Quilt Market.

Registration for market began this morning…. The lines of quilters meandered through the convention centre. There was an air of excitement in the air. Everyone studying their program. Today began with School house, a venue where you can go from room to room learning the latest idea and techniques.
How about a calculator for quilters to work out how much fabric you need for a specific project… or if you have a certain amount of fabric, it will tell you what you can make out of it!!!! Amazing.
Now there was a little confusion at first… throughout the venue there were numerous signs like the one I was studying above.
That special convention began tonight just as we were lining up for sample spree… There were over a 1000 ladies waiting for up to 2 hours to get in…. walking in the opposite direction were the delegates of the other convention…. Folks you could sure tell they weren’t quilters… I’ve never seen a dedicated quilter wearing high heels, fish net stockings and their garments slashed to the waist. We could have done some fancy sewing on those dresses I’m sure.
OK, so I had to investigate for myself… I followed the crowd of interesting people down into the basement…..but I was told by the gal on the door in her minimalist black satin outfit, that I had to pay $20 admission…. I asked for a pamphlet… but she stated they didn’t have any…
It looked interesting as I peeked in the door. The first stall had fantasy products…..I wonder what it’s all about.?
Class begins early tomorrow… it’s almost 1.00 am and time to retire.
I will be walking the floor for the next few days looking for interesting things to share with you...

Quilt Market.

I've woken to the most perfect of mornings. I'm 23 floors above the pavement overlooking downtown Minneapolis.
What awaits outside the window?
Over my music, I can hear the persistent hum of the beginning of work traffic.
Day two here in MN and I'm a little more competent to write than yesterday.
31 hours of traveling and my head felt like cotton wool when I finally arrived at the Hilton.
I caught up with friend Di in the lobby of the hotel, she was going out... But I just wanted to sleep. I was escorted to my room by Chuck the red coated porter. I was surprised to say the least that I had been allocated the Presidential suite. The room is dominated by a huge fourposter bed that I have to climb on a stool to lever myself into.... None of this flopping on the bed folk,... I feel like the Princess and the Pea.
I did ask him to lock the huge boardroom next door.... I had no use for that and it was a little ominous.
The last leg of my trip was interesting, I was squashed between two larger than usual passengers. The lady to my left was of Middle Eastern origin and wore the most beautiful robes. She smelt of cloves and rose water.... but her arms invaded my space and she kept inadvertently changing the songs on my ipod which I had in my upper pocket... Finally I put it in my lap.
Yesterday was a change of pace. A trip to the Mall of America to share all the things I love with friend Di. We had a wonderful day, we returned to the hotel early evening. I retired to work and Di visited with friends.
The Hotel is bustling with Quilting business. As a Tutor I float around the edges of all that and with another day to spare today, I'm going to do some serious photography and filming.

In the air.

Are you a people watcher like me?
I wish I had a camera in the Qantas club this morning.
A young man and I sat opposite each other in computer combat.
He was hard to ignore when he was just 3 ft over the table.
He must have been writing a very personal letter, his facial expressions were priceless.
His head fell to one side as he looked winsomely at the screen, wrote a few sentences and then turned his head the other way staring at the screen.
He was unconsciously expressing his feelings through his face. You know what it's like when you spoon feed a baby, you can't help but open your mouth in synchronized encouragement.
I'm writing this in the plane. We've flown over the most amazing scenery, large expanses of desert separated by canyons of black which I imagine is a river.... Now we're passing snow capped mountains under the bluest of skies.
I'm sitting between two young men. The young man on my left and I have had a great conversation about computers....We have been making comparisons bewtween his mac and mine. The other has his PDA and is navigating our route with his GPS.
Technology.... I love it.
PDA. GPS, Imac, Ipod, PC, HDV... terms that some 5 years ago were quite foreign to me. Now they enable me to travel and communicate with home.
It enables me to keep in touch with family, to continue working, to stimulate the mind and simply to travel.
No, Im not the only one who does this, most of my US Tutor peers do the same. I learn something new and exciting each day.
I see by my clock on the computer that it's 8.40 am Adelaide time, so I've been on the road for 26 hours so far. I've completed 3 flights and I've another flight after I reach Chicago.
A short taxi ride and finally I can go to bed.!!!
I am making light of technology, but it's the only way I can work and travel at the same time. On this flight I've been able to go through all the 'waiting to be answered' emails do some writing, research, a little filing and even some drawings while speeding at over 700 kms an hour through the air.
So far there have been no dramas, just darn full planes.
Di Mill and I assisted the Steward to pick up a few trays. We were even offered a drink I and a tip. Di just asked for an upgrade, but he sort of smirked.
There happened to be a straw broom laying on the floor..now why on earth would they have a straw broom and a dustpan in a plane.? So I dusted off the crumbs from a passengers seat who had gone to the loo. I think I was looking for brownie points rather that frequent flyer ones..!!!

I shall be telling this with a sigh somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.
Robert Wood.

Mothers Day

It’s Mothers day 2006. I woke early and as one is want to do in the fog of waking from sleep, I reflected on the Mothers linked to my family.

As a Mum, I always think of the birth of my children on Mothers Day… but in our family it tends to be a little different.

I think of my Mum, of course, Shirley Smedley, who turned 80 late last year. Mum had me when she was just 21. I weighed 3 lb and had to be wrapped in cotton wool encased in brown paper because I was delicate…. Things have sure changed!!!!

She’s probably one of the most talented women I know. We just accepted that she could whip up a garment in a few hours when we were teenagers or at 80 do the finest cross stitch that she designed herself on the computer….

So that brings me to my nephew and his wife Annette, who is a new Mum of Triplets… the smallest, was born just 680 grams….. Bless his little heart. He’s struggling a little to catch up to his 1 lb brother and sister.

Keith’s Mum, Gladys…. just 4ft 6” tall. She was a little challenged in the weight department. She passed away several years ago, but I can still see her with her bright red hair. She loved her Osti dresses held encased at the waist by an ever present pinny… unfortunately this allowed her petticoat to hang an inch below her dress and never covered the long undies she wore…. You know the bright pink ones, silky in summer and fleece in winter….

Gladys won an OBE for service to the community, she was a real character.

William Chaisurin, the Mum of my eldest Daughter Susie…. Yes she was called William. Her Mother was a maid to a British couple and liked the name… well she didn’t care if it was a boys or girls name….

William had 10 children and lived in a slum in Bangkok. She was a quilter. The art taught to her by my English friend Joy Bucknall who lived at the end of the Soi (street). William and her friends made hexagon cushions and bedcovers from left over Thai silk gleaned from the rubbish bins of the Jim Thompson silk factory.

Susie has only visited her family once since she arrived in Australia as a 10 year old. But she still has contact with them. William now lives in a nice apartment assisted by her children.

Susie, now a Mum of two teenagers reflects the values of her childhood as Keith’s and my daughter.

Joshua’s Mum handed him to us when he was 3 weeks old and weighed just 3 lb. She was an unwed mother and suffered from the shame of being so. She was shunned by her immediate family and lived on her Grandmothers veranda for the term of her pregnancy.

I would love to find her now and thank her for her wonderful gift.

Darrin and Michael’s Mum was unable to take care of them from birth… so they lived with their paternal Grandmother, a gentle, quietly spoken elderly aboriginal woman, who was no match for two energetic boys….She wanted the best for the boys but received little assistance until they were placed in our family. They certainly made our life interesting.

Sylvie. The Mother of three of our children, Liseby, Lori and Benjamin. Sylvie lived in Mauritius, a country known for its seclusion and beauty. Sylvie loved her children in her own way. She now lives in France and had another child well after she was 40. Sylvie visited us once…. It was an interesting experience and this Mum brave at first felt quite insecure until she left to return for Mauritius.

Callie’s Mum must have been exquisite…her beauty reflected in the 6lb bundle I found in terrible conditions in an orphanage in Sri Lanka. Callie had been placed on a railway line at birth…. One can only imagine her fate if she had been placed there at the wrong time….rescued by an unknown angel, she ended up the Kandy Hospital and was charged as an abandoned child….

Now Callie is a Mum herself to our precious Kodi. How lucky we are to be part of their lives.

Sammy’s Mum was just 13…..his father was actually his Mothers’ Father too….!! Sammy was born with severe medical problems and lived in an orphanage in Nyakakanda Sri Lanka…. He came to live with us at 3 but died when he was just five years old.

I often wonder where she is now…. Did she ever marry? I have my doubts….!!

Jinda’s Mother left him at the hospital door and he was bought up in an orphanage in Thailand. We have no papers… and in fact he actually had no name, so there is no way to trace his Mum…. Jinda was born with a congenital condition and is deaf….. his Mum must have found it just too difficult to cope.

Jinda (which means sapphire) is our youngest child now 21 years old and a bit of a gem.

On Mothers Day, I think of Bo, the little girl with downs syndrome who lived with us for 3 years, of Phat a refugee from Vietnam who learnt to be Australian over the years he spent with our rowdy brood….His Mother finally arrived in Australia from a camp in Cambodia. Lien from Taiwan and the Mums of the many foster children who had difficulty in lives at some time.

What did I do on Mothers Day….? Well here I am sitting in the Qantas Club sipping on Baileys on ice and waiting for my plane after 6 days away teaching….

The ladies were amazing, their projects just super and hopefully I will be able to put them up on the blog in a day or so for you all to share……I’ve had the phone on all week waiting for the call to say that my girl Rachael is about to be a Mum…. But it didn’t happen today…. Still there are a few hours left and it’s all very exciting.

Happy Mothers Day.

Quilting picnic

Pammy doing her stuff
Quilts on the Verandah

Queenslander house that has been transported to the historic village.


Quilts on the fence!!!! 

Queensland Quilters Annual Picnic Day

They came by the bus load laden with eskies of food, quilts folded under their arms, chairs, and the latest projects in bags. Angels was the theme......Some gals wore halos and wings and they were greeted with a gift of a hand made Angel brooch wearing nothing but a smile and a verse...
Mine said "Angels dream beautiful visions of the world"
They streamed into Beenleigh Historic Village smiling and chatting at the anticipation of a day spent with friends in the sunshine.
2 Large canopies were on the central field to give shade and the ladies quickly claimed their 'spots' and sat down to observe the proceeds of the day. It seemed like no time at all and the word was spread that "Morning Tea" was being served. I met a couple of lads of middling age sporting their shorts, boots and aussie hats sitting on the porch supping tea and eating scones jam and cream... they told me they were the workers...!!!!
A steady stream of ladies went up the steps of the old railway station to claim their cuppa and plate loads of home cooked goodies... I'm a vintage junky.... and I filmed the milk jugs covered with the crochet and beaded covers.... there were old fashioned tins of biscuits and the old Bushels tins the tea came in on a shelf above the tables... Bougainvillea in bright pink adorned the floral tables and everyone was smiling.... including me.
The ladies in the kitchen worked at fever pitch to pour the coffee and tea, their pinnies used to wipe away the cream as they piled the red checked covered baskets high with goodies... scones, lamingtons, shortbread creams and slices.
I talked to a few ladies... Marge was 86 1/2 years old and has the reputation for telling the best jokes... she was a "blue angel" and sported home designed blue wings and halo.
I sat down on the outdoor seat and almost put my cup on the possum poo that had been deposited on the table (probably the night before)... there was a large sculpture in the middle of the table where the white ants had feasted.
The Village is made up of dozens of old buildings and is absolutely charming.... I was so frustrated, I forgot my camera. Something I never do, however, I filmed as much as I could with the documentary camera. The 1950's wooden Queenslander with white lace around the quilt laden verandas....the burgundy tin window shades with elaborate patterns cut into the side which served to protect lace curtains from the harsh sun during the heat of the day....
I was in the middle of filming an old tin bath and bush furniture when I heard a siren sound and an announcement over the loud speaker that I was about to give a talk.... whoops!, I sprinted several hundred metres, camera in air and I arrived breathless at the microphone... fortunately they gave me time to go to the loo and have a drink.... before the festivities.
We chatted for 3/4 of an hour.... 300 ladies under the canopies and I wandered around with the microphone...just being honest about my travels and the like.... It was fun, but as I spoke I could hear my voice a few seconds later in the speakers... a strange feeling indeed.
Lunch was the trusty Australian sausage and onion in bread, and the smell was tantalising.... the lads I chatted to previously were the workers but were overcome with the volume of hungry gals and had to rush for reinforcements and more goodies.....
Show and tell and prizes for the best dressed angel was next and it was just wonderful.... what a super day.... 300 ladies who shared a love of quilting with their friends at the Queensland Quilters Annual Picnic Day.
And I had a ball, all in a days work.
Now I've just finished talking to our two year old who thinks I should come home on the plane and "are you happy Grandma".... that sure brings you back to reality....
Classes tomorrow, ongoing business overseas on the internet and a good nights rest to sooth the mild case of sunburn from today....!!!!
I wish you could have all been there.

A few of the favourite things in my kitchen.

George the cat, pictures I collected in the Victoria and Albert and collaged.
Vintage quilts. Dried hydrangers, stockings from old quilts that stay up all year, my collection of old kitchen scales and the settee by the fire. !!!!

Winter in the Hills

The Gazebo on the lawns of the Stirling council
Oak Leaves in Stirling. 

So many things to do and just not enough time.

I know I shouldn’t wish for more time, but I just darn well do.
The season has changed and it’s only 9 deg here tonight… the leaves have turned red, the moss on the trunks of the trees looks more somber, the rain plays games with the light as it filters through the Gazebo and I feel like sitting in front of the fire and eating toast and vegemite.
So it’s time to go again. I’m off tomorrow to Queensland for 6 days, home for a day and then back to the USA.
I arrived home from Coffs Harbor on Thursday and immediately did a detour to the newly opened IKEA… Hmm I see potential there.
The evening was spent reading a cookbook through the AGM of the Quilters Guild of SA. Sad, but true.
I relaxed a little with a new computer on Friday, unpacked the cases and washed. Visited the Dr for a refill of a prescription and she told me to change my lifestyle... how cheeky, I'm sure she's only 12.... "Why do you smile" she says....
Don't you just hate taking advice from someone less than half your age?
Spent the day in family confusion on Saturday and worked on my major project…. I begin, then get so deeply immersed that I can’t stop. It’s frustrating.
Saturdays have always been a joy to me. When the children were little, we always had interesting things to do, like sport and other adventures… we generally had guests for dinner who had large families… so with 20 or more kids and four adults who played cards into the night… it was always a happy time.
My Saturdays are usually spent away from home now, but this Saturday was a bonus, I get to spend it with the family.
It began with Callie running into the shed sobbing deeply. She had just read the paper and the story about the little girl who had been so seriously injured for the second time by a run away driver. So we chatted and had a coffee….and Callie cooked me porridge. I cleaned up and retired to the shed.
Son Joshua, a chef, decided to cook steak and eggs. NO he never cleans up properly…….!!! So I cleaned again.
Callie decided to cook scones…… NO she never cleans properly either….!!! So I cleaned once again.
Daughter Rachael, heavily pregnant, arrived for me to show her how to take up her latest purchases… Kodi, aged two decided to ride his motor bike through the shed and make a nest with the paper from the shredder…..!!! OK, now shall we all vacuum the cars? Just outside the shed mind you….Well, we might as well use the vacuum to get rid of the shreddings that Kodi distributed….
Son Benjamin arrived for a coffee and cookies and some advice.
12.00 I was off to the hairdresser…. “Sorry, she said, I’m running late, come back in an hour…..”!!! “Oh no”, I said, “I’ll wait” I sank down into the black leather sofa, read the gossip about the movie stars collagen failures and relaxed quietly while the family demolished the scones and jam and cream at home…
I came home and cleaned up again, the family went out and I retired to the settee and promptly fell asleep.
Such is my life on a Saturday at home. !!!

“She decided to enjoy more and endure less” Celebrate her choices

More of the projects

This vine covered building is under construction, it will look super when it's finished....






A building in Vietnam
A bird in the rain forest...
Illustrated quilting will enhance the feathers and vines.... just super.
 

Two days work

I thought you might like to view some of the projects completed by my students over the past couple of days... It got rather hectic towards the end of the day and I didn't get to photograph all of them... however, I was thrilled with the results and I think the students were happy with what they had achieved.

 

Bach

It's mid evening and I'm listening to a little Bach. I'm able to access the internet in my room, hence I can muse on the blog work on my web page catch up on mail.
I'm frustrated that I can't do some of the things I really want to do on my web page, but a new computer next week should see some interesting results.
Many of you know that I am making a documentary this year... part of that will go into the blog....talking and moving pictures folks. It's called podcast and I hope to bring you chats with other Teachers and interesting people that I meet as I tour.

Long Point, New South Wales
Australia Cobar, New South Wales
New Zealand Dunedin
Australia Euabalong, New South Wales
New Zealand Auckland
United States Houston, Texas
Australia Nyrang Creek, New South Wales
United States Plano, Texas
United States Long Prairie, Minnesota
Australia Sydney, New South Wales
Australia Rhodes, New South Wales
Australia Mildura, Victoria
Australia Mogriguy, New South Wales
Australia Wollongong, New South Wales
New Zealand Paengaroa
United States Eureka, California
United Kingdom
Canada Scarborough Junction, Ontario
United States Lansing, Michigan
Australia Long Point, New South Wales

What on earth is this list....? these are just a few of the people who visited me on the blog and web page today.... Thanks for visiting, I'm always interested in just who visits, I don't know your names but I would love to say hello to you all.

It's just delightful here. Walking down a little track, past a tree fringed river... with rain forest on one side and an ocean on the other... The surf crashes onto a white beach which is visible from my class room and the air is full of the chatter of rosella parrots. what a way to go to work.
It's 10.15 and I've a couple of hours of compulsory writing to do tonight.... If I was home it would be toast and vegemite and a coffee as I. In my bungalow it's the taste of toothpaste and sheer abstinence....!!!

Keith visiting the market

You can tell Keith is rapt with shopping.... 

On the road again and I think I'm jibbering.

The bags are packed, panic sets in.... what have I forgotten? It's mainly the work bag I'm concerned about... then there's the computer and all that goes with it...(I forgot a plug once) and the camera and all the cords...
I forgot to pack my undies on one trip. I just had to wash them out each night.
Sure I have a checklist, but that's not fool proof. I seem to have had a great deal of preparation for this tour.... Flo and I made a video one day. It took a day to update the presentation I'm giving.... I have 48 students in one class, a small class and another large class.....So I'll be running. I'm coming home earlier than first thought for the birth of my granddaughter (I hope) then off to Queensland for another week. We also have plans to celebrate Mothers day early too.
In the mean time I hope my new passport will be ready, the new business cards printed My new computer arrives on time and that all is going well with my trip to the US in 2.5 weeks.... Who said that Teaching Quilting was easy?

"She pursued big dreams instead of small realities" celebrate her priorities

1776 wool applique blocks

The 6" wool applique blocks from the 1776 Quilt..... good for TV watching. 

Vintage Post Card Quilt

The Vintage Post Card Quilt. Designed from a
1935 Vintage Post Card I purchased many years ago.
I think it might have been a Mothers Day Card.
I have quite a few other designs, but I thought this was quite appropriate for this time of the year.

Flo No-Bull

Meet my friend Flo.
Flo No-Bull in fact. Flo and I spent a hilarious morning yesterday filming a segment for my class in Coffs Harbor at the weekend.
Flo is a quite talented quilter and instructs viewers through the intricacies of making a block.
40 ladies will enter into a sewing frenzy with Flo and 3 quilt police to guide them through the class. Cheating is encouraged and prizes and certificates awarded. I can't say any more.... it's top secret.
We laughed so much while we were making it. The dogs decided to have a play fight right in the middle of filming... and we think we're darn clever... It's a bit of a worry when you see yourself on the screen and laugh!!! is there a name for that?

I've had an idea for a while now to develop smaller classes...One day classes in fact. I'm very fond of vintage.... you know, pinnys, doilies, old post cards etc. So the new class evolved. Vintage Post Card Quilts.... easily achievable in one day. They are small, but I can teach machine appliqué, Drapplique and machine quilting all in one hit......
I've also been working on a new wool quilt project based on the 1776 quilt. These are hand appliquéd blocks in wool. Quite quick to do and they look just great.
I'm off the Coffs Harbor on Friday, but having these few days home has been just wonderful.

"She listened to her heart above all the other voices" Celebrate her wisdom

Which day is it.....?

I've lost track of the days.... I think it's Tuesday and I arrived back from New Zealand last Thursday... It takes me a few days to catch up on mail, and I've finally got the web page glitch under control.... All that takes time.
I wrote on the plane....
"I've been on the road since 4.30 this morning. 3 shuttles, 4 planes, no alcohol, 14 hours traveling, a 3 hour time difference and I'll hit the ground in my home state in an hour or so.
Whoopee, my Dear Heart is providing the evening meal so I reckon it will be junk food. Now who says this isn't a wonderful life.
In just the past hour I've been able to catch up on all the news while Itunes keeps the sound of the plane at bay. There are twin boys running riot in the seat opposite. A Kid called Milo playing a mouth organ behind me and someone snoring very loudly somewhere in the bowels of the plane.
On the plane before this, I caught up with all my pod casts... I love them. I have 12 hours of "Commander in Chief" to watch and of course the ABC news from the USA and my music... Life's never dull."
Well Grandson aged 2 was there to meet me and was terribly excited at seeing the plane...(Oh and me too)
Yes we did have junk food on the way home and I fell asleep on the settee watching TV.
New Zealand was interesting... I enjoyed meeting the other Tutors and attending their lectures... I'm a great people watcher......!!!!The classes were super and I bought some super green shoes that look like an iguana!!!!! but they are amazingly comfy.
Some wonderful news,my nephew and his wife delivered their triplets safely on Monday....They are 10 weeks early, but breathing well on their own... one little fellow is just 680 grams...the others are just over a Kg I think....an absolute miracle.

"She loved life and it loved her right back" Celebrate her passion
from the book 'SHE'

A Kitchener, a Pastie and a cuppa.

When I was a child I was really envious of my Mother who always announced at the end of the school holidays that the day we returned to school, she was going to meet with her friend Beth Burke, have a relaxing cuppa, a pastie and a kitchener bun.
For my American friends, a pastie is not the small covering of important bosom parts of a lady of the night, it’s a meat and vegetable filled pastry which is eaten with ketchup. A kitchener bun is like a large donut filled with fresh cream… I found this description......

"A Kitchener bun is similar to a berliner and can typically be found in South Australia. It consists of two halves of sponge cake, filled with jam and cream. Allegedly its name was changed during WW1 to honour Lord Kitchener. At that time many small towns in South Australia also changed names from those of German origin."


For Mum, it seemed like her right of passage, her freedom ticket after having kids under her feet during the long hot summers in Elizabeth. But I envied her so much… I don’t ever think I ever had the two elicit things in combination….
Well, I’ve had a hard week and yesterday I put the finishing touches to my Trip to South Africa… (that means I paid the money) I visited Keith’s office and it happened to be lunch time. Keith and Co were having a business lunch so I walked down to the local baker 3 doors down to buy a celebratory pastie…. And lo and behold there in front of me beckoning was a huge kitchener bun… right in the front of the shelf…
So when I returned home, I made a cup of coffee, turned on the TV, put my legs up and relished my pastie and shared my kitchener with an insistent pup thinking all the time of 50 years ago and Mum and her friend doing the same thing.

"She Ignored people who said it couldn't be done" Celebrate her independence

Change of Season

The weather is turning. The heater has been on for two weeks. I always feel a little sad at this time of the year. It signals yet another change, another season has passed. Somehow time seems to be moving ever faster as I get older.
It’s not the only thing that has changed in the past few weeks. My friend Della lost her fight for life and it’s been rather difficult to write.
Sometimes in our lives we are privileged to meet extraordinary people. Della Moon is one such person. Della and I met when we both were going through difficult times…. However, in the past few years we had some great times together….
We drove through tall green Indiana cornfields in the evening as millions of fireflies danced on the surface of the leaves.
We laughed till our sides hurt when we changed into our ‘classy clothes’ in the backseat of Della’s car for my presentation at Paducah… Della didn’t care she changed in the front and emerged a butterfly.
We sat on the swing seat by the lake and watched the magic of fireworks for July the 4th.
We visited museums, galleries and ate pecan ice-cream as a matter of course.
Dear Della those memories are very precious.
For the past 6 weeks, weekends have been a collection of classes, sometimes traveling, and sometimes in Adelaide where I can sleep in my own bed.
This week was taken up with travel preparations for flights in the future… NZ, Queensland, Sydney, US, in the next few weeks, South Africa and the USA ….in July, August. You just can’t make a mistake… it ends up darn expensive.
I’m leaving for a conference in NZ on Thursday… I can only take 20 kg of luggage so the reality of packing 10 kg clothes and 10 kg of quilt supplies instead of the usual 60 I take to the USA is a logistical nightmare. It cost me $400 excess last year to go to NZ… so I’m not going to get caught this time….
I spent the day in town on Tuesday, visiting Qantas, looking for new hand luggage to accommodate the cinecamera …. I also need new pyjamas. The only ones I could find were some that looked like an advert for my grandsons TV programs or granny gowns. Ugg. So the t-shirt and comfy bottoms will last a little longer… they’re not threadbare yet.

"Birth, life, and death -- each took place on the hidden side of a leaf."

Police Encounter

Back from my travels once again, this time it was a little further away in Mildura. I had a great time with the group. Wonderful folk.
Travel on Monday was interesting.... I've mentioned previously that I'm making a documentary and I stop often, so having a full day to return home was a luxury. I went through Barmera to visit Lake Bonney and shoot footage of the trees, wildlife and the stark environment and then drove down to Swan Reach to the ferry, down past Sedan and I was sailing along very nicely. ABC radio was entertaining me. The GPS set to keep the speed in check, cruise control set at 108 just below the speed limit.
I was listening to the Stain Guru.... she had a phone question "how do you get boys water out of your shoe"? "boys water.... you mean urine, how did it get in your shoe?" hesitantly the person on the line just said......"Well lets say he was in time out and had his revenge".... I was laughing so much that I almost failed to see the Policeman on his bike coming towards me. Suddenly he put his hand out, turned on his flashing lights and signaled me to pull over.
"Help" I thought.... And I looked at my speed... No problem, well maybe he wants directions.
As he pulled up behind me I wound down my window. He approached the car.... (I wasn't going to get out, I watch CI and this was a deserted road right out in the countryside)
"What the problem" I asked him. "Do you realize you were speeding"? I opened my eyes wide... I knew I was within the limit... Unfortunately it seems it was the wrong limit... it was now 100. Whoops. So I produced my license and he looked at the GPS and said that he didn't realize that it gave the speed..... "Sure I said and it beeps if I go over".... So we began to talk about the GPS... I mentioned I use it in the USA and Britain.... "Wow what sort of a job do you do to travel so much"........ a little silence and then I said "I teach Quilting" He looked at me as if I was pulling his leg..... Quilting.... "Oh yes he said I see your number plate."
OK so I had to tell him all about Quilting. There we stood on the side of the road chatting about his impending wedding, where he was going on his honeymoon. His children he was leaving with his ex..... etc.... etc.... "Have you got children he said?"..... Well that began another conversation.
"OK now tell me about this quilting you do".... so we had show and tell right on the road side, Drowning Bear draped across his bike and the sun shining against the brightest blue sky.....
I got a warning and a blue slip which I told him I would put in my diary for posterity.....
but we had a great chat and he got to know about quilting.... I have his number because I think he deserves a card for his wedding in 2 weeks time.....
I now have 3 weeks at home teaching which is a real luxury....
Moral of the story.... You never develop character by never making a mistake.

Stained Glass window

This is my project for the
week. The Victoria and Albert Museum in London is the place I love to visit most of all in London. I have been studying stained glass windows and this was one made in the 1400's. The ink used in the window was the same as the ink I use on fabric and this is my fabric stained glass. 

Students work

The Picture and quilt.
Melva had a ball.


Students quilts....they were just super.... 

Gems in time

10 pm and the car is packed. Just the clothes and computer to go in and I’m off once again. We’ve been home two weeks now and it’s been rather a whirlwind. Children shifting back home, grandchildren visiting and staying, projects and manuscripts to finish and in between that I’ve had 2 trips to the country. Last weekend it was Pt Augusta and the beauty of the Gulf. One of my favorite places to visit is the small town of Pt Germein originally settled as a deep sea trading Port in the late 1800's. The historic timber jetty is still the longest wooden jetty in Australia. When built, back in 1883, it was the longest jetty in the southern hemisphere at 1,664 meters (5,459 feet) Storm damage reduced it's length to 1,283 meters (4,209 feet).
I had the luxury of time to walk the Jetty and take photos. As I walked, I suddenly realized it was the first time I had been alone since early December. I love the solitude I encounter on my travels; it is a way of focusing and refreshing the spirit. The day was just perfect, and in my shorts and T’s and warm sun I thoroughly enjoyed the experience… but more was to come, was that a sign with a quilt on it in the main street? Of course the quilting car stopped automatically. What a find….. the store was filled with all sorts of exciting bric a brac, vintage handicraft goodies, antique quilts and all manner of old sewing supplies. I browsed for a while, then from the bowels of the store came a woman dressed in the most interesting style. Her appearance fitted the store perfectly…. A skirt made up of antique fabric, laces, buttons and large Suffolk puffs. A vest of Asian origin and a wonderful big Aussie hat with a bright blue feather…..Oh and boots of course to finish the overall ambience. Not known for quiet clothes I felt quite plain in my shorts and T-shirt…..
We talked for ages, where did the old quilts come from? One by one they were unfolded and an explanation of their origin was explained… there was the one made from men’s suits, even the pockets had been left in…. it was just wonderful. In came a couple of locals and so we sat for another chat… probably in their 70’ they were transports from New Zealand. We talked about all sorts of things, Mr. told me of a doll he had when he was a child and a lady had just repaired it for him, now it was better than when he was given it at 4…… and then they asked if they could see a quilt or two… show and tell ensued of course…. They just couldn’t believe it that you could make a picture out of fabric and call it a quilt….!!!!
They stood on the step and waved as I drove off; I just love those little gems in time….
Pt August was wonderful; I stayed in a house situated right on the gulf. We watched the sunset from the verandah and marveled at the reflections on the water. Temperatures of 39 – 40’s don’t stop those gals from quilting…and we set to with gusto. Two days of classes and they made some wonderful quilts…. Many of my Tutor peers tell me they run on sheer adrenaline at the end of class because there is so much to share… I’m the same; I wound down on the 5 hour trip home and fell exhausted into bed.
The rest of this week has been spent right here in the shed…. Writing, for days, and making samples. My web page takes up hours and working on two computers is rather frustrating....
As for travel, Mildura is further than the last two classes so it will be a 1000 km round trip and 4 days away.
But what a gift.

Pt Germein Jetty Again

 

Images of the Port Germein Jetty.

 

Home and Recovered.

Recover - "to restore ones self to ones normal state" Just what is normal? Last week was a week of recovery, renewal and a sense of home. However, there was no time for too much relaxation because I took off again on Friday to teach in Loxton a town in the Riverland some 250 kms from Adelaide. With my Ipod in full force and the sun on my back, I drove through red soiled country, a ferry across the river, through vine laden hills and wheat fields that fairly glowed in the evening light. I observed flocks of pink and grey galahs and white parrots against the blue sky, I thought I LOVE MY JOB.
My host and hostess are farmers and their house is big, sprawling and welcoming. We sat and chatted over dinner in their large country kitchen and shared similar experiences.
I LOVE MY JOB, I meet the most wonderful people.
We had a two day class and at lunch time despite the high heat we sat under the big sprawling trees out the front of the cottage on the property that is now a most wonderful Quilt Shop.
Over lunch Pam (student) was explaining in great detail about a problem she had with "Dulcie" and how her neighbor was trying to help her out in this very difficult situation.... Her neighbor, a Nun I think, didn't know how to help so she offered to sprinkle holy water on "Dulcie". I surmised that Dulcie was an errant child or difficult elderly parent... No, she turned out to be Pam’s very large quilting machine. Now the mind boggles at a neighbor Nun sprinkling holy water on Dulcie to make her perform.....!!!!
Students came from far and near and once again I am humbled that they choose to come to my classes. I LOVE MY JOB.
Trying to fit everything in is a little difficult at the moment... but early mornings and late evenings accompanied by a little Bach helps. This morning friend Jeanette and I drove to the beach and rode along the foreshore. It was a magical morning. Clear skies, sun on the ocean and good conversation, then a gourmet breakfast cooked by Daughter Callie.
I have a great deal of writing to complete and very little time to consider quilting, but I did get to the machine for a few hours this week. I LOVE MY JOB
The latter part of today had been preparation for another 4 days away into the outback. This will be my routine for the next few weeks. The family is surviving, the dogs are pleased to see me home and the doves have forgotten I'm their provider. Oh well I'm recovered.