Happy Quilt in the Seoul area

Happy Quilt as seen from the station

This is an incredible warehouse about 40 miles south of Seoul. It was an adventure to get here without speaking any English. But so worth it.

 I found about it from this site: http://johnnieandangela.blogspot.kr/2011/08/new-happy-quilt.html

This site has a lot of nice pictures of the place inside.

To get here, I took the subway and it was about 2 hours for me coming from the south side of the city, if you are coming from the north, plan to add more time. Just so you know, the subway takes 3 minutes between stations. But as you are going south, the stations are farther apart than that.

To get here, I took the line 1 (dark blue line) to Jije Station. Most of the trip is above ground so you can see the country side of Seoul. The warehouse itself is in the middle of rice fields. I loved it.

Happy Quilt also have a small stall inside the Dondemung market (5th floor) with a lot less fabrics, of course.

I just want to emphasize that you need to take exit 2.  If you see the Emart store as you exit, you are going the wrong way.

In May 2013, the price of the fabrics is about USD$4.00 per yard, and a fat quarter UDS$1.10. The quality of the fabric is excellent; but you will not find the whole collection of each designer.

My suite case is a little heavier than when I arrived  ^-^

Jije Station. Remember to get off exit 2 

Spring in Seoul

This is a little taste of  the Spring 2013 in Seoul, South Korea. The cherry trees just finished their show and the weather is still crispy and cooler.

Yeouido Park (biking/walking path)

One of the many breath taking monuments in the city limits. The change of the guard here is worth watching.

Myeongjeongjeon palace complex

The food here is absolutely wonderful. Spicy (hot); but I love spicy food. Several small dishes accompany every meal. You are allowed to repeat them; but it is really hard to do so due to the amount of food offered.

Korean Barbecue lunch

Andalucia, Spain

I am very fortunate that I have been to the southern part of Spain a few times. It is a wonderful place to be. My only complain is that the food is so Great that I always come home in need of a major weight loss.

We were in Granada, Seville, Porto Santa Maria, Cadiz, and Ronda. All are magnificent. I have great memories and only a few photos.

We were there for Holly Week and Easter. This is an event not to be missed in these cities. I am so glad we had a chance to see it, even with so many cancellations of processions due to rain.

We did rent a car for some of our trips; but I love the AVE, which are the high velocity trains in Spain.

Alhambra at night as seen from our window. Granada, Spain

 Alhambra as seen from our window at day time. The Sierra Nevada view blocked by  clouds

Ronda, Andalucia, Spain

Holly Week in Seville

AVE trains at Santa Justa Station in Seville

My quilt note here is that I found a very nice quilt store in Granada. It is: Patchwork Teresa Sako. The address is  Calle Manuel de Falla, 17. Her website is www.teresasako.com.

Hobart and Port Arthur, Tasmania

Hobart, Mt Wellington and Salamanca Square

DH and I always wanted to go to Tasmania. This year we got our chance. It is beautiful!

 We only stay there for 4 days and saw the area around Hobart which is the south side of the island; therefore it is very dry. The west is wet and green; but not Hobart. But is gorgeous and the people are so friendly. We loved it and plan to go back some day to visit the rest of the state.

This has the potential to be a very long entry; but I will keep it short.

If you go do the research. It is worth it.

We also visited Port Arthur, a penal colony near Hobart. Devil's kitchen is a must stop if you are going there. Port Arthur has the potential to be a very depressing place; but it is not. A tragedy happened there a few years back. Read about it and don't bring it up while you are there. They will ask you not to do so. It is still very painful for them.

The area is so pretty and the tour is so well done.

Devils Kitchen near Port Arthur

Port Arthur

Charles Wellings was the convict that I was supposed to be when I got there. I will not spoil for you in case you get the same card (8 of spades). You get to find out what happens to "you" there.
So this gives a real sense of understanding of the place and time.

Port Arthur 

Another must see in this area is MONA. A very unusual museum that is a ferry ride away. Please keep in mind that you need to have a very open mind here. Some things are offensive; and frankly, I wish I had not seen a few of the "art". But everything is a learning experience.

My very favorite here is the water fall below that gives you the headline news. As the water falls, different faucets open and close, so it makes the letters appear. You can read the word "toddler" below; but since it is the headlines, it is mostly bad news.

MONA Museum

Waterfall inside the MONA

Richmond on the Coal River

Last, the town of Richmond. It is a beautiful town with great food, shops, and wineries to visit.

 A great place to eat is the bakery in town. If you are there on a weekend; prepare to wait a long time.

Of course, I found a quilt.
This one is in the physician's home in Port Arthur. The staff, physicians, military, etc all lived in the same area, so this is in the village around the prison.

Somerset Quilt Shop Melbourne area

Somerset Patchwork and Quilting is a lovely store in the town of Mount Waverley which is south of the Melbourne CBD (downtown for the US people).  I went there by train and it is about 40 minutes from Flinders Station. The store is very close to the MT. Waverley station. I e-mailed them and got the best directions on how to get there from the station (thank you Paul). Karen Styles is the owner and a very talented quilter. 

If you want to go, the address is: 

18 Hamilton Pl. Mt. Waverley, 3149 Victoria Australia.

phone: +613 9807 3399

I am a follower of Karen's blog (see sidebar for the link to her blog). I was there with a mission: to buy the pattern for the "Mrs. Billings" quilt.

 I did get my pattern which comes with all the templates and paper hexagons (1000, 5/8" in size). 

In addition, I bought the pattern for the"Auntie Green " quilt. Which is really beautiful also.

Below you find some pictures of the store and the quilt that I will be making.

Me and "Mrs. Billings quilt"

Happy Quilting day everyone! :)

Sao Paulo, Brasil

Parque do Ibirapuera

This is where I have been the past few days in January 2013. Sao Paulo, Brasil. (Please note the spelling in "Brasil"). I don't have a lot of photos. But here it is: A view of the Ibirapuera Park, the greenest part of town on a very vertical and grey city; and some of the famous paints in the Pinacoteca do Estado. A gorgeous museum that holds some great art.

Pinacoteca do Estado

DOQ work day

The DOQ (my quilt guild) had a serviced day on January 12, 2013. We got together and made quilts for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. You see, North Carolina is frequently hit by hurricanes, so we get it.
Our local paper sent this awesome reporter to cover our efforts. And here is the link.
I wish I had combed my hair; but it was some intense sewing, and only after the fact, I thought of the hair. But DH thinks it looks just like me. So I guess the crazy hair is OK. Check the link below if you have some time.

http://www.chapelhillnews.com/2013/01/19/74608/area-quilters-come-together-for.html