More tales from the voyager

Captain Ryan showed interest in what we were doing down in the conference room He visited a couple of times, and even casted his vote for the best quilt in the challenge.

We sailed into Auckland harbour at around 5.30am - not many cruisers up on deck for this, though I wouldn't miss it. Come hail rain, or shine, I'm always a keen onlooker when the ships sails in and out of new and interesting places.

While in Auckland we caught the ferry across to Devenport to visit Cushla's patchwork shop (a great shop. We passed the knitted poles on the way.

Even Kung Fu Panda was wearing patchwork shorts. He also visited us in the sewing room - had difficulty getting through the door, but with a bit of push and a squeeze he managed it.

The weather was mostly good (and calm) though day seemed to turn into night as we sailed out of Wellington.

Voyagers return

Cruising the Islands and New Zealand on The Voyager of the Seas was fantastic . . . with great company, food, cocktails, ports of call, shopping, entertainment, walks on the deck at sunset, time to read and chat and enjoy our 4pm happy hour sessions, new friendships...oh! and of course some quilting.
I had intended to make at least one storm at sea block . . . where did the time go?

Thanks ladies and partners, John and I had a wonderful time.

I can't relate all of our tales of adventure, or post the thousands of photos taken . . . here are just a few.

Most of the 36 ladies on board rallied for a photo on the stairs
View from the walking deck
Australia Day at Sea

There will be more to follow over the next couple of days - ladies ... as I said on board, please feel free to download any of the photos I post for this trip.

When we left a couple of weeks ago the country was facing terrible bushfires (we still are in some areas), now we return to devastating floods.
I know that some of you live in or near the flood affected areas...my thoughs are with you, I do so hope you are all O.K.

Cheese Cake

My neice was married recently. It was a beautiful wedding for a wonderful couple.
You don't know the couple so the photos are not of them.
The pick of the photos I took on the day are below.
The wedding cake was a Cheese Cake (with the emphasis on "Cheese", rather than "Cake") - very impressive.
At a pinch my husband and brother in law could probably have filled in for the flower girls.
The night time view from the reception at (Ripples).
Congratulations Cathy and Johnny...My wish for you is a life time of health and happiness.

It's big, I mean really big!

Hubby and I travelling into the city today for a great Christmas party lunch at Walsh Bay. I always enjoy the River Cat journey and today was made even more enjoyable when we spotted "The Voyager of the Seas" sitting at circular quay (dwarfing the overseas passenger terminal, the Opera House and all the city buidings surrounding it).

This ship is seriously large (the largest in the southern hemisphere, I'm told). We felt a rush of excitement as we watched passengers getting ready to board this magnificent ship.

Our turn will come soon, when Dorothy Clee and I set sail for Noumea, Fiji and New Zealand taking with us 34 quilters on our wonderful quilting cruise adventure.

Not long to go now. It's almost time to start counting sleeps, yet there is still so much to do, quilt project samples to finish, kits to prepare, more anticipation and excitement to build up. . .

What makes me happy?

It's probably not everyone's cup of tea, but I just love my washing line!
I think I must have the best ever washing line with flannel flowers everwhere.


We live on a very bushy / rustic 5 acre block in Sydney's north west, nothing grows in the garden unless it wants to be there and we certainly don't plant much or fuss over the trees and plants or water them, though I must admit I do talk to them a bit.

We have plenty of Aussie animals and birds visiting and this all adds up to a feeling of tranquility.

Yes, this is one of the things that makes me happy. Rather than finding the time to smell the roses today, I found the time to be delighted by this scene when I aired a couple of my quilts this afternoon.

AQC

Blue Gum Creek is one of my favourite quilts.
Designed to depict a local area where flannel flowers abound and peace and tranquility rein.
I draw a lot of the inspiration for my quilts from the Australian landscape and this is a prime example.
I'll be teaching this quilt as one of my projects at the Australasian Quilt Convention next April.
The other workshop I'll be teaching is "Making miniatures" My 12inch square quilt "Licorice Allsorts" is the quilt I have chosen for this workshop.
Have you ever visited AQC? I love it, Melbourne of course is a great place for a visit and the Royal Exhibition Building is a magnificent venue for this wonderful event.
I'm looking forward to April...will I see you there? (Don't forget to book in for your choice of workshops before the end of November while the lower prices last).

Quilt Norfolk

Just wanted to share a few photos from the Quilt Norfolk Getaway last week. Hubby (John, the one with the long grey beard) and I have just returned from a really enjoyable 10 days on Norfolk Island with a really lovely group of people. I taught two workshops over 4 days and along with the other tutors, Michelle Yeo, Meredith Budd and Meg Orr and the wonderful Quilt Norfolk organisers led by Rowena we had the luxury of having many other days to explore. Quilters from all over Australia and from New Zealand (some with their husbands) all shared a little bit of what the locals call "Norfolk time". Norfolk Island is very small, only about 1300 residents on an island about 8km x 5km. It has a rich history and is very beautiful. Animals have right of way on the island so with cows and chooks and geese roaming around it's a blessing the speed limit is set so low. It's such a great place for a peaceful and relaxing break. I sometimes think I could live there, but then I return home and remember all the wonderful things I love about where I live in my little peace of bushland heaven.

Last but not least

This is the last of the 3 quilts for the cruise. I designed them specificially for the cruise to mark the occasion. Australia, New Zealand and Fiji and Noumea are all captured within these three quilts. (The New Zealand and Pacific Island version of "In the Round" are shown in earlier posts). The cruise is getting exciting close...and still so much to prepare. I love the far flung places I get to visit when I'm teaching. I'm off to Norfolk Island at the end of this week to teach at the Quilt Norfolk Getaway. 10 days of heaven. This is another place I could certainly be happy to retire to.

In the Misty Mountains

The Misty Mountain Getaway was really enjoyable. I taught three workshops over five days and visited Bellingen on my day off. I think I now know where I want to retire to. Thanks ladies for a wonderful week THe photo is the view from the balcony at the Dangar Falls Lodge (home to the tutors for our stay In Dorrigo. Wonderful

South Pacific Island

We'll be visiting Noumea and Fiji,so this quilt now joins the New Zealand Quilt as one of the project options onboard our upcoming Quilting Cruise. I'll quilt it over the next few days and this will give it extra appeal. 27 ladies some with their others halves are booked in - there's room for just a few more. I have an Aussie version of this quilt, look back in a few days for a photo of this.