Opononi Sewing Weekend

I had a great weekend away at Opononi (southern side of the Hokianga Habour, Northland NZ). 

So here's a few snaps to make you all jealous! :-D

This is the Bach (Kiwi for Holiday Home) we stayed at. Opononi is still a small friendly holiday settlement with old fashioned Baches not like some spots where all the 'Baches' are multi million dollar mansions.

Looking left from the deck at the sand dunes on the other side of the Hokianga Habour. 

...and looking to the right from the deck, where nature is trying to tame the sand dunes.

The Sand dunes are amazingly large (I think something like 300metres high).

In case you have no idea where Opononi is I found this map of Northland and have added Opononi on so you can see. We drove from Whangarei thru Kaikohe (road not shown on map) onto Opononi. On the way home we went via Paihia.

Here's my Sewezi hard at work

Can you guess what I'm making?
 (Yes I know bad hair day and I need a haircut, some makeup would help too!)

Yes another star, as I really enjoyed making the last one.
 (those are Sandy's toes in case you are trying to guess)

There was some unpicking done too, see my triangle on the wrong way!

And Fiona joined her border, but that's the wrong side of the fabric on the right!

This is one the quilts Fiona was working on

Sandy & Mary both bought hand sewing with them, and didn't make any mistakes, or at least didn't show me so I could get the evidence!

On Sunday morning we went for a quick drive to the lookout/walkway on the southern head of the Habour.

I took a lot of photos but have been threatened with death if some of the silly group shots make it on the blog! No worries I'm in those photos too and I know how bad they are ;-). Anyway enjoy the scenery below.

Looking back down the Habour, the houses are Ompapere, and Opononi is just out of shot on the top left.

Looking west out to the Tasman Sea

It was low tide so we could see these large rocks. Can you the circle pool? It would be about the size of a para pool.

Sandy and I left early Sunday afternoon to go home via Paihia, as Sandy's Son was doing a tandem Skydive and we didn't want to miss seeing that. It was really nice because I got to meet all of Sandy's lovely family too. 

We were all sure they would land in the sea, as the beach was only a few metres wide. But all went well with perfect landings on the sand. It was quite exciting as they seemed be going slow till they were just above us and then we could see how fast they were dropping.

Nearly on the ground!

I’m cutting up fabric…

….because this weekend I’m going away with three quilting friends to sew the whole weekend .

So I thought I’d pre-cut a couple of quick quilts. This is a sneak peek of one,  I’m planning on cutting the other out tonight. Here’s hoping that I get both tops sewn up over the weekend.

Till later hope you are all finding time to do some sewing too! 

Show n Tell February 2012

Suz Hoe Street by Mathea Daunheimer. Inspired from her time in China. See the detail in the close up below.

Dock Ropes # 6 by Mathea Daunheimer. This series is based on a truck Mathea saw, full of old/to be recycled fishing rope. Check out all the stitching in the close up below.

The View through the Trees, by Robyn Halverson. Robyn pieced the scene then cut it up & inserted the pieced trees.

Jess Fraser made this from a NZ Quilter magazine pattern. Her Mum quilted it for her, and she has given it to her Nanny.

Made by Shelia Udjur. It is a pattern she purchased from the Apple Basket a few years ago, and she decided it was time to make it up.

Shelia Udjur made this for her Son & Daughter in laws wedding. She designed it in EQ6. It took 17 days to make from start to finish!

Bruce the Rooster by Sonya Prchal. Sonya created this from a photo she took of a cheeky Rooster. Check out the stitching in the close up below.

Table runner made by Pam Carr. 6 fat quarters made this and another for Pam's friend.

Raewyn Jecentho made this from a kiwi jelly roll she purchased at Calico Christmas. This is only her second quilt. Quilted by Sandy Robinson.

Sue Farrier made these beautiful bibs, I love the bee the best.

Dorothy Terpstra made this bag form a Quilt Mania magazine. She managed to find similar fabric to that in the magazine too.

This hand stitched table runner was made by Hazel Phillps. She said it was a good hand stitching project to take to meetings etc. (Sorry the edges aren't in the photo, it was on a table and my arms weren't long enough!)

And finally my bit of mad sewing from the holiday break!

Poor Oscar!

He’s wearing his ‘Cone of Shame’. Don’t worry he’s OK really it’s just that he had a little scab on his head that he had scratched the top off. I know from previous experience he will keep at it until it becomes so big he will need a staple or stitch….so cone of shame it is for a couple of days until it’s healed.

Here he is preparing to  have a sleep on his own quilt, an old flannel quilt I made back in the early 90’s. It started out as a quilt for my boys to cuddle under and watch cartoons, but now it belongs to Oscar. It is so well used there is no fluff left on the flannel, the binding edges are worn, but it is really soft and all his.

Do you pets have their own quilts? If not make them one they will love you for it.