Miss me?  

Lake Rotowiti get-away was this past week-end.  A bunch of Blenheim quilters (rallied by Barbara Paton) gathered for some communal quilting and general chatting interspersed with hilarity.  Photos will appear soon in the candids section.

The trip was a seven hours from here, but somewhat irresistible.  Too many friends in one place to pass this up!

After deciding which projects I would most like to ignore during the weekend, packing bedding, snacks, toiletries and such, I loaded the back of my husbands car to drive for my two-hour solo leg of the trip.

The drive was to Bonwyn's home where with combined forces we were going to brave the oncoming gale and make the next few hours a long companionable chat.

Loading the car with these anticipations, I turned from leaning over the boot and caught the protruding tow bar with my right shin.  If my left shin had made contact the show would have been a comical dance of catching my balance...

My dance ended up looking more like a rhino in a tutu trying to balance on a big block of ice.  It wasn't pretty. While laying in a heap on the gravel two things went through my mind...one was OWWW.  The other was that I didn't want this to stop my intended trip. Once the shock nausea wore off, I was able to manage a shaky laugh.

Unfortunately my husband had witnessed the performance and was observing closely for signs of genuine injury.  In a relatively short time I was again on my feet, dusted off, determined to look unaffected.  The show must go on, shake it off, man up, stiff upper lip and all that.

Hmm..my smile was forced, both ankles hurt, my knee was bleeding and my left wrist was dynamite!  (No doubt the pain would ease soon).  I backed the car away from our home hoping Jeff wasn't noticing my frozen features, I only had to get to the end of the drive where I could grimace and frown freely.  

Waiting to see how the wrist would behave was not an option. If I was going to see my friends it was now (or miss my connection to the lake).   Finding I couldn't shift with my injured hand was problematic, but hey, it's why we have two!  At this point I thought the pain would be best ignored.

Two hours later Bronwyn was less convinced that this could/should be ignored.  The optimistic quilting gear was loaded into her car and with a bandage and an ice pack on my wrist we headed off. My friend's first-aid understanding made her increasingly concerned.  

Having bored you on this subject long enough I will end all suspense and say that Bronwyn was correct.  The pain did not diminish, the wrist did need medical attention. We did stop long enough for someone medical to advise an long detour to an X-ray.  

Here Bronwyn helped with a concession, if we kept it braced, would waiting hurt?  Knowing or not was immaterial, and frankly whether I had gone on the trip or not- the silly thing was going to feel the same.

Seeing all my quilting buddies and catching up was absolutely worth the pain. They are an amazing bunch.  Ironically, project X was with my gear, and felting was the only thing I could accomplish one-handed!!! Quite a bit was accomplished, so the time was not lost.

When we returned from the great time at the lake, my husband and daughter fetched the car and the wounded warrior home.  Jeff and I then proceeded to the emergency room to wait FIVE hours to have the wrist dealt with.

The doctor decided to treat my wrist as broken but will give me a final verdict in two weeks when the swelling is down and the x rays repeated.  

My choice of fibreglass casts were myriad, with black being the least florid choice... since this will (hopefully) be my only cast ever, I went with flamingo pink.  Life is too short to choose boring. 

The latest project is in full swing. Project x.  Deadline June 20th.  Project x will be mailed around that date  to arrive in ample time, then it's just wait-to-see if it is accepted.   Ironically, Project x will be the first (large) highly-felted project I've ever made.

Some time ago, I began dyeing loads of this amazing felt recycled wool squares.  Yummy to say the least. 

My family became accustom to me standing above the bubbling brew muttering and throwing in coloured powders.  The only thing missing was the pointed black hat and the wart. 

When the UK connection granted permission to use 'the image' on such a project, my first step was to jump into my felted squares and see if there was anything available - already dyed to suit my quilt.

As things go, I was woefully short of one colour.  The quilt is nothing as colourful as this wheel above.  Project x has only three main colours. A great deal of blue or green would have satisfied my need.  There were only two recourses left to me...either dye loads again OR try using my sort-of colours and see how much the felting covered.  

If you know me at all, you know I am a constant trial-er.  By that I mean that, instead of committing expensive and extreme amounts of fabric to a project hoping my idea works, I trial everything first.  By this practice, many interesting alternatives have presented themselves while some good-sure-to-work ideas have been binned.  

Trying first one idea then another, I work until absolutely certain that my colour combo will work or my new technique can be trusted to hold together for more than a nano-second, or that the concept has the impact expected.

Happy to say that the trials exceeded my expectations and that Project x is coming along swimmingly.  I would love to show you as it progresses...but that goes against the rules of exhibition.  

So, I am felting away every day to create something absolutely unique. Cant wait to share it with you!

Last week my younger daughter decided on her next quilt project.  Of course that required purchasing loads of new fabrics.  She loves the same colours as I do, so what was available in my stash was insufficient.  

Enters Mr. Wright.  I had already visited him at the Ashburton Symposium, but now felt the need to send him a few swatches and see if he would send me the needed additions to the new project.

To my surprise he rang me today.  On a Sunday, apparently he's been away scuba-diving or something exciting.  After 4 days away, he found my order in his box.  The long and short of the order is that he is able to provide the extra 13 metres of fabric.  

If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Wright I may as well tell you he specialises in batiks, although he does have some other fabrics, batiks are what I am after.  He carries every colour of the rainbow and a few besides.  His prices are highly competitive, which makes him a popular fellow.  

He had received my letter and swatches of desired colours and had a question or two...as well as wanting to tell me to return anything I didn't think matched properly.
How can he be both Wright and wrong?

 Sometime this week, I will receive a package of my chosen bits and a bill.  

                                    This.  Was.  Dangerously.  Easy.  

Have you ever missed some great opportunity just because you didn't know in time? Some quilt exhibition that was only an hour away, but news of it hadn't reached you?  This AOTEAROA national quilt association of New Zealand provides interesting blogs, need-to-know info and even the potential to gain a scholarship for improving your skills!  

The National Association of New Zealand Quilters is an excellent group to join.   Find out current events, and keep up with activities that effect NZ quilters.  Catherine McDonald , our current president is friendly, approachable, and a great leader.

Click on the photo above to go to the page and see how to register. The member-only exhibitions are amazing, as well as being able to connect to other quilters who are IN THIS TOGETHER!   For only 40$ per year, you can have your finger on the pulse of quilting in New Zealand.   This group is moving forward with a sense of direction and drive that is great to see!!!

When planning a quilt often I head down one path, and then end up wandering down a labyrinth of indecision.  

One idea dominates for a while, then another seems more appealing.  Soon the path I'm on bears NO resemblance to the simple original path. Every time a corner is turned new vistas open - more exciting than ever!  Some of my all-time favourite quilts have begun with such accidental explorations.  

Apparently (for some of us) the key to creativity is just starting down a path and allowing ourselves the liberty to take that side road, push through a few obstacles and find the hidden gem that was there all the time, waiting to be discovered.  

This can devolve into getting lost and wandering aimlessly for a while, but usually there is some discovery at the end that makes the wandering worthwhile.

Today, I have not accomplished anything physical as far as a quilt goes.  Nothing has been cut out, measured or sewn.  Today I explored a new set of paths.  

My path started simply enough, then ended with a research site in the UK.   Just like that.  My journey began with a mediocre idea, switched several times in one day from one idea to another, and now some stranger in the UK and I are connected.  What a weird and wonderful world.

Two sets of materials had to be put away after they were pulled out and auditioned for this project, but now my mind is resting easy in the destination reached.  I've found my secret happy spot on this path, and am ready to CREATE!!!  

Maintenance is everything.  If you own a motel/home/business and don't put money back into maintenance, everything slowly falls apart.  You have to spend money to make (or save) money. You have to spend money on maintenance regularly and consistently.  

Quilting is no different.  Every year new fabrics appear, colour styles change and the old stash begins to look tired.  Really, if you want to stay at the top of your game you HAVE to buy fabric. Regularly and consistently.  

So today, fulfilling my duty as a quilter/tutor, some of my hard earned cash was put into maintenance.  It was a difficult job, but necessary!

After making decisions that should bolster my stash until the next scheduled maintenance, I had each cut and paid for...at this point I felt my duty done.

The fabric in the photograph (and perhaps a TINY bit more) was placed in a paper bag, which was slid across the counter to me.   When I picked the paper bag up, the fabric weight shifted to the bottom of the bag which - immediately burst open.  

The person who had carefully cut and tallied my fabric assured me that this was unusual...I just wondered if in this maintenance call I might have gone above and beyond the call of duty.  Better to be prepared I say!

A sleepless night can be a dangerous thing.  After a stimulating positive conversation just before sleep-time with my darling husband, (in which he came up with a strikingly genius idea) my brain simply refused to let me sleep.  

Normally if I am sleepless, I just lay still and breath a lot trying to think relaxing thoughts.  Last night, that just wasn't a happening thing...so the sketchpad came out.  

For those who sketch, you will recognise the need to empty the brain of some of the pressure, and also know how therapeutic it can be, (an artist's version of counting sheep. ) - Unless you plunge into some sort of primeval creative state - after which all bets are off.

After two and a half hours my creative juices were satisfied enough to let me rest.  

Sometimes these nocturnal creations lose some shine in the light of day.   This one seems to be a keeper, so maybe 'counting sheep' will pay off this time!  Now all I need is to live forever....

On Saturday, loaded down with a couple of suitcases and my large Bargello briefcase, I arrived a door down from the Janome Store here in Timaru where a group regularly meets.  

I'm a Bernina girl myself, but apparently no matter what machine you use, all are welcome!

The group has a pretty impressive library of magazines that are available to the members to check out.  This appeared to be a recent development, but the group clearly enjoyed the opportunities to peruse such a good variety.  Clever idea.  

Linda had invited me to do a show-and-tell with my quilts, sort of an introduction to the ladies and one hour exhibition of the quilt assortment that defines me as a quilter.  The room was full (probably near 30 chairs were set up), and the ladies were kindly attentive.  

Afterwards I found out that some of these ladies travel over an hour to attend these meetings!

Thankfully Lynne was there (from two of my classes in Ashburton) as was Una.  Una hadn't attended my classes, but we had met at the show.  It's always encouraging to have some familiar faces in a crowd. I shared stories and some laughs.  

Quilt after quilt was shown, many of my early 'struggle' quilts, some children's quilts and even previews of three 'on the go' projects.  After almost an hour the ladies had a few questions and then did their normal club show and tell.  The whole experience was positive, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the other ladies' work.  

One quilt shown was an Anzac banner - with bold poppies on a dark background, very effective colouring, and another was a 'techniques sample' with a three dimensional flower from lightly melted organza.  HMMM that could be fun!

There was a woman who had been bequeathed a box of fabrics etc from an older lady including partially made quilt tops sewn with all FRENCH seams!  Imagine.  This woman remade the tops and finished them properly. 

Lynne brought her projects from the Ashburton Symposium, and had made a very nice job of creating cushion covers from her Tricks of the Trade class.  

I don't know if students realise how gratifying it is for a tutor to see what they make  from their classes.  It's a real buzz.  A shared accomplishment.  

After the session some out of town ladies discussed having a couple of classes, so hopefully we can arrange to see their smiling faces again!

Thank you Linda, and ladies for the lovely orchids and the wonderful afternoon meeting you all.  

When I was considering tutoring Yvonne was the one who stood beside me and said "go for it."  She tirelessly answered questions about class notes, preparing proposals, handling one of 'those' students and generally helped me find my way.  

This is the woman that started me off as a tutor, giving me one of her classes in it's original form to work off, and learn from. Yvonne entrusted me with my first mini-symposium job at the P41 Mini Symposium in Picton 2008.

Yvonne has done her part for the industry, influencing and affecting many quilters in a positive way.  Without Yvonne's encouragement and direction, I doubt I'd be tutoring today.  (Just wanted to take a moment to give credit where credit is due.) 

THANK YOU YVONNE!