Meet the Neighbours Day

Today our Patchwork and Quilting group tried something a little different ... we held a Regional Day, we invited  a few quilt groups in and around our area  to come along and have a friendship day with speakers and stitching,  show and tell, with food and merchants to buy from.

We had a lovely speaker from ...   
Maungatautari Ecological Island Cambridge

Since 2002 the Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust has worked to restore the forest on Maungatautari mountain, and reintroduce long-lost bird species such as kiwi, kākā, takahē and hihi (stitchbird). Its major initiative has been the construction of a 47-kilometre predator-proof fence, which encloses 3,400 hectares of the mountain’s upper slopes. Visitors can explore various tracks and view the forest canopy from a 16-metre-high viewing tower. She enthused quite a few of us to visit the area just outside of Cambridge.

There was a great show and tell,  all groups taking part, what amazingly talented ladies we have out there, I saw a couple of things I would like to put on my "To Do List"

We managed to do a small felt pin cushion sewing project, which I organised, all the felt pieces were ready cut and everyone just had to sew it all together it seems it was a great success.  

We had enough morning and afternoon to tea to feed the average army ...just like most times when you ask for baking from a group of ladies.

                        We had approx 80 ladies attend from all over the area, at the end of the day we had a quick round table discussion about the day and because all the groups enjoyed the day,  it is to be repeated  annually,  it will be  run by different group each year .. we kept the invitations small on this first occasion as we did not know what the response would be like .....but  hopefully it will be opened up to other groups in the area next year now we know  "how and what and where etc.".
 
A Few pictures of the day..... sorry to say they are all of the very start of the day

 

The most important ladies ... in the kitchen
 

A cup of coffee while waiting for people to arrive ....

Making a choice is difficult

I am sure it was important the discussion looks deep

No need to substitute the fabric colour

This is one of my  Daffodils that is telling me that spring is almost here.

I today tracked down some Cashel 28ct Platinum for  my "Count your Blessings" project.

Over the last few days I have looked  at so many web pages on the Internet, and  emailed all over the world and it produced nothing well almost,  a few in US had what I needed but by the time I paid for shipping it was going to work out so expensive almost half again per meter....a friend in Australia also found some, again the cost was quite a bit more than quoted from NZ so to get this price I have to be willing to wait ...  may be a few weeks.

So today I gave it one more shot on the Internet before I used the Australian source as I do not think I can wait that long .

You are not going to believe this,  I found it almost on my doorstep, well metaphorically speaking that is... at Broomfield's in Christchurch on the South Island ... they had very little in fact just 2 pieces that were any where near the right size, I have purchased a piece rather larger than I need but it will come in useful in the future.

So it is all paid for and hopefully will be with me early next week.

Today I have not been feeling to good ..  a bit of a throat and rather warm but cold and shivery,  I am just praying it comes to nothing as I have a very busy weekend starting tomorrow... I have dosed up with all the right things so another early night and just hope I feel better in the morning.

Normally people are to late for things ....

It has been one of those days, you know

the sort full up and over flowing.

Sometimes I think I am stretched in to many ways but it is all my own doing, difficult to say NO and mean it I guess.

So after a busy morning and out to lunch at my Sister and Brother in laws, stayed to long and was in a rush when I got home.

Quite a few jobs to do  and needed to be ready by 6.45pm to go to "History of Quilting group"  

No problem except phone call at 6.40 ... finally off the phone and in the car  6.55,  all well my study in hand,  my turn to research this months subject... Amish Quilts.

In the car thinking I will be late ...

and I hate being late my Mother always installed into us "lateness is the height of ignorance" if you are early just wait outside but never be late.. 

Driving along and the mobile went ...  it was Mhairi  (who I had emailed earlier in the day saying see you tonight)  she asked "where are you"  " just left home " I answer. "May be you should check the date !"  she said.

Seems we were heading out one week ahead of ourselves. 

It is next week on the 5th Tuesday of a Blue Moon month .. I had written it on the wrong week of my dairy.

So I think I will just have an early night get up tomorrow and start again.

Remember to Dance in the rain ... from another email

This has got to be the best email I have read for ages....

Dance in The Rain
It was a busy Morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb.
He said he was in a hurry as he had an Appointment at 9:00 am.
I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone
would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound.
On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.
While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning,
as he was in such a hurry.

The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.
I inquired as to her health.
He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.

As we talked, I asked if she would be upset If he was a bit late.
He replied that she no longer knew who he was,  that she had not recognized him in Five years now.
I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?'
He smiled as he patted my hand and said,    'she doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.'
I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, that is the kind of love I want in my life.'

True love is  neither physical, nor romantic.
True love is an acceptance of all that is,  has been, will be, and will not be.

The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

Comfort Food

I managed to get myself on an email exchange of recipes and have received a few and this one, although I have it  ... bought back memories of a good hot dessert that you put in the oven and forget while you eat your meal. So the next time you are stuck for a dessert here goes.... it really is no fail.

Self Saucing Chocolate Pudding

1 cup self rising flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cocoa
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons melted butter
vanilla essence
1 egg

Cream butter and sugar, add egg, vanilla, milk and dry ingredients. Place in a greased pie dish, and pour over: 3 teaspoons cocoa, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1+3/4 cups boiling water mixed together.

Bake approx 50 minutes in a moderate oven or on high for 12 minutes in microwave.
or make as individual in Ramekins adjusting cooking time.
Serve with ice-cream or custard  and or raspberries  and cream this is to die for.
 

A Great Weekend

I have just had a real non stop weekend

Saturday saw Mhairi and I take a trip to KatiKati ( about an hour and fifteen minute drive from Rotorua) where we spent the day with Thames Embroidery Guild, it was great to see the different work the ladies were stitching and had an amazing morning tea, they say this morning tea is normal..beats our biscuit and a coffee in Rotorua Guild. They met in the Catholic Church hall where there was a church sales table and I purchased a fruit loaf ... I have to have a cake for later in the week and this one looked so good I though it was probably going to be better than mine...and think of the time saved .. more stitching time... and doing a good turn at the same time by buying for a good cause.

Saturday evening was my niece's 25th birthday and she was having a bit of a do... wear any thing starting with "P" or pink, bring food starting with "P" or pink...yes!! the mind boggles, I just dressed in pink head to toe, did not realise I had so many pink items... the only pink shoes I have are my slippers so I was very comfortable while there.  Kathryn and Steve and the "boys" came over and stayed the night..

Sunday we took the boys to the Museum to see where Grandma spent a fair bit of her time as a "Guide" although it is not really a children's museum there was one or two areas that they enjoyed especially the climb to the roof on to the viewing platform.

Today is catch up time with the chores, may be a bit of time for some stitching and Prue is coming for afternoon tea... and Oh! yes the sun is shining the garden has lots of daffodills and other bulbs flowering so spring is oh so close now...whee!!

Look what came today in the post

I tracked down the pattern to the Embroiderer in Auckland 

 it was a little bit more in the $$ than ordering it from overseas,

but they put it in the post to me on the same day..

 Oh! how wonderfully trusting they are for they did not bother

about how I was going to pay for it, they just sent me an invoice in

the envelope. 

But then stitching ladies are a very honest group I have always found. 

Thank you so much Kate at Embroiderer. 

 ( Also her mother is a member of  my Embroidery Guild

so may be that has something to do with it)

Now I have to find the linen colour " 28ct Cashel Platinum "

no one seems to have it so it has to be ordered as I want a width of the fabric, many shops can supply a  cut piece but that is no good. 

I will try and wait a couple of weeks to see if it turns up from Europe before I substitute it for a different colour.

 ( Germany it seems are all on holiday being mid summer there)

In the meantime I will collect the threads together

and the backing fabric.

Ode to Mothers

This morning I spoke to  Sarah a young mother who walks her children plus the dog, as often as she can along my street to the lake side,  she was saying what a trying time she is having with her 4yr old  how the weather has been so bad he can not get outside and how she feels guilty that she is wishing his life away... he starts school in September and  she can not wait and wishes it was September now. 
 I remember these feelings so clearly myself,  I explained that all Mum's get like this at this point in their child's life, may be if not at this point at some point along the way. I think she was glad to speak to someone may be a bit older than her friends, ( her parents live in Australia)
This moving away for work must have it's tole on young Mum's at home, I know it did a bit on me all those years back, how often I would have loved to got on a plane to visit my Mum, just for a cuppa and a chat, tell her about my little problems and feelings about things. But she was 3500 miles away and a 7 hour plane flight... so I survived on my own, and I am sure Sarah will as well.

Then I received an email from a friend Ruth this afternoon and this is what it contained .. sometimes things have a habit of turning up just at the right time. or was it a coincidence

MOTHERS

Real Mothers don't eat quiche;

They don't have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils

Are probably in the sandbox.

Real Mothers often have sticky floors,

Filthy ovens and happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried play dough

Doesn't come out of carpets.

Real Mothers don't want to know what

The vacuum just sucked up...

Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?'

And get their answer when a little

Voice says, 'Because I love you best.'

Real Mothers know that a child's growth
Is not measured by height or years or grade...
It is marked by the progression of Mummy to Mum to Mother.....

The Images of Mother
4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mummy can do anything!
8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mum knows a lot! A whole lot!
12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn’t know everything!
14 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother? She wouldn’t have a clue.
16 YEARS OF AGE - Mother? She's so five minutes ago.
18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman? She's way out of date!
25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it!
35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mum's opinion.
45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mum would have thought about it?
65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mum.

Why is my Front Door open ?

You may ask.... well it has stopped raining and it is actually warm enough to let in some fresh air.... long may it last ... but sorry no such luck, weather forecast brings back the rain again tomorrow.

While I was at the  Embroidery Exhibition during the week, they had a great sales table.

I loved so many of the items on it but I did manage to be very restraint and did not buy to much.....

What!!  I can hear folks saying ... Why  are you buying embroidery, when you do it yourself.?

The reply ... sometimes there are items that you adore but do not necessarily want to produce yourself.

This pin cushion  is on a wooden base, it is such a delicate thing and I just love it, so treated myself.

I also bought an embroidered Christmas decoration, and a scissor keeper made of delicate silk.

The sad side of this is I will never know who made these objects.

It is a shame that  the items that you buy from a sales table are not labeled with the name of the person who stitched them  .... for you never know they may become famous and the item could become a collectors item in the future   .... or if they survive they may become historical items  ... just like the Samplers  at  Vivien's talk  .

At Embroidery Guild / and Patchwork we always sign items we make just in case.

Count Your Blessings

I realise now after a couple of emails and a comment that I have not said what this pattern is ...it is a Hussif and needle case, scissor keeper and pin holder.

It is worked in Hardanger and Cross Stitch

I have  looked on both shop websites suggested and neither have it on, yet. Of course that does not mean they do not have it ...may be their  web pages are not right up to date.

So still looking.

Another pattern on the wish list

Another pattern I came across this last week or two is

 VICTORIA SAMPER   leaflet #122
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS 

I found this beautiful picture of it. So it has gone on my wish list, I am just checking to see if it is available here in NZ yet.

If it is available near you please let me know, I try to purchase in shops locally so as to help the local business people, I would rather do this than on the internet ... so we help keep the shops we have in business .... but some times it is necessary to go over seas to obtain things.
We have lost one of our sewing and haberdashery shops in Rotorua and now the big guy's have the monopoly.... and they don't always stock what we need, only what they can sell a lot of.

Who could not just love this.

What a week

This week has been so so wet and it has still not finished, tomorrow ( Sunday ) forecast is as bad if not worse.  Webbed feet would have been very useful here in NZ this week.

During the week I went to Tauranga Embroidery Guild  Open day and exhibition, they had a great speaker Vivien Caughley  speaking on her passion for "Samplers"

Vivien Caughley is a volunteer in Applied Arts at Auckland Museum. In 2007 she received a Creative New Zealand grant to locate, research and write about Samplers in New Zealand. She has some amazing samplers with her and her talk was mesmerizing for me... It could have gone all day as far as I was concerned.

After a nice lunch at the Rowing Club it was off to the exhibition  .... it was lovely and some beautiful work on show.... A dream of a day for me, could not think of a better way to have spent the  day.

***********************************************************

I found some lovely patterns this week for items that I would love to get done for presents this  Christmas... I can dream can't I ?

*****************************************************

The end of the week finished with a funeral, a lovely lady that I have known for 10yrs but feel as though it is was forever, Ruth died very suddenly  on Tuesday after an aneurysm of the brain she was a lovely lady who belonged to Inner Wheel .... Ruth would do anything for anyone was always cheerful and  willing...it was an amazing funeral .. must have been over 300 people there...so many people wishing to talk about her,  it actually lasted over two hours. Ruth had great faith and I am sure she is with her maker ... God Bless Ruth.

The sun has appeared

The rain has finally decided to have a break, I managed a walk around the garden albeit in 2 inches of water in places on the lawn, it has drowned the Camilias and the Polyanthus have taken a hammering and look water logged....
But on the front door steps I have some polyanthus in pots and these have survived and they look like a breath of spring in the sunshine...

I had a basket!!! and what we did on a wet Saturday

This photo was taken last year in Christchurch, you really did not want to see one taken on Saturday as it did not stop " Sheeting " it down with rain all day.

On Saturday Mhairi and I decided to have a bit of a "stitch in"  so she came for the day and we went firstly to Spotlight for a bit of retail therapy and treated ourselves to a McDonald's, this is really a  one off, not something I do often, sometimes I do use their McCafe for the coffee is good and also they do a nice pot of tea. 
The rest of the day was taken up with stitching and construction of some decorations for Embroidery Guild and cutting up some felt for a pin cushion challenge at Rainbow Quilters  that we have coming up at the end of the month. Mhairi also started a jumper for the "Chip paper babies of Africa"  where the babies leave the hospital wrapped in news paper as they have no clothes for them.

The table was covered in bits and pieces I had emptied a basket that contained some fabric when the basket caught the attention of Chivers the rest is history and the basket no longer belongs to me...but the funny side is the basket is smaller  than him but like a contortionist he feeds his body into it. That is okay he can have the basket if he likes it so much ...but he will only have it on the dining room table, I tried giving him it on the floor but no,  on the table only, he even tried to move it towards the table, so now I  have a basket as a fitting on the table, where he is spending many hours a day.

My dead computer

I think I did not make it clear on my last blog it was not the computer that died it was the screen... the computer is quite healthy and working well, especially as I gave it a good clean up of the disc...you should have seen the rubbish I deleted .... that 4/5 yrs ago was so important to me but today I realised  was just rubbish no longer required ... how our needs and wants and value of stuff change over the years.  I guess it proves how we move on in different periods of our lives.