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

  A very colourful and musical sample of faux chenille. Isn't it amazing when something you have been planning for for a couple of years finally arrives? And then all of a sudden - it's over!!! It's my second to last night in The Antipodes. I am at my motel in Wanaka having had a lovely, lazy day mooching around. The most important part of the day was packing a parcel and sending it back home full of clothes . . .  My suitcase is a tad over weight, not unlike my good self!! I arrived in Wanaka last Sunday having been given a lift from one of the students that had enrolled on my course. We had a very beautiful drive up from Dunedin. . . and then it was straight into setting my room to teach on Monday.    More faux chenille samples. The five day workshop I was due to teach was A New Starting Point. My newspaper based course. It is very odd teaching without a Volvo estate full of my kit. I have to rely on my students bringing everything in - and the odd internat

 It was worth having a little hint in the last post - Janet sent me 2 images of how she is beginning to stitch in to her samples.    Starting to look good . . .   The one day workshop on Sunday was A New Starting Point - the day started well with Noel cooking me an 'Ulster fry' - How could I refuse???    A girl needs a good start to the day . . . I must say that the ladies of The Northern Ireland Embroidery Guild  www.nieg.org.uk are very good fun - and also VERY talented. I had the best weekend teaching this fabulous group of women.  The ladies working hard.    Just look at that bottom lip . . . !!!! Joanne/Joanna was particularly good fun.    Lots of layering of papers, painted Bondaweb and of course - sparkles.             The papers were then printed onto - preferably with a colour that is already in the works so the print isn't tooooo 'in your face'!!        I will show you the finished samples in