Journaling in Taupo

While in Taupo (see the previous 3 posts!) I wanted to take something to do if I had some spare moments in the evenings. I was between stitching so decided to take some papers, scissors and glue along with my FTB journal to add bits and pieces to some more pages.

I wasn't aiming for completion, and was pleased to make progress on these pages

Fabric down the side is stitched leftovers from when I created my accordion garden journal

And I actually did manage to finish a couple : this to remember my wonderful weekend away in Raumati where I finally got to watch Les Miserables

and this one to remember the weekend in Taupo

Note especially the words I framed which were on the original page and fit perfectly with the feel of our weekend :-)

Quilt Symposium : Part 3

On Saturday I volunteered to be an "Angel" - this involved being assigned to one of the classes to help the tutor and participants. I was an angel when Symposium was in Palmerston North in 2007 - that time I was lucky enough to Angel for Becky Goldsmith - one of the Piece O' Cake designers

This year I was very lucky again and my assignment was Kim McLean

- I was soooo excited and spent the whole day buzzing. She is a very generous tutor. First thing she did was give me a quilt pattern!

She shared lots of information with the students. As well as demonstrating her method of needle-turn hand applique, she had a hands-on approach to helping students with fabric selection.

She also took the class for a visit to the merchant mall where she talked about patterned fabrics and which ones are useful for her style of applique - get some ideas from her online tutorial HERE

Kim mainly uses the Kaffe Fassett range of fabrics now, so that necessitated another wee spend by me

and I will be looking at my home fabric stash in a different way.
Here's a few close-up shots of Kim's applique to share some of her design details and fabric choices (even closer if you click on the picture).

I am really inspired but determined to complete my current 'to do' list first.

See more at this blog about Kim's quilts - it includes some tutorials by Kim. Sister blogs include Australian Glorious Applique and Holland and Denmark
If you have trouble sourcing her designs, you can buy Kim's patterns (and Kaffe Fassett fabric) from Glorious Colour store
And now the last week of the school holidays has flown by and normal routines start again tomorrow. That means more stitching time for me :-)

Quilt Symposium : Part 2

See previous post for part 1 of my awesome weekend away. Now I want to share some of the wonderful quilts that inspired me at the main exhibition. It's going to be a long post! (click on any of the pictures to see the quilts larger)

"Juno's Dance" by Ansa Beytenbach

I love applique

"Tradition with a Twist" by Anna Williams
Winner Professional Traditional

Exquisite details :: "Tradition with a Twist" above

"Mix and Match" by Vivienne Franklin.
Winner Best Use of Colour

I love colour

"Poppies" by Anne Jolly

"D.I.S. Played 2" by Sheryl Anicich

I love pieced quilts

"Pickled by Rose" by Sheryl Anicich

"Behind the Lines" by Gael O'Donnell

"Reflections 2" by Kathleen Burford

I love pieced machine quilted details

"Radio Waves" detail by Sharon Bradley

"Daughter of Neptune" by Francien Bot

I love art quilts

"Fifteen" by Camilla Watson
Winner Professional Art Quilt

"The Comfort of Stitch" by Lee-Ann Newton
Winner Best Non Traditional Quilt

I love mixed media

Detail of "The Comfort of Stitch" above

There was also an exhibition of RED : a 12" by 12" challenge. Here's a taste of those (sorry I can't credit them all)

Winner :: "Gerbera" by Sonya Prchal

Commended : "Posh Poppies" by Valda Sutton

And we finish with the Tutor's quilts ::
Kathleen Laurel Sage is new to me - her website is HERE and her blogposts about symposium HERE.

Kathleen Sage :: Sunflower in New Zealand

"Sunflower in New Zealand" detail

Her work in organza is exquisite

Robbie Joy Eklow - see my previous post for more about her

Talented friend Carole Brungar

Gorgeous detail of Carole's quilt - see what she blogged about Taupo HERE

Michele Hill

I've shown Michele Hill's lovely quilt last because she was our very entertaining speaker to finish the first day. If you like William Morris quilts, you will know her name.

She has done some lovely posts about Taupo symposium on her blog HERE.
Wonder what we'll get to see at the next Symposium  which is to be held here in Palmerston North 16-21 January 2015 (click on the poster below to enlarge)

Registrations are open now and the website has gone live. There's already a list of confirmed international tutors.
I still have more to share about my Taupo symposium experience so see you again soon.