Auckland Quilt Show

Thank you to the Auckland quilters for the great show in downtown Parnell on Mothers' Day. It was a great mix of  "on show" and "on sale" .  I dumped the WMBM at the hotel and rushed by taxi to catch the last hours of the exhibition. Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome, and permission to share your works across the Tasman.


Helen Harford "Hibiscus"



Helen Harford "Inch by Inch"



Lesley Rawlings "Journey I, II, III




Sarah Ward "Totems"



Waitangi totems (for Sue D)



Stitching in Paihia

In spite of the dire warnings about the cold, we barely got out of t-shirts and tank tops.  Mild weather and not a jumper in sight. Everyone else seemed to be feeling it - perhaps it was just us. At the end of each day there was plenty of time for quilting and I made a bit of progress towards a looming deadline. Not much sleep to be had this weekend!

Textile artists and kindred spirits

While exploring Russell for the day, we stumbled into a shop filled with all things textile and Gillian Jones at the Entrance Gallery. Gillian is a textile artist - lots of different fibre creations and beautiful beading. The occasional feather is incorporated into her works. Simply beautiful. It was easy to get a little bit lost in all the different textile pieces. Thank you Gillian for a wonderful afternoon in the shop talking shop.

Buttons at Russell, Bay of Islands, NZ

Found these beautiful tea pot buttons in the op shop at Russell, a short ferry ride across the bay from Paihia. WMBM just shook his head ... I think they are gorgeous!

Rubbing noses and plaques in Waitangi

We're back from a fabulous time in New Zealand. WMBM took this pic at the spot where New Zealand became a part of the Commonwealth and I was graciously given permission to do some rubbings ... so WMBM held the fabric taut and off I went with my SueDee kit and shiva rubbings. More on our adventures in another post ...

Paihia and New Zealand

Breakfast views in Paihia

Well I'm sitting in an Internet shop in Paihia in the Northland - with WMBM and about to do some last minute shopping before we return to Auckland tomorrow. Have met some amazing people including a textile artist in Russell (across the bay by ferry) and here at Powerquilts in Paihia. Much to share and can't wait to get home to post pics and text of our trip. Hope you are all taking care and having a creative time too.

Hello planet earth

Dulany at work

Where have I been? Sans computer for 2+ weeks and hoping to be back online when we return from a brief holiday in New Zealand this week. The lack of cyber access hasn't dulled the level of activity in the studio or working on the contagion of "porcelain clay". With the return of Little Sister from the Isle of Man  there's been a foray into her world of beautiful objects, glazed and unglazed. Without the appropriate level of care, it could become a second passion.
I'm working on an entry for World Quilt which is due 20 May - and all the details are on Sue Dennis' website for those who can manage a 1296 square inch minimum size - it's lovely to work "big" again.
Our 2QAQ meeting on Saturday was a hoot - and it is good for the soul when I get with "my people" as Kathryn calls them. Best of all I got an email from Dulany Lingo (La Veta Colorado) where I visited last September. Dulany's studio home is amazing, as is her polymer clay, textile and fibre art.
I'll try to post from Paihia and if not, there'll be a flurry of activity when we're back.