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New Zealand - The North Island, part the second

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A detail of 'Off the Floor' by Gael O'Donnell. So - here I am in Palmerston North teaching at the Quilt Sympossium. It is easily the largest event I have ever been involved in and it is running like clockwork. The organisation required in an event such as this is mind boggling. There are 32 tutors and around 1200 students - amazing. Yesterday we were setting up our classrooms and also had a chance to get a good look at the fabulous exhibition - Growing the Passion. As most of you will know I am not passionately interested in quilting, I admire the craft but  . . .  However, the quilts on show were just fantastic. A fabulous array of different styles and such skill - it was very interesting to see the variety. Here are my favourites . . .   'Off the Floor' by Gael O'Donnell. 'Is it Art?' by Melanie Martin - my favourite. 'Nightwatch' by Anna Prussing. 'My Kind of Garden' by Sheryl Anicich. You are g

New Zealand - The North Island, part the first.

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 A stunning exhibit at the Museum of Auckland. Well I'm here!!  I have been on the North Island for three days now. I was collected from the airport by Alysn Midgelow-Marsden, a brilliant textile artist and tutor who lives over here full time (apart from when she is teaching in the UK). Alysn has been kindness itself. While we both knew of each other, we had never met properly, so her offer to look after me for my first couple of days on the island was very generous. It was great to be absorbed into such a fabulous family. Brian, Alysns husband and the two girls Bryony and Amber, were very welcoming. we had a great time together - as you will see! On Saturday we visited The Domain which is home to Auckland Museum - a remarkable and very beautiful building in stunning grounds. Well worth at least one visit if you are ever over here.  The reason we visited was the WOW exhibition . . . . .  One of several sayings that were projected onto the walls of the exhibition.

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2015 - ExTex 3 Session 7 January 3rd and 4th

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 Strips of transfer printed fabric bonded onto a background and free machine stitched. Happy New Year everyone!!!  I hope you are all well and feeling suitably rested?? Ha Ha !! Maybe not - but hopefully you all enjoyed the break - those of you that had one.  I taught the 7th session of Experimental Textiles at The Old Needle Works over the weekend. We looked at using metal on Saturday and painted Bondaweb and Tyvek on the Sunday. It was just the weekend group this time - The Thursday/Friday group will have 2 sessions in February, we thought it was a bit much for them to have a session on the 1st and 2nd of January!!! The weekend was a 'students choice'. There are 2 sessions within the 9 when the students can negotiate what they would like to do/learn.    Lots of excitement and laughter as the group arrive - they haven't seen each other since November.    Mary kindly brought in fruit - rather cake . . .  Once the girls had settled down and we had a cup