I do like to be beside the seaside....

oh I do like to be beside the seaside

I do like to be beside the sea

I do like to stroll along the prom, prom, prom

Where the brass bands play!

 

Suffering from a big dose of cabin fever I was delighted when my hubby asked if I would like to join him on a walk along the promenade. I usually turn any invitation down as I am so busy in my sewing room but after nearly three weeks of non stop sewing I needed to GET OUT!

 

 

 

I really do love being home ...and although I don't often do any beachy things I enjoy pausing at the front windows and staring out at the sea. Last week we had much action here when a "micro light" went missing over the sea just in front of our flat! East Coast Radio had a minute to minute update, sirens were going off as the police vans arrived and an ambulance was on stand by and the masses were gathering. Two helicopters searched for hours!

 

Several hours later the only thing that had been picked up out of the sea was a big piece of plastic. No body had been found, no one was reported missing. Although it was a waste of resources and time it was wonderful to see that if we did have an emergency such as this, our emergency services would cope very well.

 

What do I do with all this precious free time?...I get into my sewing room and I SEW! I have the radio on so that I can keep abreast with what is happening in the world, and while listening to sweet music , I SEW! Needless to say I am very happy.

 

To start off I have a couple of U.F.Os that I need to finish and a couple of requests for quilts to make to. Let me begin at the beginning.

A friend, Anita, moved to New Zealand. Before leaving Anita had the task of clearing out her late Mother's things. She came across a quilt top and a quilt backing plus lots of bits and pieces of fabrics. Anita packed them all up and sent them to me with a request to make TWO quilts for her daughters. I looked at Granny's efforts and wasn't sure how I was going to approach this challenge. I asked the opinions of two of my quilting friends and the first one shook her head and said she would never take on the challenge. The second friend was constructive and gave me a little advice and much encouragement.

With all my travels it was a LONG time before I could actually begin on these challenges. Bless Grandma.....the whole time I was working on these quilts I tried to get in her mind and have good positive thoughts.

The back of the quilt consisted of pieces of Sanderson Linen from a book of samples. I pulled the pieces apart, washed them recut the fabrics and put them together with a lovely dusky pink sashing.

I am very pleased with the final result, I hope Anita is too. Now for the bigeye

Before....

 

The second quilt is a greater challenge as Granny had designed the top and had not got it anywhere near completion. I removed all the papers from the hexagonals, did some mending, added more hexies etc and then to cut a long story short, I managed to finish the quilt top and got it quilted to the backing.

 

After .....finished! I do enjoy the sense of achievement when the last stitch is stitched!

I asked Anita to tell me a little about her Mum and this is the info she sent.

Full names: Thora Sylvia Noome (Meyer)

Born;15August,1922 in Benoni.

She preferred to be called Grandma, loved all arts and her hands were always busy. Grandma used a Bernina treadle machine and loved creating.

I hope I have done Grandma proud and that her Grand daughters will enjoy and treasure these quilts.

I do like to be beside the seaside.....but there are no brass bands playing. There are vendors....

 

Visitors.....

and whales!