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.........

Spring Stitchin' in the Scrub..........

Early in September I co-hosted Spring Stitchin' in the Scrub retreat with Deb from The Crafters Cottage......thanks Deb for co-hosting.....

There was 21 of us altogether...........great size group...........

Many regulars and some newbies............

As usual it worked perfectly............

Remember the daisies from the last post...........Brenda worked her magic with them and once again we had beautiful flowers on the tables............

We had so many we decorated the food area also...............

The room set up..........

massive thanks to everyone who helped..........

With Dad sick (not dying at this point) I was worried about him and popped away to visit several times........And my back was bad.........Standing was ok once I was up but how I got thru the first week when I hurt my back I am not sure..........I needed distractions really as not much provided any comfort except standing.....so pottering around was working for me........

I did quite a bit of cooking on the Wednesday after I hurt it..........Mr Chooky had to keep coming to do things like grab something out of the cupboard or put things in and out of the oven..........

Deb and I catered all the food..............

Most importantly we had to celebrate Brenda's birthday................

OMG I so want to be like Brenda when I am 90.........she is amazing..........

I didn't take many photos this retreat.........to many other distractions........

once again lots of happy faces and new friends to make.........

Machines and sewing stuff everywhere.............

Deb had set up a little shop in the corner which was great.............I brought a few bits........I didn't get a photo this time...........

my new table clothes..........an excuse for Janice to come and deliver the extra ones she brought me............She wasn't coming and then made a rash decision to join us...........

Unfortunately the cabins were not available so most of the girls stayed at Reggies Pub.........we had dinner there Friday night and I don't even have one photo.............woops...........

A couple of us were going to stay in one of the pavillions with Di and Miranda in their van but we got one of the cabins at the last minute..........they have painted and redone the floors and foundations of all the cabins so that is great...........

One of the quilts I made.............I did do a little sewing........

Some of the girls had there finished orange peel cushion covers that we made in the workshop I attended earlier in the year..........that's when this retreat was hatched...........nice to see theirs finished.........mine is still a work in progress........

Kaz one of the new girls was like a sewing machine........so inspiring.......she was constantly finishing tops..........some needed piecing.........others just borders etc....every time I looked over she was working on something else.........she held this one up at show and tell but it still needed the other borders on...........

Anyway that's it for the retreat..........

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

Chookyblue........

 

a new retreat..........

Well we put the information out last night and it has filled very quickly..............

So a spontaneous idea at the workshop on the weekend grew very fast..........

bit of a muck around with some of the accommodation but we are sorted.........

I cannot wait..........

It's a retreat I am hosting with Deb from The Crafters Cottage...........

Starting Friday morning thru til Sunday afternoon it will be a great time to sew and chat with like minded people and make some new friends........

OMG blink and it will be here........

Catch you later........

Chookyblue.......

PS I'm a little excited............

Retreat dreaming QLD..........

I'm back home..............not a lot of words..........

the last couple of weeks have been like a yoyo..........

We meet up with Maureen at a random park along the way (as I mentioned last post)............

Found the dream location for a Quilt retreat business...........need to win lotto........or find a friend with lots of money..........succeeded in neither so far..........

visited a stunning old homestead "Glengallen Homestead" who clearly also needs lots more money spent on her...........

loved the stair case............

the features speak for themselves.........

ate to much food.......

enjoyed wonderful company........

actually used a sewing machine........again......

ate more food...........

took my partner in crime all things quilty........

chopped fabric for Susan and myself........

more sewing..........

required therapy so brought fabric - probably cost less

loved the company and being inspired by everyone's projects.............

chain piecing for Chapel Street

worked on Starburst............

made a big mess.........with Susan's help.....

more food.........chocolate mug cake and macadamia icecream..........

channeled Janet...........please note a tiny ruler........

although the pieces maybe to big for her liking..........I may also regret this when I start to size them up......

came home a day earlier then planned and missed a sleep over with Annette.........

Had a stunning glow for yesterday's sunrise...........

Also enjoyed 2 inches of rain and hoping for a few more - lets see if we can fill the dam...........unbelievably we have rain forecast for the next week..........it is possible.....

Have a great weekend..........

I'll be watching the grass grow.......It's a sight to behold..........

Catch you later.....

Chookyblue......