Hello there! It’s been a while between posts but I’m back to tell you about a recent quilting adventure.
A Week on Norfolk Island
I spent a week in mid July on Angie and Kristy’s Norfolk Island Quilting Retreat and had a fantastic time.
Norfolk Island is a small island in the south Pacific, roughly half-way between Australia and New Zealand. The coastline is stunning, the Norfolk pines are impressive and the local population (about 2300 people) are friendly, resourceful and resilient.
The Retreat had plenty of sewing days and sightseeing opportunities. It was catered as well, which was soooo wonderful. Turning up to three squares a day, plus morning and afternoon tea was bliss (let’s just not mention our waistlines…)
Beautiful Norfolk Island
Here are some typical views you’ll see around the Island:
Animal Encounters
There aren’t many fenced paddocks on Norfolk Island so the cows roam freely. They also have right-of-way on any roads, so you have to slow down and safely navigate around them wherever they wander.
Given that the cows are free to wander, every home is well fenced and has a cattle grid across the driveway to prevent unwanted visitors. And a lawn full of cow pats.
Chickens also roam freely all over the Island – every day brings random rooster crows.
If you’ve been reading here for a while you’ll know my love of birds. I saw lots of white terns along the coast (no photos though). A walk along this track yielded some cute little Norfolk Island Grey Fantails:
These little fantails are charming! Bold and flirty, they’ll come up really close to eat the small insects disturbed by your footsteps. I liked to think they were just hopelessly attracted to me.
I was also very excited to see a male Norfolk Robin, with his handsome red vest.
OK, enough of the birds. Don’t let anyone tell you I don’t know how to have a good time when I travel!
Oh, one more actually exciting animal sighting – a Galapagos shark skulking around the Kingston pier. He was cleaning up the fishermen’s scraps.
Saint Barnabas Chapel
Is any trip over-the-seas complete without a church visit? St Barnabas Chapel was completed in 1880 by missionaries. It took 5 years to build and has beautiful work in Norfolk Pine, stone and mother-of-pearl.
Part Two Required…
That’s about half of my photos so in the interest of keeping this a reasonable length I’ll continue my Norfolk Island adventures in my post next weekend. Next week I’ll show you a small part of the colonial history of the Island, as well as more of the actual sewing. Many projects to show you! And if you’re wondering if Angie and Kristy will be running another Norfolk Island Quilting Retreat, all indictors are pointing to YES.
Around the Interwebs…
All the entry details for the 2027 Quiltcon quilting challenges.
The Festival of Quilts is on 30 July – 2 Aug in Birmingham, UK.
Hurry – Grunge Basics by Moda are 20% off for the remainder of July at Fat Quarter Shop.
So. Much. Work! A one minute video showing an incredible handmade art installation.
I feel like book-binding techniques are having their moment? These photos show how beautiful these techniques can be.
Everything about this website is adorable, but I especially love these highlight videos. (Thanks to Karen for showing me this!)
Reader Quilts…
I always love to see quilts you’ve made from Bonjour Quilts patterns so please keep sending them in! Either email (Kirsty at BonjourQuilts dotcom), or tag me on Facebook or Instagram.
Monica did a great job with her Scrappy Posie baby quilt:
Colette’s Diamonds in the Deep is beautiful:
Ann’s Diamonds in the Deep is just as happy in red:
An Up and Away quilt found on Reddit (Breadcrumbs123). I love the quilt quality supervisor so much!
Another fun Reddit find: A Colour Explosion quilt with a multicolour binding by CompoteNew4548.
Here’s a mock-up of the Go West pattern by Windham Fabrics, in their Copper Sky fabric line.
Cats’ Corner
Lulu (brown) and Tigger (orange) are up to the same old tricks. Lots of sleeping and eating and somehow knowing exactly when you’re about to get up so they come and sit on you. It’s very hard to get anything done with warm, little sweet pea on your lap.
What a life, hey?
That’s all from me for now. It’s nice to be back and I think I’m on track to be around more frequently from now on. I’ll see you again soon with more of beautiful Norfolk Island and of course more quilts!
Until then,
Kirsty x
So nice to have you back! Beautiful post, Thank you for sharing!
We missed you Kiddo, I worked on quilts all the time you were gone, but just not the same without your inspiration.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful pictures. My morning coffee was a 100% more enjoyable ❤️❤️
You have been missed
I do not think I would get any sewing done
Scenery is awesome
Missed the cats also
Can’t wait to see what you sewed
Monique
Hi Kirsty, thank you for a great newsletter. As you can tell you were really missed but I thought of you every weekend and hoped you and your family, cats too, were well. I’ve planned my trip to Utah’s Garden of Quilts, September, which you told us about last year. So thanks for that also. Looking forward to hearing from you and seeing more great retreat photos.
Marty
I love all the pictures from your retreat. They were beautiful, I wouldn’t get much quilting done.
It’s lovely to hear from you again! You have been missed. Thank you for sharing yourself with us through you blog, pictures, and wonderful quilt patterns. Norfolk Island looks like a bit of heaven on earth. I pray that all is well with you and your family.
What a great review of the retreat! As one from the US I can attest to the fact that the long flight was worth it! I had the best time meeting and sewing with everyone. I did finish my retreat project and have loved reminiscing who brought what fabric square.
Stunning! Thanks for the great trip report and photos. I see possible quilt patterns in some of the floor tiles.
Yes, I did too! I think tilers and quilters go very well together, ha ha.
Welcome back Kirsty- you were missed! Love the retreat photos – left me wondering how one would ever get there from the USA. The Bedspoke piece is terrific! You are a good example to us all for taking the time to refresh yourself!
Hi Donna! We had several ladies join us from the US. You have to fly into Norfolk from either Sydney or Brisbane, I’d say Sydney is probably the easiest from the US. It certainly was a great spot to relax and refresh!
Welcome back. What a positively lovely place to sew and relax. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Susan!
Kristy, what a great photographer you are. I took some of the same pics but yours are worth framing. It was a great retreat. I have had a week of Jet lag, but have finished my blocks. Have enjoyed telling all my family and friends about the fantastic trip. Miss the morning and afternoon teas with new friends❣️
Oh, I’m really missing all those morning and afternoon teas too, Ginabeth! Those scones…the best. Hope the jetlag wasn’t too bad – well done on getting all the blocks done. I still haven’t finished my table runner but I’ll pull it out again this weekend. Happy sewing!
Kirsty, so good to see you back again! Wondered where you had got to. The pics are beautiful. Thank you for brightening my day!
Rose
You’re most welcome, Rose! Thanks for dropping by.
Welcome back! Missed your blog! Love the pictures of your retreat, kitties and the quilts. Cant wait for the next one. Take care.
I’ve already started on the next one, Mary, so it won’t be as long a wait this time! :)
Hello from Pennsylvania,
Welcome back. Thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures of your trip and of course my two kitties. Looking forward to seeing your many projects.
Sandra
Thank you Sandra!
Welcome back Kirsty, I wondered where you got too.
I visited Norfolk Island around 1973. Boy has it changed. All good. though.
Looking forward to the next chapter and I can compare notes.
It is a beautiful Island isn’t it.
Kind regards Roslyn ( Brissie girl) Not so much girl these days
Always a girl at heart, Roslyn!:) Norfolk really is lovely, such incredible natural beauty paired with a slower, less fussy way of living can’t help but make you pause and reflect. The history is also really interesting, I can’t imagine how tough those convict days were.
Kirsty, thank you for sharing the beautiful glimpse of Norfolk Island. What a lovely place. I’m sure the retreat was delightful!
It’s good to hear from you again here on your blog. Keep well!
Thank you, Rachel, it’s good to be back. Norfolk Island was really pretty, and a great place to step back and relax. Lack of internet contact was also great! Can’t get stressed about the things you can’t read, ha.
thank you for sharing your lovely pictures . Hope you had a great time.
Ann
Thank you, Ann!