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Wednesday, May 8, 2013

A Room with a View...



I just got home late last night from my long anticipated trip to New Zealand.  I'm still feeling a bit wiggy after the very long hours in the air, time change, date change, etc., but couldn't wait to share everything with you !

My flight began in San Francisco where I began the long 13 hour flight to Auckland...and from there to Palmerston North.  I had instructions to keep my camera ready and managed to snag a few shots from the air of the beautiful countryside below me.  This was my first "room with a view"!



My main care person, Erilyn McMillan met me at the airport and snugged me up in her home for the week.


My room was very spacious and had two large windows/glass doors that overlooked her backyard. She has no ordinary backyard...hers is complete with a pasture and beautiful sheep!  I fell head-over-heels in love with her sheep and she even has them named. :)



In charge of the sheep was her beautiful, lazy, old, deaf dog named Chloe.  When I'm traveling I always miss my dogs as much as I miss my husband so Chloe was a good substitute for the week so I had something to pet :)  This was my next "room with a view".


After snugging in my room and unpacking, Erilyn took me for a trip to the ocean...wow!  I got to see a new ocean and a new coastline in a new country.  Third "room with a view".



I was the Rose City Quilters guest speaker and judge for their annual Tote and Gloat celebration.  What a fabulous event this is!  Quilters from all over New Zealand attend and they have a GREAT way to fill their small show with quilts.  They start the day with an almost 2 hour show and tell where quilters from everywhere show their quilts and those that choose, have their quilts hung in the show.  So as they quilts are being admired on the stage...once done they are passed down to be hung in the show.  Once the show and tell is done everyone is invited to admire them again in the show.  LOVED this!

After this part of the celebration, I was their guest speaker and had the privilege of sharing my linen wholecloth quilts.  When I present this trunk show for guilds, I love to watch the women enjoying the quilts afterwards...I've always said I wanted to get a picture of all the hineys in the air and the quilts being loved...finally got a good shot of this!




I was also asked to be the guest judge for their Challenge Quilts.  At first I was a bit nervous about doing this as it is such a huge responsibility.  I found that this was something I enjoyed doing...each quilt had a story with it explaining the process and the inspirations.  The stories, the techniques and the thought processes all came into play.  Yes, there was some "sucking up to the judge" that took place...I won't mention any names but a particular quilter....hmmmm....Liz Gates???  came to my mind! :)

Three full workshops, a speaking engagement, judging and  two long flights later I'm home.  My trip to New Zealand is something I shall never forget...it's one of those heart moments that will be with me forever.  I am ever grateful for the heartfelt hospitality provided to me by my care person Erilyn...for the open arms and enthusiasm by the entire guild...the amazing "family style" dinner celebration at Dianne's home...and to Alison  for taking such good care of me on Tuesday.

So with that said, I had to share my final picture of Chloe caught in the middle of a big yawn...

Big Hugs of Gratitude to the Rose City Quilters...Cindy :)


12 comments:

Unknown said...

Glad to see you are home safe, I had a great time in both of your classes at the weekend. I was the one who had to leave early for the long drive home on Sunday, thanks again Jeannette.

Kathleen said...

wow........wow.......wow

Karen said...

Love Chloe and the sheep. I'll bet I could sit there for hours and bead :)

Erilyn said...

Great photos and story! I'm so very, very pleased that you came, enjoyed and taught.

tizart said...

I am so very very pleased you came to New Zealand,I also enjoyed all you had to share. Fantastic classes and wonderful lecture on Saturday so very inspiring!!!! Thank you again!!!

SewCalGal said...

Oh what a fun trip. I've seen photos of NZ before, but nothing as beautiful as Erilyn's sheep farm. She has gorgeous sheep and Chloe is beautiful too.

Thanks for sharing. Next best thing for me to being their. All the quilters look like they had fun too!

SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

Karen said...

How awesome for you, I know they loved you.

Martha said...

Wow Cindy!! What a wonderful trip! Glad you are safe at home and so happy that you had such an awesome time. Lucky them to have you teach!!!

Vicki Crooms said...

"Tote and Gloat" - what a great and extremely visual name for the event. What a great trip you had, with critters, quilts and gorgeous scenery. Welcome back to the US! I must go now, I am in the middle of the ESS portion of a new quilt. Later!

Anonymous said...

It was great meeting you Cindy, I really enjoyed your two day class and your talk at the Tote and Gloat. I look at linen cloths in the whole new light now, can't wait to get started on my own wholecloth quilt. I'm still practising at this stage. Jenny

Rabbits Patch Quilting said...

Thank-You Cindy for sharing with us your journey, knowledge & tips, amazing creations and recieving your last pin badge on Monday. I was fortunate to attend both classes and thoroughly enjoyed them. All the best wishes, I look forward to seeing you again in New Zealand and swapping sheep serviettes. Take care,
Paula

Helen said...

I had an awesome time with you Cindy. You have one mother of a collection of stencils. My jaw is still on the floor at the knowledge you brought them all the way over here and then let us mess them up!! What a gal! For me, the 3 day weekend was a little quilting holiday that was a blast. I hope the pictures i took for you on your camera came out okay. I am a bit fingers and thumbs when it comes to photography. Thanks for all the fun.