More Hawaiian Quilts

As you know, I really enjoy working on these large pieces of applique. I still have one in the frame, that I must start work on again - it was forgotten about, during the heat of this summer.

 

I also have others in the pipe line -

 

This is a pattern called Carnation - it is a wide dark pink backing material on a mid pink Kona cotton background.

Here is Kuuipo - it is about 2/3 done. There is still the reverse applique of the hearts to do, I decided to leave those until last.

I also ordered some more fabrics. I have ordered a pattern from Hawaii (there will be customs to pay!) In one of the books, which covers an exhibition of Hawaiian quilts, there are two quilts in this orang and purple colour scheme, which is a striking one. I have chosen Papaya and Berry - the colour chart for Kona can be seen. Perhaps if the pattern arrives, I can get this cut and basted over Christmas. It definitely is a longer job, especially the laying out and basting. The cats don't help either.

...and finally, what I did with the jelly rolls that I bought at FOQ. This Spiral Quilt pattern by Crafty Quilter was published in one of the quilting magazines. I changed the black background for a Kona colour called Ocean Blue, which I think is more attractive. The pattern looked deceptively simple - however, the jelly roll strips were pinked and it took a while to discover where the seam line should lie. With this pattern, precision is very important - so my machine piecing did improve as I went along. So, the first blocks were not as good as the last ones! A 4 inch border was added after this photo was taken, and the quilt was not perfectly square - but really done for fun and not exhibition.
I have not decided how to quilt this - although I swore never to do that, I might get it longarmed as it really just needs straight line quilting, which easily puckers on the domestic sewing machine...

Cot Quilt from Cardigan

Here is a small cot quilt from Cardigan in Wales.

 

Like many a baby quilt, it has been intensively used and washed, and has lost most of the colour that it once had.

The filling is wool, and the edge is hand sewn. Not very interesting compared to some of my other cot quilts.....still, a useful item made by a mother or grandmother....

Printed Shawl - Yardage?

I bought this lovely shawl earlier this year. I think that it must be one of the "down market" shawls, as it appears to be made from yardage good, with a fringe added at the cut ends.

 

I find these shawls very sophisticated in their designs,,,

It must have taken great skill to print the designs onto the wool fabric...

The colours are very subtle...

So I enjoy these textiles, even if I do not know as much as I would like about them....

I keep promising myself a trip to Norwich, And perhaps Paisley in Scotland one day! both have excellent museum displays.

Open Day at Karin Hellaby's House - New Book

Earlier this month, I walked around to Karin Hellaby's house for the first sight of her new book, Jelly Roll Bargello Quilts. I have known Karin for a long time, and during that time, have seen her start and then manage the shop, Quilters Haven. I did a lot of teaching there! And also, made samples for her various books. She has now retired  and sold the shop - it is very much missed locally!

But, Karin is still writing and also running quilting trips and cruises.

Here is the newest book. It is well set out and has some lovely quilts to make.

the premise is that if you take a jelly roll, you can make a succesful bargello quilt. Take 20 2.5 inch strips and follow the clear instructions!

Batiks would work well, too.

I am going to try this, once I have some spare time!

Summer Holiday to Yorkshire Dales 3

The last day of our short visit to the Yorkshire Dales....I had planned a walk above Reeth.

From Reeth, we walked to Grinton church. This was the end of the "Corpse Trail ", where folk from the upper valley were buried in the Grinton graveyard. We met a local bellringer, by chance, and had a look in the bellchamber, and helped to lower the bells.

The walk took in Marrick Priory - once inhabited by nuns, but now used as an outdoor activity centre. Not usually open to the public, but we were allowed to look around. Leaving here, a  steep stone path was used by the nuns to get to the Richmond road. A very hot day!

Lovely views, but looking very dry...

The sheep were seeking out any shade that they could find...

Looking towards Reeth....

Another view towards Reeth...

After returning to Reeth, we headed home to the A1 via Richmond...I think that we have rung here at St Mary's, in the past...

The centre of Richmond - this market place is said to be one of the largest in England. The Obelisk replaced an earlier Market Cross, and supplied water to the town from a reservoir underneath.

Holy Trinity Church, now redundant, houses the Green Howards museum.

Richmond Castle....

Richmond Falls were full of people swimming and taking advantage of the warm weather.

Summer Holiday in the Yorkshire Dales 2

For our second walk, we ventured into Swaledale proper, and walked from the village of Keld, to another village, Muker. Tin mining took place here in the past; it must have looked quite different then, and been much more heavily populated.

This barn is noteworthy as it has a stone lintel dating to the late 1600s. A mystery, as most of these barns were built in the mid 1700s - perhaps the lintel was reused?

The weather was fine - very hot and sunny.

The first part of the walk was the steep bit - the valley opened out before us.

This was the famous "corpse path" - the local churches did not have graveyards, and bodies had to be taken down the valley to the church at Grinton to be buried. The path was steep and narrow, and the journey took 2 or 3 days. Eventually, the smaller churches got their own graveyards...

The valley, with a very low River Swale at the bottom...

More fingerposts...

The track as it approaches Muker....we had lunch and a drink at the Farmers Arms there...

Then, back up the other side of the valley, a gentler and more level walk.

More stone barns. These protected stock from harsh winter weather. Many animals were slaughtered in autumn, and the animals to be kept on were fed on stored feed throughout the long winter. Barns in each field ensured that the animals did not have to be moved any great distance.

Another fine stone barn...

The Swale, looking very low...

Former mine workings. The water did not have much life to it, and we wondered whether the toxic minerals leached into the water...

Another view along the valley...

Stone walls must have required much labour to build....

On a hot day, it was fun to swim in the river....

Later, we set out for Sedburgh (where I once took a wholecloth course with Lilian Hedley. And site of the famous kicking incident at the local bellringing practice!) A local music day was taking place.

We also went in search of the famous Ribblehead viaduct. On our visit at Easter, we went on the Settle line, but of course when on the train, one cannot see the viaduct! A drone buzzed overhead, as another group made videos of a train departing the station.

Summer Holiday in the Yorkshire Dales 1

 

Having gone to the Dales over Easter, I made plans to return again in July. We had a light snow at Easter - but in the midst of a drought, the countryside looked very dry this time around.

 

We drove up on a Thursday evening and managed to take a quick walk around Hawes after some dinner....

On Friday, I planned a walk from Aysgarth Falls to Bolton Castle and back. I had spotted the castle driving along the road the previous day, and wanted to investigate further...The falls were very low, this is the upper falls with Mike trying to take photos.

The day was overcast and there was a bit of rain, but not enough to do any good.

Most of the footpaths are clearly marked by finger posts in the Dales.

 

A few hardy wildfowers, such as this geranium, were to be seen.

 

Just as it started to rain in ernest, we reached Bolton Castle.

This was not only a stronghold, but a family home until a more modern house was built in the 1760s.

We had tea and cakes, then explored the castle, which is partly in ruins and partly restored. Mary Queen of Scots was held here for some months until she was moved to a more southerly location. Of course she was accompanied by a retinue of some 51 persons.

We walked back towards Aysgarth Falls....

The fields were dry, with harvest having taken place..

The lower falls at Aysgarth...

And the middle Falls.....must be very spectacular when there is more water about or after a rainfall.

These falls have been a tourist attraction for many years, and the painterTurner is known to have visited and painted a scene...much less trees then, and fishing allowed...

 

We then visited Aysgarth Church - a wedding rehersal was taking place as we left...

 

In the evening, we made a short walk to Askrigg Falls....very much reduced I'm afraid...