Splendid Sampler Blocks and more.

This past week has been productive – one quilt completely finished and gifted to one of my sisters.

Garden Charm Quilt

Finishing this meant I was able to focus on some of the BOM’s I am working on.

I have been working on the assigned recent splendid sampler blocks.   (six inch blocks) Happy to say I am now up to date with the 2017 Splendid Sampler quilt along.

Sew South was designed by Jennifer Mathis

Early Bird was designed by Joan Ford. I used the paper piecing rather than the traditional piecing. She has a tutorial for the traditional pieced bird. I might try it some time.

Circle of Friendship  designed by Michelle Muska

Homeward Bound designed by Kelly Liddle

Starting Point designed by Lissa Alexander

I also managed one block – Block 4 in the Bloom quilt at Bee in my Bonnet.

This week I also finished two blocks int he Grandma’s Kitchen QAL with Pat Sloan.  Links go to my posts about them.

Block #3                                                 and                                         Block #4

 

 

 

Linking up with

BOMS away at What a Hoot Quilts

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Main Crush Monday at Cooking Up Quilts

Grandma’s Kitchen: Half a Modern

Block 4 Half a Modern designed by Pat Sloan.

Pat talks about her half modern Grandma’s Kitchen – however neither of my grandma’s had very modern kitchens. At least when I first stayed with them back in the ’50’s. When they were much older and had changed houses they did have a fridge, electric stove etc.

My Nana T’s kitchen was at the back of a large wooden villa, facing South towards the Antarctic, so therefore away from the sun and facing cold winds. It was very cold in the winter and until the fire that heated the oven was going, it was shivery!  While I don’t remember exactly where, there would have been a safe to keep things cool as in those days just a few years off having a fridge.  When she moved to live near her daughter in later life she had a small kitchen with better mod cons.

My Nana C’s kitchen did have a refrigerator because when I lay in bed at night in a small room off the kitchen I was comforted by the humming of it. She moved at least four times before she came to live with my parents. Her kitchens were small but adequate and she produced some very yummy roast meals from them. Her gravy was superb.

And a modern tale

I don’t ever remember cooking with them, but as a very half modern aside, the other day I walked into one of my sister’s kitchens to find her with her three and a half year old grandson Max up on the bench and he was cutting out circles with a glass for little savouries for his sister’s birthday – the next day. Later I believe Anne put the beaten eggs into a teapot so that he could pour it over the mixture. I so hope he remembers his grandma’s kitchen in the future.

Grandma’s Kitchen:Block #3

Block #3 in the Grandma’s Kitchen QAL with Pat Sloan is called the Key Holder by Pat.  I do not remember either of my grandparents having a key holder. Neither set had cars, so no car keys. I am not sure if they locked doors, but if they did the key was most likely just kept in the door.  So instead I’ll just talk about Nana T for this block.

What I remember about her was that she was deaf. As a pre-schooler around 4 or 5 when I came down to the kitchen in her home,  in the morning she did not have her hearing aid in. She’d have her slippers and apron on, may even have been smoking a cigarette, but not reached getting those aids in. When I would ask her something she’d say in her gentle voice, “Just a moment dear, I haven’t got my hearing aid in”.

The key to being heard was those hearing aids. I remember the batteries, they were big and she kept them down her chest somewhere! Not quite sure how that worked!

To-Do Tuesday 18th July

This week I am joining up with Stitch All the Things to look at what I need to do in the coming week, or lets re-word that… what I want to do!

I achieved my sewing goals from last week and a few of the others. Well my reading goals were good! Walking – weather was so wet cut down on the days I could get out, but scraped in with just on 50 000 steps.

So this week in quilting…

• Sew  the binding on my Garden Charm quilt. If there is a day that is fine and windy I’ll wash it too but that’s difficult in winter. Weather forecast shows rain for next 10 days!
• Sew the Homeward Bound block for the Splendid Sampler and whatever block is given on Friday. Would be nice if it were one I have already done!!
• Sew Block 3 of the Grandma’s Kitchen quilt – possibly block 4 all going well.
• Finish off  block 4 of Bloom quilt, only have to put the borders on.

This week elsewhere

1. Walk 50 000 steps
2. Read 2 books
3. Visit joinery factory to discuss bookshelves. Really – this week is it!!

Grandma’s Kitchen: Vanilla Memories

Today I completed Block 2 of the Grandma’s Kitchen – named Sticky Buns by its designer Pat Sloan.  However my grandma’s never gave me sticky buns so I have called mine Vanilla memories. It wasn’t breakfast, but it was an early morning snack as we sat there. As a 3 or 4 year old I remember sitting on Nana C’s verandah on luggage waiting to catch a  steam train up to the farm in Fielding from where she lived in Te Moana Rd, Waikanae, .

Sitting beside me was my uncle, older than me by two years. We were sucking on vanilla milk ice blocks. I loved them and always remember that wonderful vanilla taste. No vanilla has ever tasted better.

Quilting done on Garden Charm Quilt

This week has been a week of stitching in the ditch on my Craftsy 2016 Garden Charm Quilt, designed and taught by Lynette Jensen. I didn’t make the full quilt as it would have been too big for what I want it for. The added bonus of that is that I have a little fabric to add to my stash for future quilts. However the full quilt is beautfiful and that can be seen in some of the quilts made with the Garden Charm Pattern

Today Friday I finished the last stitches, and took the last pin out.  Always a very satisfying moment.   I tidied up the edges – with cuddle fleece always a very messy time. Now it is all folded and next week I’ll do the binding and I will have completed my July monthly goal.

Linking up to

And Finish it Up Friday over at Crazy Mom Quilts

To-Do Tuesday July 11th

This week I am joining up with Stitch All the Things to look at what I need to do in the coming week, or lets re-word that… what I want to do!

Last Week.

Sewing

• Complete the top of the 182 Solstice pattern top and once the fabric arrives start the next quilt along Grandma’s Kitchen and decide whether to go for white or cream background. Hoping it will come in the next week.     Done.
• Start the quilting of a Craftsy class quilt – 2016 Block of Month – at least pin baste it together, ready for stitch in the ditch.    Done
• Do the embroidery on block of Splendid Sampler   Not Done
• Once embroidery block is finished start the Sew South Splendid Sampler block which has hexagons, so will be hand sewing. Not Done but started.

Reading

• Read The Dress in the Window by Sofia Grant and review.  Done

Walk

• Complete 50 000 steps for the week.    Done   59 000

House

• Clean some windows!    Some progress.
• Visit joinery factory and discuss possibility of bookshelves/cupboards/TV combination thing. I am hesitant because of space but I so need shelves and don’t know where else to put them but in lounge/sitting room.    Sadly no.

July 11th Week

Sewing

• Continue with stitching in the ditch on Craftsy Garden Charm quilt 2016, ideally would like to get this part finished by next Tuesday.  
• Sew block 2 and maybe 3 of Grandma’s Kitchen sew along. Block 1 is completed
• Sew some embroidery stitches on embroidery splendid sampler block and maybe do a few more hexagons for another block in it.

Reading

• Read 2 books at least and listen to The Stars are Fire by Anita Shreve as I stitch in the ditch.  (Borrowed on CD from the Library).

Walk

• 50000 steps in the week.

House

Well can see and do know really housework not a high priority and I am nervous about this book case I kind of want but just not sure that it will be too over powering in a smallish room but on the other hand I have little storage space and need some! So putting these two goals back in again for this week.

• Clean some more windows
• Visit joiners to discuss book case/cupboards/TV thing.

 

Solstice Quilt Top Finish

I finally finished this week my Solstice Challenge QAL top, from Pat Sloan’s blog. Well I started it after the QAL was finishing, but on a whim thought I’d do it. The photo hasn’t really picked out the colours well but they are fun ones that I love so I will be keeping this one, once I quilt it.  It was a large 86″ square quilt and as I didn’t want one that big I made it 75% of that, so some maths involved but it all worked out and went together! Its about 64″ square which is still sizeable.

Before it was finished.

The fact it is an asymmetrical pattern was a little challenging for me as I like things symmetrical but it’s good to do something that pushes my buttons!

This closeup shows the  colours a little more. I’ll be putting it aside now as I have a couple of other tops that I want to work on sandwiching and quilting.  And I am joining in with the next Pat Sloan QAL – Grandma’s Kitchen. This time starting more or less from the start, although I have to catch up on the first two blocks.

Linking up to

And Finish it Up Friday over at Crazy Mom Quilts