Stitching New Zealand

Today I am doodling with thread.

I have abandoned the plan to stitch a tui on this piece as too "Kiwiana" souvenir style and am now making it my interpretation of our boat trip to the Huka Falls.

It is very windy outside and Al has gone up to Auckland with his brother so I am having a relaxed afternoon just stitching.

Happy weekend, whatever you are doing.

Prayer Flags to New Zealand

Today I can share the stitching I was doing before I left for New Zealand.  I decided to make prayer flags for a few people I knew I would definitely be seeing during the trip. Today I handed over the final one to a very delighted recipient so I can share some pictures without spoiling any surprises.  I took these photographs when we were at Kahoe in Northland, right at the beginning of our trip.  The sunshine was gorgeous, much better than today!

Today we have been into Auckland and escaped from the wind and rain in the lovely art gallery.  We had to get a bus back to Al's niece's home and here's the view from the bus stop - not good eh?!!

Inspiration

New Zealand is full of inspiring images.  I have taken many, many pictures and I expect that only a few will make it into some form of textile but I have a head full of possibilities.  Here are a few of my favourites so far:

If nothing else I can see what my colour palette is and start gathering interesting threads!

Taupo Power

I got all poetic (and maybe pretentious) and declared to Al that the two things we have enjoyed today have been branches of the same tree.    

In the first the heating, melting and manipulating of a natural material was controlled and exploited by a man to create beautiful things.  In the second the heating of the natural material was powered by the Earth and is really beyond our control (although we do exploit it for hydro-electricity) and beautiful sights are created but destruction (to our lives) can be the result.

Anyway, we firstly visited the studio of glass artist, Lyndon Over, in Taupo and enjoyed his amazing glass sculpture garden.

Secondly, we explored the geothermal environment known as Craters of the Moon, again in Taupo.

I took loads of pictures, here are a few:

Wonderful Wellington

We are in wonderful Wellington at the moment and having a fabulous time.  

Wellington is the capital city of NZ but is much smaller than either Auckland or Christchurch, much more contained.  It has a great arts culture and I am in love with it!

We are by the sea of course and I have been making progress on my Meeting of the Oceans textile.  I have also taken a few pictures of city dwelling Tuis so I can work on that outline for my other piece!

Today we met up with a school friend of my DD, we haven't seen Jemma for years and years.  We had a great time.  Jemma had arranged both wonderful weather and a great tour of her hometown including Mount Victoria, fabric shops and cake!  

Can you believe today was the first time during our trip that I have bought fabric?  I also bought threads and a back copy of NZ Quilter magazine because it had an article on eco dyeing and one on WOW - the World of WearableArt.  

Three more days to enjoy here in Wellington, I shall be sorry to leave.