The Retreat Woodend

When I saw a post by Abbe of Copper Patch, promoting her new venture, a craft retreat in Woodend, I had to blog about it, mainly because this qualifies me for the draw to win a weekend there and secondly, Abbe got me started on the quilting journey and I love the idea of supporting her.  I found a link to her blog a few years ago asking for contributions to a quilt to be made in purple fabric for a friend who was suffering from depression.  Despite my complete lack of sewing skills, ignorance of where to buy fabric (other than Lincraft), I made a block and sent it off to Abbe and it was included in the purple wonder.  I've been watching her blog ever since and hopefully my sewing has improved over that time as well.

The new venture looks amazing and even if I don't win the weekend away, will be looking to go up for a break before long.  With 5 bedrooms with two double beds per room, two bathrooms, a great kitchen for creating delicious meals and a kitted out craft studio, what else could you ask for?  Just 9 friends to take with you.

All the details are over here:
http://www.theretreatwoodend.com.au/Welcome.html

Good luck with this venture Abbe!  It sounds like bookings are are being snapped up quickly, which is fantastic.

Sunday Snippets

Happy Sunday!  Head on over to Tinnie Girl's place to see what the last week held for others.

Sunday Snippets

The burst of sunshine this weekend cheers me no end - we are now more than half way through winter!  A busy week at the day job followed by a weekend including house guests, a special birthday for a special friend, baths for two grubby girls and crafting in a sunny corner.

 

For more Sunday Snippets, check out Tinnie Girl's place.

Our Creative Space

While it was wonderful being on holidays for so long and seeing sights, shopping, eating and drinking, I did miss being creative.  But since we have been back, life has been very hectic, so the first chance I had to do some sewing was at the Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild SASD where we had a theme going.  GJ's Discount Fabric were running a charity sewing day on 14 July to help Rebecca Wolske raise $2,500 for her Conquer Cancer 200km Bike Challenge and help her is collecting blocks to make quilts and cuddle blankets.  As the date clashed with the MMQG event, we offered members the chance to participate.  Check it out here, and feel free to get involved - anyone can help out.  Anyway, I had some fabric left over from the Life at the Outpost quilt, so whipped up a couple of blocks to donate.  I probably should have made some more but I spent a bit too much time catching up with all the lovely ladies from the guild.  Hopefully this weekend will allow some time for some more sewing - I know a few people with babies due in the next few months, so would like to get on to making some gifts.

For more creative food for thought, head over here.

Sunday Snippets

Back for only a week and a half and our month long sojourn in the USA feels like a distant, warm memory.  But in some ways it is nice to be home and there is a lot to be said for snuggling up on the couch with a good book and a cuppa, eating steaming hot dumplings and looking for signs that it will be spring eventually.

Sunday Snippets is hosted by Tinnie Girl - see what others were up to there week over here.

Sunday Snippets

We have been out of the country for the last four and a half weeks so have put in photos of highlights for each week we were away (apart from the Hamptons trip, which was the subject of my last post).  I'm going to cheat a bit and put in a few words because some of these pictures will need explaining.   One that I couldn't adequately capture in a photo was spending time with special people.  And that is the real highlight of each and every trip to the USA.

 With one of my favourite actors as Willy Loman,  Philip Seymour Hoffman.  A well deserved Tony went to Mike Nichols for this magnificent production.

 Sleep No More.  Look it up on Wikipedia.  All I can say, if it comes to your city, go.

 Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation - Open House day in Oak Park Chicago.  Worth the lining up and lack of lunch.

 Roy Lichenstein Exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago.  So much more than Pop Art.

National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis.  Taught me how little I knew.

Now just trying to adjust to the cold.

For more Sunday Snippets, head over here.