See you next month!

Tomorrow morning we are hitching up our caravan and heading off to Canberra, to spend time with our son and to take in the National Folk Festival. Volunteers help this festival run and have done so for many years, and I am proud to be one of them. This year Kevin will be joining me in their ranks - but we will be working in different areas.

We will see friends whom we haven't seen for a year, and taking in some great music, and eating and drinking (in moderation) and being merry. We will be enjoying the autumn colours and doing our best to keep warm, because the nights may be rather cold; hopefully the days will be glorious.

"Foreigners are given to embracing. In France and Germany the parent kisses his grown-up son on the forehead, men throw their arms around the necks of their friends, and brothers embrace like lovers. It is a curious sight to Australians, with their natural prejudices against publicity in kissing."

We will be do our best to be restrained when greeting family and friends.......but it will be good to see them!

So you all be good, and best wishes for Easter.

Enjoy your days!

The ultimate half-square triangle block tutorial

As promised, here is a tutorial for a very easy block which I did not invent but was shown how to make many years ago. It is very easy to chain piece, surprisingly quick to make, and you don't cut any triangles. If you divide your fabrics into light-medium-dark you can get interesting effects when the blocks are sewn together, and the layout possibilities are almost endless. Any half-square triangle layout looks good, and log cabin layouts will also work.

The fabric quantities given will make two 4in blocks at one time. Take note of pressing directions. If the blocks are pressed as shown, they will go together very easily.

From the fabric you wish to feature, cut two, 2-1/2in squares. I used bright colours and prints for mine.

From secondary fabric, cut two 2-1/2in by 3-1/2in rectangle. For this I used different bright green fabrics.

From background fabric cut one, 5-1/2in by 4-1/2in rectangle. I have used white fabric.

You will also need to make a template. Cut one, 4-1/2in square from template plastic or cardboard. Cut in half diagonally to make two triangles. If using cardboard it will need to be renewed from time to time, as the edges will wear away.

Sew each 2-1/2in square to the 2-1/2in side of the small rectangle. Press seams towards square. With squares at opposite ends, join two of these units to make the pieced rectangle unit shown.
On wrong side clip the seam allowance in the centre, being careful not to clip into the stitching.
Press seam allowance away from the square, as shown.
Place triangle template on wrong side of pieced rectangle, making sure it goes over the square in the corner. Using your preferred marker, draw a line along the long triangle edge. Repeat on the opposite corner. I used blue washout marker, but you can use a fine pencil or other marker.
With right sides together, place the pieced rectangle on top of the background 4-1/2in by 5-1/2in rectangle. Stitch along both drawn lines, as shown above and below.
You can see the sewn lines clearly from the back.
Using ruler and rotary cutter, cut 1/4in from each drawn line. Press seam toward large rectangle. This is what your blocks will look like when trimmed and pressed! You can also see the small strip of fabric that was trimmed, and is not needed.
This is a quilt I made several years ago, using this block. The background fabrics are different grey prints, secondary fabric is black solid, and I used several different bright tone-on-tone fabrics for the feature squares. The outer border is also pieced triangles using the background fabrics.

When I made my quilt pre-cut strips and squares had not been invented, but they could easily be used to make this block as many are 2-1/2in wide.

Enjoy making your blocks, and I would love to see pictures of the quilts when they are made!

Edited to add: My quilt was made (and dated) in 1998, and I learnt the technique before that. My quilt was also published as a project in 'Down Under Quilts" magazine in 2004. No doubt it has appeared in other sources....you can't keep a good idea down!

No fame and glory this week

Aren't these glorious fall colours? Today is quite autumnal, with a stiff breeze blowing from the south across the valley and up onto our hill. Much nicer than summer's heat. The photo was taken in Dawes Road, Toronto, Canada; if you know Dawes Road you may recognise it, and you don't - why then, it doesn't matter. Just enjoy the colours.

Last weekend when the state quilt guild visited, a photographer from a local paper was wandering around taking pictures.....I was duly lined up with a few other ladies and posed in front of a quilt. When we received a copy of the paper today there is the photo.......but no me.......

I have been cropped!

While I didn't particularly wish to appear in one of the local rags I can't help feeling slighted.......makes me wonder about the conversation back at the newspaper office when the photos were being selected for publication. "We'll use that one, but oh dear - better get rid of that woman on the end" I can hear them saying. One picture is of the whole room with people sitting, standing and milling around and there I am way over at the back, if you didn't know it was me you probably would never recognise me. And that's OK. At least I wasn't cropped out of that picture, it would have left an odd hole.

There are no pictures of me on my blog. I doubt now there ever will be, because obviously I am something to be shunned and feared. Something with which to frighten small children and give honest people nightmares. I shall never feel the same about the image in the mirror again - that is, if I can bear to even look into a mirror.

On a more cheerful note, I have decided to put up a tutorial on the technique I taught my quilt group recently. I made sample pieces showing the different stages of making the block but the fabrics I used were a bit dull and didn't photograph very well (a bit like me, obviously) so I am cutting out some brighter fabrics. Look for it over the next few days.

Recently I ordered myself a cutting table like this one, I hope it arrives soon. There is a backlog of cutting and pinning, the kitchen bench is a good height but a bit narrow. Still, we use what we have, don't we - even if it is less than ideal.

Last week I had a most unnerving experience. We were on our way out when I decided to visit the bathroom first. Shut the door, lifted the lid on the toilet prior to doing what it is one does in these situations, and noticed a large green tree frog sitting in half in, half out of the water looking up at me with beady eyes. Erk. I very quickly shut the lid and left the room. Kevin, who is braver than I am, lifted it out and put it in the garden. I always check for frogs now before using the toilet. If one was sitting in one's usual position and a cold clammy little hand reached up and touched one on one's bare nether regions.........can you imagine the shock?

Showy dress.

The glaring colors and "loud" costumes, once so common, have given place to sober grays, and browns and olives; black predominating over all. The light, showily-trimmed dresses, which were once displayed in the streets and fashionable promenades, are now only worn in carriages. This display of showy dress and glaring colors is generally confined to those who love ostentation more than comfort."

I was wearing bright colours with an orange top when photographed - perhaps it was considered too loud and glaring to be seen by readers with delicate sensibilities?

Enjoy your days!

A very peculiar seed pod

It's rather strange, isn't it? We think it is a Banksia, the picture was taken late last year when we spent a few days at the coast. The walk along the top of the breakwater ran beside a park, and this tree was just inside the fence.

Had a lovely day yesterday, our town was visited by members of the state quilting guild who came all the way from the Big Smoke. We all - the locals, some visitors from other towns round about, and the women from the city - had a very enjoyable afternoon chatting, and showing and telling our quilts and other masterpieces, then some of us met again later at a local gallery for a reception. We were even taken behind the scenes to see some of the textile works held by the gallery, which has a focus on contemporary textiles.

Daylight saving finished last night, woo hoo! Now the days feel normal again. This week our new bedroom curtains arrived and they do a wonderful job of keeping the room dark; instead of pink curtains which let in quite a lot of light and turn the room red on hot summer afternoons we now have teal, which keeps the room much darker and (I think) suits better. When the pelmet is installed it will be even darker still because at present light seeps over the top of the curtains. Don't know about you folks but I like to sleep in a dark cave, I don't sleep so well if the room is light, and we have a streetlight at the end of our driveway which shines into our bedroom if the curtains aren't dark enough. So yay for the new curtains! Scientists say we need darkness to sleep, and who am I to disagree with science.

Last weekend I made a new recipe, Butter Tart Squares. We tried butter tarts on our first visit to Toronto, Canada, in 2007 and quite enjoyed them.......had them on our subsequent visit and enjoyed them again. We don't have them in Australia, more's the pity. I have been meaning to make them for ages, so was pleased to find this recipe. Although the writer said she left out the nuts and added more raisins, I used both - 1 cup of raisins, 1/2 cup chopped walnuts although I reckon pecans would be good too. We like it. Other people who have tried it here also like it. I shall definitely make it again.

Have been thinking of making up another blog tutorial for the block I taught at quilt group recently. It's very easy, and I am sure you would have fun trying it. Yesterday a few of the group members told me how much they enjoyed learning a new block and how much fun they have had making blocks since then. I am looking forward to seeing the finished quilts........I will feel like a proud parent when I see them!

On Friday I plucked up my courage in both hands, loaded it into a bag, and took it and myself off to the medical centre for my flu shot. There was music playing and even though it wasn't wonderful it wasn't as bad as the previous week's had been. The staff was fine too. I was very brave when the nurse stuck that huge needle into my arm. I haven't had an adverse reaction to the shot in past years but this time I did, my upper arm swelled up and the injection spot was quite red and sore. At least it is settling down now and shouldn't hurt if I lie on it in bed tonight. Nothing worse than trying to get comfortable in bed and rolling onto a sore spot, is there? It makes dropping off to sleep difficult, and I need my beauty sleep.

"Discretion in forming acquaintances.

While an acquaintance formed in a railway carriage or on a steamboat continues only during the trip, discretion should be used in making acquaintances. Ladies may, as has been stated, accept small courtesies and favors from strangers, but must check at once any attempt at unfamiliarity. On the other hand, no man who pretends to be a gentleman will attempt any familiarity. The practice of some young girls just entering into womanhood, of flirting with any young man they may chance to meet, either in a railway carriage or on a steamboat, indicates low breeding in the extreme. If, however, the journey is long, and especially if it be on a steamboat, a certain sociability may be allowed, and a married lady or a lady of middle age may use her privileges to make the journey an enjoyable one, for fellow passengers should always be sociable to each other."

Don't forget that advice, next time you should travel on a steamboat.

Enjoy your days!

I have met another one of me!

Just after moving here last year I took this picture of autumn gold in our small back yard - the unidentified tree shed its leaves and made a lovely carpet, until it went mushy and was cleared away. We have noticed the occasional leaf fluttering down lately to show us that seasons are changing. The back yard looks different now; the palm fronds drooping in the background are gone (the palm tree has been removed) and the shrubby thing at the foot of the tree is also gone. The wash line is still in the same place.

A couple of days ago I went for a Nice Sunday Drive to a town 110kms or so away (that's 70 or so miles) for a quilt show. When we moved away from the city I knew there wouldn't be so many things like quilt shows to see, but am determined to attend as many as I can. Seeing what other people make can be inspirational and I don't want to give up being inspired.

While there I met a local quilter who shares my name! Same first name - Jennifer, although she calls herself Jenny - same last name too. Different middle name. While I knew that I wasn't the only one with this name, it's the first time I have met someone who shares it. Have you ever googled your name to see how many more of you there are? There are lots of me. But if I google my maiden name I am the only one to appear, that is on a family history site so it's definitely me.

A question for the quilters among you: what is the smallest size piece of fabric you keep for future use? I decided on 2in square. Several years ago I used 2in squares to make this quilt. At present I am cutting larger 2-1/2in squares for the child's quilt I am being tardy about, and also cutting 2in squares if a small piece of fabric isn't big enough for 2-1/2in. Anything smaller is being thrown out. But there are some 1-1/2in strips of varying lengths, and I am wondering if they should be kept or if that is getting too narrow to be useful. Decisions, decisions........before anyone mentions 'crumb quilts' let me say I'm not interested. Have you ever felt the weight of one of those? With all those little seams they use a huge amount of fabric, much more than one would think, so even handling it to layer and quilt it would be difficult. I don't do much applique so there's not much point in keeping an applique stash of small pieces - if I wanted a small piece I could use what is in the 2in square box.

Last week I had occasion to be in a local medical centre while waiting to see a doctor and was forced to listen to the choice of music of the young women working in the office, very poppy stuff that I don't listen to voluntarily. It irritated me to the extent that when I was finally admitted to the doctor's inner sanctum (after waiting for 40 minutes or so....just as well I had taken my hand-piecing) I complained. He told them to turn it off, and said to me he had already asked several times. They didn't turn it off, so he yelled at them. I felt bad about that, and now I am probably on their Hit List for causing the yell. Studies have shown that selected gentle classical music - I'm not talking Wagner opera here - calms people down and even lowers blood pressure. Mine was much higher than it should have been when it was taken by the doctor, because I could feel myself seething more and more the longer I was forced to sit and listen. In future I shall take along my almost historic Walkman clone (remember them? mine still works so I haven't succumbed to an ipod) and listen to my own choice of music. Next visit is on Friday for a flu shot and believe me, I am not looking forward to that visit.

"If anyone should assume a disagreeable tone of voice or offensive manner toward you, never return it in company, and, above all, do not adopt the same style of conversation with him. Appear not to notice it, and generally it will be discontinued, as it will be seen that it has failed in its object."

Let's hope the medical centre office staff are not disagreeable on Friday.

Enjoy your days!

Green lusciousness

Are these not truly beautiful and gorgeous and green? Yesterday was our 35th wedding anniversary, and Kevin surprised me with these lovely jade earrings. It seems that coral and jade are the symbols for 35 years of wedded bliss, and he knows me well enough by now to know that I would much prefer green jade to pink/red coral. It was a complete surprise as I had no idea he had anything planned, let alone ordered these to be specially made! So I wore them last night when we went out to a restaurant to celebrate.

Yes folks, our small town has a French restaurant, and very good it is too. Home made bread......roast chicken with scallops in an interesting sauce (me).......lamb done three ways (Kevin).........a trio of different fruit desserts, all small but perfectly formed, rhubarb cream brulee, poached tiny pear on chocolate (yum) and passionfruit marshmallow (me)......butterscotch pudding with honeycomb ice cream (Kevin). Add wines and coffee, and you can see we really enjoyed our meal.

Now back to home cooking Chez Jennifer. Tonight's meal won't be anywhere near as interesting as last night's, I can tell you. Or served as beautifully.

Today I have been busy preparing notes to teach a technique at one of my quilt groups next Saturday, the notes and illustrations are ready, now to make a few demonstration pieces showing the various steps. It's not as though I have no fabric with which to do that.........who knows, perhaps it might even be the start of another new quilt.....now that is a scary thought.

We have had rain over the past few days and more is forecast. The garden is probably very thankful as things have been a bit dry lately. Using a hose doesn't have the same effect, does it? Rain washes everything sparkling clean and fresh again.

Apparently today, 20th March 2011, is the autumn equinox so summer has now ended. That means shorter days (especially when daylight saving finishes in a couple of weeks thank goodness, it's been very dark in the mornings lately) and cooler nights, so much better for sleeping. Have noticed leaves definitely changing and dropping, although it will be a while until trees are bare. Some people see autumn as an ending but I see it as a time for rest.

The news from Japan about the earthquake and tsunami last week is very sad, so many lives lost, so many families disrupted, and now there are problems with nuclear power stations as a result. Whose idea was it to have nuclear power plants on earthquake faults? Did it not occur to someone that perhaps that was not the best idea the world has ever seen? It's been known for a long time that Japan is somewhat prone to earthquakes. We'll all be glowing in the dark soon.

"If gentleman is walking with two ladies in a rain storm, and there is but one umbrella, he should give it to his companions and walk outside. Nothing can be more absurd than to see a gentleman walking between two ladies holding an umbrella which perfectly protects himself, but half deluges his companions with its dripping streams."

An umbrella wouldn't be much use in a tsunami, would it?

Now I am going to cut fabric.

Enjoy your days!

Back home in the Small Smoke

Oh my, we had forgotten how bad traffic in Sydney can be.....not forgotten exactly, just pushed it to the back of our minds. Never mind, we survived. We stayed a couple of nights in a peaceful place on a creek, just near where it flows into a larger river; lots of bird life (we were woken by cockatoos and kookaburras), and great coffee! It was much nicer than a large impersonal hotel would have been.

On our trip we noticed that leaves are starting to change, yay! That means summer is on its last gasp although it is still fairly warm and a bit humid. However this and the new header pictures were not taken last week, they were taken at Bluffer's Park in Scarborough, Ontario in October 2009 - I don't yet have any pictures of local autumn colour.

We managed to spend a short (very short - just long enough for a coffee) time with our older son before he headed off to his new job three hours further away from us. Never mind, we will see him next month when we make our annual trip to Canberra for the big folk festival.

Am still a bit short on energy since the recent lurgy, but slowly getting on top of things. It is my turn to have friendship blocks made in one of my quilt groups so yesterday I cut and overlocked fabric squares, today I prepared instructions. My block is an appliqued tea cup with just three pieces, cup, handle and saucer, and it needs to be ready for tomorrow. While in Sydney I managed a visit to a quilt shop where I found a lovely background fabric, a very pale soft creamy floral; one needs to be fairly close to see there is a design at all as it is quite subtle (only three colour registration dots on the selvedge), but it is much nicer than a plain fabric would be.

On the trip I started to knit a new scarf from yarn I bought in Canada, and all was well. On the way home again I spent more time un-knitting than I did knitting, so I gave up in the end. But I will persist, as it's an easy pattern and the colours are lovely, green and bronze. Very autumn-y. Have I ever told you that autumn is my favourite season? and that I am quite fond of green?

We took the long but scenic way home and drove through a lovely little village called Wollombi. The first time I ever went there I felt a connection but didn't know why.....then several years ago I found out that my family lived there from the early 1820s until fairly recent times, and for all I know I may still have rellies in the area. In 1870 my maternal great-grandparents were married there in a lovely old stone church, St John's Anglican Church, which dates from 1849; in fact my maternal grandfather's four grandparents all lie in the local cemetery. A few years ago I found out from old maps held at the local museum where the family farm used to be - I wish we still had it, as now the area is prime grape-growing country and the former Davis farm is probably now worth lots of money. But is considered vulgar to speak of money, is it not?

"A gentleman should avoid talking about his business or profession, unless such matters are drawn from him by the person with whom he is conversing. It is in bad taste, particularly, to employ technical or professional terms in general conversation."

Keep your own business to yourself, in other words.

Enjoy your days!