What a weekend!!

Last Friday we set off from all quarters of Lincolnshire - initially to converge on Bridlington for a fabric shop (what else) and a lovely lunch by the harbour.  Looking at the cars I had no idea how everyone had managed to pack so much in!  However we arrived at the final destination for our sewing retreat - Hackness Grange in North Yorkshire - and quickly set up.  Truthfully the treat table was the first completed table!!!  We vowed that we would never get through so much food - but we gave it a good try!  I should add at this point that , although the breakfasts and evening meals were included, the hotel staff kept us going with bucket loads of coffee / tea and cakes - lots of cakes - plus cream scones most days -we didn't suffer!



Of course we were there to sew - and sew I did.  First up was a Christmas present, followed by another Christmas present (for the same person as it goes) and then the first mystery project.  Five people took part in my two hour project - a very useful cable  plug/ storage bag.







On Saturday (yes, we managed all of that in one day) we set off for Scarborough and our favourite fabric shop (cue more purchases of course!)  On the way, some of us spotted a cute tea shop in Scalby - The Yew Tree - so we stopped off there on our way back for coffee and a cake.  The tea room had the most gorgeous Emma Bridgewater wall paper (around £66 a roll!!)

Back at the hotel ( and in our very own HUGE conference room complete with fairy lights, personal orangery for dining and patio / chairs / tables outside) it was back to sewing - this time some microwave bowl cosies for Mum to give as a gift - before starting Terry's two hour project.  This was a five pocket, two zipper bag and took me five hours to complete - with a sleep inbetween.  the record was 20 hours - but everyone who started finished it!

Sunday saw the afore mentioned completion of the mystery project, followed by a visit to a local craft fair.  Heather and Louise decided to go on a ramble at this point - only to find Louise waist deep in water as she tried to find a short cut!  The location of the hotel was beautiful and I don't blame them for getting some fresh air.  By now I was definitely wilting and, although I carried on with a new project (a sew together bag), there are some aspects that will need re-doing!


All in all, it was a great weekend - one filled with laughter and good humour - and it was finished off with a couple of games - Quilting Bingo being one of them complete with prizes!  The food was wonderful - these pictures are just the last night's dinner!  Melon, fruit and mango sorbet for starters, Roast beef dinner with large yorkshire pud followed by sticky toffee pudding and ice cream!







In fact it was that good that we have booked to go for the same weekend next year!  Just look at what we achieved between us!

Of course, back home it is back to reality - the suitcase unpacked, the bed stripped and the washer on.  Ah well!  After all that food - the diet is back on - darn it!!

I should also add that Wendy and I honoured the Humber Bridge tradition -winding the windows down and singing "Oh what a night! as we drove home.  However it was an improvised version - no cd, I couldn't remember much more than the first two lines and didn't realise that I had the song on my phone until we had nearly reached the end of the bridge!!  However - we tried!!