A Quilt Binding.

Yesterday I picked up my beautiful "pretty in pink" quilt from the machine quilting lady.

There is so much detail in it, she's done little clouds mostly, which is perfect for the "bitsyness" of the pieces.

So I thought I might do a little tutorial on quilt binding; the Magpie Chic method.

Might not be how the experts do it, but it's a way that I've worked out over the years that works for me.

I start by trimming off the excess wadding, which is easy when it's been machine quilted right round the perimeter.

I auditioned a few pieces of fabric that I thought would suit as a border.

I chose this one.

I cut 4" strips for my borders usually, along the length of the fabric if i can, but width ways if that's the only way i can make the fabric eak out. It takes quite a lot of fabric. About a metre- ish - for a quilt this size. Just measure perimeter of quilt to work out how much you'll need.

Then add up how long you can make your 4" strip by sewing all your cut strips together.

Add about 10cm for overhangs and foldovers. If it's a bit longer than the perimeter of your quilt, then you have enough fabric.

Press the strip in half, right sides out. Pin to wrong side of first corner with about 1cm overhang.

Sew with usual quarter inch seam.

Then press both sides of seam flat.

Use a 1cm overhang at each new corner so that you can turn raw edge under like a 1cm hem when mitering the corners. I mitre the corner like folding gift wrapping paper.

Press all the seams flat as you go, and the mitred corners.

I find pinning one side at a time, then hemming that side and that corner before moving onto the next one is the best method.

The Magpie cat finds sleeping on the pin cushion the best method.

Then just hem stitch each side as you go, on the wrong side of the quilt. Make tiny stitches, so they are not visible.

A litle bit of Jackie O.

I have this gorgeous vintage dress in my wardrobe. I've owned it for a year and never worn it. Mainly because the weather was so cold last summer. Perhaps this summer I'll get my chance.

It reminds me of the dresses Jacqueline Kennedy wore THAT summer.

I thought I'd wear it over jeans. What do you think?

Stuff I have been doing when not totally exhausted.

Gosh is it Friday night already?

I'm exhausted - in a good way.

It's exhausting vaccinating the babies!!

All that smiling and gurgling , and then there's the cuddling them when they cry,

(Can you guess i secretly quite like vaccinating the babies).

So i have managed to fit a few things in on my days off.

Like my calico mouse, made from instructions in Australian Homespun The Kids issue - (October)

She is rather cute. I have her brother all ready cut out and ready to sew like some kind of ode to the gingerbread man. But the way things are at this time of the year there's not much chance of him hopping off the sewing table, putting himself together and running off down the road.

I finished this cross stitch a couple of years ago actually, not in the weekend!!!

The thing about it is, (apart from the fact that it is a future family heirloom)

that it took me five years to complete.

I try to reference vintage with all my Christmas decorating. Vintage and rustic country.

This year I was given my very own authentic vintage Christmas card.

It was sent to my mother, from "the family" more than 50 years ago.

It is a treasure.

And i made my Christmas cake.

That is a big job, and it takes 4 hours to cook.

It's somebody's Granny's recipe from donkey's years ago,

and i think it's the best I've ever tasted, and fool proof!


And I've been enjoying the garden.

But i need to start watering it regularly now. Lovely sunny days with no rain.

Wouldn't you agree?

Perfect.

Snapshot of a Small Town.

There is a proud tradition in small towns (and many larger centres) across the country.

It is the annual Agricultural and Pastoral Show.

The A&P Show to us.

In Hawera it always coincides with the annual Christmas Parade, the Friday night before the show opens on Saturday.
There is a totally local focus, and you could not mistake it for the Auckland Santa Parade for example.
This is either charming, or parochial, or celebrating the vernacular, or underwhelming, depending on your point of view.
But it's us.

I have grown to love the small town vibe, but then I have the advantage of being able to escape often.

It's a caring, supportive and tolerant community, where vulnerable people are looked out for, creativity abounds and old fashioned rural values remain.

Where our kids went to school it was normal to turn up in Grandma's knitted jersey and gumboots. Designer lunches were not required. It was like a breath of fresh air, and has remained so.

Thanks to "she " who took the photos and went to the parade, as she has every year since she needed to ride on her father's shoulders to watch.

'Twas the Month Before Christmas...

'Twas the month before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung on the quilt rail with care,

In hope that St Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were out, and not in their beds,

No visions of Christmas yet danced in their heads;

With Hubby at work, and cats who weren't bothered,

I got out the Christmas things stashed in the cupboard.

When from the next room there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter;

I got to the lounge and my camera did flash,

As the Tail Cat was giving my pine tree the bash!

On his haunches he perched, ready to pounce,

"Tail Cat," I said, I won't give you an ounce,

Of licence to beat up my beautiful tree,

So please go outside and finish your tea!

My heart skipped a beat as he jumped and took fright,

I thought he might exit attached to a light,

Still blinking and twinkling and sparkling with glitter,

The whole tree would topple, attached to his flipper,

But lucky for him, he escaped with good grace,

And the Magpie Cat sat with a smile on his face.

For the rest of the day I took lots of cool piccies,

And moved things and changed things and found all the stickies,

For wrapping the presents and writing on labels,

I laid them all out on my old kitchen table.

I hung all the reindeer and dangled the tinsel,

From pine branch to pine branch with glitter a twinkle,

While all the while thinking of things I could make;

Like truffles and crackers and gingerbread cake,

To myself I did think all was Merry and Bright,

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night.