Wednesday, 30 July 2025

Holidaying in New Plymouth

Mt Taranaki reflected in the Pouakai Tarn




Caper Egmont Lighthouse

SS Gairloch wreck

Govett Brewster art Gallery





By the Camphouse at Egmont Visitor Centre

Poets Bridge at Pukekura Park

Te Rewa Rewa Bridge

Tongaporutu

The Three Sisters at Tongaporutu

Elephant Rock



The Scout and I recently returned from our annual winter holiday.  This time we went to New Plymouth, on the West Coast of the North Island, a beautiful coastal city dominated by Mt Taranaki.  We were blessed with the most fabulous fine but cold weather, so each day were able to see the snow topped mountain from pretty much everywhere we went.

Probably the highlight of the trip was doing one of my bucket list day hikes - The Pouakai Tarn track. Its a relatively easy walk, approximately 6.3 km of boardwalk and stairs, uphill to the hut, downhill to the tarn and vice versa on the way back.  We were fortunate to have a gloriously fine wind free day, so were able to get the fabulous reflection photos the tarn is renowned for, even though there was ice on it.

New Plymouth is a beautiful city, lovely street art, a coastal walkway, great eateries and galleries, and parks.

Well worth visiting.














 

Tuesday, 8 July 2025

A Finished Quilt

 








I've finally finished my "Make it up as I go" quilt. My first and probably only quilt finish of the year.
Started back here in 2023, it's been a slow process.

Very much inspired by the fabulous seedling quilt from Tales of Cloth, I made a Mandolin block as my first block, then pieced or stitched other blocks I liked, but didn't necessarily want to make a whole quilt of.  In hindsight, I should have made the quilt in a log cabin sequence, it would have made fitting pieces a lot easier.

Always using my loved low volume and bright combination this quilt is approximately 70" square.
The backing is a fabulous rainbow Ombre from Northcott fabrics. 
The magical e2e quilting by Quiltmekiwi is Gingersnap design 
Binding is in Yarrow by Kona fabrics, I wasn't sure on the gold colour, but I think it frames it all nicely, and has a light brightening effect.

The final seal of approval has been given by Meeka.