Page 95 - The Digital Cloth issue 2

8/8/18
Sewing Up A Storm I’m just back from 4 nights away enjoying all
the experiences of Caroline Sharkey’s
In The Desert 2018 “Sewing up a Storm in the Desert”
(SUASITD). If you have never been to
Caroline’s Desert Retreat, you need to start
A Dear Diary – Travel log... saving your money to adventure there in

By Elizabeth Dubbelde August 2020.
There is so much to see and take in.

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