It's time to see how I've been doing on the Chookshed Challenge for April. The number chosen this month is number 9, which in my case is my House Blocks from some years ago. I've looked back through earlier blogs and just can't find any mention of these, probably made back in the mists of time. These were made from 2.5 inch strips with flip and sew roofs and are my own design. There are heaps of them of all colours, just made from strips, and they have been hiding in a basket all this time.
Romany Quilting
Patchwork, quilting, stitcheries - I love them all.
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Chookshed Challenge mid April
Saturday, April 13, 2024
Dorothy's Nine Patches
This month the RSC colour has changed to yellow, but I'm not quite finished with purple yet. I decided if I didn't keep plodding away on this project, it would be put away, out of sight, and forgotten about. I know I've mentioned my former neighbour Dorothy many times, and the fact that when she moved away to go into a rest home her daughter gave me a couple of boxes of quilting fabrics. Tucked in the bottom of one of the boxes were a pile of nine patch blocks. I assembled these blocks using white sashing, left over coloured squares for the corner stones, and some of Dorothy's purple floral fabric for the borders.
All finished
Friday, April 5, 2024
Easter Weekend in Napier
You know what it's like when you set off on holiday - you seem to have all the time in the world and then it's all over. We were attending our caravan club rally in Napier, with plenty of plans, people to see, things to do, plus a little shopping. It didn't all fall nicely into place though. On my "must do list" was a visit to Skeinz, a local company which spins their own wool. I had found a pretty 6ply cardigan pattern for myself and was after some yarn. Of course there were several lovely colours available, but I couldn't resist this soft blue, nice and squishy in big 100gr balls. Call me predictable but I really can't go past blue.
We had a busy five days in Napier, and had planned to meet up with my late sister's daughter Lisa and her adult children one day for lunch. Sadly that didn't go as planned as Lisa was sick and the lunch date was cancelled. But we slotted in a lunch with our caravan friends at Silky Oak, a wonderful chocolate cafe instead.
Robin enjoying his iced chocolate
We took our caravan buddies Helen and Owen to Birdwoods, a "new to them place". There is a lovely little cottage on site and we had often mentioned this cutest little lolly shop to them. Oh no, they said, we are not buying any lollies! And guess who walked out the door with a bag full, firmly clutched in his hands? We were in need of a coffee after all this excitement, so went into the rather posh Birdwoods cafe. We were escorted to our table, and a friendly young waitress came and took our order. We noticed a group of ladies partaking in High Tea with the gorgeous tiered tray full of delectable morsels. But when we inquired the cost per person, we gulped and decided no, it would have to be a really special occasion to warrant that price.
Sunday, March 31, 2024
Knitting on a Caravan Trip
What sort of handwork to take on our caravan trips was the question. With no stitchery project on the go at the moment, it had to be knitting. I usually have a pair of socks on the go, so they were packed. This pair is going to be for my daughter, she requested a fine 4ply pair this time, and selected the sock yarn from my stash. I often knit socks on car journeys, nice easy knitting once I'm past those tricky heels. I knit my socks flat, two at a time, then stitch up the side seam.
Socks for my daughter
My other knitting project is a cardigan for baby Jack, our niece's new baby. This is a completely new pattern for me, as the garment is knitted in one piece, starting at the back. I've knitted the back, one and a half sleeves, and now I'm continuing down one of the fronts.
A new baby pattern for me to try
On our travels we called in to the historic village of Ongaonga, named for the Maori word of the native stinging nettle. The village was founded in 1872 when Henry Hamilton Bridge subdivided his farm. The general store and tea rooms opened in 1899 and is still in business.
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Chookshed Challenge for March
My Chookshed Challenge for March, number four on the list, has been completed. Some of the participants had chosen to work on a panel for their number four, and I was happy to do this as well, as I had a couple of panels waiting for me in a bag. I chose to work on my wild horses panel, and mid way through the month I had added borders simple borders.
The finished top
The next step was pinning the layers together, and luckily I found a piece of cream calico just the right size for the backing. I safety pinned the layers together out on the patio table, making the most of the warm Autumn weather. I decided to do something a little different with the quilting and remembered I had a book about Walking Foot quilting designs. I chose to do gentle Echoed Curves across the whole quilt. Sorry, but three photos later, Blogger still won't let me turn this photo around.
My practically unused quilting book
Gemma always likes checking out the quilts when I'm working, and I had to chase her away several times. Using the screw in seam guide to keep the lines the correct width was a first for me.
Busy quilting
And a couple of afternoons sitting stitching the binding down, always the best part I think, and it was all done.
Binding time
This will probably be a donation quilt, but I think I'll hang on to it for a while. With two grown up granddaughters who are keen horsewomen, I'm ever hopeful of a great grand child one day.
I had mentioned that I had previously used a large horse panel from this range to make a birthday quilt for my granddaughter Megan a few years ago. After a lot of searching, I finally found a photo. Made with nine patch blocks, and blue sashing to pick up the colour of the sky and the river, I was very pleased with how it turned out. This was commercially quilted, as it was much too big for me to deal with
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Movie Date Night & Autumn Equinox
We are not great movie goers, but now and again a film grabs our attention, and we just have to go and see it.
The Great Escaper, starring Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson was such a film. This film is based on a true story about pensioner Bernard Jordan, who absconded from his Care Home in Sussex, UK in 2014, to attend an event in France marking the 70th Anniversary of the D Day Landings. Bernard missed out on getting a pass to join one of the official groups, so decided to go it alone.
It was an excellent film, with plenty of early scenes when the young couple met. Flash backs to war years happened, and the tradegy of losing family and comrades. The brave old men, plenty of them on walkers and sticks, who gathered in France to remember those dark days, all proudly wearing their medals. Bernard escapade at 90 years old made the news and he was welcomed back to his Care Home as an adventurous hero. What I realised from this film, was that no matter how long ago people experienced the horrors of war, or indeed any other great catastrophe, the memories are put aside to get on with everyday living, but the trauma is just under the surface and often triggered. I can certainly recommend this film, funny, sad, and yes, I shed a few tears, and based on a true story.
We received a movie gift card from my granddaughter Emma for Christmas, and I had been saving it for such an occasion. And we ate at the cafe before our movie commenced, so it made it a lovely night out. Robin had a pizza and I ordered some dumplings, plus a nice hot coffee too.
Our Autumn Equinox has rolled around, so it was time to ring changes and get my little Autumn wall hanging out. We have noticed that the morning and evening temperatures are getting cooler, but the days are still mostly warm and sunny. No need to turn the heating on just yet, but a cardigan and warm slippers have been making an appearance some evenings.
Autumn has arrived
Monday, March 18, 2024
Donation Drop-off, and Lunch with Friends
Over the last several months I have been stitching away, and had accumulated a bag of donations for Foster Hope charity. The nearest drop off point was on the way to where we were heading for lunch, so that worked out well. I collected the bag, and we were ready to go.
Donations for Foster Hope
We were meeting our friends for lunch at the Paekakariki Hotel. The meaning of Paekakariki is "pae" for perching and "kakariki" is a small native parrot. The local cafe just across the road from the pub is called "The Perching Parrot".
We took some time choosing our meals - I was after soup as it was a chilly day, but no soup on the menu just yet, I was told. Eventually, we placed our orders, and the food arrived. I tried corn fritters for a change, and Robin enjoyed his sweet and sour pork on rice. Having a nice meal for lunch means I don't have to cook another meal for our dinner that night.