Are the retreats ever small groups? Just maybe 5-10 people?

I want to go on an "Elm Creek Quilt" Retreat - like in the books...my own room in a Victorian house with beautiful quilts on each bed. A Gourmet chef to tantalize my pallet and entertainment that will keep me laughing....then some outstanding classes by world renown artists! And it only cost $150 for a week! :thumbup: ;-) ;-)

You can organize your own retreat with as many or as few people as you want. You need a place big enough for each person to have 4-6 feet of sewing space, space for designing, an ironing board. I have organized several retreats for as many as 25 ladies. Some places let you bring in crock pots, some places expect you to use their catering. Motels have community rooms that they will rent to you. Or maybe your church will let you use their space in the middle of the week and you all sleep at home. Lots of options. The most important rule is: HAVE FUN!!

I go to a retreat every spring that is just 5-7 people. It started out as 2 friends and their daughters and it has expanded to include a granddaughter, a sister and a friend (me!). All we do is quilt and talk and laugh from 4pm Wednesday until late in the night on Friday and then we spend Saturday shopping before we head home on Sunday. We take turns making meals at the cabin we rent and then we eat out for 3 meals. It is so much fun and I look forward to it every year!

same here, 2x a year at a someone's home

We started what we hope to be an annual event with 4-5 of us, 1st week or second week of December. We gathered at a friend's home who has a big basement and a DH who set up good strong work tables and extra power outlets. We each brought a dish of food or treats and we sew and eat and sew and laugh all day, listening to Christmas music. For 2010, we picked the same pattern (a tote bag) and had it all cut by the time we gathered, then sewed on it during our special day. It was so much fun to all be working on the same thing. It was fun to see what different fabrics our friends had chosen and it was great to have each other there as you got to a phase or step in the project. Only one of us finished that day..miss speedy pants who always finishes first..haha but I know I finished mine a few days later, and might never have had such a great bag if I hadn't been a part of it. Great fun.

All it took was someone saying, "hey why don't we get together and just sew all day?" Oh and I just realized.. its one of the bags in my profile pic... the bigger one was the Christmas 2010 bag, so there you go.

It sounds like so much fun. I'm thinking...

yes...I went to one a few weeks ago at an old historical house that holds events, there were 6 of us, did all the above mentioned, and, the house was haunted! Great fun! I think I slept 10 hrs the whole weekend! got 3 quilt tops completed, a little infant dress and headband and quilted one top. Was a blast! You should give it a try! You know how us quilters are, never meet a stranger! Right?

I go to a bunch each year. One is at a wonderful BandB with all meals provided. One is Gwen Marston's in upper Michigan and we stay at a lodge and get our own meals. ne is a group of various crafters that has been meeting at a convent retreat center for decades. I have traveled to Arizona, Alaska, Ohio, etc. for retreats and use it as an excuse to travel.

I work on whatever I want to and as much or as little as I want to. Love them. Wonderful women and a great vacation.

I've been to two. I took way to many projects to the first one. I did get some sewing done, but spent a LOT of time talking, laughting, eating and walking around the room looking at everyone else's projects. A ton of fun!