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Black is the new brown

We’ve been keeping backyard chooks for a good few years now.

One of the least fun aspects is when they need to be replaced. We’ve never despatched one because she slowed down laying, as most commercial operations do, it’s always been age, illness or accident. Recently, we’ve gone from a healthy flock of 6 down to only 3, and that’s not enough for our own needs, let alone the friends who’ve become dependent on our free range eggs for themselves.

Beautiful oily iridescence in their feathers

Up to now, we’ve had ISA Browns, probably the most prolific domestic breed, but they have their downsides. They’re nervy, slightly aggressive towards newcomers to the flock, and a bit more prone to moult, in our experience. Having kept them before, I decided this time we’d get Australorps, which are calm, confident, soft-feathered, large and most importantly, beautiful. As an added benefit, they also lay beautiful brown eggs.

Self-imposed exile in the corner

We introduced our four new point-of-lay pullets to the Old Girls, and I have to say, it was funny. The three oldies were all ready to show the newbies who was boss… until they realised the newbies were as big as they were, out-numbered them and were not at all impressed by the loud posturing. To the point, in fact, that the Oldies were bailed up in a corner of the chook yard protesting noisily whilst the New Girls  calmly strolled around pinching all the grain and the worms.

They’re already laying; I retrieved a miniature brown egg from the chook house in the early afternoon.

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A Frugal Finish

Perhaps I should have waited until ScrapHappy Day.

But then again, maybe not! I’m really delighted with how this absolutely scrappy quilt turned out, and it is already in daily use. I finished the hand quilting about 4 days after I last posted about it, probably at slightly too much speed if the pain in my hand was an indicator. But when the finish line is in sight, you don’t slow down because it’s sensible, you keep on keeping on till it’s done.

The binding was totally scrappy too. I have a habit of winding all the tail ends of unused binding onto an old tape roll, so there was ready made scrappy binding available, and it just so happened that the colours worked pretty well. There’s still a lot of cream left over, but I didn’t want that for this quilt, so I’m happy to have it in reserve.

I also really like how good the quilting looks on the back. Given that it’s big-stitch quilting and not as regular as my usual offering, it’s still pretty neat and gave me very little trouble. It was an interesting experience, given the very varied fabrics used (in terms of weight, weave and age); normally, you expect the fabrics to behave the same because they’re designed for quilting so a difference can make quilting evenly a challenge. Also, the photo shows you the full glory of the nasturtium sheet I recycled for the backing.

Right, that’s done. My cutting table is entirely clear for the first time in years. There’s a couple of projects folded into project baskets, and something entirely new which keeps hooking my eye, but which will present a challenge as it needs rotary cutting. But of course, it’s the one I really want to work on! We shall see.

Onwards, at a gentle and moderate pace instead of my usual headlong.

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ScrapHappy October

It’s time for ScrapHappy, a day for showing something made from scraps of all kinds.

I’ve almost finished quilting the Frugal Quilt. The main hexagonal body is done, as is one corner. Three corners to go, and then I’ll have to make decisions about binding.

I didn’t make the best job of the quilt sandwich on account of the bad hand, so it’s a tiny bit ripply on the back, but as it’s for me, it doesn’t matter. I’m not going to lie under it itemising the defects!

If you’re interested in joining in with ScrapHappy, please go to Kjerstin’s blog (link below) and leave a message, and she’ll add you to the list. Here are the links for everyone who joins ScrapHappy from time to time (they may not post every time, but their blogs are still worth looking at).

Kjerstin, Eva, Sue, Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Tracy, Jan, 
Moira, Chris, Alys,
Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen,
Sunny,  Sue L, Vera, Kate,
Ann, Dawn 2, Carol, Preeti,
Viv,  Alissa, Tierney,
Hannah, Maggie and Wizzy

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Pink ribbon not required

Yes, I know. I’ve been away.

For the past 3 weeks I’ve lived with the fear that breast cancer was paying a return visit after 14 clear years. I have annual mammograms and ultrasound scans to keep an eye on things, and this year, there was something new on the scan. The report recommended a core biopsy to ensure it was benign.

Core biopsies are not fun, especially where this particular little stranger was located. It’s healing fine, but the site interacts painfully with my underwear.

I’ve spent 3 weeks remember the first time round, sleeping badly and stressing hard, wondering what the verdict will be and whether I should start thinking about making arrangements for help with the doggos.

Anyway, after lots of waiting, for reports, for appointments, for results, I finally heard the verdict today. It’s nothing scary. I’m clear.

Gratitude does not begin to explain how I’m feeling, but chiefly I’m looking forward to sleeping forever.

If you’re still following after the long silence, thank you for your patience.

Normal service will resume shortly.

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Teal Away Home: what it raised, and more

I got a call today with great news.

The Trudy Crowley Foundation annual gala was at the beginning of this month, and the Director called today to let me know some great news.

Firstly, the quilt raised AU$2,200, which is spectacular!  Secondly, the lady who bought it donated it straight back to the Foundation.

There are plans afoot to open a patient sanctuary for people attending radiotherapy sessions in the city. They need to be on the spot for 5 days, and many are from rural areas and perhaps not able financially to afford hotels for that period. The sanctuary will have two patient rooms with en suite bathrooms, and a common living room and kitchen. The Director plans to hang Teal Away Home in the living area; she felt that a quilt that spoke of home was appropriate and comforting.

So not only has the work of all the contributors made a beautiful quilt and raised an impressive amount of money, it will also comfort patients undergoing difficult and challenging treatment.

Well done, all of you.

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ScrapHappy September

It’s time for ScrapHappy, a day for showing something made from scraps of all kinds.

I managed to get the Frugal Quilt sandwiched and pin-basted, ready to start quilting. Then, after a couple of days to let the bad hand settle again, I realised it was time to stop procrastinating and start hand quilting. In the interests of true scrappiness, I’m using up hand-quilting thread (which for the uninitiated is different from regular sewing thread). Colour may change according to supply!

The quilting is starting the centre and working outwards in a spiral, following the ever-expanding hexagonal shape. And after several requests, I’m showing the nasturtium sheet backing ☺️

If you’re interested in joining in with ScrapHappy, please go to Kjerstin’s blog (link below) and leave a message, and she’ll add you to the list. Here are the links for everyone who joins ScrapHappy from time to time (they may not post every time, but their blogs are still worth looking at).

Kjerstin, Eva, Sue, Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Tracy, Jan, 
Moira, Chris, Alys,
Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen,
Sunny,  Sue L, Vera, Kate,
Ann, Dawn 2, Carol, Preeti,
Viv,  Alissa, Tierney,
Hannah, Maggie and Wizzy

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The Frugal Quilt, basted

It’s taken… a while.

I’ve got it pin basted over 10 days, a bit at a time until the thumb protested. It works out at about half an hour at a time. I used a recycled sheet in cream, printed with trailing nasturtiums in gold, green and orange. I love it as fabric, but it’s no use for anything else, so quilt backing it was.

Next is the hand quilting. I’ll be hand quilting since hand stitching I can still do fairly easily, but again, it’ll be bit by bit, rolled up on the cutting table as I go.

I’ll maybe show some progress next week on ScrapHappy Day, since this is the ultimate scrappy project. Depends on how well I progress.

Now to choose quilting thread colour.

 

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Ovarian Cancer Quilt: Teal Away Home complete

I got it done.

It’s on time: the auction event on on 4th September and I delivered it today. I’m happy with it; it’s not exactly as I’d imagined or hoped, but it’s good, and it’s done. My right hand has survived, and this final quilt has clarified what I can still achieve using it going forward.

The label.

As I’ve said elsewhere, this is going to be the last collaborative quilt I’ll be able to make for ovarian cancer. It has been 10 years since this initiative began, and this is also the 13th quilt I’ve made for that purpose. I’m proud of that and of the team that came together to work on all those collaborations. I would have preferred to make it to 15 quilts, but sometimes you have to give in gracefully to reality.

I’ve found that I can still make the hand-stitched hexie quilts I dearly love. I still have a very big box of teal fabrics, so maybe there’s a teal hexie quilt or two in me. Time will tell, but one thing is certain, I won’t be working to deadlines any longer.

To all the friends and colleagues who have worked with me on the ovarian cancer quilt series: thank you. Your generous and unstinting help over the years  has been invaluable in making the work possible. I’m sad to not use my last few ‘teal-adjacent’ pun titles for this series, but if any of you would like to make use of them for your own purposes, let me know and I’ll forward them.

And finally, in grateful memory of Pat Rainey, who inspired this whole thing. Gone, but not forgotten. And in memory of all the sisters we lost to ovarian cancer. May their memory be a light of hope for the future.

Onwards, to slower and smaller things 😊

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ScrapHappy August

It’s time for ScrapHappy, a day for showing something made from scraps of all kinds.

Well, the top is done. I got all four corners completed, working very, very  s l o w l y! Next step will be putting the quilt sandwich together, using an old recycled sheet I got at an op/thrift/charity shop for $5. It’ll be a bit of work, so it has to wait until after I’ve finished the current ovarian cancer quilt. I’m really happy with this, and every bit of it was scrap, so it’s a true save from the bin.

If you’re interested in joining in with ScrapHappy, please go to Kjerstin’s blog (link below) and leave a message, and she’ll add you to the list. Here are the links for everyone who joins ScrapHappy from time to time (they may not post every time, but their blogs are still worth looking at).

Kjerstin, Eva, Sue, Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Tracy, Jan, 
Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys,
Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen,
Sunny,  Sue L, Vera, Kate,
Ann, Dawn 2, Carol, Preeti,
Viv, Karrin,  Alissa, Tierney,
Hannah, Maggie and Wizzy

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Ovarian Cancer Quilt: TAH quilted

That particular hurdle is crossed.

All the blocks are neatly quilted and trimmed out. I’m ready to start the assembly process.

In the meantime, I’ve also selected fabrics from my stash for the sashing. For the front, this floral will form ‘flowerbeds’ between each house block. I’m not sure how well the scale of the flowers will read, but that’s currently my plan.

For the back, I’ve chosen another floral which blends with the pale aqua/white spot backing fabric, and will stand out more than I usually allow from back sashing.  I’m not 100% positive about it, but I’m going with it because sometimes you have to have conviction about your decisions! I think it’ll be OK…

So, I have 2 weeks to complete assembly and get it delivered. In practice, this means I have about 10 days. It’s going to be close, but  failing any unforeseen circumstances I can do it.

Watch this space.