this beautiful hand painted little box.  Isn’t it just gorgeous?  Shirley is a quilter, and an artist too.  The bird is a Stitch bird, she told me.

A hand painted box from Shirley

I had seen the Jane Austen book on sale, and suggested that Robin might like to get it for me for my birthday.  Have to admit that “Pride and Prejudice” is the only story I know, and I’m sure I’ll never get over Colin Firth, as the dark and brooding Mr Darcy, climbing out of the pool  dripping wet in the TV series.  (I feel a swoon coming on.)   Now I will have the pleasure of reading Jane Austen’s other novels.  The other selection of gifts came from my daughter, a pretty note pad for my hand-bag, a pot of lovely smelling body butter, and a citronella candle to keep the bugs away on summer evenings when we are away in the caravan.

Family gifts 

We enjoyed a very tasty birthday meal out at a new local Thai restaurant.  The food was divine, and oh so tasty.  How does this sound?   Satay Chicken Kebabs and Stuffed Mushrooms for starters, followed by Beef in Sweet Chilli Sauce, and  Crispy and BBQ Pork, both served with rice.  We just loved the food, and declared that we would certainly be back again soon.  There are no pretensions here, no wine list or fancy coffee machine hissing away in the corner, just good honest delicious food, with very reasonable prices. 

What do you think of my Birthday Hat?  This rather dashing Happy Birthday hat was sent to me by my very special friend Merilyn a couple of years ago.  It is so cute (or silly, but that’s a matter of opinion) that I decided that each birthday it should come out of hiding for a special birthday photo.  Robin had to wear in on his birthday, and this is my turn.

The Happy Birthday Hat

Stonestead Stitchers today

It’s been a while since I’ve managed to get to get to one of the fortnightly get-togethers with the Stonestead Stitching ladies, what with one thing and another going on.  But at long last I made it today.   “We’ve missed you”, they said – isn’t that nice!  Seven of us attended today, and it seems that I may well have missed some interesting “finishes” from the ladies over the meetings I was unable to attend.  Never mind, we had a good catch up today.

Not everyone brought stitching along to do, but that’s OK, half the fun is socialising together, isn’t it?  Ruth was busy stitching, trying out some new embroidery designs.  She is attending a class on Elizabethan embroidery shortly and had borrowed several books full of beautiful examples of this type of work.  The books were passed around the table and duly admired.  We will be interested to see how Ruth gets on in her class and look forward to seeing her embroidery piece next time.

Vicki-Anne loves making dainty little flowers and had two “fascinators” to show us, one pretty in pink with netting, and the other a rather glamorous concoction of black and red. 

Vicki-Anne with her two fascinators

“Indian Garden”, the colourful Ehrman tapestry which Liz has been so diligently working on for a while, is not far from completion now.  The colours and designs are just lovely.

Liz’s lovely tapestry

Cheryl was telling us about the apron panels she had purchased – just a matter of cutting out the pieces and stitching them together, she said.  Although she thought she would line each apron as well.  Here she is having fun turning the apron straps right way out.

Cheryl and her apron straps

As for me, I took my sadly neglected knitting along and managed to get several rows done, in between chatting and eating our lunch.  I remember making a little jumper from this pattern for my son Michael so many years ago when he was just a toddler.  This blue version will get put away in the “baby box” for when the next generation comes along.

My knitting

It was great to catch up with everyone at Stonestead again, thanks for your friendly company, ladies.  . 

Visiting the Christmas Shop

It’s HOW many weeks till Christmas?  I know it is coming soon, because the Kirkcaldie and Stains Christmas Shop is open for business.  Those of us who live in the Wellington Region are so lucky having this to look forward to each year.  I asked at the counter if I could take a few photos.  Certainly, was the reply, it’s all good advertising.  My comment was that this wonderful shop doesn’t need extra advertising, Kirks is an institution that customers love to visit, especially the Christmas Shop.

   

The entry to Kirks Christmas Shop

So what is new this year?  I noticed a purple tree just in the entranceway all covered in clowns.

Clowns are new this year

Another tree was covered with bright funky monkeys, just hanging about.  That is what is so nice at the Christmas Shop, each tree is decorated with it’s own particular style.

So are Christmas monkeys

But you just can’t beat the old favourites, can you.  Like the Christmas colours of red and green, and good old Father Christmas.

Lots of Santas here

Or maybe a sophisticated tree decorated with white, with accents of gold and silver.  Everywhere I turned, there was yet another beautifully decorated tree, they all looked gorgeous.

White and gold

A whole lot village scenes

Just look at these cute bunnies, with an owl keeping them company

A family of reindeer

I really wasn’t going to buy anything, I just wanted a good look at all the wonderful decorations.  But in the end I bought a couple of “Initial” tree decorations for my grand-daughters, and a little something for MIL too.  I think I’ll need another trip in to this wonderful shop, you just can’t see it all in one visit.

  

More Santas

While I was visiting Kirks, I decided to lunch in their cafe.  (I’m turning into my Mother, she told me she always treated herself to lunch at Kirk’s when she went to “town”)  Just as well that Robin wasn’t with me, as my choice for lunch was lasagne made with pumpkin, feta cheese and spinach.  I could just imagine his reaction to that!  But it was just delicious, and I fancied trying something just a little different for a change.

Then it was time to board the Airport Flyer bus to go home.  These buses have their own on-board television screens which keep the passengers informed, such as news headlines, the week’s weather, airport arrivals and departures.  There is even a bus version of Sat Nav, to show us where we are while we travel along the road.  I really enjoyed my day out in the Big Smoke.

We are “here”

October Stitching Monday

Doesn’t time fly – it really was a month ago when we had our previous Stitching Monday get-together.  We gathered together in the hall, and a  few of us had brought our sewing machines along.  First order of the day was to find a table that didn’t wobble.  It’s no fun going flat out on your sewing machine if your table gets the shakes! 

I spent most of the day finishing up my cream and burgundy paper pieced Log Cabin blocks.  I make these in batches of six, stitch one of the numbered logs on the paper, snip the connecting threads, trim and press, six at a time.  As I was snipping away, I snipped a gash right into my finger.  Thanks, Fay, for the plaster to stop me dripping blood on my work.  It does prove that my small scissors are sharp, doesn’t it?

My log cabin blocks

Margaret laid her bright daisy blocks with blue backgrounds on the floor.  She was making another quilt to use up some of her stash, she said.  But we all know it never quite works like that.  Margaret was running short of blues for the background so had to go out and buy even more fabric.  The pattern is “Daisiez” by Jan Mullen.  There seems to be lots of stitching, slicing in half, and sewing back together involved in making these bright and cheerful blocks. 

“Daisiez” blocks, stitched by Margaret

Black and white is always a winning combination.  Fay told me she needs to make 250 of these little curved two patch blocks for her daughter’s quilt. Don’t know quite how many she has done so far, but she has a nice big pile all completed.

Fay with her Drunkard’s Path blocks

The hand workers were all sitting together as they stitched away.  Both Pamela and Maureen worked on their hexagon blocks for a while.   Then Pamela moved on to hand quilting.  She has decided to use thicker thread and quilt in the Big Stitch style on her very pretty quilt with many Japanese inspired fabrics.   Joyce was also working on a Japanese theme, and she completed the binding on two more tessellated Kimono place mats she is making for her sister.

Tessellated Kimono place mats

Gaye brought along a Neo Natal quilt she had completed to show us.  This is a Christmas design, using some Laurel Birch fabric.  That will certainly brighten up the Neo Natal Ward over Christmas.

Gaye’s Neo Natal crib quilt

Thanks again ladies, for your company on another Stitching Monday.  It is always good fun, stitching together, chatting, and putting the world to rights!

The Life and Times of a Keen Washerwoman

I’ve got a bit of a reputation as far as laundry goes.  It’s fair to say that I quite enjoy doing the washing, pegging it out on the line in the backyard, and watch it flapping away in the gentle breeze in the sunshine.  It has to be pegged out “just so” with all the towels and tea towels together, the tee shirts in a row, and as for the socks, they really just have to be in pairs.  There is nothing nicer than a line full of freshly washed clothes, is there?  I can remember pegging out rows of white nappies every day in years gone by – although I expect not many young mothers use cloth nappies these days.

It’s sad but true, but I quite enjoy ironing too.  (Doesn’t everyone?)  My current iron and ironing board were getting a bit worse for wear so I was rather pleased to see a sale on in one of the large shops.  And what did I find but both irons and ironing boards on sale at half price.  That was too good a deal to pass up, I thought.

My new iron and ironing board

Now I’m in a bit of a quandary.  Shall I start using these items now or wait until we move house – however long that should be?  Mmm, after a lot of thought I decided to leave my new ironing board still wrapped up, and the new iron safely stored in the box, and keep using my old ones for the next wee while.  That way, when we finally do move into our new house, we can dump the old stuff and I’ll have brand new appliances to use. 

I mustn’t forget to take my little wall-hanging “Washday” with us when we move.  I made this way back in 1994 and it hangs on the wall the laundry.   I remember that the class was for hand appliqué, but I didn’t want to make mine that way.  Just hope I didn’t upset the tutor too much when I returned for the second lesson with all my pieces speedily appliquéd by machine.  The little clothes were fun to make, and the quilt shop had those tiny wooden pegs for sale, to hang the clothes up on the line.

“Washday”, hanging in my laundry