Stitching on the stitchery - done!

Wow - what an amazing feeling having put the last stitch into the stitchery last night. I have to say that I felt a little sad to be coming to the end, I have really enjoyed working on this stitchery. There are others that I like just as much and if I do decide to do more, I thought that eventually they could all hang together. The stitchery is 'Christmas Angels' from The Birdhouse.

With the stitching done, now I have to decide how I am going to border it. Whether I am going to do a simple plain border or a pieced one?

What do you think? Let me know - I love getting feedback.

Happy stitching everyone,

Donna-Maree

Keeping busy

I am waiting at the hospital today and have my trusty 'to go' bag. My motherinlaw is having surgery and while she is in theatre I thought it was a good opportunity to get some more stitches in. Not many more stitches are needed before this is done, such a good feeling. 

Bandana bib style

When my daughter Kelsey and granddaughter Scarlett were down visiting I had a go at making some bandana bibs. Kelsey chose some fabrics from my stash that she liked and away we went. They turned out quite well and seem to be doing the trick.

Hearts a plenty...

Boy time flies by when you aren't looking.

We have been lucky enough to have our daughter and granddaughter visit several times in the last few months. I do believe that grandchildren are indeed gifts from God and I relish the times that we have together and try to spend as much quality time with them both as possible while we are together. These special times really make my heart sing.

I have been doing some stitching although I don't have much to show in this post. I have tonight however, downloaded an app on the ipad which will enable me to update the blog much easier than having to go into the office and use the laptop which also involves downloading photos etc, most of the photos these days are on the ipad anyway so it makes more sense this way. Time will tell whether I post more regularly than I have been more recently.

Anyway, unfortunately my Aunt passed away at the beginning of June. Aunty Kaye was my fathers only sister and she has always had a special place in my heart. I wanted to do something special for her and so I decided to make a heart to put on her coffin instead of a flower. I loved having the opportunity when I was working on the heart to sift through my memories of her and our times together as I worked. It was lovely catching up with my cousins and extended family at the funeral and being able to celebrate her life with them all.

Is this the beginning of a collection?

I have never really had any desire to own any vintage machines although I do confess that I do think feather weights are cute and could be useful machines to own, due to their size and capabilities and have at certain times thought that owning one could be neat. I do like treadles and I did for a time look after my aunties one while she was living in another city. I do have a treadle base that I want to put a top on and use as a table and that is sitting in the shed waiting for its turn for attention.

Often when I am sewing or ironing I listen/watch Bonnie Hunter and her quiltcam and Bonnie just loves the older machines and clearly her attitudes are rubbing off. One day at work I was bored in my break and decided to check out trade me and just have a look to see what was available, particularly in our area. I was surprised to find a Singer crankhandle machine not far from us. I put it on my watch list and thought nothing more about it. Following the auction I got a fixed price offer which I found myself accepting. So I am the very proud owner of 1922 Singer crank handle which I have called Cranky. She sews like a dream. We collected her on the Friday night and over that weekend I put together a quick quilt top using bonus squares from a previous quilt. I thought it would be a good project to check Cranky out, plus use up some scraps. When we collected the machine they told us that they were selling the machine for his mother who purchased it second hand and the machine came out to New Zealand in 1965 with the family.

I was so impressed with the experience with Cranky that I thought I would check out what else was available and being sold. I was quite surprised with the amount of machines that were available and the condition that some if them were in. I put several on my watch list and got notifications when the auctions were due to close, as you do. For one particular machine the bidding was very low and the auction was due to close in the next 30 minutes - so I put a bid on and expected to get out bided. I waited and waited and the auction closed and I had purchased another machine. There wasn't a lot of information on the auction about this machine and only two photos but the machine did look to be in reasonable condition. Because I didn't think I would buy the machine I hadn't asked any questions clarifying the condition and parts etc, so I purchased this machine blind so to speak, with the attitude that the purchase price was good  and I could absorb any costs getting this girl up and running.

According to the serial number she was made in 1950 but the badge on the front says 1851 - 1951. She does have a motor (no belt at this stage) she has a light, her cord is a little frayed and needing some rewiring and she has a knee control. She has some attachments but has quite a few missing, no manual and is missing the model number badge on the front (I am assuming she had one) and no key for the case. At this stage I am not totally sure what her model number is. She was very stiff but I have oiled her and she has freed up a lot. Until I know her model number I can't ascertain what she should or shouldn't have and what she needs. At this stage I have not plugged her in and tested the motor. We collected her from Havelock North in the Hawkes Bay and the previous owner is relocating to Christchurch and I only had one day available to collect her. Not a lot of information was given when we picked her up so I know nothing of her history.

She is currently unnamed and is still sitting on the end of the dining table waiting for me to have more time to sort things for her. To be honest one of the reasons is that she is so heavy and I am not sure where to put her where I can still fiddle with her, so until then on the dining table she stays.

Now what can I name her ....

I will ponder on that - until next time happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

Orphan blocks progress ...

Hi everyone

I thought that I would let you know how I got on sorting the orphan blocks. Well here is the progress to date.

I had a look in my scrap 2" strip drawer and found snap lock bags full of goodies, things that I had forgotten about. Then I saw some bonus blocks left over from another project that I had trimmed (before realising it was going to take forever to trim them all and stopped) and thanks to the Bonnie Hunter way of thinking - I decided to use what I have and that if my star block was going to be different from the rest, that it will be quite different at least when you look up close. 

On closer inspection there is a bag there with 300 x 4 patches - labelled and ready to go - clearly they are for a project, but I have no recollection which one. Will have to give it some thought.

I will put these aside until I can remember what they are destined for. But it is a reminder for me to label things with more details.

So here is a collection of block parts that I have chosen to use to create the block bearing in mind the colours and contrast that has been used in the original blocks. I think it is going to look okay. 

I love this tray and use it to lay out block pieces - it was going to the secondhand shop when my mother in law was moving recently - I immediately saw its potential.

I used Bonnie Hunters webbing method of joining the block. It has taken a bit of effort to break my original habit of joining blocks but it has been worth the effort - Bonnie's way does definitely makes it easier and more streamlined and a bonus is that the block pieces are always in the right place reducing the need for frogging or reverse sewing.

Here it is all sewn together - when sewing blocks together like this I don't press until the block is put together, as then I can work out which way I am going to press the seams after I have sewn everything together. This is dependent on which way the seams are going and that decision I make as I am sewing.

Here it is amongst the others - can you spot it? Bottom third from the left.

I am trying to sort out what size to make the tramming and the four patches and am leaning towards 2" strips. This is the smallest that I have pre cut stored ready to go, so would prefer to use these.

Right then I need to go and make some decisions - see you soon.

Donna-Maree

Orphan blocks getting sorted...

I do not know where I got these orphan blocks but when I was tidying up the other day I found them and instantly knew what I wanted to do with them. Five of them were joined together with the background blocks that you can see on the left hand side. I unpicked these last night watching tv and I didn't think of taking a photo to show you a before shot. 

However for some reason I thought that there were ten blocks so you can imagine my surprise this morning when I counted them out and there were only nine.

This is how I am wanting to set them with tramming and four patches in between - this is destined to be a central table runner for the dining table. They need the tramming as they are not all created equal and some fudging will be needing to happen. So I guess another square needs to be created - even though the fabrics will be totally different to the other blocks I think they will be okay and I will put the block in the middle so it doesn't stand out too much. Thank goodness for Bonnie Hunter and her sensible attitude about scraps that rubs off on many of us.

Come back soon to see how this project has got on...

Happy stitching everyone and please leave a comment if you have time.

Donna-Maree

Tripping Around ...

I took this picture of one of the many mosaics in the footpath yesterday when in Cambridge, they are pretty cool. Here is what it says on the Cambridge website regarding these mosaics.  Check it out for yourself HERE.

Walks of fame

If you fancy a gentle stroll, check out Cambridge's tribute to our equine and sporting heroes. Wander along Duke St to find 25 plaques honouring the achievements of local stars in the town's Sporting Walk of Fame, and as you turn into Victoria Street, look for 18 mosaics set into the footpath of prominent local horses. On the wall beside the ANZ in Victoria St, you'll find a special collection of plaques honouring our 13 (and counting) Melbourne Cup winners.

It isn't often that I get the opportunity to have a day out when hubby is on the road, but I grab them when I can. I was disappointed to find the quilt shop I was planning to visit in Cambridge had closed down at Christmas. Having planned on visiting the shop I had some time to spare once I had done enough window shopping, so I sat on a benchseat under a tree on the main road and did some stitching. The cafe across the road had an entertainer playing outside their premise and the ambience was just fantastic. The thing that always surprises me when I am stitching somewhere is the amount of people who stop to look and chat - it is definitely an ice breaker.

While window shopping I was really impressed with this little shop - MYstyleNZ check out their website HERE. They are in the process of redoing their website so make sure to check back soon. They have some seriously gorgeous fabrics, bags, all sorts of things - it definitely put a smile on my face. They will send anything out to you. The thing that really impressed me was their friendliness and positive welcoming attitude. It might be a little shop but it is a treasure trove. The other thing that I noticed in Cambridge is that a lot of the window fronts are looking very royal - I wonder why ... Some special visitors maybe?

After spending the morning in Cambridge we went on to Hamilton. I have lived in Hamilton a lot through my life, on and off and I am always keen to have a look around and check out what has changed since the last time.

Here is the Hamilton Lake or Lake Rotoroa - in all the years that I have lived in Hamilton I have never seen the lake water level so low. In fact I couldn't believe just how dry the Waikato is and how brown the grass is.

This photo is looking up to the cafe at the lake which has been there forever although it is definitely looking different since the last time I was here.

I called into The Base Shopping Centre - I had never been before although I did see them start to build it. This was a little freaky for me as our family lived there at one stage when it was an RNZAF Base. The school got relocated and all the buildings gone - all the memories of those times got challenged yesterday sitting in the mall, knowing that everything had gone and this replaced it. It somehow feels like those times never existed at all apart from in my mind.

Check back soon to see what I am up to next and please leave a comment - I enjoy reading them. Until next time...

Happy stitching everyone.

What is on the needles?

Look what is on my needles...

Knitting for our first granddaughter - Scarlett. 

Yes I am indeed a Nana. Our beautiful granddaughter was born 4 days before her due date at 6.34am, 6lb 11oz and 51cm long, following a very short labour. Mum, dad and baby are doing very well. Scarlett Valentina - The little darling is filling out very quickly and has steadily gained weight never loosing the weight that newborns usually do.

Back to the knitting - I haven't really done any knitting for a while and I have really enjoyed (well most of the time anyway) knitting for my granddaughter knowing that these garments will help keep her nice and warm and every stitch is stitched with love and promise.

I have knitted two garments for her, well one is complete and just waiting for the sewing together part, as you can see below. 

The second one - I can see the finish line. They are visiting this weekend and I am wanting to give them to my daughter, so the pressure is on. The pattern on the second matinee jacket is more complicated than that on the first and there was a fair amount on unknitting and re knitting going on and because this little number is knitted as one to the armholes there were a lot of stitches involved in this process. I found it very hard not to get frustrated, however I am really glad that I persevered as the finished result is just lovely.

What helped with this was the opportunity to start the pattern off in the morning instead of after dinner when I was too tired to concentrate and see properly. I am pretty sure that I know the pattern off by heart now and can tell just by looking where I was up to. Onto the moss stitch now, so that shouldn't take too long.

I enjoy knitting for this age group as it doesn't take too long and you can use some of the designs that older babies and children don't really want.

That is all for today - so until next time happy stitching everyone.

My entries for the Tauranga Quilt Show

Hi there,

Just trying to do a little bit of a catch up with things that I have been doing around life ...

Tauranga Patchwork and Quilters Group had a quilt exhibition just after I became a member, September 2013. This was the inspiration I needed to make a commitment to get a few things completed. And here are some of my entries -

These are the tiles that I started in Michele Hill's class at Quilt Symposium at Taupo, 2013. If you look back to previous posts when I was doing the applique for these, you can see how mounting them on canvas really transforms them.

This is a Ngaire Williams design from The Apple Basket. I purchased this as a kit - excluding the canvas. I am very pleased with the result and found the process very rewarding. These get mounted on the wall with 3M velcro strips.

Hannah's Moonshine Quilt - a Monica Poole / Moonshine Design, using the Quilt as you go technique. This quilt was made as a 21st present and again I am pleased with the result. The best part about it all was that you are working with more manageable sizes of the quilt and it is only when putting the larger pieces together that you are dealing with the entire bulk.

Here is another Ngaire Williams design and again this was purchased as a kit. I absolutely love the result and this also gets attached to the wall with 3m velcro strips.

It has definitely been good seeing some projects getting completed. Since then I have been working a lot and haven't been doing much sewing. I am trying to get the sewing room sorted so that I can start chipping away at a few more things.

Check back soon to see what else I have been up to and meanwhile happy sewing everyone.

Cheers Donna-Maree

Welcome to 2014...

Wow, I can't believe it has been so long since I last posted and so much has happened since then as you can imagine.

I am not going to update you with everything that has been going on in this post, but will gradually over the next few posts. I will say that I started work in October and worked very long hours six days a week right up to Christmas, hence the no posts.

At the moment I am sorting the house from Christmas and getting ready for our first grandchild that is due on Valentines Day - February 14th.

Here is what I have been working on for our daughter - she asked me to make a liner for the pram and another one for the car seat. I went to Whangarei and was making these at her house while visiting with her, but alas I had trouble with my machine doing the buttonhole stitch around where the straps are going to go. Hence I didn't get them completed and brought them home to finish them, which I have nearly done. I also need to have another look at the machine and work out exactly what is going on there and whether I can sort it or if it needs to go to see the sewing machine fix-it man.

Until next time, happy stitching everyone.

Stitchery update...

I have traced all of the stitcheries needed for the project that I am doing and I have stabilised them all on the back by tacking the stabiliser on. I have chipped away at these when I have had time and it has served as a reminder to me of how much you can get done with a plan and a simple goal.

I never worked like this in the past as I would start a project and continue until it was completed or ended up in the UFO pile. I have been doing some more sorting and have realised just how many things I have in that UFO or WIP pile and I need to get this sorted!

I think I need to take my simple plan and goal idea and apply it to the very large pile of things waiting for my attention. So my goal for this week is to sort a plan ... of how I am going to achieve this. 

I do think that I have subconsciously been pondering on this. Yesterday I collected all of the batting that was in various places around the house and centralised their location. I do have a very bad memory which my family will testify to and I can never remember where I have put things i.e. it took 18 months to find the spare key to the car because I put it in a safe place! Remembering where the safe place was did become the more immediate problem.

So I am ahead in that I have realised that to keep track of things that I need systems - hence the centralising of the like things together. I have now realised that I will NOT need to purchase any batting for some time to come!

Not only have I filled a very large suitcase with batting with a very large piece left over, but I had already organised previously most of the flimsy's together with their backing, batting and binding and they are also labelled ready to be quilted.

So what I need right now ... is to start on that plan.

Until next time, happy stitching everyone. 

OOOpppppssss......

Some of my friends will get a very good laugh out of this story today...

Yesterday I went to the Thursday afternoon stitching group that I have been attending since we moved here and was busy tracing away on some stitcheries while catching up with everyone. When I had completed tracing four designs, I thought that I would iron on the stabiliser that I use on the back of the stitcheries as I am wanting to get these organised so they can be my 'pick up and go' project. I turned the iron on and was about to iron on the stabiliser when I realised that I had used a pilot Frixion pen ....... drgh!!!!!!!

If I carried on and ironed on the stabiliser all of the tracing would disappear .... lucky I caught myself in time. But then I had to work out how I was going to attach the stabliser if I wasn't going to use heat. Thanks to the lovely ladies who attended the group yesterday we discussed the options and I tacked the stabliser to the back.

So now I am ready to go - and as you can see I have indeed started.

Happy Stitching everyone
Donna-Maree

Wow - I did it!

I completed the machine stitching on the table runner today, 

Close up.

Next will be the layering and quilting of this, but wait there is more.....

I have got all of the pieces attached to my tile backgrounds and they are all ready for stitching. I am so excited about how they are looking. I cannot wait until I get them completed and on the wall. I am so inspired at the moment.

This gives an indication of what they will look like when placed close together on the wall - no they wont have the large piece of background fabric around the sides. 

I am really pleased with the result and cant wait to get the stitching done on these now.

Cheers
Donna-Maree

Class Two - Taupo Symposium 2013

The second two day class I did, was again with Michele Hill (wasn't I really lucky) - Tile Play in Fabric.

I love Mediterranean colours and therefore used colours very similar to Michele's sample but could see how other colours would work for different applications. 

Here are the colours I chose to use.

I found the fact that I had already done a class with Michele an advantage as once we got through introductions and initial instructions I could work at my own pace with the knowledge of machine appliqué techniques I had already gained from Michele in the previous class.

I am really thrilled with the fact that I got all of the machine stitching on my tile block done by the end of the class. I have never ever achieved this much in a class before. Seeing everyone's tiles at the end of the class was great. The variety of colours used and background fabrics was interesting and it was lovely seeing more contemporary colours being used. 

My completed tile block.

Class photo of us all.

Michele gave us a quick mini class on creating our own designs and this is definitely an area that I would like to do more exploration in and I have some ideas already. Michele has definitely inspired me to give it a go.

Watch this space!

Cheers
Donna-Maree

Catch up....

I forgot to mention in the last post that one of the ladies in the class had previously done a class with Michele and had brought a quilt to show us. We were very lucky to have it adorn the walls as we worked, I was especially lucky as it was hanging beside where I was working and I could get to really appreciate everything about the quilt up close. Anne has done an absolutely fabulous job.

The photo doesn't do this quilt justice.

Better look at centre block and the detail.

Up close.

Sunday was my class free day and several of us went around the exhibitions. What a treat - seriously I really needed to go back again, but alas we ran out of time.

Class one at Taupo Symposium 2013

My first class was Royal Exhibition (machine applique) with Michele Hill. Seriously I have never laughed as much in a class - ever, as I did in Michele's class. Boy is that lady funny and so down to earth, it truly was a pleasure to be in her class. I have never enjoyed a class so much. The designs are from Australia's only World Heritage listed building - Melbourne's Royal Exhibition Building.

For this class we had a choice of making a cushion or a table runner. As most of you know we have recently moved cities and are living in a new house, hence I thought a new table runner for the dining room table might be a good idea.

I had chosen different colours for my table runner compared to others in the class. I love purple and thought I would use the colours that I love especially bearing in mind the amount of work involved with these labours of love. The opportunity to practice my machine applique made this choice of class an easy one. 

The fabric for my table runner.

I was not disappointed. There was definitely improvement in my machine applique throughout this class, although a did a bit of tracing on the second morning due to an ill timed headache. Luckily by lunchtime the medication had kicked in and I could get back to stitching.

Michele and I at end of class, day two.

It was fantastic seeing everyone's projects at the end of the class. Below is a photo of mine at the end of the class.

I now have all the design pieces attached to the background fabric and are slowly getting it all machine appliqued. Yesterday I decided to set up my machine as it was still packed from Symposium and the front room was freezing compared to the living room, so I thought that I would set up on the dining room table. Alas the machine bounced as I sewed, so I had no choice but to set up my sew-ezi table in the living room.

So I am going to keep chipping away at this until I get it completed. As I mentioned before I have seen improvement in my stitching and the tips that Michele gave us has really helped. I took my machine to Symposium as I wanted to use the machine that I would always be using for machine applique. I have previously hired machines at Symposium which has worked well for me for what I needed them for. As you can see from the photo I have a Janome and they have a 5 stitch blanket stitch as opposed to the Bernina which has a 3 stitch blanket stitch. This means that where I stop the machine before pivoting is different - this understanding is definitely helping - although more practice is needed still. I have got the outer curves sorted but need to focus more on the inner curves.

Anyway I will show you close ups once I have it out from under the machine.

Had better get back to the machine - break time is over for now!

Cheers

Donna-Maree

Wow .... Hello there

Well it is Monday of term three and I am enjoying the peace and tranquility of having the house to myself once again. I have to say that it is nice being home as I haven't been here much with several trips to Whangarei and Symposium in Taupo. The cats really appreciate me being home too.

Aren't they cute all curled up like that.

What a fantastic time we had in Taupo. I caught up with friends from Whangarei and also made new friends too. A group of us from Whangarei rented a house together which was lovely as there were always interesting things to discuss, exhibitions and lectures to share plus generally spending quality time together sharing what we love best - Quilting!

Here is a sample of the view enjoyed from where we were staying.

This is the third Symposium I have been to and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I was very busy as I was lucky enough to get two x two day classes, plus I wanted to attend lectures. I love the lectures and seeing the tutors strut their stuff. Their personalities really do come through and I feel that the lectures are very good value for money. This was the first time that I have attended two day classes and I really enjoyed them. I felt that there was less pressure and the convenience of being able to leave everything in the classroom until the next day was awesome. The extra bonus was that I actually got something completed .... but more on that soon.

Cheers until next time
Donna-Maree

The unpacking continues ...

Hi everyone,

Wow, doesn't time fly when you aren't looking! I don't know where the time has gone since my last post but I can say I have been very busy.

We did indeed move during the school holidays and I find it hard to believe we have been in Tauranga several weeks already. The cats are settling in as you can see from the photo, although they are sticking very close to the house.

Frosty on window seat in new house.

Everything went very smoothly and the biggest drama through everything was I stuffed the battery in my car. It was my fault and I can't blame anyone else ... but a new battery later and we are off again. I don't ever recall having to replace a battery in any of the cars that I have owned, so I think I have done very well through the years to have to replace one now.

Our daughter has started school at her new college last week and was quick to tell me all about her new friends when I picked her up later that day. It is good seeing her having the confidence to move on with things though, as the move has been tough for her as she was too little to remember us moving to Whangarei twelve years ago.

I have to confess that I have not done much in terms of anything quilty since the last post, with moving and everything. Not only have we downsized the property but the house as well, and I do not have a separate space for my sewing like I did in Whangarei but are sharing the guest room.

My sewing space in the corner of the guest room. There is a lovely view out to the street from the front window - nothing like watching the comings and goings of the neighbourhood.

I visited a local quilt shop here in Tauranga that has a stitching group on Thursdays, I went along last week and are looking forward to returning this week. However, I digress. I need to get a move on with the triptych for my Whangarei group, as I haven't done anything on this project since before leaving Whangarei.

We have had class confirmations for Symposium 2013 in Taupo. I have got into two of Michele Hills classes, I am absolutely rapt. I need to get myself organised and start getting things together. Maybe the visits to the local quilt shop can help here.

Well that is all for now, come back soon to see how I have got on with everything.

Until then happy stitching everyone,
Cheers Donna-Maree

And the ideas began ...

Well I went to Tauranga with hubby and spent four days looking at houses and re looking at houses. It was a very difficult decision but we have a result and we are moving in the school holidays, when exactly we don't know yet but should do in about a week.

We had stitching group here at our place last Monday night. What a fun evening we had. With show and tell by all, we also discussed our project for 2013.

We are doing triptychs, any size we like. Several ladies discussed their ideas and one even had her drawings done already. I have had trouble settling on one idea for the triptych as I have had a lot of ideas and couldn't choose.

After the ladies had left at the end of the evening as I flicked through a book I had borrowed from club I instantly knew what I wanted to do for my triptychs. Well at least two of them anyway. No, they aren't any of my original ideas.

On the left will be one panel and the design on the right will be another. I haven't thought too much past there yet.

These designs are from Material Obsession Two by Kathy Doughty and Sarah Fielke. There are some awesome designs in this book. I just love the fabrics too.

Any ideas or feedback, please leave a comment as I would love to hear from you.

Until next time, happy stitching everyone,

Donna-Maree