This year's retreat - which is actually our 5th annual retreat!! - starts in seven days and we can't wait. Every year the retreat has been such a source of richness, inspiration and community to all of us that attend, that it is right about now that we start jumping out of our skins, just a little.

One of the first things we do when we arrive is receive our welcome gift bags and settle into our rooms. They have always been pretty special due to the generosity of our supporters and this year is different only in sofar as they are even more beautiful than previous years. We can't wait to share them with you in our annual "The Craft Sessions At Home" Giveaway which we run on the blog over the retreat weekend. But for now, I would like to welcome our supporters for this year's retreat who have kindly donated goods for our gift bags and giveaways.

We have been lucky, as always, to have a group of businesses join us this year whose values align with ours in such a beautiful way. Organisations who believe in community and who care.

We are thrilled to be supported again by Tessuti and Sunspun, both of whom have been with us from the very beginning. Sunspun are working in conjunction with Shibui again this year to bring you something very special. And in addition to supporting the retreat, Tessuti are also supporting our Sydney Jacket class this year, which is being taught by the lovely Helen. We are really chuffed to have had their ongoing support.

We would like to thank Fibresmith for their support. They are the brand new store in Yarraville, Melbourne (and soon online) from our teaching alumni Leslie Keating. I can't wait to get over there to check it out. Her taste is perfecto and she is a gorgeously knowledgable and encouraging woman!

We would like to welcome Pattern Fantastique back again this year, which is the incredible pattern-making company by our teacher Nita-Jane McMahon. Her style, and her patterns, are just incredible.

Jenn, Martine, a blurry me and Claire - about to welcome everyone up for our Friday night festivities.

I'd also like to welcome back Notemaker (thanks Kimberly!) who last year provided us with beautiful notebooks in our gift bags that I am still enjoying a year later. They are also my favourite online stationary store in my real life.

For the first time we'd like to welcome Peppermint magazine on board for the first time. We love what it is that they do and how they do it - their stories of ordinary people working towards making the world a better place inspire us no-end and we are grateful for their support.

A special thanks to the Yarn Collective who are an exciting newcomer to the hand-dyed yarn market, bringing us beautiful yarn in a thoughtful, ethical way. We are so chuffed to have them onboard.

And finally I would like to say a big thankyou to The Purl Box, which is an online store run by one of our lovely participants Kylie, and the lovely Anita, who stock the most beautiful yarns. I love their store, and feel especially chuffed as after Kylie came to a previous retreat she named a colourway for their hand-dyed range in our honour. Makes me smile every time I see it. Thank you to both of you!

So pop back into the blog next Friday for our "The Craft Sessions At Home" giveaway. It's going to be beautiful.

And thanks again to all our supporters. You really do make the retreat that bit more special.

Felicia x