Winter in the Hinterland Textile Retreat

A Textile Retreat at Tamborine Mountain with artist Caroline Sharkey and sashiko designer Sue Howie, June 6-10 2025

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Join us for a Winter textile retreat with artist Caroline Sharkey and sashiko designer Sue Howie: four days of textile art, sashiko embroidery and boro-inspired textiles at Tamborine Mountain, June 2025.

Located in the gorgeous Gold Coast hinterland, Eagle Heights Mountain Resort offers stunning sunrises, sunsets, and awe-inspiring views.

A lovely backdrop and relaxing environment for textile artists and sashiko enthusiasts, just a short drive from the Gold Coast and Brisbane.

Join us for one of the two-day workshops on offer, or treat yourself to the full four-day experience.

We offer flexible payment options, including the option to book via an initial deposit.

Retreat Workshop 1: Textile Art with Caroline Sharkey, June 6-8

Under the expert guidance of tutor Caroline Sharkey, guests will work with fabrics and thread to create a truly stunning piece of textured and embellished fabric art. Pictured left is one 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.

Retreat Workshop 2: Sashiko and Boro with Sue Howie – June 9-10

June 9: Sue will cover the various ways of creating a piece of sashiko, including pre-printed designs, transferring traditional designs onto fabric for stitching, through to participants creating their own sashiko designs.

June 10: Through learning the Boro method of fabric reinforcement and upcycling, participants will have the opportunity to create a Boro laptop case, tote bag or wall-hanging.

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. She skillfully 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.

Items required for Sue’s workshop

Guests are encouraged to bring: a sashiko needle, sashiko thread (or similar), small scissors, rotary cutter, cutting mat, a biro, ceramic pencil (sewline or Bohin) or similar. Alternatively, workshop kits will be available for $35 if required.

Inclusions & Accommodation

Please note that costings for this retreat do not include accommodation, and guests will need to arrange their own lodging. Of course, if you’re a ticket-holder who lives locally, you’re welcome to drive to the venue each day.

How to organise accommodation for the Retreat

Here are some options you can consider:

• Accommodation is available at the retreat venue. Call the reservations team on (07) 5545 3388 and quote that you are participating in the Sashiko Australia Textile Retreat June 2025. Please quote which nights and how many nights you wish to stay. The venue also takes online bookings here.
• The Visit Tamborine Mountain website includes a range of options on its Accommodation page.
• A range of options on Booking.com and Tripadvisor.

What’s included?

• Expert tutoring in your chosen retreat workshop/s, and access to any required materials not listed above
• Two-course welcome dinner on the 6th of June for all workshop attendees
• Daily morning tea and lunches
• All-day coffee, tea, and juice
• Lucky Door Prizes each day.

Optional: Trivia Evening & Trunk Show

• $25pp, canapés and wine included
• Question and Answer Session with the tutors.

Make a booking

We offer a flexible booking process that allows you to secure your reservation in two easy ways:

Make a Partial Payment Deposit: If you prefer to spread out your payment, you can make a $400 partial payment deposit to reserve your spot. The remaining balance will be due two months prior to the retreat, on April 6th.

Click here if you wish to make a booking with a deposit.

Purchase a Ticket: If you’re ready to confirm your booking, you can purchase a ticket for the full amount. This guarantees your reservation and eliminates the need for any further payments. By purchasing your ticket, you consent to the terms and cancellation policy of the retreat, which you can review here.

You can attend one workshop over two days, or two workshops over four days. Please select the number of tickets below.