Attending a Quilting Retreat

Greetings lovely friends & readers

(warning - photo heavy post)

Just over a year ago now my very dear friend Leeanne was telling me about a Quilting Retreat she had just attended & how great it was.   She had put her name down for it again & wondered if I would like to go along too.   As it was so popular it was fully booked but I was able to go on a cancellation list & get in quite quickly.  June of 2025 sounded such a long way away.

 

But finally, last week, it rolled around & I headed off on my journey down the Island - car packed up chocka full of sewing supplies (!!)

I left mid morning so I could allow myself a couple of hours to wander around Lake Taupo township.

Although I visit eldest son & family here, I never get into the township & it was wonderful to have time to browse a few op-shops & sit & have a nice coffee & slice from * this * delicious Cafe

The Retreat is held at MiCamp approx half way between Taupo & Turangi, on the edge of Lake Taupo  -  a very picturesque spot.  It's set on large grounds with good facilities & accommodations.  Where the arrow is, is the Recreation Room which is where we all sewed - this adjoined the dining room & kitchen, & another lounge.  The Retreat was fully catered for & the food was amazing! 

Our table in the room, there were more tables in the middle & the far side.  There were 38 ladies at the Retreat.    

I felt there was good space on the tables to spread out & sew, or for cutting out.

Although I took several projects 😉 my main focus was on completing a quilt top so I could send it home with Leeanne to be professionally quilted.  Here I am working on it & - invariably with me - there were mistakes made (!!) & lots of some unpicking 😖

As well as sewing, Leeanne & I managed some walks & one morning we drove in to Turangi to have a lovely coffee at a sweet little cafe tucked away, visited a gorgeous shop set up in containers, & went into the township for a spot of thrifting together.

Best of all it was great to get to spend some quality time together with my dear friend as it has been many years since we have managed this.  

At the Retreat we were fed breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner AND supper!!!  Everything was freshly made & just delicious.  Here we are sitting out on the deck eating cinnamon scrolls, drinking tea & this was our view.

We all filed out on to the deck on the Saturday night to capture the sunset in all its Glory.

I did manage to complete my quilt top which delighted me.  This was a block of the month run by Millymac Supplies which I started in January 2023.  The pattern is called Ruths Quilt & it is a design by Leanne Beasley.  As I am not a patchworker this was a huge accomplishment for me.  I worked on another project also, but I will share that in my next post.

You could use the designs for the stitchery tags that were included in the pattern or make up your own.  As my Mum passed away during the making of this quilt (Aug 2023) I included a tag for this month with Mum's details on it.  I also cut up one of her vintage linen tablecloths that was ragged on the edges & used this randomly instead of tags.  The colours went so well with the fabrics. 

At Retreat they had a de-stash table where you could purchase sewing bits for next to nothing, sometimes a gold coin.  These were my purchases above & believe me friends - I was very restrained !!

They had "Lucky Draws" throughout the duration & the 2 fabrics top left were what I won.  The wee clip pillow was a mystery challenge - I will share more of this next post.  

On the last day Leeanne pointed out the Free Box to me & the all the bits top right were out of this 😉

All too soon it was time to pack up my room & head off home again.  I felt so incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to attend this Retreat,  spend special time with Leeanne & also meet some other really lovely ladies, all sharing a common interest of creativity.

You can read Leeanne's post about the Retreat * Here *

In total for the 4 days I was away I managed to visit 8 Op-shops & this is my "haul" above.  I will share more of these items in future posts but just want to show the wide vase below.

I have Leeanne to thank for pointing this out to me, tucked away down low on a shelf.  This vase was very marked & in a sorry state but at 50 cents it was most definitely coming home with me.  I just loved the style & shape of it & it reminded me of one Mum had once.

Just to show you what a good soak & scrub can do dear friends - this took quite a bit of elbow grease to get the marks off but look how wonderful it turned out. I soaked it for half a day in a light bleach mixture & then gently scrubbed it with a soap pad.   LoVe love my new-to-me old vase.  💖

Thank you all so very much, if you've stayed to the end,

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend ahead,

With much love & friendship to you all,

Welcome to June

Greetings lovely friends & readers

Welcome to  the month of June  - please don't be too chilly ❆

 

For 3 days I have been craving Sticky Lemon Slice - finally this morning I made one - * here * is the recipe I use 🍋

Because I was too lazy too tired to stand with my hand beater, I dragged out Mums VeRy old Sunbeam Mixmaster from the bottom of the cupboard.  It still goes well despite the odd "groan".  I also made a banana loaf using up old bananas.  This went up-the-road to Sid's house as it's a favorite. 

Last week I decided I wanted to change the red brick edging around my Hothouse area.  This side wall had some bricks just sitting there - I'd never properly laid them & The Mr had started to use it as a place to stack things (!!!) 😉 When I walk back up from the far end of our section I look directly at this wall & visualized giant sunflowers growing up it.  In order to get the curve right, I had to pull up the front & back bricks & re-lay them all 😖

At the stage of wondering Why on earth I ever started this project (!!)

As with everything I do around here - this was not a simple task. There were some big tree roots in the area that I had to dig & cut through.  I did the front & side area, then had a break for a few days & went back & worked on the back area.  Finally it was all done & ready for fresh mulch. 

You can just see top left, I still had some tomatoes growing in the hothouse.  The cherry ones had finished but this variety (super steak) were still producing.  I was ready to clear out the bed though & get it ready for next spring.

Before laying the mulch I put down cardboard as this helps keep the weeds/grass down.  The pizza boxes from * this post * came in most handy! 

Once I'd pulled out the tomato plants the walls needed a good wash down & a hose.  

I decided to lay the no-dig bed again, ready for early spring planting & I plan (hope) to plant tomatoes really early this year.  

A freshly laid no-dig bed & some more mulch on the walkway.  For those of you interested I swear by this no-dig method.  Here is the sequence I use to make my lasagne garden.

- cardboard &/or newspaper (thickly)

- raked up leaves

- compost of some type (I used a layer of castings from my worm farm)

- green waste (I used lawn clippings)

- peastraw (I had 1/2 bag left from last time)

- more compost

- mulch.

Last year was the first time I'd tried this method.  When I pulled out my tomato plants it had sunk down somewhat, but underneath was rich black soil full of worms - just wonderful!  I plan to water this bed weekly (until I plant) so that everything can break down & not dry out.  

Side view where I plan to grow sunflowers                    End view faces the paddocks

Here is the freshly laid brick edging - I've just sat some vintage bits there until it's time to plant giant sunflowers (September here)

-  Front view  -

And that is a good job done because it was rather hard work !!

While I was outside this morning I dug over my raised veggie gardens & planted a punnet each of cabbage, cauliflower & broccoli.  I usually plant my winter garden in April but it was dry for so long here that I waited.  Currently it is good moon planting time (according to my moon calendar) -for things that produce above ground that is.

Last Friday was Sid's schools Grandparents Day & I got to attend.  The children had all made up sweet little dried flower posies to present to the Grandparents - it was adorable. (Sid was standing on a stool - he is not taller than me)

There is some wonderful artwork on the walls in the classroom - the children get to create these images themselves.

There has been a little sewing which I cannot share as yet, until it has been gifted .... but I did sit by the fire last night & make up some packs of Cottage Garden potpourri using some dried rose petals from this summer passed.  The house smelt wonderful as the heat from the fire released the fragrance. 

Lastly dear friends (but by no means least). . . . I went out to the deck earlier & counted 5 different comfy sleeping places for the furry ones (2 squashy cushions, 1 banana box with blanket, 2 chairs with cushion AND cuddly rugs) . . . . & where may I ask do I find them???             Curled up here on The Mr's stinky farm overalls that he has tossed here for Yours Truly to wash!!! I cannot begin to figure out the mentality of those two & I don't think I shall try 😳😑      

Thank you dear friends, for staying with me through this lengthy post,

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead - remember to be kind to yourselves & to each other,

With much love & friendship to you all,