Food For Thought.

Food for thought, or thoughts of food. It is a fabulous sunny Winter day, so for my exercise I did one final sweeep of all the Kiwifruit blocks. All the leaves are off now so any missed fruit are easy to see. The birds know too, but I don't grudge them some. It's a very long walk to go up and down all the rows, but the Kiwifruit that are picked now have had an 2 extra months of ripening and so are very sweet and tasty. ( like any fruit that are tree ripened )

While I was walking I got thinking about what other food we have grown ourselves is still available to us at this time of the year. More than I realise.

We still have Kiwifruit; Sapotes; Rhubarb and Lemons. Avocados ( but nearing the end of them ), Macadamia nuts; Walnuts. In the vege patch Spring Onions; Silverbeet; a few Beetroot and the very last Capsicums. In the herb garden after a severe haircut earlier the Mint has regrown, and Parsley; Thyme; Sage; Chives; Sugar plant; Muzuma and Marjoram. A few tiny lettuces. 15 pumpkins, stored in the spare shower.( along with all the Kiwis as it's cool there .)

There are still loads of Tomatoes in the freezer; frozen juice; pesto; and dips. We try and keep an inventory of what's in the freezer - just on a piece of card and add on and take off as things are used - it saves a lot of diving into the old chest freezer.

The things that we had but are finished and I miss most are the tomato sauce and potatoes.( we never seem to have enough of them ).

Leanne is working on her vege patch too and likes to grow lots of food for their family. They even have thier own meat.

The Binding is On.

The binding is on - now that sounds like I'm finished, but I'm not. I have quilted the braided borders, so the edge was done. The cream batting was getting all OVER the black fabric I was trying to quilt. Little bits were getting stuck under the stitches, so I put the binding on and hand stitched it down. So that solved the problem...and it lies flat! Yippee!
The sections around the amphora pots are going to be hand stitched ( intended to show ) using variegated thread or embroidery cotton. It makes quite a contrast with the close machine quilted section next to it.
The large black areas are the biggest challenge. I am diagonally running across it an inch apart. To start with I was using the machine guide ( but you have to go all one way with that! )So now have changed to marking every b..... row first ( R suggested I should measure everyone too instead of eye balling it - gee thanks ) so now I spread it on the floor mark about 4 rows get up and sew. ( if I do any more at once it rubs off ) Callisthenic quilting.
My self taught lesson from yesterday was this. It works fine to count 12 stitches then turn, 12 stitches then turn etc IF you are starting from a straight edge. BUT if you are starting from a curved or sloping line IT doesn't ( I forgot about the angle involved ! ) So I have 5 short rows to reverse stitch! I know it will bug me if I leave it.
Otherwise everything Quilty here is fine and dandy progress is okay I think I'll meet my deadline ( providing there is not too much reverse sewing ! )
Thank you for your helpful comments and suggestions.

Useful Preparation.

Having taken several hours to quilt one end panel I decided to do extra careful preparation before tackling the corresponding other end. I put the quilt back on the carpet and rolled and pinned along each layer as I folded it over. This way it can't possibly come unrolled as I am twisting it about. I guess it is similar to having it on rollers with a long arm quilter but way slower. Is that what everyone else does???? ( it's big and heavy and gets my shoulders working!) What else should I know / do, girls who have quilted lots of big quilts on an ordinary machine???

Still Quilting.

A pot of cheerful Lachenalia at the back door.

Today I want to declare war on packaging. All I wanted was a new set of sheets and pillow cases and all this is what comes with it. Totally unnecessary. I wish I had left it in the shop....must try that next time.( one could spend hours looking for unpackaged products, but how else do you make a statement that you don't want it ! )(Plastic especially is visual and environmental pollution! ) Any suggestions? What do you do girls?

I'm doing sessions of quilting between chores and cleaning and other events. What I have decided to do on the 4 striped end panels looks really great but it is going to take me hours. Slowly but surely getting there.

Quilting While It Rains.

It has continued to rain all day SO, I have continued to quilt.

Mostly It has gone well.The braided borders told me what they needed and were good to do being on the outside. Other parts so far are just following straight lines except I have quilted beside the gold edging for the big bird shape. Not sure what to do next so will let it sit a while and I will think.

But there is one tuck on the side seam on the back. How do you deal with that if it can't be smoothed out? All flat on the front. I am learning by doing you see. The quilt measures 84 inches by 64 inches and isn't too bad on my big bench. I am thinking I may do some hand quilting or fancy stitching as well???

Lemon and Blue.

I've just been for a late afternoon walk . Mists surround me, there is calm and silence everywhere except for leaves crunching under my feet. There has been a change in the weather you see. Gone the frosty starts and sunny days. Yesterday was wet, today drizzle, mist and cloud enclose us. The smell in the orchard is that of very strong freshly brewed tea - it is the fallen kiwifruit leaves that have been cooked by the frost.

I picked a bunch of tiny Ifafa lilies for the lounge ( I know the fire won't be kind to them ) but they are a wee Winter delight inside or out.

Yesterday our P & Q group celebrated Mid Winter with a lovely shared lunch. ( they can cook as well as quilt ! )

For me, the first tentative quilting has begun. So far no problems except a dumb b.. when I stood up - hence the walk.

Time for Celebration and New Trou Perhaps.

" Now that's a strange title," I hear you say. Well, celebration because I now have "The Jewelled Bird Quilt," basted ready to quilt!

The need for some new trousers / long pants because I did the whole thing by the seat of my pants ( no pattern, no experience with iron on applique or gold bias tape ) and today I have been on my knees basting for ages so they are well worn too! But hey, I got there. Maybe I will have it completed in time for our Exhibition in 27 days time.( It depends how I get on quilting it. )

No, walk today - I've been too busy but I did walk for over an hour yesterday ( photos of a walk you have taken with me before.)( through the I'Anson Reserve, along 2 roads, across the highway and up our road home.) If you enlarge the road photo you may see the quarry in the hillside in the distance and we live just below that. )

( the top photo was taken when I threw the quilt over the ironing board giving it a final press before sandwiching it. I liked the way the early sunlight was shining through the braided border )

Some answer to your comments.

* While these frost are happening we are getting day temperatures of 15 or 16 degrees centigrade( 60 degrees Fahrenheit ) Gudrun. Chilly early and late in the day but nice in the sun in between.

*I agree with Meg and Joyce's observation on Global Cooling - I guess we have to call it "Climate Change" ( and we have always had that! )

* Jennifer I don't know what Book crossing is ???

*Thanks for the book idea Holly. I now have 4 more good reads to look for.

What a good day's work!