Sewing Shindig, September 2018

Following the success of the Stitched Sewing Organizers Sewalong, I've been in need of a new project. So I'm happy to announce a new boutique sewing retreat, Sewing Shindig, to be held in September this year, in Shropshire.

We have three fabulous teachers - not only quilter extraordinaire Trudi Wood, and talented quilt designer and maker Susan Standen but also the fabulous fabric and pattern designer and author Aneela Hoey!

Classes are optional and if you prefer you can just enjoy a long weekend of social sewing working on your own projects in the company of like minded quilters. More details of the classes and teachers will be available nearer the time. 

Of course, no retreat would be complete without shopping opportunities and I'm excited to say that the lovely Saira from Olive + Flo Handcraft will be supporting the event with a pop up shop on site for the duration. 

The venue is the beautiful Eaton Manor Country Estate in Church Stretton, near Telford. We have four gorgeous properties on the estate plus a huge banqueting room for meals and social sewing. All rooms are twin share, each with an en-suite bathroom. You can either book with a friend, or we can pair you with another attendee.

Arrival is on the afternoon of Friday 21st September, when you will settle into your cottage, meet the other attendees and teachers and enjoy a group dinner. There's plenty of room to either sit and chat or even crack on with your sewing that evening. On Saturday and Sunday there will be the optional classes or social sewing time. Buffet breakfasts and lunches and sit-down dinners will be provided, along with soft drinks, tea and coffee. Checkout will be by 10am on Monday 24th September. (Of course, if you need to get home on the Sunday evening, that will be absolutely fine, but you will have access to your room until you leave, so no sewing spaces piled high with luggage.)

All meals will be catered by our professional chef, so no sewing time will be wasted in the kitchen! 

Places are limited to 30 for this special event, and the price per person is £395. Payment can be in full on booking or in three equal instalments in April, May and June. To reserve a space, email your name, address, phone number, preferred payment option and any special requirements to sewingshindig@gmail.com. 

Hope to see you there!

Little gems....

There's a few things that have been said to me in blog comments over the past couple of days that have either made me laugh out loud, have brought back memories of happy childhood times and made me realise why I chose a certain covet of the week, or just made me think twice about the simplest things and the way they make other people feel.

So, the first one is Jan's (Isisjem) comment about having a yellow telephone like the one in Melody Miller's Ruby Star Vinyl - it made me remember that we had one too, back in times when I was much younger, still had both mum and dad, and life was very much simpler.  I can even remember the number still, which my dad taught me just in case I ever needed to answer the phone at age 4!  It was Chesterfield 78688, and it was our number till I was 14, by which time life had already changed in a way no child's should.  


Then there was the reaction from Annie about being covet of the week... well, the fabric she stocks rather than her personally!  And a designer yesterday, who I emailed asking if I could use some images of her fabric on a covet post next month, and who told be she was 'excited to be officially coveted'. I'm in awe of these people, and it's amazing to see them being made happy by my little covets!  That's made me smile again.


And then there's Susan (Canadian Abroad) who I exchanged some blog reply emails with yesterday, and who made me laugh out loud and who I hope won't mind me sharing this with you:


Susan: "I just used up my allotment of brain cells in one day which left me buggered for the rest of the week."


Me: "Welcome to my world! Every week's like that in my house! :-)"


Susan: "Someone should put the cells into one of those little pill boxes for me so I can dole them out in equal amounts through the week."


Now, how many of you would like one of these brain cell pill boxes once we get them patented.....