A Great Class and Retreat

Sharon who is the President, of my little local Quilt Group, Village Green Quilters in Whenuapai, Auckland decided to organise a 3 day retreat at one of the local beaches just out of Auckland, with Jenny Bowker. There are about 50 members of our group, but only 12 of us were able to attend.
I had only been home 2 weeks, but I had warned DH that I would be going, and just to impress him, showed him Jenny Bowker’s Blog, so he would know it was a serious commitment.
Serious it was NOT, as we had the most fabulous weekend, getting to know those in the group, that you don’t normally spend much time with, other than to have a little chat. We had so much fun, lots of food, wine & nibbles etc.
As I think I’m not up to being artistic, I decided to be a gofer (Angel), and that way I would still have the fun time away with my mates. The class was a HUGE success and every-one thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Jenny is a very generous tutor – apart from the class itself, we learned how to make a folded paper book and a different folded card book_  (good to show the grandies  ) 
We were also shown how to machine applique and quilt our pieces, something that sometimes gets missed when on a 2 day course. It was so good to have that extra time to finish off. 

On the Sunday Jenny very kindly suggested I borrow a photo from some-one and draw up  my own picture on the projector to carry on with at home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the class achievements with a little way to go!

 

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Home Again!!

 

Well, after being on the go for 6 weeks, I am now at home, and just as busy.I found it too hard to blog from the places I visited, the main reason being time. My sister and I were on the go the whole time. I did get to the last day of the Birmingham Show, which was mind boggling, and my sister’s BIL kindly took us to see some Vintage Welsh Quilts, but apart from that there wasn’t a quilt shop in sight!!  I think Lynn breathed a sigh of relief – her not being a sewer of any description. :-))

I was so desperately trying to get some projects organised before I left to take with me to sew, I may as well have saved myself the time, as I made about 2 candied hexagons. I can’t believe I went so long without sewing, but at the end of each day, after a couple of wines and dinner it was bedtime, so we could get going again the next day. Of course I must explain bedtime was at least 11 pm, and we were up again at 7am.

We hired a rental car and drove 1500 MILES. Got lost more times than I can remember, and on one occasion came off the freeway too soon, but thought we would be O.K. Of course both of us spent a lot of time looking for the loo. This time things were getting to the desperate stage, when we spotted this woman in a little country lane, walking her dog. I rolled the window down and asked her if there was a cafe and toilets in the village. She said no, then seeing the look of horror on my face, said is it the toilet you want. I said Yes Please. She offered if we followed her home, about 200 metres, we could use her toilet. How’s that for a kind action from a stranger. We were so appreciative, we couldn’t thank her enough!!

Will try and post some photos at a later date, but most of what I took was on the video camera, and I still haven’t put it on the computer.

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Haven’t really got time but…..

Whew! I am starting to have just a little panic here, and I shouldn’t be spending time doing this, but I said I would show the blocks I made last week of my Nearly Insane Quilt.
Block #  10
I am really enjoying making these blocks, and at 6” finished they are not so hard to do.
Block # 3
And below Block # 11
After putting them on here I noticed they aren’t very straight on the scanner, but I haven’t got time to redo them.
Now to back back to making some more Pies & Tarts. I am going to take these to  hand piece with me on my travels, OH and just in case I don’t have enough to do (HaHa) I will take some Candied Hexagons, that I have drawn and cut out.
Still have Grand-children ‘stuff’ to do and office work for the 20th month, so must away and get on with it.
Thanks for dropping by

11 more sleeps!

I’m on the countdown now to my OE, but still managed to find time to go to another Retreat. At the same place in a beautiful conference centre by the sea, and even though the weather was on the whole, pretty average with rain and wind, its still a lovely place to be. All warm and snuggly inside, with waves crashing on the shore, visible from the large windows in our sewing room.

There were about 28 of us this time, and I managed to get the top pretty much put together this time. Just have the borders to add, then I can start quilting it. This quilt is for grandchild 3 on the list of 16th birthday quilts.

I have quite enjoyed piecing this quilt.

In between doing this I have managed to make some more of my Nearly Insane Blocks. Will post a photo tomorrow.

Must away and do some more packing!! Trouble is I can only take 20  kgs.  I think I will be posting some goodies home.

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Only 142 to Go!!

I have made a start at long last. What with all these projects on the go.
At the last count I had made about 60 Candied Hexagons. Now I am starting to think they are all too much. I must lay them out again and take a photo.
I have just made my first 2 Dear Jane Blocks  Gosh the pieces are soooo small, and even doing Paper Foundation Piecing, you can still get them slightly off. These blocks are 4 1/2” finished.
I also made my first 2 Nearly Insane Blocks
These blocks are 6” finished, and I was able to P. F. Piece the centres then do the borders the normal way.
I read a great tip, keep measuring each section, and add extra fabric on the last round. This can be cut down if need be.
It’s amazing that even though you try so hard to be accurate, it can still end up slightly out. :-))

Sorry the blog is so short but.....Thanks for dropping by

What a wonderful weekend!

I know I’m a bit behind with this post, but I had a wonderful quilting weekend retreat with about 20 friends at a stunning conference/retreat centre right on the East Coast of Auckland. The day was overcast and raining, but that doesn’t stop the enjoyment of the weekend.

You can see the ocean, although its a bit hard as the cloud cover looks the same colour.

Such a neat time was had by all. No cooking, but wonderful meals, no dishes and no packing all your ‘stuff’ away to eat. A friend and I arrived at 2pm Friday after having lunch on the way over. Must keep up ones strength. hehe!

Sewed and sewed until had to have drinkies at about 5pm.

All day Saturday sewing, plus a couple of us went around the block for a walk to work off the food ready for the next meal. Oh life’s so hard!!

Sunday, back to the table bit this time on a different project. More fun that way!!

 

The great thing about this quilting life, is that 2 or 3 of the ladies are in their 80’s and are still sewing like mad, and are having the time of their lives.

I happened to be on the veranda at home when I saw this cute thing happening with the calves and the young filly. They were nose to nose, but by the time I got the camera, they had moved a little. There is a fence between them.

I am off to start the first block of my Nearly Insane journey, so wish me luck, although it’s not so bad, as the blocks are 6” not 4” like Dear Jane.

Thanks for dropping by

Soup Night at Quilting

Last Monday night we had our traditional annual Soup night, which consists of us bringing along Soup and Dessert.

A list is sent around, and everyone writes down what they are going to bring. As you can see by this photo we had a few crockpots of different kinds of soup.

We also had lots of yummy desserts, but in all the fun and laughter I forgot to take a photo of them. They in all truth probably disappeared before I had a chance. Not because I was too busy talking!LOL

We have started a little tradition (for want of a better word) One of our members works in the Heart Unit of one of the city hospitals, and she asked the members if they would join with her in making some coughing cushions. One of our members was very perturbed, as she thought she said coffin cushions, and wondered what on earth that meant.  Apparently when a patient is recovering from Heart surgery, they need to cough, holding the cushion at their chest. The cushion helps with this procedure.

I took a photo of the cushions that were handed in on the night. Mine is the Autumn leaf cushion.

We hope that those members who want to do this will do so monthly. Alot of quilt groups in our city donate quilts to Womens Refuge and The City Mission etc, so we thought this was something we could do.

Thanks alot for dropping by

Back Home

Well, we are home again to the rain, with loads of washing. My DH always says nooooo don’t bother washing while we are away – we always take heaps ( too much ) luggage with us. Save it (he says) until we get home.

Well now I’ve done most of it – like about 15 shirts, and 6 pairs of jeans.  This is the pile of shirts I have to start ironing tomorrow. Ah well I’ll put a quilting DVD on to make the job less boring!

I took my camera to Australia with me for the sole purpose of taking photos for my blog. I even took the charger for the batteries, but on the Sunday the batteries decided they had had enough and karked it. I wasn’t anywhere I could buy some new ones so I got a pathetic photo from the balcony outside our apartment in Tamworth, and that was it!! 

Ah well next year. We go every year to the Cutting Horse Futurity, but on the way I fly into Brisbane and spend some time with my son, DIL and G Children.

I managed a few photos of the family. One of the boys had his 14th birthday so Gma of course made a banana cake. We only had a 1 and a 3 but he was happy with that.

Also had a yummy meal of Lamb Shanks done in tomato and red wine. My Dear DIL is now an expert Panacotta maker, so had to have that also.  It was devine, but very bad for you. All that cream. She has been practising for when my Italian DH and I go over to visit for Christmas.                              

 

 

 

 

 

 

I spent a lovely day as I said before in my last blog with Julie, who very kindly gave me a momento of our day out. 

A neat set of pot mitts, a lovely cupcake tea towel and the best of all a little purse for putting all those cards in.

I’m very slowly coming to the end of the planning for my big OE with my sister. We are off on 20th August, and the first port of call is the Birmingham Show.

Thanks for dropping by

No photos today, but what a wonderful day I had here in Brisbane yesterday.
Met up with my dear friend & co scquilter Julie from Ipswich, and what a day we had. Talk about "talking non stop"
We seem to have so much in common, and we hardly had time to take a breath. After yummy cake and coffee, Julie took me to The Quilters Store where I added to my stash in a gentle way :-)) by this time it was 3pm and we were so dying of dehydration, we had to rush back to the shopping mall for a coffee. Before we knew it, it was 4pm and I missed my bus back to my DIL hairdressing salon, where she was going to give me a few low lights in my hair.
Julie very kindly drove me there. ( well actually she followed the bus )
After another half hour of talking, Julie thought she had better get home, and sort out something for dinner.
Isn't it amazing, when you meet some-one you just hit it off, as though it was meant to be. This is only the second time Julie and I have met up in person, but I feel I have known her forever.
Thanks again Julie for all the goss and laughter and of course the lovely gifts!!
Will post a photo when I get home!
Thanks for dropping by
Sue

http://www.susannasquilts.blogspot.com

Another Block Finished

Today is my DH’s 70th birthday, and after having Apple Strudel (made by yours truly ) for morning tea, he is off outside to ride/train  one of the horses. 

We have so many field mushrooms at the moment, and DH keeps bringing them into me to deal with. ( You know what its like) I have been making lots of mushroom soup and freezing it for DH, so when I’m away its an easy meal for him.

At last I have remembered to take a photo of the 2nd block I have made in the Bridal War Quilt series. This one I made using the wash away paper behind my applique. I took this photo before I washed it, and have now done so, and it looks fine.

Broke a few # 60 machine needles though, trying to get through all the fabric on the points of the leaves. The current block I am making, I am starching the edges over freezer paper, then ironing the edges down before removing the freezer paper to stitch down. I think I like this way better. No sticky glue as with the wash away.  

Hopefully I won’t take so long to finish block #3.

Thanks for dropping by

What a Lovely Autumn Day in April

 

Went into my sewing room this morning, and got a huge dose of the depression – haha not really, but with such a mess with all these projects half finished, and so many things I want to make……

I heard somewhere on a quilting DVD that we do not have to finish everything we start, the trouble is almost everything I start is something I really want to finish. :-))

And its about time I did some more blogging. I have been very remiss, but I have been sewing. Just haven’t taken any photos.

I am in the process of machine appliqueing my Civil War Bridal Quilt. I have finished the first block – Yay!!  I did this one using freezer paper inside then slitting the back and taking the freezer paper out.  It looks a bit crumpled as I had to wet it to get the paper out, and haven’t ironed it yet.

Not sure whether I like this method, so at the moment I am doing one using wash away paper.

Hope to have my second block finished any day now and will post a photo as soon as I can.

I’m also getting stuck into my Candied Hexagons which I am hand piecing at night.

    The  2 blocks using one print is my focal print and the one I used to get my colour from.

It’s sure going to be bright.:-))

Thanks for dropping by

HAPPY EASTER!

 

Hi Every-one

Not a lot happening in the quilting line at the moment, although in the evenings I have been putting a few circles together. A project I started a couple of years ago. Managed to tack my fabric to the paper templates, but that was as far as I got, so I thought I should start putting some together.

I am trying to work out what to take with me on my trip. Something I don’t need super sight for, so it won’t be these, as it’s quite hard to get the centre points accurate.  Even with hand piecing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My basting stitches are still in.

One thing I did achieve yesterday was this A lovely batch of Hot Cross Buns. They taste very yummy.

A photo below of one of our lovely girls heading off to Australia to enter a couple of shows, and meet up with a nice young fella to make a baby!! She will come back home in about October.

DH was quite emotional to see her go, as she has such a lovely disposition, and he has become quite fond of her. 

Thanks for dropping by, and have a lovely Easter Break.

another Applique block finished!

In searching for something I had lost in my sewing room recently, I wandered around, totally off the subject as I am want to do (much to my husbands amusement or sometimes annoyance) and found 3 finished applique blocks and one nearly finished block. I immediately forgot about what I was looking for and started to finish the 4th block.

So here are the four blocks.

 

  The backgrounds are two  different colours on purpose. They are hand appliqued. It started out many years ago as a BOM but now I’m not so keen on some of the blocks so I thought I would do a mix & match and just add some different blocks to my quilt ( hoping I have enough fabric)

Thanks for dropping by