Apple Isle Retreat 2023

         Stitch in Serenity

Tarraleah Estate – Tasmania

Date: Spring Retreat  –   27th to 30th October 2023

Host and Tutor:   Merrilyn Heazlewood  – Contact here

Two days of stitching with extra help always graciously given by Merrilyn after the formal class time is over.

The first comment every student makes is  …… it’s so quiet and peaceful   —— yes it is, after all the subtitle for the Retreat is  ……. Stitch in Serenity.

Student Feedback:

relaxing and friendly atmosphere

excellent to have so few students

pleasant accommodation

it is so well priced    

I’m stitching with different threads   

You don’t even know how to plait!!! – when you join us at a Retreat you will get to understand this comment.

We drove thru snow on the way here, it was like a true winter wonderland said Adelaide student Ruth on arrival – they had driven over the Tasmanian Central Highlands from Launceston in a 4WD vehicle

The only noise from outside is the twittering of the blue Fairy Wrens who repeatedly visit the garden outside the class room windows and sing their little tune especially for us every few hours

I don’t have to think of what to cook for dinner for three nights.

It’s fantastic  – accommodation, classroom and dining area all in the one building (sometimes students never leave the building until they are going home!)

 

Retreat Cost: $950

This cost includes:

• cocktails each evening
• three night’s accommodation with evening dinners
• two days of classes with morning and afternoon teas.

Non-refundable deposit of $100 confirms your booking. – CLICK HERE TO CONFIRM YOUR BOOKING

Click here to book your place

What will I stitch?

Prerequisite –one of my needlepoint designs or embroidering flowers from my Encyclopedia of Wool Book. Beginners are welcome.
Technique:  counted needlepoint/canvas work or embroidery

Format for the Weekend

Friday:   Students to arrive at a time that suits them.
All students and partners gather for Informal Cocktails at about 5pm before enjoying our Evening Dinner.

 Saturday and Sunday:
Classes
About 5pm – Informal Cocktails then Dinner

Monday:  departure time by 10am

Tarraleah Estate is about a two-hour drive from Launceston or Hobart.

 

Class Room – Scholars House

Class times:   9.00am to 4.00pm on Saturday and Sunday

Number of Students:      Maximum 9 students

Lighting in Stitching Area:   Classes are in the Scholars House, this area has excellent natural light with big windows,
even so, I strongly recommend you bring a battery-operated light as it could be very overcast weather or you may want to stitch into the late afternoon.

 

Accommodation:

Scholars House

Scholars House is the recently renovated School building.
Rooms have a double bed, fully equipped en-suite with a lounge area on the Mezzanine floor
Bar fridge and basic tea and coffee facilities on the Mezzanine floor.
Scholars House has a wonderful commercial size kitchen where we can prepare and have breakfast and lunch.
Cottages have domestic kitchens.

Heating:  all buildings are well heated. There is a fire with exposed flu in ‘snug’ area, adjacent to the classroom area.

Catering:

Evening Dinners:  are included in the cost of the weekend.

The evening meals are delivered to Scholars House in slow cookers, we serve and look after ourselves, therefore we can eat at the time that suits the group.

Dietary requirements:   are facilitated.  I must be informed of all dietary requirements two weeks prior to the Retreat commencing otherwise the Estate will add an additional fee.

Students are to supply:

Their own breakfast and lunch.
Wine is not provided with the evening meals and the closest pub is about a 20 minute drive away at Ouse.

Partners:

are very welcome to accompany you.
There is a very good golf course at Tarraleah, great fishing and lovely open roads for bike rides and or long walks.
Extra evening meals can be ordered for partners.
There is no extra cost for partners to stay at Scholars, evening dinners will be additional.
For details of costs for you and a partner in a Cottage, please contact Merrilyn.

Tarraleah Weather:

Tarraleah can experience frost’s at the time of our retreats. It is advised that if you do not have a four wheel drive car you leave the Estate from about 10am on Monday if there has been a frost.
Please bring the ‘Tassie uniform’ of many layers and as we will be stitching for hours I also recommend you bring a hot water bottle/heat pack  for your back or feet, just to keep yourself nice and toastie.

Students to Supply:

• Breakfast and lunch
• You may like to bring your own battery-operated light to stitch with.
• Working frame, scissors etc.

About Tarraleah Estate:   It’s previous life was a Hydro Village.

It is located in the upper regions of the Derwent Valley, on the southern edge of the Central Highland.

The Art Décor cottages have been lovingly restored.

The row of Mangers Cottages built-in 1935 are brightly painted and greet you as you drive into the main area of the Estate.   They are spacious, warm and comfortable.

Spring 2021 in Tasmania was cold and very wet so the Rhododendrons’ put on a wonderful show for us.

Tassie Holiday:

if you will be on a holiday in Tasmania at the time of the Retreat, your travelling companions will be welcome to join us for afternoon cocktails and dinner.

Family Event:  we welcome families – mum can stitch during the day while ‘dad and the children’ explore the region.

The Art Deco Cottages are ideal for couples and families to stay in.

Tassie Attractions in the area: 

1. The Wall in the Wilderness  – Derwent Bridge  (just down the road from Tarraleah)  A wall of amazing carved Huon Pine wood  – three meters high and 100 metres long.2. Yarns – Deloraine chatter and talk – threadsFour amazing panels depicting the local area – fabrics were manipulated, embroidered by hand and machine, appliqued and painted and yes I have a small piece of stitching in this amazing project.
   Yarns brought the community and surrounding areas of Deloraine together.
   Women from all walks of life worked on the project for years.
   Yarns is housed in its own special building at the Visitors Centre in Deloraine.3. Deloraine Craft Fair – will be held the following weekend. 

   4. Gardens in Spring – Depending on how long you are planning to have a holiday in Tassie, Spring is a wonderful time of the year for our temperate climate gardens. Please research where you may like to go, here are some ideas to get you started.

   Central North:-
   a. The Rose Garden at Woolmers- Longford.

   In the North West Coast:-
   b. Table Cape Tulip Farm – Wynyard is open in October every day for viewing – check their website for more details.
   c. Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden near Burnie.
   d. Gateforth Farm near Wynyard for rows of Peony’s NOTE: this may only be open to the public for one day in mid November??

   North East Tasmania :-
   e. Bridestowe Lavender Estate – in the Scottsdale area

If you would like to book a Non refundable deposit of $100 confirms your booking. – CLICK HERE TO CONFIRM YOUR BOOKING

Click here to book your place