tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53963144031740006092024-02-08T14:52:39.833+13:00Sustaining StitchesPhilippahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469567423970636540noreply@blogger.comBlogger160125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396314403174000609.post-82378900473228437642014-01-11T21:59:00.000+13:002014-01-13T21:22:52.642+13:00Dyeing in the Lud Valley with India Flint - Part 2<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But wait... there's more... We moved swiftly onto the fabric, stitching all the pieces we used with our personal marks so we could identify them easily when they came out the cauldrons. A genius idea - otherwise there really would have been tears before bedtime!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Considering the similar technique used in the dyeing it was amazing the variety that was achieved. Different fabrics took up the dyes differently sometimes achieving radically different results from the same plant material.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This piece is one of mine, showing again the long eucalyptus leaves from Golden Bay. One of the things I have really noticed since doing the workshop was just how many gum trees there are in New Zealand. They are everywhere! Offering untold dyeing opportunities. I just love the shapes, colour and fragrance they impart on to the fabric.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It was a simply magical 5 days. At the end we wrote India little note asking if we could do it all again in 2014.... which after due consideration she and Judy said yes to. So in a couple of weeks I am looking forward to a return workshop and another visit to the wonderful Lud Valley.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There are number of my fellow stitchers returning from last year for the workshop - I feel that we are something like the </span><a href="http://ecan.govt.nz/publications/General/canterbury-coast-factsheet-godwits-250110.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">godwits</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> returning after the long winter for another blessed summer experience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Clearly this is a tale to be continued.....</span><br />
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Philippahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469567423970636540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396314403174000609.post-43203832692859014642014-01-09T21:35:00.000+13:002014-01-13T21:21:55.182+13:00Dyeing in the Lud Valley with India Flint - Part 1<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In late January last year I was incredibly lucky to participate in a workshop with</span><a href="http://prophet-of-bloom.blogspot.co.nz/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> India Flint</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> in the beautiful Lud valley, just outside Nelson. It was 5 perfect days of blue skies, creativity, surprises, experimentation, great company and unbelievably fantastic food. None of us could have asked for more. It felt like a true indulgence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The setting was perfect. We were hosted by Judy Keylock and her family on their property in the Lud Valley which is fully organic and where Judy has been planting extensively for dyeing potential. It was nothing short of idyllic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The firepit for the dyeing cauldrons was set up outside Judy's studio.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We started each day outside around the circle of Queen Anne's Lace taking in the beauty of the environment and reflecting on the potential of the day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">India showed us some of her fabulous textiles as she introduced us to the possibilities of using leaves to </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">mark cloth. They were even more breathtaking in the cloth than they look on India's blog and fabulous books, which I have spent many many hours pouring over.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDSEZk4OjDEQJfyhkk65t9JqOxVb8kGq5YTPAEZuZ9flIz_zJuOnBedhkT0a1JK6uW6LKz7EVA2g190X-jmSd4lIsJRjHKzX6mcXfQCkpWr5mm7fHvI7TfNPFZHt4v-Dlq1RUAJOKIOk/s1600/301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDSEZk4OjDEQJfyhkk65t9JqOxVb8kGq5YTPAEZuZ9flIz_zJuOnBedhkT0a1JK6uW6LKz7EVA2g190X-jmSd4lIsJRjHKzX6mcXfQCkpWr5mm7fHvI7TfNPFZHt4v-Dlq1RUAJOKIOk/s1600/301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The workshop was called the Wayfarers Wanderbook which focused on using the materials in our immediate environment to record out experiences in. Before starting onto the fabric we made watercolour paper books - here they are in the cauldrons, complimented by my shadow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The marks varied between the bundles depending on the quality of the paper.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">These were some of the page inserts I made for my book marked with eucalyptus that I had gathered when we had been holidaying in Golden Bay a few days before the workshop started, not exactly the immediate environment but special to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Then we moved onto the silks and wool that we had bought for dyeing..... more in the next post....</span></div>
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Philippahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469567423970636540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396314403174000609.post-20196350860464932812014-01-07T12:01:00.000+13:002014-01-07T14:03:54.176+13:00From little acorns grow mighty Oaks<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Early in 2013 one of our oldest friends (and his gorgeous partner) had their first child. Naturally it was the cause for great celebration, as all new children are (or at least should be!). The first time father was 50 - my husband and I drew a deep breath.... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Coincidentally Pete was an attendant at our wedding, just as David who I made the quilt for in March had been, so of course I started stitching. We went up to visit Pete, Catherine and the new baby, Oak, at the first opportunity. They live very near the top of the North Island in Paihia (we live at the very bottom of the island) so the visit didn't occur until April. Unfortunately the quilt wasn't ready so we took cushions for Oak - one with sailing ships to represent his father the boatie and the other with Union Jacks to represent his mother's heritage. I can't really imagine giving a non textile present so was pleased to be able to give these.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">While we were visiting my boys took to referring to Oak as "mum's favourite drug". It appears I may have demonstrated signs of "cluckiness".... surely not....<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oak arrived a little early so he has a big name to grow into and I decided that he should also have a big quilt. I used the same round the world pattern that I had used for Sophie's quilt but used more boyish fabrics and lots that referred to his parents interests in the sea and the environment. It probably goes without saying that it also featured oak leaves which introduced the orange tones to the quilt. It passed muster and will keep him covered for quite a few years to come.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">One of Oak's aunts had given him the most lovely eco dyed woollen shirt which was made by Helen Millen from Marlborough. It was fabulous! Another thing I need to try my hand at....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And this leads to a whole other story which I am yet to tell - my fabulous workshop with India Flint in Nelson....</span>Philippahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469567423970636540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396314403174000609.post-44358812823149049692014-01-04T22:23:00.001+13:002014-01-04T22:23:45.308+13:00Hello 2014! Starting with a recap on 2013....<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Well it seems that last year I fell off the blog-o-sphere. This year I'm going to get back on it!! </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I blame pinterest and the ipad I bought myself early last year.... easy trap to fall into. However I did manage to keep stitching while I was off the air and I thought that there was no better place to start than with a recap of what I haven't posted about.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Having just been through the photos I took last year, in an effort to work out just what I did do and make last year I've realised than one of the downsides of not blogging is that my memory of what I made is hazier and also much less thoroughly photographed. Given than one of the major reasons I do this is to actually keep a log for myself on what I'm creating (and usually then giving away pretty quickly) it made me realise it's a habit I really need to keep up.... so</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In March last year I had a wonderful weekend in Christchurch with friends I had been to school with to celebrate a 50th birthday - at this point I will hurriedly add that I am by far the youngest! One of our party was over from England for the celebrations and the last time he was here I had told him I would make a quilt for him to celebrate his civil union.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Of course the hitch was I found out he was coming to the event only three weeks before hand. I had to get my skates on! First and foremost I wanted it to be a masculine quilt so I reached for a pile of my kimono fabrics.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFtO7_xqsJjfPUTtw54mjwMi1sJyKihtaZFwYMGm0CHHXC6TgucxPV0ShnMM_ZiJKuIgn4CPBhC4evXZO9G1jpAqUN2d9yJNWqgN2-9Wt6HQjEiX36BnKSUJrdmCNCVEYeIJxudFJXmA/s1600/433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFtO7_xqsJjfPUTtw54mjwMi1sJyKihtaZFwYMGm0CHHXC6TgucxPV0ShnMM_ZiJKuIgn4CPBhC4evXZO9G1jpAqUN2d9yJNWqgN2-9Wt6HQjEiX36BnKSUJrdmCNCVEYeIJxudFJXmA/s320/433.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I also wanted a quilt that reflected something of New Zealand. David has lived in London for several decades now and although he visits home every few years he still misses NZ and particularly the bush and the song of our native birds. This fabric features Saddlebacks on flax flowers.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4td5Xvrjo-sDfebQm6hSy604v7sHoYcJU7a80IZ1nFAtDCtFQiylQF0SUEajGSE0QoNpro-fCzF8I9SbBvQshJr28lhJRgmHSUBuoEwmNkGyXnRfwbbpOFnuK6J0u-gR6fv7jDJcgAQs/s1600/436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4td5Xvrjo-sDfebQm6hSy604v7sHoYcJU7a80IZ1nFAtDCtFQiylQF0SUEajGSE0QoNpro-fCzF8I9SbBvQshJr28lhJRgmHSUBuoEwmNkGyXnRfwbbpOFnuK6J0u-gR6fv7jDJcgAQs/s320/436.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Above all the quilt had to be simple so I could meet my deadline. I recalled a Denyse Schmidt quilt that I had long admired and used this as a starting point. Here's what I came up with.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb93jeyWLy0W3NgbTanq2Fml-lT0UBv3UfAmjFUExcPwdf0B_3OEAOrsAq2VifxMHNIMe3YGabjcqUCXsEXLS3iULk7kqCN6dTovxQSRNf8xF7bePFhlBiH0s-FAzPQJG9XR51o7aDpvg/s1600/447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb93jeyWLy0W3NgbTanq2Fml-lT0UBv3UfAmjFUExcPwdf0B_3OEAOrsAq2VifxMHNIMe3YGabjcqUCXsEXLS3iULk7kqCN6dTovxQSRNf8xF7bePFhlBiH0s-FAzPQJG9XR51o7aDpvg/s320/447.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">David loved the quilt - in fact I don't think he quite believed it as he was starting to give me a hard time about when he would ever get his quilt and so I disappeared inside to get it, calling his bluff. He was speechless! This next photo is the back of the quilt. I called it "Into My Arms" from the Nick Cave song. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihliXXZJ0VdnCcWiyxBTOi3x62hQFE9KAce_6k9oDcPZ2AxdoJdRYhq5qSYc4FYPvc0vevisr6WBo1agwnCBvz2bQI-wMZL0Em35lUOlLMmuADd0iuw0aSGSnihcoH_Pv_VVhP_-N92KA/s1600/452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihliXXZJ0VdnCcWiyxBTOi3x62hQFE9KAce_6k9oDcPZ2AxdoJdRYhq5qSYc4FYPvc0vevisr6WBo1agwnCBvz2bQI-wMZL0Em35lUOlLMmuADd0iuw0aSGSnihcoH_Pv_VVhP_-N92KA/s320/452.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I know he loves the quilt and it gives him a lot of comfort when he is missing home. I like knowing that at times when I would like to be able to give him a hug that he can wrap himself in it and know it carries my love and ongoing friendship.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Stay tuned for more updates - and Happy New Year!</span></div>
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Philippahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469567423970636540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396314403174000609.post-44071149531620921492013-03-13T22:10:00.000+13:002013-03-13T22:10:00.964+13:00Scrappy Trips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A couple of weekends ago I went to our first Guild retreat for the year. It was a last minute decision for me - we have had a summer seemingly without end and I wasn't sure that I really wanted to spend a weekend inside quilting when I could be enjoying yet more sunshine without a hint of a breeze. What won me over was the prospect that, if I put my mind to it, I could probably just about finish a quilt for the new niece that was due to arrive shortly into our wider family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had wild ideas of making up a quilt pattern that I'd been holding onto - however it is always useful to read instructions properly before starting on somewhere new, especially if you are away from home. I had nothing to make templates from so I needed to think quickly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'd seen lots of the Scrappy Trips Around the World quilts and the tutorial from <a href="http://quiltville.com/scrappytrips.shtml">Quiltville </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and thought I could probably remember, off the top of my head, how to make this. So off I set.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46Q8Tc4Dbk08JCDYrvnIWLjoIJQgpi2p5U8NJHAp9Z0RoX81vTPDlLAPf8807o6wU5o-4I4ihw4TpwiuLLRBvpVrTYhzBbTZQcM-REkljHfGCHaNGVDy23nyWPze4FG3nLVDgc4vtvaw/s1600/046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46Q8Tc4Dbk08JCDYrvnIWLjoIJQgpi2p5U8NJHAp9Z0RoX81vTPDlLAPf8807o6wU5o-4I4ihw4TpwiuLLRBvpVrTYhzBbTZQcM-REkljHfGCHaNGVDy23nyWPze4FG3nLVDgc4vtvaw/s320/046.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had taken lots of soft colours with me so I started cutting these into strips and sewing</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQvCg9db3tGWRqQRL84-UxA0WZM2uJsnpY2bZTk5OxfsbWIqZqZsB8fEmD4ylKH6ioDvgVN_TjN0lK49vK6j2U_cbWrlTFq7axW2Vew_ypZwgamhyphenhyphenGBpq_yQZHYWjsbKRWUakCwEo7pM/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQvCg9db3tGWRqQRL84-UxA0WZM2uJsnpY2bZTk5OxfsbWIqZqZsB8fEmD4ylKH6ioDvgVN_TjN0lK49vK6j2U_cbWrlTFq7axW2Vew_ypZwgamhyphenhyphenGBpq_yQZHYWjsbKRWUakCwEo7pM/s320/047.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and before I knew it I had enough blocks to start playing with. So many options</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXG_rGf3cJfmOwEmaMsukoI4G395_42x_EIXQPY2OJpZZqPD_NQkAMTNG30YkohQUJ1-MJMzla_jn7CUHpy4_JGhdaW-Mm_tbliHx9cnQ124t9u5HtJEm9Thc6PyHBb7id2dSOb8IQV9c/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXG_rGf3cJfmOwEmaMsukoI4G395_42x_EIXQPY2OJpZZqPD_NQkAMTNG30YkohQUJ1-MJMzla_jn7CUHpy4_JGhdaW-Mm_tbliHx9cnQ124t9u5HtJEm9Thc6PyHBb7id2dSOb8IQV9c/s320/049.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">so much fun to be had,</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR8bGvQf61mEwVHLcJ_68rOqHfQ6iFT3clkEGXyOsPQKt2ov6BI4gFh8UTZbKcJ0udMIE3cWyVRYBECFPrmBXSL47kcgPZtNYZ0jARnkQJs2ramnTOrT6AtIc-B-A7V2hKUuJmtaOys1w/s1600/051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR8bGvQf61mEwVHLcJ_68rOqHfQ6iFT3clkEGXyOsPQKt2ov6BI4gFh8UTZbKcJ0udMIE3cWyVRYBECFPrmBXSL47kcgPZtNYZ0jARnkQJs2ramnTOrT6AtIc-B-A7V2hKUuJmtaOys1w/s320/051.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and best of all, so quick. Just after lunch on Sunday I put the final quilting stitches into the quilt.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxSE6vo4zFk3b_-PbxFKqv-APQZfbmK46pLO0VOSkkRYasGcQeaIPEot7MUmjCuJJZwOs9uCJOeE0w8R3kPJM4Ygrq86m9DJobM36kivNLZH_6Ew6e1kUdXPC1NDTyBLL9njyyT_eQQE/s1600/055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxSE6vo4zFk3b_-PbxFKqv-APQZfbmK46pLO0VOSkkRYasGcQeaIPEot7MUmjCuJJZwOs9uCJOeE0w8R3kPJM4Ygrq86m9DJobM36kivNLZH_6Ew6e1kUdXPC1NDTyBLL9njyyT_eQQE/s320/055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And a week later Sophie Grace made her appearance over in Townsville. Perfect!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Philippahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469567423970636540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396314403174000609.post-60797159762642715312013-03-10T21:47:00.000+13:002013-03-10T21:47:19.171+13:00Friendship is the backbone of life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm pleased to report that although I've been sadly missing from this blog, I have not been missing from my sewing room. I've been having a highly productive summer - as ever I seem to perform well to a deadline, and this has certainly been the summer of deadlines.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This has been the summer that I have become the parent of a school leaver (one down, two to go) and it's therefore been the summer that my daughter and her friends have prepared for the transition from school students to university students. Many of her friends have chosen to go to universities outside of the city we live in. It's a big transition for all considered - for the students and for their parents.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For some I've been able to help them on their way with a quilt. This is the third of what I am increasingly thinking of as part of my university series. You might recall that several years ago I made a quilt to remember a special friend who had died of breast cancer - I wrote about it <a href="http://sustainingstitches.blogspot.co.nz/2010/11/bloggers-quilt-festival.html">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This quilt is for her eldest daughter - it uses a number of the same fabrics I used in the quilt for her mother and a similar pattern based on an idea from Kaffe Fassett. I think of it as a related but different quilt, just as Alice is related but different to her mother.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBWfbt1k6oJfxvEssmDjmimCjC8Bs8Kq9uC7RiOiwu71ihyzkNYSFcy1W_hS5Tmutfpn0ubZ_u0lIqdn_bMm3wddHXCcAV1_CswfMfxFa6zAo_ArdOUZe6QCwgIDTxAiI-tFTDmbILNM/s1600/416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBWfbt1k6oJfxvEssmDjmimCjC8Bs8Kq9uC7RiOiwu71ihyzkNYSFcy1W_hS5Tmutfpn0ubZ_u0lIqdn_bMm3wddHXCcAV1_CswfMfxFa6zAo_ArdOUZe6QCwgIDTxAiI-tFTDmbILNM/s320/416.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When I gave her the quilt Alice was stunned speechless, not something I have often seen from her. It was lovely to be able to send her off with something special, but the reason that she raced to the 'top of my quilts to be made list' was due to an off the cuff comment she had made a month or so earlier to my daughter when they had been out together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My daughter had told her that we were making a quilt together for her friend who was having chemotherapy and Alice's response stunned us both - she asked if she would have to wait until she was ill before I would make a quilt for her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Needless to say, I didn't think that was necessary and she raced to top of the list. The label carried the same words I stitched onto her mother's quilt - Friendship is the backbone of life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So that's three quilts that have gone off to universities with new owners - two to Dunedin and one to Christchurch. A good output for a summer - and there are still more to come.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Philippahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469567423970636540noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396314403174000609.post-50540245105525003082012-12-31T20:31:00.000+13:002012-12-31T20:42:23.639+13:00Searching for Sunshine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It's been a busy few days here since Christmas. We had a lovely couple of days catching up with family and friends over lots of great food. The weather then took a turn affording me the perfect excuse to hit the sewing room. I wound up sewing just the sunshine I was seeking.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Last month I bought this wonderful Valori Wells fabric, planning that it would be the main feature of a quilt for one of my daughter's friends who is heading off to do a Fine Arts degree. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">However quilts do seem to have a mind of their own in my experience. I've been looking at various modern quilt sites to find some ideas for some quick quilts as there are a couple I want to make for close friends who are heading away to University over the next few months. I really liked the <a href="http://www.freshlemonsquilts.com/?p=561">Lemon Squares</a> quilt pattern by Faith on Fresh Lemons blog and decided this would be just the thing - bright, clean and speaking of sunshine. </span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It sewed up quickly and best of all almost all of it came straight out of my stash with only some additional white fabrics needed to add to what I had.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So the focus fabric was re-purposed as a border,</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">once the central blocks had been framed by a thin border of pencils, designed by Kaffe Fassett. Not only were their colours just right but of course it was a natural choice of fabric for someone embarking on Fine Arts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This rather vibrant print will be the backing - I picked it out for the colours. They compliment the front well. The funny thing is that the more I look at it the more certain I am that I've seen this fabric before in the home of the very person who will soon own this quilt - I'm almost certain her mother has bought this fabric and shown it to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As I say, quilts do seem to have a mind of their own.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Best wishes for a Happy New Year to you all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Let's look forward to lots more creativity and colour in the year ahead.</span></div>
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<br />Philippahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469567423970636540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396314403174000609.post-86654140942842777302012-12-21T19:52:00.001+13:002012-12-21T19:52:45.378+13:00Hope and Christmas Wishes<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I didn't really show you the label on our collaborative quilt but have been told that I should talk about what my daughter wrote on the quilt, and the hopes that went with them. The quilt recipient is one of my daughter's team mates from Waka Ama, which is a sport they both love, of Maori outrigger canoeing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My daughter chose two whakatauki, traditional Maori proverbs, to use on the label which carried all her hopes for her friend. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">He toka tu moana, ara he toa rongonui</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Your strength is like a rock that stands in raging water - this affirms an individual's strength and courage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">He taru kahika</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Walk on, as it is only summer rain falling - It is only a small adversity, so don't let it be a hindrance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I think she picked particularly well, but I will admit that I am a rather biased mother, as we all tend to be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My annual activity has been reaching fever pitch - I've been making my yearly Christmas decorations for friends. I know we all do it, but I do wonder why I don't start these earlier - one of the great imponderables. Even with the best intentions I'm sure I'll repeat the exercise again next year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Four years ago I made black hands - it was not long after my dear friend Denys had died and I had no cheery words that year to embroider on decorations so I chose hands instead. One of my friends gave them the nick name "the hands of death" so this year I decided it was time to make some more with a more cheery disposition to keep them company.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm really keen on them - especially the one's with tatting and linen buttons on them. I will be making sure that I keep one of these back for myself. They are of course part of my continuing series of 101 things to do with an old doiley!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So the Christmas tree is up, most of the presents have been wrapped and work has finally ceased for the year. I'm starting to feel that the end of year wind down is almost upon us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Best wishes to you all for a peaceful and happy time this holiday season, full of joy and hope.</span></div>
Philippahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469567423970636540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396314403174000609.post-75697129896356765152012-12-19T21:47:00.000+13:002012-12-19T21:47:18.707+13:00Collaborative Quilting<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm pleased to be able to tell you that our guest Morepork eventually left us and my daughter and I were then able to get onto the new project that had been our plan. One of her friends is currently having chemo so of course we decided that a quick collaborative quilt was in order to cheer her up. We couldn't get started until her end of year exams were over and time pressure has been on us to get it done. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We picked a pattern by Valori Wells called </span><a href="http://valoriwells.typepad.com/patterns/OliveRose.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Olive Rose</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> which is one of her free patterns available on her blog. It uses some large scale fabrics in very big pieces so goes together quickly and looks effective. The quilt is 60 x 80 inches.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPstBYlB9SxZfmu6GlIgjAGtZqi5lNv4pXiJn24bqNiBrEHwn7aUN9rTgxn1KpunyuQ-9p0ciEvFgg86lOOQqmOi1eMufzdLPzpPUT7Do5x3Wp2XPCNCEmjpA548Y-znY2DfHuuEAH1o/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPstBYlB9SxZfmu6GlIgjAGtZqi5lNv4pXiJn24bqNiBrEHwn7aUN9rTgxn1KpunyuQ-9p0ciEvFgg86lOOQqmOi1eMufzdLPzpPUT7Do5x3Wp2XPCNCEmjpA548Y-znY2DfHuuEAH1o/s320/007.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Of course I didn't have any of the fabrics Valori had designed for the project but pulled together some that we felt worked well together and that my daughter was certain would appeal to the eventual owner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My job was to cut the fabrics and to plan layout in consultation with my daughter, while she pieced it together. This basically took a couple of afternoons - quick by any measure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I then gave her a drawing of what I thought the back could look like with some fabrics we had at hand - this is what I gave her</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and this is what she turned it into. Nothing shows our differences more. I would have just started piecing and kept going until it was big enough - she worked out the measurements of all the required pieces so I could cut them. She has a strong maths background - mine is rudimentary.... need I say more!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Of course one of the best parts of working together like this was that I could contract out the bits I don't enjoy - like the pinning!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Here's her masterpiece of a back, complete with label.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And here's a small view of the quilt complete with binding. I did most of the quilting in the interests of a speedy finish.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAQtVkq-rgkLZwjNBNURZIt5ftgs8wzPfkGtZgVYQNRB7pvw_gaqqri-9OoLZnZCN64IzyRKydAWoIKLqeSvAziVx2Q3ciVvoekNvW7AOpaCRG7tkMfeHSuYmShlko438IOLF5hymiNM/s1600/060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAQtVkq-rgkLZwjNBNURZIt5ftgs8wzPfkGtZgVYQNRB7pvw_gaqqri-9OoLZnZCN64IzyRKydAWoIKLqeSvAziVx2Q3ciVvoekNvW7AOpaCRG7tkMfeHSuYmShlko438IOLF5hymiNM/s320/060.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We delivered off the quilt on Monday and the owner was delighted. She has spent much time over recent years telling me how much she likes my quilts - and it clearly paid off as a strategy. It was lovely to see her smiling and with it wrapped around her shoulders.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And that's what makes quilting so rewarding! I have a feeling this won't be the last of our collaborative ventures but I sincerely hope it's the last quilt I make for a friend facing chemo. I know I've said this before but I can only hope not to have to repeat myself. Hope is a powerful emotion, so who knows - maybe this time it will work.</span>Philippahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469567423970636540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396314403174000609.post-50477135948134952632012-11-30T18:03:00.000+13:002012-11-30T18:05:00.681+13:00Messenger from Hogwart's maybe?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">He's really starting to look rather settled in. There is some thought that once he's out of the room that a search for the letters from Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will be undertaken by our boys...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheahZizMZ3wKReEIdUbJmGZzPONnfCOvoiF0zYlT-4Je9D71i9XetCJom9wYLQc2Yedv22WLX7wzQYG21XdeM8KMv3Hj2_dv0f9ix1jh5yBmIU7VXfjcs2Hv0KKOfLWkv-M6CkWxDhyzo/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheahZizMZ3wKReEIdUbJmGZzPONnfCOvoiF0zYlT-4Je9D71i9XetCJom9wYLQc2Yedv22WLX7wzQYG21XdeM8KMv3Hj2_dv0f9ix1jh5yBmIU7VXfjcs2Hv0KKOfLWkv-M6CkWxDhyzo/s320/021.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">He really shouldn't linger near the pie box though - my husband is starting to have dangerous thoughts! Check them out <a href="http://donssausageblog.blogspot.co.nz/">here</a></span>Philippahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469567423970636540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396314403174000609.post-78052470497472511552012-11-30T12:41:00.000+13:002012-11-30T12:41:39.933+13:00Foiled Again!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Today was to be the start of a new collaborative quilting venture with my daughter. We have a quilt we need to get onto for a friend of hers.... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">However when she went up to the sewing room to get started we discovered a visitor in the sewing room - a morepork, which is a native owl in these parts. Even though we live very close to the centre of Wellington we regularly hear them calling at night. They sound exactly the same as their name. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrkYexC-6cmxU7WbUhZc3F2PE3SuRsDjbpfSkcG44nPxkRlL10pzZ6GYcxaUkWzIpRQ6fgdOqa2RsFkSpmTJzN_X-5Mv0kM5q_7V2gof-rRWu1tS_5bRGFLxAiK1RlxresbVYWpzGCwY/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrkYexC-6cmxU7WbUhZc3F2PE3SuRsDjbpfSkcG44nPxkRlL10pzZ6GYcxaUkWzIpRQ6fgdOqa2RsFkSpmTJzN_X-5Mv0kM5q_7V2gof-rRWu1tS_5bRGFLxAiK1RlxresbVYWpzGCwY/s320/018.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">He terrified my daughter and was in turn, I am sure, very frightened himself by her arrival. We have no idea how he got in there or how long he's been there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As he's nocturnal we are waiting for the sun to go down for him to move on. I don't like the thought of trying to drive him out...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So the new venture will just have to wait for tomorrow, but I pleased to finally have confirmation for the muggles that I live with that I truly am the magical one in the family. </span>Philippahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469567423970636540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396314403174000609.post-22861790866126109032012-11-13T19:19:00.002+13:002012-11-13T19:19:08.786+13:00Still Quilting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm steadily working away on my quilting at the moment. I wanted to do something quite detailed on this quilt, which is why I'm experimenting with doing this quilt in segments - quilt as you go. There is no way I would even contemplate attempting this on a king size quilt that was all in one piece. Just too much bulk to wield around and too much turning of the quilt.</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRQQDp9PeoXxBdNjNAdJdNfpWFKuhHWVP0lnpu9XaEanWnqIBEYb8GLDZVB8CZ7SITA-VkkmNnqufUHkQqR0q_J1Wif96hwEYay6iWviWvbIgEe7GqyRaiVy9BKVqUykgCOKe6ia-lOU/s1600/009+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRQQDp9PeoXxBdNjNAdJdNfpWFKuhHWVP0lnpu9XaEanWnqIBEYb8GLDZVB8CZ7SITA-VkkmNnqufUHkQqR0q_J1Wif96hwEYay6iWviWvbIgEe7GqyRaiVy9BKVqUykgCOKe6ia-lOU/s320/009+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The pieced blocks are being quilting to echo the lines of the tilted crosses so that the crosses will pop up above the surface a bit more. The solid blocks are being quilted either horizontally or vertically, depending on their colour. It all adds up to a lot of turning of the quilt but it is so simple in the narrow bands it is currently in.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbQcgNYYRKsgXu5o13vxNj6Wc1a8MMGZte91khO2zYsS7URpnstd0GxqMzTlK-MaLGBjYfLUgkmlPjXYiT-lnkT_vNdz63Otj9_MxDcfddi-VYOWrggMkC1zYFrj8CGa9_RsoGC1lxro/s1600/010+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbQcgNYYRKsgXu5o13vxNj6Wc1a8MMGZte91khO2zYsS7URpnstd0GxqMzTlK-MaLGBjYfLUgkmlPjXYiT-lnkT_vNdz63Otj9_MxDcfddi-VYOWrggMkC1zYFrj8CGa9_RsoGC1lxro/s320/010+%25283%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The first segment is completed - 25% of the quilt, not counting the sashing. At this rate I should have it finished sometime in 2015....</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinb63viCLmeDgL53d4jxIWxs87kdJhOikdT932S26W2TfI8X9mFroF5RSLVW35yugdOb2MUX5Cn6WWYB9194-dkKjqyz7HHuEJl6XjHKYVxNptRJ4wuZE-Ihll6kMem1RtbiBdjVKw0kg/s1600/005+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinb63viCLmeDgL53d4jxIWxs87kdJhOikdT932S26W2TfI8X9mFroF5RSLVW35yugdOb2MUX5Cn6WWYB9194-dkKjqyz7HHuEJl6XjHKYVxNptRJ4wuZE-Ihll6kMem1RtbiBdjVKw0kg/s320/005+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I've always been quite keen on fine tightly spaced quilting, as you can see from these small sample pieces....</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodUItlLRTpvBkQ5LWJfzENFOxxVft3NS4ivY5E6H-WW_tmYAC3gfQ14nWkxbG5fvsWXAH3EE9GXjT13nHG4ObyaVQfdWmOPgldb8mCSiackOporNwbiv6xYlQV2LQeFPoKvBxPt-XOlw/s1600/007+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodUItlLRTpvBkQ5LWJfzENFOxxVft3NS4ivY5E6H-WW_tmYAC3gfQ14nWkxbG5fvsWXAH3EE9GXjT13nHG4ObyaVQfdWmOPgldb8mCSiackOporNwbiv6xYlQV2LQeFPoKvBxPt-XOlw/s320/007+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Again - not ideal for a king size quilt....</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCpLj2IwLlPJhjqaFEA4EtOHO0iB910k7Mj__flUHBcP7t8C-I3uAsgroCit3cBOZWMauiqydVTAbtvR7REtUzQfAhznAbDzfHjN-AsEQGYur__0SEGCJ3DBcz513BRISc-vxVWv-080/s1600/006+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCpLj2IwLlPJhjqaFEA4EtOHO0iB910k7Mj__flUHBcP7t8C-I3uAsgroCit3cBOZWMauiqydVTAbtvR7REtUzQfAhznAbDzfHjN-AsEQGYur__0SEGCJ3DBcz513BRISc-vxVWv-080/s320/006+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But you get the idea - I like lots of quilting. No doubt that's why it takes me so long. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Just as well I enjoy it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Happy quilting to you all.</span>Philippahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469567423970636540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396314403174000609.post-13181510672778840352012-10-28T21:15:00.000+13:002012-10-28T21:15:06.070+13:00There be dragons and sea creatures this way<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We had a few days away last week over the hill from Wellington, in the Wairarapa. Our timing could not have been better. Even through the weather was less than spring like, the Greytown Arts festival was in full swing giving us plenty to look at and to stow away for inspiration. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The highlight for us was the Great </span><a href="http://www.tapeart-nz.com/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Tape Art</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> project which Erica Duthie and Straun Ashby worked on steadily over the weekend. The created a fabulous mural on the side of the supermarket, all from blue builders tape. Do have a look at their website to see some of the other wonderful murals they have created.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLR9Xl2dDw9kR9IlYeFohJGqp3MuSpSVd7i041merTvylKIf0UQyqyIKGrWXyBnJYbX5p63LDjBVZRl3-xWz1yWiZxVwcyxAvpJYs98QqbC-UuNx9GUVpX9zt-wrsyWVibOD6W4uu33FQ/s1600/100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLR9Xl2dDw9kR9IlYeFohJGqp3MuSpSVd7i041merTvylKIf0UQyqyIKGrWXyBnJYbX5p63LDjBVZRl3-xWz1yWiZxVwcyxAvpJYs98QqbC-UuNx9GUVpX9zt-wrsyWVibOD6W4uu33FQ/s320/100.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We paid it several visits over the weekend so we could see it developing. They did life size portraits of a number of the local residents, telling their stories.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJTuo5-KGDfvO-mMkzeT27ipqSfKAjFqpgVacZYEkSAIK_fecmXJyqa8ubplHilBPbemDzgAnHNjHFeBJoPOkj3yKQOL-bSBJsxODPUb0MpVELdkDeSQHzhj3u5mLMZuIqM7PoITKkR8/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJTuo5-KGDfvO-mMkzeT27ipqSfKAjFqpgVacZYEkSAIK_fecmXJyqa8ubplHilBPbemDzgAnHNjHFeBJoPOkj3yKQOL-bSBJsxODPUb0MpVELdkDeSQHzhj3u5mLMZuIqM7PoITKkR8/s320/054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It was magical.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And then, with some sadness, we helped take it down at the end of the weekend. Of course our lads found this to be a particular highlight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Over at the church fair we came across this wonderful creation - the Cinema for the Poor. Wonderful pictures were wound through telling tall tales of adventurous lives on the high seas.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3SfW_iq4mP8z9kUJ24cljJH7EPsnzdvo2RruWK-Qqi9AjyL5CKNU835jKFoIXAcqxEPQqjapn0Oqyf8jgvGwlbz4MlRyj8c-FVzQt-doOK01TAAagOghP2Hz4734pvthz6IwJJXjTq44/s1600/101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3SfW_iq4mP8z9kUJ24cljJH7EPsnzdvo2RruWK-Qqi9AjyL5CKNU835jKFoIXAcqxEPQqjapn0Oqyf8jgvGwlbz4MlRyj8c-FVzQt-doOK01TAAagOghP2Hz4734pvthz6IwJJXjTq44/s320/101.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">All overseen by an angel - "On the last day the trumpet shall sound and forgotten souls shall rise up from their graves and tell their never heard before stories"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">t was magical.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Unsurprisingly I was also rather impressed by these rusted feathers on a very large moa in the main street of Greytown</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-J_ASF3n8384Y6tJdIQYBtRvJbGTBkNiuykI0HR4C0eqDg0-uXS1Ng28vWZ5rEjBO5l5hdzem0XHoakhyphenhyphen_r9hBhrCfDotCV_SJli7nAS5ByDiz6_fXrDf7P1XYHhLP4y0p2oTBZajOFo/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-J_ASF3n8384Y6tJdIQYBtRvJbGTBkNiuykI0HR4C0eqDg0-uXS1Ng28vWZ5rEjBO5l5hdzem0XHoakhyphenhyphen_r9hBhrCfDotCV_SJli7nAS5ByDiz6_fXrDf7P1XYHhLP4y0p2oTBZajOFo/s320/061.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and by the paint on the front door of the house we stayed at in Martinbourgh. I'm sure the owners plan to paint it but I loved it just as it was.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQ_ieG7T537_fuYxe2PUyecFHxE4VjPT1WXNmbeT0iefxR4xjbyZeVatvjsWO2FurPMhS4bptAKRy6ZJ7lM8hpRmxRs-9kb-KNbixnYtm_9Bktww3ucKvzM6tlvA6CQRhtxHSkaz6AXQ/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQ_ieG7T537_fuYxe2PUyecFHxE4VjPT1WXNmbeT0iefxR4xjbyZeVatvjsWO2FurPMhS4bptAKRy6ZJ7lM8hpRmxRs-9kb-KNbixnYtm_9Bktww3ucKvzM6tlvA6CQRhtxHSkaz6AXQ/s320/047.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There's nothing like a few days away to bring a spring to the step!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span>Philippahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469567423970636540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396314403174000609.post-24546646920946057102012-10-24T21:07:00.000+13:002012-10-24T21:07:10.422+13:00Slowly, slowly makes the Quilt<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I've never claimed to be a quick quilt maker and it's just as well really as this quilt is taking its time to find its voice. However, I am cautiously optimistic that I am getting there. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOjHHmJv1w2FHxNiOWHc4T1qWSNhX884cADoePISy0M7qiGxrFtP8yV9a4B_nA_PkTExaW7VF8Ig1GTE78LxWLOL8pj_GK5Ey4HCinuBFaNYdRwEu3CZnh_0P6wUaUz9sey5ILTxTuw0/s1600/001+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOjHHmJv1w2FHxNiOWHc4T1qWSNhX884cADoePISy0M7qiGxrFtP8yV9a4B_nA_PkTExaW7VF8Ig1GTE78LxWLOL8pj_GK5Ey4HCinuBFaNYdRwEu3CZnh_0P6wUaUz9sey5ILTxTuw0/s320/001+%25283%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I now have four panels for the front. I was particularly pleased with the striped silk kimono fabric that I found for the sashing. it wasn't in my favourite $5 bin at Asia Gallery but was worth splashing out for.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Then I moved onto the back. More kimono fabrics and all from the thin strips rather than the full width.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I like the softness of the colours on the back compared to the front.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmV7aU9yEfRZipCzRNxIZzbEDUZuF5wffkNx15r-oD2ShxLOKhyhkdEeBkF7uaKdeHCuJb-FKcDoTgjFba2Re9LfRKO2T9uQZEtGbsu3yVwI3EL2Z7RdEpt_DTmQKcq-91b3KpYrfq5U/s1600/012+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmV7aU9yEfRZipCzRNxIZzbEDUZuF5wffkNx15r-oD2ShxLOKhyhkdEeBkF7uaKdeHCuJb-FKcDoTgjFba2Re9LfRKO2T9uQZEtGbsu3yVwI3EL2Z7RdEpt_DTmQKcq-91b3KpYrfq5U/s320/012+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm planning to quilt it in the four panels and then join them with vertical sashing. I've never used the "quilt as you go" technique before but thought that it was perfect for this quilt as it is rather large. This weekend it will be pinning up the quilt panels. Hopefully I'll even get some stitches into it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Of course, this will undoubtedly take me some more time.... </span><br />
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Philippahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469567423970636540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396314403174000609.post-69020985678078949762012-10-12T20:22:00.001+13:002012-10-12T20:22:28.938+13:00Back to the Studio<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So the excitement of the exhibition is sadly now just a memory. It finished last Sunday - its always a little sad to see everything come down. For those of you who didn't make it.... here's a last couple of views....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The exhibition has given me a real push back into the studio to keep working on my Kimono Crosses. I've a rethink and am now working on a more traditional nine patch variation layout, with some patches blue and some red.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It's coming along and I'm feeling happier with it all the time. Thanks for the feedback - it was really helpful and just what I needed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'll keep you posted!</span><br />
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Philippahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469567423970636540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396314403174000609.post-25091445927966518092012-09-28T18:59:00.000+12:002012-09-28T18:59:32.562+12:00Quilt Guild Exhibition<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I don't often talk about the Guild I belong to but we have just opened our biennial exhibition and it would be great to see you there, if you happen to be in the neighbourhood.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We are back in the Academy Gallery for the exhibition and our quilts are looking wonderful hanging on the gallery walls. Its' a great spot on the waterfront in Wellington and very close to where they hold the WOW show each year (if you don't know about </span><a href="http://www.worldofwearableart.com/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">WOW</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> do have a look - it is a veritable visual feast and brings a whole new meaning to creativity!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Above is a view of the gallery - the quilt in the front is by my stitching buddy Marilyn, Scully Series #4 Protection Blanket. A wonderful quilt that I keep mentioning to Marilyn that I would happily own... Marilyn won a merit prize in the Upcycled category.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Behind it is a quilt that you may recognise of mine - Gateway. I made it early last year and I am thrilled at how fabulous it looks hanging. It's been quite a while since I made it and gifted it to my friend for her birthday so it is lovely to be able to spend some time with it again.</span><br />
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsvE4bAy_w3lmtEC-UXTN3lH5vaygxCHzt2lAZLr9gA6X2ZsRKeQ_h8aaNxfh89sFY9nRkquiKdSpcLSRTwYpHg5iRmFnygPH6FPBAggpIAp5AqEX0qlLv0XOhydlTdoHdK82nemDwG4/s320/015.JPG" width="240" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And here I am - the proud maker, out from behind my peg apron. I was incredibly lucky and very surprised to also win a prize - Best Contemporary Quilt. Such a thrill.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">If you in Wellington I hope you will be able to drop by and see many of the other lovely quilts - the exhibition is on until Sunday 7 October. I hope to see you there!</span></div>
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Philippahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469567423970636540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396314403174000609.post-53832227974657532122012-09-25T22:06:00.000+12:002012-09-25T22:07:33.134+12:00Lovely, lovely lace<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So here's a wee story for you - a couple of months ago I was the monthly speaker at our Guild. They were doing me a favour really. I wanted to do a dry run through of a presentation I was due to give at the Costume and Textile Symposium in Nelson (another story, for another time). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The talk I gave was about some research I did last year into a donor to the textile collection at Te Papa, our National Museum. The donor was Mrs Phyllis Cousins who, in the 1960s, donated well over 200 items of mainly women's clothing, dating from the late 1800s through to the 1930s, to the Museum. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'll tell you more about Mrs Cousins and her collection another time, but as part of the presentation I talked about how struck I was by the decorative laces on many of the garments and how dull our modern clothing often seems in comparison. The item which caused me to trail off into this side observation was, I think, this one</span>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A morning jacket from around 1900 it features a particularly stunning lace with what I can only describe as thread balls featuring on the lace edge of the sleeve. The jacket is thought to have perhaps have been a maternity jacket as it has fullness at both the front and back to accommodate a pregnancy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Then again it may have been this 1905 morning jacket that set me off - both are firm favourites from among the Cousins collection and I felt very privileged to have been able to study and work with them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">However the really unexpected part of this tale occurred a few weeks after my presentation when a parcel appeared in my letterbox containing this lovely silk and lace handkerchief. It was accompanied by this note:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpAnotjBmeHth4P-4sf05pMVv49OPV-YzA3UlS0_RwNZ8zWpear3O9F8ijM8dwh_CddvutsmSXaTg63yTHyswm4x4O5Rb3gxPe590Bl0EooE26S8vzMAJ9OpQXQNDkTsWyPUzscYMC3A/s1600/007+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpAnotjBmeHth4P-4sf05pMVv49OPV-YzA3UlS0_RwNZ8zWpear3O9F8ijM8dwh_CddvutsmSXaTg63yTHyswm4x4O5Rb3gxPe590Bl0EooE26S8vzMAJ9OpQXQNDkTsWyPUzscYMC3A/s320/007+%25282%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Hello</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Did I hear you say at your presentation that you like lace? I do hope you did because I am sending a small treasure for you to be custodian of -----</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>I know it is very old, the team at the identification day at Te papa a few months back indicated that I should look after it. I know that I probably won't but thought that you might.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>It came to me via an op shop collection of linen a few years back. No provenance I am afraid. Comes with no attached strings - has been rattling around my linen cupboard for years.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Kindest regards</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So I wanted to say a big thank you to my unknown benefactor. It is a treasure and will be looked after and, from time to time, bought out and admired.</span> Philippahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469567423970636540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396314403174000609.post-36411730470598603092012-09-24T22:45:00.000+12:002012-09-24T22:45:28.595+12:00Absent but Active<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I've been away for far longer than I ever intended but I'm pleased to say that this time it's not due to stitching inactivity. In fact, I've been steadily working away on my Kimono crosses and now have most of them stitched and up on the wall while I play with layout ideas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This stage is always fun, if a little challenging. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Somehow it never quite looks like I imagined it would. I started off thinking I would alternate all of the crosses against blue kimono squares, so it would look something like this</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Then last week I had another thought - maybe I could also use red squares and do one half red and one blue, so it would look something like this</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEPjgzfJJoWU87LQ6EVvDL3WgZLbfmvPUz5ENujPDKFsJeAwAWQW_HwiUbf_whjyYKV65tqmZv_9ztPf4d73O_fO-zmdlWi7hlVFqHIklDAob3Jtl3WyJy4H4fT3KzI43blCarMDrVf4/s1600/064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEPjgzfJJoWU87LQ6EVvDL3WgZLbfmvPUz5ENujPDKFsJeAwAWQW_HwiUbf_whjyYKV65tqmZv_9ztPf4d73O_fO-zmdlWi7hlVFqHIklDAob3Jtl3WyJy4H4fT3KzI43blCarMDrVf4/s320/064.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Now I'm not so sure - I think maybe it needs some central sashing to divide the quilt visually</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Maybe some of the red kimono squares are too loud, too patterned and demanding more attention than I want them to</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Maybe.... I need to just keep playing. Any thoughts???</span>Philippahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469567423970636540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396314403174000609.post-25656716813185581492012-07-16T17:16:00.000+12:002012-07-16T17:16:22.164+12:00All Roads Lead to Frida<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Well, so it seems at the moment anyway. Last weekend I visited a few places I hadn't been to for a while and was richly rewarded by treasures beyond my wildest imaginings. I found these wonderful mirrors which I snapped up. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLZ0LKneO2F0-SCUEdfGUte0II6_hX65YPtjHj86-d3XFda79na718I9SFf3JvDwlcv2N1uS4vT_cWmKfQ-SlfffDRNH2yFTpEpCLoTr2QrXpYrLU_4HKKcQTnEx2UFjlz3oDpd8CqfQ/s1600/002+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLZ0LKneO2F0-SCUEdfGUte0II6_hX65YPtjHj86-d3XFda79na718I9SFf3JvDwlcv2N1uS4vT_cWmKfQ-SlfffDRNH2yFTpEpCLoTr2QrXpYrLU_4HKKcQTnEx2UFjlz3oDpd8CqfQ/s320/002+%25286%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The woman in the shop thought I must have been watching them and finally made a decision - Oh no, I assured her. I had just seen them for the first time and immediately know they need to move to my house. Nothing Like a snap purchase decision!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The family were a little taken aback (I don't know why really - they should be used to it) and there is still debate over just where they will hang. I had thought the bathroom but my husband wasn't so sure he wanted Frida's gaze of silent assessment looking at him every time he ventured in there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">With that success under my belt, I headed to Asia Gallery - I thought I needed some more red for the quilt I am working on at the moment. I was basically spoilt for choice. They had just had another shipment in and the pile in my favourite $5 bin was literally taller than me. I have never seen anything like it. Deciding was almost impossible and there was no way of getting through the pile to see all the treasures buried in there....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">What was a fabric loving girl to do?? So another 8 kimono have moved to my house. These are the red's...</span><br />
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<br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Just loved this - don't think it has ever been worn</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This on the other hand has been - by me. I've worn it twice now. Its a heavy wool ikat (not sure what the Japanese term for it is), jacket length with the square neckline and domes rather than the full length kimono. It's perfect for this time of year and is helping to brighten up my rather dull winter wardrobe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In the meantime I've also been working away on the new quilt project. I've decided to chain stitch onto the centre of the crosses. This may be at risk of turning into the most epic quilt project ever ever now I've decided to do this hand work on each block, but it is a nice project to have sitting in front of the fire of an evening. I think there will be about 100 of these blocks in the quilt, so it should keep me going for a while!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm starting out by using up some of the threads I already have. This red thread is a Tentkulum stranded cotton which I bought several years ago along with a blue version. They are called Painter's Threads - so it will probably be no surprise that the name of this shade is Frida.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As I said - all roads lead to Frida!</span>Philippahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469567423970636540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396314403174000609.post-64731121743645364332012-07-03T19:33:00.001+12:002012-07-03T19:33:28.169+12:00Regaining my Quilting Mojo<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I've been very off the pace lately with my stitching - and I've been really missing it. So over the last month or so I've been taking concerted actions to get back behind the machine and moving on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I started slowly - went to a few quilt events, tried to find some inspiration among the fabric - and low and beyold its starting to reap dividends.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm pleased to say that Frida Kahlo is finally finished - and even better it is currently gracing my bed and keeping me warm as the cold weather hits. Of course once I pulled finger it really didn't take that long to do - funny that! It's simply quilted with mostly vertical lines in a verigated red thread.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'd chosen this thread almost before the quilt was even begun because red thread is a amulet worn in a number of cultures. So it adds another layer of meaning, and protection, to my quilt which is already loaded with protective amulets. If it is to be taken away to university with my daughter then a quilt of protection and motherly love will be just what she requires - of course we are yet to see whether it actually makes it off my bed! I'm quite pleased with the back too.... if I do say so myself!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As part of the grand plan to get me going I went to my first ever weekend quilt retreat with our Guild and spent a whole weekend sewing, laughing and doing more sewing. It was great and definately got me moving onto my next project - my next kimono fabric quilt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I started off with the idea of doing nine patch quilts with a off balace cross cut into these with a cream fabrics - my dear quilt friends kindly told me it looked like masking tape.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">They were right - it caused more laughter, but then I came up with these... I cut very thin strips and stitched them staight over the top with three rows of my exceptionally useful red verigated thread.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Much better. At this stage the plan is that they will be alternated across the quilt with solid blocks of kimono fabric. They need the space I think otherwise it all looks a bit frenetic. Here they are just pinned on top of a few strips of kimono fabric - it was my experiment to get a feel for how it might look.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm very pleased with how it is all shaping up - just need to get myself up into that sewing room to keep up the good work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Thanks for perservering with me and dropping by to see if I am still around - I'll endeavour to keep you posted.....</span></div>Philippahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469567423970636540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396314403174000609.post-42003455981168189662012-03-18T17:14:00.000+13:002012-03-18T17:14:12.012+13:00Turning something old into something new<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It's always a sign that if there are no posts on the blog that it's unlikely that there has been any stitching going on at my house. Work and home commitments have been absorbing much of my time - poor Frieda is languishing with only two borders actually stitched on. I hope to get back to her soon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">In the meantime I've been filling the odd free moment with some hand stitching on what will become a collar for myself. It's a collar with family history. My mother tatted this collar when she was about 10 years old. Hard to imagine any 10 year old these days being able to whip something like this up!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKLDoY3nNfHUkJ2jV_s_ceCbS7mUTRURA0DEUmqWyE4PlsSKuOfevQ-_XHtbpAcji_PkRyng3vmSZBsxteP1Uo77d2o4kr6WgjX-3VQ3-bb20qpZpXFSex54B0mmcj00vJ-Yxi7z4QvA/s1600/002+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKLDoY3nNfHUkJ2jV_s_ceCbS7mUTRURA0DEUmqWyE4PlsSKuOfevQ-_XHtbpAcji_PkRyng3vmSZBsxteP1Uo77d2o4kr6WgjX-3VQ3-bb20qpZpXFSex54B0mmcj00vJ-Yxi7z4QvA/s320/002+%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">She made the collar to be part of her school uniform in anticipation for when she performed in the school orchestra. It was a requirement of her school, the Catholic school in Timaru - imagine that! Unfortunately she never made it into the orchestra so the collar has sat for over 70 years waiting to be pressed into service.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I'm mounting it onto felted wool and am toying with the idea of adding a few beads onto it to highlight the design. Time will, as always, tell.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">When I showed it to my daughter she told me I was very on trend as the shops are full of lace collars - it was almost enough to make me stop but mine will be a collar with provenance, rather than something mass manufactured in China.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOZ67LDNPJqFzWuC6qr0M9uqJlWBseJlIxP57fV8OHR3m4QKjTiItpgjjsd6ESztGOnCydsQ50jNSr4ERNSTSAfkMEOwNE_mYEdNOfKYORjvYx3vVzD4x4NG2mH-JEv_xmTC3KbGoS58/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOZ67LDNPJqFzWuC6qr0M9uqJlWBseJlIxP57fV8OHR3m4QKjTiItpgjjsd6ESztGOnCydsQ50jNSr4ERNSTSAfkMEOwNE_mYEdNOfKYORjvYx3vVzD4x4NG2mH-JEv_xmTC3KbGoS58/s320/004.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And while considering felted wool I thought you'd also like to see this felt cushion cover I bought some time ago. I thought it was irresistible. It dates from around the 1930s or 40s when embroideries and home textiles often featured dutch motifs. I particularly enjoy the cigarette dangling from his lips, something it would be difficult to imagine being included in contemporary work - how times have changed.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdbS5U3VQod5hr3FjB4TKl0wbltvyoDic5u-rWSRgaMI2ANctGN4fBwbhFpvVZ0xHB7oKFGiX7tJQLdzGVGrn6MrcWvNcf1FiDR4QwBxK3RpDkcGDAqLLHqrAozZnwbeXIVkWZpD5RAo/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdbS5U3VQod5hr3FjB4TKl0wbltvyoDic5u-rWSRgaMI2ANctGN4fBwbhFpvVZ0xHB7oKFGiX7tJQLdzGVGrn6MrcWvNcf1FiDR4QwBxK3RpDkcGDAqLLHqrAozZnwbeXIVkWZpD5RAo/s320/003.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Philippahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469567423970636540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396314403174000609.post-67893910567904314892012-02-08T21:30:00.000+13:002012-02-10T08:05:29.894+13:00Southern Textile Treats<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">What trip away would be complete without the odd textile treasure snapped along the way.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> This well dressed cabbage tree was at the bottom of Baldwin St in Dunedin. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyeIG0lHRQI6wRiO4BBPRk3EwBiTv3Q2U3geT18vMFulsQDli1PQApN56qzBTwkdrae9IXCNdMNXpUIeZ-nZlBRECphXpXzyyEReQ_CyuM7NXeMgiIv_VkHF6wbKQ4DmjsfrO3cDhO7I/s1600/053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyeIG0lHRQI6wRiO4BBPRk3EwBiTv3Q2U3geT18vMFulsQDli1PQApN56qzBTwkdrae9IXCNdMNXpUIeZ-nZlBRECphXpXzyyEReQ_CyuM7NXeMgiIv_VkHF6wbKQ4DmjsfrO3cDhO7I/s320/053.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Baldwin St has the distinction of being the steepest street in the world. How steep? This should give you an idea.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzT5QPJaMUgxyzOFMLTusL7DnMg00Sva3O8u86neEl5olUVDg5WoxEI8KH7rrLgTzB22Har-EHlnddxiWAN2TvpC_aZkBg6H9eEaPH6ruhyphenhyphenUG1JXINNewkQ7NwZkwVmTLOiNq8B-lWdo/s1600/055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzT5QPJaMUgxyzOFMLTusL7DnMg00Sva3O8u86neEl5olUVDg5WoxEI8KH7rrLgTzB22Har-EHlnddxiWAN2TvpC_aZkBg6H9eEaPH6ruhyphenhyphenUG1JXINNewkQ7NwZkwVmTLOiNq8B-lWdo/s320/055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">While we were there several tour buses stopped there for people to view it - I suspect I was the only one who stopped to photographed the cabbage tree. We all walked to the top - one of my boys even ran it! There are obviously a few characters on the street - I loved this letter box.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In Queenstown I was most taken by these two pieces of knitwear - anyone with a pile of orphan peggy squares might want to start stitching them up into coats. This one was retailing for a mere $1600NZ. Obviously they were targeting significantly more well heeled travellers than us! I joked to my husband about buying it for him to wear - and it was then he pointed out the price which had us both shaking our heads in amazement.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGn9zKcCMwumKo2Eliv9Qq2q_pCo4A6WYcgIYGCdejZqZj3ujFivOYdOx7_kebnqS9KU55yQ3Sn8YF5_HarqY1YPQpdvee8vWcrUlsEMBzwILF6bTAhuhMRkOI3BPBcDr-X5RIp7R-Cjw/s1600/135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGn9zKcCMwumKo2Eliv9Qq2q_pCo4A6WYcgIYGCdejZqZj3ujFivOYdOx7_kebnqS9KU55yQ3Sn8YF5_HarqY1YPQpdvee8vWcrUlsEMBzwILF6bTAhuhMRkOI3BPBcDr-X5RIp7R-Cjw/s320/135.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Let me know if you are inspired to pick up the needles - there could be a retailer waiting for your work in Queenstown.</span>Philippahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469567423970636540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396314403174000609.post-80180262746868421882012-02-06T21:15:00.002+13:002012-02-06T21:15:59.203+13:00Borders for Frida & the Amulets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A few hours of uninterrupted stitching was all it took to get the black borders onto the Frida blocks and to get all the blocks put together. Sunday afternoon's are my favourite time for stitching if I can manage it - the National Radio has it's Arts Programme on so there is always something good to listen to while I am working away. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I enjoy this part of the quilting process - It's always exciting to see the blocks start to come together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The black borders provide a real frame for each of the fabrics and for the block as a whole and make all the colours seem richer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm yet to decide on whether there needs to be another outer border, or maybe even more than one - I suspect so. Something colourful and lush befitting the garden that Frida had with Deigo. It's going to add some real colour zing to our guest bed - assuming I can keep it off my daughter's bed! Mind you I am the one who has recently been given Frida socks, all the way from the US, so if anyone should be wrapped up in it I think it should be me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">My friend who I made the applique quilt for confessed to me yesterday that she had been reading my blog, although not until after she had been given it. She said she was showing it to her mother to try to show her how long it takes me to get a quilt together. Her mother was apparently amazed that there was a quilt on the computer that looked just like the one her daughter owned! Not sure that she managed to convince her of the work involved really but it gave us all a good laugh.</span>Philippahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469567423970636540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396314403174000609.post-15553483771044417802012-02-04T17:20:00.000+13:002012-02-04T17:20:36.624+13:00February? Already??<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">How did it get to be February? This year seems to have raced away leaving my blog floundering in the wake. There has been no shortage of stitching featuring in my activities - first I had the challenge of getting the birthday quilt finished for my dear friend. There were many days of concentrated stitching leading up to us heading to the beach and the odd meltdown when I was convinced that I wasn't going to get there! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Thank goodness Marilyn was able to urge me on when things got hairy with the free motion quilting...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6T4wZW7ONrAzomkuXZYi1OtluQIwXzKrdRSHaU7ysDqQr8z3_5Id3h1zpIkDUoomef6azw_FleVXT8gTPMCyhPdt2Lr6uWLfMhjRz73QFYVSIzpEkyEEpuLaEdE1O2dt9K36jVXeodY/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6T4wZW7ONrAzomkuXZYi1OtluQIwXzKrdRSHaU7ysDqQr8z3_5Id3h1zpIkDUoomef6azw_FleVXT8gTPMCyhPdt2Lr6uWLfMhjRz73QFYVSIzpEkyEEpuLaEdE1O2dt9K36jVXeodY/s320/019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and the lines that just wouldn't stay straight! The quilt came to the beach with me so I could stitch down the binding in the evenings. The only thing not finished was the label which was stitched to the back of the quilt over a gin and tonic (it appears to be fairly straight!) after I had given it to it's new owner on her birthday. I'm happy to say that she loves it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It was a tight finish to the deadline - never again....famous last words I suspect!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So what else have I been doing? While up at the beach I played with a bit more eco dyeing. There was a huge eucalyptus tree on the property so it seemed a shame not to do something with all the leaves that were lying around. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">No sooner were we home than we headed to Queenstown for a family wedding - my job was to get the binding onto the quilt for the happy couple - accomplished but without a photo taken. What was I thinking?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Now that I am home, and life is reverting to normal (back to work, all the children back to school including our two boys starting at two different secondary schools on the same day... etc etc) I've turned my attention back to Frida and the amulets. I've started putting sashing between the blocks and getting it all put together. So exciting...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And best of all it's a long weekend here - with a fair wind behind me I hope to have the top all together before work beckons again on Tuesday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Happy stitching where ever you are - and a belated Happy New Year. </span>Philippahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469567423970636540noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396314403174000609.post-89435542144078182982011-12-11T13:02:00.001+13:002011-12-11T13:25:48.276+13:00Fabulous Fabric - Finally<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The long awaited parcel from the US arrived this week. Seldom have I been so pleased to receive a text message from my daughter while at work! It was the cause of much celebration and swept me into almost immediate activity. Luckily for me I had the next day off so I spent most of it in the sewing room.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">First up I had to finish off the Frida Khalo blocks. Having made 20 I decided that it really did need to be a bit longer so another 5 were made. For a change I had the perfect amount of fabric to cut the feature blocks - it could not have been a single block larger. It was clearly my time for something to go my way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Having completed that and taken a quick photo, they have now all been taken off the wall and will now wait until sometime in the new year. They still all need to have borders put onto them I think. Time will tell.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">By way of comparison, one of my friends has used the same block for a quilt for her granddaughter. Marilyn's version is just about as different from mine as you can imagine - pale and soft with the most wonderful dogs and cats featuring in the blocks. It's hard to imagine it not being adored.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So with Frida tidied away I turned back to the medallion quilt and am delighted to have the top finished without too many further incidents. I did have a heart stopping moment when I thought I had cut the precious border fabric too short but I'm pleased to report it fitted perfectly, once I had removed an errant extra row of checkerboard which had somehow found its way onto one side. How I managed that I will never know - but as I said this quilt has certainly presented me with some challenges.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And I know they are far from over yet - I have one month to get this quilted before the big birthday. It's only 85 inches or 2.2meters square and there's only the small matter of Christmas and a beach holiday standing in between me and its completion....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oh yes - ever quilt certainly has its challenges!</span></div>
<br />Philippahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469567423970636540noreply@blogger.com3