Day 3 There really are beaches.

Another leisurely start and into town for the farmers market. Included also the art and craft market with some nice items but also the regular items. We purchased a few items for delectation and I also got a cool Xmas decoration. A short walk up the Main Street and coffee later we were on the road around to the coast to kauri cliffs, Matauri Bay, Tauranga Bay and Whangaroa. Nice relax on the beach at Matauri Bay with a read and a paddle. Onward to a few more stops then at Tauranga Bay we paddled again, had a cuppa and ice cream then onto Whangaroa. This was our last stop for the day.
Once home we decided to try the vino by the pool so eventually all were in and splashing around. Quite nice sipping and supping by the pool. Dinner was another BBQ experience with chicken kebabs while Stephanie made the salad. A quiet evening followed with a movie, stitching and diary writing. Early to bed as we have a big day tomorrow.

Nearly a museum visit

A leisurely start to the day after breakfast found us driving down our road to Opito Bay, supposedly a good beach. Very stony and designed for boats rather than sitting and drawing. After a paddle and beach scavenge we drove back to the Helen Clarke bypass and the Stone Store. A wander up to the Anglican Church and graveyard with Interesting family dynamics. The stone store certainly had an interesting array of items so I purchased a postcard and aniseed balls for mum. We did not pay the required sum for the visit of the stone store, kemp house and mission area and guided tour so missed the museum. Also later in the day drove past pete's museum as well. Far too many museums already passed on the drive here.
Lunch at The Pear Tree was delicious and I had a goat cheese and onion tart which was tasty. Stephanie had figs with blue cheese while Maree had a huge hamburger. A drive to the beach at the end of the road was a waste of time but still a pleasant drive and great views although no photos taken. Back to Keri Keri and a browse through shops, art galleries, chocolate and fudge factories then onto wineries and booking for dinner.
No photos will be posted unless taken with iPad as did not bring gadget to transfer photos from camera.

Northland jauntings

Today is the day we arrive at Keri Keri for our summer holiday. A good day's driving with a few stops saw us have a fun time at puhoi cheese for coffee stop, walk around Warkworth, stop at Hundertwasser toilet in Kawakawa and finally Keri Keri. Lovely little cottage our home for the next five days.

Lunch stop at Whakapapa.

Maree has also inspired me to practice making marks on paper so a stop at Warkworth produced an art book, pencils and watercolour pencils to make marks with. It should hopefully stretch my creative muscles one hope in preparation for the new year of BJP as well as creative Stitchers 12x12 pieces.

Latest beadwork

2012 Christmas decoration

My decorations this year have been based on this one that mum did from a pattern given to her by a friend.I have ended up making at least eight of these balls over the past three months for my beaded journal project work. I decided this year that my aim was to do some beadwork of any kind every month so these and the variations have been done since october with at least three a month. I finished off with doing a simple netted ball with star intersections for my friends mum for christmas. After completing the last ball yesterday (Boxing Day) I have realised that I do not have one of this design for myself. Mum got the pattern from a friend and I have adapted it to fit various sized balls. So only two more to make (one for me and one for Erin to take home).

On the christmas front it has been a busy few days since I finished work and I ended up with all the family (there are only 7 of us) here for breakfast and lunch as mum had no water. It was a lovely day and most of the family napped the afternoon away. I visited Stephanie and parents in the afternoon. Boxing Day was a visit to family friends and a leftover lunch - yummy as lots of different dishes from our lunch.
Today I caught up with another friend Sonia and I made her a ball for christmas in June similar to my Febraury BJP piece. She loved it and it was blue so that was great.

Off to Auckland for the weekend to collect my niece, Erin from the plane, then Mary Poppins in the afternoon and a catchup with my cousin sometime saturday night or sunday lunch. A trip up the Sky Tower is also on the agenda.
Happy New year to all and I hope to be a better blogger next year.
Diane

Still Stitching.

Several pieces of stitching have been done since the opunake retreat. I nearly finished all the flowers on my latvian piece and only have the borders to do. managed to get the finishing instructions for our linen biscornu and have the night class group onto that over the next weeks.
I have started one of the ANG auction pieces which is fun and mum has also started a piece as well.
Made several patchwork things for the guild christmas party and nearly have my door prize sorted. Next thing to do is my gift as well as secret santa gift for school. My institute box is nearly finished so only needs wrapping and labelling (tonights job which is running late).
I am hoping to put the pictures of the night class ornaments that have been stitched and one was finised with a lovely tassel and candycane cord by Fiona who has not done any of these things. I am so proud of her.

Scissor keeps made in class.

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Weekend Retreat and Stitching

Well the holiday break has come and gone and some stitching has happened. I spent one weekend in Auckland with Stephanie which was a nice break away. This weekend just gone was our annual embroidery retreat held in Opunake. For the first time the weather was shocking and it meant that we could not go for a walk.
Our project this year was another one from the Stitch Magazine (England). It is a number of years old and one that has been on the wishlist for a while. It involves spray paint, leaves, blackwork and being creative which was difficult for a couple of our members. Only six of us were staying and we had no visitors from the Opunake Guild (either the weather or project put them off)


My 15 sided biscornu nearly there.

 

latvian work has nearly all the flowers stitched - outlines and boxes to come



inventive spray paint with leaves.

 I decided to do mine on a piece of linen that I had with me - I was intending to spend the weekend finishing projects. I will turn it either into a notebook holder or a pocket for my clamps. You can see it in the centre of the photo above.
It was a good weekend and I loved all the stitching so hopefully next weekend as a holiday weekend will provide some more opportunity to stitch.

Creative Stitchers Challenge

Our creative stitchers challenge for the next two years is a round robin challenge with a shape of your choice. The first swap has taken place and I have had Mary's piece which is a tree with an oak leaf shape. Here are a few of the thoughts about this leaf.

Mary Garlick – oak leaf shape, September 2012

I decided to use some silk paper I had made as it reminded me of the new spring leaves. I couched the edge but when I cut out the shape it was too flimsy for a detached leaf so I have quilted the leaf onto the background fabric. A small ladybird reminds me of them during the spring growth in the garden. This picture is upside down so it hangs on Mary's tree at the bottom. For a change I have not used any beads on this piece of work.