Kapiti Quilters Exhibition

I always enjoy a quilt show, and met up with my friend Shirley from Waikanae yesterday morning to view the Kapiti Quilters Exhibition at Southwards Car Museum.  Kapiti Quilters is Shirley’s quilt guild.  After paying the admission charge, and buying a few raffle tickets, we admired all the community quilts made by club members.  They were cleverly displayed on the walkway leading into the hall.

Community quilts made by Kapiti Quilters

There were so many quilts inside the hall, that the sensible thing to do, we decided, was just to take our time.  Here are some from the exhibition which caught my eye.  There were several New York Beauty quilts on display – all those paper pieced points!  This one was by Pat Crengle and won an award for Best Machine Quilting on a domestic machine.

New York Beauty

I’ve always admired Plus quilts and hope to make one sometime.  These two were stitched by Jane McNamara and Sandra Kilin.

Two quite different Plus quilts.

I loved this beautiful quilt made with lustrous glowing colours,and different sized blocks.  Made by Sheryl Meech, it was awarded Best in Show.

Circles, by Sheryl Meech, Best in Show

My pick for Viewers Choice went to this delightful William Morris inspired Baltimore.  Sadly, I didn’t take note of the maker’s name, but it did win two blue ribbons.

William Morris Baltimore

What else?  I rather liked this little rug (or maybe it’s a wall-hanging) made from selvedges.  I’ve done a few selvedge projects over the years but have never seen anything quite like this.  This was entered in a challenge so I’m not sure who made it.

Shaggy selvedge rug

And who is this who was looking for me?  It was blog reader Felicity from Ormandville, and we seem to bump into each other at quilt shows.  Felicity had made me a little gift for the caravan, a little pad with rubber grippy fabric on the back, to help you take the tops of jars.  Thanks so much Felicity, and it was so lovely to meet up with you again.

Felicity with a gift for me

By this stage Robin had done what he wanted to at the shops, and let me know he was waiting upstairs in the café.  It was time we joined him for lunch, and sit down and rest our weary feet. Shirley and I had a lovely time together admiring the quilts – I do enjoy a good quilt show.

Pin Wheel Wizard – or not

Finally done – my pin wheel top made from my traveling HST blocks which came along on our trip to UK in 2009 when I stitched up a bunch and took them along with my Pigma pen. Memory blocks they certainly are, as I got them signed at all the accommodation we stayed, trips we took, and places of interest we visited. These blocks will be used as a quilt backing.

It wasn’t just all about England on this trip, we were lucky to have a stop over in New York.  Wow, what a city that is!  So we took the opportunity to do a coach trip up to Niagara Falls.  Just briefly, a few quick memories of our short time in USA and Canada were the magnificent falls, of course, and seeing the Lincoln Memorial, Liberty Bell, Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, Arlington National Cemetery, and Times Square  to name just a few.

I can easily  make the backing bigger to fit the quilt top it finally goes behind – with yardage or some of the many HSTs I still have. 

Full disclosure time now.  Originally these blocks were to be made up as an Exploding Star design, and I had the pattern as wall hanging size.  I know, I thought, I’ll just make the block size bigger, thinking I knew better.   Much too big, as it turned out, I have millions of the blocks, dark/dark, white/coloured, lemon/white, enough for several bed size quilt tops it seems.  I assembled some of the blocks into this top.

So………this top is looking for a new home.  It’s a reasonable size, approx. 73 in square.  If anyone would like to take it off my hands, I’ll be happy to post it out to you.  For your own use, or maybe as a community/charity quilt, the choice is yours.  Mind use, my piecing isn’t always perfect, so there are sure to be some points not quite lined up.  All you have to do is leave me a comment telling me why you sometimes think you know better and end up having a boo-boo, like me.

Pin Wheeling

It always feels good to make a start on another long standing UFO.  These HST blocks hark back from our trip to UK in 2009 when I stitched up a bunch and took them along with my Pigma pen.  Then I got them signed at all the accommodation we stayed, trips we took, and places of interest we visited.  I’ve started sewing the blocks into pin wheels, and you know I like to have them all pinned up, ready to sew.  I'm stitching these together to make a quilt backing.

More sewing, and here’s my first lot all completed.  Still some more to do, but I've made a good start.

Most New Zealanders of European descent can trace their family roots back to England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, so that is why we Kiwis love to travel over there.  My respective grandfathers came from England and Scotland, and one of Robin’s Grandmothers came out to New Zealand from Blackpool as a war bride, so there are plenty of connections to UK.  Not that we know of any relatives still there.

You can imagine the memories I had reading some of the blocks while stitching them together.  Such wonderful visits to Bodium Castle, Cheddar Caves, Avebury Stone Circle, and the  Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.  I really treasure a written message from Canterbury Cathedral - Rev Jacky Davis wrote “May God bless this precious work, with his love, on behalf of Canterbury Cathedral”.

Sew Wot Tuesday

It’s good to be back in the swing of Sew Wot (fortnightly) Tuesdays again, after missing the last one while we tripped here and there in the caravan.  Today Heather was our hostess, in her rural hillside property.  Two of the household’s three cats deigned to put in an appearance – sometimes they just can’t be bothered with visitors.

Heather with her beautiful girl, gorgeous markings

The old boy Walther stretching out

There was some show and tell to admire, and a story behind this quilt.  Mary’s sister found these panels in an Op Shop over in Australia, and passed it on to Mary.  She made short work of assembling it, adding extra blocks, and quilting it, all in the space of a couple of weeks.  The quilt will be gifted to one of Mary’s grand daughters.

Pretty quilt made from panels

Moira had a pretty cushion to show.  Made with a pretty stitchery edged with cotton lace, it is lovely indeed.

Moira’s new cushion

There had been a bit of knitting happening too.  Carol knits little vests to go overseas to a charity, and this one is so cute made in such pretty colours.  And Heather had been busy knitting too.

Carols baby vest

 Heather had finished four knitting projects – hasn’t she been busy!

As well as a delightful morning tea, we all came away with some goodies.  Heather had been clearing out some of her sewing room “stuff” and there were patterns and other bits and pieces looking for a new home.  She also donated bags of feijoas for those of us who wanted them.  Mary had home grown goodies to give away as well, apples and peppers from her garden.  Thank you, much appreciated. 

I did a little stitching on my second Santa block, he’s coming along nicely.  It’s always great to spend an inspiring morning with the Sew Wot ladies, and it doesn’t really matter if more talking than stitching happens!

Rolling the Dice again

It’s been a long time while we have been away on our trip, but now we are safely home again it’s finally time to roll the dice again.  And the number is ……..6, memory blocks from our trip to England in 2008.  Goodness me, that is 11 years ago!  Here they are, put away neatly in one of my new project bags.

Prior to our trip, way back then, I spent many a night after work cutting and stitching HSTs to take away.  The idea was that I would get them signed as we traveled around, as a memory of all the wonderful places we visited. 

I know I had signatures and messages from Buckingham Palace, Tintern Abbey, Thames Clipper, V & A Museum, Sally Lunn Café, from accommodation and from the aircraft and trains we traveled on as well.  Lots of wonderful memories contained in these blocks.

These will be assembled as pinwheel blocks, I’ve decided.  Instead of another memory quilt I will make this into a quilt backing.  Guess I’d better get pin wheeling!

Safely Home

After 3 weeks, and 1515kms, we have made it safely home.  It’s always a relief that there was no trouble with the car, the caravan, or other drivers!  Our last couple of days saw us leaving Taupo and stopping at Waiouru for lunch.  The National Army Museum is a great place to stop with plenty of room in the large carpark for caravans and campers.  With a café and toilets available, as well as the marvelous museum, we often stop here for a break, and occasionally stay overnight.  

A sign on the door as we entered stated “Due to recent events in Christchurch the Museum Security will be conducting bag searches”.  A big burly guard did just that, it is certainly better to be safe.  After lunch I took a wander around the grounds.  The tanks out on the front grounds are a magnet for kids to clamber all over them.

Tanks outside the National Army Museum

Mt Ruapehu was looking great as we drove along

Our last stop on this trip was at Taihape - a lovely property had a previous life as a Catholic School and now welcome self contained campers.  We camped in the playing field, surrounded by lots of lovely large trees, and enjoyed sitting outside in the late afternoon sunshine.  It was rather chilly overnight with the temperature dropping quite low.

Staying at Taihape overnight

After a leisurely breakfast it didn’t take too long to hook up and make our way to the local dump station.  Then on the road again for the last part of the journey arriving home in time for a late lunch.  The caravan was unpacked, the fridge got a good clean, and a load of laundry was soon in the machine.  As the temperatures are dropping I found it rather chilly in bed with summer cotton sheets while we were away.  That has now been rectified – we now have nice cozy winter sheets on the bed, and my winter caravan quilt.  That should keep me warmer on our next trip.

Ready for our next trip away.

Road Trip Continues

After wondering if the Easter Bunny would find us while we were away from home and ensconced in Mt Maunganui, there she was with a basket of chocolate eggs.  We enjoyed a pancake breakfast on Easter Sunday, cooked by fellow campers over BBQs.  Pancakes, bacon, banana, drizzled with maple syrup, it was delicious indeed.

Easter Bunny at Mt Maunganui

We won a raffle prize too

The local Dog Agility Club brought their clever canines along to entertain us is the afternoon.  We all took our folding chairs up to the end of the playing field to sit in the sunshine and see what the dogs could do.  My goodness, those dogs are fast, and not easy to photograph as they are put through their paces.  Except for a trio of toy poodles, who daintily went up and over the jumps, through the tunnels and weaving poles – they did things very well but wouldn’t have won points on the time trials.  The border collies in particular put their heart and soul into the exhibition.

I wandered up to the other end of the park and got some snaps of the dogs who were waiting their turn.  They were all such well trained dogs.

After the exhibition was over, the owners brought their dogs along for a meet and greet with the campers.  I got to cuddle one of those pretty little poodles.  Wonder what Gemma thought when I returned to the van smelling a bit doggy?

Looks like she wasn’t even interested.  Once again she was getting up close and close and personal to my laptop.  Snoozing on top of it on the bed. 

We are starting to head home now,just taking our time and stopping here and there.   Hora Hora Domain, looking out over Lake Karapiro, was a pretty stop for lunch.  This is a very popular freedom camping area, although we didn’t stay overnight, but moved on to our next destination.

R&R at Lake Karapiro

We overnighted in Hamilton was to get a leak checked in the caravan.  Luckily we could stay at the Leisureline factory overnight, so the servicemen can take charge of our van at 7.00am the next morning. So we took ourselves off for breakfast.  This was certainly  delicious and beautifully presented too.  Salmon and avocado for her, and pancakes for him, followed by a delicious coffee.  Sure beats our usual cereal and toast!

Yummy breakfasts

The caravan was ready for collection  mid morning so we hooked up and went on our, stopping off at Taupo Airport NZMCA Park for the next two nights.  This is always a busy place to stay, vans arrive and depart,  helicopters come and go, planes arrive and take off at the adjacent airport, and sky divers jump out of planes to land nearby.   And then I needed another laundry trip.  This laundry was much more modern than the previous one I visited, with plenty of large washers and driers.

Laundry time again

It had been a while since we had witnessed the Aratiatia Rapids at Taupo – in fact, Robin and I visited here all those years ago on our honeymoon.  Several times each day, spill gates from a dam are opened at the top of the rapids and the narrow gorge fills with water surging past at up to 90,000 litres per second.  At Aratiatia the Waikato River falls naturally through 28 metres in the space of one kilometre. This natural drop has been harnessed for environmentally-sustainable hydroelectric power - headwaters are diverted through a tunnel to the power station.  We stood on the bridge by the power station, the siren sounded several times and the water flow increased dramatically.

Normal flow

With the spill gates opened

Once the spill gates were closed, and the water slowly dropped to normal, we heard voices from the main look out site, and witnessed a canoeist into the water!    And here he comes.

He paddled down under our bridge, climbed out of the river and up the bank, pulling his boat behind him, then settled down to await his friends to collect him.  Oh dear, highly illegal and so dangerous.

Just a couple more days on our road trip, and then we will be back home.  I wonder if my sewing machine is tired of sitting idle?