Sunday, October 16, 2011

Thanks Norma and the NZ Quilter!


TIRELESS TEACHER
Natalie Murdoch shares her quilt haven with Norma Slabbert of NZ Quilter

Natalie Murdoch is living the quilt dream; in splendid isolation, solitude, and silence. That is, when she hasn’t got company. However, company has a way of always finding a warm and generous quilter – even at the remote intersection of State Highways 2 and 27.

While many quilters just dream of swapping city life for that country cottage on the hill where you can quilt all day, Natalie has actually done it. Six years ago. The city, Auckland; the country cottage, in Mangatarata, on the Hauraki Plains.

In a brave effort to move forward in life and with a clear plan in mind, Natalie was looking for a property that was different. “Something on a crossroads because that was where I was in my life.”

She found an old brick church – sans spire, bell tower or stained glass windows – near the Firth of Thames. The cross, high walls, and great location cast a spell and she moved in. After living in Auckland for 35 years, “It was something of a home-coming.”

The old church became her living and working space while the builders sandwiched a cottage to the church. All Natalie’s dreams came together in a cottage with dusky Parisian pink wood panelling. The cottage was purpose built for retreats and the loggia that connects it to the church is a good place to eat, relax, or for al fresco sewing.

Once the cottage was finished, Natalie established Wholly Quilts – a venture that could never have been called anything else. Conveniently halfway between Auckland, Hamilton, and Tauranga, Wholly Quilts offers quilt retreats, workshops, as well as quilt get-togethers in the old church that also houses Natalie’s quilt collection, shop, studio, and classroom.

Natalie plans the retreats and designs the classes and meals to suit individual needs. Accommodation is on the upper floor of the cottage with a view over gentle rolling hills and green pasture land. And the bedding: her colourful quilts.

The church is open to visitors when Natalie is at home, or by appointment. And while visitors may enter as guests of past generations, the quilts carpeting the walls are contemporary and permit full colour dreams and aspirations. However, you soon realise that Natalie does not show her quilts to shine. It is all about teaching.

A born teacher, Natalie has been on the teaching faculty of the past six (nine with a gap for Auck as I was it’s convenor?) national symposia. “I don’t know any other way of sharing. What is the use of all the knowledge I have garnered over the years if not to share?”

Her favourite part of teaching is, “Watching the light come on as they (the students) get a handle on the technique, colour, or pattern.” During a gallery tour, Natalie switches on the lights. No, she does not wash all new fabrics. No, less is not more; more fabric creates depth of colour and cover weak spots. No, the stipple (I don’t like this word cos it denotes squiggles and I don’t do that style or suggest it to students) quilting came first and then the appliqué. Yes, she uses zigzag stitches to appliqué, because it is more forgiving than satin stitch. And no, she does not fold or roll a quilt before storage; she bundles it in her arms, gives it a firm hug, and pushes it into a bulging cupboard. No, it’s not sloppy; it prevents permanent folds.

When she talks about individual quilts, she skips the fluff and talks technique; the essence that defines her as a teacher. Most of her classes grew out of her love of scrap quilts and she says, “It is easier to make a truly scrappy quilt with more, rather than less, fabric choices.” Bright Eyes confirms this. “Scraps again, using paper base and the sew-and-flip method of string-piecing. Use the phone book because the light weight paper is easy to remove.”

Bloomin’ Nine Patch is a simple colour wash quilt, using only seven fabrics. The mottled fabrics blend into each other and create a subtle and nuanced contrast. Natalie says the secret is to choose fabrics that bleed into the next one. She has permission from Blanche Young – original designer of the Blooming Nine Patch – to teach this class in New Zealand.

Bush Shapes refers to Natalie’s previous life in a native bush block. The quilt celebrates New Zealand natives with many techniques including; curved piecing, appliqué, raw-edged weaving, trapunto, and free-motion quilting.

Climate Change showcases three different types of appliqué including three dimensional leaves that were sewn on a base of tulle.

In The Campbells are Coming Natalie replicates the woven grid of tartans or plaids. She full stops it with a thistle and says, “Most New Zealanders have a Scottish link.”

Deco Décor was inspired by an old 1920s cut velvet cushion cover. In deep plum the quilt confirms Natalie’s love of pink – from baby to burgundy – and all the shades in between. A love that extends to her house and her feminine vintage bedroom where she displays a sumptuous rose, olive green, and pale blue wall quilt in silk, velvet, satin, jacquard, and merino jersey.

Natalie made the quilt blocks while her friends and family embellished it with embroidery, lace, ribbon, and gold trinkets – to celebrate her 60th birthday. The heirloom quilt reveals that Natalie was born on Christmas Day and that her true passions are needlework and gardening.

In contrast, a small army of bright blue and red toy soldiers and nutcrackers guard the bedroom. The soldiers come from all over the world, and Natalie says, “Well I could say I always fancied a man in uniform…” The collection highlights a playful wit and whimsy side – often seen in Natalie’s quilts such as Fisher Boy. In delightful colouring book style, the quilt is appliquéd with her signature small black zigzag stitches and then coloured with a black fabric pen for definition.

Autumn on Highway 6 is a striking batik quilt with unique quilting. “The glorious colours of autumn. As I walked along part of this road to take the initial photographs, I noticed a hubcap on the side of the road. The form inspired the shapes.” Natalie quilts the word, hubcaps, repeatedly all over the quilt with free-motion stitching. Remember doing lines at school?

Pursuing autumn colours is nothing new to Natalie. She grew up in Nelson with three siblings, a father who was a professional photographer, and a mother who made bridal gowns.

Always in search of the perfect photograph, the family chased autumn colours and water reflections around the South Island. “All done on black and white film, but the colour created great grey scale and depth.” Something that still informs Natalie’s work.

She learnt to take notice of her surroundings during these sometimes epic journeys and her father encouraged her to express it in words and to start a career as a journalist cadet on the Evening Post in Wellington. She progressed to manager of Newsbrief in Auckland before she retired.

Natalie’s love of words grew from her father and her career. Her Wholly Quilts newsletter and blog entertains and informs. It sings the joy of a self sufficient country life, shares some recipes, and paints an accurate picture of a packed pantry with jams, jellies, dried produce - tomatoes, berries, pickled onions, persimmons, feijoas, figs, tamarillos, mushrooms, chillies and orange, lime, and lemon marmalades. The result of Natalie’s passionate edible gardening in the Pumpkin Patch.

While she modestly says, “Wholly Quilts has enabled me to bring all my passions together in one place – quilting, teaching, writing, gardening, and cooking”, Natalie actually makes a powerful statement on dreams, choices, resilience, self- reliance, life-long learning, a creative life, and quilting as a career. In addition, she reclaims the right to be feminine with her pink house.


Tuesday, October 04, 2011

the big speech...


Dunedin NZ September 2011...

"Thank you so much for inviting me here – I think.

When I first got the invitation I ‘wasgunna’ get really organised and talk about all sorts of things. Who am I kidding – I’ve never done this before!

It is close to 47 years since I was last in this city. Then I was playing representative basketball at the national championships. I know. I used to be tall but time and gravity got to me ..

I wasgunna lose some weight – yeah right – so I would at least be confident about standing in front of you all. The thought that I might need a little extra for warmth down here in the deep south is one pathetic excuse I used. Let’s face it I gave up smoking over 20 years ago and that was simple compared to giving up food. So now I stand in front of you looking pretty much as I have always looked – warm and cuddly.

I decided that it would be easy if I talked about something I know really well – me! Me. But that wouldn’t necessarily interest you. So the next best thing is quilting - quilting and my quilt journey.

I wasgunna tell you how I began my quilting experience but that was many moons ago and so-o much has happened since - the details no longer matter. Suffice to say that I started that first quilt the day after my husband walked out and finished it ten days later. Yep, hand quilted and binding on. I then had something that didn’t drink or gamble BUT something that kept me warm – and totally occupied. My first quilt.

I worked with a lovely lady who got me hooked. Sometimes these days I go to a quilt meeting and I feel as though I should take the pledge – you know stand up in front and say ‘hello my name is Natalie and I’m a quilter’

Anyway that first quilt was a rail fence pattern and each day Yvonne sent me home to wash n iron, sew n iron, cut n sew n iron, you get the idea? Ten days later I had been taught some important lessons that still apply to all my patchwork and quilting – iron n iron n iron.

When I think about it - seams on patchwork are about all I do iron these days. It’s amazing how well body heat copes with the creases in your clothing. And I don’t necessarily wash the fabrics first anymore though sometimes the blues and reds look suspiciously like runners.

A few weeks ago I was interviewed and I was asked if I began sewing as a child. Nope. My parents were the ‘oh give it to me’ variety so I spent my childhood watching them being very clever with form, colour, balance and technique. My dad was a professional photographer and mum made pin money sewing. I watched.

I grew up in Nelson. During the May school holidays way back Dad would pack us up in trusty old Vanguard and we would trek around the South Island looking for autumn colours to photograph. Dad drove as if it was an off-roader and we went places no-man had gone before often getting stuck (all four kids piled onto the bonnet of the car and mum pushing) you get the picture.

Dad carried a rake in the car boot. With this he could clear the foreground or hook a branch down to balance the skyline. Landscape photography was his passion. He kept a weather eye out – the sun made the shadows stronger, the rain or dull days soften outlines. And I watched.

It wasn’t until relatively recently that it occurred to me that Dad was using black and white film. His balance of form and light, the contrasting grey-scale and his abiding passion made masterpieces of his photography. I had watched and learned.

50 years ago I can remember Mum getting a Bernina sewing machine for Christmas (she and I share that day with our birthdays) and she cried all day. I can never remember using it. It was my job to pick up the pins after a session on the most recent bridal gown. So I watched.

The first thing I ever put on time payment when I left home and went to work was a sewing machine. It cost three guineas but enabled me to sew clothing – I knew how cos I had watched and learned.

There is one regret I have from those early days of watching and learning – I shoulda done more of it during my maths classes. If only I had known - I coulda used all those fractions and geometry equations for quilting.

As I told you earlier my first quilt was made 21 years ago. And I was immediately drawn to this great craft – I think I have one of those addictive personalities (you know food …).

Within a couple of years I was teaching. Why should I not share all of this wonderful new knowledge I had?

I love scrappy quilts. The more fabrics you can use the better the nasties look and we all somehow get those nasties in our collection. I have a scrap basket that is yeah tall and about this wide and it is permanently full. A recent club visit to my studio saw at least eight plastic bags full go out the door and the basket was still full.

I’m working on it’s secret – how to grow the stash without really trying. For the recipe I have got as far as: Take one large container and add scraps at will. Then rummage and fondle until frayed edges appear. Leave to rise adding when finished with a project or tidying up the studio. Now you sort out sufficient scraps to make a quilt and watch carefully. The level does not go down. In fact if you have measured carefully you will see it has, if anything, risen.

And you know another thing – not all the fabric in there is familiar. Haven’t discovered what causes the immigrants to the stash but unless they start getting really ugly then all are welcome.

Oh sure I recently found a piece of my very first quilt but some of the others …

On my first visit to Dallas way back, I was standing in front of an oil painting by a well-known French artist (I can’t remember his name – I have trouble with my own at times, so I can’t drop that one into the story). The docent said ‘turn to the left and look at that landscape down there. Now compare the two’.

She gave me an important colour lesson right there. The well-known and talented in front of me was stunning with layers of colour (I mean for example blues - lots of them in the sky) creating depth and dimension whilst the one to the left (painted by Sir Winston Churchill) looked like a water-colour. He was gifted but not with applying colour. Since then I have used more, much more, colour and fabric to achieve the depth and tone in my quilts.

In one of my early scraps classes the tutor was very proud of the fact that she and we had used ‘up to 20 different fabrics’. These days that is a sort of pfft – 120 is not a record but who is counting?

One of my favourite quilts was styled on a lavender bush. I sat among my scrap collection and thought lavender bush and was amazed at how many colours I pulled out – lavender through to purple, dusky blues through to periwinkle and then there are all the soft greens from sage through to the dark bottle green. The complete quilt made a great wedding gift and I had the dual pleasure of giving (as we all do with our quilts) and then watching the basket for the miracle of multiplying fabrics.

These days my studio is a little old brick church – I’d like to tell you about the bell tower, steeple and stained-glass windows but it would all be lies and it is a church we are talking about here. A little brick church with a cross on the outside wall and inside a wintery chill factor to keep the congregation awake. I think perhaps my father had some (posthumous) influence. He did try to get me to go to church every Sunday way back – now I go every day. I have a benevolent-looking self-portrait of him high on the wall watching. No I don’t think he is learning very much though

Anyway the studio has a high wooden ceiling with exposed beams that do nothing much except give the birds somewhere to perch when they come in and the cobwebs something to hang from – both spiders and birds know I can’t reach them. What it does have are nine foot high walls that are just great for hanging quilts. I initially thought they would work like tapestries did in old castles – at least keep the cold at bay. Not so. In the middle of winter the windows get condensation on the outside cos it’s warmer out there.

It is though an inspirational space to work in.

And what else could you call such a place but Wholly Quilts

I bought the church six years ago and built a house right on its hip. Now I run retreats from there and absolutely love having guests in my space – I’d like to think I they learn heaps while with me cos I certainly learn from every class and retreat.

Mangatarata, my home ‘town’, is an hour or so from Auckland, Hamilton and a little bit longer to Tauranga and Rotorua – like a major crossroads at the top end of the Hauraki Plains. I am surrounded by beautiful dairy country and get great satisfaction from my edible garden which has evolved from the old church car park.

Gardening is so like patchwork – you take some scraps (seeds or cuttings) and they grown to something useful and beautiful.

Cooking is the same – take some scraps (ingredients) and make appetising and comforting food.

I could go on – you can tell I am just as enthusiastic about gardening and cooking as I am about quilting – why else would I set up a retreat. It is not to pamper my guests but pure indulgence.

One of the best things about my quilting is that I have built-in appreciation with my kids. Always have had. Three young adults that are fabulous, encouraging and always there for me – how good is that. They even fight over whose turn is it for the next quilt and I cannot ask my daughter what to call a quilts cos her standard answer is ‘mine’

I am surrounded every day by my quilts, my friends, my garden and my cooking – I’d like to make a very profound statement about my lifestyle but the only metaphor that comes to mind is I am like a pig in muck – maybe snug as a bug in a rug is more appropriate.

I hope you have managed to nudge your neighbours awake while I’ve been talking.

I am going to show you a few of my quilts but it is with a huge apology cos I have one quilt presently hanging in the On the Surface challenge for the Aotearoa Quilters. I have another three heading to Hamilton for the Craft show next weekend and I have seven having their photos taken for my feature in next month’s NZ Quilter.

After quilting for 21 years you would think it possible to find a reasonable selection to bring down here. I left all the big ones back at home – nine beds in the house have at least three quilts each but they were ruled out by their size so these ones cover a few years of my quilting journey."

thus endeth the speech
October 2011 Newsletter


G’day
Well I have done my big OE (to Dunedin) and can’t for the life of me think of any reason to be nervous about it all. I met a lovely group of ladies and was treated right-royally.
Coming back to a very busy month threw me off and I can’t even blame jet-lag J
I have well and truly missed the beginning of the month with all my projects and mail-outs too. So much so that was rushing to finish the next step in my project and have turned my ‘tree of life’ on its head. Will photograph it for the instructions and then unpick.
It seems that spring is a time to start new projects, finish the old and even abandon a couple. Was talking to a friend at a recent gathering and we decided that if you weren’t enjoying your quilting (or anything else you’re doing) then stop and go in a different direction – seems like a good plan to me.
So that flower creation can go ‘away’ and maybe never see the light of day again. I had got as far as the brick wall on it and in other ways too. I think my next quilt is back to scraps while I regroup.

The Pumpkin Patch is green and weedy and I feel like the neighboring cows when I go out to ‘graze’ and pick the salad greens and herbs – I mean very contented with my lot not chewing etc.
Apart from said greens and lots of herbs everything else has flowers to indicate what is to come – strawberries, cherries, plums, apples etc – but not much to eat right now.
The last of the limes and lemons are hanging in there.
I was going through my ‘brown recipe book’ (have I told you that I think that is probably my only possession that my kids are going to fight over when I go to that batting cloud in the sky – never mind the quilts) to find a recipe for you when I came across this oldie.
I don’t dare put it anywhere near the chopping block but I have to confess to liking it when I was about eight. An American family friend came to a picnic with us and brought along her special salad. Wait for it!!

Lime Salad – 2 pkts lime jelly, two bottles lime fizz, one large tin apple sauce. Heat sauce to boiling; add other ingredients and leave to set. Serve with chicken. Mmmm!

I bet the kid’s don’t even know that one is in there.

The Chopping Block was busy last month making marmalade and you really can’t go past an old Aunt Daisy goody. She called it Citron Marmalade and used citrons which I don’t know so I substituted limes.

Slice finely two citrons, 2 lemons and 2 sweet oranges. Well cover with water – about 15 cups. Soak for 2 days. Measure by cups. Boil until tender and beginning to colour. Add cup for cup of sugar and boil till set. Simple and yummy!


Regards
Natalie

Thursday, September 01, 2011

Wholly Quilts September 2011 Newsletter


Wholly Quilts
Sep 2011 Newsletter

G’day

I went off to the On the Surface exhibition yesterday with my club’s road trip. There are some amazing quilts in it – lots of great, detailed work. Actually I was almost embarrassed about mine but when I had finally convinced myself that you can dare to be different even with your quilting I was able to stand in front of it with that silly grin on my face – don’t we all do that with our quilts when they are hanging?

It was a time out from writing for me. For some reason, months ago, I agreed to be guest speaker and tutor down at the Country Day in Dunedin. Why I don’t know as I have never done the speaking bit before. Anyway writing my talk (that sounds less daunting than ‘speech’) has absorbed considerable time recently.

Now I see Dunedin are expected ‘down low’ snow and me this weekend. The shivering might just cover up the shaking nerves.

I have to go find some quilts now for my show and tell. It’s a bad time though as I have three heading for the craft show in Hamilton and a further seven in Wellington for my ‘feature’ in next month’s NZ Quilter. If I don’t tell them down there they won’t know some quilts are years old.

I’ll download a copy of my ‘talk’ to my blog http://patchnat.blogspot.com/ - when I get home next week so you all know about me.
After the drastic ‘heads off pruning’ in the Pumpkin Patch I’ve spent a few weeks of some frantic peering at bare branches but am pleased to report that all are budding up beautifully and just add to the promise of spring things to come.

Broccoli and lemons are the crops of the moment. I’ve steamed, stir-fried, frittered n roasted broccoli until I just can’t wait for a retreat to come in and finish off the crop. Do hope they like it!!

My freesias and daffies at blooming wonderful right now or would be if the perfume didn’t affect my hay fever quite so much.

The Chopping Block finally sorted out the rosehip syrup. I thought the hips would mash after a good boil – no! Even after another good boil all I could do was strain and then make up. To each cup of juice I added a cup of sugar and a good tablespoon of citric acid – yum! It is a cordial so you can add water or soda/tonic.

It was based on a lemon cordial recipe that my Dad used to keep in the fridge right through summer. My version is a little more refined cos he used to just chop up a whole lemon. I zest and juice 2-3 lemons, as above I add sugar and citric acid, dissolve over heat and store in the fridge.

Often I add grated ginger for extra flavor and goodness. A good splash zings up your gin too!!


Regards
Natalie

Monday, August 01, 2011

Wholly Quilts

Wholly QuiltsAugust 2011 Newsletter

G’day

Have you ever sat down to look back over your quilt journey?

I have recently had cause to do so and I find that I have made huge progress in some respects but am still doing what attracted me to quilting 21 years ago – making scrap quilts. It is as though I have gone round in a great big circle and am still doing the same old same as. My techniques are not necessarily better just different, my colours are still my colours though I am maybe a little more daring. The quilts themselves are smaller – there are only so many quilts you can fit on one bed – so that I can get another pattern or technique out of my system. Another thing that hasn’t changed is my passion for the craft and for teaching others and I suppose you can’t ask for more than that out of your chosen lifestyle.

Enough philosophising!

The good news is that I have had my quilt accepted for the On the Surface challenge run by Aotearoa Quilters. That was something different so I look forward to seeing the 20 quilts that will tour with the exhibition starting in Hamilton later this month.

The Pumpkin Patch got its annual prune yesterday. It was such a lovely sunny day albeit muddy underfoot so it was out with the gloves (for the roses) and secateurs. I did get the ladder out to deal to the fruit trees but decided if I needed to climb to prune then I would have to climb to pick so it was generally an ‘off with their heads’ policy. It’s very satisfying making plants grow how you want them to. I did harvest all the rosehips cos I hear that they are good for arthritis. Am now in the middle of making a cordial out of them (remember giving our babies rosehip syrup?) and will pass on the recipe once I have perfected (or at least made) it. I see the cabbages and broccoli are ready for picking – some healthy eating coming up.

Lemony tastes continue to come off the Chopping Block but this month I want to share a pickled onion recipe. It is an oldie but a goodie and the onions will be ready for the warmer weather, picnics and parties that are not that far away now.

As always these are taken from my old handwritten recipe book and I make no apologies for the old measures.

Take 5lb pickling onions and peel and put in brine for 24hrs.

Bring 1 ½ bottles (I think about 2lt) of vinegar (I am sure it would be malt vinegar cos there wasn’t that many choices way back), 1 lb brown sugar, 1 tsp curry powder, 1 tsp mustard powder and 1dsp whole cloves to the boil.

Mix 1tbsp turmeric, 2tbsp cornflour with a little vinegar or water and thicken. Boil further 5 minutes.

Pack jars and pour sauce over. Leave at least one month.

Regards
Natalie

Sunday, July 03, 2011

WQ newsletter

Wholly Quilts July 2011 Newsletter

G’day

On days like today it is easy to tell that my studio was purpose-built as a church (keep em cold and keep em awake). Have you ever tried using your computer with gloves on?

Even with 27 quilters squashed in here last week to celebrate the local club’s birthday and mid-winter the space took some warming.

I have just put the binding on my latest quilt. It is called ‘bush shapes’ and shows the colours and shapes of our lovely native bush. Putting the binding on any quilt comes with such mixed emotions – it is the end of something you have been nurturing and yet it is a time to now step off on another project (or two :). Now what can I do next?

My daughter has commissioned a quilt for a friend, there are one or two PhDs to work on, I have a stack of fabrics just begging to be made up and another pile of scraps calling me. Then there is a pattern lurking on the edge of my brain (fairly treacherous territory there) or an oldie that needs miniaturising and making with scraps. Never enough time!

Life in the Pumpkin Patch continues apace albeit slower, colder and muddier. Two weeks ago the shortest day came upon me. We had been enjoying such mild fine weather it was difficult to think that suddenly we were actually past the cusp of the year and heading for summer, Christmas et al. Anyway I got out there emptied the spuds out of the spud bed (obviously), weeded, turned the sod and planted my garlic and shallots and I can’t believe that the bed has lots a lovely new shoots already. Frosts of the last couple of days will, hopefully deal to the slugs n snails currently enjoying my cabbages and things though there is plenty of green stuff to go around.

And I have been doing lots with my lemons including getting a batch of limoncello under way.

The Chopping Block went into overtime with a very ‘lemony’ retreat last weekend. We had biscuits with lemon icing, Moroccan cous cous with preserved lemon, lemon dessert on Saturday night, lemon cordial, lemon squeezed in the gin you get the idea. I even picked a bucket full and gave them away and still lemons sit prettily on the tree.

As it seems to be the season thought I’d share another lemon recipe – a Lemon Pickle.

Puree two whole lemons (pips removed), 5 large onions with one cup white vinegar.

Add to a large pot with 3 (more) cups white vinegar, 1 cup lemon juice, 3 tsp salt, 5 cups white sugar, 1 tsp turmeric, 4 tsp horseradish (or you can use wasabi), finely grated rind of 2 lemons, 5-6 cloves crushed garlic and 2 tsp ground ginger.

Bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer 45 minutes of until reduced to spoonable consistency. Makes 6 medium jars and is great with cold meats, fish or chicken.

Regards

Natalie

Thursday, June 02, 2011

Wholly Quilts

Wholly Quilts
June Newsletter
G’day

I didn’t manage to sort out my quilt’s problems so have hung it in the stair well and someone might come up with a helpful solution. Have to move on to the next project. Some quilts, in my experience, are like that, it may forever stay as it is.

I feel very privileged to share my next bit of news with you. I had a lovely lunch recently with Barbara Bilyard’s family – they have asked me to complete a masterpiece she worked on for several months (that’s scary but I am sure she’ll tap me on the shoulder if I go too far from her original plan). The family have also agreed for me to add ‘Barb’s Quilts’ to my teaching Cv (that’s exciting but I feel like adding “ditto the above”) I’ll give both opportunities my best shot Barb!

They would also like to sponsor an award at future symposia. To raise some funds to do this I have for sale copies of her S-Bends workshop on CD. On it she makes making her quilts ‘sew simple’ with written, audio and visual instructions. These are $15 each and that includes postage.

I was at a show in Waiuku early last month and demonstrated my string quilts – I had a pointed bamboo ‘presser’ with me and several asked after them. I now have some in the studio so if you want one let me know (cost $7 each).

The Pumpkin Patch continues to share its largesse with me (and the snails). It was my turn to host the local garden club earlier in the week. Now I know my garden isn’t all in rows and pretty flowers but it was fun to see them taste their way around various herbs, ooh and aah over my lemon tree that seems to have more lemons than tree at present and ask after names of the various camellias. (I had to confess that one was a ‘dark burgundy’ and t’other was a red one – obviously if I can’t eat then I can’t name it. Not a good look for the gardening ladies!!). At least they were all gracious enough to admire and taste for themselves.

The Chopping Block worked overtime for the afternoon tea. I had made mini-muffins using my dried tomatoes and some quick rocket and walnut pesto. Put out a plate of the various fruits I have dried, made some biscuits with this dried fruit and baked a very simple Lemon Cake. The ladies demanded the recipe so as I have written it out for them I will give it to you.

Heat your fan oven to 160deg and butter an 20cm pan.

Now cream 125g butter, 1 cup sugar and zest of 2 lemons; beat in 3 eggs; sift 1 cup flour and 1 tsp baking powder and add alternating with ¾ cup yoghurt. Bake 45-50min.
Mix the juice to 2 lemons with 1 cup icing sugar and drizzle over hot cake (I had do drizzle several times as it was absorbed). Decorate with zest. 

Absolutely moist and yummy!

Regards
Natalie

Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Wholly Quilts

Wholly Quilts May Newsletter

G’day
Well I am back from Queenstown’s symposium enthused and inspired by a week of quiltie stuff. I am always blown away about how much I learn from my students - and what a great bunch I had on all five days of teaching down there.
My week got off to a great start with both my ANZAC banner and Barb’s Remarkable challenge entry receiving awards. The latter was such an emotional moment given that Barb has probably won awards at each and every symposium held in this country.
Am now sitting and looking at a quilt I made for the tutor’s exhibition, but didn’t put in cos I was not happy with it, trying to work out what is wrong. I think the balance is out – nothing on it seems to ‘sing’ to me. Will keep an eye on it for a few days and something may come to me. I hope so cos there is a lot of work just to consign it to the cupboard. Don’t you hate it when what is in your head doesn’t translate to your quilt?

The Leaf Project and Turquoise Sherbet BoM are still getting additional names added so they keep me on my toes staying one step ahead of all participants.
I know I have a group of new recipients reading this their first newsletters so need to explain that the Leaf Project is a lesson/technique a month by email and the Turquoise Sherbet is a BoM where I send out a pattern and sufficient turquoise fabric to complete it.

The Pumpkin Patch is looking so green and delicious but I have to rummage in the healthy weeds to find a feed. Funny how the slugs and snails can tell the difference between a weed and bok choy! However my tomatoes have decided that they prefer to be neglected (not weeded and watered regularly) and are giving me a great late picking. So much so that I have been ‘relishing’ and drying even more of them. And now the feijoas are having their time – I have sort of sweet pickled feijoa leather out of the first bucketful but now have an ever increasing heap waiting for attention.

I have such fun telling you of ways I preserve my ‘pumpkin patch’ product that many of you are now asking for the recipe so I have decided to include one each month from the Chopping Block.
The first is how I dry my tomatoes: I cut all (and you can include green ones too) into quarter-inch (just to keep it patchworky) slices and lay out on baking paper covering an oven sheet. I then sprinkle with sea salt, fresh thyme from the PP though you could use dried, oil that I have infused with garlic from the PP (you get the idea) and put into a fan oven at about 70 degrees for five hours.
The tomatoes are reduced considerably in volume for easier storage and can be used as they are or in sauces, on pizzas etc

Regards
Natalie Murdoch

Friday, April 01, 2011

Wholly Quilts

Wholly Quilts April Newsletter

G’day
White rabbit! White rabbit! White rabbit! Isn’t that what we used to say on the first of the month and I think April 1st deserves triple mention.
Last month I spent some quite special time with my good quiltie friend Barbara Bilyard before her passing on the 18th. What a great loss to quilting in this country – Barb was at the first symposium in Auckland, won an award at the first quilt exhibition in 1990 and has passed on her knowledge to a great many of us over the intervening years. Her quilts and life were full of colour – go well my friend.
These days I am finishing off the year-end books, stock-taking and trying to finish a quilt for the tutors’ exhibition in Queenstown. I can’t believe that is only a couple of weeks away. I must be having fun!

The first of the Leaf Project is out there and the second lesson ready to go early next week. Still time to join in and catch up.
The Turquoise Sherbet BoM is also into the second month and I have quite a few of the first month to cut and catch up on so you can join with that too.

April’s Fabric Special: I have packs of beautiful jewel-coloured batiks – 18 fat quarters (4.5m) for just $70 each including post and packaging.

It’s a sad time in the Pumpkin Patch. In the last couple of days I have picked the last handful of strawberries and eaten them for breakfast; stripped the grape vine and made juice; picked and pickled the last of the main crop of figs; dried the last of the tomatoes; given away the last of the beans; frozen the passionfruit and shaken my head at the weeds. Mind you the feijoas, persimmons and tamarillos – oh and the pomegranates - are still to go so all is not lost – or should I say eaten. And I still have potatoes, carrots, beetroot, aubergine (my spell check tells me this should be aborigine so maybe I had better call them egg plant), chilli and capsicum to go along with lots of green stuff.



Regards
Natalie 

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Wholly Quilts

Wholly Quilts March Newsletter

 

G’day

Christchurch and all of New Zealand has been shaken to its core. Quilting has traditionally been a craft that is marked by the sharing and caring of individuals. It is a trait of all New Zealanders that will get us through these terrible days of trauma and loss. Kia kaha, Christchurch.

My sister has been and gone – what fun! How much family, food and giggles can you fit into three days? Lots!

Yee ha! I have had three quilts accepted for the Queenstown symposium. I do love sharing my quilts with more than just the four walls of my studio. Well I wrote that this morning and can now add the fourth quilt I entered – the notifications to me were split in the mail – an extra loud woo-hoo.

 

If you want to join in the Leaf Project any time in the next few weeks just give me a shout. The first lesson is a version of my Ooey Gooey Heart pattern and looks lovely done in the leaf shape. I am planning a not-quite-so-traditional tree of life in the centre and have had fun designing that though it hasn’t made it to the computer as yet. Because this is an on-line project you can catch up. It will cost $65.

 

The first block of Turquoise Sherbet goes out early next week. It is my weekend chore. Do not fret if you are still working on numbers I can catch up with you. Pay $30 for individuals or $25 for groups of six or more to my bank account Wholly Quilts 389005 0972408 00 or by cheque to the address below.

 

The race is on each day in the Pumpkin Patch to beat the birds to the ripe figs – yum! Only trouble is they do not hold for long so now I am pickling and jamming figs, eating figs and giving them away. The damson plum tree was stripped last week and the fruit dealt with. Jared, my lovely son, is convinced it is not real plum jam if it has no pips so I had to scoop out only every third one that floated to the surface J. This year I carefully planted my pumpkins in a garden and thought they would overflow and thrive but not so – each plant produce only a few pumpkins. I have to say white butterflies galore and a lonely rabbit really really like my garden!

 

 

 

Regards

Natalie Murdoch

--

Wholly Quilts

Ph 07 867 3085 or Cell 0210 2231 678

9 Church Road, Mangatarata

RD6 Thames 3576

http://nataliemurdoch.co.nz

http://WhollyQuilts.co.nz

http://patchnat.blogspot.com/ - my blog, where you can read the latest news that may or may not make the newsletter...

 

Monday, January 31, 2011

Wholly Quilts

Wholly Quilts February Newsletter

 

G’day

It’s reality time. No more holidays (well apart from today’s Auckland/Nelson Anniversary Day). No more eating and drinking just because. No more putting anything off because it is a nice sunny day. Today I am concentrating on you, this year’s projects and finishing off a quilt for the tutors’ exhibition at the Remarkable Symposium cos yes, I have five days teaching down there – yeah!!

A couple of days ago I was ankle deep in mud that had gone through the lovely café next door to me. It brought home to me what the flood victims in Oz have had to face. Fortunately I had no flood damage at all though it has not a good time for a lot of people.

My ‘American’ sister arrived in the country yesterday and I am excitedly waiting for her to arrive at my place. She is tripping through vineyards and national parks at the top of the South Island for 10 days so my patience is being tested.

Summer Picnic for Quilters

About 30 turned out for the day. It was great catching up after the Christmas break. We did decide on the collective pronoun for quilters - Gillian came up with a binding of quilters. Overcast weather made for a pleasant day of alfresco stitching and chatting.

The Leaf Project is set to launch early March. Each month you are given a technique or class by email. These include piecing, appliqué, foundation piecing and stitching. The finished quilt will be a big single so fabric requirements are down to you. I guesstimate approximately 5 metres of scraps in your choice of colour. I am doing mine in plaids. A minimum of 12 months will cost $65.

Turquoise Sherbet will also start early next month and is a block of the month with me supplying the turquoise fabric and a pattern. It is up to you to choose your colourway but some suggestions would be turq with brown, turq with cream or maybe greens. The final month includes suggested settings for your blocks. The cost is $30 for individuals or $25 each for groups of six or more. You will need to include your full postal address (incl post zone) when you sign up.

Payment for both the above projects can be made by cheque to my address at the foot of this email or to my bank account Wholly Quilts 389005 0972408 00

Pumpkin Patch

It’s tomato time – tomato sauce, tomato chutney, dried tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, giveaway tomatoes – you get the gist? No need to go anywhere near a greengrocer in the foreseeable future.

 

 

Regards

Natalie Murdoch

--

Wholly Quilts

Ph 07 867 3085 or Cell 0210 2231 678

9 Church Road, Mangatarata

RD6 Thames 3576

http://nataliemurdoch.co.nz

http://WhollyQuilts.co.nz

http://patchnat.blogspot.com/ - my blog, where you can read the latest news that may or may not make the newsletter...