Open Weekend continued

Our open weekend was very successful with many people through the doors checking us out and seeing what we have been up to. It was a fantastic opportunity for our community not only to see what we have been doing but also to see what quilters as a group have been doing in New Zealand as we had the Aotearoa Yellow Challenge on display as well as the Floral Challenge. These quilts are small by quilters standards but when they are hung together enmass they make for an incredible display. 

The Floral Challenge

The Yellow Challenge

Our merchant was Wise Owl Quilting with some beautiful fabrics available to purchase. 

My purchases, just couldn't resist the colours and designs.

Can't wait to use these tapes to brighten some future projects, rolling them into empty spool should keep them tidy.

It is Labour Weekend here in New Zealand this weekend which is the official time of planting your vegetable garden if you are wanting fresh produce for the Christmas table. While I haven't planted a lot so far I do have seedlings coming along nicely and have planted a courgette or zucchini as they are known and our lettuce and strawberries are doing well. Hopefully we will make some more progress with getting things planted over the weekend although I am working tomorrow and are catching up with family on Sunday so Monday might be quite busy.

Have a great weekend everyone and we will catch you back here soon, until then happy stitching.

Donna-Maree

Open Weekend

Day one of our open weekend has come to an end and what a fantastic day we have had with lots of people through today. Here are some pics of some of the quilts on display.

Some of the Presidents Challenge quilts

Results from Rosemary Rush class

Some of the goodwill (charity) quilts that have been made

Another gorgeous goodwill quilt.

If you are out and about in Tauranga tomorrow, Sunday 16th October come in and check us out and you just might be treated to fresh homemade scones with jam and cream and an amazing display of quilts.

See you there

Donna-Maree

Papamoa Quilt Show

Papamoa group had their quilt show last weekend and it was a lovely show. Here are a few of my favourites

Jacobean Journey by Carol Andrews - machine embroidered and quilt as you go, each 8" block took approx 3 1/2 hours to stitch and there are 120 of them. Simply stunning from a distance and close up.

Vase of Flowers by Barbara Proctor, quilted by Jenny Allen - a nice layout for a scrappy quilt

Close up of some of the quilting.

Spring Bouquet by Pam Signal, quilted by Sandra Bentley of Wiseowlquilting - BOM through Grandmothers Garden

Some detail of stitching and quilting.

Tsunami (Storm at Sea) by Lily Nicholson, quilted by Glenys Shallard

I liked the colours used in this quilt especially the light, it looks white in this photo but it a light in keeping with the tones used in this quilt which was more subtle.

Pennsylvania Star by Pam Signal, quilted by Wiseowlquilting - an Edyta Sitar design from the Fat Quarter Shop, USA.

Some detail.

Pacific Wall Hanging by Kay McNeill, custom quilted by Judi Schol - from a class with Hazel Foot

To me a measure of a good quilt is one that catches your interest from a distance but doesn't disappoint close up either. That is all for now, so happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

September Overview

September was definitely busy enough but not a lot in terms of the stitching around here.

The Chris Kenna class was definitely the highlight of the month and I have seen some beautiful work from the girls that attended both classes held by our local club. The paper foundation piecing can definitely be addictive and the choices of colour combinations keeps you trying new arrangements.

Here are some of the variations of the block that were created in the first class.

Isn't it fantastic how the same block can look so different by changing the colours and value placement.

We are definitely going to have some fantastic quilts come out of these classes in the future. Well done ladies.

Until next time, happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

Hello October

I can't believe that we are into October already and we are about 12 weeks to Christmas. Daylight saving happened last weekend and we have adjusted well this year although the first few mornings were a bit of a challenge but we have got there and we are loving the longer evenings already.

Spring is definitely here in Tauranga, New Zealand with new growth everywhere and the usual changeable weather patterns we expect at this time of the year. 

Yes, we will have new potatoes for Christmas, fingers crossed.

Flowers on my Bay tree, don't recall it ever flowering before.

New growth on my hybrid Clematis, very early for this plant.

The Clivias look amazing this year, best they have been since we moved here three years ago.

Miniature Pohutukawas flowering already, although these miniatures do tend to flower earlier than the larger varieties that flower around Christmas time. 

I have spent a bit of time in the gardens over the last week weather allowing, tidying up and starting to get ready for this major growing season and I have sown some veggie seeds but nothing to show there yet.

That is all for now but check back soon as I joined some friends at a local quilt show yesterday but that will follow in another post. Until then, happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

September is just whizzing by

Daylight saving started last weekend and I haven't adjusted yet. It is great having the extra hour of daylight at the end of the day but I am struggling with the mornings so far, I am not ready to wake up when the alarm goes off.

It is a busy time of year with summer not far away, there are seeds needing to be sown for the garden or we won't have produce in time for Christmas. In the last few days the grape vine has burst forth with buds and the roses are all coming into leaf. With all of the rain we have had in the last few days it is a challenge to get washing dry.

Anyway I attended a Chris Kenna class at our club and what a fantastic class. It was fabulous seeing the colours everyone chose for their Millefiori block components. 

My untrimmed units.

Trimming makes such a difference.

The combined class units after lunch. More units were constructed in the afternoon.

On the Sunday following the class, hubby and I went to Auckland for my Aunty's 80th birthday lunch which was awesome.

Four of the siblings.

Hubby had a conference in Auckland on the Monday and Tuesday morning following the birthday lunch, so I took my sewing machine as you do to get in some stitching.

I rearranged the furniture to suit me, I did put it back to how I found it. Housekeeping couldn't believe their eyes when they checked in to see if we needed anything.

Units waiting for trimming

Getting an idea of how it is all going to come together

Another set of units coming together.

The plan is to keep chipping away at these units whenever I get the opportunity until they are done.

The club has an open weekend coming up in October and the plan is have all of the quilts from the Rosemary  Rush class on display. Alas I haven't completed mine yet and so the pressure is on. 

My Rosemary Rush piece as it is today. No changes there yet.

Anyway I want to get in some stitching today, so until next time, happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

August update

August just zipped by for me this year and I can't believe that I never published a post during the month.

There were several reasons for that though, we are having computer issues in that our computer is too old and can't support the newer programmes that are being used. Although I do blog most of the time using the iPad when I take photos with the camera which does give better results, I do then like to download the photos through the computer. Technology is a wonderful thing until it isn't working for you and then, well you will all know the feeling.

August is always a tough month for me as it is the month that I lost my dad and this year it was the 20th anniversary of that event. I also happen to be the age right now that he was when he passed and I have found this year in particular much harder.

Dad holding me, back when

Waihi Beach

Hubby and I checked out Waihi Beach at the beginning of August as he had never been there before. The township has changed quite a bit since the last time I stayed there which is over 30 years now.
Funny how some places change more than others.

I also started a new job in August, although it is part time it is having quite a big impact as you can imagine. Stitching time isn't happening as much as before and yes, I miss it. I do have more to share but that will be in a future post.

So until then, happy stitching everyone.
Donna-Maree

July Update

* for some reason this post wasn't published, so it is a little behind.

Wow July was definitely action packed and a busy month. Let's do a recap...

The goodwill quilts have been washed and I will talk more about this in an upcoming post.

We did three road trips during July, yes three, for stay at home types that is something. We visited the Coromandel Peninsula, Whangarei and Opotiki. I really enjoy getting out and about while seeing more of our beautiful country even if it is winter or especially in winter as you get to see the bare bones of the landscape with the trees bare it has a rawness about it.

While Home Coming Lane isn't completed yet, I have been quilting on all four blocks and progress is being made.

The gridlock quilts have gone to Australia and the girls have them to snuggle in which makes me happy. Pics to come of them with their quilts.

We had a very busy July at club as well with the Presidents Challenge being displayed and winners announced at a special dinner which also started a stitching weekend which started with a midnight madness on the Friday night and a UFO weekend on Saturday and Sunday where members could work on their own projects or spend some time working on goodwill quilts for charity. Everyone had a good time with Milton from Wright Fabrics as a merchant on the Saturday.

Until next time happy stitching everyone.