Kim over at Quilting Peach has had several posts about her approaching quilt retreat. Her first. Never having been on a quilting retreat myself , I found her questions about what to take very interesting.
How many of you have been on quilting retreats? I would love to do this one day (especially if I could meet some of my online quilting community) and am calling on your collective wisdom and experience.
- What do you usually take with you? What would you consider absolutely essential and what would be nice to have if you have room?
- How far do you travel?
- What are typical accommodations?
- Price?
- Who sponsors the retreats you attend?
- How long do they typically last?
- What is a kind of overview of a typical retreat? Or your favorite retreat? (activities, time, number of people, etc.)
- What kind of experiences have you had? Difficulties? Pleasures? Surprises?
- How useful have retreats been to you? How? Why?
- Do you attend alone or with a friend?
- Do you have any Retreat Tips?
I would really appreciate hearing about your experiences. If you decide to post about this, please leave me a link so I can visit and glean information. :)
Hi, I have attend a few retreats. I dont have to travel far because the quilt store that holds them is 3 miles from my house and the place where the retreat is held is 2 doors down at a lodge that is on the same lake as I live on. I really enjoyed every retreat I have attend and came away learning something, new trying new food, getting new recipes and finishing a great mystery project. We bring a few blocks for a community project and this is also rewarding. Beside the great fellowship the whole experience has been very refreshing and rewarding. Hope you get to go to a retreat sometime soon. Toni
ReplyDeleteI have the perfect location if we want to plan one.
ReplyDeleteToni - How nice to have something near by that makes attending easy! I think the fellowship would be refreshing and inspirational. Amazing what can be accomplished when you have like minds working together.
ReplyDeleteDebby - This a great community, and I can see myself in slippers and pjs enjoying the process. Good idea with the handwork, too, so that even conversation is productive!
Debra - :) Where?!!
I love retreats - it is a great way to spend time w others that love the same thing you do - quilting. I take simple projects to retreat - because there is alot of distractions - good tho... and I enjoy getting to know other people that I don't usually spend time with. Here is my must have list:
ReplyDeleteGood LIght
Chair Cushion
Extension Cord
Bandaids or Liquid Bandaid
Asprin or Tylenol - etc...
Plastic Table Cloth (aka design wall)
Dark Chocolate
Water
Personal Iron and Pressing Surface
Machine
Essential Sewing Supplies
Sometimes I take the chair from my sewing room.
I just go locally - within 15 miles or so - my guild hosts the retreat I attend. They are usually 2-3 days (fri, sat, sun)
The first retreat I went on - I went alone - but ended up at a table with a great group of gals and they asked me to join their small group - we all still together - 5 yrs later.
Some retreats have activities some are just about sewing - either way I go every chance I get - I always leave retreat exhausted but renewed as I have spent some quality time with my sewing machine and my quilting buddies
DD - I can really appreciate the essentials on your list. Taking personal comfort items (dark chocolate) helps both alertness and relaxation! I wouldn't have thought about an extension cord and that is so practical.
ReplyDeleteI love the fact that Your original "table group" is still together...makes each retreat like a reunion!
I have gone on two retreats with one of the guilds I belong to. We go a church related camp about an hour's drive away, beautiful setting, great food, fairly basic, but comfortable rooms. We sew, take field trips to nearby quilt shops, play a few games (hysterical ugly fabric swap), talk, and have a wonderful time. I usually take something brainless that I can work on in the midst of a lot of commotion--no designing or tricky piecing for me. It astounds me the amount of stuff people bring, but I try to plan and just bring a few projects and what I need for them. Snacks are good, Ipod, earplugs (sometimes roommates snore :) ) There have been about twenty people attending this retreat, but this year we will have thirty. That may be too many--we'll see.
ReplyDeleteNow to see if I can post--
Kay Glad you were finally able to post. The ear plugs are a great idea. Thanks for replying, especially since you had so much trouble. Still don't know what caused the problem.
ReplyDelete