10/06/2026
🧵 What a weekend!!
On The Hill Crafts Makers' Retreat is a brand new retreat experience nestled in beautiful Yarraman, in regional South East Queensland. We host small, intimate creative retreats where makers can escape everyday life, learn new skills, connect with other creatives, and spend a few days doing something they truly love.
And this past weekend, we held our very first one!
Makers joined us for three days of sewing, snacking, laughing, and creating. Working with exclusive retreat fabrics supplied by BryMaxx Precision Pty Ltd, each maker chose their own version of the Route 1970 and Alchemy bag to bring to life, and while the patterns were the same, no two bags looked alike. Because that's the thing about makers: you can't help but put a little bit of yourself into everything you create.
There were sewing stations, 5 daily prize draws, welcome gift boxes packed with goodies, a makers' marketplace and delicious meals that nobody had to cook (or clean up after!). More encouragement was flying around that room than you could poke a seam ripper at.
When the machines switched off for the day, guests got to hear the cows next door, breathe in the country air, and fall asleep under a sky absolutely full of stars. Not a bad way to spend a weekend.
But the bit that got us? Watching a room full of people who had never met before turn into a room full of friends by Sunday. That's the whole point of this, right there.
When I started planning these retreats, I hoped they would become more than just a place to work on projects. I wanted to create a space where people could step away from everyday life, do something they love, connect with other makers, and go home feeling genuinely refreshed. Seeing that actually happen this weekend was more than I could have asked for.
A huge thank you also to our wonderful teacher Binny, whose incredible teaching style made every maker feel confident and capable no matter their skill level. This retreat wouldn't have been the same without her. 🧡
A massive thank you to our incredible sponsors who helped fill the welcome boxes and prize table: 🧵 BryMaxx Precision Pty Ltd · Little Sewing Co · Australian Bag Making Supplies · S & P Sewing Supplies · Vardhman Threads · Tradway · Dreamy Bag Hardware.
To our first ever retreat guests, you made this everything we dreamed it would be. Thank you for trusting us with your weekend.
We are absolutely doing this again. Watch this space!
