Page 94 - The Digital Cloth issue 2

8/8/18
Sewing Up A Storm
In The Desert 2018
A Dear Diary – Travel log...
By Elizabeth Dubbelde
I start my journey in the pitch black and
board the 5:28am train from Berry. On the
way, the sun starts to filter through the trees
around Helensburgh I can just make out
glimpses of the ball of glowing red. Finally
I can spot the glorious red orb of the rising
sun over the ocean; the perfect start to a
great adventure.
I change trains along the way and after a
little lapse on my part through security at
Sydney Domestic (I had a very small pair of
scissors in the coin section of my wallet) I’m
set free and run into Libby Williams who is
also a delegate on her way to Sewing Up A
Storm in the Desert. At our departure gate,
I get to meet the amazing Sophie Standing
who has a magnetic smile and I can’t resist
taking her photo along with Libby Williams.
I wave to another lady I think I know (gosh
she has a twin!) but I don’t get to meet her
until we are ensconced in Yulara. Ali George
steps in behind me – such a treat to be
spending time with this wonderful woman.
I’m tingling with excitement and it’s all a
little overwhelming. I change seats not
long after take-off once the seat belt sign
is turned off. Yes, ok I admit I’m a bit of
a princess - I accidently booked the only
window seat on the plane that doesn’t have a
window? I end up sitting next to an
English lady and her teenage son who are
on a voyage to Uluru and then eventually
Cairns. Travelling alone, one gets to meet
and talk to some interesting souls.
Touch down at Ayers Rock/Uluru Airport
and my luggage is the last off the carousel.
The bus trip is short and sweet to Yulara and
Caroline meets us off the bus with a huge
bear hug and takes us to our apartment. We
get ourselves settled and head off to explore
and register for the next stage of this
adventure. Let the fun begin…..
I’m just back from 4 nights away enjoying all
the experiences of Caroline Sharkey’s
“Sewing up a Storm in the Desert”
(SUASITD). If you have never been to
Caroline’s Desert Retreat, you need to start
saving your money to adventure there in
August 2020.
There is so much to see and take in.
Nothing prepares you for the sight of
Uluru from the air. The crystal clear blue
skies, days with fluffy cotton wool clouds,
the rich red earth, Uluru at Sunset (I still
didn’t get to see a sunrise!) Kata Tjuta
looming in the distance, the landscape, and
the crispness of the morning/night air
(actually its freezing!) the warm sun filled
days, the ever-changing colours. Your senses
are on overload.
Beautiful richly coloured carpets welcome
you into the Uluru conference rooms. The
colours in the carpets alone are enough to
make your colour senses weep with joy.
The tutors are hand-picked to ensure your
learning experience is fun and informative.
The retreat package includes a Bernina 215
to use during the event and to take home
with you! The classes are varied and offer something for
There were lots of opportunities to explore everyone, giving the participant time to explore
your creativity. I am very familiar with different techniques; three days of sewing and creating,
sewing machines, but there were quite a few what a luxury. Ro Bruhn’s class painted fabric then
beginners across the 70+ attendees and let’s created a bag from their painted artwork. Michelle
face it there is always something to learn. Mischkulnig’s group made exquisite fabric which would
Some had never tried free motion sewing become a scarf, a wrap or a tunic. Gloria Loughman’s
and found the art exciting. Others more group created Uluru in colour and design, while
experienced possibly chose classes because Caroline Sharkey’s ladies chopped fabrics and created
of the history of the tutor or the nature of an outback desert scene. Sophie Standing’s group
the tutor’s art. I chose Ali George because created the desert pigeon using fabrics from Kaffe to
she is fun and creative and offers lots of Tula Pink and every floral in between.
opportunities to experiment. Overall the If you can operate a sewing machine you can certainly
tutors are professional to be able to get a try your hand at any of the classes. Generally, I found
beginner on their way to what some of us most tutors had organised kits with a fee payable
textile artists call “the dark side”. directly to the tutor which was great as that meant
lighter luggage and we didn’t all double up on
requirements.
Some classes were totally booked out like Sophie
Standing’s and Gloria Loughman’s - other tutors had
less students. Generally classes take up to 12 or 15. The
days started around 9am and finished around 4 with
breaks for morning and afternoon tea and lunch.
At days end, some nights were free to either have an
early night or socialise with new found friends. One
or two nights I was grateful to cut back on the calories
especially after the day’s feast!