Signature Square Swap

TOWNSVILLE is a GREAT SPOT
I bet you live in a GREAT SPOT!

The Signature swap theme for Townsville SCQ Retreat is SPOTS of any colour.

This Siggy swap is a perfect way to meet new SCQs or catch up with old friends and at the end you will have a lovely memento of our 2012 retreat. 

It is a small piece of 'you' and 'where you come from' to share with your SCQ friends....and traditionally the swapping starts minutes after the opening of the retreat on Friday afternoon and is generally completed by Saturday afternoon. 

Closer to the retreat the final numbers required will be advised but generally it would be safe to make 50-60 SCQuares to start with...and it is handy to have a few extra as well.

Signature Squares are made up of two items:

• one six and a half inch (6 ½) square of fabric of a SPOTTY good quality cotton fabric
• one six and a half inch (6 ½) square of cream homespun or quilter’s muslin which you have decorated with your ‘signature’  

The SIGNATURE SCQuare is your own personality...elaborate or simple...again a piece of You & where you live....and must as a minimum have your NAME and the TOWN and STATE you live in written in waterproof pen or ink on homespun or quilter's muslin. 

But...SCQuilters usually add more decoration by finding a motif that expresses where you live or originally come from (see here to see examples of individual blocks and finished Quilt ideas from previous retreats). 

Some are savvy enough to design this on their computer and print it onto the fabric SCQuares.  Others hand draw, paint, embroider by hand or machine, appliqué , stencil, stamp or gocco machine print a little picture and / or a few words....along with name, town & state.  

Once you have cut all your theme fabric squares and decorated all your siggy squares, you secure them in pairs with a few loose stitches across one corner.  

You will be issued with a list of Siggy Square Swappers at the SCQ registration on ARRIVAL at the retreat and it’s up to you to track down each person in the swap and exchange Siggy Squares. It is lots of fun and a great way to meet other SCQuilters you have previously only ‘seen’ in messages. 

It’s better to start early on your Siggy Squares. Get at least a 50 or 60 done as soon as possible,  DON”T leave them to the last minute unlike Maggie Gilbert and I who prefer to do them either on the plane or seconds before the retreat starts!!!  

The Siggy Swap is NOT a competition just a FUN start to a fabulous weekend.

If you have any questions email me
Jan Powell : Sig Swap Hostess
Turramurra, Sydney
oscartux@bigpond.net.au

Getting to Townsville

How to Get To the SCQuilters Retreat  Townsville 2012

BY AIR

Townsville boasts more than 16,000 direct airline seats each week. Direct flights arrive daily from destinations such as Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Cairns. Major carriers, Qantas, Jet Star and Virgin Blue operate daily flights to and from Townsville. Regional airlines also service the region daily including Qantas link, MacAir Airlines and Sky Trans. 

ROAD & RAIL

The Sunlander and Tilt Train travel to Townsville from Brisbane and Cairns four times a week offering travellers an affordable and scenic travel alternative to the region.

Townsville is within driving distance from Brisbane, (1372km), the Whitsundays (450km) and Cairns (340km).  

• Townsville Airport from airport car park, turn left onto 'John Melton Black Drive', left onto 'Bundock St', left onto 'Howitt St', and right onto 'The Strand', travel along 'The Strand', and then left onto 'Sir Leslie Thiess Drive'
• Motorway - North Approach (heading south to Townsville) from 'Bruce Highway' continue straight towards Townsville and do not take the turn right at 'Duckworth Street' to follow the highway. The road you are now travelling along becomes 'Woolcock Street' and then becomes 'Sturt Street'. Follow until you come to a 'T' intersection, and turn right into 'Denham Street' and then left into 'Flinders Street'. Once in 'Flinders Street' simply follow the signs marked 'Casino'.
•  Motorway - South Approach (heading north to Townsville) from 'Bruce Highway' turn right onto 'Abott St', follow along 'Railway Avenue' onto the overpass on 'Saunders St', over the 'Dean St' bridge, right onto 'Flinders St East', left onto 'Wickham St', right onto 'The Strand', and left onto 'Sir Leslie Thiess Drive'

*Please note: you can get to Townsville from cities and towns other than Sydney!

Retreat Show & Tell

SCQuilters Townsville 2012– Show & Tell Digital Extravaganza

Hi SCQuilters!

This year at the Townsville SCQuilters Retreat, we will be doing something different for Show & Tell.  We understand how difficult it can be to lug your quilts around in suitcases, especially when dealing with unreasonable airline luggage restrictions.  We also think it’s important to leave room for your Knickers and Nighties, plus all the inevitable purchases on the Stash Enhancement eXpedition  (S.E.X., also known as Shop Hop).

We'll be running a Digital Show and Tell Extravaganza so that those at the Retreat watch Show and Tell at their leisure and as often as they like on a big projection screen, while relaxing in the Sit and Sew room.  This also means we can have many more Show & Tell items than we could otherwise. 

So, what do we need from you?  Pretty simple really.  Just email us some photos, preferably in .jpg format.

1.        A photo of you

2.       A photo of each of your quilts (the Show part)

3.       Some words describing each of your quilts (the Tell part) in the body of your email

Want to get an idea of what it will look like?  Here's a sample.    

Too easy!

Of course if you still want to bring real quilts, that is OK too.  We will have an abbreviated version of a regular real, live Show & Tell for those who prefer to do their Show and Tell the old fashioned way:  in person.

If you would like to participate in the Townsville Retreat Show and Tell Digital Extravaganza, a SCQuilters Retreat world first, please send your photos to retreat2012@imtired.net  .  Right now, it looks like we'll need your photos by about the end of May to allow time to prepare the Retreat Show and Tell Digital Extravaganza.

Any Questions?  Please ask away on our Yahoo Groups forum

The Shopping Bus Tour

Kay has been busy planning a unique shopping experience for the SCQ Retreat Townsville 2012 Monday 2^nd July 2012. The Shopping Bus Trip will take in, not only FNQ patchwork shops, but the gorgeous vista of outback Queensland.

Last year's SCQ Expedition through the highlands!

How can we manage this?  Kay resides in nearby Charters Towers, where we will rest up from our retail extravaganza, for lunch. After lunch Kay has organised for us to be treated to a tour extraordinaire of this fascinating town by an amazing local tour guide.

Charters Towers is a montage of Australian heritage, and once the second largest city in Queensland, it is as rich in history as it is in gold.

Charters Towers  promises gold, greed, ghosts and grandeur.  Indeed this is a destination that deserves more than a day.

And to recover from all this action there will be further opportunity for patchwork related retail on the return trip to Townsville.

Kay relaxing after all that hard work organising the tour!

What else can I do in Townsville?

‘What can I do in the city precincts?’  

We mentioned stuff to do if you are making a holiday of your time in FNQ (that's Tropical Speak for Far North Queensland) and want to visit the regional precincts.  But what if you are flying in and flying out of Townsville for a quick, fabulous laid back, relaxing retreat weekend?  The question you are probably asking yourself is: ‘What can I do in the city precincts?’ Heaps!

www.freedigitalphotos.net

Flinders Street Central is the traditional heart of Townsville, with a variety of retail shops and especially hosts the award winning Cotters Markets, every Sunday morning.

Flinders Street East is a mix of restaurants, nightclubs, pubs and wine bars if this is what you are seeking.

Palmer Street is located on the South Bank of the Ross River, and is the premium eat street with award winning international cuisine: Indian; Asian; Italian; Greek; French; Mexican; modern Australian and of course locally-caught seafood. It also offers gorgeous views across the Ross Marina.

The Strand is a spectacular waterfront promenade, perfect for those wanting to soak up the laid back tropical atmosphere. This 2.2km palm tree studded stretch is adorned with bike and walkway paths, safe swimming beaches, picturesque picnic spots, a water park and chic restaurants and bars with breath taking views, great way to start your day for breakfast.  Here's a list of 10 Things To Do On The Strand

Gregory Street adjoins The Strand and offers a cosmopolitan village atmosphere with boutique shopping, open air cafe dining great for coffee. I had the best ice-cream ever here, while there in May scoping this retreat!

These were mentioned before as city sights and are not to be missed:

Reef HQ Great Barrier Reef Aquarium

Museum of Tropical Queensland

Castle Hill

If you are really fit and want a good workout this walk is for you.  Alternatively, hire a cab and take in the gorgeous views from the top of Castle Hill at your leisure. It is not to be missed!

Thursday night dinner

Thursday night Dinner

Aqua Restaurant

http://www.jupiterstownsville.com.au/Dining-Aqua.htm

You are invited to join us for dinner Thursday 28^th June 2012 at Aqua. This is on the ground floor of Jupiters and is renowned for seafood. A full menu is available including scrumptious desserts.

We will gather bookings from you closer to the date.

More about our venue.....

Lots of retreaters have been asking about the venue so here is a little précis of our current plans. Things can change due to unforeseeable circumstances and we will keep you posted as needed.

Retreat Registration will be Friday afternoon at Jupiters Townsville Hotel. We have access to the ballroom from 2pm to gather, plan and play together. We will dine there that night.

This luxurious hotel offers modern accommodation and a lagoon-style pool along with views of Coral Sea and Magnetic Island in Townsville. It is less than 10 minutes’ walk to Reef Aquarium a wonderful venue to visit.

Jupiter's Townsville

On Saturday and Sunday we will stroll through Jupiter’s lagoon garden to the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre (seen to the right in the above photo) for our workshops, sit and sew, lunch and relaxation.

We will be using only a small part of the TECC; the Palm Room located overlooking the palms seen to the right in the photo below. We will access workshop rooms as required.

We will take Refreshment breaks in the Queensland Foyer

The Queensland Foyer overlooks the expansive Palm Lawn and out over the Coral Sea. It is the main entry and exit point for guests.

Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre

Tropical flexible functional

…the answer in one stunning location

Saturday night dinner is still in the planning. A surprise, so watch this space for what we hope will be something very special.