Monday 22 April 2013

The fun has begun......

How about this for a room with a view.


Loads of natural light and views to die for. Can you imagine a nicer place to spend a week sewing  Took this pic right after we'd finished setting up our sewing stations (sounds really posh doesn't it) and before the mayhem began.

Meet the neighbours.......


they've got us surrounded.    This is cow country.... dairy cow country!   There is something so calming about cows don't you think.

Just as we were about to get down to the serious business of stitching Kitty surprised us with a gift....



she made us all a lovely little thread basket and heart pin cushion.   There's wine and chocolates and a mug for tea and some lovely hand cream to soothe our work worn hands when we finish sewing for the day. I reckon she's a star!

Here's what's going on at Chris's table......


She's been busy cutting up a jelly roll of a new range of fabric from Aneela Hoey called Posy.

Sally sliced up a jelly roll of Origins by Basic Grey (it's an old one).....


she's busy here trying to persuade her blocks to expand by 1/8".    Funny... we didn't have her pegged as the 'anal' type!

Kitty has already made and pieced half square triangles from no less than 2 layer cakes of  Fig Tree Fabrics. Buttercup and Buttercup & Roses.   She's ahead of the game because she didn't have to cut  540 pieces before she started... like I did!  I'm only saying!


Strewth.... it's only day one and she's already got a quilt laid out on the floor.


Thought you might like to see a pic of quilters in action.   All those heaps and bit of fabric in the foreground are the 540 pieces I cut and sorted into blocks.   Just so you know I wasn't slacking.   Finally found a pattern worthy of my prized Verna jelly roll.

Started stitching too....


more on that another day.

Trying hard not to spend too much time looking out of the windows.....


Did any of you watch the BBC TV series "2000 Acres of Sky" a few years back.   I loved that show.  Cried when it ended... how sad is that!    Anyhow..... the village it was set in is actually nestled in that little cove below.    Pure magic for me!  Icing on the retreat cake.


More neighbours

That feint shadow on the horizon there is actually the coastline of Ireland!!   Cool eh!!


Well.... I'd better get going.    I can here the busy buzz of sewing machines in the conservatory.  I bet they are sewing their socks off trying to leave me further behind..... they seem to think it's funny to do that.   Don't you just love friends!

Hope you are all having as much fun as we are this week.   I'll be back to bore you with more news, views and interviews from our country retreat very soon.    Just when you thought you'd got rid of me....... no such luck!

Behave yourselves
Hugs
Josie

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

oh such beautiful views,lovely pics Josie,enjoy my friend and have fun.xx

Noela said...

What a lovely place to have a retreat. Hope you have a wonderful time, I'm sure you will. Hugs.....

Susan said...

What a fantastic location for a retreat. I think I would have to turn away from the views to get some sewing done. Lots of lovely creativity going on, enjoy yourselves.

marina said...

looks like you are in heaven, both with the retreat and the scenery. it is amazing.
Don't you worry about those over achievers trying to make you look as if you are behind! we all march to the beat of our own drum
enjoy
x

Tilly Talksalot said...

Hi girls, It looks so beautiful and you are getting on great. Can't wait to see all the finished projects. Have a wonderful time. Wish i was there. Hugs to you all XX

Marilyn said...

What an amazing place to have a retreat. I think either the creativity will flow fast, looking at the view will take so much time that things will not be achieved. Which will you be doing? Have a lovely time and looking forward to hearing and seeing more about your time in this magic place.

Raewyn said...

Fabulous!! A whole week retreat sounds awesome. A beautiful setting like that just makes the heart soar and the sewing machine hum! Enjoy!

Anthea said...

Josie I would not get a seam done with that to-die-for view! I think you & I have same Pfaff. Enjoy all the sewing, socialising & cow-admiring...
Sewing & cows remind me of the scene in Cranford when the lady makes an all-in-one suit for her beloved cow after it falls in the mud & its hair dissolves, LOL x

Diane-crewe said...

no need to encourage you to have a wonderful time ... in a wonderful setting.. only a tiny bit jealous xx

Grethe said...

Love that big quilt on the floor there! Thanks for sharing lovely pics,nice cows and nature:-)

Fiona said...

how lovely.... such a great place to get together and sew... I must say I would have a hard time not staring out the windows!
Hugz

Lynda said...

Oh, wish I was there - look an absolutely beautiful place to spend a week sewing.

Lynda said...

What a gorgeous place for a retreat! I would have to drag my eyes from the view to accomplish anything. Looking forward to more pictures.

Wendy said...

Ohh looks a fantastic spot. Have a wonderful time!! Hugs Wendy

Kindred Quilts said...

There is nothing boring about seeing your wonderful retreat pictures! I think it would be hard NOT to stare at the view out your windows! Love the cows! Happy sewing!

Linda in Calif. said...

Josie, I loved your post! Thanks for bringing me a bit of cheer this morning. I really want to know what pattern is worthy of your Verna fabric. Please do tell. I really don't know how you could get much done with those beautiful views.

Leanne said...

That looks so amazing. I wish I was there to, I hope you have a great week of sewing and laughter.