Quilting Retreat 2023

 I am a bit late today writing this blog, but I have just come back from the Quilting Retreat held at The Darlington Beach Holiday Resort at Arrawarra. Held from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon and no stop sewing lol. 

A view across the bowling green to the children's area and cafe. Very Popular playground.

 

BBQ area behind the huts.

Entrance

 Ten of us stayed in 2 of the big 8 person huts. It also was very cold at night and I am glad I took my hot water bottle. There were 5 in two huts, who stayed the two nights.

 

It is organized that each person brings either a sweet or main meal, so there were two crock pots one of which I took, a Tuna Mornay, and some Anzac biscuits and my sister who also comes to this bought a cheescake and a slice, and chocolate balls.  Consequently there was more than enough food with 14 who attended this year. 

Mug Rug Swap Items.

Every year and this was the 20th time it was held although I have only been to three, there is a swap and this year was a Mug Bag. I didn't have time to make one, but some of them were really good.

I did though get a few blocks done on a quilt for my grandson, which will actually be a quillo size.
 

Navy and White

Only a short blog, got lots to unpack. 

Till Next Time.

3 Day Quilting Retreat

 This is the 2nd.time I have attended this Retreat with my sister, and apparently it has been going for 18 years. Other than the sewing I really enjoy being with her, who since mum died I don't see much of, as she works full time. 

As before last year, we were at Darlington Park Resort, about 9 ks past Woolgoolga. I got lost on the way  by taking the wrong turnoff, which was very frustrating and finally found it mid morning.  The ladies were all set up in the Conference Hall. The park was reasonably full with caravans, and the huts occupied, 2 of which we took. They are 8 berth. The weather was overcast and rainy now and then, but didn't worry any of us at all. 

  We are pre-organised with meals, everyone doing something. Friday night was a chicken crockpot and a 2nd of a beef, both with vegetables. Sausage sizzle was on for the Sat. Lunch with coleslaw.

I took a crock pot of Spaghetti for Sat. night along with a fellow quilter, who made  Minestrone Soup. Of course there was cheesecake my sister made, and I did a sour cream apple slice. There was a fruit pudding with cream and custard, and someone made an apple impossible pie which I didn't know was a thing so have been researching all the impossible pies you can make. Amazing!!!

Spaghetti and Minestrone Soup Crock Pots.

Plus lots of nibble things, cheeses and wine for those who wanted them.

Outside our room is a large eating area, which we used during the day. There is also a cafe off this if we wanted anything. Some even used the spa in the pool area. We set up a table for the 10 of us at night, and some played cards afterwards or changed to knitting as a break from sewing. 

The swap this year was pincushions, and I made a turtle.

 

Mine ended up being the vase in the top LHS

My sister made the owls.

There was a set pattern to do but I decided to do this Hunters Star Quilt, my sister joined all the Christmas fabric she had into 12 inch blocks, with strips.

Hunters star the quilt I am working on.

Three were doing a design where you cut the pattern of the fabric and match into circles. The board was used to sort out where they would go.

One member finished off a basic quilt which looks great.

 I also made two knitting  needle wraps one for circular needles and the other for sock needles.

Plus finished off my blackwork, by making it into a cushion although I will have to stuff it a bit more. This I will enter into the CWA competition next year.

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

Three days of sewing is exhausting and it has taken me all week to catch up with sleep and rest.

 Back home this week, we had lovely sunny days, which was nice to relax in, but this weekend has turned very chilly so have lit the fire, a little later than usual as Mothers Day to Fathers Day has been the normal thing. I have also set up my spinning wheel and is ready to go this winter.

 On the way out Sunday afternoon, after spending an hour packing up, these two were next to my car, not worried about anything ....so cute.

Till Next Time .

 

 

 

 

Miss P's My Garden Angel & Quilt

What a time in Australia we are having with all the rain, it seems locally we are still getting over the hail damage and there are still so many roofs, covered with tarpaulins. Glass, flooring,and painting companies are flat out catching up and now floods. We have survived, other than John's Workroom downstairs, in which water pours in via an electrical socket, from the run of water flowing downhill. Nothing we can do about it other than extensive draining works somewhere. 

The sun did come out for a few days and I managed to get some beds cleared, planted broccoli seedlings, and covered with net against the butterflies. Miss P came over Sat. and we did a few more beds and she planted carrots, lettuce and beetroot seeds and cabbage seedlings.  My Garden Angel.

Of course today it is raining as I take photos

Broccoli bed 5 in here

Left bed has seeds, Right has cabbage and a cucumber seedling on frame

 

I finally finished My Garden Angel quilt for Miss P's 13th. birthday on Wednesday, and surprised her with it on Saturday after our garden work.

 

First time I have actually machine quilted also and not easy either. I just did straight rows, also as having started this quilt many years ago the accuracy of it wasn't perfect which threw out the quilting somewhat, but at least it is now finished and in Miss P's bedroom.

She Loved It !!!!!                                                                                  

 

That was a major UFO so now I can get on to something else, like painting the house. Ha Ha

Before I took our birthday girl home we emptied the glass cabinet so John could pull it apart.

The  place looks like we just moved in an unpacked boxes of stuff. NOT showing pictures it is awful.

 

Our visitor this week with a normal coloured Rosella partner but this was a much bowner and light blue under its wings. 

Stay Safe Till Next Time.

Quilting in a Rainy Week

 The sun has come out today, and I was thinking on gardening finally, but it is soooo wet that I gave up and picked some more of the pink stripe Cosmos instead.

 

Other than housework it has been a bit of a boring week really, so it  is going to be a short post this time.  

 I have lost the quilting project I had started for attending the quilt group Stashbusters, goodness knows where it went, as I have hunted high and low, and have been quilting the one I hand basted at home instead, there is a bit of a deadline for that one.

 I also pulled out some knitting to finish off, there is so many projects that I need to do, so decided I had better get going. I would like to finish this cardigan for winter.

The thing now is I have to find a new quilting project to take each week, and decided on our eldest daughter's quilt, of which she chose the fabric and pattern years ago. This means washing all the fabric first and ironing so looks like my day is set, and can take advantage of the sun.

I also managed to finish loading the glass cupboard with fabric. Everything now is sorted in that department. Trick is to use it all. I also posted off all my heirloom cotton laces which was ex stock from my shop from years ago, to a lady in Tamworth.

 She has an Etsy shop of old vintage doilies and some lace. It wasn't op shop material so found someone to send it to. There was heaps of stuff, I vacuumed packed it to keep it all small, and threw in some doilies and milk jug covers, as well, so she will be in for a big surprise by the amount of stuff. I wish I could see her opening it. I have no interest in selling by the metre online, and this is her hobby. She did pay me the postage though.

Covered the doors with curtain lining to protect from fading.

I have booked in for the quilting retreat again this year which is in May so something to look forward to, as well as the 2021 cancelled trips so this year is the Anzac weekend with the family on the housboats, plus our Lord Howe Island week in Nov.

 

 

Till Next Time. 

Darlington Park Quilting Retreat

 I am a bit late this week as just come back from a 3 day retreat. Feeling very tired from all the mental exercise as well. It was a good time, had by all. My sister picked me up and we shared a bedroom, in a villa that sleeps 8 but there were only 4 of us in ours. Unfortunately there was no internet and phone access was very bad as well.

It is a lovely area and I have been here before years ago. Lush greenery with many palms, as you will see in the  photos. Lots of villas, some permanent residents and a camping area that joins on to a beach plus a lagoon in the centre of it all.

Large swimming pool

Water Park Area which was the most used by kids.

One of the entrances

Kids swimming area, and spa.

The birds every morning were a delight to listen to, so many of them, with a lot of rosellas. We had some light rain but mostly at night. Some of the ladies had a spa every night also and happy hour. Each lady took something to eat, mine was a pavlova and Jan's was a beef crock pot which I ended up doing and she made a ton of chocolate balls, as she had been on holiday with her girls at Bribie Island.

Indoor seating Area from Conference room which was also attached to a very popular cafe. 

  Lots of cakes and slices, plus a chicken crock pot, rice, sausage sizzle one lunch, soups on the last night with leftovers. By last night we were full anyway so soup was a great idea. Chicken and Corn, and a Minestrone. 

Pavlova I whipped up.

Soup de Jour

The conference room was hired and we sat with tables in a square. If you wanted to do a new quilt it was called Waterwell and 4 did that including my sister. A sheet of notes went out before hand, so materials could be bought or found.

The beginning of the pattern Waterwell.

I decided to make a handy carry bag as I needed one to go to quilting every Tuesday. 

 

 We all had to bring a needle case wrapped in brown paper, which some didn't or forgot but this was the group that did arrive. Mine was the middle bottom and I got the hexagonal one next to it.

Needle Case Swap

Nearly finished carry bag, 3 exterior pockets either side.

Inside has 3 pockets either side also and a clip for scissors. Also in it is my new needle case.

Side pocket on both sides need a gold press stud for flap closure.

All in all it was a great weekend, but I will be having an early night, that is for sure. 

To finish off,  John celebrated his 70th birthday  on the 28th and we went to a lovely local Japanese restaurant which had some amazing meals. We used our NSW $25 incentive vouchers so it only cost $38 dollars for 5 dishes and wine. Bargain !!1 The waiter also supplied some dessert for free to celebrate as well. Tempura bananas with green tea icecream.

Happy Birthday

Till Next Time.