Pendleton Retreat Weekend

Friday afternoon and the road led to Pendleton (http://pendletonfarm.e-access.com.au/  and the Gumtree Quilters annual retreat.
This year we were doing the Bedford Mystery Quilt (http://mysteryquiltbedford.blogspot.com/)
and had the assistance of Faye, Deb, Kay and Valda.

Jan, Beth and Jo busily following the instructions.

Valda was kept busy all weekend, did all the pressing for us, so that
we could just keep on sewing. Thankyou Valda, you did a wonderful job.
(Valda brought husband John with her, and he was kept busy chatting to the farm owner and
a barbecue at a neighbouring farm) The farm has a lot of animals, including a camel, and the
city contingent went for a ride on the wagon around the farm to feed the animals on Sunday morning.

Line up for meals, which were delightful, especially as we did not have to cook anything,
 plan any meals, or even do the dishes!!

Faye and Deb, look exhausted after helping us all day, the "quite a bit older" Valda, who is
still hard at work!!

The work area is fantastic, spacious and light, heated by the wood fire.
Plenty of room for us all.

Later in the day, the sewing was helped along with a drink or two!?
Helen and Pat made the most of their weekend and sewed till late at night, and early in the morning.
There is another story about the hours they kept, but I think that what happens at retreat, should stay at
retreat dont you?

Jean and Barb were on a mission to achieve a quilt. This was a first for Barb as a quilter,
and she did a fantastic job. (Maybe we have almost got her hooked??)

Sitting around with a drink by the heater after a day of sewing, chatting and having a joke or two.

Faye loves cats, and this one got plenty of attention from her.

I think this "cow" was a dry one, dont think Faye got any milk!

The Sunday group of Gumtree quilters and the Bedford girls.
(Sorry to the Saturday girls, we forgot to get a photo of you too)
There were another 7 that day)

The lovely Bedford girls, Valda, Faye, Kay, and Deb, who helped us all day, pressed our pieces, did
any reverse stitching for us,showed us how to do each step of the mystery, gave out some prizes and made it a great weekend. THANK YOU.

This was after lunch on Sunday, just a few keen ones making the most of the opportunity
to keep sewing before packing up and heading home. And home was only 1/2 hour away.

Was a great weekend, lots of sharing and laughing and getting to know each other
was happening. As is usual when a group of quilters get together.

And I am pleased to report that I remembered how to start my machine, and spent 2 days just stitching and talking and laughing, with a bit of sleeping in between. I must remember to take time out to do more of that.
But I think I will have a good sleep tonight and be ready for another week of quilting tomorrow.
Sorry we cant show you photos of what we were sewing, as its a mystery and the Bedford girls
still have a few group workshops to do yet.
This week I shall blog a photo of my Bedford Mystery from 2010, which I have quilted this week, and finally finished!!!!!

So, hope you enjoyed your weekend whatever you were doing,
Blessings
From Jude