Friendly Friday- Joan - Gbfs Mum
I'm doing my happy Friday dance!!This weeks guest isn't a blogger but she's a very special friend and a faithful follower of my blog and she always listens as I chat about all my bloggy friends... It's GBF's mum!!! If Joan had a blog it would be all about yummy food, wonderful travels, fun family times and fabulous thrifty finds. She would have sneak peeks of creative projects because they're often gifts, You'll find out more as you read on...
Hi Joan, tell us a bit about yourself?
I am in my seventies, and I live in a retirement village in Victoria with my lovely "GBF" (the older version).
How long have you been quilting?
I tried to make a quilt many years ago, and it still sits in the cupboard. I do look at it occasionally - maybe one day!!
What other crafts do you do? I have always 'fiddled' with crafty things, I think this comes from my mother who always had busy hands. For years, I sewed clothes for kids, and ballet dresses and costumes for performers in our lives. I knit when we travel, and as we travel quite a bit, I knit quite a bit - mostly small bears for either Red Cross or the Salvation Army - small is easy to manage in the car
What do you love about getting crafty? It is fun to give shape and meaning to bits and pieces. Traditionally, my GBF and I have made things for Christmas presents, sometimes producing things that will be loved, other times making our family and friends roll their eyes and wonder where they will hide their latest gift. The gifts are always made with love as the major ingredient.
What's your favourite crafting tool or accessory? The unpicker seems to always feature in my projects, so I guess it could be called a favourite!
Do you listen to music while you sew/knit ? What is your favourite type or cd? We both love theatre and classical music and GBF whistles a lot, providing a fun background to our 'works'.
What is your favourite food? Good question - sadly it would take ages to write my favourites - I haven't tasted many things that I would not like to have again.
Tell us about the house block you've made? My first block! When you put the idea for your quilt on your blog, I thought I'd like to have a go at that. With no knowledge, but a lot of sewing background, and a lucky find in a magazine, I produced the house. I made it orange for you and as we were away from home every stitch was done by hand. I did feel good about producing something for a friend that we both love a lot.
Hi Joan, tell us a bit about yourself?
I am in my seventies, and I live in a retirement village in Victoria with my lovely "GBF" (the older version).
How long have you been quilting?
I tried to make a quilt many years ago, and it still sits in the cupboard. I do look at it occasionally - maybe one day!!
What other crafts do you do? I have always 'fiddled' with crafty things, I think this comes from my mother who always had busy hands. For years, I sewed clothes for kids, and ballet dresses and costumes for performers in our lives. I knit when we travel, and as we travel quite a bit, I knit quite a bit - mostly small bears for either Red Cross or the Salvation Army - small is easy to manage in the car
What do you love about getting crafty? It is fun to give shape and meaning to bits and pieces. Traditionally, my GBF and I have made things for Christmas presents, sometimes producing things that will be loved, other times making our family and friends roll their eyes and wonder where they will hide their latest gift. The gifts are always made with love as the major ingredient.
What's your favourite crafting tool or accessory? The unpicker seems to always feature in my projects, so I guess it could be called a favourite!
Do you listen to music while you sew/knit ? What is your favourite type or cd? We both love theatre and classical music and GBF whistles a lot, providing a fun background to our 'works'.
Tell us about the house block you've made? My first block! When you put the idea for your quilt on your blog, I thought I'd like to have a go at that. With no knowledge, but a lot of sewing background, and a lucky find in a magazine, I produced the house. I made it orange for you and as we were away from home every stitch was done by hand. I did feel good about producing something for a friend that we both love a lot.
Joan, Thank you so much!! I really love the way your block looks like a happy story book house, a little bit like gingerbread, good enough to eat! You are right about my fondness of orange. It's fun because it's one of the only blocks that have been appliqued. And I think it's great you made it while travelling, that means there will be some sea breezes stitched into the seams.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!! I hope you have fun things planned!! I'll be sewing so I might just have something to show you next week... :)
19 Comments
Rachael, I just loved this post, and Joan sounds an absolute darling! You are blessed to have each other(but I guess you know that already) LOL.
ReplyDeleteJoan's block is fabulous! The orange is perfect! And a fellow Victorian- gotta like that!
ReplyDeleteProbably my very favorite interview! What a fun lady! She must keep you in stitches...hee hee! Her house is fantastic - very storybook like :) Joan is great!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely quilter, and what a great house....that orange is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Joan on her first block, obviously you're never too old to embrace new things!
ReplyDeleteJoan seems like a lovely lady and what a terrific first block!
ReplyDeleteWhat is that interesting dish in the first picture?
I love this orange cottage! So wonderful that you share stitching & crafting with gbf's Mum!
ReplyDeleteShe may not be a quilter in practice, but she's got a quilter's approach to life. I'm glad she's in your life.
ReplyDeleteHer comments about handmade gifts being received with a certain hesitation made me laugh. I know exactly what she means!
What a great house block! I love orange. I love the look of all that spun sugar stuff in that first photo!
ReplyDeleteJoan is so fun! And look at those two cute little clowns....with flower hats! Ha! Of course, I have to ask what that wonderful dessert was.....like a flan custard? I see the spun sugar with rose petals.... how extravagant! We love desserts that are works of art, too! Fun post!
ReplyDeleteThat block is so cute! Joan has a great attitude and also a fabulous name :)
ReplyDeleteJoan you have made a beautiful block, has me looking for Snow White skipping down the path. Ms BM your house quilt is going to look stunning with so many talented ladies contributing :)
ReplyDeleteA delightful post. You and Joan are lucky to have each other in your lives.
ReplyDeleteJoan's house is a fairy tale cottage maybe from Charlie and the Choclate Factory. orange and chocolate yumm.
ReplyDeleteThanks for introducing Joan such fun.
I loved this interview! Your GBF Mum has a great sense of humor. I love the way she and her GBF make things together, with him whistling while they work. Her block is so lovely. Thanks for making me smile again today!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post Rachel...and a great Mother in Law too...and while I'm at it a great block. How wonderful that you get along so well!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet house block Joan made for you and hand sewn!!! I loved this interview! Joan sounds really sweet and super fun!!
ReplyDeleteEvery book is a quotation; and every house is a quotation out of all forests, and mines, and stone quarries; and every man is a quotation from all his ancestors Flats in Pallavaram
ReplyDeleteYou are lucky , such a sweet lady :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for leaving me a comment. Your kind words encourage me to keep sharing my work and stories.