Blossom Heart Quilts Retreat 2020

Spending time with fellow quilters (whether we are actually sewing or not!) is one of my most favourite things to do. I’ve shared before how important the online quilting community was to me during our years in Japan, but upon return to Australia, it was the in-person community that welcomed me with open arms and formed a major part of my friendship circles.

Giving back to the community, and further fostering creative community, has become a big part of where I want Blossom Heart Quilts to go. Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of being able to run a quilting retreat with Caitlin at her gorgeous farmhouse in South Australia. It went so well, and was so much fun, that I’m doing it again next year! That’s right, Blossom Heart Quilts Retreat is happening in March, 2020.

This time, we’re heading north of Melbourne to the beautiful town of Harcourt and this cosy, comfotrable retreat location:

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Retreat Details

When: 2pm Friday March 6^th – 2pm Sunday March 8^th

Where: Create @ Harcourt, just 75 mins up the highway from Melbourne Airport

What: Spend the weekend surrounded by fellow quilters, doing creative community together! There are 9 spots available.

Cost: $375 – a $200 deposit with the remaining balance due by January 31st, 2020.

What to expect:

• A private Facebook group for attendees to get to know each other beforehand
• A comfy, casual environment where trackies and ugg boots are highly recommended
• Start sewing as early and continue as late as you like
• A free fabric destash table
• Fully catered meals, starting with Taco Fri-yay + cocktails on Friday night
• A charity quilt class on Saturday morning
• And a good time!

Create @ Harcourt is a newly renovated venue in a beautiful rural setting, with comfy beds, a well-lit, fully equipped craft room and so many options for taking gorgeous quilt photos around the property! Accommodation is shared bedrooms, with 2 or 3 people per room (no top bunks required).

Doing Creative Community Together

We are big on doing creative community together. What does this mean? We work together, we experience quilting and creating together, we help and support and encourage one another. Here’s what that looks like at our retreat:

For the charity quilt class, we combine teaching and giving. Attendees vote beforehand what technique they would like to learn, and on the day, make a quilt block using that technique. These blocks are then sewn together to make a quilt which will be donated to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne via Very Snuggly Quilts. All the fabric is provided for this project.

Want to get some good photos of your latest quilty finishes? You’ll find willing arms and quilt holders to help you get some shots!

While the retreat is fully catered, attendees are asked to volunteer to help set up or clean up one meal over the weekend. Many hands make light work!

What’s included:

• All main meals from Friday dinner through Sunday lunch
• A fully-equipped craft room with cutting mats, irons and boards, and design walls
• Bedding and towels
• Unlimited tea and coffee

What to bring:

• Sewing machine, projects, notions and rulers
• Good quality fabric you’d like to pass along – bring that fabric you’re tired of or know will never use, and swap and share alike via the freebie fabric table!
• Snacks and drinks – alcohol permitted
• Quilts (finished or flimsy) to make use of the photoshoot locations on site
• A community spirit – for sharing your quilty tips and experience, for the charity quilt, for helping out
• Oh, and clothes, PJs and toiletries, of course!

How does that all sound?! I hope you’re as excited as I am! Tickets go live on Monday at 7am (AEDST), but you can preview the shop listing for the ticket deposit here for further details.

Sign up here to be notified as soon as tickets go live.

FAQs

Are dietary requirements catered for?
The menu caters for vegetarian options, but at this time we are unable to cater for serious food allergies. Please contact us for further discussion about your individual dietary needs before purchasing a ticket.

Does anyone need to sleep on a top bunk?
Nope, there’s no need to go climbing ladders to get into bed at this retreat. Accommodation is shared bedrooms, with 2 or 3 people per room.

Can my friend and I come together?
Ticket sales are limited to one per person, but if you’re both booked in and want to share a room together, absolutely!

Is it only for machine sewing?
Hand sewing is more than welcome! There is a very high chance that a machine will be needed for the charity quilt class, but we can sort that out, no worries.

Have any further questions? Leave them in the comments and I will add them to the list.