Quilt Retreat @ Buderim

Well how exciting this weekend just gone, I got to go on Quilt Retreat up on the Sunshine Coast at Buderim.

Circle Retreat and as expected we all had a great time. Its the first time since buying the property last September that I have gone up to the retreat with Quilting girls and as you would guess we sewed all day and night with a few stops to sit on the deck enjoy the views with a  cappuccino and cake, champagne and nibbles and a few of us swam or had a sit in the hot tub. Are you going green with envy??? Want to book your own retreat? well please do and visit www.circleretreat.com.au  Well I cant wait to go again, and get some more UFO's done and start some new ones. Some of the girls went up to Eumundi Markets on the Saturday morning, and there are some wonderful artisans producing original work. I got to stop into see Penny at the Patchwork Angel and add some fabric to my stash I am meant to be on fabric diet but who cares about that right? And as a little bonus to top off my weekend I met the lovely  Kellie  from Don't Look Now who was doing a workshop. I have booked in for her next one with Penny.

Circle Retreat

Ohhh my new water bottle cover holder thingy this is from the fabric i bought from Penny. too Cute.

A few more seats completed from the old fabric stash., some old Debbie Mumm  is in the mix..

Dot and her Bright challenge quilt- looks Great

Lunch on the 'Deck

Hand stitching and lots of chatter.

The never ending placement debate.

This is the lovely Karla  who I met at Eumundi.

 

 

 

Karla has a lovely business called  Hark Home and Karla is going to make me a wonderful poster for the Retreat. So if you need something wonderful made for home or gifts, she has some wonderful ideas and will customize for you. Thanks Karla

Thanks for dropping by and feel free to leave me a comment or hello.

milk crates and stash scraps

Sweet seats

Well I had this idea the other day, and up at Buderim there is room on the deck for some extra seating in a casual, relaxed setting. So like I said this idea came to me about recycling and patchwork and I came up with a sweet seating option and a great way of using up a few dodgy pillows that have got a bit lumpy and out of shape, the odd milk crate that well we have plants in out the back. Anyway what do you think? this one is my trial one but i think it will be a good way of using up some of those old country fat quarters I have got in the stash, buried in the bottom basket.

 Well this is my log cabin scrappy top for my seat, sorry I forgot to take a close up of the seat finished but here it is ready and waiting with my cappuccino ready and waiting, anyone want to join me? Sorry Mum no melting moments close by.

Oh and this some of the other lovely china I found when I was out & about the other week. I just couldn't resist. maybe I might make the cups into cupcake pin cushions...................

Thanks for dropping by, and have a super week, xx love n hugs

Bargin Hunt

I so love the TV show Bargin hunt on the wonderful channel 72. Anyway I was out and about last week and went down this obscure side street by mistake and what do you know... an Op shop I had not discover in 6 years of driving the main road every month. and I found a treasure trove, and felt a little sad that someone has cleaned out grandma's china cupboard but so happy that I was in the right place at the right time and will love it and give it new life.

 This is just some of my lovely bargains. This is Wedgwood pattern unknown at this stage it looks art deco but  I don't really know. I got 6 of the soup bowls and 6 saucers for them to stand on also all less than $20.00, not a chip to be seen but slight crazing in the glaze which i think would be the age. Now who could take these to Lifeline? I bet they have Maxwell  Williams like me and don't love the old vintage. My lucky day.

 And another border on the quilt with no name. Happy Weekend to all. xx

   

Sick in Bed with Mr Darcy

Well if you are going to be sick with a cold, runny nose and a box of tissues, you may as well be in bed with Darcy. To all you die hard Pride fans you so know that I am talking about Colin Firth and 6 lovely hours of BBC bliss, with a little bit of stitching along the way. I am feeling much better today, but still not back on deck so a little more sewing should make me feel better. A big thank you to my hubby who hosted morning tea for Sandy and her friday sewers up at circle retreat last friday, I believe that had a lovely time and have booked in there retreat for mid year. cheers n happy sewing.

Do you need an Easter Break?

 Holiday venue available for school holidays or Easter Break.................


Well I have realised that my new venture with Circle Retreat is never going to be busy in the school holidays with Quilters. So if you are in need of a five day mini break with some of your friends and family maybe you may like to go to Buderim, and have a wonderful relaxing time. So please spread the word I am offering a great rate, it sleeps 12-14 so please email me if your keen. circleretreat@iinet.net.au or please look us up on the net. Buderim is just 10mins to the sunshine beaches and 20minutes to Eumundi markets.

Home or Retreat?

 Home or 

 Retreat

I love the carved design on the top of this chair great op shop find.

I found this great chair on my country trip the other week. I'snt it great. It needs a lick of white paint and a nice patchwork cushion, but do I keep it at home? it has been great in my sewing room this past fortnight or does it go up to the retreat in one of the bedrooms? great buy for $15.oo got to love Lifeline. I will have to show you the great old suitcase next time.

I also found this lovely little store in Browning street just off Russell St in West End for you Queenslanders its rather cute and has the most wonderful little handmade items ranging from wooden brooches to linen teatowels. Thea and Sami should check it out maybe they would love to sell there wares.
Well I have had a busy few days, with Taylor hurting herself at Trampolining last Thursday, badly bruised her coxic? bone Madison falling over the dog-puppy, whom I might add is being rather naughty. I cant wait for him to settle into life and stop nipping our heels. My little quilting project from last post is coming along nicelyand has a row of Pears, and today I had a lovely phone call from Sandy who wants to come to the Retreat with her circle of friends. So I have put Mark on the job for meeting with Sandy and her friends for a viewing and coffee, whilst I have meetings at the office on Friday.  No prizes for guessing where id rather be. oh well as they say that is life.


 The Puppy Alphie 5  months old.

Happy Stitching Stacey xx

out and about

Well I have had a busy week, started a new project, opps but am using some great fabric from the stash and found some fabric puchased many moons ago fat quarter price tag still attached $3.50....... some of that great grandma grace 1930 reproduction from the 90's, i think anyway I was flicking thru this old home spun and found this pattern that i am going to loosely reproduce, anyway we will see how it goes and if it gets finished sooner rather than later. by for now, Stacey

Country Life

Add caption

This lovely house is in the NSW town of Tenterfield you know where the Saddiler lives..... time is a traveller Tenterfield Saddiler........

View from my little BnB cabin.

I stayed in this lovely cabin just outside of Glenn Inness dont you just love BnB's and lovely country hospitality

So for my Monday to Friday Job I travel for 3 days a month and I do love it. I get to see some of my very favourite customers and get to see this great land of ours. Tenterfield is actually a favourite of mine, Glenn Inness is freezing in the Winter and a few times I have just missed the seeing snow in this town- its got to be really bad for it to snow. Now that I would like to see, anyway just thought I'd share some of my week with you all. and I got some stitching done also. But sad to say 2 patchwork shops in a few country towns have closed since my last visit late last year. Have a great day and i hope you get some stitching done too. xx

I did get some work done on my trip but they do take a fair bit of time to make this little hexies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variety Club Youth Choir Flash Mob 'I am Australian'

Retreat featured in Homespun

Well I am back after a 4 day work conference of fun and frivolity, and some work, kinda sorta. I was very well behaved thanks to the liver cleansing diet and only cheated will a few wines................ oh well back to it now. When I got home yesterday a copy of Homespun was waiting for me and here it is 

Very exciting to see your dream in print.

I am loving the little kimono dolly on the front may have to make her as a door stop I think.

So if you love to read Homespun please look out for the
Circle Retreat 

  feature on page 88 of this months Homepun and tell your friends

we have weekends free and every retreat weekend is a long weekend.

 Sunrise at the Gold Coast this week when i went out for a morning walk

It is so busy at 6.30am on the beach with so many walkers, boxing classes and of course swimmers.

Oh well back to life now thanks for dropping byand  have a great weekend

quilt retreat Buderim

Well we had a lovely weekend up at the Retreat  We had some friends come up so we had a few drinks up at the local tavern looking out to the ocean. A  wonderful meal with Tim n Jo, and in the morning we had a spa, it was such a lovely start to the day. We have guests this weekend, so we were busy cleaning windows and changing linen. i hope they have a great weekend of sewing and laughs. here are some of the new delights to be found at the retreat.

 My sista sue made this fab table runner for Circle Retreat she said she found the pattern of the net and it is made with Circle's so very ccol for the retreat. I hope all the ladies love it.

 And how could I resist this Circle of friends? it stands about 30cm tall so its a bit different to others of this nature and all girls. I am thinking I may need to tart them up a bit and glue some flowers to there hair or something , anyway still dwelling on this one. Any suggestions please comment below.

 The Bromeliades are all in bloom in the walk up to the front steps and looking so green and lush.

Well I am off on Conference for my real job for a few days, so see you then and happy stitching x

Mini Boutique Reopens after floods

The very lovely Libby is re-opening her cute store in St Lucia "Mini Boutique" after the brisbane floods went clear through her delighful store. So today I stopped by to ask her how she was going etc and tomorrow she is re-opeming and having a sale. So lets support our local girl who has been closed for close to a month and support this most gorgeous store. Mini Boutique sells lovely childrens clothing 40% off in the sale,  ladies brand Metalicus 20% in sale  and a wide range of lovely toys, games and  jewellery etc also on sale. So please stop by if you can.

Mini Boutique
88Gailey Rd
St Lucia
Libby Scott, will be delighted to help you, so tell your friends and go for a drive.

happy friday to you all and thaks for stopping by

light , button, recycle

I just love it when you can use stuff about the house and create a little something, that make's you smile and happy and today I did just that. I used floristy wire which I have had stuck in a box since 1989 when I did a floristry course. I knew I kept it for a reason, some odd buttons, and a good old tomato paste jar.
This little lantern, may need a few friends to keep her company, and she now hangs out side my sewing room.

Now with all this girly stuff done I must share a secret, I love Top Gear its the best laugh all week so I am off to watch tonights episode, and do some more hexagons. I hope you hangs some little lights at your place.

busy week @ circle retreat quilter

Well its been a busy week this week plus - lots of energy has gone into not thinking about food and its paid off for me at least. Hubby and I started the liver cleansing diet on monday. We thought it was a good opportunity seeing our friends do this every Jan-Feb  . So no red meat, no dairy. beer or white wine- maybe 2 red wines a week?..... and keep away from packages sugary yummys that I Louuuve

Anyway I have lost a kilo and hubby has found it so he not so happy with me and I have had only 2 yes 2 coffee's all week. unheard of for me. and they were soy which i have really enjoyed. I have had a few green teas and also found green tea with vanilla. so have made some yummIced tea with a little apple juice thrown in- not so good from the sugar content i think?
So to keep myself not thinking about food I have hit the sewing machine, and this is what i have made for a friends birthday- I hope she likes it.

 Calico library bag from Lincraft  $1.50 bargan

 Little scrap pocket - lined after photo

 Measured  4 inches from the corners and sewed across to make a square base.

 and ta da....... cute little bag for a book, waterbottle and lunch with pocket for keys and phone. took no time at all and i am very happy with the result- happy I bought more than 1 of this little calico numbers.

My little purse shape is made up from more small scraps in crazy patch design. I have made this purse easily 30 times and never with crazy patch so note to self next time make in two sections. i have had to get creative to hide the over sewing - note flower fabric rough edged sewn? its worked so will improve it next time . Hope Jo wont mind?

 complete................

now off for a swim before dinner with friends. Happy Saturday.