A scrummy sample before it is printed.  Here I am, back in New Zealand. I do so love this place. I am teaching on the North Island this time. I have just spent several wonderful days in the Northlands. North of Auckland. I have been staying with lovely Kerry Glen at One Tree Point who organised a 3 day workshop with her local ladies. They are mostly quilters, but they managed to cope with my strange ways and my goodness me did they get on with some fabulous work.  The workshop was A New Starting Point which is newspaper and Bondaweb/Vliesofix based.    The workshop was held at One Tree Point yacht club. A perfect room for a workshop. Plenty of room and tables and lots of power sockets. Just wonderful. The view wasn't too bad either . . !!!  The painted Bondaweb/Vliesofix drying on the deck.    Starting to build a 'pretty'. I call the process of building up the torn layers 'prettys and backgrounds'. Once you get the hang of it you get into

Packed and just about on weight!!   Right, I am all packed and my cases are just about borderline weight wise! Gulp!! I am off to Dublin airport to fly to Christchurch on the South Island of New Zealand. Let's hope it has stopped shaking. I dont fly til 8.30pm, but I need to park etc.   I will be staying with my good friend Denise and her hubby on their farm for 4 days then I will be flying up to Auckland on the North Island to start 3 weeks of teaching. I hope to be able to drop in on Alysn Midgelow Marsden and inspect her new home and her new aircraft hanger of a studio, jealous?? ME??  Denise hiding in the foliage on her verandah. Gore Bay. Close to the farm, great for long walks.   Denise lives in Cheviot and has been coping with almost continual shaking of the ground since the big earthquake earlier in the year. They had a 4.9 shake 2 weeks ago. Scary. Cheviot was cut off for several weeks until the roads were cleared. I hope to be able to have a

Bliss balls, chocolate brownies and fresh raspberries. Denise is a fabulous cook -  and it's all gluten free. Denise had been Gluten free for several years, until I met her I had no idea how debilitating it can be. So - here I am in New Zealand, Christchurch to be exact. Am in a motel for the night as I have an earlyish flight in the morning to start my journey back to the UK. I really don't want to leave - I do so love it here. I have had a wonderful time here. I have been soooooo well looked after by my lovely friend Denise Cleghorn and her husband the very funny Barry. He tolerated me with good humour. I also saw another good friend Christine Marks and her gorgeous man Bob for a couple of days in Blenheim. We have all had a good catch up. Whilst Facebook and emails can help when there is a long distance between you, there is nothing like a big hug when you do get to see each other. Most of my visit has been spent on Denise and Barry's farm just outside