Mini success

Each February Sawmillers Quiltery, in Te Marua (~40 minutes north of Wellington), host the Stonestead Outdoor Quilt show.  Which I have yet to get to!  

For the show last year I started an entry for their challenge, a table runner.  I got as far as piecing the top that needed to feature a sawtooth block - the block that appears in all their logos.  

 
The challenge for this year was a neonates quilt for Hutt hospital.  The dimensions were 17" by 29" and again had to feature the sawtooth block.  Before Christmas I made one block, had my plan drawn up ... and not a lot happened.  A week or so before the due date put a bit of effort in to complete the quilt. 

A week before the show I delivered the quilt and my daughter's hockey quilt for the youth section.

Neonates quilt

'Hockey Rules'

 






The show was on Sunday 8th February and due to the kids various activities we weren't able to make it - so maybe next year.

It was worth the effort we both won prizes!

 







What I also discovered is that Sawmillers are stocking Aurifil 50wt and hopefully soon will have 40wt and even better they will post it out.

Aurifil in Wellington!

Tote Bag

My quilting bag that I use to cart my quilting/stitching stuff around is rather tatty and definitely needs replacing.  The problem was finding just the right pattern that had all the features I thought I required.  

I regularly follow Adrianne's blog (www.onthewindyside.co.nz/), she's had a few posts about making Tote bags.  Finally I thought I'd just do it and make a tote using her tutorial (here). 

Adrianne uses Soft and Stable in her bags instead of batting or interfacing. I happened to be in Stitchbird one Saturday (see here about why I'm often in Kilbirnie on a Saturday) and bought some Soft and Stable.  The fabric is also from Stitchbird. 

Her instructions are excellent and include a number of very good tips.  I added an inside pocket - next time it'll be bigger and maybe with a zip closure.  As I didn't have any tape for the handles I covered the off cuts of the Soft and Stable with some of the bag material.

Using the Soft and Stable was easy, one of the great things about it is the bag is mostly free-standing.  Also, it doesn't need to be quilted although I did.

I already have an order for a second one.  My daughter has chosen the fabric and wants a slightly smaller one - which is fine as I have a smaller piece of soft and stable left over.  Now to convince her that she could sew it or at least some of it!

Finally, for those in Wellington do go and visit Stitchbird's new shop - just a hop and a skip (not even a jump) across the driveway from their old shop.

Kilbirnie

Last school term saw me exploring the streets of Newtown while my kids had sports/training near by.  This term the training has moved to Kilbirnie.  Kilbirnie isn't nearly as interesting as Newtown for people watching, cafes and exploring the streets.  

Although it does have two very good quilting related shops - Stitchbird and Wellington Sewing Services.  The Children's Bookshop is a fantastic shop that I could easily settle into one of their comfy chairs for quite awhile - you don't need to have kids to enjoy this shop.

Last week, even though it was blowing a bit of a gale, I walked to Lyall Bay, stopping at Elements cafe to enjoy a coffee and something to eat.  

an empty Lyall Bay beach

Then as it was only a block from the sea had a quick stop at the empty beach.  The sea was mostly flat - the wind was a northerly, so no surfers.  The walk back was a good workout - walking into the wind.

a couple of rowdy locals

For a couple of weeks there is a break from training - so no Kilbirnie for awhile.

Out and About in Newtown

For the past few Saturdays, the kids have had sporting events in/near Newtown.   So I've been able to spend time walking around the area (update I do watch my kids playing sport - I don't tend to stay and watch the hour long warmups/training before a game).  Newtown is one of Wellington's more interesting suburbs and has a rather diverse mix of people living there.

Quirk's Corner

I've found a wee park ...
A quick search hasn't revealed anything about this park called Quirk's Corner - I may just have to visit the library for a bit of research.  The park is the length of a section and only a few metres wide.





While I knew that there was a Saturday market at Newtown Primary School I'd never stopped to have a look.  Great range of fruit and vegetables, as well as a few ethnic food stalls, plants for sale, even a couple of buskers.

I've also visited the Mediterranean Food Warehouse and for a complete contrast The Asian Food Market on Donald McLean St.  

I almost feel like a regular at People's Coffee cafe on Constable St, their coffee is very good.  An excellent location for some fascinating people watching.

A new project

I've decided to make a quilt for a someone close to me.  I don't often make bed sized quilts, the only ones in our house are the ones on the kids beds (or floor).  Actually to be more honest I don't make bed sized quilts!

So this is a project that I'm sure will challenge me and as it isn't for a competition I'll try and document its progress here.  More about competitions in another post - just to say there is a major one due later this year and its rules are just a bit unclear.  So I'm just being a bit careful in what I post about any possible entries. 

My friend Suzy is closing her shop Piece by Piece at the end of the month, I'll miss not being able to just pop in.  So today I went for a visit with the pattern she'd previously given me and the colour scheme.  This is what I came home with ...

I don't think I'd have ever chosen these by myself!  So thanks to Suzy and also Jan, June and the other ladies who happened to be in the shop at that time.