Sewing at Opononi

I'm just back from a Girls Week Away, sewing at Opononi. It was a great week, lots of sewing, talking, eating, and walking on the beach. Lily especially enjoyed the walks on the beach.

Lily on the deck. Lily is Fiona's Foxy/Corgi cross

We were lucky with the weather while we were there away, lots of sunshine so we could enjoy our walks.

View looking left out to the Heads of the Hokianga Harbour

View looking right.

Donna taking a photo of me taking photos :-)

Two men, a dog, one caravan and tractor

It was common to see boats being towed, but we also saw caravans and a horse and cart. It was like going back in time really.
I was a bit slow to grab the camera to catch the horse and cart, but here it is in the distance!

Horse and cart!

Working on piecing together my 'Sparkle Punch' quilt I fed the units through the machine upside down!
No unpicking was required though, just snipping the connecting chain piecing threads, and rearranging the units. (2nd Photo) See it all makes sense now

Here's my Sparkle Punch it is all sewn together!

Fiona finished this quilt top she is making for her son.

Here's a close up of the fabric in Fionas quilt. Can you guess her son likes surfing?

Checker boards

Onto my second project, a kit I bought from Itch to Stitch Bernina. It's a cute emergency vehicle panel surrounded by several borders.

Checker boards added, and in the background is one of the blocks Donna was working on.

Finished!

Fiona's 'Horses' Quilt

Fiona completed the top of her 'Horses' quilt. The brown border fabric is so perfect for it with the criss cross  design mirroring the block design.

Up the right way!

The Hobbit

I have been enjoying Junez Scrapz recent blog posts with photos from her son. If you haven't clicked though and had a look do so (link is on the sidebar too). He is working on The Hobbit movie, and has been sending marvellous photos to June of the scenery.

Today I was reading a story online about the sets for 'The Hobbit' & Professional Blogger Eric Vespe, who has been invited by Sir Peter Jackson to blog from the set. 
http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/new-zealand/6031824/Hobbitons-Green-Dragon-tipped-for-pulling-pints

Hobbit Hole, Matamata New Zealand. Photo by Eric Vespe, Ain't It Cool News.

I love the book The Hobbit, I remember one of my school a teachers (Mr Elgar I think!) reading it aloud to the class. He would stop at the end of each chapter and our homework that night was to write a page or two on what happened next. We would read our versions aloud the next day. Some were close to the book, some we thought more fun, and others well there has to be a donkey in most things!  But it was a great way to get us kids wanting write.

Anyway in case you are a fan like me I thought you might like to read  Eric Vespe's blog posts. 
As I have been to most of the 'locations' (long before they were taken over by Hobbits), I really enjoyed seeing these familiar landscapes turned into a mythical middle earth.


Here's links to the first couple of posts, from the set of The Hobbit.

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/51787
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/51851

If you want to read more use 'unexpected journey' in ainitcool.com's search box.