Today was the first day of the Freeman Patterson/Andre Gallant workshop in New Brunswick. Yesterday afternoon I found an opportunity to take some photos. Here's a sample from the pre-workshop afternoon.




Then, our first assignment this morning was to set the tripod in one spot and take as many compositions we could in a 2 hour period. Here's the ones I'm olkay with showing. It was a challenging exercise. I was positioned between two cars.


The two images above are for evaluation at the workshop.
The following photo is what I think to be the best of the day. It's all a reflection on the hood of an automobile.



I was taking a lot of photos - thinking I was doing pretty well. But I discovered differently.... I'm just sayin'...

I'm writing to you today from St. Martins, New Brunswick, Canada. I'll explain why I'm here in a moment.

This week I had the great pleasure of presenting one of my two-day seminars to a group of nearly 40 British quilters who are touring the Southwest USA. They started in Sante Fe and proceeded to the four corners area of Colorado. Then they arrived in our neck of the woods for the seminar. I've never done anything like this in La Veta, but thankfully we have our small theater (Francisco Center for the Performing Arts) where we could accommodate them. It worked so well that I'm thinking about doing this once a year. I'll keep you posted.



The tour group is headed by P and Q Tours. P and Q is a British quilting magazine - British Patchwork and Quilting. Judi Mendelssohn, one of the editors of the magazine, was the leader of this tour and it's always a great when I get to visit with Judi. Thanks ladies for the fantastic two days!

The event ended with a dinner at the La Veta Inn and I made it home about 8:30pm just in time to pack to leave early - early meaning the alarm went off at 2:45am so I could make my 6am flight!

Where was I going? Well, here... New Brunswick, Canada! I'm here to be a student for a week. I'm taking a photography workshop from Freeman Patterson and André Gallant. The event doesn't start until this evening, but I had to arrive a day early because I couldn't get a later flight and arrive on time tonight for the opening event of the workshop. That's really not so bad because it has provided me with a leisurely/restful day before the workshop starts. I've already been out this morning taking photos. 

For me, photography is a great way to compose quickly. This relates to my quilting in the fact that in both cases I'm thinking like an artist. Of course my goal is to follow the principles of design to make good art, but I also want to be a better photographer and improve my knowledge of what the camera can do for me. I've wanted to be a student for many years, and this is the first opportunity I have taken in over 20 years to be a student. So, I'm being a student! Yay!

Below are photos I took this morning (prior to the workshop) on the grounds of St. Martins Country Inn where I'm staying. Follow along this week to see if you can tell if I'm making any progress.

I hope I'll make a good grade... I'm just sayin'...



I'm home! - but not for long! Big shouts and whoo-hoos to everyone I saw in Australia and those who were so involved in making the trip happen, both in Australia and here at home.

Have I ever mentioned I LOVE my iPad? Well, I do! I have a painting app on it called Inspire Pro. I used it to create my very own Aboriginal inspired painting. Check it out!



After posting on Facebook, I promised an explanation of the "Kinky Turtle" phrase. Years ago a friend who knew her way to a destination in NYC was told by her sister to "Lead On!' My friend mumbled "O King Eternal". There's a hymn, Lead On O King Eternal. Anyway, the sister thought she said Kinky Turtle - so, ever since then, the Kinky Turtle is the one in charge - whatever it is - such as navigating, choosing a restaurant, planning a trip, organizing a quilt show, etc. Raise your hand if you get to be the Kinky Turtle sometimes.

Michelle Pierson (third from left) had these t-shirts made for us (Justin, Helen Godden, and myself) that say "Be the Kinky Turtle." She was most definitely the Kinky Turtle of my event in Perth.

It's always crazy coming home after being away. Of course there are tons of things to catch up on, but in this case we are sailing in gale force winds preparing for the arrival of 40 British quilters who are coming to La Veta as part of their Southwestern Tour. Thursday and Friday I'll be giving my two-day seminar to our friends from across the pond.


Major thanks to Bernina in Australia (Otto and Penny too!) for sponsoring my performance at the Gala Dinner during the Australian Machine Quilting Festival. Tracey Browning and Sharon Parkinson (festival organizers) have a great thing going for machine quilters down under. Whoo-hoo!

On Saturday, I fly to New Brunswick, Canada to take a phototograpy workshop. I've wanted to sit in the student's chair and this is my chance. The workshop will be six days and I hope to learn a lot about photography - a hobby I really enjoy.

I think you'll agree - I need to stay a bit busier. No more lazing around - I'm just sayin'...

Here's a big shout out to everyone who came to my seminar yesterday in Adelaide. Over 350 enthusiastic quilters reminded me that I don't speak Aussie as well as I thought I did!  Lol

Aussies
One student, Margaret Dunn, surprised me with a fantastic gift - a free-motion thread painting of our dog Katie!! Isn't it amazing? Thanks Margaret!!

gift
thread katie







Casablabla

I also managed to connect with Michelle from Perth (she organized the first portion of this tour) and Helen Godden, famous Aussie quilter extraordinaire! We ate dinner at a tapas bar called Casablabla. That's tapas, not "topless".... I'm just sayin'...

Hey everyone. I've been in a bit of Internet limbo over the past few days but wanted to catch you up on my travels while I have the chance.

Since my last post I enjoyed a great visit to Brisbane and the Queensland Quilters. Kim Boland was our hostess and it was great fun to see her again since she had organized the Brisbane portion from my previous tour to Oz in 2005. 

The first day was spent seeing sights and shopping. Sunday and Monday were master class days. A big Whoo-hoo shout out to all who attended and another Whoo-hoo for the thunder that accompanied my lectures on Monday!

Tuesday Kim drove Justin and I to Bribie Island and then up into the mountains where we took a stroll through the rain forest. I was surprised to see how high we were and really enjoyed hearing the kookaburra.

I've arrived in Adelaide and yesterday my good quilting friend and Adelaide resident, Pam Holland, treated us to some local sights followed by a fantastic Thai food dinner.

I wonder if I'll be talking like an Aussie when I get home next week... I'm just sayin'...

class

Kim

Bribie

Glasshouse Mtns

rainforest

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