Qld Retreat.........

A few weeks ago my partner in all things quilty Miss Jules and I headed off to QLD for a retreat.........This is the 3rd time we have headed north for this retreat.........normally we add a bit on at the start going to Toowoomba and extras at the end but given everything else going on I cancelled all that............

Along the way we found some stunning cactus flowering........

so delicate on such a harsh plant............

We checked out some new cotton plants.........

We all have such a huge investment in cotton we should know where it comes from............

This is an irrigated crop............but it was not going to be watered for a few more weeks when we saw it..............

Checked out Fairy Girls current rental and enjoyed this lovely waterhole...........so much bird life here to enjoy also............and look at the reflections..........It was lovely to have the night with her even if I had to take a spare bed with me to leave with her...........lol.........

Jenny was finishing her retreat and were were starting so I got to catch up with her and Gail briefly also...............

Didn't think to take a photo.......

Food is always very important and this cafe with a nursery and gift shop at it was just wonderful once again............

I continued to work on my Fat 1/4 mixer quilt..............

enjoying the beautiful gardens.............day lilly.........

the roses were past there best this time sadly.............

it rained every day were were there which was wonderful................

that doesn't usually happen at my place...........

I wanted to web (join) my project and I got it all in one stack to start.................

saved so much space and confusion............I used this tutorial...........

happy and cheeky stitchers..............

a little G & T hit the spot.............

Once I got my top together I started working in these random blocks I made one day ages ago................

Adding some sashing........more on that one later................

We also did some coaster dot things..........mine is the middle right................

it was a bit of fun............

Here is my finished fat 1/4 mixer quilt..........

I just need to flip one block around...........

It is huge and super bright..........

100x90...........just need to find a backing now...........

Most of the fabrics came from The Next Stitch and a few from my stash and I added a couple from the shop in Warwick...........

Also I can say that I nearly have all my blocks for my Chapel Street quilt.............

477/512 so not many to get now.......

I will cut some from the left overs of the fat 1/4 mixer quilt...........

Maureen popped out to visit us one day and joined us for morning tea and lunch............well she did  bring morning tea with her..............

Susan worked on her Chapel Street (I may have coerced her to make this one) and you can see a few blocks on the wall.........she is using a solid black where I used a stripe..........

We each have some of our own bits but we also shared a lot of fabrics..........

I enjoyed a walk every day and I found this beautiful grevillea on one of my walks.............

Thanks heaps girls for having us once again and Sandy for organising.............

it was wonderful to catch up with you all again..........

(not sure why this photo made the back row blurry - sorry)

Catch you all later............

Chookyblue.........

zoom $$$$ results.........

Sorry to the girls who were on zoom at the time and I think Sue tried to join later.......my sudden rush off to work....lets just say it was a big week and leave it at that.........onto the good stuff..........

I was working on cutting some more blocks for Chapel Street.......

Slowly they are adding up...........still have not located the first couple of blocks I made in Qld last year.......they will turn up.........

Zoom had a constant group popping in and out all day............I think we had about 18 people join in and a few more donated that could not join..............

For those over seas I just converted to AUD to get an amount 

the great news is we raise $406.38 

for Breast Cancer Network Australia and some international breast cancer charities............

that is a wonderful effort........thankyou to those who donated........

It was a pretty sunrise............

Jude's fundraising is mostly done...........

All up with Jude's 21st birthday celebrations she had raised about $3200 and add our collection for the cause that's about $3600.......amazing effort............

the good thing is Jude is a still donating a % of sales of the goods on her blog link here, here and here...........you might be able to find some lovely fabrics to join your stash...........she also has numerous kits cuts too...........you can grab something this weekend.....sale ends 28th Feb

once I had the blues cut I started cutting into these brights.......

didn't get a photo of where I got up to..............

Anyway have a great weekend.........

Got some domestic goddess things to do here.........tame the yard........then need to organise and move heaps of things in the Chookshed for some more work to happen out there.........

Catch you later..........

Chookyblue.........

2min treat...........

 In the 2 mins I had spare to run into the quilt shop I found this little reward for surviving the last few weeks.............

some cheery brightness...........

great quick catch up on zoom.......

About 15 stitchers popped in...........Janet started out in the snow with snow falling on her walking.........OMG it was so pretty...........and so exciting for .......I was sitting in my office hot and bothered.........such an opposite...........

A quick catch up on zoom when everyone had left the house for a little while...........

Catch you later...........

Chookyblue.......

brighten up.....

A quick weekend away recently..........I was hunting for a particular thread..........no luck with the thread but I did find these lovely fabrics............I've been thinking of a couple of photos in this post by @Me and My Quilts and I just can't get them out of my head..........I've wanted to make a bright quilt for a long time but those pics of her shelves just won't leave me so I have started my collection........

no idea what I will make yet BUT i have started the collection........

I had a quick trip away finding accommodation for Fairy Girl..........

While I hate the actual beach.....sand yuk....I do love the view..........

I prefer the bush better but it is nice to see.....

OK best go.......got a few quilts back from quilting but need to take some pics.....I started this post days ago and only getting to hit post now........

Life happens........

Hoping to get some bindings attached........one or two already prepared ages ago.........I need to get two quilts out the door ASAP.........

Stay Safe...........

Catch you later.........

Chookyblue......