Last weekend I set forth into country Victoria to enjoy the annual sewing retreat run by the guild I belong to, (North of the Yarra Quilters). With roughly 80 participants, it is a weekend abuzz with not only the hum of a lot of sewing machines, but also the inspirational creativity being displayed.
The conference building that we use for both sewing and meals is right up alongside a small lake, which makes a nice backdrop, even if it is not put to use, as it would be by other groups that use the venue.
The sleeping cabins are further up the hill, and also overlook the lake.
My main ambition for the weekend was to continue working on my “Wheel of Fortune” quilt that I started on retreat last year. Because I had hand-work, I was able to move around a lot and talk to lots of the other ladies. The round dinner tables were a good place to lay it out for a photo too, (except that I then got questions about whether it was a table cloth). One and a half more revolutions, and I will begin squaring up.
One afternoon I borrowed a friend’s sewing machine to whip up an ipad cover that I sketched and planned on a scrap of paper. I’m pretty happy with my efforts, it came out just as I intended. I only made one small cutting error when I was cutting out the lining, which was easily fixed with another small strip of fabric.
The cover fitted perfectly, and the ipad (2) is now much more protected, snug and warm. It was pretty cold up there, so my arm-warmers kept me snug and warm too!
I think the case co-ordinates pretty nicely with the skins on my ipad. Now all I have to do is add velcro to close it properly, alas I didn’t have any with me at the time. I plan on attaching it when I quilt the whole of the spotty section with parallel lines.
Next time I post, I will show you the purchases I made at the patchwork shops on the way up – a vital part of the retreat is the communal fabric shopping that goes on!