May, the last day.

May 31st down here, frosts in many places, further south it was  –6.6C, then  –4C, and the snow has given skiers a taste of a good season ahead.

Green was the colour for May, and true to form Green Ted made his way onto the platform for Capping Ceremony. He is a BSc Graduate, and for Victoria University in Wellington, Empire  Blue the  hood lining. As this finished quilt will be for a friend’s grand-daughter, and her son is an engineer, I might HAVE to do another Green Ted, with appropriate wording on his book. You might have to click on his photo to read the words.

Purple for June, so the batiks will get sorted again.

A few photos from the archives, in May over several years

Frost on the lawn, 2017.

Max, blissful  slumber, 2017

Snow down south,  2013

Tom, 2009. On the Mariner’s Compass, the centre was still to be done.

Toto, 2008

Max, Tom and Toto have all left us now, but memories are always there, and they had much  love  given, and we received such affection from each of them  for the time they lived with us.

Quotation of the day, author unknown.

“ Happiness comes when

you appreciate what you already have”

Greetings from Jean

The Dream, then The Reality!!!

We can all dream, it costs nothing, we get huge enjoyment, then slowly flutter or fall down to earth with a thud!!

Hugh and I had a few nights stay at Rotorua,saw Dani’s horse, Joey, and did a short photo shoot.He is a handsome, tame fellow, and no doubt took Hugh back to his pony club days.

The clipped coat was hidden under a mid season cover.

this is where Joey lives. Quiet, green grass, and stables if the weather gets too cold, too wet, or too windy ( gale force winds can happen here too).

  On Sunday we  went back to Taupo, where I joined in with some 10 or so other ladies from nearby, and Tauranga and further afield, to have the most wonderful morning with Linda and Peggy.

Their home looks over the Waikato River, and in winter you can see the snow on the Ruapehu and Tongariro Mountains.

There was a little snow as we drove along the Desert Road , in the Central Plateau.

Linda blogs at Razzle Dazzle Quilter , and you will find Peggy at             Kiwi Klippings.

We were all introduced to one-another, then out to the “room” where all the goodies are kept.The Innova is a dream machine, and Linda showed us how to load a quilt onto the leaders, why backing and batting need to be wider and longer than the quilt top,  and  use Red Snappers, which make it all  look so easy. Then some ruler work,on a pre outlined pattern, THEN, we were all allowed to have a go!!! Magical, scary, but such fun.Linda’s gentle guiding hand helped the needle stitch a better design than my fumbling attempt,

We all did some swirls, leaves, lines and a bit more, but there were plenty of empty spaces that Linda would fill in later on.

Morning tea intervened, this was scrumptious!!! Thank you so much Peggy.

.I am certain that my ancient Gammill will definitely be re-wired very soon, as this is so much easier than manhandling a quilt into a domestic machine space. Linda had our names in a bowl, one  was drawn out, and Margaret would be the lucky recipient of the finished quilt, cream thread on cream fabric.

p.s. Linda finished it yesterday, so another one for a client could go onto the frame.

Thank you both, Linda and Peggy, for a fabulous morning, and did I mention the morning tea??? Hot savouries, tea, coffee, expresso if you would like it ( I did, please) yummy slice and more.  They are a dream team together, and we all so enjoyed what Linda called

“ A Day in the Life of a Long Arm Quilter”.

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“ True friendship is based on  trust, honesty,

and  sincere generosity from the heart”

Greetings from Jean

Orange in April

And it continued into May.

It began with Orange Ted,  the Thumbs Up Orange  Bear of Positive Attitudes.     You can find him here with Dione at

The Clever Chameleon

My Bear sat on the Blue Chair, that is the best seat at our place.

A happy smile, and he will join the others later next week.

Leaves are also orange… The Cherry Blossom trees have bare branches, leaves are orange, brown, and what a quilter might call “threadbare”!!!

But the winner for the Orange Ribbon was the sunset this morning.

Officially not in April, but close enough to be in the race .

Glorious colour, the clouds slowly moving along, the trees still, the silence of the early morning , nature at its finest.

Composed Upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802

William Wordsworth, 1770 - 1850

Earth has not anything to show more fair:
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty:
This City now doth, like a garment, wear
The beauty of the morning; silent, bare,
Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie
Open unto the fields, and to the sky;
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.
Never did sun more beautifully steep
In his first splendour, valley, rock, or hill;
Ne’er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!
The river glideth at his own sweet will:
Dear God! the very houses seem asleep;
And all that mighty heart is lying still!

Greetings from Jean