Fun times

August and September saw me travelling to New Zealand and Norway.

I so enjoyed both of these amazingly beautiful countries. Today I will pop on a few pics of NZ

From the snowy mountain tops to the rugged coast line.

I visited 3 great stores Kitz n Thingz in Invercargill, Cottage Flair in Rotarua and then off to the Apple Basket in Kiawaka. From the southern most tip to almost to the Northern most!

We did do some stitching but a lot of laughing also

Some show and tell. I love seeing what everyone is working on.

A little crochet breakfast. Believe me this was the only calorie controlled meal I had

Thank you Angela, Jill and Ngaire for your hospitality. I had a great time

A CHAT WITH PAT

Before I went to Quilt market I had the pleasure of recording an interview with Pat Sloan

I'm a bit late to the party and letting you know but I didn't always have inet coverage and missed the date. Sorry Pat and thank you!

You can tune in and check out more here

Home again home again jiggety jig

It's been 1 whole month since I set off to quilt market in Minneapolis.

Always nice to catch up with everyone

The Moda designer team and a few Aussies too. I apologise for the lack of eye candy from market but I was kept busy on the booth 

 Following market I was very lucky to be  included in a tour of Meredith. The prop room, gardens and craft lab were amazing. 

Then off to Gretna, Nebraska to The Quilted Moose where Debbie and Don looked after me so well. Debbie's shop is gorgeous, filled with dozens of samples to inspire. I stayed at her lodge and classes were held here too. She's quite a cook and a great host also! On the morning I flew out we stopped to visit a friend of Debbie's to see her wonderful garden

Then to Fort Collins Colorado. Tara Rebman aka tinkerfrog made sure I had a warm welcome and a wonderful time.  Her culinary background was sure evident and I can't believe I didn't get photos of the spread she provided for 20+ of us each meal. Classes were held at the Artery. Such a cool place. I stayed there too.....with the gorgeous antique quilt on my bed. A big thank you to Angela who waited at the airport for hours as my flight was delayed and to Michelle for my very own sew together bag.

From Colorado I flew to North Carolina, where I spent the next week. The lovely Lee Monroe aka May Chappell met me at the airport and she and her gorgeous family look are after me.

I spoke at Lees guild then taught at Sew Original in Winston-Salem and Boone, Studio Stitch in Greensbro and A Stitch in Time in Franklin.

Lee and Amy took me to see my very first ballgame and The Dash won!!

North Carolina is gorgeous and I was not surprised to find out Dirty Dancing was filmed near to where I stayed. 

I stayed at Lees family cabin in Sylva then a few days at her family's home in Blowing Rock

The dogwoods were incredible. Made mine look feeble!

Not great photos but the barn quilts were great ( I should have climbed into the properties to get better shots)

The Monroe family treated me to a southern spread, pimento cheese, fried chicken, devilled eggs......delicious! And on the screened porch

Thank you every one for a wonderful month. I have eaten and laughed my way around the country! And without doubt I will be back

It's a take over

Hi I'm Richard, husband to @jenkingwell. Have been for too many years to count, let's just say a long time.

Jen used to be a midwife and life was peaceful. She went to work at 7am and came home at 4pm. She even got days off each week. Then she became a store owner, then pattern designer and now she's joined "the family" (Moda that is, not mafia) and is designing fabric. Are you all getting the message??

Well that's life for 10 months of the year, then there is Quilt Market in the USA twice a year.........I'm not going to say anything else as I don't wish to incriminate anyone but every picture tells a thousand words...........

Just as well I'm a capable lad

I even washed the dog

( no animals were harmed in the making of this post)

Tomorrow these households will be telling it like it is
Jan  Betsy Laurie. Sandy Corey. Sherri

I'm on YouTube

When I was in Austin for Quiltcon I was kindly asked by Kimberly at the Fat Quarter Shop to film some short technique videos.

Check them out. 9 in total. It was a fun day with Modalissa providing moral support! I hope you like them. Here's a link to one

Question & Answer with Australian Moda Fabric Designer Jen Kingwell

Comfort in familiar things and routines

There is no doubt I've had some adventures living in the Middle East but it is so nice to be home.

I think it is just starting to register that I'm here to stay, not having to get back on a plane after just a few short weeks.

For many years it has been one of our favourite things, to get up early and head to The Queen Victoria Market for our weekly supplies. When our girls were younger it was " a secret date" that Richard and I enjoyed. No one ever wanted to get up at 0530 on a Saturday, so we would head off to
gather the produce then have a sneaky breakfast and coffee. This morning was just as it always has been

 

 

Love the mugs and teapots at the speciality tea shop

And lastly a special treat, just because we could