Projects I am Working On.

Thank you all for the Greetings on my last post.

I am currently working on a baby quilt using a lovely, very easy to follow pattern I found on project12quilts.com     It is on the list of free patterns.( on the right )  Little Leapfrog. The pattern was designed by Janeen Getz. Thank you Janeen.

 This little owl fabric is the only pictorial fabric I am using. It has the colour palette I am using.

 These fabrics I am very happy with.

 The other 3 I need might come from this group  below, but I am not sure about them

 I might go back to the cupboard and pull out some more.

 I have made the pieced blocks in the owl fabric and the beautiful turquoise blue and am doing the green spot now.

 The binding will be the blue, I have lots of it. I think the white background fabric will make it look light and bright.

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 I am also knitting a blanket . The pattern is in a Debbie Bliss book Eco baby. Hers done in cotton, mine in wool . Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, which is soft and snugly.

 It is a simple block pattern with a twisted 2 stitches between the change. The colour is a bit more green than it shows here. I am 3/4 finished as it is easy knitting with rows of 166 stitches - they only just fit on the needles.

 Every day we have families of quail walk across the garden. Yesterday we counted 89. ( some of that number here ) It's not easy to get a photo without disturbing them.

 We had our first light frost this morning but it is now a clear although crisp sunny morning.

Wellington Holiday.

The first couple of days in Wellington were fine and bright but then the wind got up and being out and about was not so much fun. We stayed at the James Cook Grand Chancellor Hotel which is right in the city and has a lift that deposits one straight onto Lambton Quay We mainly walked everywhere and took a couple of taxis to further away places.
  We spent my big Birthday with members of my side of the family. Some travelled down from the Rangitikei to be with us for long lunch on the day - Sunday 7th . We ate at the Crab Shack down on Queen's Wharf. Later my nephew and his wife who live and work in the capital drove us around the sights.

We spent a whole day at Te Papa the National Museum. My time was spent on the 5th level which has the Art Gallery and a display of Tivaevae manu ( appliqué quilts ).

This was my favourite made by the late Jasmine Underhill. The pattern by her Aunt is called puarata flower.

 2 more I liked.

 We also visited the Air New Zealand History display and rode in the simulator.

 The Gallipoli display is the main attraction at Te Papa at the moment

 The scenes and figures are all larger than life ( 1.6  I think ) and realistic down to the veins under the skin, the sweat and the individual hairs on the body. Made by Weta Workshop and Peter Jackson they are almost too realistic.

 Lottie Le Calais.

 The display included ration packs, flies all over everything including food, wounds and the latrines. The sound effects were also very realistic.

This display like every other at the museum are free and very worth the visit.

We went on a tour at Weta Wokshop.

 3 of these fellows greet you outside. Photograhy wasn't allowed on the tour.

 The part I found most interesting was Kim Beaton working on a project using Pal Tiya. It is the ultimate permanent outdoor modelling clay, developed by her husband Woz.

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 We rode the Cable car which climbs 120 metres in 5 minutes.

 Construction for the original started in 1899.

 We wanted to walk right around the Botanical gardens but the wind and skiffs of drizzle sent us into the cable car museum then back down to the city again, where we spent time in Unity Bookshop.

 We had lovely meals at Logan Brown - a present from R and Boulcott Street Bistro a present from the young ones. But the best Coffee  I had while away came from Bordeaux Bakery. I had lovely hot soup there on the way back from visiting Nancy's Embroidery on Thorndon Quay. They told me the coffee beans come from Borneo.

 We came back earlier than planned as the weather was against our other plans. Unfortunately I came back with a sore throat and cough by the time we got home. Too many public spaces and places probably. ( especially when 10 people cram into a lift )

 We enjoyed our short holiday away, but it is always nice to be home, with the fire going,  when the weather is nasty.

Bonfire,Quilts and Knitting.

This last week has been the right time to light the bonfire of big old tree stumps and branches that were no good for firewood.( We are trying to clear this area so it can be sown in grass and kept mown in the future )( The photos are all a bit smoky. )

 R used the tractor to push it together as it burnt. I poked dry sticks in as extra fuel. 

 R , laid a hose from the house down the bank and wet down surrounding dry growth as a precaution. We had  sacks in the nearby creek wetting ready and a bucket, but none were needed.

 The rain has now put it out. It did not all burn as some old stumps had dirt attached. It will dry for a while and be moved by the tractor and relit in the future.

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 I completed this little quilt top in Jacob's Ladder design.( 34" x 34 " ) It is quite tiny. I used all the small squares I had cut but may decide to enlarge it in the future.

 I finished this wee mauve jersey. It just needs 2 buttons sewn on the shoulder opening. I liked the pattern and the different ribbing design. The wee grey beanie has a picot edging.

 I have now started a little sleeveless wrap in blue. The merino wool felt really soft in the ball but not so soft once it is knitted.So far it is going okay but is a pattern new to me.

We are managing to take a few days holiday. We are heading South, by car this time. We will pack lots of warm things . We are getting quite a variety of temperatures here and know it will be colder down there.

 Thanks for your concern about my eye. It has been totally fine . We went for our 2 year eye checks last week and my sight has not deteriorated so that is a saving and also reassuring. I can keep wearing my same glasses.