What a wonderful Symposium!!

Well, it's all now but a memory, but what a wonderful memory it is!
2500 enthusiastic and talented women took part in the five days of stitching fun, all tutored by a dedicated and inspirational team of tutors that live to share their ideas with others.

 I thought I'd share a few pics of my week in Taupo teaching my three classes. Hope you can get some idea of the enjoyment and creative gorgeousness that was happening over the week. I'll post over a couple of days so that I can stop and get some dinner in between!

 

The trip started well with a picturesque trip through the Desert Road in the central North Island. (There's a huge mountain hidden in that low cloud). There were No Stopping signs up and the snow had been graded to the sides of the road. And when I got to the northern end of the park the cloud cleared and there was a stunning vista of mountains.

Then it was on to Taupo and to unload my car, check out my classroom (below), which was set up for 16 students ready to go.

Then it was onto the Great Lakes Event Centre to drop off my exhibition piece to be hung with the other tutor's quilts. While I was there I decided to have a walk round and look at all the beautiful work. I didn't take 100's of photos as there were so many beautiful quilts. But I did have a favourite. 

This was my favourite. It was called Apron Strings and it was made by the very clever Jeanie O'Sullivan. What do you think?

Then it was onto to find the tutor's exhibition.

And there it was, hung on the wall. It was included with works from artists like Pam Holland, Susan Brubaker-Knapp, Susan Cleveland, Robbi Eklow, Gwen Marston, Jenny Bowker, Michelle Hill, Gloria Loughman, Lisa Walton, and some very exciting New Zealand artists like Joanne Dixey, Hazel Foot, Jane Rixon, Sonya Prchal, Noeline Johnston. Just to name a few. 

After admiring all the quilts, I checked in and got ready for the opening ceremony.

This is the view from my room.

 

Easy on the eye don't you think?

Back tomorrow with a few more pics for you. 

Carole x

Missing in action....

Just popping into let you know that with symposium only two weeks away, I may not get a chance to be posting on here until after I'm home again. I will take my laptop and if I get time I'll try and download photos and post them.
If you want to catch up with me I will make some posts on my Facebook page which you'll find here, and if you 'Like' my page, you'll get regular updates when I make them.
Everything is almost done, although I still need to finish up some of the tutors kits.
Maybe I'll even get to meet you there, if you are there, please come and say hello, I'd love to meet you!

See you soon,
Carole x

meanwhile

Meanwhile the last of the autumn leaves have been blown off the trees and we've dug the house out from under them all. 

After the cold weekend the ranges at the end of our road have snow on them, this photo was taken from the railway station in Levin on Friday afternoon.

Have a great week everyone!

Carole x

little bags made

All the little bags are made now. Ready to be filled.

 

Woops! Oh well, nothing the vacuum won't fix!

Waiting for their fillings and ribbons :)

Carole x

Getting ready for symposium

The countdown has begun, and I must admit I'm starting to feel excited about teaching my three classes at the National Quilt Symposium in Taupo. It's going to be full on, no time to lull about and dream! There are all sorts of things planned for the tutors and I can't wait to see the tutors exhibition and visit the merchants mall. 

Tonight my desk was looking like this after cutting 60 fabric strips. 

Thought I might make some emergency energy bags for each of my students. I think they may need some extra energy, we're going to be very busy!

Of course those of you who know me, know that I have to add a few embellishments.

There, that's a bit neater. All piles are now stacked ready for me to put together. 
Maybe if you're in one of my classes you'll get one of these wee bags to keep for yourself! (That is, of course, when it is empty!)

Carole x

It's been a wet Sunday

Today, as expected, has been wet and grey. But I put my coat and gumboots on and went out to plant some annuals in a couple of spots, and I had a couple of rose bushes to plant.  

These impatients are growing in the garden outside the window seat. They're getting tall so you can look through them. The light filters through the leaves and with the odd splash of colour it's very pretty. Actually, I think they're getting a little out of hand, I think they may need a small manicure.

There was also a little bread making happening today. There's nothing nicer than the smell of freshly baked bread in the house. However, on the downside, it's so yummy that we want to eat it with everything!

I also played in my sewing room this afternoon, I'll show you tomorrow what I got up to. 

Carole x

renewed aquaintences

took my quilting foot for a drive today

had lots of fun!

 

Carole x

a clever find...

Look what I found (and bought!) Two old cane chairs. I never knew such things could excite me so much! During the winter months they are at home in our spa room, but in summer they will go out into the garden under a tree, where I can relax in the shade.

Mmmm, relax? am I delusional? Well the idea is nice!

Hope your week is fun and productive!
Carole x

Okay, so I promised...

I have been busy working on my sampler for symposium, mostly embellishing. 

It's for the tutors exhibition and I need to get it finished, I have so many other projects I want to start. I think I might call it my Never Ending WIP. 

I am having fun though. :)

Can you tell I'm favouring pretty buttons and yoyo's?

Happy stitching campers!

Carole x

It's winter, I'd like to hibernate!

But I can't.
There have been so many things happening, and exciting changes!

The first exciting thing is that our sign has gone up, now we are officially a studio! Tui Glen is the name of the road we live on and we have large numbers of kowhai trees which means our gardens will be full of tuis once they are flowering.Mr M&M (aka Dennis) made it himself, very clever!

And today I discovered a little touch of yellow in one tree, it must be an early flowering variety, but it's an exciting sign!

Mr M&M is, as some of you will already know, is a watercolour painter who specialises in landscapes. He has been busy assembling paintings for his very first solo exhibition in a gallery in Palmerston North. It opened last week for two weeks, and after a week he has sold seven paintings! I am very proud of him!

He is having another exhibition of work in Wellington in mid July and wants me to include some of my work! I think it might be a bit short notice for me! Mind you, if I canceled hot dinners and house work never made the bed and had some days off work pleading a mysterious illness......... ?

Here at Tui Glen Studio it's winter. We have loads of beautiful fallen leaves covering the ground, in fact we are getting buried under them! But the colours are gorgeous and I love walking through them. It's exciting to see the changes with the season.

I'm pleased we've got lots of firewood because there's been a lot of this happening during the evenings! It's most unusual to see them snuggle together, they must be mellowing in their old age. lol

Of course when I'm out walking round both Buddy and Wednesday like to follow me. They love all the places to sharpen their claws, and hide, and they have now have little bells (much to their disgust!) round their neck. We have some lovely walks, they run after me and 'talk' to me. As if I know what they're saying I chat back. I hope the neighbours aren't listening!

So you can see there have been a lot of things happening. As well as working in two jobs now and preparing for teaching at symposium and working on projects for the quilt store there has been no time to sit still for very long!I hope you'll all forgive me for not posting here as often. I take the photos, but run of of hours at the end of the day to post them!

Well, must go and light the fire, and do a little more stitching. Hopefully I'll have some stitching photos for you soon :)

Hope you are all well!

Carole x

I'm getting left behind!

I can't believe it's May already! The world is spinning much too fast for me!

Quite a lot has been happening here in our little piece of paradise. First off we had a wee visit from a special wee person.

Neve at 10 months

The kids came to visit for a long weekend and we got to have loads of cuddles and see just how much she has grown since we saw her last! She is busy pulling herself up onto the furniture and will be walking in another month or two. She crawls at the speed of light too!

Things are also changing here as autumn comes to an end and winter officially starts in another couple of weeks.

New Zealand Weta

We have loads of these looking for nice cosy places to hibernate over the winter. I don't like them one little bit, however, I was very good and didn't stand on it and it thanked me by posing for a photo. It disappeared shortly after and I missed where it went, so I shall keep the windows closed for a few days I think!!

toadstools

I was delighted to see some of these come up on our lawn under a large old silver birch tree. They are more orange than red and look pretty and mysterious.

A perfect dance floor for a fairy? And it's lovely to see a pair of tuis making themselves at home in our garden. I love hearing them call to each other.

Tui

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

pretty batik fabric

And of course I'm having fun at our local quilt store, the KC. and am going to start on another project this week for them. Must remember to take some photos!

What have you all been doing over the last week?

Carole x

A week in pictures

7.

Sunday.

our woodland secret

Carole x

A week in pictures

6.

Saturday

pansy seedlings

Carole x

A week in pictures

5.

Friday.

sample cushion made for the KC
(for you Annette)

"Mother, may I go out to swim?"
"Yes my darling daughter.
Fold your clothes up neat and trim,
But don't go near the water."

Old nursery rhyme.
 

Carole x

A week in pictures

 4.

Thursday.

Fabric I found at the KC 

Carole x

A week in pictures

3.

Wednesday.

ric rac in a row

Carole x

A week in pictures

2.

Tuesday.

Buddy

Carole x

A week in pictures

1.

Monday

Carole x

Some more embellishing and the last FQ finds a home

Easter weekend, the perfect time to spend catching up on projects.

I managed to get all my spring bulbs planted into pots. I dug them out before we shifted thinking we might have quite a journey ahead of us, so now they've all been planted again.

But I also managed to do some more embellishing on the exhibition piece.

Of course there has to be a yoyo somewhere!

And some pinks.

I'll add some more pics as I do them.

Well the last fat quarter is off to a new home, Lottie your name was drawn for the lucky last. As yesterdays winner hasn't chosen hers yet scroll down and pick which you'd like and let me know.


Now we're into April and it's a whole new year. I'm not sure where this year is going to take me. Am wondering if I should teach some more online classes, or 'in person' classes, should I concentrate on adding new and exciting things to my Etsy store, should I make samples for the quilt store I work in one day a week, or should I just make things for me?

I'm not sure.

Anyway my friends, thanks for sticking with me for six years. We've certainly had a few adventures together haven't we?

Back soon,
Carole x