Central Plateau, North Island

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

Saturday 1 July 2017

A Few Finishes!!!


ETNZ, Emirates Team New Zealand has won the America’s Cup. Huge jubilation throughout all our land, well done and so many thanks to the sponsors, the team, crew, shore crew, boat builders and supporters.

America's Cup , the  elated Emirates Team New Zealand at the podium, June 2017

New Zealand will host the next America’s Cup series here, and we look forward to a new venue, closer to home, and exciting racing again.

Down here, the few… or many… things that have been languishing are finished at last. A table runner and 6 place mats, from the pattern and fabric, courtesy of  EvaPaige Quilt Design , a kit that I won some time ago.

Table runner and place mats

Table runner and mats #2

Place mats with flange binding6 place mats

I finished them all with a flange binding , and this will be a birthday gift for a friend, they are renovating a small cottage not far away from us. All done in time for 21st July.

Then Laundry Day.This waited till some other things were all done, and finally it gets to hang for the photo shoot. Kiwi ingenuity here,  half round posts that are used on every farm nationwide, for the  uprights, ( Extra wadding inside to make them puff out )  , and baling twine, that was once used in Holland balers to wrap the hay bales. Now a modified version is there to hold the mini quilt. The Silver Fern, a symbol so often associated with New Zealanders overseas and at home, and the four stars, symbolising the Southern Cross. These are a  pattern of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy, and are seen in the Southern Hemisphere. This is shown on the New Zealand flag. The bottom star,  Alpha Crucis, the brightest star in the Cross,  is the 14th brightest star  in the night sky.  Beta Crucis at the ( left) eastern tip, is a blue-white giant star, Gamma Crucis at the top is red-orange, and Delta Crucis at the (right) west tip is a blue-white  giant  star. A  faint  star, Epsilon Crucis, is just below the crossbar, and  at   570 light years away is the furthest  of these five stars from the earth. The stars also have other names, but these are the ones I am familiar with.

Laundry Day wall hanging #1Laundry Day #3 with Southern Cross Stars

Laundry Day #4, with clothes line posts

Laundry Day Mini Quilt to go on the clothesline

This home was in Christchurch during the devastating February 2011 earthquake, you can see the wonky chimney that was damaged.   There are pools and streams of mud,  silt and sand on the footpath and road  as a result of the  liquefaction . Soil behaves more like a liquid than a solid, and is squeezed onto the surface in huge amounts. Pools of this bubbled up and  made so many streets and pathways horrendously dangerous  and unable to be used. No power for so many, so homes had candles for lights, These are shining through the windows. One small shrub survived and is by the front door.If you click on a photo, these will show up.

As the Freefall QAL finished, Sandra of  mmm quilts had a family emergency, and their son-in-law died after a sporting accident. All our thoughts have been with  them both  , their daughter and grandson at this time.

Those of us who were in the QAL sent her a message by email.  Words are not much at a time like this, but were so appreciated, Heartfelt  care, love and sympathy from us all.

Words for Sandra by the Weeping Silver Pear Tree, June 2017

Quotation of the day,  from Gilbert Parker

“ Love knows not distance;

it hath no continent;

its eyes are for the stars.”

Greetings from Jean.

13 comments:

Leeanne said...

Didn't the Kiwi's do use proud! Some lovely finishes I too like to use flange binding it adds a bit of something special.

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

So here are finishes you mentioned Jean. Busy busy fingers.
Pretty placemats and I am overwhelmed by what you incorporated into your Laundry line quilt. Thanks for the explanations...so meaningful and the Silver Fern is beautiful.
Horrid news from a blogging friend and your quote gave me a shiver it is so beautiful.

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

What a lovely table set and gift! I also love the unique character you added to the house and meaning of it in your laundry day mini. And thank you so much for organizing us to send such caring thoughts to Sandra. I hope you have a lovely weekend.

Carol Mattingly said...

I figure you guys were going to win that America's Cup as I watched the other week. Love the pattern on the runner and place mats. Your quilts never cease to amaze me. My sister sends her quilts out to the Amish to finish the borders. Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Carol

Goofin' Off Around the Block said...

The tablerunner and placemats are a delightful finish. I love the fabrics in these. Have a good day! --Andrea

eileeninmd said...

Hello, congrats to the New Zealand for winning the America's Cup. That is awesome. Your table runner and placemats are beautiful, they will be a lovely gift. The mini quilt is awesome, well done. My prayers for your friend and their family, such a sad loss. Great quote. Happy weekend to you!

The Furry Gnome said...

Anytime I hear of someone dying too young, I feel the grief for them. May God give them strength.

Karen said...

You are such a talented quilter!

Allie-oops Designs said...

I saw a video of the race, so amazing!!! Lovely quilt Jean, so meaningful, love the runner and placemats too. I'm sorry to hear about your blog friend's sadness....saying prayers for them.

Jenn Jilks said...

Good work, Jean!
I'm so sorry for your friend's loss. Losing an adult child, no matter their age, is difficult.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

My wife is a quilter. I will be sure to show her this blog. She will enjoy it.

Jim said...

So happy for this big win for NZ!! This is BIG!
Your 'work' is so professional, Jean! Wish you lived closer and you could fill the shop with your 'works of art'!

Fundy Blue said...

I was sad to hear of your friend Sandra and her family. It is always devastating for a family to lose a loved one. New Zealanders may have been celebrating their America's Cup win, but there were sailers in our local bar and grill grousing about that win. Cracked me up, and of course I thought of you. Your quilting is amazing, Jean. I love that geological quilt, even if it commentates an earthquake! If nothing else, it looks like you are in the middle of a productive week ~ Laundry can always wait! Take care, my friend! Hi to Hugh and the kitties!