Trout Stitching?

This is my fifth journal quiltlet from my NZ trip. I have just layered up the landscape ready for hand stitching, now I have to draw a trout.  I think it might turn out that catching one was easier than sketching one but I am quite determined. The inspiration for this piece was, of course, Lake Taupo and the stunning Tongariro mountain range beyond, plus those trout.

Poppies and Drain Covers

Today I have been stitching and I also received a wonderful item of post - my poppy from the Tower of London installation, 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red'.  I got goosebumps as I opened up the package and read the companying booklet.  While the poppy itself has been cleaned after its time in the moat, the stem and fitting have a poignant coating of rust from their time outside.  I was sorry not to have seen the actual installation, especially near Remembrance weekend when almost everybody I know was posting pictures of their visit to the Tower of London on Facebook and I was in New Zealand, the poppy is my "piece of history".

My stitching today has been a reminder of my time in New Zealand.  I have six small pieces planned reflecting different places I visited.  Three are hand stitched and ready to layer up and quilt, this is the fourth, in planning:

and stitched ready for quilting. 

Al declared this, "That's very precise.....that's really precise for you".  I think I'll take that as it was intended, not as a backhanded compliment, just recognition of a different style!  

The piece represents the capital city of NZ, Wellington, and the wonderful time we had there.  It is based on a drain cover.  Now, I first noticed interesting drain covers when I was in Japan, where each village or town area has their own design.  Then I saw the lovely covers in Wellington which I interpret to represent city, sea, mountains and bush.  A quick google proved that I am not alone, there are some very serious drain spotters (ouch, sorry) out there.

Have a great weekend.

Happy 2015

This wonderful picture, (from the Telegraph website), of fireworks on the Sky Tower in Auckland welcoming the New Year sums up all the hope of a new beginning.  May 2015 be a wonderful year for the World and for every individual in it.

Winding Up the Year

Shall I yet again apologise for erratic blog posts?  I seem to have got out of the habit, or have nothing to share!  So much so that Jean, one of my dear Indigo Sisters asked whether I had abandoned Piece n Peace.

So, here are a few things to end the year, before "that" post listing aims and projects for a new year!

I bought this needle case in a bric a brac shop and don't think I have shared it before.  It forms part of my decorations for Christmas but I wouldn't use the needles, I think they maybe past their best!

My fellow textile addict in Norfolk, Ros, was in South Africa while I was in New Zealand.  As well as doing some very wonderful work with a small community and their church she had time to shop and brought me home some splendid things.

This is a length of Shwe Shwe fabric cut and hemmed for use as a head wrap.

These are other pieces of locally produced fabrics and they are all gorgeous.  I am not sure how I shall use them as yet, I just keep stroking them and wondering.

Ros also bought me this vibrant bag, hand painted with a lovely elephant design.  I wouldn't like to risk damage to the design so I think I will make this into a cushion rather than use it as a bag.

I have finally got on with some stitching since returning from NZ.  Even though I have a journal full of ideas it took me a while to pick up a needle.  Maybe Christmas got in the way somewhat.  With only three weeks to "do" Christmas I was very glad to find that I wasn't entertaining at all.  DS David took us out for a wonderful pre-Christmas lunch, DD Sara hosted a splendid Christmas Day and Al's son is cooking lunch on New Year's Day.  I have been so lazy and spoilt that I think I might keep my fingers crossed that this year's arrangements become new traditions.

Speaking of Christmas at Sara's, I promised you Sam...

He had a great time and was overjoyed to receive the train tracks he wrote about in his letter to Santa.

And I love this picture of Saz, "Christmas Lunch....Done!"

Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas everyone.  I am spending the day with Sam, there will be photographs.  

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy your day and this poem:

Twas the Night Before Christmas Poem (A Quilters' Version): author unknown

Twas the night before Christmas, And the quilts were not made, The threads were all tangled, the cookies delayed. The stockings weren't hung, the pantry was bare, The poor weary Quilter, was tearing her hair. Stacks of fat quarters, tipped over in streams, Visions of Log Cabins had turned into dreams. When what to her wondering eyes should appear, But a bus full of quilters with all of their gear. They went straight to work with just a few mutters, Sorting and stitching and brandishing cutters. The patterns emerged from all of the clutter, Like magic the fabrics arranged in a flutter. Log Cabins, Lone Stars, Flying Geese and Bear Tracks, Each quilt was a beauty---even the backs! Her house how it twinkled, her quilts how they glowed, The cookies were baking, the stockings were sewed. Their work was all done, so they folded their frames, And packed up their needles, without giving their names. They boarded the bus and checked the next address, More quilts to be made, another quilter in distrss. She heard one voice echo, as they drove out of sight... "Happy quilting to all, and to all a good night."

Sources:http://boards.hgtv.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/5894011632/m/5361099714

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.