Monday, January 28, 2013

1 Xmas item



Christmas tea towel finished! This was part of a sample for The Country Yard Christmas evening last year. There are suppose to be stitched presents, but I just left mine as is. The tea towel fabric is by Moda  & available by the metre.
I think Narelle over at Pins & Whiskers has a button/grabby thing for this SAL, but I have forgotten how to do that.

I am getting back into customers quilts now, here is one I am working on.





I have a couple of other finishes, but will show you in a couple of weeks.


Monday, January 21, 2013

more road trip............................




Time to work on a few PHD's. The top one is Angel Story by Anni Downs. This has been a work in progress for a few years. I am needle turning the blocks, so that takes some time, but what's the rush?

Next is H & F Wagtime by Lynette Anderson, this is the first block finished, this only took two years!!!!! I have needle turned this one also, but I have now decided to do raw edge applique with a blanket stitched edge. I love needle turn, but at this rate I just can't be tackling two needle turn projects. I feel I would like to get some of these projects finished, I guess I will feel like I will have some head space then.


Mmm, nice fold line there!




Can you guess where we are??????
For those bloggers over the water & aren't sure this is Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. I love Wellington, it is a city, but one with a relaxed vibe. This photo is one I took at the traffic lights in the car, it is the Beehive which is part of the parliament buildings.

The next photo is the view from the accommodation we are staying. See my earlier post of an other visit here. 


Another photo from Threadbear Cottage, this is a sign on Julie's porch.

 And a photo of one of my purchases...............................


So I will enjoy my next couple of days sewing, bloggying & dreaming! I will leave you with a giggle........................

Friday, January 18, 2013

Going on a road trip.................................


Yup that's what I'm doing, thought I would share some with you!

First up a visit Julie's lovely Threadbear Cottage in TeAwamutu. Julie has a great blog & her wee shop is heavenly!!!
Welcomed with a smile & a good ole natter, an introduction to her beautiful old dog, then off the cutiest little shop on the planet!

A giant Golly made from corrugated iron at the road side..................................................


Julie's beautiful homestead, a feast for the eyes!!



The view over at the cottage................................Mmmm red love, that table & chairs, me want!

A wee bike ride anyone??

Maybe a horse ride???? Ok lets get to the cottage!


I love this sign hanging on the old singer. Note, this sign is a total lie about Julie's shop............There is not one piece of junk!!!!!!!!




I did buy quite a few treasures, but didn't take photo's, as some I will pop in my gift box for a few special people, maybe even a giveaway on my blog as I see I am coming up to 300 posts.

Julie makes the sweetest dolls, gollies, potpourri that smells out of this world! There are soaps, up cycled cushions, candles & so many country craft goodies to make a husband run with his wallet!!

Thanks again Julie, what a lovely break for a long journey, I wish I could have stayed longer, but when you have a hubby with you, one needs to be mindful that even though we love to chat non stop about all things crafty, our men folk just don't get it!

Next a visit with some very special family members, we wanted a picnic at Brooklyn Zoo but the weather was almost wintery! But we did have our picnic, we went to the Chinese garden.



Another stop found us with some 'friends' that wanted to hop in the car with us, very tempting.


see the baby??

Last but not least, I bought some cool wee button folks from Wendy.........................





Tuesday, January 15, 2013

more customers treasures..................




Jill has been busy the last few months making table runners as gifts. This one is off overseas to family, this will give them a wee taste of NZ with the pohutukawa. Some of my customers get me to make & attach the binding as Jill did. I pinned a small section of the binding back so you could get an idea of the finished look.


As you can see from the photo ( don't be shy if you want to click on any of Quiltme's photo's for more close ups ) I did simple straight stitch using Signature variegated thread & a swirl on the squares.

Rachel has been working away on a BOM from The Country Yard , called Saltbox Farm, designed by
Natalie Bird from The Birdhouse . You may remember I quilted the shop sample.



A feather for the border, Rachel did her border slightly different from the original.

A few half square triangles were added to two corners on the border. Rachel likes stipple & cross hatching. If you don't ask, you might not get!

I used mainly Madeira polyneon threads.



You wouldn't be at Quiltmekiwi blog if all the photo's faced the right way!!! The mini hexie quilt is English Paper Pieced....cute aye!!!


a nice one under the old apple tree.

Well Rachel, I hope you like it & you are happy with seeing your quilt on my blog before you pick it up? After all  that's what you asked me to do.











Sunday, January 13, 2013

back to work.....................



First customer quilt of the year.



Lois made this for her young friend who has just had a baby boy. I did very simple quilting, meander & a few straight lines using cream bobbin fill top & bottom.

Next quilt is also a baby quilt, made by a new customer Sue.





Again, fairly simple quilting, meander, some swirls, writing,  these quilts will no doubt spend some of their life in the washing machine, no sense doing fancy custom quilting.
Sue supplied a soft blue minky for the backing.


Next on the list is one from a regular customer, Ngaire............



A simple nine patch with appliqued butterflies. I used Madeira poly neon threads, a really nice variegated on for the cross hatch & loopy meander.

Before I head off to continue with the next quilt, I thought I would share with you the last Advent swap present I gave Dawn.




I made a Trapunto table runner, Dawn said she loved it, I am happy that she did. I must make myself one, I tend to give them away!


Sunday, January 6, 2013

Cafes, walks, movies & work

A nice relaxing start to the New Year, beautiful bush walks around Whangarei, followed by either a coffee & snack, or lunch at a local café. Twice we have gone to Narnia Cafe , lovely coffee & food.
The white chocolate brownie is heavenly!!! Walk inside through the wardrobe complete with fur coats.
There really are some lovely walks in Whangarei, some right in town. To have these beautiful bush/ stream walks right in the town,  & to think it has taken seven years to 'get around' to walking them is a shame. Still as they say better late then never!!

Last week we went to the movies to see Quartet.....I liked it. Here is the trailer..........



I have been working away quietly on a new BOM & sorting the studio for the coming work.

BOM sorting



customers quilts.
I didn't quite start the New Year with the clean slate, I tried, but the quilt tops just kept coming! And there are more, so best I get a move on!!