Anchor Quilt Progress — Borders and Acrobatics

 Before Tony and I went on our travels, I managed to complete the centre of Jiffy’s quilt — a multitude of sea blues and greens stitched into one much larger square. I was very pleased with how it was coming together and had hoped to blog about it on the Monday before we left… but alas, time had other plans.

So here it is, as it looked when we left town — quietly waiting for our return.

Today I was able to pick up where I left off. I’d planned to add a black inner border and, time permitting, piece together the outer border. Time was more than kind: both borders are now in place.

∘◦❀◦∘

The photography, however, was less cooperative. The holder-upper (you know who) tried valiantly. First he clambered onto the sofa — not quite right. 

Then he laid the quilt top on the floor while he stood on the coffee table phone in hand. Still not quite right.

 Finally, he dashed off for the step ladder.

I’m not entirely impressed with the image he captured… The colour is off and it was done in such a hurry, there really are no waves. but I do love his dedication.

And I think I captured the moment perfectly. 

∘◦❀◦∘

Now I just need to figure out how best to create and appliqué the anchor onto the quilt top. Do I quilt what I have first, then appliqué the anchor afterwards? That would certainly keep the background nice and flat, but the thought of pushing and pulling a fully quilted top through my machine while trying to keep an appliqué perfectly in place feels… ambitious.

The other option is to appliqué the anchor onto the flimsy, then quilt the whole thing, stopping and starting around the shape — or perhaps even quilting straight through it. So many possibilities, and each one comes with its own little “hmm”.

Before any of that, of course, I have to actually create the anchor. I could downscale Tula Pink’s version — her pattern is made of squares, I kind of want to stay away from them as the background is all squares. Or I could draw my own. Or go hunting on the great wide web and resize something that catches my eye.

Decisions, decisions. Luckily, I have three months to figure it all out and get it done. Though I don't want to leave it to the last minute.

∘◦❀◦∘

I’d love to hear what you think, too. If you’ve appliquéd a large motif onto a quilt before — especially something with long, sweeping curves — how did you tackle it? Did you quilt first and appliqué later, or appliqué onto the flimsy and work the quilting around it?

And if you’ve come across a great anchor pattern (or have thoughts on scaling, drafting, or adapting one), I’m all ears. Your suggestions might just help me make up my mind.

∘◦❀◦∘

The Fairy Walk.

 During our recent visit to Okiwi Bay I heard whispers about something called The Fairy Walk.

Well, you know me — of course I had to go and investigate. I wouldn’t be a Manxgirl if I ignored reports of fairies hiding in the bush.

A short stroll up the road from the house took us to the marked entrance, and what a delightful spot it turned out to be. Surrounded by native bush, the crickets and cicadas were chirruping away in full chorus. Birds flitted and called from every direction — a soundtrack that made the whole place feel alive and welcoming and just a little bit magical.

All along the path were little creations left by locals and visitors. It was a joy to wander slowly, discovering something new every few steps. Fairy lanterns, recycled mailboxes, tiny dwellings, and natural decorations tucked into roots and branches. Children and adults alike had added their own touches, and the whole walk felt like a shared act of imagination.

Partway along we found a long line of painted rocks, then a notice introducing Rocco the Rock Snake and inviting everyone to help him grow. Of course we admired every segment.

We were joined for a while by a weka — a curious, confident native bird who seemed completely unfazed by two humans ambling through its territory. It went about its business as though we were simply part of the scenery.

It wasn’t a long walk, and before we knew it the path opened out onto the beach. A gentle, magical little detour that felt like stepping into someone’s daydreams.

∘◦❀◦∘

A delightful little distraction from all the fishing and paddling in the bay. Of course I took a trillion photos — as you’d expect — but I won’t bore you with every single one.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this little taste of Okiwi Bay fairy magic.

∘◦❀◦∘

Okiwi Bay

This past week, Tony and I were very lucky — we’d been invited to spend a few days with friends at their bach in Okiwi Bay, tucked right up at the very top of the South Island in the Marlborough Sounds. It’s such a beautiful, scenic part of the country, all folds of hills and quiet water. We arrived late on Monday, but not so late that we missed those first lovely views out across the bay

Home for the week was a lovely big house owned by our friends’ family. Mum and Dad were there to greet us when we arrived — they’d aired the place out and made up beds for us all, which felt wonderfully welcoming after the long drive. Once we’d said our hellos, they headed back over the pass to Blenheim, leaving us to decide who would sleep where and to pull together a late dinner. As it turned out, late dinners became a bit of a theme for the week.

Our friends had their older daughter with them, and they also introduced us to a new friend and two of his older children.

 And then there was Mackenzie...

We’d never met her before, but she made herself known in about five seconds flat. A small white bundle of curly fur and charisma, Mackenzie quickly claimed her spot — on the boat, in our hearts, and occasionally in the middle of the kitchen when snacks were being discussed. 

She’s quite the performer. Make a finger-gun and say “bang!” — she’d flop over dramatically, playing dead with theatrical flair. She danced for praise, high-fived for treats, and generally kept us all entertained with her clever antics and cheerful spirit. By the end of the week, she wasn’t just part of the group — she was the unofficial mascot of the bach.

Mackenzie came along with us whenever we headed out on the boats, usually first aboard. She took her place on the deck with great dignity, surveying the bay like a seasoned skipper. That said, her talents didn’t quite extend to handling a fishing rod — though she did offer moral support and kept a close eye on the bait bucket, just in case snacks were involved.

With eight adults and one small, enthusiastic dog, we were spread across two boats. Okiwi Bay is full of rocky inlets and little pockets of deep water, perfect for dropping a line, so there was no shortage of spots to explore. We stayed tucked inside the bay, to lay a long line alongside the mussel farm close to the cliffs, then we ventured out into the Sound itself, weaving between islands and rocky outcrops in search of good place to try our luck.

We only managed to fish on two days because the weather had its own ideas. Tuesday was beautifully bright and sunny — the kind of day that makes you feel like you’ve chosen the perfect week to be away. Wednesday… not so much. The rain arrived just as we were laying the longlines at the mussel farm, but we headed out anyway and made the best of it.

And we were rewarded. A pod of dolphins — twenty or thirty of them — found us and decided we were worth a visit. They swam around the boats for a good five minutes, weaving in and out, surfacing so close we could hear their breaths. At one point they even scooped up one of the undersized fish being returned to the water, as if helping with quality control. It was pure magic, the kind of moment that will stay with us all for a long time. 

Thursday it rained — and rained — and rained. A very wet morning, but that didn’t stop the young people; they went swimming in the bay, undeterred by the drizzle. While they were busy, the rest of us found jobs to do. The fish we’d caught were already filleted, but we took time to bag and seal them, getting everything ready for the freezer.

The men tackled a few small maintenance jobs around the house, while Vikki and I did laundry and kept everyone fed. Then I found a jigsaw puzzle — a physical map of New Zealand — and made a start. Later in the afternoon the rain eased. The young people took Mackenzie for a walk in the Fairy Forest (more about that another time), our hosts headed off for a bush walk, and Tony and I carried on with the puzzle.

Friday’s weather forecast looked much the same as Thursday’s — and Saturday’s was even worse — so we made the call to head home. Part of the road had already washed out, and while we didn’t really want to leave, we figured it was time to be responsible adults. (Reluctantly.)

We headed inland and drove back through wine country before heading back out to the coast.

There was plenty of rain on the drive, and as we looked out over the East Coast, the Pacific was putting on a show — big waves churning up the bottom and crashing hard onto the rocks at Kaikōura. It was still raining and properly dark when we pulled into our driveway in Timaru, just before 10pm.

Now we’re home. The bags are unpacked, the laundry’s done, and our usual rhythm has resumed. Of our catch, only the blue cod made it home to the freezer — the snapper was smoked and savoured for dinner each evening. And it was beautiful.

∘◦❀◦∘

A Day at My Machine.

Yesterday, Chooky called a Zoom session — right on time. I’d already planned to spend the morning in my sewing room playing with my batik squares, and that’s exactly what I did. I settled in at the machine and sewed and sewed and sewed, while listening to the ladies chatter as I worked.

First, I sewed all my 4" squares into pairs. Then I kept going until every pair became a four‑patch block. My back grumbled about the forced labour, but it survived.

Later, I spread a few blocks out on the floor to get a feel for how this quilt top might look. I’m not working from a pattern — just an image from the internet and a handful of ideas. But it’s coming together beautifully.

I’d pulled out a couple of fabrics I had purchased to use for the border and the anchor. Now I’m convinced they’re both wrong. The blue border fabric is far too busy, and the patterned black I chose for the anchor is better but still doesn’t sit well against all that movement.

So I might need a shopping trip — not for two new fabrics, but maybe just one that can do both jobs. Something plain, or with a very minimal pattern, to rest quietly on that busy background.

So the plan for today is to get the center of the quilt top put together. I want to be able to take it with me when we go on our trip tomorrow as I happen to know there are some good fabric shops near where we will be staying and I'm hoping to convince Mr H to take me shopping.

∘◦❀◦∘

As we went out last night, we couldn’t help but look up at the sky. Dark clouds loomed around us, stormy and unsettled as they had been all day, and we could also see — and smell — the bands of smoke drifting across from the fires burning in Australia. I don’t want to dwell on how vast and angry those fires must be. I just hope everyone is safe

In contrast, my boy Jiffy Jonathan sent me an image he took on his way to work. The sun was rising over the Isle of Man as he steamed his boat out to the scallop grounds. He made some very rude comments about how cold he felt and how glad he was to have a cosy wheelhouse to retreat to — but he still had to catch that image. That promise of warmth.

He often sends me images like this one, with the sun peeking over the horizon. He does get to work in an amazing environment, everyday something different. 

∘◦❀◦∘

The weather today is not nice at all. Yesterday was cloudy and smoky; today we have rain. The day began with beautiful sunshine, then a quick gentle shower, then more sunshine — and now heavy rain and dark skies all around. A perfect day to stay indoors and sew.

If you want me, I’ll be at my machine for a couple of hours, stitching together the centre of Jiffy and Josie’s quilt. And just as I settled in, Chooky invited me to Zoom. Perfect timing.

∘◦❀◦∘

 

From Pickles to Patchwork

As planned, Thursday evening finished up in the kitchen with me bottling that big bowl of onions. They’d been sitting in their salt bath for about nine hours, so it was just a quick rinse and straight into the jar — yes, just one huge jar. You can’t really tell from the photo, but some of those onions are the size of golf balls.

I tucked in my usual bay leaves and chillies, a scattering of peppercorns, and a few other little bits and pieces before pouring over the vinegar and sugar/stevia solution. Now the jar is sealed and tucked away, and I’ll be making sure Tony keeps his hands off it until at least April.

∘◦❀◦∘

While having a tidy‑up in the freezer the other day, I came across a few packets of homegrown cauliflower that had been there a little bit too long. Time to use them up — but how? I went hunting for pickle or chutney recipes, but nothing felt quite right. Then my trusty Co‑Pilot, who was helping me search, suggested making a curry base. Hmm. Co‑Pilot even came up with a recipe.

So I got stuck right in.

In less than an hour I had four little bowls of curry base cooling on the bench, ready to pop into the slow cooker whenever I want an easy dinner. All I’ll need to add is some meat or veg, maybe a splash of coconut milk or a few tomatoes, and dinner will take care of itself.

And no, it doesn’t taste like cauliflower. It did at first, but after a generous extra hit of ginger and spices, it now tastes exactly like curry should.

∘◦❀◦∘

Tired of domestic duties, I cleaned up the kitchen and headed into my happy sewing room. I set about cutting up more fat quarters for Jiffy’s quilt, but of course I started worrying that I didn’t have quite enough. A quick rummage through the batik drawer turned up a few more possibilities, and after a to‑and‑fro Messenger consult with Janice, five more fabrics were added to the collection. 

(Don’t you just love the modern world and the convenience of things like Messenger and Snapchat? I sent Janice a bunch of photos and she was almost instantly able to give me her thoughts on my fabric choices. She joked that she was being picky, but that’s precisely why I ask for her opinions — she sees things I might miss, and I always value her eye).

And that was it — all the squares are now cut. Time to start sewing things together.

But by then it was lunchtime, and my body was very clearly telling me so.

I made myself a quick cheese salad for lunch before retiring to my armchair for the afternoon.

∘◦❀◦∘

 Confession time. I know I said no squirrels, no new starts, no getting sidetracked, but… next week we’ll be away for a few days and I need a little project to take along.

If I took my hexies, well, you know how fast I can sew those pretties together — I’d need a huge pile of them. No, I needed something small and a little more time consuming. Then I remembered the mini cross stitch skulking in the drawer beside my chair, so I pulled it out and made sure everything I needed was tucked into a project bag.

As you can see from the price tag, it’s a kit I rescued somewhere along the way. That cute bowl of strawberries look good enough to stitch, even if I can’t eat them. And since it was all there and ready to go, I made a quick start.

I’ll take this along on our mini break. If I have time to pick it up and make a little progress, great. If not, that’s perfectly fine too. This project isn’t important — it’s just something to take along.

∘◦❀◦∘

I sewed a couple more hexies after putting the strawberries away, then set my needle down and watched a movie while I waited for Tony to come home. He took me out for dinner, which was a lovely way to end the day.

So what’s in store for today? No kitchen duties this morning. The only chore on my list is to wrap a gift for a colleague’s 50th birthday — we’re going to her party this evening. After that, the day is mine. I might wander back to the sewing room and start joining some of those squares together…

∘◦❀◦∘