QENZ Tour – Leg 05

It’s time for the last leg of the QENZ Tour! After leaving Dunedin, it was a slippery slope of a wave cruising back to Melbourne. We hit some rough storms and thus seas, which caused our otherwise pleasant journey to go up and down like a yo-yo. Mr. Sparkles was dosed up on anti-nausea pills, and I (who never gets motion sick) even had to throw some back so I wouldn’t throw my martini up!

However, by the time we got to the famous Milford Sound, the skies had cleared, the waterfalls were full, and the sun made the mountains glimmer like all shades of emerald. These pictures in no way do justice to the majestic moments and mountains that surrounded us as we sailed up the sound. We were out on deck the entire time soaking it all up!

All of a sudden I felt like a hobbit in Lord of the Rings. (Of course I was the pretty one.) Apparently, this area of New Zealand gets more rainfall than the Amazon rain forest. So the fact that the heavens had cleared for us was inspirational. I don’t quilt a whole lot with green, even though I’ve got a whole shelf full of it. It obviously has some hidden luxe value that I need to start exploring more!

Since these were the last few days on the ship, I made sure to snap photos of the bits and pieces that might later inspire quilt designs. I spotted this small detail right after sailing past the waterfalls. Talk about kismet! Maybe it’s supposed to be a plant, wind, water, who knows, but the iconic movement is a quilt ready to make!

Now this was one of the most interesting light features I have ever seen. I love me some art deco at the best of times, but this takes it to another level. It was like looking through the lens of a kaleidoscope, super-sized. Wouldn’t you love to see this in a cacophony of rainbow fabrics? A light to dark value scheme? Maybe this can be my first English paper piecing design! So much inspo, I can’t even deal with it all!

Also providing inspiration, was the constant flow of drinks splashing in my face. Well, into my mouth at least! On the last sea day of the trip, Mr. Sparkles and I took a martini making class. After about ten minutes of the bartender talking with us, he suggested I should be the one at the front teaching the class! (I’ve always been an over achiever!) Mr. Sparkles and I both got turns making drinks: “Just keep pouring,” he said!

The best part was when our teacher had made a singular “surprise” drink, of which we had to guess the name. Silence amongst the crowd, until I spoke up with the over-obvious name of “Sweet Martini.” Bingo! So we got handed that one, too. Ladies, gentlemen, and my trans friends, that was a beautiful and delicious afternoon of learning. If only all my university classes had been like that!

While the crowd was for the most part older than us, that didn’t stop us from making friends. There were some feistiness amongst the passengers, let me tell you! I met one lady at the daily sit & sew day (not pictured) named Gwen who was 94. She walked in–well, Zimmer-framed in–strolled up to me and declared, “I’m a cougar. That’s my 70 year old boyfriend across the room.” Gurrrrrl. I don’t think she was hitting on me, but I couldn’t quite be sure. Mad skills, though!

Speaking of sit & sew days: This is Lynne and her husband Steve. I taught Lynne all about English paper piecing while I was holding court amongst the ladies of the ship. The hour long social event was hosted by social hostess Leslie, but as I’m prone to do, I held court like the queen I am! Lynne and Steve even came to my meet and greet at Busy Bee Quilt Shop in Wellington!

I loved this hour each day! I’d sprawl my hexies out on the black grand piano while Mr. Sparkles sat across the room getting his martini on. The ladies and I would sit, gossip, and sew shit up. If only the world could be managed in such a way, it’d be a much simpler (and happier) place!

And that was about it, y’all. Mr. Sparkles and I cruising the seas, making new friends, exploring new-to-us towns, buying fabric and artwork, finding inspiration in all the right places, eating, drinking and generally having a fuck-off good time. I hope you’ve enjoyed coming along on each leg with us, as much as I have enjoyed showing you!

If you’re jonesing for a tad bit more, there’s a Sunday Stash coming up a bit later today where you can see the last of my fabric buys. Now to start planning our next big trip!