Count Me Inspired Needlework Retreat Part II

Friday after we came back from dinner at the Blue Gate, we all settled down into an evening of stitching. It was also time to work on our annual retreat project. This year, I selected "A Needlework Collage" using the pattern from Erica Michaels. Here is a picture of our sample model.



The designer, Linda Stolz, used a piece of silk gauze on which she stitched the word "Needles." She added a few wool pages and some sticker numbers denoting needle size and created some needle pages. She also handwrote a familiar verse, "All of my scattering moments are taken up with my needle." We had a table full of supplies to utilize to create our own collage on trading card pages. We could use pieces of our own stitching, scrapbook paper, fabric trims, wool, buttons and whatever else struck our fancy. This was our project to create and whatever materials we wished to include would be perfectly fine. Here are a few attendees perusing the available supplies.



Several ladies actually finished their pages at the retreat. Here are some examples:




I gave everyone a challenge for next year's retreat. Whoever has finished their collage needs to bring it and we'll take a vote. There will be a prize for the "People's Choice" collage. Here are some examples from the designer of different ways you can utilize scraps of stitching and other needlework media.



There is one more part left to this retreat recap. Check back again for the details of our last days together.

Count Me Inspired Needlework Retreat 2013 - Part I

The boutique is packed and in the van. I make the trek alone this year and it was a good thing....there is no way I could have fit a passenger in the van! It was loaded to the roof. I pulled into the Farmstead Inn driveway about 2pm local time, checked with the front desk for room info, then drove around back to the conference center to start unloading the van. This is the sight that greeted me.


I don't think there is a more wonderful sight: gazing upon an oasis of stitchy contentedness for the first time, knowing that 3 days of bliss is in store for you. I love the Farmstead Inn. Everytime I see that "red barn" conference center, I get a smile in my heart. I set about unloading the van and after a little while, help arrived and we finished the unload. Setup of the boutique commenced. It took about 6 of us working diligently to get the boutique ready for our attendees. About 4:30, I ran down to my room to change clothes and freshen up. The room is ready and waiting...table assignments have been made and each attendee has a name tag waiting for them on the edge of the table.


This was the sight that greeted everyone in the hall on the way to our conference room:



Boutique:


Here's our first evening together. Everyone is mingling together and having fun; making new friends!




We went to lunch the next day and I was able to snap a pic of some of the ladies that help me out with the retreat and other "shop" doings. L to R: Pam, Grace, Debbie & Rita



Getting a little bit of stitching in before heading over to the Blue Gate Restaurant for dinner.


Stay tuned for Part II....lots to write about and more pictures to show you!

Friday Funday Finishes!

Customer Jo stopped by yesterday for our Friday Funday stitching event. This is a once-a-month stitch afternoon held on the 2nd Friday of every month. If you're available, come on by and join us for a fun and relaxing few hours. Well, Jo just happened to bring with her a one-woman trunk show! She is quite creative and resourceful and loves to frame things using her treasure trove openstock frame stash.



Here's a cute little Lizzie Kate "Land That I Love"


"Crow Patriotic" by Homespun Elegance


"Sheep Freebie" by Shepherd's Bush and "Tall Snowman" from Heart In Hand


Not sure of the name of this one, but I'm pretty sure it's from Crossed Wing Collection


A bunch of cute wool pincushion kits from Just Another Button Company


A close up of the "Ghost Spoolkeep" kit and "Pumpkin Mini" pincushion


This is one of my favorites although Jo couldn't remember who designed it. She said it came as a kit with the perforated paper, memo pad and pen. You stitch the designs, lightly glue or use stitchery tape to attach them to the memo pad. So adorable! "Can't Remember Jack" memo pad


Forgot to get designer names and titles for those below but these are great for the upcoming holidays!


Love this little sled! I've been wanting to stitch one of these little sled ornaments and Jo certainly has inspired me to get moving! Too cute! I can envision an entire Christmas tree filled with these gems. Or, bring smiles to all your gift recipients and attach a little sled to their holiday package!


I hope to have more interesting news to report from our upcoming "Count Me Inspired" Needlework retreat. It will be here in two weeks! Can't wait for Shipshewana!!

"I'm A Fan of Pam" Club

Pam, who works with me at the shop on Thursdays, has ongoing practical jokes with a co-worker at her full-time job. Debbie learned about this joke and figured we could extend the fun to the retreat. Imagine Pam's surprise when three of us came to lunch one afternoon with our "I'm A Fan of Pam" buttons!



Pam was a good sport about it as we razzed her all weekend about being her fans! Here we are, paying homage to Pam, but by the time this was snapped, we were falling over each other, hysterical with laughter! It does one good to kick back, relax and just laugh. We love you, Pam. Thanks for playing along and letting us have some fun!

Count Me Inspired Needlework Retreat 2012

It's hard to believe another retreat has come and gone. That makes three. We had such a fun time and this was the largest group by far. The first year we had 32. The second, 36. This year, there were 53 attendees! We doubled the room size and it led to a cavernous feeling in the room. We set up the boutique in the room with the round tables for our meals. This left plenty of room between our three sets of tables, with no one feeling cramped or unable to comfortably get out of their chair. The picture below will give you an idea of the layout of one side of the room.



Each retreat I try to have the group work on a little project, something needlework related but not cross-stitch. I want them to stretch their comfort zone a bit, but nothing too difficult or tedious. It should be a remembrance of the retreat. This year, the group project was a little wool pumpkin needlebook. Here are some attendees working on the pumpkins.



And some finished masterpieces!





The food out in Shipshewana is always spectacular. We found the Garden Gate Cafe last year and returned again this year. Trust me, the food is as delicious as it looks! These are the Cafe Cherry Chicken Salad and the Chicken Salad Wrap.





The dinner bell rings and it's only a few steps away to our buffet line! How easy is that?



Dinner Friday night was at the Blue Gate Restaurant. I make a point to stop here every chance I get when in the area. The food and service are always excellent! I was so overwhelmed by how they served us with such precision and speed, that I totally forgot to take pictures!



Something we look forward to each year is the "smalls" exchange. If you want to participate, you stitch a small (ornament, needlebook, scissor fob, etc), wrap it up and bring it to the retreat. Here we gather everyone together and if you have a small to exchange, then you pull a number. When your number is called, you get to select a wrapped small from the table. Once everyone has taken a small, we open them one by one and then try to guess who stitched it. Sometimes we get it right but many times, we are surprised! Such creative gals attend the retreat and we are bowled over by the fun ways we see things finished and assembled.







That's enough for today! Next post, I will show you some photos of what the gals were stitching on at the retreat!

Cathy

Quick Trip East

While at the retreat in Shipshewana this past October, I ordered an item from Yoder's Hardware store. I was waiting and waiting for it to come in. I had hoped it would come in during November because I wanted to meet a friend of mine who would just happen to be out in Shipshe on a Quilt Retreat around Thanksgiving. Well, they called last week to tell me that my item was now in stock. It was a large item and I knew it would be cheaper to drive and pick it up then to have it shipped to me. Two weeks before Christmas was not the optimal time to make a quick trip to Shipshewana, but if I didn't go on my day off this week, it would be at least a month before I had an opportunity to get out there.

The drive was pleasant, the temperatures, mild and I was able to stop at the Blue Gate and "Christmas store" to check out what was new. Here are some pictures right before evening set in.



I picked up what I ordered at Yoder's and after quickly making a few purchases of Christmas gifts, I set out for home. I wish I had more time to stay and take in all the lovely, twinkling lights, but that will be for another day.

I was able to snap a quick shot of Rob, the UPS guy that brings all the wonderful, stitchy designs to the shop.



Jill brought in some finished Ink Circles designs a few weeks ago that she will be giving as gifts this Christmas.




Marilyn also stopped by with some finishes of her own. My goodness......so many samplers, so little time!





I hope to bring you some more updates of customer framing and/or stitching projects within the next week. Thanks for stopping by!

Count Me Inspired

It has been two weeks since the first ever Inspired Needle retreat. It was held in Shipshewana, IN, nestled in a quaint hotel, surrounded by an Amish community. Our group was comprised of 34 ladies, some beginners, some advanced, but all were a lot of fun!


Above is a picture of the group hard at work on their felted pincushions. There was no felting involved. The kit came with precut pieces of wool felt which could be embellished and then assembled on top of a vintage thread spool. Each one was unique and special in its own way.


We shared good food, prime stitching time and learned more about each other. Some beautiful works in progress were seen:






In between meals and stitching, we got to peruse the Dinky-Dyes trunk show along with assorted other needlework treats.



By the end of the weekend, we were all relaxed and content, happy to stand for a couple poses. Same time next year?






Thanks for reading!
Cathy