Central Plateau, North Island

Central Plateau, North Island
View from a friend's farm

Friday 22 January 2016

As the Days Go By

 

We have had hot, really hot days  here, over 30.3Celsius, and almost as hot at night. Then a slight change, cooler days, welcome rain, and lawns looking greener. The One Block Wonder layout continues to be decided, will I leave it all blue, or add sashing in the purple and black fan fabric, or the green fern fabric???

I had to lay the design boards on the floor to get a decent photo, well half-way OK at least.This is the original  layout  from Cheryl  at  Meadow Mist Designs. This needs to be at least sewn together by the end of February.I would like it all done and quilted by then.

One block  layout January 2016

BUT, although blue is one of my fav colours, I think there is too much blue. And there are different blues, as I could not match up any one of them.Options are to add some sashings.I don’t have enough  purple fabric to try sashings on all the blocks, and the same for the green fern fabric,But I can so easily get more of either one of these. I know which layout I prefer. What do you think is better or best??? Original, or the purple, or the green?

One block with green fern sashingOne block with purple and black fan sashing

This morning, for those fleeting minutes, a glorious sunrise appeared

This morning's sunrise January 22nd 2016

Mrs Thrush continues to wait for her meals. Mr Blackbird, Mr Sparrow, a silvereye and chaffinch have joined the  group.

Mrs Thrush on the lawn

Mr Blackbird with Mr Sparrow

Silvereye and male Chaffinch

In a pittosporum tree at our back fence, there are 4 birds’ nests, all having been well used, and now empty.I wonder if they were parents from the same species, same family, and wish I had noticed them when the baby birds were in them.

Quotation of the day, from Amit Ray

“ A bird is safe in its nest-

but that is not what its wings  are  made for”

Greetings from Jean

26 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

sweet birds and lovely sky. i would imagine quilting in the heat would be tough!

Mystic Quilter said...

Nancy I really like the green NZ themed fabric - doesn't take the emphasis away from your lovely blocks.

Barb said...

Your quilt is lovely - not to much blue for my eyes. It's so frigid here and so hot by you! My friend, Mary is staying on the S Island.

QuiltinLibraryLady said...

I really like the colors in your blocks. I won't make a suggestion about the sashing because it is what pleases your eye that matters.

Georgia said...

I like the green sashing. As you have your hot weather we are having cold, even here in Florida. Nothing like the storm expected north of us though. I think I like sunrises better than sunsets. Take care. G

Shelley Folkerts said...

I love all your batiks. Blue is my favorite as well. What if you swapped around the blocks in the bottom row so the brighter blue block is in the center and then the lighter two are on the outside like the top row?? Wouldn't it complete the interesting secondary pattern that is started in the center of the two top rows. Clear as mud, right? Otherwise I prefer the purple batik as a possible sashing. It is a really neat print.

Carol Mattingly said...

You have a menagerie of birds there Jean. I would love some sunshine myself. Dull dreary and a major storm coming in tomorrow. UGH! Carol

The Furry Gnome said...

I think it will look good any way you do it!

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

Hello! As I sit here with a blanket on my lap, and a big snowstorm on the way, I'm envious of your heat -- But I'm looking forward to the first snow!

And I'm NO help on the layouts. However, I lean towards the original...

Susan Heather said...

It is nice having birds in the garden. I had a kereru at my bird bath at lunch time.

June said...

Such a very apt quotation Jean, particularly when I think of my granddaughters, growing up so fast.......
I think I have a relative of your Mrs Thrush, hardly seen them before this year, now a pair and so lovely to watch, my preference is the purple sashing - look forward to seeing what you decide!

Leeanne said...

Stinkin' hot and humid here too! I like the green NZ fabric, even if your blocks were joined without sashings between, then a narrow border of the green might frame your pretty blocks nicely.

Tanya said...

I like the green... But I see a lot of purple in your photos so maybe you are drawn to those colors? Tell us, tell us what you chose!

Razzle Dazzle Quilter said...

I love the blue. The blocks seem to float. I think the darker colours break the quilt up too much.
Cheers
Linda

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

I also like the green fabric for sashing. You've done a lovely job.

Have a nice weekend ~ Love & hugs ~ FlowerLady

eileeninmd said...

Hello, I love all the pretty birds and the gorgeous sky. Your quilt is beautiful, I like all the colors. Happy Friday, enjoy your weekend!

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

I'm in awe of this quilt, Jean. I love the blue which is so lovely; not sure you can have too much of it. Thanks too for showing your birdy visitors. I hate it when I find an empty nest as I'm a snooper...just have to have a peek at the babies. Life, the true miracle on this earth.

Lorna McMahon said...

Your Mystery quilt top looks fabulous Nancy Jean! I like how you switched things up an alternated the center of the blocks. Clever! Stay cool, my dear. I'll send you some of our snow if necessary.....

Judy@Quilt Paradigm said...

I would go with the green sashing. But honestly, I think it looks great without sashing. . . And I like the previous suggestion of using the green border to tie it all together. . . Also, what if you exchanged the top right and top left blocks with the middle blocks? The eye then is drawn to the middle of the quilt. . . maybe? ;)

Your fabric picks for this mystery quilt are great! Whatever direction you chose, you are going to end up with a stunning quilt. :)

Inger said...

Summertime at your house, how strange that seems to me. My nearest neighbors are up the road a ways, but they are pretty useless. But I have good ones a couple of miles away. The kind I can call on day or night. So that's good. Love the bird pictures and the quilt is amazing.

Millie said...

I like the dark sashing but I need a bigger photo of more of the quilt to be sure. Then again, I like contrast

Allie-oops Designs said...

Wow how gorgeous - love the green!

KB said...

What a glorious sunrise! I don't dare express an opinion about your quilt - you are far more talented at that than I am!

Jenn Jilks said...

Actual green grass!!!! I love it.

The Argo was just in the middle of a small town. I don't know where they would drive it, either! I could use it in the wetland, though!I was quite surprised. Hunting season is over. There would only be snowmobile trails, but I don't think that would be legal! hugs!

Hannah said...

It's hard to imagine you suffering in the heat while I am constantly chilled and bundling up in my cold house. I'll try to remember being cold when I am also hot next summer, though the heat did allow me to have a great eggplant crop for the first time! Your quilt is fabulous, you always come up with such great patterns and color combinations. I really like the fancy leaves and fan patterns in your black colors. They help the central stars to shine, Jean.

Hannah said...

I admire your quilts so much, such skill and determination, as well as artistry, Jean. I like the fancy leaves and fans or fan-like flowers in your black fabric, so I can imagine it in the outside border, but probably any of the colors would look great. I'm cold now, but didn't totally enjoy the heat last summer, the highest ever, but I did get my first good yields of eggplant, which likes it hotter than here, so I guess the heat has it's good points.