Scrub Stichin Retreat

 Sew Much Fun!!!!!  This was my first time going to any stitching retreat so even more special to be
heading to the Scrub stitchin retreat  in Baradine, NSW……. finally, after only being able to read about it for so many years!  So I’m afraid you’ll have to deal with me telling you all about it!!!  Thanks to Christine from MacDonalds Patch, who had already planned to drive up - I was able to catch a lift with her.  Although we've been corresponding via the blogs since 2010, we had never actually met in person until she turned up in the driveway to stay the night before we set off on our little 2 day road trip!  

Day 1(Tuesday) we left here making our first stop at Junee - checking out the chocolate and liquorice factory  ..... definitely worth a visit

Such a beautiful old building and so interesting inside ..... can you see the large copper mixers there behind the glass ....... and the gardens were just as interesting with so many places to sit and enjoy a drink

How decadent does the "real" hot chocolate look?  And they came with little chocolate covered licorice beside them .....Yum!!!

This was followed by  a very late lunch in Forbes ) before stopping in Dubbo the night.

 a very late lunch in Forbes ) before stopping in Dubbo the night.

(Day 2) We had decided to make our way via Manduran but on arrival we were really only able to get a coffee and the cheese factory was viewed through the window as we decided it wasn’t really  worth waiting for it to open - although we did enjoy a bit of walk and took a couple of photos 

……..so onto Coonabarabran where we found 2 delightful patchwork shops and had quite a bit of fun picking up a few goodies lol  Little did we know that this was to be the "pop up" shop at the retreat - very handy as a few of us ran out of items that were needed and managed to find other "needed" items lol

Finally we arrived in Baradine where Scrub Stichin was being held …….it was just like meeting up with old friends - many bloggers I’ve “ known “ through the blogs over the years but never met in person!  ……. What a fun few days we had!

Wednesday afternoon was dumping our gear into cabins and sewing stuff into the large room that had been beautifully set up together with a goodie bag for everyone with our name tags - then it was off to the local Pub for dinner and finally snap a photo with "Chooky" and a few of the other girls

Looking up the main street of Baradine from the hotel verandah

I know you are hanging out to see what was in the goodie bag ..... A beautiful Mug, handmade items and a specially designed kit by Annie Downs  

From Thursday morning right through to Sunday lunch time there was plenty of food, fun, laughter, sewing, sharing, sunsets, walks and getting to know each other that bit more .......

Nothing better than Scones with Jam and Cream lol ......  We all had been given places to sit  which meant I got to know Trish - such a fabulous lady and she is now a blogger as well! Click on the link to visit her and say hello!

Christine and Janice were on the same section of tables so we had lots of fun and Janice was very patient giving me plenty of ideas and help for upcoming quilts to be made.

On one of our walks checking out the sunsets I met this beautiful boy I knicknamed "BullyBoy" - he came right up to the fence to say hello to me

Christine, myself, Janice and Raewyn   - we thought we had a great sunset till the sky changed and we caught the next pic

Show and Tell was on Saturday arvo before we went for drinks outside - here is Jenny behaving herself  ...... you might catch  a glimpse of her "misbehaving" further down lol

and it was time to get ready for the Star themed dinner ...................

I'm pleased to say that the beanie I made for the swap part was warmly received by Sue and I received a lovely bunch of fabrics I'm looking forward to playing with.  I also received  a prize of some lovely blue fat quarters.......... Sunday morning finally loomed - last minute sewing, and frivolity and a bit of scull duggery to add to the fun as Jen tried to hide some cute little toys that had been made lol ........ 

All up we had 28 girls attend Scrub Stitchin

13 of these are bloggers - with 2 newbies to blogging 

Front Row - Janice (Jannimary), Jenny (Bird on the border), Christine (MacDonalds Patch)

Middle Row: Annette (Jindi's Cottage), Maureen (Pink Sunset Cottage), Me, Trish (Coming Home)

Back Row: Raewyn (Stitching Farm Girl), Chooky (ChookyBlue), Sue (Kiwikids), Betty (Raindbow Connection Quilters), Lianne (Lianee Makes Stuff), Lynda (Heavens to Bettsy)

Raewyn, Myself and Sue just before it was time to say goodbye ........

Thanks Chooky for putting on such a Fabulous Retreat - I loved every minute of it and have soooo many photos!  It was sad to say goodbye to everyone ....... maybe again next year ????

Sunday after lunch - time for Christine and I head off ...... we took the scenic route via a dirt road to hook back onto the Newell Hwy after Coonabarabran 

Stopping at Parkes overnight where we had a nice breakfast before the last leg back to Corowa where Christine stayed the night.  

She came walking with Lucy, Bella and Deb and myself before heading back the 3hrs to Melbourne.  I felt like Christine and I had been great friends forever and I enjoyed every minute of our time together - such a great travel companion - Thankyou Christine xo