I'm so excited I'm going on a quilt retreat with some friends Near Jackson Hole WY for 4 days in May. Its my first quilting retreat. CAN'T WAIT! :D :D :D :D :thumbup:

Sounds like fun!! Can I come too?

you are so lucky..have fun!

what a beautiful area to have a retreat you are one lucky lady

awesome! have fun
tip: clean & oil your machine, put on new needle and wind bobbins before you leave home. I always bring extra rotary blades and machine needles.

Lucky Lucky and what a beautiful place, too!!!

Oh, have a wonderful time. A friend and I go to one every March, wouldn't miss it. Bring a variety of things to work on, cut and ready to sew if possible. I usually bring something already in progress, something small, and one more, possibly handwork. Breaks up the monotony if I am getting bored, or if I've made a mistake and need to step away from a project.

I'd also recommend you bring the manual for your machine, just in case. Have also heard that the presser foot and power cord are frequently forgotten.

Have a great time, we'll be looking forward to pictures!

Are you taking classes or are you finishing UFO's? Sounds like fun!

You will have sewww much fun. Remember, you will eat toooo much and not sleep enough :!: :!: :!:

I love retreat. Nothing but eating,sleeping and sewing. Well their is a little gossiping that goes on. Right on about taking quilt projects ready to sew. You can use very large zip lock bags to place all cut pieces, extra fabric, and the pattern. I usually take 4 to 6 projects. Sometimes I am not in the mood to deal with that project. Also, make a list of all essential items, start now. Use the list to pack. Dress comfortably in layers because someone is always hot or cold and play thermostat shuffle. I usually wear pajamas all weekend.

Actually I do more sewing on retreat than at home.

You're going to love retreating! Be prepared for anything and everything...especially for how little you'll actually get done...LOL...and how much fun you're going to have while you're not getting anything done. But if you really value making friends and fantastic memories and being inspired and sharing enthusiasm...then you're going to get more than your money's worth! Try to have one project precut, organized and ready to sew. Have a backup project just in case the primary project doesn't go so well or leaves you cold for some reason. Have something to do that doesn't require your sewing machine...just in case...it's not likely, of course, but machines have been known to act out when it's most inconvenient. You're going to have sooo much fun...I can't wait to read your "after retreat" posts!

I am envious. And Jackson Hole is SOOOOO beautiful... the snow should be gone by then. My quilt retreat is in March... in Shipshewanna, IN... heart of Amish country. :mrgreen:

I had the best time at the retreat I went to last summer (in Hillman, MI). I learned so much! It was amazing how many tips I got and how many things I didn't know, being a self-taught quilter. I plan on going back every year that I can afford to go.

sounds like tons of fun.

How lucky. It sounds great. Have lots of fun and tell us all about it.

I have never been to a quilting retreat and I would really like to go. Even better I would love to go to one with our members here!! Wouldn't that be a fabulous thing? Not just to go on a quilting retreat but one where we can all meet each other and share in person.

I would love that also.
Anyone interested in visiting me for a weekend is welcome. I have room for two or three. Not the best weather at this of year. Fall is beautiful in New England:)

Hey thanks for the advice!

I'm not taking any classes. But the ladies have asked me to teach a few things. I'm going to finish UFO's and a donation project I have going. I'd also like to make some blankets for the hospitals HOPE program. They dress,clean and wrap the new born babies that have passed away in new blankets so the mothers can hold and have time with thier babies to greave.

Wow thanks ladies for all your advice! You thought of things that I wouldn't have being my first retreat. Your the best!

You could always come to Michigan (the middle of the state) and go on retreat with our quilt guild. We are going the Thurs. before Mothers day and will come home on Mother's Day, whatever time we feel like leaving. We go to a Bed and Breakfast over by Jackson. I am so ready.

Retreats are FUN
I'm going in two weeks (less really, leave on the 28th)

Extension cords, even extras because others will forget. No matter what it always seems like I come across something I need and don't have. Luckily, we always share with each other and we are fairly close (within 15-20 miles) to three shops so we usually make a shop run on one of the days that we are there!

Our quilt group did our first retreat last October. Nine of us went to the Oregon coast and had a blast. We made a few RULES ahead of time as none of us had ever spent 4 days togetherl...the rules were: THERE ARE NO RULES.

Our quilt group did our first retreat last October. Nine of us went to the Oregon coast and had a blast. We made a few RULES ahead of time as none of us had ever spent 4 days togetherl...the rules were: THERE ARE NO RULES. If someone wanted to knit, so be it. I someone wanted to work on a project, great. If some wanted to eat out and others wanted to eat in, that was OK. We had a wonderful retreat and spent much of our time together making Socks for Soldiers...I think we made a couple hundred socks over the 4 days. We also learned a few new blocks, worked on WIPs and we spent some time PLANNING FOR OUR NEXT RETREAT. We all want to go back and make the retreat an annual affair. All the suggestions others have mentioned are great to put on a list and keep handy when packing for the retreat. I'm excited for you. Have a blastl

I've been on tons of retreats; they are so much fun! Some are structured (have classes and events), some are completely unstructured. No matter which one you go on, you will have a blast and make many new friends!

I created a list in Word software just for items to bring to retreats. The most important things (for me) are Ott lights and power strips. There never seems to be enough lights and since we quilters have so many things that require electricity, power strips are an absolute must. Depending on your own height, you may want to bring a pillow to sit on in the main sewing room. If you're using a regular chair and the tables they provide, the table might be too high. If you use a chair on wheels at home and can bring that, that would be very helpful to you.

Don't forget your clothes and toiletries - you just might be focused so much on your sewing stuff that you could easily forget those!

Some retreats I've been on have been at a great hotel on Cape Cod. We take both their conference rooms. All of our sewing stuff goes in one room and in the other room are tables for all the snack food, several tables with bed risers on them, then 2-3 tables put together with chairs around it so people can eat together. We even set up Crock-pots for dinners since this retreat doesn't include lunch or dinner.

Oh such fun, wish I was going on one right now!!!

I have a sister in Michigan who goes to Shipshewana for retreats and of course goes often to the flea market there. Her home is decorated in Shipshewana Chic.
Hope you enjoy your retreat there as much as she enjoys her visits.

Have a wonderful time!!!

Start your list of things to take with you now. Then maybe you won't forget a thing.

Have a wonderful time!!!

Start your list of things to take with you now. Then maybe you won't forget a thing.

Along with starting your list, I set out a bag or laundry basket works great if you are driving. As I think of something I want to take with me, I get it and put it in the basket. The times I don't do this, I ALWAYS forget something!
wish all of us on the board where going with you! Enjoy!
we want to see lots of pictures when you return! :)

I am so lucky as well- I'm going to a retreat THIS WEEKEND- 10 am Fri -Yeah. I'm also fortunate enuf to be renovating a small town (NE IA) downtown bldg into a quilting studio and retreat center--I'll always be @ a retreat come spring time :):):). I'm always interested in games to play while there to mix things up a bit--dice game 4-5-6 or R-L-C and the mystery gift exchange where you draw a # and can steal or pick an unopened gift....lots of fun- always optional for participation. Any other games/ideas?

We play a game called the Left Right story. Someone created a cute story where the family's last name is Right and the words left and right are constantly said in the story.

What you do is have everyone bring a fat quarter. Have them stand in a circle with their fat quarter in their hand. Have someone read the story and every time the word "left" is said, pass your fabric one person to the left, every time the word "right" is said, pass your fabric one person to the right. It's a lot of fun! There is Grandma Right, Sister Right, Mother Right, Father Right, etc. When the story is done, you keep whatever piece of fabric you have in your hand.

This works great with a group of about 15 people.

We also play Quilto. Of course, we use M&M's to cover the Quilto board. Somehow, I end up not being able having enough M&M's to use on my board :D

I go to Retreat twice a year. I keep a list of items to pack on my computer. I print it out each time and check off what I pack. I go over it just before I leave, to check for such things as toothbrush and makeup that I used that morning. You will probably add to it after your first retreat. I think of it as my well organized assistant, so that I don't have to think so hard.

Another game that we play at retreat is White Elephant exchange. Each person that participates, brings one unwrapped book, pattern, fabric, bag, UFO, quilt panel, etc they no longer want. We put them in the middle of a table and draw numbers to see who goes first. An item can only have three owners and then it is out of the exchange and cannot be taken away. There are always one or two items that everyone wants and steals.

Hello from another utah resident...I can feel your excitment for the retreat...have a great time. I have never been to a retreat-hope to someday...be sure to come back w/ lots of pics.