Last UFO Night of the Year

The monthly UFO nights are fun – a casual evening where everyone does their own thing, with generally a whole lot of chatting going on too.  This was the last one of the year, with only a small turn out of about 8 ladies or so.  I didn’t make it in time for the shared evening meal, but arrived a little later.  But tasted one of Mary’s yummy Lemon Tarts, and the chocolate fish and grapes were offered around during the evening.

Mary had brought along her own “Show and Tell”, showcasing her many years of P & Q.  Everything used to be done by hand when she first started, she told us, piecing, appliqué and quilting. Mary does such beautiful work, and here are a couple of her creations which I especially liked.

Mary’s quilting bag

Tui surrounded by circular grape-vine

Sandra was as busy as ever, and the only one who brought a sewing machine along for the evening.  I was intrigued by her black and white quilt and she described how it was done.  Lots of cutting, stitching, and slicing, I think.  It certainly is very effective with the black and white fabrics and the splashes of colour.

Sandra’s Shattered Angles

Lots of scrappy squares combined with stitchery blocks make this lovely child’s quilt.  Sandra is making this one for the Ronald McDonald House, and it is sure to bring a smile to a young patient’s face when they cuddle up with it.

Lovely quilt for a sick child

Kaye was working diligently on her Ngaire Brooks block of a tui on a kowhai branch.  This is all needle turn appliqué, and we heard her muttering quietly to herself about the size of those tiny kowhai leaves.  I really admire people who take the time to do this type of appliqué, mine is machine appliqué or nothing!

Just beautiful – Kaye’s tui on kowhai branch

Nan was sitting quietly beside me finishing off pot holders for Christmas gifts.  These are the last two, she told me, after making 12, or was it 20?  She had made a whole heap of them, to pop in with Christmas presents.

Colourful pot holders

This Lil Blokes pattern, Gollies ‘n’ Dollies, was purchased by Hilary from Lynn Hyland’s shop while on an Aussie holiday.  Lynn is well known for her cute Golly patterns, and Hilary spent the evening tracing her pattern pieces out, all ready to appliqué.

Gollies ‘n’ Dollies pattern

Kathy was crocheting a baby’s blanket together, for an expected grand-child.  Such pretty pastel colours too.  Most of the ladies are not too keen to get their photo taken, but I snapped Kathy while she wasn’t looking.

Baby blanket for a new arrival

As for me, my plans for the evening didn’t eventuate.  I had spent most of the day machine quilting the borders on my Christmas quilt, and expected to get the binding on so I could hand stitch it down during the UFO night.  But because I had already unpicked some earlier machine quilting, the border fabric was not behaving, and seemed to have stretched a little.  So out came the unpicker yet again, and I pressed and pinned, and stitched, trying to get the darn thing finished.   Needless to say I didn’t manage to sew the binding on after all, so took along some hand stitching instead.  I really want to get this quilt done and dusted, so I’ll just have to keep on working on it!

A quilting Golfer

Quilts are found everywhere, and in some quite surprising places.  We recently stayed in the caravan at Rangatira Golf Club, in the wilds of Ohingaiti on SH1.  Golf clubs welcome caravans and motor-homes to stay in their grounds, and most offer power, water, showers and toilets.  As well as bringing some extra funds into the club coffers, people staying overnight deter burglars, break-ins, and boy racers.

Hanging in the ladies changing rooms was a small appliquéd wall-hanging featuring a tree and lots of numbered pockets, with words like birdie and eagle.  Now I’m no golfer, but it looks like the ladies place their number into a particular pocket when they have played well.

Spotted at Rangatira Golf Club

The wall-hanging was signed on the back and made in 2006 by Marg McAlley.  Wouldn’t it be great if one of you lovely readers knew her?

Leisure Pursuits

Away in the caravan at Taupo, there is plenty of time for relaxing, minimal housework, and some sightseeing.   I had time to sit out with my knitting under the sun umbrella.  I really needed to be on my own as I was concentrating reading a graph while doing a fair isle pattern. 

  Enjoying the sun

Just because we are on holiday, doesn’t mean that the washing doesn’t get done.  Washed at the local laundrette, it is now hanging outside on my dinky little fold up travelling clothesline.

The laundry must get done!

Last night we enjoyed a three course meal at the Wairakei Resort.  We started off with prawn salad, followed by roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, roast pork and crackling,  and veggies – so delicious.  Dessert was a choice of pavlova, trifle, cheese-cake and fresh fruit salad, all good Kiwi desserts, the chef told us.  Come back for seconds, he said, but no, we were quite replete, thank you very much.  I managed to sip a coffee to finish, but Robin was full to the brim.  At $29.50 each, it was excellent value.  We could tell it was quite posh as not only did we have linen table napkins, but the rest rooms had individual hand towels all nicely rolled up in a basket. 

Enjoying a meal out

I’m still trying to shake off that dratted viral cough.  My voice seems back to normal, but although the cough has lessened, it comes back with a vengeance each night.  I’ll keep on with the nose spray, the lemon drinks, and the throat lozenges.  Surely I’ll come right soon!

,

Easier said than done

“Rest the larynx”, the doctor advised me the other day when I saw him about my sore throat and incessant cough.  That is easier said than done, especially as we are away on a caravan holiday with friends, and visiting family here in Hastings, so there are plenty of chatting going on.  But I do think he gave me good advice.  The more I talk, the worse I cough!  And it’s always so much worse at night in bed.

According to Mr Google, the larynx (voice box) is part of the respiratory system that holds the vocal cords. It is responsible for producing voice, helping us swallow and breathe. Mine is obviously inflamed and perhaps a little swollen from all the coughing. 

 

No wonder I’m still feeling poorly.  But we are enjoying the nice warm conditions in sunny Hastings.  It was nice and relaxing sitting under the sun umbrella in the morning doing a little knitting.  The knitting needles gently clicked together as I worked on a little baby’s cardigan.  Not for anyone in particular, but I’ll put it away in my “baby box” until it is needed. 

Yesterday we took a drive out to Arataki Honey Centre so Robin could replenish his honey supply.  And came across this interesting sign, so we just had to stop so that I could take a photo.  I think we need a sign just like this at home!

It’s no fun when you’re feeling poorly

It certainly is no fun at all being on holiday when you are feeling poorly, I can assure you.  We left home on Friday and travelled to Opaki, in the Wairarapa, for a caravan rally.  Then on to Hastings on Sunday.  My poor throat has been getting worse and worse, I’ve been coughing and spluttering by day, and twice as bad by night, and my voice has almost given up the ghost.  Enough is enough, we decided, and sought medical help.  The Hastings Health Care Centre takes casual patients, and we spent a couple of hours there today waiting our turn.  The good news is that I do not have a temperature, a strep throat, or bronchitis, pneumonia, or anything “germy”.  So it is probably viral, or maybe caused by dust or pollen, and needs good old fashioned care, rest, plenty of fluids, lemon and honey drink, and “rest the voice” I was told.  Mmmm, I’m not really that much of a chatterbox, but I did do quite a bit of catching up with folks we hadn’t seen in a while at the rally.  The diagnosis is not too bad at all, so I’m obviously over the worst.  I’m pleased I got checked out, now we can continue on our trip in a happier state of mind.  Now, if only that darn cough would disappear so I can get a decent night’s sleep.

I spotted a quilt hanging in the Health Centre, made in the raggy style with exposed and fluffy seams.  Called “Get the Message” it was made by Judy Barnes and Ros Lusk, and the centre blocks spell out “no drugs or alcohol in the home”.  Quilts turn up everywhere, don’t they.

  Get the Message

We are currently staying in sunny Hastings, parked up on an apple orchard.  There is everything we need, power, water, ablution block, and something close to my washer-woman heart, a washing machine.  Once I had returned from my visit to the doctor, a big load of clothes were in the wash with the soap powder, chugging merrily away.  Then pegged it all out, to flap in the breeze and the sunshine.  In my view, happiness really is clean laundry!

Can’t help it, I have to keep the washing up to date

Town and Country Quilters November Club Night

Numbers were certainly down for our November meeting.  Perhaps the “silly season” is starting early for some, or maybe there were members away sick – I know I couldn’t stop myself coughing sometimes.  Do hope I wasn’t passing my germs on.  Our President Leigh read out some facts and figures about our recent Quiltfest exhibition, and it was a great success.  Each month, members go in the draw to select one of the new library books to take home, and I was one of the lucky ones – I chose Quilt Mania, quilts for kids.  As I get to read it first, I’ll have to write a book review for the newsletter.

Our speaker for the evening was Jo Ransom, CEO of Te Takere, Levin’s showcase Library and Community Centre Trust.  She told of the original funding issues, the vision for the project, and the Trust's vision.  After only a year of operation, it seems to be exceeding expectations.  They hold regular exhibitions, free concerts, run a successful youth programme, and issue lots of books too, of course.  With a cafe and Info Centre, people are always popping in and out.  I’m a real library lover and call in regularly to get my book fix.  Libraries are not the quiet havens they used to be, and have a lot more community involvement these days.

Show and Tell is always the highlight of the evening, and there was quite a nice selection held up for us to admire.  Bev was justifiably  proud of her vibrant row by row quilt, made with the guidance of fellow member Lynn.  Bev had a bit of an issue with her flying geese blocks, she related, but it all came right in the end.

Bev’s row by row quilt

Lesley is obviously very partial to this design, as this is the third quilt she has made from this graphic pattern.  This version is for her sister, and was quilted by Trish of Crazy Cow.  Sorry the photo turned out a bit blurry, and doesn’t show the pretty rose fabric properly.

Made by Lesley for her sister

I’m sure I wouldn’t be tackling a hand pieced hexagon quilt for my very first quilt, unlike Jill who produced this lovely version.  It will be donated to that very worthy cause, Ronald McDonald House.

Jill’s first quilt

There’s something about a playful cot quilt which makes you smile.  This one by Sarah is just delightful, with clever teddy, (or is he a mouse?) off enjoying a ride in a plane.  So cute!

Sarah’s cot quilt

Hilary has made this lovely lilac and green quilt for her 93 year old aunt, what a lovely gift.  This was also expertly quilted by Trish of Crazy Cow.

Hilary’s quilt for her aunt

Fellow Sew Wot member Heather brought along her stunning bobbin drawing quilt.  The secret to this type of stitching is to put the coloured thread in the bobbin, and stitch over the marked lines on freezer paper.  That narrow striped fabric Heather chose for the sashing and border was perfect with all those lovely thread colours on black fabric. 

Heather’s vibrant bobbin work quilt

Sadly, I didn’t catch the name of who made this.  Here’s a Gingerbread Man Quilt made just in time to be hung up for Christmas.

Cute gingerbread men

At the end of the meeting I selected some library books to take home, had a quick cuppa and a chat, said goodbye and headed back home.  Next month will be our last meeting of the year and will be very busy so it will be starting early, we were told, with entertainment, and a special supper.  So we will all have to get baking, and finish off our Christmas quilts to bring along for Show and Tell.

Reverse Stitching in the Caravan

Here we are, staying in the caravan in Petone, getting ready for my early morning hospital appointment tomorrow.  Travelling down here early means that we will not have to bother with a 90km trip leaving home at 6.00 in the morning!  I brought my Christmas quilt along for the ride, and have been getting stuck in with my Clover seam ripper, taking out some of my machine quilting stitches on my border.  The stitches themselves aren’t too bad, but I obviously didn’t do enough pinning to stop any movement.  As I continued to stitch along the border, the top fabric bunched up and wouldn’t lie flat.  Oh dear, unpicking is the only way to fix it.  

Unpicking my flowers

I’ve certainly had my moments with this quilt, and will be pleased to see it finally finished.  If I don’t keep persevering, the darn thing will get thrown into a corner in frustration.  And it really is quite a pretty quilt, with it’s own story to tell.  So…. I’ll keep on keeping on!