We flew from Coolangatta to Adelaide on a morning flight to make the most of a travel day. The night before I had to reconfigure the quilt luggage pieces as the interstate flight had different luggage size and weight rules. Sometimes they even weigh your purse! There are scales at some of the airline gates.
Adelaide is absolutely beautiful, and we wish we had weeks there instead of days.
We picked up the rental car - We chose an Australian Holden Commodore - keeping with our Australian theme.
Next - the
Australian National Wine Center. One the grounds is a historic barrel house and some sample vines next to a modern architecture visitors center. We explored the history of wine making in Australia.
We are hobby vintners over the past 20 years. Making all kinds of wines and port.
One of the exhibits illustrated each grape variety in detail.
Showing the leaf, cross section and seed of the grape.
So much potential in a small fruit! Entire empires have been built on processing a grape.
That evening we checked into our Apartment (Vacation Rental By Owner) in the heart of Adelaide.
Our 2 BR was on the 9th floor and had a wonderful view of the Adelaide Central Market entrance. So much within walking distance.
The most difficult decision of the trip was deciding which of the fantastic restaurants to enjoy!
We had quite a variety, paella and lamb chops at Gauchos - delectable fresh seafood! Peking Duck at T-Chow...
Back at the apartment before sweet dreams, we shared a bottle of wine and goodies from the market while we planned the next day. (Cheese, bread, chocolate and fresh fruit).
The
Adelaide Central Market is filled is filled with food stalls with everything you can imagine....fresh quail eggs, 100's of cheese options, exotic flowers, fruits, vegetables, nuts and bakery stalls.
How lucky are local people who can shop here anytime?
We started most mornings here at a coffee shop for breakfast. Then it was off to the Barossa region for the vineyards.
I'll skip all the vineyards details, but if you're into wine I'm happy to email any details you like. I'll include the quilt bits at the vineyards.
About the
Baroasa wine region... "
Wine has been a way of life in Barossa since 1842. Fast forward to today, and Barossa is home to more than 550 grape growing families, many with the sixth generation still working the same plot of land, supplying quality grapes to more than 170 wine companies."s was a special place. We toured the original family home, still furnished with gleaming red cedar woodwork and period wall papers.
Note the tile on the porch - hard not to see quilts. We saw this style of tile often. To read more about the architecture read
HERE.
In the tasting room there was a large bouquet of cotton bolls on the bar. Since
cotton production is a bit controversial (I was told) we thought perhaps the vineyard owner has a stake in the industry as well as grapes.
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| Coffee and Breakfast at The Loose Caboose |
The next day we all had our own plans. Trish went to a mosaic glass workshop outside of town with the car. The guys used the excellent public transportation and Uber to visit
Hahndorf and
Adelaide Hills. Yes, the photo links accurately show how beautiful every place is!
My friend Wendy picked me up at the apartment. I've "known" Wendy online for 18-20 years!! Our visit was TOO short.
Wendy arranged a special day of QUILTS at Hettie's Patch in Adelaide. I was so pleased to be able to meet quilters in person, many I had only had Internet contact with in the past.
Wendy and the 20+ girls there were so enthusiastic. I wish I could have brought more treasures to share with them.
The parking lot for the quilt shop and classroom is in the back. I love all the brick and stone. Check out the lavender plants five feet tall.
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| Eclectic mix from 1840 - 1940 |
The classroom was wonderful - we arranged tables to lay the quilts on for up close and person examination. Everyone got a seat around the table and we could walk around to see other sides of the quilts.
I also brought lots of small objects from my books (and a copy of my
book) to show.
I managed to fill almost two hours and just about lost my voice - it was THAT FUN!
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| Sisters Sally and Jane with our Noah and Matilda Quilt |
I had no idea people would be interested enough to fly in from out of town.
Jane, Sally, Claire and Bev flew in from Melbourne. What a treat for me!
Thank you again Wendy for the excellent organization!!
After I did my presentation, the girls put on an amazing Aussie themed lunch.
Food included pavlovas, Anzac cookies, tarts and pies, finger sandwiches, fruit, cheeses, pizza and other specialties too numerous to list!
Delicious.
The shop uses their quilt as a table cover - no food harmed any quilts!
After lunch we had show and tell. I was so into it I forgot to take some photos and get permission to share! The girls brought some swap projects and other quilts.
Lynne brought her Blindman's Fancy.
Rich colors and prints. She brought some other quilts and I missed photos! You can find her work on Instagram
HERE.
I think there were 30 + quilts brought and I didn't take enough photos - that was true of the entire day.
Erica brought her highly organized sets of swap blocks.
As she made a block for a swap, she also made a 6" block for herself. They are all organized and labeled. Erica's block tags are as beautiful as the blocks.
Each set of blocks is organized in its own labeled tote.
We joked that decades from now a historian will uncover her totes and advise, "this is how quitters kept they supplies". I'm thinking Erica is an exceptional organizer!
I forgot to ask her is she plans to assemble her blocks. I too have most sets NOT put into quilts. I did finish the
Ohio Stars and the
Elongated Nine Patch.
Sally brought a quilt she made using real Aboriginal fabric. By real I mean from the hands of women in
Maningrida, Northern Territory - Australia. The women art part of the
Barbara Women's Centre in Arnham Land. You can watch a video
HERE.
Read Bios of the Artists
HERE.
Thank you Sally for sharing your beautiful quilt, and information on the talented textile artists, including some indigenous history.
A beautiful and special quilt!
I am so honored to have received gifts, in addition to the gift of this special day!
Wendy made this Hexagon bag with a pattern from
Hettie's Patch.
She filled it Australian products. In her online group we had discussed the merits of healing our needlework finger tips with Goat cream and PawPaw.
She also included Shiraz paste - spread for wine and cheese night! Some lip balm, chocolates, scissors and a bookmark.
Thank you again Wendy for the friendship and making the day great.
Wendy's website is
HERE.
As with all my events I never get a list of attendees. I knew a few because they were customers I had been in contact with. Imagine my surprise when a taxi pulled up and delivered Bev and Clair all the way from Melbourne. I didn't think people would be that interested to travel very far. I am honored!
From Irene
Irene Craig, gifted me with a signed copy of her book, "Ayres House Dancing Dollies Quilt" The pattern and instructions were done with permission of the National Trust of South Australia. It is a lovely book and includes some color photos of the original quilt. Thrilled to have this!!
THANK YOU FOR A GREAT QUILT THEMED DAY IN ADELAIDE!
There might have been some glasses of wine consumed before Wendy took me on a drive through
Adelaide, great buildings, scenic over looks - an amazing city I would visit again in a minute...or rather after18.5 hours in planes!!
Worth. It.
A single day was WAY TOO SHORT. I was a wee bit tired - to be honest, back at the apartment I had a 15 minute catnap. Velma would have liked that.
That night we all had much to discuss. Everyone had so much fun.
Next stop in Part 3 - Granite Island and the Fairy Penguin tour.
Thanks for your generous comments on Part 1! I hope you enjoyed Part 2 as much.
Happy Stitching,
Dawn
