Has any one gone on a quilt retreat? Did you have fun? Buy any thing good? I have not gone on one yet. My buget is to tight to go on one. What did you make?

I haven't been to one yet, but they sure sound like fun.

Cindy

Loretta, I just picked up the first book in the series from the library after reading about them here. I haven't started it yet, but looking forward to it.

Cindy

I've never been to one, but always thought it would be fun

Can't say I've been to one, but sure wish I could go some day!

Sometimes we have little "mini" retreats at our fave fabric shops.

Hi Loretta,

I am reading thos books as we speak! Sure gets me in the mood to want to go to a retreat! What fun that would be!

Susan

I'm reading them too. I thought the Runaway Quilt was outstanding. The Quilter's Homecoming was great, also.

I have the rest of the series on hold at my public library. They are supposed to email me when they get to my branch.

I would love to go to quilt camp for a week. Any one know of a week long camp? Can you imagine what the cost would be????

me too. I love those books and would love to go on a retreat. Do any of you ladies have a big old house and would like to have us all over for a retreat? I make a nice lasagna.

I have been to a retreat. iIt was this past Spring when I went to my first retreat. I waa invited by one of our board members due to it being her guild. I has so much fun and wish i had the $$ to do it again. let's see we sewed, ate laughed and saw all the pretty things the ladies were making. Since we were about 30 minutes away from town we went to a quilt shop that gave us a discount. On the way to the retreat they sent me a list of shops I could check out and I did. I had a blast and found it real rewarding and worth it's money.

I have been to a couple of weekend retreats (Fri pm to Sunday noonish) put on by a guild I belonged to at the time. They were a lot of fun. Held at a church camp building (dorm style sleeping). Everyone was asked to help with a meal and cleanup time. It was lots of fun to see other peoples projects and sometimes just the fabric combinations they come up with. I have also been to day long retreats where there is a project or class you can take. Again lots of fun and a great way to learn new tricks of the trade.
Like everyone else it would be great to do a weeklong retreat...but that thing called money gets in the way. Maybe someday in my future.

I have taught at some. They are very fun. I think it's important to find one that is right for you. The most successful ones seem to be with groups of ladies who already know each other. At one retreat, some of the ladies started drinking, and their subsequent behavior upset some of the other ladies. If they had known what was going to happen, they wouldn't have signed up for that particular retreat.

I have been on 3 quilt retreats and will attend my 4th this fall! I go with a group of ladies (about 60) for 4-5 days and it is really really really (did I say really) fun! We shop (or window shop as in my case) our way up to the retreat center which is about 3 hours away in the Northwoods of MN, sew, sleep, eat and shop/window shop while we are there, and then shop/window shop our way back home again on Sunday. It is not expensive for 5 days with all meals included (and made by someone else!), I think about $100-$120 depending on whether you stay for 4 nights or 5.

I have made tons of quilt tops, tote bags, finished some UFOs and started projects that are now UFOs, adn learned lots from teh women there as well as from the projects planned and lessons given.

If you EVER have a chance to do it, I would highly recommend it! It is so great to just leave your stuff out and have nothing on your agenda but sewing!

They sound like a lot of fun. Im in great need of a retreat of any kind right about now :)

Hi,

Both guilds I belong to have retreats. I have gone on the one now for 7 years. The first time I went I had just been diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease and was scheduled to have a total hystorectmy in the next few months. The ladies were so sweet to me. They helped me carry in my stuff and looked out for me the whole weekend.
I have only missed one of those retreats since. I had a frozen shoulder and was having trouble even packing my stuff to go anywhere.
We stay at a church run camp, dorm style. Everybody brings their own projects. We set up our sewing machines in the big common room and sew to our hearts content. The retreat started out friday evening through sunday afternoon. The last couple of years it has been thursday through sunday. The camp provides meals on saturday and sunday. Thursday and friday we take turns. It usually ends up pizza and salad the first night, pastries, yogart etc. for breakfast friday, soup and sandwhichs for lunch and meatball subs and salad for dinner friday. We all get together in the family type room for a few hours each evening and hold a penny auction, play quilt bingo or just goof off. We keep a table stocked with a coffeepot and various goodies, mostly chocolote the whole time. Several communial ironing boards are available and we all take turns. There is usually a project offered to all of us. We can choose to participate or not. This year for the tenth anniversary of the retreat we were asked to make 25 signature blocks in monocromatic colors. The idea is to exchange them. The coordinator was smart enough to tell us not to sign them until we get there. There will probably be several people who don't participate.
I am proud of myself, I already have mine made and the retreat isn't until November. Over the years most of the ladies have been the same. We have seen several of them through breast cancer, deaths of their parents or spouses and other personal crisis. One year it snowed and one of the ladies fell coming in. We had three RNs and a EMT among the group. She was given the best of care. There are several quilt shops within a 20 mile drive of the facility. We usually make a field trip to one or all of them on saturday.
Everyone sews as much as they want. Some of the die hards are up half the night.
Each year someone makes name tags for all of us. At the meals in the dining hall others make favors that are put at our places. Another makes place cards for each place. It is always fun to see what was made. This year I made lace bookmarks for my table favors on my embroidery machine.
One of the ladies was married to an artist who created beautiful bird watercolors. He is now in a nursing home with Alzeheimers. She gave each of us a folder with at least a half dozen prints of his work. They used to have a shop and sell them.
Our retreat with the meals etc. runs us about $150 now. They have started another one at a different location in the spring. I think I will stick with this one.

mpspeedy, That sounds like a lot of fun. I sure wish I could find a group to do something like that. Maybe I will. I'll just have to keep looking.

My gilud has retreats to. For the weekend (2 days one night ) 350 double room . Just one meal and snacks. Thoses that went said they had fun.Had to drive your self there. Would like to go but not in my buget yet.

Boy that sound like fun. We should plan one!!! If we all got together, we would probably talk so much we would not get much sewing done! Wish we all lived closer!!!

I think that's a great idea! If we can find a place cheap! that has access to major transportation...we could plan it for 2009 so we could all talk about how to get there...we have enough talent on this board that we could teach...and bring our machines, or needles if we hand piece.

How about it? Any takers?

I'm game if the price is right.

Does this mean that you are volunteering to organize it?! :lol:

would love to join on a retreat!

I have good organization skills but I need a consensus.

Who will help me find a location? I can do most of the rest, but I don't have a clue for location. Memphis TN is not cheap to travel to, no major cheap airlines.

Dallas, maybe?

Share your thoughts...

Yes, let's do it! Sounds like fun.
Maybe somewhere centrally located to where we all live. Maybe the middle of the US.

Kansas!

As the actual cost will most probably be the main concern for all, going by comments from other threads, the "best" destinations would likely be to big tourist cities. Flights would be priced cheaper to hot spots as opposed to "why are we going there?" destinations.

Also, pricing for accommodations/travel arrangements for groups would likely be more economical where there is competition.


????????? Just my thoughts as I read this thread. Sounds like a GREAT thing to plan. I've read the Elm Creek series, actually have them, and I never knew there were such things as retreats. Didn't know a thing about quilting either, except that I was fascinated by them, until reading them.

I so don't want this to come across in any way as offensive.

that is a good point about tourist destinations - especially if the travel plans on made in the off season - like Vegas in the summer, phoenix in the summer, minneapolis/Chicago in the winter, etc.

one thing to think about would be when to do it - school year is hard because of kids in school, but then it is also hard in the summer because they aren't in school (speaking from the point of view of a stay at home mom of a 1st and 2nd grader!)!

also where are retreat centers located?

I have always wanted to go to a quilt retreat here-I would love to sleep under one of these quilts!! It is in KS, too, but could only accommodate 16 people. (I also just happen to LOVE her fabrics too!!)

http://www.ktquilts.com/getaway.php

Paducah, KY may not be the biggest tourist destination, but sure would be fun!

Seems to me that it would be nice to have a quilt retreat in a destination that caters to quilters. I googled Quilter's retreats and many sites came up. There are places that sound like an Elm Creek sort of retreat and there are others that are more like Bed n Breakfasts, but set up for groups of quilters who just want to get away and sew. And they are all over the country, Canada too. Lots of price ranges too. From very resonable to way over my head, prices. It was fun to read about the different retreats and most of them had pictures.

I have been to 3 and will be going to another in Sept. They are worth every penny. If there are vendors they have great stuff and great deals.
I think every quilter should go at least once. Next B'day Christmas , Mothers Day, etc. ask for cash to put toward a retreat!
Connie

Well, I feel very privileged because I attend at least one a year. The one our guild puts on is at a retreat center, all organic food meals included, we pay $325 Cdn Fri. dinner until Sun. lunch. We have a room to sew, and a room to eat and all the bedrooms are in the same building, so we can wear our jammies or slippers or whatever. There is usually a project or two offered, but most of us bring our own projects to work on, there is always one vendor for the Sat. .... a great little woods area with paths to get out and have some fresh air.....and the best part...only about an hour from home :) Sometimes we have a FQ lottery, or a bingo, but just depends on which guild members volunteer to organize it.
My little group of 8 also does a 3 day retreat at one member's log cabin, accessible only by water.....so only hand projects......and we decide on menus and then we each choose what we're going to cook.
This past year, I was fortunate to also attend a retreat at a Spa Resort with hot springs..... a great spot, a little $$$$, but all food included & more projects than anyone could possibly work on in the given time.
Quilting is a wonderful hobby and I've met so many great friends through it. If you have a church camp near you, you could probably find even 5-6 people close enough to pay the cost & have a wonderful weekend. There are alot of fabulous retreats offered on the web, but most are beyond the means of young families......I gotta say.....this has to be another one of those "golden" moments we've always heard about that's supposed to come our way as we age :roll:

This is where I went on my retreat last March!!!

http://www.compasscentre.com/amenities.asp

I stayed in the Knotty Girl's room decorated in bright orange. Each room was named and decorated with color theme quilts. One room was named S.L.U.T.S= Sophiticated Ladies United to Sew. I thought that was cute so at times I call myself that. Had a great time!!!!!!

See site for more information??????

Wow you girls certainly get around. I'd love to go on a retreat.
A selected few from the group I belong to arrange between themselves to go, (doesn't go down too well with the other ladies in the group) but not close to home. Year before last they went to China, last year to Houston. Apparently they aren't going to go this year but plan to go next year to Japan.
I'd love to go anywhere I even thought of France as it's closer than any if the above.!!
Would love to join you ladies maybe next year if you decide to do one. I'd love to go, if you do decide to go this year don't forget to post pics :D
How long would you go for? And what time of the year would you be thinking of. As I would need to book my annual leave well in advance.
Enjoy yourselves & think of me. :cry:

Tisha, Nottingham, UK.

I looked at the Compass Center website and it looks great!
What it doesn't have listed is the cost.
Can you help?

I paid around 196.00 for Thursday evening thru Sunday at noon with breakfast, lunch and dinner. Meals at lunch and dinner were prepared from scratch along with drink and dessert. Breakfast was provided only thing you had to fix your own and could pick from a variety. The lady that owns it made some great meals. You can also stay Sunday evening thru Thursday at noon. Great looking place out in the country about 30 minutes from Waco, Texas

I am not sure if that is a special price or that is what they charge contact Melissa email at bottom of her pages.

I would love to go but my disabilities don't allow me to keep up the pace. My friend from last place I worked attends regularly. she has a few she will not miss each year.

Yes, you have to save. There are usually list of needs and each project costs beyond housing.

She loves it. I enjoy each trip she shares with me !

Ellen

I've never been on one myself. They do sound like fun though. One of the quilt shops I visit is in the beginning stages of planning a quilt cruise. I think she said they were sailing to Bermuda. That sounds like fun!

My local guild has an annual retreat every year. Each year there is a theme and last year it was "Tea Party". I have not been able to attend as I have a conflict on the weekend it is held but the price is very reasonable with meals provided, Fri. night - Sun. noon. There are a couple of workshops that local members conduct. I hear good things every year about it. There are several ladies who have never missed one. I think the center where it is held can accomodate about 50 people.

I would love to partake in a retreat next year. I have a sister in North Carolina that I could visit and then drive to Tenn... It is a lot of organizing etc...

I have been to quilt retreats and they are the best time. You bring all of your own sewing equipment and things to work on, but if you forget something, someone will have it or we go out shopping one day for a few hours. We hit the quilt shops in the area. Dinner on Thursday we are on our own. The rest of the meals are provided. We can sew on anything that we like. There are usually 2 patterns to pick from, but if you choose not to do them, you still get the patterns. We all bring snacks, nuts, chocolate, chocolate whatever. You can stay up as late as you like. breakfast is at 8am if you miss it, oh well. Lunch is at 12 noon, dinner at 5pm. Seems like all we do is eat. But we have a really good time. There are new people sometimes. We are going again this year in Oct for 4 days. Can't wait. :D :)
We also pre shop before we get to the Camp!

I have been to several. They are a blast. You meet so many talented individuals. It's worth saving your money to go. Nothing was for sale at the retreats I went to. Everybody worked on what they wanted to; ate; talked; acted like they were working; ate; etc. .....you get the picture! Save your money and go. Check with your local quilt shop and go to one close to you. I feel sure you will enjoy them. Good Luck! GiGi :D :D :D