After Frosts some Sunny Days.

So nice to be in the sun in the garden! We are between seasons.

 Late Winter flowers still about 

 are the  Queen Protea and ones that are always out in July like Polyanthus, and Hyacinths. 

 The daphne can be smelt from some distance( with the sun on it.)

 Add to that early daffodils.

 And little pink camelias.

 So today I have enjoyed the sunshine and my garden.

I am Making a Quilt.

 So what you say. Well it's been a while. I used this blog to check when I last made a regular quilt. It was finished in July 2023. Since then I have made several cushion covers; felt balls; wall hangings and a set of table mats ( I have worked in felt a lot.) I have also had cataracts removed from both eyes and can now  see way better. So a regular quilt was well due. Something simple . I looked back through notes I kept and patterns I copied out and kept. I have a lot of fabric still in my stash that needs using.( who hasn't ?)

 My decision made I have made a good start as the weather has been awful....wet....cold ....inside weather. I know. Its Winter. 

Here is one of the finished 12" blocks. A shadow block.

 The pattern I am using was on Studio Dragonfly  in 2015. it was for a mini quilt. I made one practise block in the mini size.The instructions Debora gave were very clear. Other quilters have been commenting ever since, most saying they would like to make her pattern. In 2019 Pam asked if there were instructions for a King size quilt. Debora gave measurements for a 12" block ( if by chance you read this Debora. there is a mistake. The shadow strips need to be only 2.5 by 10 and 2.5 by 8. Luckily I cut one out first so did not waste fabric.)

 So far it is going smoothly. I like what I have done. 

 Yesterday while shopping I purchased a new rotary cutter blade ( $40 ) as mine had a nick in it - very annoying. Oh what a difference a new blade made. Mine must have been quite blunt.

 I also have some knitting on the go( as my thumb that aches allows ) and some Sashiko that friend Jan got for me in Japan. First time I have done that its  quite soothing. 

Some more of My Favourites.

 

 Betty B had chosen wonderful colours and quilted with variegated sparkly thread.

 Sam's was cheerful and very bright. Every block was different.

 Jenny P purchased this pattern in Alaska or Canada.

Helen's big quilt had a wide cream/ off white  surround and will look great on a large bed.

Rain!

 

Yesterday the weather was the opposite to last weekend. (Torrential rain ) It was prize giving after our show at our small club rooms. The winning quilts could not be easily displayed if they were large . Karen L's  totally member made winner seen here at the exhibition. ( then below where it shows how big it was )

Below the winners in the novelty section.

 The 1st and 3rd in the wall hangings . The 2nd was the long one in the previous photo.

The big raffle quilt was won by a lady in Putaruru. and the 3 big basket raffles were won by unknown ( to us ) people, so that's nice .

 I will show a few of my favourites from the show in my next post.

We were SO Lucky with the Weather.

 2 brilliant sunny days for our Exhibition.

 Helpers and the viewing public could  take refreshments outside if they wished. This is the view.

 As well as the many wonderful quilts and wall hangings on display by our members we had asked the Tauranga Floral Art Society if they would add a few of their displays.....they  were so,so clever.

 Queen proteas with "gold Stitched," Magnolia leaves ( enlarge if you can't see them) 

 By Lorraine Ryan 

 and Blanket stitched leaves around  this King protea by Sue Wright

 There  were others as well.

 Finally to make you laugh I took this shot of bottoms and backs.

 It's at the entrance desk and these ladies are all filling in Raffle details.

 I met so many people I knew, some I hadn't seen for a long time , some old members and some bloggers from up North! Raewyn  B it was lovely to meet you in person!

I might show some of my favourite quilts and wall hangings next post.

The Next 2 Days.

 

Now That's Blue.

 Tomorrow I am having a big Birthday. You know one where both digits change.

 I asked R  for paint and labour. Bright blue, the colour of lots of my existing planter pots.

 He got a good match. Aerosol cans are quite expensive but the transformation of the garden furniture is worth it. 

 I am very pleased .( The 6 chairs were originally red )

 So far this week I have had special lunch with my sewing group and been totally spoilt Such nice friends!

Lots of Sorting Cleaning and Deciding.

 Last week we had a rubbish skip delivered . We had it for a week. The main thing to go in it was an old slide from our garden playground. It was dangerous in my opinion and was degrading so powdery plastic got all over boys clothes if the did use it. R chainsawed it into pieces. After that was in the skip we filled it ( not quite ) with stuff ( garden shed ,under the stairs, cupboard etc etc. )  To keep or toss...that was the recurring question. It proved to be a good clean out after 7 years living here.

 Arriving. He easily backed down the drive.

 Collecting. He lifted a bigger one on top of ours and picked them both up.

 Very worthwhile      having a clean up.

    ******

 I went through scrap fabric and that determined the size of these simple drawstring bags. For the sales table.

 

I finished another small item for the Sales Table.( all hand stitched out of felt.) Others are making Christmas decorations too.

 They will sell for next to nothing so not a good use of our time really.

 Today I am making drawstring bags of various sizes out of scrap fabric which are much quicker.

 The persimmons, one each side of the driveway, are ripening. I have picked quite a few already and ripened them inside. Fully ripe on the tree and the birds get them first. We are using flashing objects and streamers as a bird deterrent. The trees are getting too big to net easily. Such a Yummy fruit.

A Sunshiny Day.

 After a family Birthday outing for D in L  on Sunday I went for a walk up the Canal. ( often used to do it but its a bit far away so haven't for some years )

 I went up the left side and across the top and back down the right side. About 50 minutes.

 Do you see the little spillway on the right. It was quite deep where the path  crossed it and looked slippery.

 When I reached there a young bloke and 2 young ladies ( very slim ) and their white dog were crossing. The young man was wearing jandals and jeans which he had rolled up. He piggy backed  his 2 ladies across and said, " come on You next! You'll probably slip and get very wet! " I was gob smacked but he backed up to me and said jump on and he safely piggybacked me across. SOOO funny. So very kind. Thanks Shannon ! You are a useful bloke to meet. ( hope he isn't suffering from a sore back now ) 

 Maclarens Falls ( that flows into the canal ) .

 . I also picked up 50 cents. - my lucky day.

2 Finishes.

 Thanks Janice, Loulee and Louise for replying and giving me suggestions.

 Someone has already made bowl cosies. 

The basket idea would need to contain something else( not Easter )  as its not needed till June. But I did make a small cloth basket . It took me far too long ( I'm slow ) to make but could be made more quickly using a solid fabric strip instead of pieced. ( the idea originally came from Pink Penguin many years ago ) ( she has a very good tutorial )  Back then I made several in different sizes. Some I am still using.

 The other project finished has been nearly a year in the making. Biggest Grandson and I together started knitting peggy squares. His knitting is quite good for a 9 year old boy ( they do a little each day at school ) ( Waldorf school ) The squares are left over 4ply pure wool from jerseys I knitted the boys.

 I sewed them together and knitted an edging then blocked it to try and straighten the slightly scalloped sides.  ( photo is on the floor drying after I pinned it out and sprayed with water. )

It will be suitable for tucking around a toddler in a car seat. We are sending it to Christchurch with  grandson's other  grandmother this week. ( for her great Grandies down there. )

 I can't crochet. I tried to learn quickly in order to do an edging on the above. My tension was sooo bad it would have ruined it. 

 This edging I did use was just  knitted;  3 rows of knit one, purl one rib. ( about 200 by 160 stitches. )

 It's nice for oldest Grandson to know he helped make something good enough to gift to another little person.

What to make for the Sales Table.

 With our exhibition coming up in a few weeks time all the members of our P and Q Group are asked to make items for the Sales Table. Easy request you would think. Try to come up with something novel; new idea; not too expensive; well made and appealing.

From past experience we know shoppers don't want to pay much. Some will inspect and handle everything and then buy nothing. Other quilters and sewers know the value of items and are the best customers.

 I have made this so far.

 Its just tiny.

The previous one I made I gave to a 2 year old with a baby brother.

 

 What to make next???? Has anyone seen some good ideas....I'd love to know.

 Googling it comes up with the same old ideas.

********

Late season Dahlias are attracting a following.

 Finally they decided to have a flower each.

 A  Painted Lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui ) and a bumble bee.

An Amazing Specimen

 

 I have been watching this Nursery web spider for a couple of days. Dolomedes minor

 ( pisauridae ) or in NZ where it is indigenous Nursery web Spider. Length including legs about 7 centimeters. Female.

 This is the" Nursery," web she built further up the plant. The tiny spiders are moving around inside hatched and ready to leave. 

Looking Ahead.

 

 As this (above )  is happening in June I am working to have something to enter.I have taken my Tall Flower wall hanging down off the wall and am now long stitch quilting it to make it firmer. The weight of the felt flowers has made the felt background sag. By quilting it it will be attached all over to the cotton backing. So far it looks better and more complete so I will keep at it.

 I am also making small items for a Sales Table. I am also contemplating making an entry in the President's Challenge. ( only thinking at this stage ....can I be bothered...have I got an idea what to do....)

 Also coming up in early June is my 80th so I have been working on retaining my Drivers Licence. With advice from my optician I started early ( last year ) to book in and get both cataracts done. I had quite a long wait for an appointment but as you will have read here  the op was done just before Christmas. It took 8 weeks till I got my all clear and went back to my optician to see what glasses I might need.  None for Driving! A pair for reading/ sewing / up close stuff with clear glass at the top. So still progressive but  not strong at all. I got very light frames and am pleased with them and can see clearly everything I need to Do!

 On Monday I went to get the mandatory doctor's check. Was given an old bloke doctor  I never met before. It took 5 minutes ( 10 at the outside )  and cost $95.

 The next day Tuesday  I went to Waka kotahi ( AA ) and paid just $22.50 to get my licence renewed. Using the same photo they took at age 75. 

 So all in all pleased to have that done. I live in the country and although I don't go out that much I need to be able to drive myself when I want.

 On the garden and produce front walnuts are falling,  apples are ripening and vege crops are finishing. Maybe best of all feijoas are dropping! Yum yum.

Some Finishes.

 

I made a cushoin cover to attach my felt mandala to.( it seemed to look best on plain grey ) and added big stitches in blue around the flange.

 I completed my scarf by using wool that matched. Part of it is slightly wider where I had to use thicker ply.

 I got a nasty shock when I picked it up ( after a week ) to finish it and found a hole on the top. A clothes moth had eaten it in that time. I found the culprit nearby and killed it. I mended the hole non too easily and decided I had to live with it. It is being stored in a zip lock plastic bag in the walk in wardrobe, till I wear it in the Winter. 

 Last weekend I had 3 days away with my sewing friends at Whangamata. The weather was awful. We tried to walk every day but got rained on and sand blasted. We all took the wrong gear/ clothing!  We went shopping all one morning and that was very pleasant. Great shops. We didn't actually get that much sewing or knitting done! 

             *******

 The fruit  ready now  are pears. 2 varieties. NZ Bartlett (Williams Bon Chretien )

 and Beurre Bosc. Both trees have a good crop.

 Pears can be hard to judge for ripeness as they are unusual in that they ripen from the inside outward.

 Our freezer is full up but still R is picking tomatoes by the bucketful about every second day.

Blueberries.

 

 I've been out picking blueberries. Such a labour intense job when they are this small variety. There are 3 plants in a cage ( bird protection is essential ) 2 are  called Oneal and they fruited earlier and are in bud again now. They are easy picking and large. These ones came from the middle tree are called Blast. The fruit is barely larger than black currants if you remember those. These tiny ones have a parentage called  Rabbiteye  and are ever green. The Oneal have different parentage called Southern Highland.

 Back at the orchard I started growing them in 2005 as friends gave me a plant as a gift. That one and 4 others were called Blue Dawn or Tasty Blue.

 They are a great easy plant to grow but must be totally bird proofed but allow bees to get in.( so not too fine mesh ) Lots of water is good. They are high in anti oxidants.

These are  the bigger Oneal variety. Almost marble size.