Visit to The Quilters Barn, Blenheim

There we were, driving happily along, checking out Blenheim, when we came across a shopping complex known as The Vines Village.  So named, no doubt, because it was surrounded by grape vines, as far as the eye could see.  There are more vineyards around here than you could shake a stick at.   This  is New Zealand’s largest winemaking region with around 65 wineries and 290 grape growers and over 4000 hectares planted in grapes, mainly Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer.  Enough to keep any wine drinker happy.

Tucked inside the Vines Village was The Quilters Barn, a shop I had visited before on our previous South Island trip, but well worth another visit.  I had to smile at the message on the black board – my sewing room is never as tidy as I would like, either!

The friendly owner gave me permission to take some photos of her lovely shop.  There were all sorts of wonderful things, shelves full of fabrics, knitting wool, haberdashery, patterns, and a great assortment of beautiful quilts lining the walls.  In the classroom I could hear a group of ladies talking about the charity quilts they were stitching, for good causes.  It seemed a very happy place indeed.

Inside The Quilters Barn

I was after a skein of Perle No5 in dark purple for one of my stitchery blocks, and found a rather nice variegated one.  And when I spotted two more skeins of the dark green I’m using in all the blocks, I happily gathered them up too. 

My purchases for the day

While I was happily pottering around the shop, looking at this and that, admiring the batiks, and checking out the various patterns, Robin was outside devouring an ice-cream before it melted in the hot sun.  So we were both having a great time at the Vines Village!

Silk Post Cards and Hussifs

Beautiful silk postcards were produced during WW1 for soldiers fighting overseas to send home to their wives, sweethearts, and mothers.  There is a beautiful collection of these small works of art displayed at the Omaka Aviation Centre, in Blenheim.  Produced in France and Belgium, these were particularly popular with British and Allied servicemen during the Great War, who brought them to send back home to their families.

Silk postcards on display

Also on display were two Hussifs created by Frances Rookes for an exhibition to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Cassino.  Frances created replicas of the self care kits which many soldiers took with them to war.  These were equipped with the necessary items  for a soldier to repair his uniform, along with other assorted bits and pieces deemed necessary to the soldiers.

Two Hussifs, made by Frances Rookes

I was also intrigued by this poster, urging people at home to “Knit for the RAF” – patterns supplied by the Comforts Committee.

Knitting for the RAF

Then into the exhibition about WW11, Dangerous Skies.  With dim lighting and the sounds of planes flying overhead, it  was a great atmosphere.  The aircraft on display were full sized, all in working order, we were told. The exhibition told the tales of real fighting men, such as James Hayter from Timaru, known to his friends as Spud.  He escaped his burning Hurricane above Kent during the Battle of Britain, landing on the grounds of Great Swifts Estate.  On convincing the grounds man who challenged him with a hay fork that he was with the RAF and not one of the enemy, James was welcomed to the cocktail party taking place at the manor.   You can imagine what a stir the arrival of a brave pilot would have caused, and a Kiwi to boot!  His minor head wound was dressed by a lady doctor, one of the guests, but surprisingly she later sent him an account for her service.  Why, we can only imagine!  You would think she would have treated him free as her contribution to the war effort.

Gate crashing the cocktail party

You can read more about our visit to the “Dangerous Skies WW11 Exhibition at https://romanyrambler.blogspot.co.nz/2018/02/blenheim-and-omaka.html

Karaka Wreath

With some diligent holiday stitching, I’m pleased to say I have finished my Karaka Wreath block.  This is the second of nine I have stitched, using New Zealand native tree blocks designed by Jenny Hunter.

Karaka Wreath block

The Karaka is a leafy canopy tree, and grows to heights up to 15 m, with thick,glossy, dark green leaves.  The yellow-orange fruit ripens in summer and autumn, and are eaten by native birds, such as kereru and tui.

We are still on our long road trip, and are currently staying at Kaikoura, camping just across the road from the beach.  As we went for a casual  beach stroll last night, we enjoyed the lovely colours in the night sky.

 

Kaikoura Beach

Laundry never stops

On holiday or not – the laundry never stops.  I took a load along to a launderette in Christchurch, and guess who I bumped into.  This wasn’t just any old laundromat but a very busy coffee bar, and coffee roasting business as well.  And who should I meet up while I lugged my big laundry bag through the door but number one son Michael, who was meeting a friend for coffee.  Once I had the washing machine going I went and ordered a coffee for myself and crashed his coffee date.  Not too sure how he felt about that, but Mum’s don’t mind embarrassing their children, even when they are grown up, do they?  And it was better sitting by myself in the laundry area waiting for the machine to complete it’s cycle.

Michael and his Mum

Robin and I had a “proper” visit with Michael at his home the following day – no cramping his style this time.  But I did ask if I could use his washing machine at home – the caravan sheets and towels needed changing.  It was a funny old day weather-wise – showers and very strong winds.  So on the way back to our van we decided it would be easier to put the clean, wet washing through a spin drier at a launderette and not have to worry about it blowing off the line in the paddock where we were camping.

Round and round it goes.

We have just had several days at Akaroa, on Banks Peninsular, named after Joseph Banks who was sailing with Captain Cook on the Endeavour in 1770.  It’s history goes back to the dawn of time and it was formed following violent eruptions of two volcanoes.  These formed the twin craters of the Akaroa and Lyttleton harbours, which have many smaller bays indenting the coastline.

And believe it or not, Akaroa was very nearly claimed by the French.  There were street signs proclaiming Rue this and Rue that, an acknowledgment of the French immigrants who arrived, only to find that the English had already claimed sovereignty.  The French were allowed to stay, and Akaroa embraces the French influence.

Driving down the hill into Akaroa

A morning on a harbour cruise to check out the wildlife sounded like fun.  The morning started with the usual safety briefing drill, no running, no smoking, keep children under control, and whereabouts of life jackets.  All quite necessary, and the the skipper took us around the harbour, checking for wildlife to show us.

We saw dolphins, penguins, seals and sea birds, not always easy to photograph, together with amazing rock formations.

Giant Petrel and baby fur seals

We took a photo of this poster on board the boat of a Hector’s dolphin, so much clearer than trying to snap them in the water as they swam alongside the boat.   Hector’s dolphins are among the world’s smallest marine dolphins, found only in the inshore waters of New Zealand.  They are the only dolphins in New Zealand with a rounded black dorsal fin. Their bodies are a distinctive grey, with white and black markings and a short snout.

Poster of a Hector’s dolphin

It was a great morning out, and most enjoyable.  The Captain gave us a great running commentary, pointing of places of interest, and stopping the boat when wildlife was beside us in the harbour.

On board the Black Cat

My very Slow Stitching

It’s fair to say that I’m getting there really slowly, but as I say all along, every little bit helps.  No excuses really, but being on a road trip slows my hand stitching time down.  And as for the weather – I’m sure that we have never had such high temperatures covering New Zealand.  I know it’s summer,  but I feel rather like a melting ice-cream must feel, as I drip away into a puddle  each day.  That’s what I imagine it must feel like, anyway!

Getting there with my stitching

This is what I’ve done so far on my Karaka Wreath block, a New Zealand tree design by Jenny Hunter.  Just got to add some veins to the leaves, and then stitch some orange karaka berries.  Hopefully I’ll get it completed next week.

We saw some “yarn bombing” on our travels.  Sometimes it seems very popular ad then just seems to fade away.  Because I’m quite a slow knitter myself, I have to wonder why other knitters go to so much trouble to cover trees and such?  Possibly just because they can, I expect.

Yarn bombed tree

Recently we took a ride on the Christchurch Gondola.  We paid our money and bought our tickets – sadly no discounts for seniors.  Climbing aboard into that swinging capsule, we were soon on our way, soaring high.  Up, up, up we went, skimming the steep rocky cliffs of Mt Cavendish, and looking down on wonderful views over Christchurch.

One going up, and one coming down

We made it safely to the top (of course we did) and went out onto the viewing platform.   This goes right around the building and gives 360deg views of the city, Lyttlelton Harbour, the Canterbury Plains and across to the Southern Alps.  The day was a little hazy, but even so, the views were still amazing.

Rather hazy view from the top

After lunch in the Red Rock Café, we followed the other tourists down the steps to an open area where everyone seemed to be taking selfies at the cliff edge.  So we did too, after all, we needed a couple to send to the grand-daughters to show them what we are getting up to.

So that’s what we have been up to lately.  Still travelling and having fun, with a little stitching thrown into the mix, now and again.

Stitching and Holidays

The summer weather down here in New Zealand has us suffering from meltdown – with temperatures in the late 20sdegC and yesterday hit 32degC, with high temps to remain, we have been told.  That so much hotter than we usually experience.  But with a nice cool shady spot, plenty of refreshing water to drink, the occasional coffee, and a little stitching, and/or a book to read, I’ve been managing in the heat.

 

Stitching in the shade

As usual, we like to have a good look around the areas we travel through, and come across a sorts of interesting things.  Such as this sculpture of legendary race horse Phar Lap who was born and raised not far from where we staying in Timaru.   I grew up with hearing tales of his racing prowess from my parents, who were both rather keen on a flutter or two.  (Not me – the gambling gene has passed me by).  Phar Lap raced mainly in Australia,  including the 1930 Melbourne Cup, and he died in mysterious circumstances (possibly poisoned) in California in 1932.   His feats remain incomparable, and his great achievements lifted the spirits of people everywhere throughout the Great Depression.  Although I have to admit to not having the slightest interest in horse racing or gambling, it must be acknowledged that New Zealand has bred many outstanding race horses over the years.

Phar Lap

We spent a delightful afternoon at Peasant Point Museum and Railway riding this tiny railcar.  This little darling is quite unique, we were told.  New Zealand Railways built only two of these which ran on branch lines in Southland from 1926 to 1931 – and sadly, no one knows what became of them.  RM4 was rebuilt from original plans and photographs, and is on a 1925 Model T Ford truck chassis.  The railcar then needed turning on the turntable for the return trip, and Robin volunteered  to help the driver with this task.

Pleasant Point Railway

After all this excitement we stopped for an ice-cream at a sweet little ice-cream parlour – that certainly went down a treat!

Then we moved a little further north to Ashburton, and had a great day exploring the countryside from our base.  We drove along dusty gravel roads and past bare, barren mountains.  No wonder the Lord of the Rings were filmed in this part of New Zealand, the scenery has that desolate, forgotten look about it.

In the middle of nowhere

And I loved this cute road sign, and just had to stop to take a photo.  The GPS told us to turn left at Dog Box Corner, to take us back to civilization.

Dog Box Corner

We have now moved on to Christchurch, and have people to meet up, and places to go while we are here.  It was very pleasant sitting outside after our evening meal under the shady awning, watching the day slowly come to an end.  We are under the flightpath to Christchurch Airport and plane after plane kept flying overhead as they made their descents.  The temperature slowly cooled and we watched the colours of the sunset – pretty peachy-pink against a blue sky.

Sunset over Christchurch

Annie’s Store and meeting up with NickiJ

Annie’s Country Quilt Store in Tinwald, Ashburton,  is a real delight.  Stepping onto the verandah of the 100 year old cottage, there were baskets of goodies to check, and that’s before I even stepped through the door.   Room after room was full to overflowing with beautiful goodies, leaving me to wonder just where to start looking. 

Passing by on Sunday, I really didn’t expect the shop to be open.  But, as I was told, they are open 7 days a week.  How’s that for great service!  I asked permission to take a few photos as I looked around the shop.  There is so much to take in, fabric, threads, kits, patterns, all beautifully displayed in different rooms.  You really needed just to quietly browse as you walked around.

Owner Rachel admits to having a passion for egg beaters, and there was a great variety strung up high, including some rather interesting large wooden ones.

Some of Rachel’s collection of eggbeaters.

After a good look around, I decided that I couldn’t really leave the shop without this – a  wool embroidery project which I loved.  I like to have some hand work to do while we are away on trips in our caravan, so will probably save this till a little later.

New hand stitching project (for later)

While in Ashburton I contacted fellow blogger and quilter Nicki who writes as Patches of Cats.  Luckily the fates were aligned and we organised to meet up last night for a meal at one of the local restaurants.  Except, being a Monday evening, that particular establishment was closed.  Never mind, Plan B was soon put in operation and we followed Nicky in her car to Braided Rivers Restaurant and Bar.

We perused the extensive menu and decided against my first choice of Roast Pork for the more exotic sounding wild venison Denver leg, served on potato and herb gnocchi, with asparagus, prosciutto, and peas finished with Red pepper coulis, feta and a side of jus.  And it tasted just as delicious as it sounded.

Robin decided on a ribeye steak, served with garlic and herb fries, beer battered onion rings finished with a bacon and Peppercorn sauce, and Nicki ordered a burger of crumbed chicken breast, served in a brioche bun with Napoli sauce, parmesan cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion served with a side of fries.  All meals were declared delicious, and we got to know one another as we enjoyed our meals.  There was plenty to chat about, patchwork and quilting of course, travel, work, and life in general.

Nicki and me at Braided Rivers Restaurant

It was so nice to finally meet up with Nicki, after reading her blog and her quilting stories.  Thanks for arranging such a nice evening.