Boonah Outlook Retreat

Yes, you read that right—another retreat!!!!! I came home on Sunday, the 23rd March, and I went on another retreat from Friday, the 28th! I had just enough time to unpack clothes, wash them, and repack them.
Sewing projects were pretty much organised before the first retreat, so a bit of fine tuning on the supplies list...and off I went.

We met for morning tea at a local Bakery/Cafe, then shopped at the local drapery store (Maynards).  It is full of "stuff" - clothing, shoes etc - and - patchwork fabrics.   I resisted a lot of it and settled on a 30cm cut of fabric - just because.

After unloading the car, setting up tables and chairs, etc., I was looking for a simple sewing exercise, so I spent a couple of hours making pieces for Crumb Blocks for De, who will complete them in due course. I sorted her "Crumb Bag," removing all the odds and ends.

Then I thought I better get stuck into the sewing...

Firstly, I made a couple of blocks for Raewyn to make into a quilt at the upcoming Scrub Stitchin' retreat. The quilt will be donated to Macquarie Home Stay for the room that Chooky and her family raised funds for.

Then I worked on making some kid's quilt tops for our DV Charity.

These are all similar - Two with orange stitching and fabric and one with green.  Again, I have used the decorative stitches on the machine to add a touch of interest.  Theu finish at about 40" so only one width of normal fabric is needed to back them.

There wasn't much stripey fabric left by the time I got to this one.

Then I made up another tree skirt - this time in red & green and a lot larger.

I also joined my FPP Nature blocks - I don't think I posted all the blocks when I did them - I started them in April 2024 - when Scrub Stitchin' 2024 was on.

There were 9 in the pattern from Quiet Play - then I added more to make 20.  This will be the centre of a Kids Quilt for DV.

I also snuck in a bit of sashiko stitching and some crochet.

Overall, I was happy with what I got done - I had one more project that I could have worked on, but (1) I had neglected to cut enough fabric - and - (2) I spent time with De preparing some rose blocks for her to make another quilt similar to this.

 We had a lot of fun...we were all reasonably productive.  We had "group lunches" of ham cheese & tomatoes toasted sandwiches and Take-Away Chinese one night.  There were loads of sweets & treats, plenty of tea & coffee and a comfy bed.  What more could we ask for???
(well, maybe a cute porter to unload and load up our cars...LOL)

Next retreat???  Not til June . . .

My Claytons Retreat (aka Sunday Stitchers At Boonah Retreat) Day 5

Last day of retreat...😞

That means a bit of sewing, packing up & travel home.....so I figured that would take me til 5PM...so I just sewed the day away again.....LOL

I decided to work on the current ABC book, so nothing to show for it - just slowly working my way through, finishing off the blanket stitching.
And when I got tired of that - I organised the fabrics for the next two house & tree blocks, ready for the next retreat.

What a life!!!!!!!!!!

My Claytons Retreat (aka Sunday Stitchers At Boonah Retreat) Day 4

Each year at this retreat we have had a Mystery Challenge.  This year we were asked to bring scraps - any shape & size.

The challenge this year was to make crumb blocks.  I have never tried these before, I started, but realised they were looking more like crazy patch blocks - so I did a bit of Googling to get me on the right track.  The secret is to have at least one straight edge on each piece and then sew two pieces together.  Repeat - so make sure the new piece has a straight edge and join to another piece.

It was going well - using the offcuts from my houses and trees - but there was not enough variety - and I had sent all my scraps to the girls at Boonah....I certainly wasn't going to deliberately create new scraps!!!

So, I got to this point.

These crumb blocks will be put together by De as  DV Charity Quilt.

The other thing on my To Do list for the retreat was to make more black red and white blocks to go with the ones I made at the last retreat.

I made 11 - but I have just about run out of black red & white - I have 30 blocks - though I wanted 42. . .so will ponder the next stage in this quilt top.

This will also be a DV Charity Quilt.

Day 5 still to go - might get back to some of my stuff - maybe the ABC Book that is overdue, or the baby quilt for the new grandie - also overdue!!!

My Claytons Retreat (aka Sunday Stitchers At Boonah Retreat) Day 3

I continued working with the construction crew and groundsmen and together we have finished 2 blocks - my goal for this retreat!!

Van Winkle House

and Amelia's Cottage

That is the top row almost done (there are some filler pieces to be added- so I will leave them til the end) of My Kinda Town.
I did the second row in June

Here are all 4 blocks

I need to change the top of the door to the church 

and replace the yellow door with brown.

 

I have another retreat (!!!!!) in 2 weeks so will do another row then and a final retreat for the year in November when I plan to do the last row.
Well, that is the plan!

My Claytons Retreat (aka Sunday Stitchers At Boonah Retreat) Day 2

Well, I am supposed to be in Boonah - on retreat with some of the Sunday Stitchers Group - but a bad cough has kept me at home.  I feel OK - especially during the day - but late nights, early mornings - well a lot of coughing...

Anyway, things happen ....so I am retreating at home.

My plan for this retreat was to make 2 more blocks for "My Kinda Town" and as many string blocks as I could.  There is also a "mystery" project to be done...

Early today I decided I needed something different to do before I began the house blocks.
I have joined a Cross Stitch SAL - here.
So, as I am eager to start - but no pattern is available until August 11 - I decided to get the threads ready.

Then, I could delay no more - time to construct houses.
I worked on this block for most of the day/night.  Although during that time there were numerous chats concerning design, colour choices for a project, extra numerous chats with the retreat girls about any number of things....The "benefit" of social media I guess.

And I had to unpick one section - unpicking stitches sewn at 1.8 is slow...
The building is not complete...tomorrows job....then to add the tree on the side and move onto the second block. 

The wrong one:

All fixed....

The retreat goes til Tuesday afternoon - then add in travel time . . .I should be right to continue sewing til dinner time on Tuesday, and since I don't need to unpack much...I will just keep going til bed time....LOL