New Zealand - The North Island, part the third

 The tutors had a short bus ride to the symposium every morning - we decided the group name for a gathering tutors should be a cacophony. 

Can you imagine why?

 The Quilt Symposium 2015 Palmerston North was a brilliant event. I have never been part of something so large and so very well organised. It was VERY impressive. I taught 5 one day workshops. All my workshops were full which was very satisfying - you never quite know when you are an international tutor, has anyone heard of you? 
The first workshop was A New Starting Point which I wrote about in the previous post. 
So - to continue . . . .
The second workshop was Transforming Transfer. We had great fun painting papers with disperse dye (transfer paint) and then transferring the designs onto synthetic fabric. You can achieve fabulous layered effects with this process.

 Some of the group getting stuck into painting the disperse dye (transfer paint) onto paper ready to transfer onto synthetic fabric.

 Playing with layers of colour . . .

 We had time to get the soldering irons out and do some applique with Bondaweb/Vliesofix.

The tutors lunch was delivered to our classroom every day -  along with a handmade gift. It was such a beautiful idea, I will treasure all the keepsakes.

 Everyday had a different comical saying.

The third workshop was Decorated Papers. Working with all kinds of paper and old books along with painted Bondaweb/Vliesofix, gilding flake and transfer foils.
There were some fabulous old books and magazines brought to the class. It was more of a social history class at times, with some very funny moments - we did have a good laugh.

 Samples of decorated and layered papers - gorgeous.

 Workshop four was On the Surface - my basic workshop that takes you through painting and layering Bondaweb/Vliesofix and Tyvek. There was some splendid work done in the class - here are just two of the samples.

 Lovely stuff.

The last workshop was The Journey - I had to go from the design exercises to finished printing blocks on one day - a tall order, but we did it - just! We had 16. As you can imagine, it was a very busy day. The group worked hard and produced some very beautiful work. I was very pleased with them.

The girls produced some fabulous printing blocks - all original designs. Fabulous!

This is the link to the symposium website - quiltsymposium.co.nz

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The day after the symposium I was whisked away and given a lift to Wellington where we got a ferry over Picton the South Island. Ever since arriving in New Zealand I had been waiting for this  - the South Island means my good friends Denise and Christine. I was soooo excited - and just a wee bit tired. I had had a very full on few days. It was lovely to spend a few hours on the windy deck of the ferry and enjoy the sunshine. It certainly blew the cobwebs away!!
It was has been and continues to be hot!!! Averaging 25 - 28 degrees - Phew!! A tad warm for this old bird.

Views from the ferry along the Marlborough Sounds.

Denise and Christine met me off the ferry and carried me off to Blenheim where we would stay for the next few days. I can't tell you how good it was to see them. We had exciting things planned - more of that to come in the next post.

The view over to Picton.

Denise and Christine.

We have had a great few days together, now Denise has left to fly to Auckland and her daughters wedding. I missed her husband this time - he is great fun, never mind - next time.

Christine, her husband Bob and family have a house on Lake Rotoiti and we are about to leave for a few days there before they drive me to Christchurch to begin my fight home on Friday. 

Will tell you about my exploits in Blenheim in the next post and no doubt add a few shots of the lake. It will be great to have a rest for a few days.

More soon.

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