Anchor Me.

It’s done. It’s finished. Well… except for the label.

Anchor Me is Inspired by this quilt, 

But I didn't buy a pattern, I made my own way, designing it in my head as I sewed. 

It measures 96 x 104 inches.

When I suggested to Josie she and Jiffy would be anchored together, she loved the idea. So the Name came before I even started.

The very first fabric pull for this quilt happened way back in April last year, when I realised I didn’t have quite enough blues and greens. Batiks are hard to come by in New Zealand at the moment, so I shopped around here and found very little. Later, in Bathurst, enabled by Janice I hunted down more, and between us we gathered what I needed.

Those fabrics then sat quietly in a box on my cutting table for months, whispering at me every time I walked past. Finally — with a bit of encouragement from several people — I began cutting in the first week of January 2026.

Chooky had suggested using 4‑inch squares, so I cut them at 4.5 inches to finish at 4. There are 580 blue‑green squares in total, forming the background and the outer border. The inner border is a 4‑inch strip of Moko, a Māori‑inspired charcoal‑on‑black fabric. 

It isn’t a batik, but it sits beautifully with the blues, and I used the same fabric for the anchor itself.

As you know, I played around with scrap paper to get the proportions right before drawing the anchor freehand onto Vliesofix. I’m very happy with how it turned out — bold, clean, and exactly the right presence on the quilt.

Last week, on my days off, I layered and quilted the top using an E2E design by Keryn Emmerson called Waves. It felt perfectly appropriate. Yesterday I trimmed it and added the binding, stitching about half of it down by hand before heading to bed. This morning, I finished the last of the binding and then waited for Joe and family to arrive so he could help Tony hold it up for a good outdoor photo.

The back is a huge piece of wide back in another kiwi inspired fabric called Kiwiana Koru Frond. The binding is more of the Moko fabric. 

It was an absolute delight to make. There’s something so satisfying about the simplicity of squares — the calm rhythm of straight lines, the ease of nesting seams, none of the drama of bias edges or tricky angles. Just fabric, shape, and flow. These blues and greens sing together exactly the way I hoped they would, each one adding its own note to the whole.

And there, sitting proudly on top, is the anchor — bold, steady, and unmistakably the star of the show. The quilting design, Waves, felt right not only for its name but for its gentle movement. It adds texture without stealing the spotlight. The anchor may shine, but those blues and greens hold the whole story together, the perfect sea for it to rest upon.

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Of course, no quilt around here gets finished without a little “help” from Tony. The final photo shows him unpacking his shopping all over my ironing board, happily showing me fishhooks and bits of tackle while I was trying to sew rows of squares together. He has an uncanny ability to appear exactly when I don't need interruptions, but he does it with such enthusiasm that I can’t help but smile as I roll my eyes.  

The rest of life doesn’t pause for quilting, and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I can't wait for June!

January Round‑Up and February Goals.

They say you should start the year as you intend to continue, and I was lucky enough to do exactly that. I rang in the New Year with Chooky and the girls on Zoom — stitching, chatting, laughing, and easing into 2026 with good company and a pile of hexagons. I was working over New Year’s as well, but the Zoom, the sewing, and the familiar faces are what stayed with me.

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Deana is running her Chookshed Challenge again this year to help everyone tackle their UFOs (and, let’s be honest, anything else we feel like throwing on the list). I’m not officially taking part this time, but I have committed to making a small list each month to keep myself focused. So here’s how January went.

January Goals

1) Keep working on my scrappy hexies

I was hoping to get them to lap‑quilt size and maybe even quilted and bound. I didn’t quite get that far, but I’m only a few hexies away now and very happy with the progress.

I’ve actually added a little more since this picture was taken.

2) Finish the poppy quilt and get it off the frame

It didn’t get finished… but it is off the frame. It’s currently folded and sitting in the naughty corner. I’ll get to it one day.

3) Make a start on Jiffy and Josie’s wedding quilt

I’m pleased to say I made more than a start — the top is finished, it’s quilted, and it just needs binding. Hopefully I’ll get to that later today.

4) Decide on this year’s ornament and hopefully make a start.

Well, I decided! I even pulled out some supplies… and that’s as far as that got.

One goal smashed, one politely ignored, one shoved out of the way, and one nearly done. 

Honestly, that’s a win.

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What Else Happened in January?

My girl Kaiy will be on the island for her brother’s wedding, so I decided she needed a quilt too. (Yes I know, I said no squirrels, but this squirrel is very important).  A rummage through my batiks drawer revealed more than enough in her favourite colours. All the cutting is done and everything is ready for sewing.

The majority of these fabrics have now been cut into 2.5 inch squares honest! The rest are sitting in reserve, just in case I did my sums wrong. LOL

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Tony and I finished a few jigsaws. Always fun. 

We also had a week away with friends. It was relaxing, full of good company, and we even brought home the fish we caught.

Back at home, the greenhouses and garden have been producing beautifully, so I’ve been busy in the kitchen making sauces and relish, and I even pickled some onions for Tony.

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February Goals 

Time to put some February goals down and see where life takes me.

1) Bind the Anchor quilt. and make a proper label

Not just my wee Loulee label — a real, grown‑up, proper label for this one.

2) Make huge progress on Kaiy’s quilt.

All the squares are cut, and the sashing fabric is sitting on the table. I just need to make a start and keep the momentum going and figure out a name for it.

3) Make a start on the ornaments.

It would be lovely to deliver three of them in person in June when I travel to the island for the wedding. There’s plenty of time… I just need to get busy.

4) Finish the hexie quilt.

A job that really shouldn’t take long if I get myself into gear.

No squirrels. No side journeys. Focus!

 

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Back on the Frame Again.

 Yesterday started just as planned, with a cauldron of relish bubbling away on the stove. I was up with Tony before six, so the pot was on before seven. It needs a good 90 minutes before anything else can happen, so I took the chance to relax and catch up on some blog reading.

Once Tony headed off to work and the cauldron had done its time, I moved on to the next steps of the recipe. While it bubbled some more, I set about loading the anchor quilt onto my frame.

I'm happy to report that there was plenty of backing fabric this time. 

With the relish still simmering, I wound four bobbins and got myself organised. When the relish was finally poured into sterile jars and the dishes were washed and put away, I treated myself to a quick cuppa before starting the quilting.

I was glad I’d chosen a simple design — it’s been a while, and I was definitely wobbling a bit. A practice piece might have been wise but never mind. It is what it is. The smell of vinegar still hung in the air, and it wasn’t a day for wide‑open windows, so a headache settled in and refused to budge. I decided to step away from the quilting at lunchtime.

I spent a while looking for this year’s Christmas ornament and I think I’ve found it, so the afternoon wasn’t wasted. Hopefully on my next days off I’ll have time to gather the supplies.

By the time Tony came home I was already back to quilting. I did a quick turn while tea cooked, then finished the quilting after we’d eaten. As you can see, it’s still not trimmed — that’s a job for the next round of days off.

Back to work today, so I might sew a few hexies, or maybe start joining those 2.5‑inch squares here and there before or after work.

The good news is the rain clouds have finally blown away, and the sun is supposed to return to Timaru. With any luck we’ll warm up and dry out a bit. Fingers crossed. I know some of you are hoping for cooler days and a drop of rain, while others are wrapped up avoiding the snow. Whatever your weather, I hope you have a wonderful day.

I Zoomed Along Today.

No work for me today, though I was still up early with Tony.  Once he had departed for work I continued the morning cutting squares for Kaiy’s quilt, but when Chooky opened up her Zoom chat I joined in there instead. I ended up spending a good portion of the day sewing and chatting with the girls. I forgot to grab a screenshot of the group, but trust me — all the regulars were there, chatting and sewing away as usual.

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I still haven’t quite finished cutting my 2.5" squares, so for the Zoom session I switched over to my hexies. This is where I was at when I picked it up this morning:

I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about this piece. It’s a true scrappy concoction — so many different fabrics, some mine, some bought ready‑basted from sales, op shops, and Facebook, and others just odd scraps that have drifted into my stash over time.

But I’ve enjoyed creating the flowers, and I’ve enjoyed the process of joining them, even if I did lose my way somewhere along the line and had to fill in a few gaps with random hexies. Never mind — it all adds to the scrappy charm.

Looking at it now, after today’s progress, I think I might be starting to like it again.

It looks small in this image, but I’m pretty sure it’s as big as it needs to be. Plenty big enough for a crib, or even a lap quilt. I’ll tidy up that right side and call it done. I’ve got a piece of polar fleece ready for the backing, so that part is sorted. I'm not sure when it will make it onto the frame for quilting, I'm hoping to load The Anchor tomorrow and make a start on that.

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During a break for tea, I sliced two bowls full of tomatoes, added 2 kg of onion, and left the whole lot to brine overnight. Tomorrow’s job will be making a batch of tomato relish — the house will smell amazing and hopefully I'll get a great start at quilting The Anchor while the relish is bubbling.

Not a bad way to spend a cool, grey day — with intermittent showers and the sun making the odd half‑hearted attempt to break through. A little stitching, a little chatting, and the promise of quilting and relish bubbling away tomorrow.

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Cutting My Way Through Kaiy’s Colour Palette.

In my last post, when I was swearing about ordering the wrong size of backing for the Anchor quilt, I mentioned an idea that just might use up those extra two metres of fabric. With all my chores completed on Thursday morning, I spent some time rummaging through my batik collection, looking for colours that might be perfect for my daughter, Kaiy. (I hope she's not reading this. She's been known to pop in from time to time. If you are Kaiy....Surprise! I'll see you in June and bring it along). 

I was fairly sure I knew Kaiy's preferences but thought I’d better check. She sent me a mood board — 

and I wasn’t far off the mark. She’s gotten a little brighter in her choices lately. A quick photo of my fabric pull went off to Janice to make sure nothing was trying to leap out of the pack, and then, after some quick maths (ably handled by the co‑pilot), I was off and running. I don’t even have to pull out a calculator anymore; I just waffle at the co‑pilot and it sorts everything out for me. I could get used to this.

Anyway! I told it my block plan, the size of the squares, the layout, and the size of my backing piece, and asked: how much fabric do I need? In no time at all it informed me that I’ll need 1,225 two‑and‑a‑half‑inch squares — about 22 fat quarters. I do have fat eighths and various bits and bobs in the mix, so I suggested aiming for 25 fat quarters’ worth, just in case. Co‑pilot agreed that was a sensible idea. It also worked out how much fabric I would need for sashing strips and binding! Amazing. I weeded out a couple of repeated fabrics and some in very similar colours. I'll keep them handy just in case. I think I ended up with 25 or 26 fat quarters worth of fabric pieces.

Then I started cutting… until my back complained. By that point I had about a third of these pretty pieces done. I spent the next couple of hours in my comfy armchair playing with hexagons. I really should take a new photo of those — they’re coming together slowly.

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This morning before work I pressed a few more fat quarters and a couple of fat eighths and even managed to get one cut before heading out the door to work. I’ll try to do the same over the weekend. Yes, I’m working, but that’s okay — I’ll be off on Monday and Tuesday. And my new piece of backing fabric should be delivered on Monday, so I’ll be spoiled for choice. 

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If you’re heading into a proper weekend, I hope it’s a lovely one. I’ll be working through mine, but there’ll be fabric waiting for me on the other side.

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There was some swearing!

 I had chores to get through this morning before I could play. First job: the washing machine on, even though it’s not a drying day. Next, out came the cauldron and in went 4kg of tomatoes with the usual ingredients for Ruffino’s tomato sauce. A smaller pan was filled with diced rhubarb and cranberry juice to stew down for the freezer.

I draped the laundry over Gran’s wooden airer and parked it out of the way. With the rhubarb done and the sauce still simmering — good things take time — I finally headed into my room to play.

It didn’t take long to get the hearts cut out in Vliesofix and fused to the same black as the rest of the anchor. Stir the tomatoes, start the appliqué, back to the tomatoes… By the time the appliqué was finished, so was the sauce. Into pots for the freezer it went, then a quick bite of lunch, and it was time to spread everything out on the floor.

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First the batting — I cut the right amount off the roll — then out came the backing. And that’s when the swearing started. It’s too small.

My own fault, really. I didn’t do the maths properly — I just ordered on the fly and hoped for the best. Lesson learned. I hope.

Janice suggested adding a bit of something else, but I do have another piece of the same fabric, so I could patchwork it to fit. But Tony, my hero, simply said, “Just buy another piece, love. Just do it.” So I did. 

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Now, the cut batting is spread over the frame to rest and lose some creases. A new LARGER piece of fabric is on the way, and the quilt top is pegged up where it was for yesterday's photo shoot so that it doesn't get creased and I don't have to press it again.

This time I’ve ordered far more wide backing than I need, just to be sure. And besides, there’s no such thing as too much, right? Any excess will slip happily into the stash. As for the huge two‑metre piece that turned out to be too small — I already have a plan for that. I’ll tell you more once the idea is properly brewed.

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So I spent the afternoon sitting in my chair, grumpily playing with my hexies. Tomorrow morning is fully booked with chores, grocery shopping, and an appointment in town, but the afternoon is looking distinctly hexagon‑shaped. Or maybe I'll make a start on the new plan....

The Anchor Motif, the Journey so Far.

As you know, this quilt is to be a wedding gift for my son Jiffy (Jonathan) and his bride Josie. I offered them a few choices and was delighted when they selected an anchor, Josie particularly liked my suggestion that it would anchor them together. I also mentioned that they wouldn't be getting a quilt exactly the same as the model I showed them.

Then I set off shopping not only my stash, but various stores both here and in Australia, gathering together enough fat quarters and fat eighths to put the top together. As you know I procrastinated for quite some time before I actually cut into the fabric and made a pile of four inch squares, all needing to be sewn back together.

The squares were not the problem. Once I finally got started on that process they went together very quickly, thanks to Chooky and a zoomy weekend. Then I realised that I had purchased the wrong border fabric and shopped the stash again. I found the perfect fabric, but didn't have enough, so a top up from an online store was necessary. Once we returned from our trip to Okiwi bay, I got stuck in again and in next to no time I had the new border fabric and outer border in place, next came the applique.

The Anchor. That had potential to become a big sticking point. I have wondered and worried about the anchor. I even asked for your advice in the last post I wrote. (Thank you to those who had something to say, it was all taken onboard and given thorough contemplation).

This morning, finally I decided it was time to heave too and get on with it. I cut a bunch of scrap A4 papers into two slices, spread the top on the floor and started playing. I didn't get anything pretty but I did get the right angle, measurements and a necessary confidence boost.

Next I pulled out my vliesofix, just enough to make a start. Then I pulled out a pencil and began to draw, right onto the vliesofix. First the fluke, that curved bottom piece, next the shaft and cross piece. Out came a round baking tin and a dipping bowl to create the ring at the top.

I cut them out roughly and had another play, took a deep breath and started to fuse onto the applique fabric. Then I had another check, yep, still good.

Next I started to think about the twiddly bits. 

• The bill tips or fluke tips. The pointy bits at ends of those bottom arms or flukes of the anchor that help it to dig into the seabed and hold in place.
• The Trunnions or the arms of the anchor needed decorative ends. 
• The Crown where the vertical shaft meets the base of the curved flukes, this helps the anchor to pivot and settle onto the bottom.

It's a wedding gift, a symbol of love, so why not hearts? More paper and drawing and I added five hearts. Yep, that works.

Next, I pulled everything off except the shaft and fused it into place onto my top. No going back now! (Deep Breath)!

Each piece went on in turn. I used the wavy line stitch on my machine. Not trusting myself to get those curves and circles just right with a straight stitch. It's an anchor! Waves are perfect.

The pieces went on quite easily and I am so happy with what I have so far. Oh My Gosh. I did it!

Just those twiddly bits left, but I'm out of vliesofix. Tony called in to the shop for me and bought more, but he is still at work...... 

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Anchor Quilt Progress — Borders and Acrobatics

 Before Tony and I went on our travels, I managed to complete the centre of Jiffy’s quilt — a multitude of sea blues and greens stitched into one much larger square. I was very pleased with how it was coming together and had hoped to blog about it on the Monday before we left… but alas, time had other plans.

So here it is, as it looked when we left town — quietly waiting for our return.

Today I was able to pick up where I left off. I’d planned to add a black inner border and, time permitting, piece together the outer border. Time was more than kind: both borders are now in place.

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The photography, however, was less cooperative. The holder-upper (you know who) tried valiantly. First he clambered onto the sofa — not quite right. 

Then he laid the quilt top on the floor while he stood on the coffee table phone in hand. Still not quite right.

 Finally, he dashed off for the step ladder.

I’m not entirely impressed with the image he captured… The colour is off and it was done in such a hurry, there really are no waves. but I do love his dedication.

And I think I captured the moment perfectly. 

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Now I just need to figure out how best to create and appliqué the anchor onto the quilt top. Do I quilt what I have first, then appliqué the anchor afterwards? That would certainly keep the background nice and flat, but the thought of pushing and pulling a fully quilted top through my machine while trying to keep an appliqué perfectly in place feels… ambitious.

The other option is to appliqué the anchor onto the flimsy, then quilt the whole thing, stopping and starting around the shape — or perhaps even quilting straight through it. So many possibilities, and each one comes with its own little “hmm”.

Before any of that, of course, I have to actually create the anchor. I could downscale Tula Pink’s version — her pattern is made of squares, I kind of want to stay away from them as the background is all squares. Or I could draw my own. Or go hunting on the great wide web and resize something that catches my eye.

Decisions, decisions. Luckily, I have three months to figure it all out and get it done. Though I don't want to leave it to the last minute.

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I’d love to hear what you think, too. If you’ve appliquéd a large motif onto a quilt before — especially something with long, sweeping curves — how did you tackle it? Did you quilt first and appliqué later, or appliqué onto the flimsy and work the quilting around it?

And if you’ve come across a great anchor pattern (or have thoughts on scaling, drafting, or adapting one), I’m all ears. Your suggestions might just help me make up my mind.

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The Fairy Walk.

 During our recent visit to Okiwi Bay I heard whispers about something called The Fairy Walk.

Well, you know me — of course I had to go and investigate. I wouldn’t be a Manxgirl if I ignored reports of fairies hiding in the bush.

A short stroll up the road from the house took us to the marked entrance, and what a delightful spot it turned out to be. Surrounded by native bush, the crickets and cicadas were chirruping away in full chorus. Birds flitted and called from every direction — a soundtrack that made the whole place feel alive and welcoming and just a little bit magical.

All along the path were little creations left by locals and visitors. It was a joy to wander slowly, discovering something new every few steps. Fairy lanterns, recycled mailboxes, tiny dwellings, and natural decorations tucked into roots and branches. Children and adults alike had added their own touches, and the whole walk felt like a shared act of imagination.

Partway along we found a long line of painted rocks, then a notice introducing Rocco the Rock Snake and inviting everyone to help him grow. Of course we admired every segment.

We were joined for a while by a weka — a curious, confident native bird who seemed completely unfazed by two humans ambling through its territory. It went about its business as though we were simply part of the scenery.

It wasn’t a long walk, and before we knew it the path opened out onto the beach. A gentle, magical little detour that felt like stepping into someone’s daydreams.

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A delightful little distraction from all the fishing and paddling in the bay. Of course I took a trillion photos — as you’d expect — but I won’t bore you with every single one.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this little taste of Okiwi Bay fairy magic.

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Okiwi Bay

This past week, Tony and I were very lucky — we’d been invited to spend a few days with friends at their bach in Okiwi Bay, tucked right up at the very top of the South Island in the Marlborough Sounds. It’s such a beautiful, scenic part of the country, all folds of hills and quiet water. We arrived late on Monday, but not so late that we missed those first lovely views out across the bay

Home for the week was a lovely big house owned by our friends’ family. Mum and Dad were there to greet us when we arrived — they’d aired the place out and made up beds for us all, which felt wonderfully welcoming after the long drive. Once we’d said our hellos, they headed back over the pass to Blenheim, leaving us to decide who would sleep where and to pull together a late dinner. As it turned out, late dinners became a bit of a theme for the week.

Our friends had their older daughter with them, and they also introduced us to a new friend and two of his older children.

 And then there was Mackenzie...

We’d never met her before, but she made herself known in about five seconds flat. A small white bundle of curly fur and charisma, Mackenzie quickly claimed her spot — on the boat, in our hearts, and occasionally in the middle of the kitchen when snacks were being discussed. 

She’s quite the performer. Make a finger-gun and say “bang!” — she’d flop over dramatically, playing dead with theatrical flair. She danced for praise, high-fived for treats, and generally kept us all entertained with her clever antics and cheerful spirit. By the end of the week, she wasn’t just part of the group — she was the unofficial mascot of the bach.

Mackenzie came along with us whenever we headed out on the boats, usually first aboard. She took her place on the deck with great dignity, surveying the bay like a seasoned skipper. That said, her talents didn’t quite extend to handling a fishing rod — though she did offer moral support and kept a close eye on the bait bucket, just in case snacks were involved.

With eight adults and one small, enthusiastic dog, we were spread across two boats. Okiwi Bay is full of rocky inlets and little pockets of deep water, perfect for dropping a line, so there was no shortage of spots to explore. We stayed tucked inside the bay, to lay a long line alongside the mussel farm close to the cliffs, then we ventured out into the Sound itself, weaving between islands and rocky outcrops in search of good place to try our luck.

We only managed to fish on two days because the weather had its own ideas. Tuesday was beautifully bright and sunny — the kind of day that makes you feel like you’ve chosen the perfect week to be away. Wednesday… not so much. The rain arrived just as we were laying the longlines at the mussel farm, but we headed out anyway and made the best of it.

And we were rewarded. A pod of dolphins — twenty or thirty of them — found us and decided we were worth a visit. They swam around the boats for a good five minutes, weaving in and out, surfacing so close we could hear their breaths. At one point they even scooped up one of the undersized fish being returned to the water, as if helping with quality control. It was pure magic, the kind of moment that will stay with us all for a long time. 

Thursday it rained — and rained — and rained. A very wet morning, but that didn’t stop the young people; they went swimming in the bay, undeterred by the drizzle. While they were busy, the rest of us found jobs to do. The fish we’d caught were already filleted, but we took time to bag and seal them, getting everything ready for the freezer.

The men tackled a few small maintenance jobs around the house, while Vikki and I did laundry and kept everyone fed. Then I found a jigsaw puzzle — a physical map of New Zealand — and made a start. Later in the afternoon the rain eased. The young people took Mackenzie for a walk in the Fairy Forest (more about that another time), our hosts headed off for a bush walk, and Tony and I carried on with the puzzle.

Friday’s weather forecast looked much the same as Thursday’s — and Saturday’s was even worse — so we made the call to head home. Part of the road had already washed out, and while we didn’t really want to leave, we figured it was time to be responsible adults. (Reluctantly.)

We headed inland and drove back through wine country before heading back out to the coast.

There was plenty of rain on the drive, and as we looked out over the East Coast, the Pacific was putting on a show — big waves churning up the bottom and crashing hard onto the rocks at Kaikōura. It was still raining and properly dark when we pulled into our driveway in Timaru, just before 10pm.

Now we’re home. The bags are unpacked, the laundry’s done, and our usual rhythm has resumed. Of our catch, only the blue cod made it home to the freezer — the snapper was smoked and savoured for dinner each evening. And it was beautiful.

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