On the weekend

some chatting and stitching happened, we had a catch up with a few of the Scrub Stitching girls, organised by Chooky

I didn't get a screen photo until some of the girls had said goodbye, but here we are chatting away.

I stitched some hearts while on the laptop, it was lovely to have the catch up.

the hearts got mixed in with some I did in the evening, you wouldn't think purple was my favourite colour would you!!

The next night a few more were done, I am using any scrappy bits of mainly batik I find around in the fabric stash.

The One Block Wednesday blocks have been joined together, I decided to do a random join and was very happy until I went to iron it and found two identical blocks next to each other. So some unsewing had to happen, followed by some more sewing!! Very happy with it now. Today I have joined what I thought was enough fabric for the backing, to another piece of fabric so I definitely have enough for the backing. Need to cut wadding now and then it is ready to be quilted.

I went to get some sticky fruit slice this morning....the two legged mice have been before me.

I spent and hour and a half here yesterday afternoon and another hour this morning...puzzle finished!! One piece missing again, black trousers right hand side for those who have to find it!! I knew there was one missing, this came from Jo, so she had noted it on the box. 

I have a collection of random photos saved from albums of my Dad's, so that might be the next thing to be doing on the dining table, sorting and putting into a scrap book.

Today I made another Anthology block

This one was paper pieced, so I managed to get it the right size!!

I am off to join some wadding pieces together for a little quilt.

Happy stitching.

Oops I forgot!

When I did the post yesterday I forgot that I had a finish! How did that happen!! Vague brain striking again I think!!

I finished another block of the Old Time Kaleidoscope, happy smiles. That was finished Wednesday night and on Thursday another one arrived n the mail, I am still three behind I think, so need to get cutting.

Last night I also stitched another five hearts.

It is a beautiful day here today, calm and sunny, have been for a walk along the beach which is not peaceful as the guys building the new boat launching ramp are using a chain saw! Not to worry is was still lovely to get down there.

Now do I go sit and read in the sun or return to the sewing machine??

Happy stitching.

There and here

As many of you know my Mum is in care in Tauranga, NZ, and they have been in Stage 4 lock down for 5 weeks, I wanted to share (and keep for myself) one of the three times a week updates,  the families get to let us know how things are going. No has been able to visit since the start of the lock down. Feel free to skip over.

Radius Matua Update: 21^st April 2020

Our facility took on a positive vibe today, lots of chatter and laughter. Everyone talking about the government’s decision and what it means for them and there seems to be a lot of positivity.

This was no doubt helped by the fact that the day started off with a delicious buffet breakfast. The stream of residents from rest home and hospital enjoying the breakfast was really pleasing to see. A number of the residents come to these not only for the food but also for the socialisation, a chance to chat to someone different while being able to choose what they have for breakfast and being able to partake at their own pace. Our kitchen staff did a magnificent job this morning (as they always do).

Isolation cases:

We have 4 people currently in isolation, NONE of them with Covid concerns, they are just seeing out the isolation period as new or returning admissions.

Activities:

·         Buffet breakfast

·         Physiotherapists Falls Prevention class attracted 28 residents today (it is a big hall so there was plenty of room and space between participants.

·         Ice cream was given out to all residents throughout the facility, you can’t beat a good old kiwi ice cream!!

·         Ten-pin bowling took place again this afternoon and it is fast becoming the favourite sport for our residents to test themselves in a “competitive environment”.

·         There will be another “virtual” church service tomorrow on our big screen run by the Columbus Church Minister Donald Hegan.

Matua Primary School Children:

I have mentioned before that we have a huge Bear at the top of the driveway with a sign on it saying how much we missed the Matua kids reading group coming in to read to our residents.

Well the children (who are all at home in their bubbles) on lockdown have each done a video clip of them reading a book out loud (individually) which has been edited and put together by their teacher and has been sent to us to screen. They did this because they wanted to show your loved ones how much they miss coming in to do their reading for our residents. What an awesome effort. Our residents will love this; I will let you know how it goes.

This sort of effort shows how much a part of the community Radius Matua is , as is the Matua school and all the other amazing small business we have in this area helping each other out.

I would also like to say a huge thank you to Comvita and Jackie for the amazing gift packs donated to our nurses for all their hard work during this lock down period. They were thrilled and felt really appreciated. The gift packs were delivered appropriately, wiped down and stored for 3 days before being presented to the nurses. Thanks Comvita…..awesome!!

    

Back here in beautiful St Leonards

I have finished a kit by Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched, I have had it for a long time so am very happy to have it finished.

and the back.

The rainbow lorikeets are very happy nearly all day in the fig tree

Me watching you watching me!! Such beautiful birds.

Hubby has a game set up down stairs, he has taken photos and emailed them to a friend who is not in the best of health and they are having a long distance game, the directions are being sent back and forth as the game progresses.

We are getting some autumn colour in the garden

and mushrooms?? There are lots of them, more I look the more I see.

I have four rows of this quilt top together, the pattern is a freebie from Pat Sloan, she has been having a block a day sew along for the month of April.One more row to go for me!!

Yesterday once I pulled myself away from my book and got to some baking, gluten free ginger biscuits and gluten free sticky fruit slice. Very nice. Even hubby is happy to eat them!!

I am off to sew a few more One Block Wednesday blocks together.

Happy stitching.

Sunday today

I had to have a look at the phone to make sure I had the right day!!

Friday I started trimming the One Block Wednesday blocks, some are not straight and need to be fudged but we will see how we go!

Ingrid made me this beautiful hummingbird wall hanging, she made it them misplaced it, found it and posted it! Phew! I love it.

Yesterday I fired up and got these bird feeder cups into the garden, I don't know why I took so long to get it done!! Julie makes these and kindly sent me the washer and bolt arrangement that her hubby welds together to go on the bottom of this cup

and Julie kindly sent me this cup she put together. They make wonderful bird feeders

Now they have seed

Just waiting for the birds, who are very happy in the fig tree, to find them!!

Every time I go near the fig tree I see flashes of colour

I think I was being watched!

Last night I started quilting the Caroline Challenge.

This morning I had a walk around the garden, there are hundreds of white butterflies, they are everywhere,I am thankful we don't have veges in the garden, they would be gone by now.

The galahs are busy having their morning clean up over the road.

The hexie quilt is sewn onto the borders, now it needs backing and wadding. ( And ironing!)

I have been stitching away now and then on the sew a little happiness every day project that is over on instagram. There is so much inspiration and beautiful stitching with this project. I decided on a little kiwi touch, the buzzy bee , a NZ icon.

And a kea, the cheeky NZ parrot

Link to you tube

I am of to sew some happiness,

Happy stitching.

This and that

My Scrub Stitching project is finished, both pouch and needle keep, now I am inspired to have a go at some other kits I have waiting attention here. Project is by Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched, made especially for this group, I understand it will be for sale next year. We feel very special. 

The last few stitcheries on the postcard wall hanging,  cattle on the road,

Camp Cypress at Baradine where we got to look at the moon and the stars.

Group photo taken for the local paper

The Kiwis visited the Chookshed, Chooky kindly had us to stay on the Sunday night before we headed back south. You can see Raewyns wall hanging at her blog. We had a lot of fun with this project.

On the road heading home.

Another block in the Anthology quilt was made yesterday.

I had a go at foundation piecing, something I have not done for a while, I decided to use the pohutukawa fabric for the tree, it is also known as the New Zealand Christmas tree.

Today I have been working with the One Block Wednesday blocks, my sewing of the squares on the corners is not accurate and I am not getting the lovely neat squares between the blocks, but am not changing it now! It will be a quilt with a twist!!

The sun is heading down again, and the air is cooling, time for my slippers and to think about dinner.

Happy stitching.

Squirrel brain

has struck again today, it is a beautiful calm sunny day, it is so tempting to just go and sit outside in the sun and read a book! But I am being strong and am pinning one of the hexie quilt tops I was given to some borders, that have come from left over backing.

Pinning the border to the hexies

I did several laps of the garden this morning, David had left both the side gates open so I did complete laps of the property, made for a little change. Exciting person aren't I!!

I was chatting to Fiona via email and she suggested using some figs to make fig paste, to have with cheese. I liked the sound of that so did some research and found a recipe that uses the crock pot, so first step is to wash and dry the figs, then put the sugar over them and put them in the fridge over night. Tomorrow they will go into the crock pot. I hope I have timed this right as Ingrid is sending me jars and fingers crossed, they will arrive tomorrow.

The last lot of jam I made didn't set so back it went into the post this morning for a bit more sugar and another brew up

and back into the jars, hopefully this time it will be ok.

Yesterday I finished this jigsaw...and yes one piece was missing, but it didn't impact that much.

Yesterday I also put the binding on this lovely quilt made by a Guild member and quilted by Joan, this is now ready for delivery to the oncology ward once we are allowed out and about again.

I am off now to finish pinning the hexie quilt, I might even go and sit outside with some hand stitching, best to enjoy the lovely weather while we can.

Happy stitching.

FNWF 2 and Saturday stitching

In the afternoon I finally got this quilt trimmed and put on the binding. One more ready to go to the oncology ward when I can make a delivery.

Last night was another meet up for FNWF to help us through this time of no mixing outside the house. You can see what others sewed at Cheryll's blog.

I started this before dinner and did everything wrong I could possibly do, cut the brown pieces the wrong length, three times, sewed one piece on and had the edge folded underneath, I should have thrown it in a corner and tried again another day! But I persevered and it is done. In the pattern there is another border to add, a piano keys border but Ingrid and I have decided to stop here. Next to come is quilting.

While I was watching police mystery shows on TV later in the evening I sewed together three units for the Old Time Kaleidoscope block. One more to go, which might get done tonight. Maybe!

Today I had a wonderful sewing day, Chooky connected the ladies who had planned to go to Baradine, for Scrub Stitching, via zoom and we had a great day of stitching and chatting. 

This was how far I got at the end of the day. Chooky arranged for two projects for us from Hatched and Patched, we even go to chat with Annie for a while. The parcel arrived last week and had to sit unopened until today, that was a test I can tell you!! This stitchery is appliqued to a zipper purse, which I have yet to make.

This little label goes on the opposite side to the applique.

Today was the day for unveiling the secret stitching, On our way home from Baradine last year Raewyn and I talked about making a quilt to remind ourselves of the time we had away. That is a shocking photo, I will change it tomorrow.

Block one, Raewyn flying in and me driving to pick her up.

Arriving around 6pm in Forbes with the petrol tank on empty! 

Lunch at Holbrook near the submarine.

I will show the others another day. I enjoyed making this and it brings back a lot of happy memories.

Off to sort dinner.

Happy stitching and keep safe,