I am thinking of putting together a small come & go quilt retreat for Aug!

it is a come & go as there are NO places to rent with rooms, etc...
it will be at our county building which has kitchen facilities, etc.

I have planned many retreats, but always the stay over kind that lasted 3-4 days...
with this being a come and go, I am not sure what to plan for. there will be NO meals, unless we do a potluck for lunch. We have to be out of the building at 10pm, so no late night mysteries or show and shares...

any ideas...do demos, have one small class, or just let them come and sew? Sort of boring to pay money and NOT get anything but a sewing space...

I can fit 100+ in the building and it will cost $500 for the 3 day weekend....(by the way, that is the same cost as a room at our mall)

would love to hear what you all think/ideas/hints.....

I assume it is air conditioned.

Sounds like fun! For meals can two people run for take out, Chinese, fast food or pizza? Or maybe you can make salad, sandwiches, nice bottled juice and a cooky? I do think food is a must. LOL One big pot of coffee brewing and some goodies will go a long way too. I would definitely have an optional project that is though, maybe a block swap or any fun stuff just like the over nite retreat. I wished I was closer. I would come and bring a snack. Oh do not foget the door prize or any fun stuff like that. How about a hand quilting frame with a donation quilt that people can quilt on if they want to.

I'd like to see a couple of swap-or-sell tables, maybe FQ's and books.
How about inviting participants to each make an easy block for a charity quilt?
Maybe some drawings for patterns or scrap bags?

Are there any women who could host sleep overs and travel back and forth to the room? If leaving machine and supples set up and waiting for you to return make sure you advertise the fact. To me that would be the biggest draw.
Have a sign up by date, so you could get a price per person.
Maybe come up with a couple of price options.
Good luck, if I was close enough I would be interested.

Wow, I'm sure you could get at least 10 local people to share the cost of that and they'd be thrilled to have ALL that room to spread out.

Are tables/chairs included in the rental?
What about electrical outlets?
Enough not blow the box?
Make sure someone brings a bunch of extension cords.

Oh, make it a phone-free zone.

I'd gladly pay the money to not have any distractions and a lot of room to work.
Everyone could do their own thing, and potluck lunch is fine.

You could charge a bit more and have it included lunch - just get the local deli to make a few platters and bring drinks.

Wow again. 3 days, 9AM-10PM just. to. sew.

Heaven.

yep and the prisoners do all the set up and break down...

love it all....I already checked on all the specs...I have done craft shows in this building for years...it even has a stage! plenty of bathrooms, kitchen stuff, plenty of power! and tons of room!

You are right...don't need much entertainment when you get lots of room to sew, hang design walls, etc....

I will do a "vendor" type area and a couple of Demo's on some everyday useful tips/hints items...we may even do a DYE class as there is room outdoors as well!

I think I can do a deli tray fairly easily and will have fruit and veggies as well! I love that the kitchen is open with full fridge, stove etc....that always helps! could even cook up a simple dinner of baked chicken, taters and salad!

I personally will enforce the NO PHONE rule...gentle music maybe...but NO phone, NO TV.....can just feel the FUN already!

will also do a block sew to make lap quilts for our local Vets in their new VA home!

Oh, you have a dyeing area.

I bet you most folks would love to try that out.

Especially with nary a chance of dye getting on their lovely white grout on the kitchen backsplash. :roll:

It's great making a mess somewhere else.

Have a fabulous time!!!

I've been to both styles - sit 'n' sew w/out any classes and sit 'n' sew with optional projects. Both worked great :-D.

Definitely have a show 'n' tell. One group I go to does this after one of the meals - each person brings 1 or 2 items (either made by them or of special significance) to share. Another group had us each lay 1 item out in the lobby of the hotel near the conference area and then we all walked around and looked and asked questions if we wanted to. Another group (in a conference center that was converted from an old school - we sewed in the gym) had us lay out finished tops along the bleachers/seats to show everyone.

Block Raffle - everyone makes the same quilt block in a color theme (like a 9-patch in blues or select an easy block from Quilter's Cache or another site/block database). Or everyone makes a certain size block of their choice in a theme (12" 1930's block). For each block that you make, your name goes in the drawing. Depending on the # of blocks made, give away 2 or 3 sets at end of retreat.

FQ swap - everyone brings a FQ (can be themed or not). Have a swap so everyone takes a new one home (draw names 1 or a few @ a time to pick a FQ, or if having meals, put one at each place setting for one of the meals.)

Have a small project/class that is optional. Pick an easy pattern that someone can teach, pass out instructions to those interested (maybe have those taking the class pay $5 or $10 extra for the class), go over anything tricky about the block. @ my favorite retreat, we gather round the instructions tables for a 5 or 10 minute class to go over the pattern/instructions and see samples. Then we work on the project at our own sewing stations, so you don't have to have an actual class area set up for those doing the project. Try to keep the projects simple/small so they can be completed at the retreat if the participants choose. Make sure to have samples in various stages of progress as needed.

Mystery project - choose a small/easy project. We were told to bring some jelly roll strips in blues, reds, and creams (or about 1/4 yardage each color). The project turned out to be a cute table topper (and optional coasters) made out of 9-patches. Past mystery projects have been a sewing kit made out of ziplock bags and a potholder (supplies were provided for a small fee), fabric postcards, and a d9p table runner.

oh - most retreats/camps I go to ask everyone to bring a favorite snack for the snack table

ahhhaa..that is great...but true...and oh so fun....especially when you rinse them out and hang them up to dry in the sun...makes a great show in itself!

Hmmm, the $500.00 seems pretty high to me, especially considering there wouldnt be any food or lodging. So what exactly is the 500.00 for? just curious. I went to a retreat a couple of weeks ago and it was $180.00 that included lodging and all he food for 3 days. Good luck, will be interesting to see how it turns out.

I thought she meant the cost to rent the building is $500 for 3 days. Not $500 per quilter.

??????? Bet you could get them to provide meals then. SOunds like fun, hope it all works out for you in Oklahoma.

If there is a good, inexpensive hotel nearby, I might be interested in coming, if someone wanted to share a room! It's a little far from Garland TX to commute :lol:

Anyone know how far enid is from the Dallas, TX area?

yep, the $500 is our cost for the building...which in OK with air conditioning in August, that alone should pack the house..hehehe

about 4 hours up I-35!

actually I think I might block some rooms at the hotel we used last year for my parents anniv party...it would be close and is nice!

OH and since it is at the county fairgrounds there is RV hook up!

Our guild does "pizza days" at a local church.... we each pay $10 and there's approx 30 of us..... after the rent, there's enough $$ to purchase pizzas for dinner. We arrive at about 9 and bring our own lunch..teas, coffees, etc. are provided. My favourite ones have been when one of our guild members has prepared "scrapbusters" for us. She has done samples of many blocks....asked us to precut certain sizes and colours and we each make blocks at the church....then lay them all out together to make a quilt. Sometimes this is sewn into a community(charity) quilt....sometimes the blocks are taken home for future reference. Of course you need a dedicated person to search out tons of scrappy blocks on the internet or in magazines, and willing to share her knowledge.

this sounds like fun...I am the internet savvy scrap busting queen...have been in charge of the guild BOM program with scrappy blocks for 3 years! I have a collection..ehhehe

There is a retreat like this in our area. She holds it at the local auditorium. The gal who plans it loves to cook so she provides a noon meal and everyone brings snacks. Everyone brings their own projects to work on. She usually plans one small project that everyone can do. It works great, started with about 6 people coming and last time there was 26.

Who is the target audience? If this is a community wide event, a mixer would be a good thing. A paper scavenger hunt (don't collect anything, just gather information) with a list of things people are apt to be making, or methods being used (DP9, string quilt, place mat, landscape, paper piecing, etc.) Leave a blank line and a few check blocks. Line for the name of the person doing the project; check boxes for, I'd like to learn this, I can do this, I could teach this, I learned from this person. I took a photo. Perhaps the next line down could have a place for info exchange, phone & e-mail. When their hunt is completed, they can show it to the hostess, who in turn will put their name in the hopper for the hunt prize. They can keep their paper.

I've been to events & never really got to know anyone other than the handful of guild regulars. Not everyone makes it to the meetings, so I like to wander about and peek, (or stare). Something like this would be better than tossing a beach ball and calling a name. Mixing with multiple end results, at a person's own time, throughout the weekend.

Speaking of hostess - volunteers who work for two or 4 hour shifts, so that everyone, including you, can enjoy time for sewing, and dyeing.

This is a very interesting idea. And not a lot to ask, nor time to give up.

I wanna come !!!! I would love to spend some 'me' time....

I have never been to a quilt retreat but would consider going since I live in Oklahoma.
I do have 1 little suggestion though and that is to make everyone turn off their cell phones and give everyone a phone number just for emergency calls.
Whenever my sister comes over to sew, her phone doesn't ring but she is constantly having to answer text messages from her family that are unneccessary. If they would leave her alone she might get some sewing done.

I've been to retreats like what you're hosting. We had 2-3 people sign up for each meal and they planned and prepared it. It worked out great.

It's kind of hard to prepare meals if we live 4 or 5 hours away though

We have done this type of retreat twice a year for several years at our quild in Calif. For meals everyone brings a pot luck and there is always way to much food for " 3 meals a day". Each retreat is 3 or 4 days long. We sew and share all day and then go home for the night and return the next morning.

Wow this sounds like fun. I have a friend who lives in Mustang guess I will give her a ring and see if she is going to attend. Keep it posted as to dates etc., I am assuming you are opening it up to others then just the local Enid quilters right? Our retreats have always been sleep overs but as we get older we are looking more at this type of retreat the motel room blocks sounds really good. If the building is $500.00 you could add the room prices (motels usually give rates) and then you could give everyone the cost. I like the pot luck idea or else include the price of sandwiches or pizza to the cost and I really think everyone would love to pitch into the snack table. Around here we are never at a lack for food. Maybe make it a UFO weekend with some show and tells, a quickie project for everyone to make together as a memory of the weekend like a mug rug, a block to put into a pot for at the end of the retreat someone would win. Oh man I wish I were closer hmmm I think I am only 6 hours away hmmmmmm keep us posted. Oh yea and don't you over do either gather up some help sounds like your doing this on your own without much help and that will tire you out and when do you get to sew. Have fun.

I'm in. :mrgreen: Just looked at room rates, running $55-59, would be more with tax. Willing to share a room with 1-2. Need my own bed. non smoking. not a natural early riser, but can be, if lights out are early. Late talking is fun, but then can't wake up.

Would the "block" room rates be a bit reduced?

The planning suggestions sound like fun. Like the idea of a block raffle, put in however many blocks & that's your number of chances for the lot? Also a FQ trade.

If it's a quilting retreat, not into making it "open to the public" for a community event. Unless there's a show & sell period one afternoon, or something like that.

Oh, and security.

Even if you've got only 20 people, you could have way over $50,000 worth of equipment in the room. Easily.

I'm sure the prisoners will lock up at night ;-) , but how does the facility deal with/guarantee that the room remains locked and secure?

Unless everyone has to take their machines home with them (which they might prefer anyway).

Just a thought.

sure wish i could come.....i've never been to a quilting retreat. sounds fun

Have 2 or 3 gals sign up to prepare a meal or have meals catered with a charge. Everybody bring snacks, fruits, and drinks. Be sure about the safety of your machines if your leaving them over night in the building. MTS is right about that.

It does sound like fun... I have never gone to one either..

Sounds like alot of fun, sure wish I lived closer!

Our quilt shop does these sleep-at-home retreats. They are great because you arrive, set up your machine, spread out your "stuff" on your 6' or 8' table, and it's totally "ME" time. They provide extension cords, ironing stations, cutting stations, cushions for your chair, a drink and a snack each day. At least a couple of ladies bring baked goods for everyone. They help you carry in all of your stuff. They get coupons from the nearby restaurants for those who want to take time off to leave and eat. The retreats run Thurs and Fri 9 to 9 and Sat 9 until 4. On Sat they provide pizza and salad. Also, since Wednesday is open sew day anyway, you can arrive on Weds, set up for the rest of the week and be there 4 days. All this for $40 and it's well worth it. No phones, no hubbies, no kids, no pets, just me and my beloved machine, and project(s). It's so great to drive home, come the next day and continue where I left off.

The unfortunate part about these sleep-at-home retreats is that anyone who lives too far away doesn't want to drive home after dark each day so they have to either get a room somewhere or just not come.

The other things, like block exchange, joint projects, etc are for when we go to the away 3-day retreats. At these, our meals are cooked for us 3 times a day, which is way too much food. Everyone brings a snack, it's put on an 8' table and we eat some more. The only thing we have to do at these is make our bed when we get there and take the sheets off when we leave. Isn't life great???

I'd suggest a come and sew. those are the retreats I go to and enjoy them the most. I've seem some nice quilts come out of some retreats where that is the theme but I never can keeep up so that's not for me. Also, if you are going to have that many people... a sit and sew your own thing seem the best.

Sounds like fun to me. Wish I could join you!