another finish ...

well another tick off the to-do-list

 it came off the quilty machine yesterday

 binding on last night..

 finished off today...

off to a dear friend tomorrow..

FNSI

well this won... as did the Aussies!

 I sat and stitched while I watched.. Aussies vs Wales

  the game was not that exciting really..

 another finish.. both for me and the Welsh and Aussie teams..

 the BIG game on Sunday evening - NZ vs France - GO ALL BLACKS

all done and dusted and waiting for it's new owner to pick it up tomorrow..
now, the next project...

one block to do before the borders arrive, which should be anytime soon...
I hope you are having a fantastic weekend!

Friday Night

well, we all know what tonight is don't we fellow Kiwis, not near as exciting as Sunday night will be, but tonight will still be a good game to watch anyway - Wales vs Australia in RWC... hmmmm which team will I be favouring...
one thing for sure, I WILL  be stitching while I am watching, you can bet your bottom dollar on that!

BUT, what will I be stitching then,. Every month about this time, Heidi and Bobbie  host the FNSI (that's quilt speak for Friday Night Sew-in)...

shall I do this...

or more hexies...

or get this off the quilty machine so I can do the binding...

or make a start on this... oh what to do???
So what will you be yoube up to tonight then... not too much on?/ then head on over to Bobbie's blog and sign up here & now and tell us tomorrow what you have been doing tonight.....
enjoy yourself, whatever you decide to do!

Barcelona Quilt Shops

I found this one very quickly being just a few blocks from our hotel...

 and at another, all this loveliness to tempt and welcome one into the shop...

                                                         lots and lots of eye candy..

 had to snap this one quick in between the traffic - delightful shop! And lovely lovely lady owner.. didn't speak much English tho, so not a lot of talking, and a whole lot of gesturing.. we understood one another well!

lots of bags...

                                          and even more window goodies to tempt one inside.. 

 this pink skirt is actually one whole zipper, yep - just stitched round and round and round.... and round

                                                     lots and lots more goodies in here...

                                                        and much prettiness here..
I managed to visit 10 of the 12 quilt shops, pretty darn good going really I say, the other 2 were a bit further out of town, and the blisters on my feet said no more walking by this stage, .. so time to catch up on some stitching of my own...

 ...these are 2 more blocks for Imperial Blooms, Sue Spargo's 2011 BOM. I have been rather naughty and  signed up for her 2012 BOM too ~ hooked on wool I am!!!... and I am loving all the hand embellishing... a little bit to finish on these and then 1 more block to go..

 and this stitchery is from Anni Downs' latest book "Some Kind of Wonderful" - this is for a lovely linen bag to keep all my goodies in, if you look at the top of the photo you can see the linens that I purchased from one of the above lovely shops, that I will use for this bag...

and this is a Bronwyn Hayes stitchery, but ssssssh... it's a secret!
... see you later in the week then,

around the world in 8 days

yep, you did read that right, I too am wondering what happened to the other 72 days, 

This is the loo wallpaper in the Air NZ 757 he he he...

Twizel ~ Dunedin ~ Auckland ~ Bangkok ~Heathrow, London ~ Barcelona ~ London ~ LA ~ Auckland ~ Christchurch ~ Dunedin ~ Twizel; 1st Oct - 10th Oct - with the time differences we lost most of Oct 9th!

Casa Mila La Pedrera

 .. an expresionist building designed and built by Antoni Gaudi, it breaks with all traditional architecture by not using a single straight line, it has no load bearing walls, and has a completely irregular floor plan. In order to let in as much light as possible, the apartments are arranged around 2 central courtyards, one oval and one round. It is open to the public, and they have one apartment set up as it was in the early 1900's. Absolutely fabulous, and way ahead of today's world let alone the turn of the previous century.

Mosaic wall at Casa Batllo

 Casa Batllo is another key feature in the architecture of the modernist Barcelonian, also built by Gaudi, and the mosaic garden wall is a beautiful feature of the outdoor upper story garden patio. It is also open to the public.

 Catalunya cathedral

 In the centre of one of the oldest parts of Barcelona, known as the Barri Gotic (Gothic District), and the heart of Barcelona, is the cathedral, known as La Seu. The first stone for this impressive church was laid in the 13^th century, but it was not until the early 20^th century that is was fully completed.

La Sagrada Familia

The Barcelonians obviously like to take their time building as this one is still under construction, but what a big job this is! This is Gaudi's unfinished masterpiece, and is one of Barcelona's most popular tourist attractions. Construction began in 1882, but continues, and likely will do for several more decades yet. It has already become Barcelona's most important landmark however, which apparently was Gaudi's intention, and he has left very detailed instructions for it's completion, so that it can be finished to his design.

Placa de Catalunya

 This is the central hub of Barcelona, almost everything happens here. The benches at the circular centre of the square are an ideal spot for people watching, and boy, did I do plenty of that! Around the centrally paved area are a couple of fountains, and a large number of sculptures are “planted”, seemingly at random, and this makes for a very beautiful spot indeed.

Rowing Man is just telling me it was a Hong Kong transit stop on the way over NOT Bangkok like I have been telling everyone - oops, see what long haul travel does to one's mind... (one airport transit lounge looks like the next!!)


have a fab Saturday!

to market, to market...

no, I am not buying  a fat pig, but I could be tempted with these goodies

my oh my... where to start???....
so what are you up to- enjoying your day I hope!