I donated some items to a quilt retreat once & also found this company that was willing to send little sample packages of English Paper Piecing. Each packet had fabric, templates & instructions to make some hexies.

http://www.paperpieces.com/

You might contact them & see if they still do this.

Thank you I will.

I use a small metal bowl with a magnet bottom for holding pins & stuff next to my sewing machine. I grab it and take it to classes with me and everyone always loves it and wants one. Harbor Freight has them right now for free with their online ad & mailer. Regularly $5.99 which is still a good inexpensive gift idea. Sometimes it's amazing the things I can use from that store that we ladies wouldn't normally think of.

I was in that store once in Idaho. However, they don't have Harbor Freight in Canada and shipping is ridiculous as you no doubt know. I do have one of those metal bowls for my pins and I love it. Thank for the suggestion.

What a fantastic site - just what I had been looking for! Great free patterns and good prices for the hexie papers!
Thank you, thank you!

A friend and I held a one day retreat and I furnished those small bottles of lotion that you acquire while traveling. After sewing all day, our hands need some treatment.

I do not know if you will be in Vancouver before your retreat, but if you are stop in at Dressew. They have the most amazing things in the basement. Hand sewing needles for $0.25 per package, etc. One year I bought small wooden hand sewing caddies for 25 cents each too. I sent them in a Secret Santa package.

I saw a chapstick holder key fob on pinterest. This looked easy to do and so useful!

No one mentioned a G-string for your name tags to fit in. It is a necklace with a clear plastic window. I am sure you have seen them before.

good idea, thanks marleygal.