Aussie/NZ Quilt progress update:
For starters, my seal blocks finally look like seals instead of black ghosts. The faces are all appliqued down, needle turn style, with the exception of the black eyes. They will be blanket stitched because they were just so small. I do still need to hand stitch down the bodies, but the edges are turned and they are glue basted. They are all ready to go for the next sewing zoom session. The seal on the bottom right is actually from Australian fabric. I picked it up years ago in a little quilt shop in Moab.
The seals are part of my New Zealand memory of driving from the Martinborough area to Cape Palliser. I knew there would be a seal colony there, but I was completely wowed by them, probably because there were so many and we could get so close to them. We literally watched them for a couple of hours in and out of the water with their babies. It was one of the greatest memories of the trip!
That day began after a good night's sleep in this adorable little Air BNB. My sister and I enjoyed it better after the owner was able to get the heater working for us. It was a different kind of heater than we had ever seen before. We didn't know how to run it.
.HEIC)
We found a little place to go to our church before heading to the Cape Palliser area.
We had to stop along the way to take a photo of this lovely little church and spot. It really was in the middle of no where.
It was about a 2 hour drive before we came upon the ocean along the southern part of the north island.
You will have to look closely to see them out in the water.
The day was sunny, but it was jacket weather - a little bit cool.
The seals really blend in with the rocks. I would be standing, looking for one of them without even realizing one was nearly close enough to touch. It was so cool!
There will be more on our trip as I make memory quilt blocks throughout this year.
