5 layers of heavy paper Tyvek, layered with polyester organza, machine stitched together and then zapped with a heat gun. The Auckland Quilt Symposium 2019 was a fabulous affair. 30 tutors from near and far taught, I don't know how many, students over 5 days. A remarkable feat of organisation and great fun to be part of. I taught 3 workshops. A New Starting Point, Tinkering with Tyvek and Look, Draw, Print, Stitch. The Symposium was held in a girls school with great facilities. I was given a room in the science block. It was fabulous, my friends Alysn Midgelow Marsden and Jane Callender were teaching in the same block. I had stayed with Alysn for a few days before the Symposium and I hadn't seen Jane since we did the ICHF craft shows in the UK about 7 years ago. It was so good to catch up with her. The rooms were were perfect as they had electric sockets in the floor under the tables and they also had sinks- what more could a girl ask?? The first workshop was a 2 da...

  The 3 of us had a walk in the bush last night and Brian showed me why these huge ferns are called silver ferns . . if you shine a light up under the leaves - they turn silver. Beautiful.  So - here I am in New Zealand. At the moment I am staying with my friends Alysn and Brian Midgelow Marsden on the Tawharanui Penninsula, just inside the Tawharanui National Park over looking Christian Bay.   Kotare House It is a beautiful house with incredible views of the sea in the front of the house and the bush behind. The weather can be a bit like where I live in Ireland, 4 seasons in 1 day. But generally there is a lot less rain!!! Alysn runs an Airbnb from the house, if ever you are traveling on the North Island, I can't recommend this place enough - check it out. Kakariki Room in Kotare House    View over Christian Bay.      View over the bush with Brian terraced raised beds. The planting around the hous...