I recently had the pleasure of playing tour guide in my home state of Tasmania to my friend Elizabeth from Brisbane in Queensland. Elizabeth and I first connected through Instagram back in 2015. We first met in person back in 2016 when I was on holiday in Queensland and then again in Melbourne in 2017, when we enjoyed the Dior exhibition together.
One of the places we visited was the town of Deloraine , a pretty little town and the centre for many different craft people, hosting a large craft fair early in November that attracts craft people from all over Australia. Another reason for visiting Deloraine was to show Elizabeth the Yarns Artwork in Silk. This is a large scale textile project of four quilted, soft sculpture silk panels , one for each season depicting the people and landscape of the Meander Valley . The work was created by more than 300 local community members and took over three years to complete. I was thrilled to see the hand embroidered name of my late aunt , Carla, on a panel as one who had contributed.
Unfortunately , my photos don’t really capture all the different elements of these beautifully crafted works. If you ever happen to be in Deloraine it is well worth a visit , they are part of the tourist information centre and history museum.
Another day was spent exploring my home town of Launceston and introducing Elizabeth to some of my favourite local shopping stops , Yeltour, Vintage Red Fox and House of Shoes where a bit of shopping may just have occurred. I will admit to have been too busy playing tour guide and photographer for Elizabeth that I neglected to take any local shots myself.
Later in the week we drove south to Hobart , our state capital and home to MONA ( Museum of Old and New Art). Mona opened in 2011 and is Australia’s largest private museum built by David Walsh , to house his collection of ancient, modern and contemporary art. The collection is described by its owner as “subversive adult Disneyland” , the collection includes everything from ancient Egyptian mummies to the sometimes weird and wonderful .
Mona is on the Derwent River and can be reached by road but for the full experience we arrived by the Mona Ferry , complete with a choice of either sheep or tiger seating.
After ascending the steps you arrive at the entrance to check in (Covid ) and start exploring.As rain was forecast (although it didn’t eventuate) we decided to spend time in the grounds before venturing inside.
Another visitor kindly snapped this shot of Elizabeth and I together , excuse the graininess it was sent to me from Elizabeth’s phone. Elizabeth is a clever girl and made her wonderful outfit , I am wearing a recycled Akira Isagowa coat , worn over cream Moyuru pants and a cream knit.
The museum is built into a sandstone rock face and comprises four floors, mostly underground. I like a quote on their website that must apply to many visitors ” not sure about the art but the architecture is amazing”.
Hope you enjoyed a peek at Mona , we had a wonderful day , there was so much to see we didn’t even stop for lunch. I had visited several times previously but not for a few years and sharing it with Elizabeth was such a joy.
I will finish the post with a few outfit shots. Joining Gail for Wow on Wednesday and Nancy for Fancy Friday. Best wishes to all .
Oh wow, don’t you both look amazing. And I have to say I adore Elizabeth’s coat – what a coat! Also I love your tulle skirt – that’s my kind of skirt! Love the photos of Mona – and the ferry!
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Thank you so much Penny , Elizabeth’s coat was stunning in every detail. We do both share a love of a tulle skirt .
If I had seen the both of you on the streets, I would have only had a eye for your gorgeous outfits! But the other photos are very nice too! Lots to see there! Sounds and looks like a perfect day out.
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Thank you so much Nancy , I will admit we both received lots of comments on our outfits. It was a joy to share my home state .
It’s a wonderful thing being a tourist guide for a friend in one’s hometown or area.
Those quilted panels are gorgeous and I can well believe they’re even more so in real life.
MONA looks like a place after my own heart, and how delightful is that ferry complete with sheep or tiger seating! xxx
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Thank you Ann , it was fun sharing my home state with Elizabeth. I would love to meet you in your hometown . The quilted panels were so beautifully done , hard to photograph well. Mona is always a treat to visit with its architecture and quirky art collection.
What a wonderful time you both had. Elizabeth is my fashion heroine here in Brisbane, and is always generous with her time and advice on fabric, sewing and styling. Your coat is gorgeous, and you both look fantastic in the photo. I love MONA and hope to return to Tasmania later in the year for more exploration of Launceston and Hobart. Covid permitting.
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We certainly did have a wonderful time together and managed to show Elizabeth more of Tasmania than I covered in the post. Elizabeth is such a clever seamstress and I know she enjoys sharing her ideas with others. I do love this coat and it seemed perfect for Mona. Hopefully you will make it down here later in the year.
That kimono! What a beauty! The exhibition looks really interesting! We haven’t been to any museum in a year or so. My favorite two that I have visited in my life were the Louvres and the museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. The museum of Natural History in New York is pretty cool too. Wow, I guess I should make a point to visit one soon. Atlanta has an art museum I haven’t visited in years.
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Many thanks Mirielle , Mona is always quite an experience and I enjoyed sharing it with Elizabeth. I do love the kimono , it is wearable art at its best. Your children would enjoy a museum visit I,m sure.