Quilting retreat planning
 

OK, I have never been on a quilting retreat, have no idea what goes on there but would like to know what others think would be their "dream" quilting retreat and what they would be willing to pay for it. Think Friday evening to Sunday noon.

Was possibly thinking of holding it a local hotel.

Go!

My small guild had their last retreat at a wonderful B&B. It's a converted church and we took the whole place over for the weekend. The food was to die for. It was all homemade. The place we used to have our retreats at was a church camp and we went in the off season. When we first went the food was super good but the last cook they had was terrible. The last time we went we got frozen Stouffer's chicken and it was freezer burnt to boot.

We pay $100 to $120 each for the weekend and it includes four meals, Friday supper, Saturday breakfast and supper and Sunday brunch.

When we first started the retreats we had classes and projects but everybody decided they'd rather use the time to catch up on their own projects.

My guild rents a large beach house each year. There are 20-25 of us and around 10 bedrooms so we double up, 2 to a bed.

We have a lot of sewing space, we move the houses tables and bring in our sewing tables and set up. We are each responsible for one meal for the weekend and the cost of the rental is usually around $150 each. We go for a 4 day weekend during the winter months as the rates are lower then.

We sew our own projects but have one community project that we all work on at some point during the weekend for one of our charities.

It's always a fun weekend.

My ideal and what I can actually do are different.

Ideal: affordable with nutritious food prepared, bedrooms in same building, no stairs [at least for me and a few others], plenty of hot water, beautiful surroundings [so able to take walks if desired], good tables and chairs [not folding type!], beautiful environment. If not in the country, then at least looks like it .... unless it is at a motel with heated pool and all that. A place where once set up I could leave my stuff without fear of it being hurt or stolen. Sewing area available whenever I want it - well, maybe except for meals. Bedrooms separated from sewing area so nap time is possible if needed. At least 1 LQS nearby. A living area or area for relaxing and maybe TV watching while doing hand work.

Realistic: Open all day except at late nite. Close enough to home so I could sleep in my own bed. Sewing machines secured at site - whether by a few of us sleeping overnite on site if necessary or youth doing it for us. Again, good nutritious food. This would definitely be the most affordable for the majority of quilters.

Oops, decaf beverages available that aren't too sugary. A sensitivity to diets of others: diabetic, low salt, or whatever. [Not me, I just avoid caffeine and prefer not many calories but lots of veggies.] NOT at a high altitude.

Lots of positive people to have fun with.

ali

Hey gals & guys ... if it were up to me all the holiday parties would involve each person bringing their own sandwiches, maybe having some hot soup served, definitely beverages available ... maybe some small simple desert. And ...then we all would donate cans of food for homeless or shelters or such. I feel like a pig at a trough when I go to most pot-lucks because of the abundance of food available.

ali

My ideal retreat would start with leaving my cel phone, wrist watch, Ipad and BRA at home, and end with the place not having a telephone, PC's or a television set.

After that ... I really don't care. As long as I can veg for a few days in comfortable clothes with a sewing machine and some fabric to play with.

I think one of the members of this board has a list of how to start a retreat and what to bring. I think it is craftybear but I am not sure. Search her name and it should provide a link.

anyone want to do one in Illinois? I live alone and have 4 bedrooms..plenty of space.

I have never been to a quilting retreat but would love to be able to go to one. Going to a quilt retreat is on my bucket list. LOL

been to MANY..organized a few...skip the hotel...seriously...

Would like a seperate bed, but sharing bedrooms would be fine. Definitely secure area to leave sewing machines and quilting supplies overnight. Good food, plenty of soft drinks, snacks, some demonstrations or lessons in a variety of things. Comfortable chairs. If in a hotel, then a hot tub, pool or something else to relax in late at night.
Consideration for those who don't sleep well at night so they don't bother those who can sleep all night. Elevators. No more than $150 plus transportation.

I have one, but I think craftybear compiled it with others! It was more for what to bring to a retreat really..not how to plan/organize one!

DogHouseMom -- now that posting literally made me LOL! Sounds ideal indeed. Thanks for posting. :D

I always go to retreats in the spring and the fall. It's at a church camp. We have up to 5 days of sewing (bliss).
We have cooks to prepare meals and dishwashers to clean up. We even have a number of people coming in to do massages on different days during the retreat. This is my idea of heaven.

Retreats for crafters have become more popular in the last few years. Check the internet for retreats in your area. I attend retreats at two different locations in our area (North Texas) . One is a Thursday through Sunday and includes 2 or 3 meals a day depending on the meal option. Retreat location holds about 13 people. The other retreat location holds 32-33 people with 3 meals a day and brunch on the day you leave. We do there Monday-Thursday. Cost is $200+ and well worth it. Everyone works on their own thing and changing from pjs to regular clothing.

mltquilt

>>anyone want to do one in Illinois? I live alone and have 4 bedrooms..plenty of space.

Wow ... and your only about 40 miles from me. I was up in your neck-of-the-woods Sunday in Oswego.

What part of IL? Sounds like a wonderful idea to me.

I am lucky to be able to go to the ideal retreat. The group rents an entire B&B (we have 20) and the Mennonite couple and their helpers take care of us and make all our meals. The meals are prepared by and excellent cook, they make our beds, and it is so clean and comfortable.

Our only complaint for the first couple of years was they made too much great food. We are now down to two meals a day and have plenty. We set up in the basement family rooms and have so much fun. Everyone works on their own projects and we have quilt bingo, secret santa, and a short lesson in something sewing related. This year I am teaching a purse organizer. We get there Monday and leave on Friday so there is a lot of time to sew.

The only downside is that it is a cold and snowy area in February which is why we can afford such a great B&B. Every year there is a blizzard or ice storm but we just stay inside.