A weekend camping with friends

We decided to go away for a few days to Lake Cullulleraine . It’s only about 50 kms from home and a lovely view. 

We had Judy and Barry from Bordertown join us. Faye and Kym also joined us for lunch at the Werrimull Hotel for lunch.

Over the weekend I did manage a little stitching. I bought this basic stitch sampler book kit when I was in Japan. 

It’s time to get it done

Away on retreat

 Well everyone I am away on retreat again. This time is a bit quieter than the last as we have only 18 ladies. We were able to get here from 11am on Thursday so that’s when I arrived. An early start to get sewing. This was the view from where I was sitting and sewing.

 

Great progress has been made. My first project was a chair cushion with pockets. Others have said they don’t use their pockets but I will. I wanted somewhere to put the things you don’t need on your table but still use. I was give the old curtain samples from work so used one of them. I had an old piece of foam saved for about 3 years and it was time I used it. It’s all in one piece with a pocket on each side. The pockets have elastic at the top to hold it better.

Next I started on a project bag come ruler bag. I wanted to make a project bag/pouch but wanted it to store my quilting rulers. I wanted it double sided but also need a pocket for my 12” cross hair ruler. Thinking cap on. Okay, now to work out how. So I played, thought cut, pulled out and sewed again. Then off to bed.

I got up as my usual self. Then breakfast but stayed in my pyjamas. (Normal for me). Now to sew again. Well it took far longer than I thought. I did get it worked out and finished. The final piece had a few rough patches but overall it is great. It could have been a bit bigger but my rulers just fit in. The best part of all they are all in one place.

2 pockets on each side and one in the middle

After dinner with a glass of red

next on the agenda was to finish a quilt for an Aussie Hero. All I had to do was to put the word TRIATHLON on it and blanket stitch. Completed. 

Still not dressed but now ready for bed I planned my next project A fiddle cloth for display at our quilt show.

I am up, dressed and first in line for breakfast.

 See I can do it. Just need to keep everyone guessing. Can’t be too predictable.

Other things happing on retreat.

 It was a great work with so many things going on. My friend was working on a lovely blue quilt. Look at this lovely block she has put together..

This block will look lovely with a few more to make a great quilt.

Then there was a lady here for her first time. She was making a real scrap quilt. She spent the whole weekend just sewing scraps together. Making them bigger and sewing the blocks together. Until this happened.

One side done

A bit more added.

Then WOW. LOOK AT THIS. IT IS HUGE...

Doesn’t it look great. Now I know I have to get mine out of the box and make some progress on it. It hasn’t seen light for 8 years... Maybe next years retreat I can take it and show her my progress..

Oh WOW it’s March and I need to do a big update.......

 I have done so much since my last post. Sewing, going away, celebrating a birthday, an anniversary, going on a quilting retreat. Oh I have been busy. I have done some sewing, completed a quilt, joined a panel swap. WOW, where to start.

Maybe I will start at the first Friday in March...

https://stitchingcubbyhole.blogspot.com/2021/03/a-bit-of-this.html 

Well I was away with 22 women on a fantastic sewing retreat. The first one in over a year due to COVID..

Look at the view of Tranquil Waters at Lake Cullulleraine 45 minutes from Mildura.

We were well looked after. No cooking or cleaning was needed. 

We enjoyed Chicken mingions, roast beef & pork, stuffed baked potatoes, chicken kebabs & rice, home made pizzas, lasagne, cooked bacon,eggs,mushrooms &beans for breakfast. Of course we had desserts... cheesecake, pavlova, fruit salad, cream, ice cream, fresh fruit and cream. We didn’t need to worry about going hungry. This is a new owner just before COVID hit. It is the local caravan park that people take their boats out, camp, swim and relax. The new owners have started a cafe so you can get coffee, take away meals from 12-8pm. They have space for birthday parties. Actually, while we were there, a one year old party was happening with 110 people. They even bought some cake over to us to enjoy. Luckily it was my birthday so I got to celebrate with cake. Now for some sewing.

I saw this picture on Pinterest and wanted to give it a go..

I liked the idea of scraps in Red, White & Blue.

So I started here. These blocks were cutout earlier with my new go cutter...

Making progress.

Keeping in mind this was the first night of the retreat. I worked all day, hubby took me out, I unpacked, got fed, started sewing

And I got all the blocks made.

Next morning I got the top joined together. It’s taken home to work out if I want it bigger or do I just want borders added.

The Friday night was my anniversary too. Hubby was understanding as we are going away for a few days next week. That will be the next post...

Now, on to more sewing...

I made some growth on my scrap blocks. These strips were given to me and I couldn’t let them go to waste. They were cut into 1 1/2” strips. I got these done on the Saturday- 10 blocks

Then on the Sunday I continued and got a few more done.

Add these to the ones I have at home. Here they are now. I still need a few more...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME. What better way to celebrate than with like minded friends, sewing away and not having to cook. Of course I had a drink too.

Now on to Monday. INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY.

This was our sewing room set up. With our eating tables in the centre. 

Sharing the space with women I didn’t know, sharing ideas and making friends.

What was I working on.

Of course it had to be my INTERNATIONAL SISTERS blocks. And the fabrics I chose to sew with were sent to me from Preeti. Preeti drafted her own pattern from a block she saw and the quilting world has gone crazy.. https://sewpreetiquilts.blogspot.com/2019/05/international-sister-block.html 

I mad a little error on some of the hands but they are still ok as everyone is different. The hands were sewn to the sleeve fabric instead of the background fabric. They are now just shorter arms. It is ok...

Happy INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S, SISTER’S, BIRTHDAY & ANNIVERSARY DAY TO ALL..

I came home after a great weekend. Unpacked the car, repacked the car and the following morning went away for a few days to the Barossa Valley South Australia with my hubby to celebrate our Anniversary.

My Birthday celebrations lasted a week.

Not only was it my birthday but we also celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary.
We don't usually buy presents for each other as we buy things for ourselves all the time.
We do make a point to go out for dinner and spend time together.
We went to a new to us restaurant which was very special. It was also close to home. Only about 7 minutes drive.
For the people that know me I love pastas and seafoods...
Crab risotto. Filled with mussels, prawns and scallops.



My husband had a duck dinner.



A lovely surprise delivery at work.
My daughter, son in law and grandsons had this beautiful bouquet delivered to me. They were very beautiful and the lilies opened up over the next week and were so pretty.
My daughter didn't order the balloon so I say it was my sons way of coming through saying happy birthday.
His favourite colour was green and every year on his birthday we release a bunch of green balloons up to him. It's something the grandsons remember to do each year and it's their way of remembering their uncle.
VERY MEMORABLE



I meet up with my friend for lunch on my birthday at a local Chinese restaurant.
It was delicious. Then the staff surprised my with this lovely dessert and singing HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

I was away on the long weekend in March and there were more celebrations.

My wonderful friend put together this fun cake.

Caramel mud cake, profiteroles filled with custard and salted caramel profiteroles. Surrounded by flowers from her garden and lemon verbena leaves for a nice cup of hot tea.

The candles weren't forgotten either...

Lake Cullulleraine Quilting Retreat

Oops, I think I got the dates to post wrong . Oh well it's a double post time.
Anyway, this was our view while on retreat. The pelicans are resting on the fence.


The sunset is beautiful over the lake.

My little letters , abc quilt, is now basted for quilting..
I am very happy with this one.




I got the outside rows on to my bow Ties quilt. It now measures 80" square.
Now for basting and quilting.

And what I got done on the weekend.

2 baby quilts cut, sewn & basted...

1 ABC, LITTLE LETTERS, baby quilt finished the blocks, stitched together & basted.

Thanks to Sheryl at 

http://temeculaquiltco.blogspot.com/search?q=Little+letters&updated-max=2014-09-17T08:00:00-07:00&max-results=20&start=25&by-date=false. 

For the pattern

Retreat baby quilt sewing

I saw this beautiful panel at Spotlight. It is for cushions or wall art.
Found the fabric to go with it.
Then time to think.
Luckily all the fabric was 40% off.




When we got it home and really looked in better light the top left was really pink against the peace colour in the other fabrics. So a decision was made to leave it out.

This was a little bit of work but I got there in the end.

It was a challenge as I had a size in mind that I wanted.

I got there in the end.

Just needs binding.

I just love making this design. 

Using 2.5" strips, and 2 borders on each block.

LOVE THE BEES.

Haha.. We have changed our minds with some colours and the baby is a girl.
Off shopping again.

What a weekend....

I headed off to quilt camp with my new group. Car was packed and the house was left clean and tidy. I picked up Maxine and off we went. On route for Lake Cullulleraine. About half an hour from home.
We get there first and have a little explore. Mmmm, not what I am used to for a camp. Especially after I have worked in one. It didn't cost much so I can't really complain. It was like camping like the kids. It is the company you come for so suck it up and enjoy it...
LOTS OF PHOTOS TO COME AND MORE TOMORROW SO I HOPE YOU CAN ENJOY THEM... some of you have already seen these so sorry for repeating...

Isn't the view of the lake just lovely

The kitchen, diner and work room.
There is only 18 of us so we will all fit ok.

Our dorm bunks. No curtains on the windows. Oh what a night.
I was warned to bring blankets to wrap around the bunk to keep the light out.
I chose the one in the far right corner so I had two walls to make it a bit darker.

There is a storm on the ways. Look at those clouds.
There is still a pelican sitting and watching.

Where has the lake gone. The storm has hit hard.
Yes my car was hail damaged...

The branches were all over the roads. The hail stones were hitting hard.

The branches from the trees opposite the building smashed into the windows 

The sunset is a glowing orange.

 We did enjoy the sunset even though my photos aren't the best. 

Then another storm hit us. Still without power most head off to bed. The emergency battery operated lights after 3 hours are starting to go out one by one. Some sit there talking, unpicking their work while I pin my squares together for the next time I get to sew. 

No lights left at 11.15 the last of us head to bed.. luckily I had my iPad so I could read for a bit. No internet service. Lines are all down. Time for sleep..

 Choppy waters on the lake. The pelican is keeping watch though.

After having no power from 7 the night before it was a bit of a sad finish. With no operating toilets,showers, water, gas or electricity it was in the best interest and safety for all that we pack up and head off home unhurt.