Recently, I and seven friends spent a week at Corny Point on the Yorke Peninsula. Two of those friends own beach houses almost next door to each other, providing us with one house to sew in and one house to sleep and eat in. We had the best of both worlds, stunning sea views during the day (to gaze at during breaks in sewing) and a cosy atmosphere for eating and sleeping.
We have been taking these breaks for quilting and soothing ruffled feathers, twice a year now for about 5 years. In October, we will rent a large house in the Blue Mountains for more of the same. Two of my friends live in Sydney, so we spend one week in SA and another in NSW.
It feels a little bit decadent taking these breaks twice a year, however I soon get over it and no sooner does one break finish and I am ready for the next one. We have a wonderful time. I think it is important to keep in touch with good friends and it is especially pleasurable because we are all like minded quilters.
It is also a good opportunity to FINISH some of my projects and in the following photos are just two of my recent projects. The large bag (Henrietta's Valise) is available as a pattern in two sizes. My daughter decided she would like one as a baby bag, but a little smaller, so I have included a pattern for a smaller bag with a pocket each end (one pocket has a horizontal zipper and the other a vertical zipper with a small pleat in the lining so that it can hold a baby's bottle etc). The quilt that is pictured is also available as a pattern. It is just a big star, quilted all over in a rose pattern.....simple but effective.