Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Hello there



Hi everyone...back home from New Zealand where I was teaching classes at Spring Edition, a event run by Nic Howard and Lucy Vanderloos.  Nic asked me to teach at her event last year so this has been a long time in coming and now I can't believe it is over.  I will warn you this post has a ton of pictures, mostly because the event had the lovely Andrea, a professional photographer to take the photos.  I loved this idea, since most times I am too busy in class to even remember.  So my thanks goes to Andrea for her great work. 

I arrived on Tuesday morning and was able to spend the day with Nic and her family before we left on Wednesday for the resort.   We drove out to Karioitahi Beach on the western coast of New Zealand to have dinner at Agave at the Castaways Resort that sits perched on a hillside overlooking the ocean.  These pictures looks unreal but I just snapped them with my iPhone as the sun was starting to set.

 These are the bungalows you can rent that over look the beach.  Stunning views.
 Nic's absolutely darling daughter, the effervescent Abby, before dinner.
 Not a bad view from my seat at dinner, eh?
 Time to leave for Wairakei Resort...but just a couple stops.  For those of us Amazing Race fans, we stopped to watch...Zorbing!  Do remember this from a few seasons back?  You get into the big plastic ball, they fill it with some water, then you roll down the hill.  I wish I could say we were brave enough to do it but none of us were prepared to get soaking wet so we just watched from below as some kids rolled on down.



Then on to Rotorua, Te Whakarewarewa geothermal valley, and the National Carving and Weaving Schools.
As you drive through Rotorua there is geothermal steam rising up out of the ground in many places.  I admit, it was kind of unnerving seeing the steam coming up in someone's yard.  Apparently, there are five main geothermal areas in which a variety of geysers, hot springs, boiling mud pools and hissing craters can be experienced up close.  We drove to Te Puia where we saw one of the larger geysers (seen below).

Also at Te Puia, we visited the Māori meeting house, the carving and weaving school.
At the carving school, apprentices study for 3 years learning traditional carving techniques.  The school only accecpts 5 apprentices a year.
I was sorry after I left that I did not take a picture of all the wood shavings on the floor.  Way more than it shows in this picture.

This is two massive logs that were being carved for each side of a stage for an event taking place in Feb 2013.
 Part of the cultural show at Te Puia



We left Te Puia, drove into Taupo and decided to go to a little rise to overlook the city and the HUGE lake.
 As we arrived a huge rainbow appeared over the city.  I quickly snapped this photo as we reached the car park.  Just a few minutes later the rainbow was gone.  magical.
 
The next day we were also able to visit Huka Falls that we decided was the color of Tumbled Glass Distress Ink.  We walked along the river, crossed the bridge to the other side...a light rain started and another rainbow appeared at the bottom of the falls.


After our morning trip to Huka Falls we went back to the resort to get everything set up.

After a late night of set up...it's off to bed!
(good thing I have a wristwatch)

Woodland Trees make and take...
pick a color, is it spun sugar, fired brick, tumbled glass, peeled paint, vintage photo, or even wild honey? 
 
 Lianne make these wonderful tree samples to show what you could do with the Woodland trees.
 mixing up the water and reinker color in a mini mister
 here is how Lianne kept all the spray color at bay...a shoe box paint station.



4 x 6 tray class
 a little freestyle painting
 Distress Ink ready to go...


 
Tissue tape in the folio class
Making Distress Stain Crinkle ribbon


Distress Stain Buttons drying on the back table.


Just some of the 100 lovely ladies...
Liz, Jo and Kathy (aka: here comes trouble)
 
Beverley, Raewyn, Janine, and Wendy
 Suzz, June, Fiona
 Andrea (the fabulous photographer), Robyn, Sue and Jan
 
Jackie, Lyn, Trish, Joy, Donna
 
Kirsty, Kim and Lesley
 
Just a quick note today to say thanks to my friends Nic Howard and Lucy Vanderloose for inviting me to teach in New Zealand at Spring Edition.  I had a great time catching up with girls Deb and I met in New Zealand in 2007...Lilli, Tracey, Kirsty, Lesley and Lyn as well as meeting many new faces - June, Liz, Donna, Moana, Joy, Karen, Debbie, Kathy and Sam just to name a few.  Just so many nice people all so willing to play along in class.  I loved every minute of it!
Thanks to all the fabulous class tutors that helped me run my many technique tables...Rachel, Lianne, Kate, Tania... as well as Lynda (shop girl).  As well as the sponsors of my classes,
 7gypsies
Tim Holtz Idea-ology
Ranger
Darkroom Door
Studio Calico
Collections Elements

Lianne, Kate, Tania, Nic, Natalie, Trevor (Natalie's husband), Lucy, me, Lynda, and dear Rachel.
just a bunch of goofballs.

and a special shout out to Sande for blogging for me while I was gone...you are one in a million.
cheers everyone!
paula

40 comments:

  1. What a lovely time you obviously had. The country looks amazing and the projects the classes made looked equally so. Thank you for sharing.

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  2. It was such a pleasure to meet you and I loved being in your "All My Heart" class.

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    1. Janine, So nice to meet you too. I hope your experience at Spring Edition was as good as mine! Please keep in touch,
      paula

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  3. Loved having you hear in NZ with us Paula, you are a super star and glad you loved the photos =) www.sweetp.co.nz if you want to see more of my work. Andrea Ray

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    1. thanks again for the wonderful pictures Andrea! and having you in class..you are awesome!
      p

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  4. Fun post, great photos, NZ looks awesome. Tumbled glass waterfalls for sure, many times water that color comes from all the minerals it contains (which may be so given the geothermic activity).

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  5. I love those woodland trees, I was wondering where you get them please?

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  6. Leonie,
    They are an Idea-ology product that just came into stores. Here is a link
    http://www.simonsaysstamp.com/servlet/the-47060/TH93049-woodlands-trees-%26/Detail
    hope that helps,
    paula
    paula@2gypsygirls.com

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  7. Thanks for sharing New Zealand with us! Excellent pictures

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  8. Thanks for sharing your trip with us. It looks like you all had a blast!

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  9. This certainly was a great time in NZ and we all thank you so much

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  10. Looks like you all had a fabulous time!!! :):) I want to go Zorbing LOL!!!

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    1. Rachel,I am quite sure you would love it. Just go prepared to get wet! There is also another spot just up the road that is new so you will have at least 2 choices!
      Thanks again for the Darkroom Door product for the Distress Stain Magic class! I appreciate it!
      paula

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  11. Was an awesome time, and I loved your tray, I am going to hang it in pride of place on my wall :D

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  12. Hey Paula - so glad you got to visit my home country - its a long way and a lot different from San Jose!! Now you know why I talk like I do! Did you have trouble understanding when you were surrounded by us LOL

    Nic showed you some of the best - Huka Falls are one of my favourite places ever - the colour of the water is unreal.

    Next time you have to hit the South Island!!

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    1. thanks Shell...I do love NZ and I love the accent. Nothing like that around here! If I don;t understand something I just say, "what the heck did you say?" lol
      p

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  13. Sounds like a good time was had by all. I love the trees- I have 4 of them and I can't decide what color to make them or what exactly to do with them. I hope I don't end up hoarding them and not using them.

    Glad you are back in the states.

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  14. WOW,what a beautiful country! The pictures are amazing. I may have to print them out - they are just beautiful! The classes look like a lot of fun. thanks for the tour.

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  15. What a beautiful part of the world. I hope to visit one day. Looked like a fun time was had by all. Thank you so much for sharing.

    Pam

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  16. awesome! Looks like you had a fabulous time! I would love to see your creation in person!!!Great pictures!!!

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  17. SWOON!!! Wow! What a trip...so gorgeous! Love the looks of the projects as well!

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  18. We were so lucky to have you here Paula even for just a short time. I am getting more photos printed of 'Us 4' this weekend to add to my little book for my tray. Love this project, thank you for sharing your wonderful knowledge and creative genius with us at Spring Escape. xo
    Raewyn

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  19. What a wonderful adventure! Your photos are fantastic. I've been intrigued with New Zealand ever since the Lord of the Rings movies came out. Glad you got to see it!

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  20. I have only one thing to say. St Pete, FLORIDA!!!

    Looks like another fab trip. I think I may need a nap just from looking at all you did while you were in New Zealand!

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  21. What a wonderful trip that must have been!

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  22. Fantastic photos and what a fun time!!
    Glad you are back safe!!

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  23. Welcome home, Paula! New Zealand is one of my favorite places in the world and I loved looking at your pictures! And yes the water does look like tumbled glass ink! We saw that same color water on the South island and I couldn't describe that gorgeous hue until now. Hope you are getting over the jet lag and feeling well!

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    1. thanks Trish! I am almost back to normal now...getting back on schedule is hard sometimes!
      p

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  24. Hey Paula, this is Here Comes Trouble, come back we want to learn more techniques and have a laugh, was so much fun the whole weekend and wish it was on again this weekend. See ya!!!

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    1. Kathy,
      I personally could have stayed at that make and take table with you guys for another hour or two just playing with the distress stains! and lets definitely plan to do it again...seems so boring here at home without 100 women here to talk to!
      paula
      xx

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  25. Paula, I totally enjoyed your classes (and purchased the kit for your folio class)
    Thank you so much for coming to NZ and hanging out with us in Taupo

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    1. thanks so much Sandra. Let me know if you need any help when you put the folio together.
      kind regards,
      paula

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  26. I am so happy you were able to enjoy these beautiful places. Awesome scenery. And the classes all looked like so much fun. Woohoo.
    P.S Any kits leftover?

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    1. Nope, any leftover kits were sold at the event in NZ. But don't worry Judy...next wed could be your lucky day.
      paula

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  27. the views look amazing. i really enjoyed the photo visit! and those projects looks super cool. thanks for the little behind the scenes peek...

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  28. Ohh, you changed the blog background. I like it!

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