That was so much fun!

I've just had the best weekend! Hope you have too. Stitchery Retreat 2009 was held at the City Sanctuary and it was lovely!

I know that most of the girls had a really hard time choosing which project to start stitching as they were all so gorgeous. These are the samples that I have been working on over the past couple of months. This is Barb's birdie design which I made into a pattern folder, and little matching needlecase with Barb's birdie button on the cover (http://www.theodoracleave.blogspot.com).

Here's Brenda's beautiful ''Lucy'' which is one of her ''Bonnets and Bows'' designs (http://www.brendaryan.typepad.com/) . I made this one up into a good sized drawstring bag - ready to hold the current stitchery project.

Bronwyn designed a fabulous table mat - also with matching place mats though I did not quite get to do the place mats.

These are a couple of closer pics of the flowers at each end of the table mat.

Marg (http://www.marglowdesigns.typepad.com/) gave us a sweet stitchery sampler, scented sachet and chatelaine. I will definitely be making some of the scented sachets as lovely little Christmas gifts.

And last, but certainly not least, Natalie did an exquisite bag and needlecase, called The Paris Collection. I can't show you a pic of this though, but keep an eye out on Natalie's blog (http://www.cinderberrystitches.typepad.com/) and I am sure you will see it very soon.

Honestly it was almost impossible to work out where to start - the designs were all so amazing and I'm pretty sure that everyone who came will stitch each and every one of them.

There were lots of smiley happy faces...

....lots of chatting and laughing...

...plenty of stitching...

...and quite a few cuppa's!

Will I do it again? Sure will, and more. I hope that all of you who came enjoyed it as much as I did.

Happy stitching girls!

Jenny