Quilters Acronyms

Quilters from Dubai on a "Charity Sew in Day"

Quilters Acronyms
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NESY: Not even started yet
STABLE: Stash accumulation beyond life expectancy
FQ: fat quarter
LQS: local quilt shop
FART: Fabric Acquisition Road Trip
FIU: Finish It Up
HSY: Haven't Started Yet
OBW: one-block wonder
PIGS: projects in grocery sacks
PIPS: projects in process
SEX: Stash Enhancement Expedition
UFO: UnFinished Object
USO: UnStarted Object
VIP: Very Important Project
WHIMM: Works Hidden In My Mind
WIP: Work in Progress
WIWMI: Wish It Would Make Itself
WOMBAT: Waste of Money, Batting, and Time
WWIT: What Was I Thinking
WISP: Work In Slow Progress
WIVSP: Work In Very Slow Progress

Social History / Diary keeping

After writing yesterdays blog. I continued looking at the blogs I follow, and there on Ali's blog was an artical about her records she keeps, then it got me to think about blog sites, what a great social history these would make in the future, it is just like diary keeping as the people of past times did.

When you think about history of any kind a lot of the information came from Diaries that were kept in the period. Although I must admit I would never have written so much in a diary.
Some of the comments on Ali's page people mentioned printing your blog or making a back up of it.

This really is a point to ponder on, for when you think about it if any thing happens to Blogger or any other blogsite, your blog will be gone into thin air.

So may be there is something to think about here.

If anyone has an amazing way of doing this I would be pleased to hear about it, rather than printing reams of paper.

Ceramic Hob Cleaner and your shower doors

Like most households our shower doors have always got build up of water marks, because we live in Rotorua where there is always sulphur in the air, our windows and doors are worse than the average....I have tried all sorts of things from oven cleaner to vinegar, CLR and other strong cleaners to no avail. I happened to mention it to someone last week and I was given this tip...
Tip no.1 Use CERAMIC HOB CLEANER just apply with a cloth and rub it in , and wash off
I tried it and it worked but did not have a lot of time to spend today, but more time and a little more elbow grease they will sparkle.
Try it!!
Tip no.2 get family to dry the doors with a small hand towel after using the shower so water does not dry on the doors which causes the build up in the first place.
Untried tip
Someone else advised to polish the clean doors with a liquid wax polish which will also stop any build up, I guess like you do a car...but this one I have not tried yet...

A Sew in Day

This is a picture of a couple of the Charity Quilts that we made in Dubai last year at a "Sew in Day".

But here in Rotorua yesterday Rainbow Quilters had the first of many "sew in days " to be held at weekends during this year, we meet around 10am to sew for the day .
On these occasions we will do our own projects or charity ones as we have them. Also on occasions we will have Tutors giving classes.
Yesterday 7 of us arrived and unpacked machines and UFO's and set to, we achieved an amazing amount during the day. Some were cutting for a new project, some were continuing a already started one and others putting the batting and backing on finished quilt tops.

We did a vast amount of talking, most of the day was taken up talking about our childhoods, it was neat to hear about others experiences with school memories etc.
It was amazing how although many of us were educated in different parts of the world, we did almost the same things at school.
One memory was sewing classes, whether you lived in NZ or Europe you did the compulsory
" school cookery apron" this was the first sewing project you tackled, I remember mine it was blue and white checked and it was unpicked ( reversed stitching as we call it now) so many times the fabric was almost unusable and so many snags where I had caught threads of the fabric while unpicking, of course this was also all hand stitched, machines were only used by the older girls. I remember having to sew my name across the front of the bib part in dark blue, I believe this was the only decent bit of the whole thing for my Mother had already taught me to embroider. I can imagine the sewing Mistress must have despaired of us.
May be someone should tape these conversations they would be a great source of social history in the future.

Just a little "funny" for today

Now this is not so funny when you are the age it is about .... just true.


















Kidnappers are not very interested in you.

In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.

No one expects you to run anywhere.

People call at 9pm and ask, "Did I wake you?"

People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.

There is nothing left to learn the hard way.

Things you buy now won't wear out.

You can eat dinner at 4pm.

You can live without sex but not your glasses.

You get into heated arguments about pension plans.

You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.

You quit trying to hold your stomach in no matter who walks into the room.

You sing along with elevator music.

Your eyes won't get much worse.

Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off.

Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the National Weather Service.

Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either.

Your supply of brain cells is finally down to a manageable size.

You can't remember where the heck you read this list.

Lets go Bananas !!!!

LET'S GO BANANAS!!! A professor at New York Columbia University told his physiological psych class about bananas. He said the expression "going bananas" is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on:

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!! now we all knew that one

This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.
Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber.

A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout.

No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.
But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
Depression: According to a recent survey taken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school (England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous sys tem.
Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!
So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"
PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit !!!

Now this is a better picture of a banana...Mmmm!!

Pancakes with Banana and maple surup you can't beat it unless you top it off with a bit of crispy bacon.

Thank you for all the messages

Thank you for all the messages and comments I have recieved about my "Weekend " with my reaction to Antibiotics.

I have had some lovely emails and comments left, far to many to post.

I still feel a little like someone has removed my stuffing but also feel tons better, just so tired.

But hey ! an excuse to sit and sew and not feel any guilt at all.

So once again Thank you all.

AGM Season

This time of year in New Zealand seems to be AGM season.

Most clubs and groups start their year in February running through till November / December as of course December / January are the school summer holidays.

If you look at the local paper you will see dates for this club and that one for their AGM's listed.

My groups are not an exception to this rule.

This picture is of me giving a demonstration on "How to tie a Quilt" in Dubai

Tuesday saw Rainbow Quilters have their AGM ... the year looks exciting with our exhibition in June. Plus some classes booked with tutors.We have also moved to different premises which are so good, we now meet at The Rotorua Bridge Club, it is warm, comfortable, good light and so much room with a lovely kitchen. We have also booked it for 8 Saturdays and Sundays in the year to do project days, 2 of these will be to work on the Raffle Quilt for the exhibition there was talk of doing two quilts, now that is ambitious to say the least.

Wednesday evening saw the AGM of Rotorua Embroidery Guild.

Once again it looks like an interesting year ahead with classes at weekends and some classes taking in 2 weekends, there is the Tui Ridge Retreat weekend held here in Rotorua each year run by the Embroiders Guild of NZ where there will be 4 to 6 Tutors running classes for the weekend, it all takes place at Tui Ridge a residential Camp situated just outside of Rotorua.

We also have an exhibition planned later in the year

The good thing about this years meetings is that neither of the groups have had to put up their fees, although there has been a rise in the class fees which is only expected given the financial climate at present with travelling costs for the Tutors and price rises on fabrics and notions required to do the class.

So it looks like a busy and interesting year for my hobbies.

This next picture is not mine but I do Hardanger work, and just love this picture.