Wildflowers in the City Textile and Sashiko Retreat
A Textile and Sashiko Retreat at the Sashiko Australia Studio with textile artist Caroline Sharkey and sashiko designer Sue Howie, June 27 – 28 2026
Join us for one of two 2 x day workshops enjoying the beautiful Brisbane Winter days at the Sashiko Australia Studio with textile artist Caroline Sharkey and sashiko designer Sue Howie.
The Sashiko Australia Studio is a well-appointed crafting space in Brisbane that offers you the comfort of space, light, air conditioning, and ease of access for those who don’t wish to travel too far. We have a large amount of onsite parking and easy access to public transport, the perfect venue for those who just want to spend two great days sewing up a storm.
Treat yourself to one of the two workshops on offer. We offer flexible payment options, including the option to book via an initial deposit.
Retreat Workshop Option 1: Textile Art with Caroline Sharkey, June 27 – 28
Under the expert guidance of tutor Caroline Sharkey, guests will work with fabrics and thread to create a Textile Collage of Australian Wildflowers. Pictured are some of Caroline’s recent creations, to give you an idea of what you will be creating over these two days.
Caroline’s textile art workshop will cover several techniques for embellishing the fabric surface, creating unique colour palettes through combinations of different fabrics, and using raw edge appliqué and thread painting to enhance the surfaces.
About Textile Art Tutor Caroline Sharkey
Caroline Sharkey is an accomplished textile artist recognised for her innovative fabric embellishments and textured surface creations. With a passion for transforming ordinary materials into extraordinary works of art, Caroline uses raw-edge appliqué and thread painting techniques to bring her unique vision to life. Her artwork is admired for its intricate textures and captivating colour palettes.
An enthusiastic and inspiring instructor, Sharkey travels to teach her fabric embellishment and textured surface workshops, eager to motivate and encourage others to explore the creative possibilities of textile art.
“Embellishing the surface is my way of creating textures that are interesting and change the way you as the viewer look at fabric. My approach is to chop the fabrics into small confetti-styled pieces, and mix the colours and textures to create beautiful new fabrics. I love to inspire and encourage everyone to experience the creative side of textile art.” Caroline Sharkey
To learn more about what will be covered in this workshop, have a look at the highlights of our recent Caroline Sharkey textile retreat.
Retreat Workshop Option 2: Sashiko Embroidery with Sue Howie – June 27 – 28
Immerse yourself in the meditative calmness of sashiko embroidery, select three pre-printed designs from the Sashiko Australia collection to stitch into a beautiful wall hanging.
Stitch your choice of Australian native floral, geometric, wildflower, Japanese-inspired, or Christmas-themed designs, and combine with Japanese backing fabric to create a stunning piece of sashiko textile art.
About Sashiko Tutor Sue Howie
For over two decades, Sue Howie has developed a deep appreciation for Japanese textiles and crafts, devoting her time to educating and inspiring others about sashiko and boro.
Her instruction and demonstrations have garnered her a well-deserved reputation as a creative and captivating teacher, with a patient and inclusive approach.
Sue’s dedication to fostering a welcoming atmosphere allows students of all ages, from 8 to 108, to enjoy her engaging lessons.
Sue adapts her classes to suit various skill levels, nurturing both beginners and seasoned stitchers in their journey to understand and cherish these traditional art forms.
Inclusions
What’s included?
- Expert tutoring in your chosen retreat workshop
- Daily morning tea and lunches
- All-day coffee, tea, and juice
- Lucky Door and Spot Prizes each day
- Project kit including three sashiko panels, sashiko thread, and backing fabric for the Sue Howie workshop.
Cost
$750.00
Make a booking
Bookings can be made by purchasing a ticket or by partial payment deposit. Please select one workshop option. (Both workshops run concurrently).
Bookings by partial payment deposit
Click here to view partial payment booking instructions.
Ticket bookings
Click here to view ticket booking instructions.
