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Friday, September 2, 2016

Exciting News!

What could be more exciting than an overseas holiday across the ditch!  We are just about to set out for an (almost)  month long trip around Australia, all centred around a trip on the legendary Ghan Railway.  We start off in Adelaide, where we have several day trips planned to check out the area.  Board the train and travel up to Alice Springs, where we disembark for a week’s exploring – can’t wait to see Uluru.  Re-board again, and travel up to Darwin – lots to see and do there, too.  Then finally we fly to Brisbane for our last week.  I have a long lost brother living there, so it will be great to catch up with him again.

So I have been busy making blocks from Australian fabric to take away, together with my trusty Pigma pen.  These will be a form of “fabric diary” and I intend to write down where we stay, things we do, and attractions visited in the white rectangles.  Then I’ll sew it all together when we get home.

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Blocks made with Australian fabric.

Rather like the idea behind these rail fence blocks I stitched to take away a few years ago when we travelled around the South Island on our three month caravan holiday.   Prints used included Maori designs, water, paua shells, kiwis, pohutakawa flowers, in fact all sorts of New Zealand icons.

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Tablecloth made with NZ fabrics to record our South Island Odyssey trip

Our Aussie trip was booked and paid for well before I received my upsetting breast cancer diagnosis, and we wondered if we would be able to go when we had planned.  But luckily the timings have worked out, I’m over the worst now, just recovering from my radiation, which is getting better every day.  We are looking forward and determined to make the most of our Aussie adventure.

Are there any blog readers living in Adelaide, Alice Springs, Darwin or Brisbane?  If so, please do get in touch.  It would be lovely to meet with a fellow quilter as we travel around.

10 comments:

Katie said...

Very exciting! I’m looking forward to traveling along with you through your posts. Bon voyage!! :-)

Kate said...

How exciting, Jenny - enjoy!

12Create said...

That is such a neat idea for a 'travel diary'. Enjoy your trip. Sounds like you deserve it with what you have been through.

Razzle Dazzle Quilter said...

What a great way to save special memories. Hope you have a great trip.

Annette said...

Have a wonderful holiday, everyone loves the Ghan! Annette in Melbourne

Maria said...

Oh how I wish I lived closer sew we could catch up Jenny but I'm thousands of kms away. Do hope you meet some bloggers..
Love the idea of your special memory quilt...
Sew pleased you are well on the way to recovery..

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a fabulous trip. I'm so intrigued by your idea of the travel quilt. That's a great idea!

Janice said...

I'm so jealous as you will be visiting places we haven't explored as yet. It certainly has come along at the right time. What a clever idea for your travel quilt. I'll be tagging along with your posts.

Lis Harwood said...

Your trip sounds great and I love the idea of your travel quilt blocks. I hope you will still be able to blog from time to time, I like the opportunity to virtual travel. Keep well and enjoy yourselves.

NickiJ said...

What a great idea with your blocks at the ready to write down the wonderful memories you will view on your trip. Have a great journey.