And the Winner Is......

Nic from Yardage Design!!!!

I tried to copy the Random Number Generator but I couldn't get it to upload in the pics for some reason.

Anyway, Nic is the lucky winner of a whole weekend at The Retreat,

a prize valued at $950!!!!

Congratulations Nic and thank you to everyone who blogged about the GIVEAWAY and about The Retreat.

Thank you for entering.

Abbe xx

GIVEAWAY!!!

As part of the launch of Victoria's newest Crafters Retreat,

The Retreat Woodend is having a GIVEAWAY!


Grand Opening on July 14th and taking bookings now.

A giveaway valued at $950!!!!

The Retreat Woodend is offering one lucky person and up to NINE of their friends, the chance to win a whole weekend at The Retreat.

Interstate and International people you don't miss out - if you are unable to claim the prize due to distance, you will receive a voucher for $100 to spend at the Fat Quarter Shop online fabric store.

Yes, that's right ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS!

One of our pretty bedrooms.

The Studio (it can be set up in various ways)

What do you need to do?

Book a weekend at The Retreat to receive TEN entries into the giveaway. Yep, ten.

(You do NOT need to have a blog to receive the 10 entries, just make a booking and pay your deposit before 31st July)

OR

Blog it. In order to receive one entry into the giveaway, all you have to do is blog about it. Please include a link to our website: www.theretreatwoodend.com.au

Then just come back here and leave a comment telling me that you blogged and add a link so I can verify your entry.

Each time you blog about this massive giveaway, you will receive another entry. There are not limits!

Please Note: I've done this giveaway to say a huge thanks to all of the wonderful bloggers who have encouraged and supported me. I appreciate non-bloggers can't blog to get entries although you can get 10 entries if you make a booking.

Down the track I will do another giveaway that will include non-bloggers.

Good luck!

Abbe

Conditions of entry in our GIVEAWAY:

1. Eligible entries must publish their blog post, linking our website, prior to July 31st, 2012.

2. The Giveaway will be drawn on August 1st, 2012 and will be published on this blog.

3. Winner will be notified by email, please make sure your comment enables reply via email. 

4. Accommodation voucher valid until December 31st, 2012.

5. Long weekends and peak holiday periods excluded, date to be negotiated with winner.

6. The Giveaway will be redrawn if winner is not contactable by email prior to 7th August, 2012. 

7. Booking must be confirmed and deposit must be paid in order to receive ten entries into the giveaway.

8. Giveaway weekend is not exchangeable for the booked weekend or for cash and must be used by winner and cannot be gifted to another party.

9. Gift voucher will be valued at $100 Australian dollars.

You're Invited!

The Retreat Woodend is 

OPEN FOR INSPECTION!

You're all welcome to our GRAND OPENING of

The Retreat Woodend.

Come and see Victoria's newest Crafters Retreat.

From 10.00am until 5.00pm on Saturday the 14th and Sunday the 15th of July the doors will be thrown open.

We'll supply the nibbles, sparkling wine and a comfy place to sit and sew. Bring friends, bring your enthusiasm and bring something to work on.

Contact me: abbe@theretreatwoodend.com.au

for further details.

Our rather fab bathroom.

I hope to see you there.
Abbe


Stay tuned for the HUGE GIVEAWAY!!

INTRODUCING

THE RETREAT

Woodend Self-Contained Accommodation

We're open for business from July 14th, 2012.

Our five bedroom house comfortably sleeps 10.

Beautiful kitchen with huge double oven.

Stunning Hanging Rock is only 10 minutes away.

After several years of planning we are finally launching The Retreat.

It's a dream turning into reality for me and I hope that we'll help fulfill some crafty dreams of yours. The house can be booked for Weekends, Weeks and Mid-Week.  

More pics will be added to the Website once we have finished off furnishing the house.

Contact me at abbe@theretreatwoodend.com.au

for bookings and enquiries.

Keep an eye out for a GIVEAWAY that begins at the end of this week.

A huge thanks to all of my Crafty Friends for all of the encouragement. You know who you are,

Abbe x

Cheap Thrills, Multitasking and a Winner

One boy likes sitting in a box while he sings music from the Blues Brothers (his current obsession) so I thought I mose well put the little boy one in too.

We're all about expensive toys in this house :o)

Today I am trying to get things done.

Sometimes that means doing two things at once. 

If only he could fold while I carry him and the basket to his room.

Something to work on...

Yesterday while I should have been drawing a giveaway winner, I was making butter!

Ever since I watched a Jamie Oliver 30 Minute Meals ep as few months ago I've been hankering to try and make my own. Guess what??? It tastes like real butter. A carton of pure cream in the KitchenAid mixer and about ten minutes later I had butter and buttermilk.

I added a little salt and ta dahhhhh!

Now, that GIVEAWAY winner - Random Generator says Number 1.

Lizzie, that's you!

Email me your snail mail details and a rainbow will be in your letterbox soon.

Thanks for commenting everyone.

Time for lunch and dishes before my 'distracter' wakes.

Have a great, sunshiney day people.

Ab xx

A day Off!!!

I had a day off.

That may not seem like a big deal but, it's the first one I've had in 5 months.!

Mr CP was in charge of Harvey Monster and I had the whole day to do as I pleased (of course interrupted for feeds but then I handed H straight back!) and I spent my day in the sewing room.

It was wonderful!

Does anyone else do the "Ta dahhhh!!!!" reveal of their quilt tops?

I did with this one except it went, "Ta dahhh...ohh crap!"

I'd sewn a row upside down :o(

Unsewed, resewed and

Ta Dahhhhh!!!!! 

I'm machine quilting in the ditch but without the backing on as I want to 'bag' it and then tie the back on.

Something different for me but I think it will work well.

One day away from him is enough.

For now...

Abbe x

Don't forget the GIVEAWAY.

I'll draw it this coming Sunday evening, the 18th Sept.

Sprung!

Spring has Sprung!

I'm so glad, all the seeds I've been hanging to plant can't be sown until spring. Nothing to stop me now!

The weather, well actually we've already had a lot of spring-like weather over winter but still, it will only improve more.

To celebrate spring I am having a SALE in my Craftumi Store until the end of September.

All of my blog followers will receive 10% off all fabric (postage excluded)

There is free postage on needles/notions for all Australian buyers.

International buyers will receive discounted postage on needles/notions and the same 10% discount on fabric.

 To really celebrate I'm also having a 

GIVEAWAY!

A rainbow of fat quarters to boost your collection of solids. 

No big hoops, just leave a comment about your favourite season and why.

I am planning on blogging as much as possible.I feel like it's helping me get into the sewing room and inspired me to finally, yes finally, get my real sewing dream happening.

Looking forward to reading your comments.

Ab x

Ps. I will draw the GIVEAWAY next week

Can't beat good advice

Some new practical shoes...

A bit of a wander with my ever-so-slightly pronounced tummy...

And then a day at the beach

The winner of my Dirty Thirty giveaway is Quilt Sue from Quilt Times!!! A lovely lady who lives in sunny England (obviously often wears bikinis) who advised as much time as possible in bikinis and high heels before I am past such things (note: she did add a warning that these things maybe shouldn't be done together...I never was one to follow good advice.)

Lets just say that google'ing images of pregnant woman wearing bikini and high heels is rather...enlightening :o)
Go on, do it.

I'll be in touch Sue and you can buy something to delight your heart.

Thanks for all of the birthday abd belly bloggy love. You all rock!
Ab xx

Belly Dancer

5 Weeks and the Day We Found Out!

18 Weeks

And to think some girl in a shop said, "Ha. You don't look pregnant." This will wipe the look of skepticism off her pimply teen face! (enjoy your career at Dotti, ya cow!) That's either a winter in a very chocolaty paddock or that's a baby belly!

God my belly was nice to start with even if I do say so myself. Now all you 'god-fairy-mother-aunts' better start praying with me that one day I get that back ;o)

Before you say it Kate no I am NOT wearing a bra.

I took off my new E cup bra as it was bras off o'clock.

To think they are still growing...

Don't forget the giveaway lovelies!

Ab x

Dirty thirty!

Hello THIRTY!

Hello DIRTY!

 More messy than dirty I suppose. Does anyone want to come over and tidy my cutting table?

All is the spirit of gift giving and that.... ;o)

Mose well do the chair as well. A top or two to be quilted, a few threads to be darned in, a bit of this and a bit of that.

What no takers?

Fine.

Better have a giveaway.

How about $30 to spend on you.

The condition is, you MUST spend it on something you really want. Something from Made It or Etsy or your favourite fabric shop. Or maybe a market on something fabulous and handmade.

Seems fair to me.

(Winner must also clean aforementioned dirty cutting desk)

So what do you have to do? 

Give me your best advice for hitting the age milestone of thirty. Tell me the must knows, especially the ones you wish you had known.

Get it?

Got it.

Good.

Have a great International Day of Celebration of Abbe's Birthday Day!

Ab xx

A little lesson

For all of you unsuspecting sewing lovelies out there - don't sew your pins.

I guess I could use it as a hook to get the fluff out of the machine....

Just a little somethin' in the hoop....

And a secret something else.

Don't forget the bloggerversary giveaway.

Ladies, you have been cracking me up. Who knew unrequited love was so common?

Sew well,

Ab x