christmas mince

The Christmas mince is made. I think it's just an excuse to taste test the brandy. Even though I checked it when I made the Christmas cake. There's just enough left for the chocolate mousse. But I'll surely need a new bottle for next Christmas.

iggy

It's been so busy, this blog has been totally neglected for over a month. Now I'm in catch up mode.

I told my heavily pregnant daughter for two weeks that she would 'pop soon'. And on the 12 October she finally did, giving birth to a very healthy 10lb boy named Iggy. It's a very cute name and you do get used to it. However if my father was alive, he would be calling him George or Tom or something very plain. I have two great nephews, Dante and Phoenix whom Dad nicknamed Bill and Fred.
Iggy Daniel Morris, after his crazy Uncle Daniel!
No I didn't knit him anything or make him any quilts but I'm sure his time will come for his own quilt. However I did buy him a cute stripy cardy from my favourite shop for people who don't knit!  -  Purple Patch.

One week old.

One day old.

One month old.

birthday quilt....tick

The 'I Spy' quilt was finished in time for the early birthday party. Quite an achievement considering I only started the quilting the weekend before. It's been a while since I whipped up a quilt that quickly.
Nice to know I can still do it.

party time

Max's early birthday party...

Hang out with your mates.

Check out the digger on your birthday cake.

Snaffle yourself one more pebble.

Open your presents.

q is for quilt

There's nothing like a deadline to get a quilt made.The I Spy quilt looks more cohesive than I had expected, in fact it is actually really nice, even the back. I found at least one fabric for each letter of the alphabet except Q. But then I suppose the whole quilt is for Q.
Will post a photo of front when it's quilted.

don't puke on your dad

For the first year of his life, Max's dad Toby kept a blog of his experience as a new dad, baby milestones etc. Each post consisted of one of Toby's amazing illustrations. A selection of these illustrations have been published in a book titled 'Don't Puke on Your Dad' published by Beatnik publishers in Auckland. It has gone on sale in time for Father's Day and is an entertaining, informative and moving account of first time fatherhood. Of course I'm a tad biased as Max is my first grandson and I'm in the book! However I think the book is incredibly well written and fills a gap in the market for prospective dads.
Check it out at: http://www.beatnikshop.com/collections/frontpage/products/dont-puke-on-your-dad
and be sure to click the option to watch the invite clip at the bottom.

Baby Number Two

My second grandchild is due at the beginning of October. Apparently this baby does not require any blankets or quilts as there was an over abundance when Max arrived. And although due at the same time of the year, number two will be a summer baby born in the southern hemisphere unlike Max who was a northern hemisphere winter baby. So, Oma is left wondering what she can create?

i spy quilt

The time has come the walrus said... to make an I Spy quilt!
I have to confess to squirrelling away the odd piece of fabric with this in mind over the past 20 years. Time spent with Max recently makes me realise how much he would enjoy such a quilt now that he is beginning to talk.
So I have made a start.  I am making a string quilt, having done a workshop with Sue Western at the Taupo Symposium. It is exciting as there are decisions to be made with every piece of fabric. But it will not be a calm quilt- prepare for busy craziness!!

Busy, busy

Monsters! - Max's dad Toby draws amazing monsters, so I had to have monster fabric. 

beach

Papamoa on a cloudy day.

master max

Max is learning to talk. He loves his digger, his bike, his lawnmower, his guitar, cooking (pretend), puzzles and doing what mum and dad do - taking photos and drawing!

son, brother, uncle

Spent time recently with my two kids, and it wasn't even Christmas!
It may be a while before that happens again, Daniel is off to Shanghai.
Another new perspective is observing your son as an uncle.
He approaches the role as he approaches life generally, loud and fast!

Brother and sister

Uncle and nephew

taupo-nui-a-tia

Have just returned from a week away at the Taupo Quilt Symposium at Taupo-nui-a-tia (Taupo College). Enjoyed the company of Paula, Rose and Pravina - six days to not talk about work, be with different people, talk quilting, laugh and relax. Thanks guys for the refreshing break.
Taupo is beautiful.  We found great coffee at Zest cafe, had great meals out at the Vine Eatery and Thai Delight and enjoyed the hospitality of the quilting community. I feel rested and inspired.

View from the deck

Mountains and sky

 Lake and fog

Huka Falls

knit one purl two

I grew up in the 60s when everyone knitted. Except me. Hated it, refused to learn. Just like crocheting, which I had to get mum to teach me in 2011 so I could crochet a blanket for my then expected grandson. Well Max is 20 months old now and I am knitting him a jersey. First thing I have knitted that requires reading a pattern since I knitted his mother a very cool hooded jacket when she was about his age. That's over thirty years ago. Reading a knitting pattern is like reading another language - and I was never any good at that either. I now remember and appreciate the constant stream of gorgeous home knits my mother produced for my kids, until they weren't cool to wear any longer.
The things an Oma does.

fairy ring

There's a fairy ring on my back lawn! That's a first. Wikipedia knows all about them -  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_ring . Mine is not quite as perfect as some best example photos however it's pretty obvious when you wander down the back - holy moly a circle of mushrooms!

Haven't seen any faires yet though, will keep an eye out. 

the happy couple

I was challenged by being the Mother of the Bride and therefore not taking photos. It just didn't feel like that correct thing to be doing on the day. But it is now a week since the wedding and I am reduced to stealing other people's photos off Facebook. And as most people understand the protocol of not posting photos of a bride until after she does, there are not many.  However there will be hundreds of photos eventually from the two talented photographers who documented the day. In the meantime. here are my 'stolen goods'.

the day dawned fine

It was such a relief when Saturday 13th April dawned fine and sunny - Sonya and Toby's wedding day. So much work was done the day before by an amazing crew of family and friends -

dorm rooms allocated...

Toby's posters hung...

metres of fairy lights were unravelled...

And on the day, the bunting was hung,

and the hydrangeas placed perfectly.

All we need now is a bride and groom.

a sewing project

Surprise surprise, my first job on Sonya's wedding day was a sewing project. There's always a sewing project where Sonya's involved. This time it was a purse to carry all those little things a bride might need.

blue flowers

It's been a great summer for blue flowers in my garden. Some continue to bloom. I have to remember to take the time each day to enjoy them.