Auckland Trip (the country mouse goes to town)

Last week my husband had a business meeting in Auckland, and as it was school holidays and I wasn't working he asked if I'd like to come and go shopping. Well yes of course!

He knew I had been wanting to go to The Ribbon Rose in Ellerslie so he dropped me off there to start my day.
This is an incredible shop and if you haven't been before I'd allow at least an hour to look at everything. Just when you think you have seen everything, you find another room with more goodies. It was really hard to decide what to buy as I loved everything.

My purchases

In the end I bought some bias cut silk ribbon as I have never used this and I'm interested to see how it makes flowers compared to straight grain ribbon. Then these great specialty thread packs by Jane Van Keulen, and lastly I couldn't leave the perle cotton behind as they were in a bargain pack, 6 for the price of 2.

As my husband had a work vehicle (I'm not allowed to drive it) I had to use public transport. I had a little adventure travelling around Auckland.

The train leaving Ellersile Station, taken from the foot bridge over the motorway.

Off the train at Britomart

 I really enjoyed the trains, and the conductors were really friendly and helpful. They have incredible memories too, every stop the passengers played musical chairs to get better spots but the conductors still could work out the new people who had boarded the train and needed to buy a ticket. Doing that for one carriage would do my head in, but they were doing it for several carriages!

Britomart. All you have to do is go up the elevators and you are in Queen St.

Here's some more photos from the rest of my day.

I crossed the road to get the ferry to Devonport, as I waited I shared a biscuit with the sparrows

The Seagulls were jealous, but I like the Sparrows better so they missed out!

The Ferry coming into to Auckland.

On the ferry looking back at down town Auckland

When I got off the ferry this was waiting, but I decided to walk around Devonport. 

Window shopping at the toy shop. (Hey Lynne, Ron would love this!)

And here's the shop I had come over to see

I only purchased a small fabric pack, but it is an amazing shop.

Wandering around I found an emporium (Ike's I think) and bought some braids

Then I found an Op shop (thrift shop) and got a bit carried away buying wool

On the ferry ride back I thought this new building on the waterfront looks like a caterpillar.
 I'm guessing it is 'party central' for the Rugby World Cup. 

 It was a nice day out and next time I might get braver and go on buses too!

Symposium Suitcase Exhibition at Bernina

Hi I popped into Bernina yesterday and had a look at the travelling exhibition. Make sure you go and have a look too as there is plenty to see! Francine has done a great job hanging them all, it must have been like doing a hard jigsaw puzzle, making them all fit!

Here is a teaser, and the one that caught my eye the most. It is part of a triptych by Jean McLean

Jean McLean - Life's Journey Triptych (centre tree only)

Club members Shirley Julian & Robyn Halverson also have wallhangings in the exhibition, so make sure you read all the labels too.

Also while I was at Bernina I noticed a lot of sewing machines are on special at the moment, so if you have been thinking of buying a new machine now would be a good time!

Show & Tell, July 2011

We had another full show and tell last Saturday. It's really nice that we have room to hang it all up for everyone to see. Much better than the quick look we used to have, when we had our meetings at St Johns.

Sonya does a great job hanging them all up too. Thanks Sonya.

Lynne O'Donnel has made this great wall hanging to be auctioned for Project Promise. (local hospital fundraiser) 

'The Clog Maker' by Dorothy Terpstra 

The next few wall hangings are by Gaylyn Barclay. Sandy met Gaylyn at the public library. Gaylyn was looking at the quilting books so Sandy invited her to come along to club.

'Seahorses' by Gaylyn Barclay. 

by Gaylyn Barclay

by Gaylyn Barclay

by Gaylyn Barclay

by Gaylyn Barclay

by Gaylyn Barclay

by Gaylyn Barclay

by Gaylyn Barclay

'Crayfish' by Sonya Prchal. Sonya took her rotary cutter to a bigger wall hanging as she thought it was too busy! Her favourite part was this Crayfish, so he lives another day!

'Shannon's Quilt' made by Carmel Spray for her grand daughters 13th Birthday.  I'm sure she will love it with all those girly things!

'Beaded Fusion' by Donna Rowan started in Gloria Loughman's class at Queenstown Symposium

'Doodle Quilt' by Donna Rowan, 'finished many times,  just kept coming back and adding things!' 

Gee Donna's been busy this is her's too! 'Anemones Cushion'  wool fabric

Jennifer Cullen made this cute baby quilt using half a Jelly Roll

One of our satellite groups 'Stitch n Time' put together these charity blocks & quilted it too. Thanks ladies.

'The Cats Surprise' Kay O'Hagan finished this for her sister in law. It's really cute, see the close ups below.

Here's Kitty playing with the ribbon....

......and here's the gift. A new friend.

Crazy Block by Tric Carter. Tric is going to make this into a cushion.

Crazy block by Sheryl Schick. It's still a work in progress but is looking good.

And another one of Sheryl's blocks. The Butterflies look great.

July Meeting 2011

Hope you all enjoyed the Saturday meeting, I thought I would post this photo to remind you all to make a pair of blocks for our raffle quilt next year. 

Blocks for the raffle quilt.

Sue from Country Dawn (in blue) & her fabrics. Can you see the kitchen ladies in the background?
They were serving soup for lunch yum.

Hope you all made purchases from Sue of Country Dawn, if you are regretting not buying something just visit her website and buy it there!

If you are wondering where Show and Tell is I'm posting that tomorrow night, Bye

Body Art

 

 Looking at a news site this morning I  spotted this photo. It's from the     World Body Painting Festival held in Austria, last weekend. If you want to see more use the link above and check it out.

new 'Costume' for the next Quilting Symposium?

Milton's Challenge

Opps..... I forgot to post these photos last month!!!

We had a little Challenge to make something using the batik fabric we got at the xmas meeting last year.

As they were batiks we bought from Milton we had him pick some winners. I only have the names of the winners, as the entries were anonymous till they came and claimed their prize.

1st place. By Lynda Parker

2nd Place. By Bernice Spear

3rd Place, Treasure Boxes by Jenny Gough.
(Scissors Holder, and Hat were other entries)

Baby Blocks 

Stars

I really liked this one!  (no it wasn't mine, I didn't get around to making anything)