Bali Quilting Retreat, Fabric and Curtural Tour September 2018

Come and join and indulge your passion for quilting and batik fabrics with a group of like minded people to Bali.  This tour starts with visits to Batik shops, a wonderful haberdashery shop and Batik lessons.  Followed by the opportunity to sew in at a beautiful resort with a private area with workrooms and its own swimming pool.  The accommodation is on site so you are able to sew 24/7 if you so desire.  We include cultural experiences of the beautiful country and people of Bali.
The land only tariff includes accommodation, breakfast and lunch each day, 3 dinners, tour guide and transport,  pick up and return to the airport at the start and finish of the retreat.  Visits to batik shops, two batik lessons, use of sewing machines and cultural experiences.
For more information please contact me. russeldr@bigpond.com  0269474216
We would love to have you join in in this great experience.
Dorothy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5th Australian Quilting Cruise

The 5th Australian Quilting Cruise leaving Sydney 31st January 2018 around New Zealand is now full.  The response to this cruise has been overwhelming and on behalf of Chris Dowell and Juanita Bugge and myself I would like to thank all those wonderful ladies who have booked.

We have a waiting list if you are interested in going on this cruise. Please contact me by email russeldr@bigpond.com if you are interested.

 

 

 

 

Bali Quilting Retreat, Fabric and Cultural Tour

The 2016 Bali Quilting Retreat - Fabric and Cultural Tour has been a great success.  Ten wonderful ladies from three Australian states attended and all had a great time.  Mini spending sprees were common at the fabric shops in Denpasar. 

 

 Two inspirational batik workshops were organised the first using the Tjanting drawing tool method for hot wax.  Chris Dowell, a talented quilter and artist, helped the ladies with their designs.  Chris, with valued help from staff at the venue, then helped everyone create their own masterpiece.  All were thrilled with the results. The second used stamps and the hot wax.

Our inclusive retreats also encourages participants to learn about and experience the culture of Bali and meet local people also enjoy local food and the landscapes. 

 

 

 

 

The highlight of the trip, for quilters, is the accommodation at beautiful Candidassa  in the Ashyana Resort where they have the opportunity to sew with our machines. The staff at Ashyana resort look after us wonderfully and an air-conditioned sewing room is provided. Ashyana is on the beach and has breathtaking views of the ocean. A Mystery Workshop is included and the results this year were very well received.

 

Next year (2017) the retreat will be from 28^th August – 10^th September and is filling fast.  If you would like information on this retreat please contact me.

Dorothy

Comments on this year’s retreat from some of the participants.

Bali was just beautiful and the sightseeing inspirational.

I enjoyed the block of quilting time, as I never seem to be able to spend that much time quilting all at once, at home!!

 

I am very proud of my achievements and it is thanks to your encouragement and teaching.

It was so good to see all those bali fabrics in the shops in Denpasar -even though I felt like a deer in the headlights with so much choice.

 

I have laid out my purchases and planned at least 5 more projects with them. When they eventuate will be another story!!

I’m back to my busy days and feel re-energised after my 2 weeks of being pampered.

Deb

Thank you again to Dorothy, Chris, John and Eddy. All a complete package that complemented each other's talents perfectly. What a wonderful crafty break that exploded with inspiration from the first day in the fabric shop, through the cultural experiences, culinary pleasures and creative inspiration from our tropical Bali paradise retreat! Loved every minute of it. Thank you all for playing with me over the past 2 weeks! XXX Delwyn

Dorothy, it was our pleasure to be on this tour. I am sure I can speak for us all to say that we appreciated the honour of going to Eddy's home for dinner and seeing the Monkey dance, also to go to the village and see Sari's shop and have lunch at her house. The contact with the local people makes a joy of the trip. 

John's stories and history lessons were wonderful; he has great presentation and content. 

Chriss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5th Australian Quilting Cruise Specialist Art Quilt and Foundation Piecing

We now have our 5th Australian Quilt Cruise 31st January 2018 – 13 night New Zealand Cruise Specialist Art Quilt and Foundation Piecing up and running. Bookings are starting to come in if you would like to come with us on this wonderful cruise please contact me.


Cruise Overview
Enjoy a 14 day cruise on the beautiful ‘Radiance of the Seas’ visiting wonderful ports of call in New Zealand while indulging in your passion for Quilting. This cruise is specialising in Art Quilting and Foundation Piecing using the Judy Niemeyer patterns. Three passionate teachers will be taking you step by step through the process of these techniques. Workshop numbers are kept small. Chose one of three great workshops. Our popular Mystery Workshop is again offered to all participants. Every participant will receive a new Singer Workshop Sewing Machine which they can take home. Keep it for future workshops or give it to someone special.
Cabin Prices start from $2654 twin share, which includes cruise workshops and sewing Machine to take home. Friends and Partners are welcome to come along (they receive a $600 discount). The cruise offers plenty of entertainment on board or just to relax. Everyone will share the experience of the wonderful ports of call. Your friends/partners are also included in our Welcome and Farwell events.

Tutors and their Workshops
Chris Dowell – Fascinating Flora
Chris will take you step by step through the designing of a one of a kind Art Quilt with Flora as the inspiration. This workshop also shows you how best to quilt the finished masterpiece. A basic starter kit will be provided.

Christine Dowell (Chris) lives in beautiful Toowoomba, Queensland. Most of her life she has dabbled in art. Mainly drawing and painting but her greatest love is textiles. Chris loves to paint with fabric. Her inspiration comes from the world around her. Chris’s work is a representation of what she sees either from her own experiences or from books and photos from others. Chris creates art quilts using appliqué, thread sketching, fabric painting and dying and sometimes adds beading and hand embroidery. Chris has been fortunate to have quilts accepted into the travelling exhibitions ‘Beneath the Southern Sky’ and ‘Living Colours’. Earlier this year Chris was runner up in the 2016 AQC challenge ‘Tradition with a Twist‘.


Juanita Buggé – Foundation Piecing

 Juanita will take you through the steps of creating a wonderful Judy Niemeyer Quilt. There is a choice of ‘Glacier Star’, ‘Fire Island Hosta’ or ‘Desert Sky’. A pattern of your choice is included. Fabric kits are available for purchase or you are able to bring your own fabric. You do not have to be experienced at foundation piecing as Juanita will take you through all the steps to create these quilts.
Juanita is owner of ‘Sewing Buddies Australia’ which is a Certified Judy Niemeyer Store. Juanita has many years of experience in teaching foundation piecing. Juanita is based in Melbourne and travels to all the big craft shows and shares her passion for Judy Niemeyer Quilts.

Dorothy Clee- Wonderful Landscapes in Fabric and Thread In this workshop Dorothy will take you through the process of quilting a landscape quilt from a photo. You can use one of your own photos or one provided. Techniques included are realistic placement, raw edge appliqué and quilt as you go. Learn how to use different techniques, including paint, to create realism. A basic started kit with an enlargement of your photo is included.
 
Dorothy is an owner of Russellee BnB Craft Retreats Tumut. Dorothy has an Advanced Diploma in Commercial Needlework and has taught Thread Painting and Business Admin at TAFF. Also as a tutor, at Russellee BnB, for many different aspects of quilting both traditional and art quilting. Her passion is Thread Painting and creating Art Quilts based on photos of landscapes, which often include animals. She is continually exploring the many different ways of creating Art quilts.

For information email Dorothy russeldr@bigond.com

 

Up coming workshops at Russellee BnB Craft Retreats

Brenda Burgess from Flip la k will be coming to Russellee Tumut to present a Reverse Appliqué workshop. This is a 2 day work shop and includes a basic tools kit with template of your choice for $160 plus lunch . This method teachers you how to create a quilt top in a weekend. Accommodation is available for Friday and/or Saturday night with breakfast twin share at $55 per night. There will be a follow-up workshop using the Flip la k templates on the 14th and 15TH January 2017. A great method for using your scraps and stash. Contact me if you are interested in one or both of these workshops.

One of Brenda's lovely quilts
 

February Retreat 2017

Russellee BnB Craft Retreats
Five Day February Retreat
20th—24th February 2017

Tutors
Chris Dowell, Juniata Buggé and Dorothy Clee

The Retreat comprises of 2 X 2 day Workshops plus a Mystery Workshop, and a visit to the Pioneer  Women's  Hut Tumbarumba.  Drinks and Nibbles' included at a private viewing of Tumut’s Fabric and Things patchwork shop.  Lunch is included each day plus a Group Dinner, Thursday evening, with Lucky Prize Draw.

Class sizes are kept small with a maximum of six participants.  Three workshops will be running simultaneously. Choices need to be submitted early to avoid disappointment.  Please choose three from the list below with the first two being your preferred choices.

Chris Dowell, a talented  artist and successful quilter from Toowoomba .

Floral Fantasy—Create a panel that can be used in a quilt or as a wall hanging using appliqué, fabric manipulation and adding optional texture with beads, cords etc.  Chris will take you step by step to create a beautiful panel unique to you.

Captivating Panels—Chris will help you design your own one of a kind quilt based around purchased panel fabric.  Look at different types of blocks to enhance your panel/s for a stunning result.

Juniata Buggé, authorised Judy Niemeyer tutor, quilt designer and owner of Sewing Buddies Australia

Judy Niemeyer Class A—choose one of Judy Niemeyer’s wonderful paper pieced designs. 

 Judy Niemeyer Class B—choose one of Judy Niemeyer’s wonderful paper pieced designs or continue with your previous project.

Patterns and kits are available for these workshops. Note there is a $20 materials fee payable to tutor at the start of the classes.  You can choose to undertake one or both of the Judy Niemeyer classes.

Dorothy Clee, thread painter and art quilter.

Trio of Bags —this workshop gives you the opportunity to create one or all three bags offered.  The techniques to create the bags  include chenille, fabric weaving, bag hardware and also look at fabric designs for bags.  Kits available.

Landscape Panel with optional Pineapple Log Cabin—Create your own landscape panel  using one of Dorothy’s designs or she will take you through the steps to create your own landscape.  Optional pineapple log cabins can be added to your panel to create a larger quilt.

 Mystery Class

Chris will be presenting a fun Mystery Class for all.  A kit will be provided for this class.

Accommodation requests are filling fast at Russellee.  There is limited availability.  We have also organised extra accommodation a short distance from Russellee with breakfast being served at Russellee each morning.  Accommodation allocation is on a first in first allocated basis.

 

Carol's Christmas In July Scrappers and Sewers

Carol's Scrappers and Sewers from Canberra are at Russellee for their second Christmas in July. All have been working into the late night (and some into the early hours of the morning) on their chosen interest be it scrapbooking or hand sewing. Today was the day for present sharing and a traditional Christmas

 

 

 
 

dinner. Alas there was no snow but the snow is not far away up the mountain.