R for Retreat

Our annual retreat at Adekate Lodge near Dean lived up to our expectations in every way!  The accommodation was basic although very clean but our hosts Rose and Rob were very friendly and welcoming.  Friday night began with us all settling in and setting up our machines and sewing paraphernalia and having a good gossip with close friends and catching up with those we hadn’t seen all year!  Andrea and Rosie were absolutely brilliant starting us off making a lanyard for our sewing scissors, a pouch for sewing pattern cards and a thread catcher.  Thanks ladies!  After a lovely dinner there was more sewing, gossip and laughter.

The next day, Andrea showed those interested her Tropical Dreams pattern and off they went stitching away with Andrea on hand to help where needed.  There were many different jelly rolls used and it was fascinating to see the same pattern come together in so many ways!  Other ladies did hand sewing or their own sewing projects.  There were quilt tops finished and some started, blocks completed, new techniques tried out and old UFOs worked on…again! 

There was a quilt show in Cheswick so many of us went to see.  There weren’t many on display but all were very interesting.  The town also boasted a Woolen Mill with 5 cute Alpaca on site, a chocolatier, a patchwork shop and many delightful cafés.

On Saturday evening lots of the ladies dressed up in their R is for Retreat costumes.  There were characters from Robin Hood, Red Riding Hood, a Rabbi, from Rags to Riches and many more!  The winners were Barbara and Maureen dressed as Raggedy Ann and Andy.  They were brilliant!

There were many entries for the R for Retreat challenge and it was difficult to choose just one to vote for.  Jocelyn had the right idea in voting for all of them!  The winners were Esmae with her embroidered rabbit, Elizabeth’s Flooded Country wall hanging and Annie and her three rabbits in a row.  Well done ladies!

There was also an unexpected surprise when we were asked to display the quilts we’d brought for our beds and bags we’d made for carrying our sewing supplies.  It was a very happy show and tell!  We’d also brought old photos of our wedding days and it was fun trying to match faces to people especially as so many had been married for over 40 years!

Throughout the weekend Andrea and Rosie were giving away gifts as lucky dips and prizes.  There were lots of stitcheries, patterns and sewing supplies.   All in all it was great fun!

So after a weekend of indulging in the wonderful meals prepared by the camp staff we packed up our belongings along with our smiles and headed home quite content and many kilos heavier!

Evelyn and Glo