Tongan Cemetery Quilts

I am waaay behind in my blogging and really plan to catch up over the holidays (yes really!). But in the meantime I now have these photographs of the unique Tongan cemetery quilts that my sister took on her recent trip to Tonga to oversee their first elections.

These quilts are made by the deceased person’s loved ones and are extremely individual – I imagine as individual as each person during their lives.

And here are just some of them:

Until next time,

Helen Evans

OUR GARDEN IN WINTER

These photos are of our garden in the depths of winter last year. The garden had suffered the effects of 12 years of drought, so only the very hardy plants have survived. This year has been a bit better so I am hopeful that I can start to re-establish it properly.

Brazilian sage - originally from my Grandmother

 

My favourite white daisy – not sure where this one came from- I think it was from Mum’s cousin.

 

May bush – from my sister in law in Canberra

 

Jacaranda – I just love the leaves on this beautiful tree

This is a very sad tale – while we were in Adelaide in April last year the “heritage listed” old pine tree on the border of our place and our neighbours’ front paddocks, fell down. Unfortunately Elizabeth and Jack’s (next door) tree house was in that tree and was completely demolished in the process – note scattered wood palings.  A sad day for all!

 

Lavender – foreground. White plumbago – background.

Chinese lantern

Old plum tree – it used to be HUGE, but was cut right back  (and I mean back to nothing!) a couple of years ago – after it had split down the middle after being storm damaged – growing back fast.

Hibiscus from my Grandmother

Madagascan (?) jasmine – flowers from late summer until spring – lovely scent.

Lemons in our new citrus orchard – barely hanging in there with the drought. Below – limes.

Violets – from my grandmother.

I love the way I can walk around my garden and think of all the friends and family the plants came from. I have an old fashioned rose-scented pelargonium (currently threatening to take over the pergola) which belonged to my great-grandmother. She always grew it on the front gate post, so it was the first thing visitors saw (and smelt) on arriving at their farm. When her youngest son was killed just after the second world war (her next to youngest had died on the Burma Railway), his cat would sit on the gate post waiting for him to come home each day -  I feel a garden can tell a family’s history.

To that end, I MUST get my previously lovely garden in order – the two plumbago bushes either side of the front door (one white, one blue) are fast becoming weapons of mass destruction for all visitors.

Helen

REMEMBERING PAULINE SISSON

On the 13th of July 2009, we lost a beloved member of our Monday Group, of the Carrum Downs group, a regular visitor to my shed and a true friend.  After many months of ill health, Pauline Sarah Sisson passed away – peacefully with her husband Derek by her side. It has taken me all these months to feel that I could write a tribute to her.
Pauline was a brilliant quilter – yet she was so modest about her work. She was generous to a fault – helping many many fellow Scquilters and other friends behind the scenes – whether it was moral support during a crisis or teaching them the latest quilting technique she had seen on U-Tube or knew about just through her extensive knowledge and experience of quilting.
She was the cornerstone of the Monday group that met at the Cranbourne Community Centre every Monday – always coming up with brilliant suggestions for birthdays, for block swaps and for challenges.  Every time I do one of our famous “Pizza Lady” blocks, I think of her!  She was also our “bag lady” – she had made so many bags that she kindly decided to give away one to each of us – and we are not a small group.
Pauline was a keen, but shy participant in our monthly Scquilty get- togethers at Carrum Downs.  She was genuinely surprised by the positive comments when she brought one of her many quilts to Show and Tell, and as always, was on hand to comfort someone in need. A lot of Pauline’s stash is still being used in quilts for the Bushfire victims and other worthy causes – the goody bags the Carrum Downs girls donated to Gippsland Bushfire victims contained many of her rulers, patterns, magazines and other sewing notions.
It is with a great sense of pride and love that I now show the following  photos of Pauline and her work – as a tribute to her as a person and a quilter.

View Full Album

And here is my favourite photo of Pauline – during “Movember 2007” with Di Mitchell in hysterics in the background!

Pauline, you are sadly missed.
Helen Evans,
Devon Meadows, Vic.