The next morning we visited Donna’s Quilt Studio. Noted for her funky quilt fabrics, friendly staff, and fun quilting classes, Donna specializes in contemporary fabrics and original designs. Donna, and daughter Ashleigh are the go-to girls for the “something different” you’ve been trying to find.

Here, Ashleigh helps ring up sales for our group! One of the interesting phenomenons about our tour was when the group of 18 quilterly types, excluding Mike and Dave, descended en masse on a quilt shop.

Many, many thanks to friends, Kerry and Marion Manson, for hosting a really fun evening where we could relax, meet new friends, enjoy some wonderful treats (like pavlova!), and “Show and Tell”. Here, Katherine Parrott Reeves, shows off her quilt Te whanau o nga awe kaka. Translated as the “Red feathered parrot family, this quilt describes her family and heritage. The images in the quilt are of Katherine and her 3 brothers. This quilt is featured in the 2009 exhibit and book “Made in New Zealand II”, organized and published by Anne Scott, owner of New Zealand Quilter magazine and Minerva, located in Wellington.

Here, Robb Jerebine shows off her plaid creation. The image doesn’t really do justice to this charming quilt.

Donna Ward, and daughter Ashleigh, show off quilts from a miniature challenge in which they participated. Donna, Ashleigh and mom, Merle, all taught at the Remarkables Symposium in Queenstown, three generations of quilting teachers!

I showed off my Flying Colors Sampler, one of two quilts that were small enough for me to carry along on this trip.

Meet “Not Bruce” and “Not Robert”. Seems that when we made the nametags for the group, we used everyone’s given names as they were listed on their passports. It was after a little beverage indulgence at the party that our mistake became apparent! Not Robert is really “Mike”, a New Mexico resident. “Not Bruce” is a friend of the Manson’s and husband to Robb.

Day two of our tour found us visiting more quilt shops, beginning with a stop at Patchwork Passion, owned by Robyn Burgess.

Robyn specializes in exquisite Japanese fabrics, 1840 reproduction fabrics and hand-dyed woolens. We departed with heavy packages.

That afternoon, we visited KiwiQuilts, a home-based, online quilt shop. Mary Metcalf opened her home to us, offering us afternoon tea with beautiful quilts to ogle, spread around her living room. To our delight, we found different Kiwi-ana fabrics, so more was added to our traveling stash.

One of the quilts found a new home with Karen, one of our tour participants who hails from her home state of New Mexico.

So, this is not Kawau Island! But, it looks just like an island one might be shipwrecked on. Very small and would probably not support even one person.

We took the mail boat to the island traveling to different locations and dropping off and picking up mail. This is not the mail ferry!

Collecting the outgoing mail.

Kawau Island was originally settled by early migrations of Maori people. From time to time tribes contested for the right to live on the island, which was eventually abandoned in the 1820s after a particularly bloody skirmish during the musket wars. A manganese mine was established on the island in the 1840s; shortly after, copper was discovered by accident. Fascinating ruins of the underground seashore copper mine, a pumping engine house and a small smelter remain today.

My friends, Marion and Kerry Manson! Gorgeous weather that day!

I’m back home! It was a wonderful month in New Zealand, teaching and escorting 17 wonderful quilters and friends on a quilt and textile tour. Because Internet access was limited, I haven’t been able to keep you posted on my trip, but now that I’m back I’ll bring you up to date.

Following classes in Auckland, I headed up to Northland with friends Kerry and Marion Manson. This part of my journey was all about relaxation. We walked on the beach, where I got my first glimpse of some of New Zealand’s shorebirds, Pied Stilt and Pied Oystercatcher, which interestingly comes in bi-colored or straight black plumage! And, I remembered my fondness for Flat Whites.

 

We took a boat trip out to Goat Island, where I was surprised to see this Pied Shag building a nest. It’s fall down there! My thought was, “How weird is this? These birds must be confused!” But, it was me who was confused, because when I looked it up in my guide book, I discovered that they have two nesting seasons, spring and fall. It makes sense, biologically, since the weather is rather tropical in this part of New Zealand.

 

This native Wood Pigeon posed for the camera, perched in a tree beside the deck of the batch that we rented. This is what New Zealanders (Kiwis) call beach houses.

 

The view from our balcony, looking out toward Kawau Island, our next destination!

Hi from New Zealand. I’m having a wonderful time with an awesome group of quilters. Internet access hasn’t been as good as I’d hoped, so it’s been challenging to share my trip with you. But here’s a glimpse of what I’ve been up to so far.

Leg one of my trip began with classes for the POP Quilters and the Auckland Patchworkers Guild. Above are just a few of the stars designed on day one of a 2-day class.

 

After completing her original designed star, Wendy Johnson decided to work on a manageable-size project during day 2. She designed this cute little tree and star that she plans to use as a quilted Christmas Card. By the time she arrived at guild meeting the following day, it was quilted and bound.

 

Nicola Graham was working on a sunburst that would become part of a much larger design. In her other life, Nicola designs wedding gowns and formal wear.

 

Marney Lyons designed this terrific star, using a unique print that really accentuates the overall design. All of the students were “stars”!!!

 

Now the quilt and textile tour part of my trip has begun.  We are having a blast!  I’ll be sharing more of the trip with you soon.

The 2011 Hawks Aloft raffle quilt is completely finished. Michele Hymel did the spectacular quilting and Donna Barnitz applied the binding. It looks just beautiful! I hope you can see some of the intricate quilting in this photo. Because of the southwestern design of the quilt we decided not to do our usual feathery quilting and instead did geometric and southwestern style quilting. We debuted the quilt at the Monte Vista Colorado Festival of the Cranes and sold a bunch of raffle tickets. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. If you wish to purchase tickets, please send me a check made out to Hawks Aloft and mail it to me at PO Box 10028, Albuquerque NM 87184. Please be sure to include your name, address and phone number. I will mail you back your filled out ticket stubs.