Scrub Stitchin' 2018

Well I never thought I would ever run another retreat..... but funny how fate dictates what happens.

So, if you have followed my blog for a while you will know that I have run Retreats 17 to be exact. And when I had my last back in July 2012, it saw me heading back from papercraft into fabric... which really has always been my bigger passion.  I was in a crazy time in my life, with family and my health... and I just decided that was it. I did run a smaller girls weekend in my home upon some nudging, later that year... but that was it.

I have attended Girls Day in the Country (GDITC) in Nundle and Bloggers in Bathurst over the years since then, and have loved just being a participant in a great weekend away.

So a couple of months back, when I spent some time with Chooky, and after missing the last ever GDITC. She was on a we need to organise something, and she had a venue in mind, and asked if I was keen to help organise it... and so 

SCRUB STITCHIN' 2018 was born.

After some emailing and chatting with friends out venture is booming. We now have 36 of the 40 beds filled at our Venue Camp Cypress in Baradine NSW. Our little project has been sketched, planned, constructed and a pattern written. (and it's all being kept a surprise, as hard as that is)

So we have organised to gather from Thursday from 2pm till Sunday 11am on either March 22-25th or April 5th-8th,Still awaiting confirmation on this date from Camp Cypress  Bookings. We will enjoy stitching and bitching till our hearts content, all inlcusive meals and accommodation and the secret surprise project. for a total of $350. If you are interested in attending a non refundable deposit of $20 is required to help you reserve on of those last 4 beds. 

Chooky and I are so excited to begin this venture, where we can meet old and new friends and enjoy an amazing couple of days together at least once a year.

If you are interested in finding out more please be sure to email Myself  forever_ always@optusnet.com.au or Chooky  chookyblue2@gmail.com

Road Tripping Country NSW part 1,

Another fabulous road trip began, can you see why we love travelling the country just look at these photos breathtaking... these are in the little town of Quirindi, our first nights accommodation was held in this little town after a bit of beauty therapy for me... yes I did travel to see my beautician who has moved to this little piece of heaven.

Our next stop is with wonderful stitching event Girls Day in The Country. I love catching up with these amazing friends that I met through blogging and Kerry's wonderful Event pulls us all together from all over our amazing country to this little piece of Heaven in Nundle. Loved snapping (well actually making Brian get down on the middle of the highway) to take this photo on the turn into Nundle just dead smack in the middle of the road.

we all need to walk in somebody else's shoes occasionally

After arriving at our little abode, a little pop up shop was erected, so the ladies can pop in over the weekend and do a little shopping at Forever Always. Then its down to the BBQ area for a little Drinks, Nibble and Chatter... it seems that's really all we do.

It is a weekend filled with love and laughter and non stop chatter. Saturday it's all action with lots of goodies and an awesome project from Annie Downs of Hatched and Patched.

 Saturday night we enjoy another night in the BBQ area of Fossikers Caravan Park, Kym and Heath put on a great night, great food which Brian assists in cooking. We had a wonderful gift exchange... these key rings were my gifts for both swaps that we did over the weekend, I do hope  the ladies who received them love them as much as I love mine.Its a Annie Downs pattern that I adapted with the stitchery we received prior to attending the event. I received a couple of beautifully decorated tea towels a exquisite boxed pair of scissors which somehow missed photographing. Thanks to both my swap partners I love my gifts. 

Donna and I were last up again with Kym drinking around the fire - JUST love this lady.

 After such a great beginning my adventure can only get better. So after breakfast we headed of Following Chookyblue to her home and our home away from home for a couple of days...

We ventured up an over the Warren Bungles

Spring & Table Topper

Well, with a PC upgrade, my blogging has been getting back on track.  I found that I had these images ready to share but had forgotten....

 So back on the 30th May, in celebration of Chookyblue's chook shed birthday I was enjoying my drink and stitching at home alone and managed to get my GDITC project finished... here are the finished images of my Lynette Anderson's Spring Table Topper

And how apt that we are in the first couple of days of spring and it's on my table with my fresh spring freesia's from my garden today. 

GDITC - a long weekend.

WOW, what a weekend, I am always amazed at how we all come together from all of over this wonderful country, to this tiny country town. And it's just like yesterday that we were there. The friendships, I have made through this little event is just amazing, and without you my life would be very different.

From my very first Girls Day in the Country to today, I seem to just unwind the moment I enter the Fossikers Tourist Park - such a peaceful location, even with all the chatter that begins from our first Friday afternoon drinks meet and greet session.

This year we were given the Make it, Fake it or Bake it Swap and also Lynette sent out a lovely design for us to create something with to swap in our Class. I created a couple of Coffee Cozy's using Lynetts's stitchery and another I drew from a favourite stitchery I have done.

These are the wonderful Gifts I received in our Swaps.... the felt items are just stunning... and I have used both often since receiving them from the lovely Lea, for the Make it, Fake it, and bake it swap.. Lea's felt work is amazing... the tape measure has been used many times as it sits in my travel sewing bag.

 This little needle keep as you can see has been put to use straight away, it has been perfect holding my hexies as I have worked on my GDITC 2015 project. Thanks to Suzie J for creating such a useful item.

 Friday Nights dinner was so worth it, the MOUNT MISERY GOLD MINE RETREAT, CAFE, MUSEUM really made a comeback under the new management.... what a night, even if I lost my voice, I still enjoyed the laughter and frivolity. Oh and did I mention the food.... AMAZING

Saturday saw us all gush into the hall and Kerry certainly pleased us all again, the hall looked so pretty with our tables of brown paper parcels, doilies and fresh pretty flowers.

Of course when you get a group of bloggers together, there is always a camera snapping somewhere, and this weekend was no different, those first few minutes in the door and the cameras were going, who could get the perfect photo, who was photo bombing, it was hilarious to sit back and watch, the camera's, phones and ipads snapping away... even noticed a selfie stick or two!!!

Lynette Anderson was our tutor for the day and I loved the project the moment I spied it.... so me, hexies, table centre oh and Easter - yippee. Small enough to complete quickly

After a slow start, due to the flu imploding on me, I did manage a few more over the weekend before having a day on the couch at home to complete this much more... I am so loving this project, and I do hope it graces our table on Easter Sunday - I am cracking my own whip!!!

(edited) - nope, it didn't make it but I am halfway  now, this is the latest progress photo.

This is the 2014 fnished project photo, I have to say it is the first year that I completed the project, and it was apparently a big year for finishes.... as you can see.

This is our 2015 Bloggers Group photo, this group is growing more and more, and its such a wide travelled group. I love you all and our instant banter as if time and space doesn't interfere with out friendships.I know we all have Chooky to thank for Connecting us, this woman is certainly up there on my idol list, and I thank everyday that I stumbled across her blog and her happy smiling face.

Of course I couldn't let the day go without getting in on the Selfie pose either, and here I am with the wonderful Lynette Anderson. I am amazed at her generosity and friendship. 

Please don't look at the impending flu eyes and dark rings... And this was before the um dreaded Saturday night Drinking of a bottle of Southern Comfort and Lime with my pals - all in the name of a medicinal drink of course. After our perfectly casual BBQ dinner in the Caravan Park Kitchen. I really love this time to sit and share our lives and our finished items - it really is a great relaxing event. I loved that there were a couple of us sitting around an unlit fire-pit, nattering and drinking and drinking and nattering all whilst being serenaded by a few blokes celebrating life with guitars and voices. It really was a highlight of my night.

Sunday is our day of adventure on the weekend, after a nice brunch with the girls, who all say farewell and head on home. Mum, Dad, Brian and I like to take a day out in the country literally, and travel around. Heath the Caravan Park Manager/Owner suggested we travel out to Kentucky to a Distillery and it was an amazing day out even if I was certainly in the high peak of a full blown head cold. 

And after walking up and seeing this sign, it was just bound to be the perfect place for the afternoon. Stephen is certainly a character and kept us entertained. Our meal was relaxing and enjoyable great end to a wonderful weekend. I also believe that Brian on Heath's advice will be planning a bit of sojourn for the male attendees of Girls Day in the country, and I think that Stephen will organise a walk through the distillery as well... so girls with hubbies that need entertaining keep us in mind I will try to get a blog organised for this with Brian.

And what a day for a leisurely drive back to the Caravan Park before we headed home to reality and all that comes with a head cold in the big smoke. DRUGS and REST!!!

All booked in for GDITC 2016 with Anni Downs and I can't wait!!!