Glenrose House Retreat

Yep, another retreat at Glenrose - in the house!
Thursday 20th - Sunday 23rd November.

It is kind of good that I don't have another retreat til March!!!

There were only 4 of us this time, but it was fun, chatty, and I was as productive as possible.  I didn't achieve as much as I thought I might - but it is hard to know how long some things will take.

I took a few pictures of what the others worked on.

Donna is making a baby quilt...the blocks won't be arranged like this - she has progressed well, but there is still a way to go.

Fiona is making this quilt and has all her blocks made.  She had enough time to arrange some of them on the design wall.

Tracey made several bowl cosies - Donna used them as hats for some of the teddies...
That is the price you pay for going to bed earlier than the rest!!!

I made up these placemats (for Meals on Wheels) - using hexies made by friends at a Sunday group I go to.

  

I have plenty of hand sewing to do now to finish off the bindings.
As I was on the last bit of the charcoal placemats, I could see the bobbin was getting low - so of course I held my breath....and just managed to finish before I ran out of thread!!!!

That is how much thread was left - a Bobbin Lotto Win!!!

I did the applique and joined the rows on Be My Neighbour....then I put it in the naughty corner as some of the rows were longer than others...mmm...I didn't have the pattern with me, so I moved on to other "stuff".

I had a box of scraps with me so I made up two pieces for crumb blocks.  They are not my favourite thing to do, so once that box is empty, my scraps will go to the child care centre where my grandchildren go.

We went out to Warwick Gardens Galore for lunch on Friday... We really do need to eat there everyday to try all the delicious menu options.  This was my lunch - Seafood & Mango salad.

Dessert time on Friday Night.
Donna & Fiona had brought along chocolate mud cake, Biscoff cheesecake and ice cream.  Had to try it all...

A fun time was had by all.  This group is totally separate to my normal retreat group people - there were plenty of new topics and fabric options that were covered....No new projects followed me home though!

Needle Girls Retreat - Glenrose House

This year, we were able to get a booking in the house at Glenrose.   There are a lot of advantages to the house - more room and no walking back to the cabins in the dark over the gravel...

I had a collection of DV quilt tops to make - most of "my" stuff that is waiting for attention isn't really suitable for sewing at a retreat, so I thought I would just work on the DV stuff instead.

I had a 3 yard pattern called Town Square, which ended up a little wider than we like for a child's quilt, so I redrafted it to make it a little narrower.  (It will now fit a standard width of fabric.)

I made this one in a child size:

I also made an adult version - its wider:

I had cut a lot of I Spy squares for Helen as she was planning a simple I Spy quilt.  This is the one she finished:

And, as there were a lot of squares left over, I decided to make one the same - for DV.

De made this Daisy quilt - it was a bit fiddly so it took most of her time.

Maureen put her sashiko runner together - Sashiko one side and a lovely rose fabric the other, so that it is reversible.

Helen also finished off this top.

In Sunday Stitchers, a number of us were making a quilt called Floral Fun from Quilter's Companion.  Although I love it - it was a small quilt - 36" square and I wasn't sure what I would do with it....So, as Helen was thinking the same, we decided to join them together and add something down the sides and use it as a DV quilt.....during that process, "we" decided not to add the flowers....LOL
Helen added the Black side borders and the pieced borders that I had made earlier.

Needle Girls Pillowcase Challenge

Last year, we decided that we would each make a pillowcase that could be used when we are on retreat.
Here are 4 - Lynda hadn't arrived when we took this photo, and we forgot to take a second one with hers.

Naturally, I had to make mine matchy-matchy with all my other Needle Girls things.

Retreat Challenge - Sashiko

Last year, Chookyblue kindly gave us each a piece of a sashiko panel.   We decided that we should have them finished by this retreat.   I have already posted about mine - but here is the collection....minus Lynda as she wasn't finished.

Retreat Stocking Swap

Every year since 2021, we have made a stocking from a Nancy Havorsen book. Its title eludes me for now....

This is this year's collection - minus Lynda's as she forgot to pack it.   I will add a photo of it later.

The requirement is that the stocking is the shape in the book - but the design can vary.
It is interesting that mostly we each pick a different design even when using the book..

I made the stack of presents and it went to Lynda.

There was other sewing happening

• Helen and Sandi made some scrap blocks for a future DV quilt, 
• Maureen made a lot of blocks for her long-term Chuck Nohara quilt, 
• De put some pre-printed floral blocks and 9 patch blocks together for a DV quilt
• Helen cut what seemed like 2000 squares for some of the Sunday Stitchers girls to put together.

We had a great time - we always do - of course!!!

Our normal Thursday is to leave by 9:30 or so and go to the Garden Centre for a look at the Christmas things and a farewell breakfast/brunch.

This year we were able to book into a class at Sew Pretty Patchwork to make a bag from Denim bits and pieces.   That deserves a separate post....it was such a lot of fun!

Chookshed Challenge #1 - Christmas Stitchery - NOT

Like a number of the  Chookshed Stitchers - I selected a Christmas Stitchery for Project #1...a great idea at the beginning of the year , , , but at the end of the year, I decided I really didn't have a particular Christmas Stitchery I needed or wanted to sew . . So,  I decided to swap this one out for some of the Christmas stuff I do need to do.
I got some of it done.....there are still 3 months to Christmas??? correct???   NO??? oh well.

One thing I did get out of the way is a Christmas themed placemat for the Night Group of Queensland Quilters.

I have also made several decorations - but they are for people who may read my blog so you will just have to trust me about them.

And I put some work towards a cross stitched Christmas Tree.....I am not too sure I will be able to get it done for this year . . but I might!

This is the last Challenge Number for 2025.  I've been very happy to tag along as part of the Challenge - organised by Deana - but supported by many of the Chookshed crew, all over the world.  Thanks to Deana and all the bloggers who make this possible and fun!

I have done fairly well - I did make some changes to my plans during the year...but plans are just a guide...right??? LOL

Time to start thinking about the 2026 list . . . .maybe starting with leftovers from 2025???

Chookshed Challenge # -3 - Sashiko Project

Ooops - I am late - but it's still 30th September in Deanna-land and she hasn't posted the final Linky, so I figure it's a pass!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last year, in November at the Glenrose Retreat, Chookyblue gifted us all some sashiko panels.

We (the group...or was it Madam Organiser...not me...) decided to set the challenge to have that project finished by the next retreat, so I added it to the Chookshed Challenge and this was the month to do it.

I was given the red version of the Devonstone Sashiko panel and decided on the baubles.  De had the same panel in green, so we swapped half our baubles.

De and I had several conversations about putting them together and she ended up making a vertical wall hanging. I decided to go horizontal.

I am disappointed it is so puckered...but . . .
WAIT!!!
It's not puckered - it's textured!
(Thanks to Helen @ Nannas Sewing Room)
or as Ma Betty says - it looks like Christmas trees texture!

I appliqued the baubles - added the braid and then quilted it - using serpentine stitch and a twin needle (size 4).  It took a bit of testing to make sure I didn't set the width too high. 
(If you are interested - 9mm machine, Size 4 and a width of 4 is OK... I think I could have gone a little wider...)

I added a flange binding - I have always known this as Susie's Magic Binding - which I found on a blog in 2012.   Read about it here.  Although making the binding takes longer than normal, it is machine-sewn, so that saves time.  It's great for children's quilts.

On the evening of the 29th, I was adding the bows....BUT....ran out of the braid!!!!!!!
So, a quick trip to the local bargain shop and I was able to finish them.

Good planning, Susan!!! (NOT)

The remaining Challenge Number #1 - it was to be a Christmas Stitchery.   I don't have one crying to be completed, but I do have a few decorations and a Christmas placemat to make, so I will make those my October Challenge.
Plans are just a guide...LOL....and can be changed as needed.

Thanks Deanna - I love the motivation of the Challenge - it certainly makes me get things done.

RSC - September - Pastel

"Pastel" is a bit tricky - I don't store my fabrics by tone.....I decided pastel could be pale and I found a few bits and cut a few bits to make 3 placemats

I only made 5 Colourwash blocks.  (1) because I am not sure if they will suit the project I am planning...and (2) it's late in the month and I am running out of time . . LOL

Interesting exercise???
I forgot to crop my picture before I uploaded it - so I decided to give Co-pilot a try! This is the result when instructed to use the focus area and to remove the background.....AI can be very clever.

October is brown & black - although Angela gave a lot of options!

I Spy Quilt for DV.

Our Sunday Stitchers group make quilts to give to a Domestic Violence organisation.  The organisation then lets their clients pick the one/s they would like.   A bit more personal than just handing them out.

I had made this I Spy quilt at a retreat and after a pinning day a while back, I finally finished the quilting and binding.

I also quilted and bound this one.

Maddie's #2 Baby Quilt & Taggie

Another baby quilt using the coin quilt pattern.  This one is for a Cousin-in-Law of youngest daughter for her second baby - it's a boy, though she either didn't tell anyone what gender it was or didn't find out...

I am very grateful to bestie Maureen who used this pattern to make a quilt for the first of my grandchildren.  I use this pattern for all the baby quilts for friends/relations.  So far I have made it at least 11 times, so this is #12.

I found this lovely fabric to use for the backing...wish I had more of it!

And of course I had to add a taggie.

Be My Neighbour - September

The working team has been busy again and finished the last of the houses in my street.

Block 15

and block 16

Now it's time for the finishing crew to put it together and quilt it??

I have been working on this with Fiona - she is ahead of me and has her top together...she will probably get it quilted well before me!!  Nevermind - pop over here to admire her garden and her quilt top.

Sunday Stitchers - UFO Challenge - #2 - Spool Flowers

I have "cheated".  My Project #2 was originally "Sea Creatures".  To make progress on that involved some reverse sewing of machine blanket stitch (slow going) and adding some decorations and ??? that are vague ideas in my head.

It wasn't going to happen...I am not sure when I will make it happen. 😟

So I swapped it out to finish Spool Flowers.  This is a pattern from Amy Bradley (of Quilt Diva fame).

Notes:
Leaves - Quilt #28 W:4.5 L: 2.20

SEW Cross Stitch Pouch

I saw a very appealing pouch on a Cross Stitch Facebook group that I follow....

How could I resist it????

I found the chart was available at All Threads here in Brisbane, so of course I ordered it.  It is "Sew Mini Bag by Shepherd's Bush".

It was a quick stitch and I found an easy peasy tutorial to make it into a simple pouch...(well, not so simple when you decide to include some wadding...oh well).  It finishes at about 7" x 5".

It's shame I didn't have the gingham fabric to stitch it on.  I used the dark purple on the back and the lighter mauve as the lining.

Now to fill it . . .