Show and Tell in Bicheno

I have returned to teach in Bicheno - a heavenly spot in Tasmania and some of my students brought their quilts from previous workshops to show me. What a wonderful and inspiring collection.
These are from the Breaking the Drought Workshop where we explore different functions of the sewing machine and create embellished fabrics which are then pieced together geometrically.
I am teaching this workshop in Houston this year (but I think it will have a different name)

 These are from my Fabrications workshop and the centres of each block are created from layers of scraps and threads and bits and pieces held together with waster soluble stabiliser and then stitched heavily.

We were so fortunate to be able to stay at Room with a View - a self contained apartment (B&B) in Bicheno. The hospitality of Pam (a quilter) and John was perfect and the apartment was so peaceful and well appointed and topped off with a visit from a local wallaby.

Tasmanian and Victorian Quilters

I am now fine tuning my Workshop schedule for 2011. I will be in Tasmania late February doing some workshops in Bicheno and Devonport before heading towards home and a workshop in Wagga Wagga. Due to a change of plans I now have the first week of March free so if you are somewhere along that route and are interested in a workshop please let me know.

Some of my students work in 2011 will be selected to be part of my exhibit in Houston next year so this could be your opportunity. My Textured Treasures workshop will be the inspiration for this exhibit and is a great way to combine interesting techniques and your own inspirations.

Tassie Textures

Yesterday we went to Cockle Creek which is the furtherest point you can drive in Tasmania (and Australia). I couldn't quite see Antarctica but I'm sure it was there just past the horizon.

Lots of lovely textures on the beach - I'm sure these will find there way into my Textured Treasures. In case you are wondering what the top image is - seaweed clinging to a rock. Looks so edible doesn't it?




The South Pole is just beyond this point (or maybe a bit further)

This is underneath the bridge which leads to the National Park.

This was a bridge support which had been chopped off.

Food

I thought today I would just share some food experiences from my travels.
The sculpture above is a great whistlestop cafe on the road to Melbourne at Jugiong called Long Track Pantry. Well worth a visit - actually we stopped both ways for lunch and also brought home a yummy pie for another day. I would love to have it in my garden but the price was a little high for me. It is made out of horseshoes and is about 1m high.

My first breakfast in Tasmania was at the Raspberry Farm just outside Devonport where the ferry docks. Who said you can't have ice cream for breakfast?

Very nice Ploughmans Lunch but I forget where.

This raspberry tart at the Richmond Bakery tasted just as good as it looked except it followed a chicken and leek pie and a sausage roll so it was more of a challenge to finish than it should have been.

A visit to Tasmanie has to include the D'Anvers Chocolate Factory just near Devonport.

Ok so we did eat well and my weight loss that I was so proud of has taken a backward step but isn't that what holidays are for.

Home Again

Well I am finally home after a wonderful time in Tasmania. I have never been and now I am ashamed of myself. It is really the most beautiful place and the wilderness areas are so beautiful.
I have taken zillions of photos and am so inspired.

I only have a few weeks at home before heading off again with so much to do but I will share some of my images with you.
This was the sunset from our cottage on the West Coast before the most sublime trip down the Gordon River.

The weather was so perfect - not a drop of wind to spoil the reflection of the mountains.

This was growing on a 2000 year old Huon Pine tree.

I taught lots of great classes too and the quilters of Tasmania are a wonderful bunch. We had so much fun and I am really looking forward to seeing the results of all their work.