This post showcases more of the quilts on display at the My Place Exhibit at Taupo Museum.  The text below each of the quilts shown here are the words of their makers.

Our Tapa by Fibres Unlimited

Inspired by the work of John Pule and Shane Cotton, each member provided a line drawing which was redrawn onto a piece of rusted fabric.  The members of Fibres Unlimited are

Joan Bright, Auckland
Maggie Dawson, Taupo
Aletta Lamprecht, Taupo
Leith McDougall, Paraparamu
Barbara McQuarrie, Greymouth
Leigh Motion, Taupo
Margaret Scott, Turangi
Morag Scott, Turangi
Coralie Skinner, Motuoapa
Robin Tinkler, Taupo
Pene Williamson, Waitahanui

My Place in the Universe by Aletta Lamprecht and Joan Bright

We all are part of a big universe.  Looking up at the night makes me see the stars and a realization that I am part of this big, mysterious whole.  My view of life is influenced by my beliefs.  Embroidery made by Joan Bright and recycled into a wall handing by Aletta Lamprecht.

Small Pieces

My Place also included a large number of small pieces including exquisitely detailed insects, and other three dimensional art.

Turangi Sunsets by Margaret Scott

Inspired by the sunsets seen from home.

Untitled by Margaret Scott

Inspired by the Tongariro National Park and Celtic wave design: signifies Scottish roots.

Ties that Bind by Coralie Skinner and Barbara McQuarrie

9 Ties for the 9 Artists involved in “Our Place” Fibre, Friends and two Islands.  An expression of the weaving together of our lives inspired by our passion to create.

Recalibration by Maggie Dawson

When I first came to New Zealand, I would become terribly confused by direction.  My inbuilt system told me that the sun would be in the south at midday.  It took a while to recalibrate.

Red Crater by Coralie Skinner

Inspired by the amazing colors in the Red Crater – Mt. Tongariro.

What talent, and what an amazing exhibit!

Design by Beverley Berryman, NZ

My second class at Symposium was the three-day Flying Colors Class where each student designs their own project.  During the span of only three days, it is unusual for anyone to complete a quilt top, so this is a selection of works in progress!

Design by Sheila Christensen, NZ

However, Sheila Christensen, who was working on a guild challenge, did finish all the stitching on this small quilt top!  I love the way she used the sepia tones to achieve the look of a well-aged piece.

Design by Maureen Wilson, NZ

Maureen was not sure that she would be able to create and stitch her own design and asked for a pattern.  However, she really got into the drawing and actually got more sewing done on her original design than most everyone else.

Design by Pam Pengelly, NZ

Pam Pengelly, very nearly completed her Taupo inspired design with the Tongariro Mountains in the background.

Tiny Trees by Marilyn Foreman NZ

Somehow, I did not manage to get a photo of Marilyn Foreman’s new design, but here’s the one she brought with her to class. She made the Tiny Trees from my pattern, but then created her own Pointy Dudes border.

Flowers at Symposium

And, through all of this, even though it was the dead of winter, the magnolias blossomed outside our classroom.  It was a joy to teach and be in the presence of the wonderful women who took this class.  I look forward to seeing photos of their completed projects sometime in the future.

Moon over Taupo

Classes held one last surprise for me during my walks to and from the campus each day.  Toward the end of the week, the full moon shone brightly over the city, almost as if celebrating all things Symposium!

Thanks so very much to all of the students, the organizers, and the staff who made this such a wonderful experience!

Quilts that feature wildlife are among my most favorite.  So, I saved this selection for today.

Viewing the Bay of Islands by Sonya Prchal

In this delightful quilt by Sonya Prchal, a Tui looks out onto the Bay of Islands.  Tuis are the common garden birds that are easy to find in urban and rural areas of New Zealand.  They are distinctive with their glossy black feathers with the white (cottonball) puffy feathers at the throat and their song.

Tui at Dawn by Charlotte Scott

Tui at Dawn by Charlotte Scott is a particularly effective use of transparency in a quilt.  The judges liked it too as it was a multiple award winner at the show.  New Zealand’s wildlife evolved without mammals (except for two bat species) leading to a unique set of birds, many of which are flightless or poorly flighted.  The introduction of mammals to this island nation has had a devastating impact on the bird life.  The Department of Conservation spends millions each year in an attempt to control introduced possums, stoats, rats, mice and other mammalian predators.

Fanciful Feathers by Rosemary Rush

Of course, quilter’s imaginations are fertile ground indeed!  Fanciful Feathers epitomizes the wonder that the mind can create.  With it’s bold use of color, this imaginary bird was a merit award winner.

There’s Plenty More Where That Came From by Natalie Murdoch

New Zealand is famous for its fisheries and attracts sport fishermen worldwide, and Taupo is one of the primary areas to practice this sport.  At the Symposium exhibit, I also found two awesome quilts that celebrate the underwater wildlife so prevalent in the streams and lakes nearby.

Misty Morn by Sheryl Meech

Misty Morn by Sheryl Meech celebrates all that is beautiful about New Zealand, including the fish.  If you look closely at this first place award winning quilt, you will see an abundance of shadow fish in the water. If you are in the area be sure to check out the Tongariro National Trout Center.

Taupo Trout

It’s easy to enjoy the outdoor artwork of Taupo, made possible by the Taupo Sculpture Trust.  In fact all things Taupo are well worth a visit!

I am off to Houston to teach for the Greater Houston Area Quilter’s Guild, so there won’t be another post for a couple of days!  There’s plenty more to see about New Zealand!

Looking out at Mt. Tongariro National Park

 After a long and fulfilling day of touring, we returned to Taupo where our hotel rooms were situated right on the shores of Lake Taupo, with an incredible uninterrupted view of the lake and Mt. Tongariro National Park in the distance.   The symposium opened that night with a hearty New Zealand style welcome.

Katrina Davidson, co-convenor

I finally got to meet the organizers, including Katrina Davidson with whom I had been corresponding for nearly two years.  It was so nice to be able to match a face to the name.

Opening Night at Symposium

New Zealanders, a.k.a. Kiwis, really know how to put on a party.  They welcomed all with glasses of wine and snack boxes of food.  This was the first of many such events, as Happy Hour was a regular occurrence, beginning right after class ended each day.

Susan Cleveland and Gail

I got to hang out with fellow U.S. teacher, Susan Cleveland.

Maori Haka

We were welcomed, Maori style, to the symposium via a Haka performed by young singers.

Haka Lead Singer

The group’s lead singer had a beautiful voice.  I wish it could have gone on forever.  In the morning, we would all be in our classrooms, ready to teach!

Welcome to L’Arte Cafe

Located in the hills above Taupo, this charming cafe was the final stop of our Tutor’s Tour of Taupo.  The first things that greeted us were the teapots hanging from the trees, our welcome to this quirky place.

Sitting in the Easy Chair

Virtually everything was tiled with mosaic tiles in brilliant colors,

Window with a View

including the framed window that looked out onto the gardens below.

Fantails and Tuis

Artwork adorned every surface and freestanding art graced the many walkways.

Picnic table

Even the outdoor tables were covered in mosaic tiles.  But,

Ladies Toilet

perhaps the most interesting of all were the restrooms.  These hung outside the ladies’ room.  there would be no mistaking which gender this room was intended for.

Ladies’ Room

While inside, with the door closed, every surface was covered.  Above, the rest of the room is reflected in the mirror.

Wash Hands

What a quaint way to remind all that hands should be washed before leaving the room!  Definitely a winner!

Chris Jones, Glassblower

My friend, Marion Manson, who is heavily involved in the art community in New Zealand, graciously identified Chris Jones as the glass blower in my previous post.  Check out his website.  Thanks much, Marion!

Diane Anderson, Gail, Melissa Gelder

On my first full day in Auckland, Diane and Melissa took me on a tour to Northland, checking out quilt shops, cafes, and magnificent scenery.  It wasn’t long before we stopped for morning tea, replete with sweets to provide energy for our outing.

Morning Tea

It was here that I was able to enjoy my most favorite ever coffee, a flat white.  It seems to be a New Zealand/Australia espresso drink that is not available here in the U.S.  Note that each of our sweets is divided into thirds.  We shared!

Pukeko Patch

Along the way we stopped at the Pukeko Patch outside of Warkworth which was closed.  Actually, the shop was open, but we had driven instead to the owner’s home in the countryside!  Duh!  So we never did get to visit that shop.  I am sure it is wonderful. And, FYI, the shop is located in the community of Warkworth – right near where we had coffee.

The Apple Basket

Our next stop was the Apple Basket Patchwork Shop, in Kaiwaka, where we were warmly welcomed.  They publish a series of New Zealand style patterns for birds and flowers and the shop carries both the patterns and  kits that include the fabrics.  Be sure to check them out.

Kerry Glen and Quilt

Our final destination was the home of Kerry Glen, owner of Tulis Textiles. “Tulis” is an Indonesian word that means to write.  Although Tulis Textiles is located in Kerry’s home in Marsden Point, right on the water, she is open for business by appointment.  Most of her business is conducted online and she has a substantial website.

Melissa shops

Kerry travels regularly to Bali where her collection of batik fabrics are dyed with her stamps and to her specifications, so she can maintain the quality, versatility and vibrancy of her fabrics. She stocks over 500 batik fabrics in a wide range of colors.

Ikat Fabrics from Indonesia

Kerry also stocks a unique selection of hand-selected Ikats!  It was so very hard to decide.  We also enjoyed a lovely lunch with views over the sea, but all too soon is was time to pack up our parcels and head back to Auckland.  My April 2014 Quilting and Textile Tour of New Zealand will include tea and shopping at Kerry’s Home!  I think you will love her fabrics.

Thank you for bearing with me as I posted single images during my trip to Taupo, New Zealand.  Because I was using a APP on my iPad and because internet access was sketchy, I was limited in what I could post.  I had a most wonderful time on this trip, where I was a tutor at the symposium, with many adventures, both quilt-related and touristy!  This begins the first of several to come that highlight some of the wonders that occurred during this trip.

At the Exhibition

My friends, Diane Anderson and Melissa Gelder (2 rightmost in image above) took me to see the quilts at the exhibition during one of our lunch hours.  Taupo is filled with outdoor sculptures such as this one entitled, “Taupo-nui-a-Tia, the Great Cloak of Tia” by Lynden Over (2009).  The first sculpture commissioned by the Taupo Sculpture Trust, it symbolizes the two sides of the legendary cloak.  The colors of the glass feathers represent the lake, the river and the volcanic earth.

Fireworks by Ruth Wheeler

Inside the exhibition hall,  we first encountered the Special Exhibits area.  Fireworks, by Ruth Wheeler of Whakatane was the winner of the Hoffman Challenge.  Ruth reported that she enjoyed the challenge of working with the flower fabric, trying to use as much as possible in her original design.

Speed Kills by Lyn White

Another exhibit was the “Make a Statement Challenge”.  In the above quilt, Speed Kills by Lyn White, the message is clear.

Save Our Seas by Bridget Gill

This quilt by Bridget Gill, bespeaks of the trash that has accumulated in the ocean, where The Great Pacific Garbage Patch extends over hundreds of miles.

Learning on Shaky Ground by Heather McOnie

Learning on Shaky Ground by Heather McOnie was particularly poignant as a major earthquake struck Wellington, New Zealand, four hours south of Taupo, during the week we were there.

Although no shaking was felt in Taupo during this time, there was a strong odor of sulphur on the days of the heaviest geologic activity.  I learned about GeoNet, a website that tracks the Earth’s movements in New Zealand. It’s a fascinating site that I checked daily, drawn by the numerous shakes right about then.  It was at this very same time that the White Island volcano, located in the sea north of Tauranga, also roared back to life.