X.....tra read all about .....

X.....tra read all about
hidden
famous 
alive
crosses in quilts


HIDDEN

Cryptic X word

Somehow , I deleted the text for this....basically, David does the smh quick crossword every morning and most mornings I do the Sudoku. We never do the cryptic so its gems remain hidden and too cryptic for us!

Famous

Xenophon

 Time has worn down the sculpture of the man but his fame lives on: Xenophon was a multi talented Attican Greek philosopher, soldier, historian and 'horse whisperer'. He travelled extensively and was in and out of favour in many courts. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenophon will give you a deeper insight into the life of a man from pre Persian War Greece. Photo is from Google Images

Alive

I do not know if the aforementioned Xenophon of the 5th Century BC and Nick of 21st Century South Australia are related but I would like to think they are! Nick is not my political cup of ouzo but he is alive, famous in political circles and Malaysia and has a surname which begins with 'X'! He seems a decent sort of a bloke, likes to travel and is more peace oriented than his uber/mega famous 'relative'. 

Photo is from Google Images

Crosses in quilts

  Despite their trad 'windmill' tag, I like to think of these blocks as 'X'es just for this blog! I started this quilt about 2.5 years ago to 'bash the stash' and scraps. however, hips, hands and feet (as explained in 'M' two weeks ago) prevented its progress. The quilt is almost together but I have to tweak the two long sides a bit to finish the top. I'm calling it 'Chennai' where my maternal great grandparents, Martin Toohey and Sarah Weekes met in the 1870s. He was in the East India Company and she was from an Anglo Indian background. 


Cinzia's blog takes you to all the other scatterers:   http://lgfns.blogspot.com.au
I can't wait to see their blog spots marked 'X'

MMMMmmmMMMmmmm

Animal, Sport, Foreign, Modern Quilt

MMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmm

ANIMAL: Myna....native

This strong, creeping plant with attractive leaves and flowers has become a drawcard for mynas. When the plant is in bloom they are constantly drinking the nectar from the tubular bells. We have a good 'twitching hide' from our kitchen/dining area and are often entertained by the aerobics, antics and acrobatics of the mynas.The best display of myna-gymnastics to date happened about two months ago, when this gravity defying animal, intoxicated with honey, went for broke to reach the last possible honey pot. 

Clinging upside down and drinking was not a problem. The photos are not as sharp as I would have liked as they are taken through the fly screen.

SPORT

Sports Medicine Centre at the Mater Clinic

Having been very sporty up until my early forties, I have developed lot of tendon problems over the years. Consequently, I have visited this fine centre a plethora of times and have seen almost all of the specialists for one part of the body or other: left foot, right elbow, left hamstrings, right hip, left knee, right foot, spine, neck and left shoulder!!!! I have funded a number of holidays over the years!

Foreign ..... Mail

  I have collected every postcard which have received since I was about 9 or 10. The box which holds them all is overloaded. I think there is about 1000 in there and I have started a second box. Unfortunately, emails seem to be superseding postcards. I still love receiving them and of course letters from overseas friends. The envelope in the centre is from my German friend Elisabeth who now lives in Sweden. The stamp on the envelope shows some wonderful socks knitted with variegated wool. About two years ago, Elisabeth knitted me pair just like the sock on the far left of the stamp. 

Modern Quilt

My most 'modern quilt' is probably the most old fashioned as it is made from old shirts bought in thrift shops. It took me ages to sew it together but even longer to hand quilt it as my hands 'packed up' (Yes, another visit to an orthopod!) I called the quilt 'Every stitch is a kiss' as it was a work of love for David. The quilt label on the right below shows David with our dog Cassie (1995-2010). 

Veni vidi vinci lucem

SCATTERINGS 'V'

Pointy

Colour

Weather

Vibrant quilt

Pointy View of Vie & Vieux

It took a lot of rummaging to come up with this one! These pointy stilettos were my shoe of choice for my wedding outfit. I had to wear them in so they are just over 20 years old and their 'big day out' was on 3 July 1993. Actually, it was their big day inside as that is where the wedding, reception and accommodation were: all under the one roof in an old hotel, which has its own V-story in the history of Sydney! 

Vert de Gris

I took this photo in a courtyard in Koblenz last September. The fountain has an attractive vert de gris patina but .......

don't blink or you'll miss it!

The 'spray', which the boy bestows on his unsuspecting public,  is amusing but the meaning below explains a more sobering history of Koblenz.The fountain is in a courtyard of Jesuit buildings opposite the Rathaus.

http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowUserReviews-g187391-d2515609-r141467658-Schangelbrunnen-Koblenz_Rhineland_Palatinate.html :

'The Schängel fountain is located at the Town Hall Square, surrounded by the Baroque buildings of the Jesuit ensemble, designed in 1940 by Carl Carl Burger and is dedicated to the poet Josef Cornelius, who wrote the text of the Schängellied, the national anthem of Koblenz. The term Schängel got its origin from the 20-years (1794-1813) in which it belonged of the city of France and refers to the Franco-German children born during this period who often received the name Jean (German: Johann), in the Koblenz slang Jean Schang, over time it became Schängel. With this fountain not only but also the Koblenz-based Schängel got a monument but as well the citizens of Koblenz. In an irregular rhythm the bronze figure spits out a jet of water a few meters far above the fountain basin.

Weather 

Wind Vanes

in Tallin Estonia August 2012

We took the two hour ferry trip across the Baltic Sea from Helsinki to Tallinn and stayed there two nights.The old town which dates back to the 13th century and is one of the best preserved in Europe, has a UNESCO Heritage listing. Since the Soviets left in the early 90s and Estonia joined the European Union in 2004, the Estonians have resurrected their economy and are proud to show their beautiful city to the world. 

Vibrant Quilt

'Under The Sea'  for Max, the son of my physio Bride. As usual, the quilt took me quite a while and Max was already 

1 year old when I gave it to him. Another baby is due this month so hopefully s/he will be able to use it, too. 

I enjoyed making it and really liked quilting it. 

SO...... ADILQRSTVW......How time flies! 10/26 Scatterings to the wind. Where will the next whim of Cinzia take us?

Blink and you'd think you were in Chiba not Chatswood!

A walk through Daiso at Chatswood not Chiba!
Amazing what you see when you park the car in a street and not the Westfield parking megalopolis!

DAISO!

a Japanese $2.80 shop 


We mingled with a cast from all nations and detected a few delighted Japanese conversations: a trove of nostalgia in the heart of northern Sydney. 

 

WOW! 

 
David's eyes glazed over when he saw the cooking utensils!

 

 
Hello Kitty! type crockery!

 

Undergarments and bed socks???
 

 I was going to buy a paper cutter but the checkout queue was too long so I put it down and left. 
What restraint!

Apologies for the photo quality but I only had the mobile. 

International Quilt Study Centre

 

If you are interested in quilt history and appreciate a regular eyefest of quilt photos, 

don't blink!

Treat yourself to an early coffee/ tea break and get to know this site with its vast 

collection of quilts

You can subscribe to the monthly newsletters featuring a quilt from the archives, 

browse the collection and participate in user friendly activities. 

http://www.quiltstudy.org/collections/quilt_of_the_month/

You may be inspired to make your own or give it a modern twist as many of our

Aussie quilt designers are doing.

Stenocarpus Sinuatus Fire Wheel Tree

       

Margaret Preston

Wheelflower 

[Stenocarpus wheelflower Australian]

1929

This woodblock has been one of my favourite Australian art works for a very long time. Up until two weeks ago, I had only ever seen the real flowers once when they were cut. However, two weeks ago I found a tree during one of my walks close to home. 

 

I went back today to 'harvest' some of the seeds, which I hope I can germinate and grow. 

I collected some of the dead flowers with, hopefully, an abundance of seeds to sow. 

http://cs.nga.gov.au/Detail.cfm?IRN=28961

The tree hides its blooms well. I have driven past e tree many times but only saw the flowers while walking. Yet again, 'Blink n you miss it'!

http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Stenocarpus~sinuatus

L Scatterings ....City ....Purple .....Sky .....Lap Quilt

CITY


        >
   Lund in Sweden

I took these photos while passing through the city of Lund in Southern Sweden last year.... nice blue local train and some lovely buildings opposite the station. I was a great fan of the Danish detective series 'The Killing'. The main detective, Sara Lund developed a cult following of fans liking her Fair Isle jumper and wanting the pattern! So when passing through Southern Sweden where the second series is set, I had to have a photo of the city! Here is a photo of Sarah, played by Sofie Grabol in her 'trending' jumper!

Like the jumper? 

Here's the pattern!

PURPLE

Luggage

This piece of 'hard-knocks' luggage was in a store room but I know it does a great job housing and transporting quilts

SKY

Liquid 

A break in an afternoon shower creates a liquid sky over Albert Park Beach in Melbourne on Monday, 22 April 2013 at about 4pm. Looking south towards St Kilda and........... beyond.

Lap Quilt

'Technically speaking,....' I hear you all say!

Yes, I know it's still a lap top! But I have more of those than lap quilts. I made this one in 2006 during a Margaret Kirkby course using Jinny Beyer fabric. I found the machine piecing very difficult and feel I have made this top at least 6 times as I had to unpick it so often. I learned a lot but it took a long time before the quilt and me became friends.

Apologies for any mistakes...it is late and my ISP has slowed my connection. Another 'to do' on today's list. Must get to bed ;-0

Crazy Quilt

"Crazy Quilt" Charlie Creath's Jazz-O-Maniacs

If you like trad jazz, you might like the link below:
http://www.20sjazz.com/videos/hot-jazz/crazy-quilt-.html

A Quilting Down Under member, Mary C  also tells me there is a song, 'Little Crazy Quilt' on the Singing Quilter's website! What a coincidence!

'How to make an American Quilt' is one of my favourite movies. The sound track is wonderful.

Scatterings A: House ...Bird ....Rubbish ...Art in/for/from the sewing room

SCATTERINGS A


A House: a free-standing, Federation cottage in my neighbourhood grips tightly onto a steep sandstone ledge. It still has its original name plate, 'Araluen' in place. 

    
'Araluen' takes its Aboriginal name from a small town in SE NSW.  
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Araluen,_New_South_Wales

Perhaps the original owners struck pay dirt in Araluen NSW during the gold rush and later built their home in Sydney. Unfortunately, I haven't spied any water lilies in the area but there are 'running waters' in an old creek bed which runs underground from Crows Nest to the Parramatta River via Balls Head Bay, where Sydney Harbour meets the River. The creek bed runs under parks and building developments but when you stand in the park after heavy rain you can hear the underground flow of the natural water course.

Now a little further afield to the South Island of New Zealand...... and photos from 2006.

A ....Bird: Albatross (Royal)

The Kiwis have wonderful wildlife and, for the less thrill -seeking of tourists, some great places to see animals in their habitat. Taiaroa Head near Dunedin is a fantastic location. It houses and protects the world's only mainland albatross rookery. 

http://www.albatross.org.nz/taiaroa-head/taiaroa-head

Taiaroa Head Lighthouse and one of the rookeries looking North East 

and .................... just around the corner from 'Araluen' ........

A: Rubbish ........ Assortment

 There is a plethora of positives and negatives about this assortment of 'Household Waste'. I am sure you could add your own '+' & '-' views about this 'licorice all sorts', which appears on our streets twice to 3 times per month. The 'waste' goes out on Sunday and is collected Monday so there are no long term piles of detritus.

Sometimes, when I have driven around the Council pick up area, I have stopped and picked up a variety of things which I either use, give to charity fetes and Vinnies or recycle myself when I have no more use for them. It is quite a Sunday outing and an income stream for many. This pile will most probably be halved by 9am tomorrow morning. Today I don't have the car so I can't take what I think I could reuse ie the two timber pallets, which I would like for the garden. Hopefully, someone takes the 
bookcase and gives it a second life. I know a few schools which could use the chairs. If I get a chance to return before the collectors arrive tomorrow, I'll take another photo and post it.


Hello! Back again......

Barely a dent in the pile

:-(

 I passed by this morning, Monday 8 April, at about 11:30am and took the two photos above, which show what will go to landfill! Why can't these people phone Vinnies or the Salvos and ask them to pick up? Those chairs look like standard NSW Education Department furniture. The waste of energy, primary and secondary resources and labour is gobsmacking. 

A: Something for/from/in the sewing room ....

Art: Apple & Afternoon                       

'Champagne Apple', hand blown by my friend, Arthur Zirnsak  & 'Afternoon', a framed painting which I found at Vinnies for the price of 4 cups of coffee.

What does Cinzia have in store for next week?                                                                 

Kaikoura East Coast Southland New Zealand 2009

Seagulls find the best views.

Scattering the 4 Esses

Female, Ice Cream, Empty & Stash

S Female : Strelitzia but don't think pink! 

 A sexist guess at the colour of the strelitzia's female part might be anything but blue. 
However, the blue petals are the female organs. 

Have a look at the link below to gain further insight into the fertilisation process and the role of the blue petals. The white stamen is described as a spathe.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strelitzia

S Ice Cream: Semifreddo with Strawberry and 'Shockolate'

These are the ingredients and Donna Hay's recipe for Semifreddo, an Italian ice cream which I will not be making this Easter! The strawberries are my addition as I like strawberry ice cream with chocolate.  Ice cream is my enemy! I will have to continue my regime of strawberries and yoghurt as my feet appreciate not having to carry around all those ingredients. 

S Empty: Shibori

 In Shibori, indigo tie-dyeing, it's really about what's not 'there' and the beauty of empty space.

 I started with a length of pale blue silk. I folded the piece in three diagonal sections and then blocked areas on these pleats with string, pegs and jumper-lead clamps. The excitement came when undoing and taking away all the 'hardware', revealing the 'empty sections' where the indigo had not penetrated/permeated. I'm now waiting for the second workshop in May so that I can complete the coverlet with some mocha silk and perhaps do some sashiko quilting on it.

S Stash: Selvage Strips

A few years ago, Down Under Quilts published an article about using selvage strips to make skirts, dresses (yes, mega metres needed), bags etc. So I started collecting them but have never used them. In a recent, online, pincushion swap, my partner, Chris from Lansing, Michigan sent me this wonderful pincushion which she had made from her stash of selvage strips. I love it!

Perhaps we should call them 'salvage' or 'upcycling' strips?!? 
The DUQ article is at the following link: 
http://www.downunderquilts-digital.com/downunderquilts/issue139?pg=24#pg23