Scottie Bag's Easter Adventure

My Scottie bag had its first big adventure this Easter weekend with a trip to the Far North (of New Zealand).  This bag was not personally sewn by me it was a Christmas present from a talented friend Andrea of Fizzy Designs.  I have a particular fondness for Scottie dogs as we had two of them for many years.

Andrea made my bag using mainly red Kaffe Fassett fabrics and the Scottie dog foundation piecing pattern from The Tartan Kiwi. I can't find the Scottie dog pattern in The Tartan Kiwi's Etsy shop but there are some other amazing foundation pieced patterns that would make a great bag, cushion, quilt, jacket or whatever.

So for those who don't want to take a brief trip to the Far North look away now.

Scottie bag really enjoyed Beach Abode in Ahipara, somewhere relaxing to stay in tranquil and beautiful surroundings at the beginning of 90 Mile Beach.

Loved the food at the North Drift (formerly the Gumdiggers Café) a great place to eat in Ahipara. Can you tell this photo was taken in an unexpected heavy shower of rain?

The beach on the East coast at Cable Bay was pretty good too.  And the view from Rangikapiti Pa was spectacular.

Then there is the famous Mangonui Fish shop, in a wonderful position over the water with great views.

This is an unexpected sight at Mitimiti. a Chinese gate overlooking the sea giving thanks to the people of Te Rarawa who looked after the human remains that were washed ashore after the SS Ventnor sank in 1902.  The SS Ventnor sank off the Hokianga coast on its way back to China with the remains of 501 Chinese mainly Otago goldminers who were being returned home to be buried  near their family.

Of course no trip to Northland would be complete without the Hundertwasser toilets at Kawakawa.

Whangarei now has its own Hundertwasser sculpture, Te Kakano (the Seed) at the Town Basin. Te Kakano, is a stand-alone sculpture in the shape of a koru, built by the tradesmen and artists who will work on the bigger Hundertwasser Art Centre with Warau Maori Art Gallery (designed by Hundertwasser in 1993).

Hundertwasser in New Zealand and the story of the Whangarei Art Centre.

And a visit to Whangarei has to include a picture of the boats moored in the Town Basin. Oh and a me made garment from 2016, the Swirl top, blogged about here.

To finish here is a selfie.