Retreat Workshops

It's a while since I wrote on this blog, but I have been away on school camps and there hasn't been a lot to tell you. We had a committee meeting on Saturday and sorted out registrations, workshops, merchandise orders etc. It took all afternoon, but it was a job well done.

There are still spaces left at the Retreat, so if you know anyone who was humming and haahing, pleae encourage them to join us in Adelaide next April. We can guarantee a fun filled weekend.

There are also spaces in most of the workshops, so please consider taking one of the classes. Here are a couple of class descriptions to whet your appetite. Both Tara and Gina are very highly regarded teachers, though perhaps not so well known interstate.

TEA WITH ROSES - TARA SNIEDZE (OF TASSIE QUILTS) $40.00

With simple floral shapes perfect for the beginner, this is the ideal project for you if you've always wanted to try needle-turn applique. You will learn easy techniques to create bias strip stems, inside and outside curves, clipped points, and simple marking techniques. Bring along your favourite fabrics and coloured threads, and learn how easy needle-turn applique can be.

Approx 24 x 76 inches.

Tara Sniedze has a blog. Tara has also published in AP&Q. She teaches at Quiltaholics at Magill.


DAISY CHAIN QUILT - GINA BURGESS - $40.00

This fun one day workshop will show you how to make the delightful Daisy Chain quilt. Based on the traditional single Irish Chain design, we will look at the construction of the chain block, the preparation and stitching of the appliqué block and finally the piecing of the border. You can choose the daisy chain appliqué block (see photo), bring your own appliqué design (must fit a 9" fin. block) or complete the Wine and Roses theme block. (This photo will be available later.)
This is a stress free workshop suitable for all skill levels.

Gina teaches at Port Noarlunga, and has a group called Gallery Quilters there.

This quilt made by Gina Burgess and Mary Williams won Group Quilt at the recent SA Quilters Guild exhibition

Details of workshops and photos of projects can be found on the Retreat website - link on this page.

Liz

Committee Report

One of our eminent committee members, Jenny Loveder, undertook the dangerous and arduous task of checking out Jetty Road, Glenelg, site of our Retreat next year. After hours of strenuous streetwalking (I kid you not) here is her report.

"I can offer (very satisfied) information on a little cafe called Zest in Sussex Street, Glenelg, where I had a really good coffee this morning, along with three different bruchetta – hummas, tomato & basil, and tapendade, all served by pleasant, smiling staff. I passed Bracegirdles and DIDN’T go further up Jetty Road to Haigh’s, tho I was tempted! Bookshops abound, coffee cafes thrive, and the place just buzzes." Jenny

Of course, had she enough energy to continue in other directions, she would have discovered a long inviting jetty, sandy white beaches, a fun park with a beautiful old Hurdy Gurdy, and esplanade of cosmopolitan restaurants and luxury apartments and shops and a boat marina.

And all this on top of the best quilting weekend you could ever hope to experience. How can you not come to Adelaide next April?

Liz

About us

Now that you have met both Chris and I - well, you have read our names - I'll take the liberty of introducing us very briefly!

Chris and I are both teachers - Chris is a secondary school Home Economics teacher and I am currently a primary school teacher (Year 6/7). We have known each other since we both joined the committee to organise the 1999 Adelaide Retreat. Our group was called the 99ers initially and after the retreat we all enjoyed each others company so much, that we stayed together, although our numbers have depleted a little. That's what happens when a group of quilters gets together to create a retreat!! There are still 6 of the original 99ers on the committee for this retreat.

I have been quilting now for about 16 years and Chris has been quilting forever!! My role on the committee is to organise sponsorship - and to write up this blog and Chris is coordinator for the Raffle quilt and co-host of the blog. That's us in a nutshell!!

I have been looking for photos that I can post to the blog, but so far this is the only one I have. This is our committee (minus me) working very hard organising your retreat. They were actually checking out venues at the time. Since the photo was taken a couple of the committee have had to leave us and we have several new members.

Top Row : L-R Maxine Smith, Betty Swalling, Jan Strachan, Chris O'Brien, Andrea Ellison. 2nd Row: Bron Atkinson, Elvira Richardson, Jenny Loveder, Heather Bolt

Sizes!!!!

We had a great deal of discussion and some real belly laughs at the last committee meeting about how we could encourage retreatees to remember to put down the sizes on their apparel orders. We put the problem down to 'Oldtimers' or shaky hands because quite often either the sizes were left off altogther or the handwriting was very difficult to read.

In the end (with tongue firmly in cheek, girls), we decided to let you know that the default sizes for the apparel will probably be either Size 8 or Size 6X. Now we don't really want anyone to have the embarassment of walking around for a weekend either looking like Orphan Annie in adults cast offs or as if they're wearing my 4 year old grand daughter's cast offs, so please remember when ordering apparel to check that you have included the correct sizes.

There will be no exchanges if the apparel doesn't fit!!!

Have a good day.

Liz Needle

Introducing Liz's co-host

Good morning fellow retreatees
Whilst I'm not a Retreat virgin, I am most definitely a Blogging virgin so I will keep my post short and simple in case I blunder where no man or woman has blundered before.

Given your responses to Liz's last post I thought that you might like to see a close up of our raffle quilt and, of course, its prize winning ribbon.

We had a lot of fun choosing the design and making this quilt, especially towards the 'putting it all together' stage. At each of our gatherings we eagerly awaited the arrival of committee members so that we could lay out what we had completed the previous month and ooh and aah over each others' blocks. I suspect that each and every one of the committee would secretly like to win this quilt!

For South Australian Scquilters, the quilt is currently at Stitches in Time on Fullarton Road. You can purchase raffle tickets in the shop.
Chris O'Brien

A Thing of Beauty

Our raffle quilt is a thing of beauty - well we think it is. It was made as a joint effort by members of the committee, from a pattern called "Stars in the Garden" by Lori Smith. The quilt was coordinated, designed and finished off by Chris O'Brien and quilted by an ex-committee member, Lizzy Hentze of Jacaranda Quilts in South Australia.

For fun we entered it in the Royal Adelaide Show and were amazed and delighted when it won 1st prize in the Group Quilts section - and no, it was not the only quilt in that section! So, whoever wins it will own a prize winning quilt.

We still have tickets left at $2 each - $20 a book, but you will have to be quick as the raffle will be drawn in December. If you would like a ticket (or a book of tickets) you can contact Elvie Richardson or any of the committee members - email addresses on the website.

Here is a picture of the quilt with its ribbon.

Liz Needle

Welcome to our Blog

Welcome to the first edition of the Wine and Roses Retreat blog. Hopefully I will be able to keep up the regular postings - I am sure there will be a host of people out there who will keep me up to task if I slacken off.

The purpose of the blog is to chat to you informally about our plans for the Retreat next year and to help you get to know and to recognise the hard working committee behind the Retreat. With luck - and with the cooperation of the committee (some rather reluctant to be seen publicly) I will be able to introduce the members over the next couple of weeks and to tell you a little about their roles on the committee.

Please visit the Retreat website for all the details and to download registration forms and order forms for apparel and merchandise. Explore the site - there is a lot of information there and don't forget to use the search facility if you can't find what you are looking for.

More later from me. It's time I did some school stuff for tomorrow.

Liz Needle