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I have had such a fantastic week, starting with our day at the Quilt Show and then the trip to Queensland.

Mum drove me to the airport on Thursday morning and Diann was waiting for me when my flight arrived.

We visited a patchwork shop not too far from the airport and then had lunch in Currumbin followed by afternoon tea with Diann's daughter, Angela, and The Sweet One - 20 month old Hannes - absolutely delightful little guy - he loves an audience. We spent the evening sorting/packing our gear for The Retreat.

Friday morning we took our time driving to The Quilters' Rest, Kingaroy - arrived about 1.00 pm and the other girls arrived not too long afterwards (Jenny and her friends from Bundaberg). Once we were all settled in 5 sewing machines were buzzing away and 3 girls were hand-piecing hexagons.

Diann showed us how she quilts feathers on the doover.

This is Janice with her first completed hexagon flower.

I made a Disappearing 9 Patch quilt top on Friday afternoon/evening plus the binding and backing. Saturday I started piecing the Simplicity components (140 half-square triangles, 68 flying geese, plus various other borders)

and Sunday was spent hand-stitching on the sunny verandah until it was time to start our drive back to Diann's. Diann pieced a quilt for a friend's new baby due later this year and started piecing a Natalie Bird quilt for her daughter-in-law.

The Quilters' Rest is such a great place - excellent workroom, bedrooms etc, lovely hosts and fantastic food (my first camp oven roast dinner) and a wonderful shop (bought some of the In the Pink fabrics for when I'm ready to start Homespun's "Breast of Friends").

It was freezing cold during the nights (into the minus degrees) but we were warm and cosy and the days were lovely and sunny.

Monday morning we tidied up Diann's fabric cupboard, did a bit of shopping then I spent the afternoon quilting the Disappearing 9 Patch.

putting feathers in the outer borders

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and sewing on the binding while Diann pieced some more of her Natalie Bird quilt. Stitched down the binding while watching "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" on Monday night.

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Tuesday we visited Diann's mother, did a bit of hand-stitching back at Diann's then it was time to head out to the airport, flew back to Sydney, John picked me up and we drove home.

Yesterday I added a border or two to Simplicity then went to lunch and the pictures with Mum. We saw "State of Play" - excellent movie. I'd seen the BBC TV drama twice and loved it and I thought the movie was adapted extremely well.

Back at work today. Life is great - how could I not be happy with such wonderful friends and family?