February 2014

Wholly Quilts
February Newsletter

In an effort to tick off another of my want to do quilt (a kaleidoscope) I acquired a third book to show me the way. I added RaNae Merrill's Magnificent Spiral Mandala Quilts to Paula Nadelstern and Ricky Tims' kaleidoscope books and only managed to confuse myself. Together they are a bit like the Three Bears - one is too fussy (Paula), one too clunky (Ricky) and one sort of okay (RaNae) but not really how I want to do mine. So armed with all their information I will head off to design mode and see what happens. The principle of learning techniques off others and then adapting has always worked for me in the past. So here goes!

I have given you a pic here of my latest PhD (project half done). It is my 5856 triangles together at last AND, please note, being quilted. 488 four-inch North Wind blocks done from the scrap basket alone and yet again the level of said basket is still the same - it really is a sustainable resource.

Last month's Pot Luck Picnic was a lovely day with friends coming from far and wide. I have been reprimanded by he-who-knows-all (about computers) for not taking photographs but truth be told I was having far too much fun on the day. Great selection of quilts to look at and picnic food to eat. Seems I can control the weather too - so much sun, so little wind.

 If you do have some pictures of the picnic day, send them through and he'll put them on the website which he has also updated with notes about some of the most popular quilts I teach.  He is grand, isn't he?!

The Pumpkin Patch is living up to its name ... pumpkins galore and I am picking a bucket of tomatoes every couple of days. I have been reduced (get it?) to making tomato paste cos I now have enough tomatoes dried, frozen, chutney-ed and sauced. This morning I picked three large cucumbers and I'll have to pickle them before I go off to Camp Catering (on Motutapu Island) tomorrow. I keep avoiding making eye contact with the Damson Plum tree that looks more and more like a grape vine with all its fruit. I know I'll have to deal with them very soon.

The Chopping Block was gonna try out pumpkin cake recipes before the influx but when I went to my recipe book I found a much more interesting recipe - Plonk Cake.
Plonk 5 eggs  2 cups sugar  2 cups self-raising flour  50g melted butter  2 teaspoons baking powder into a food processor in the above order
Plonk into a greased tin.
Plonk 140g sliced tinned/fresh fruit or mixed berries, plums whatever. Bake at just over 200c for 30 mins (check till done).
When cool, sprinkle with icing sugar.

By the way, if you want to bring a group of friends for a relaxing weekend the second half of the year still has some vacancies so get in touch.