For me, a retreat is somewhere I go where I have a big chunk of uninterrupted time to quilt. When do you ever get up and quilt ALL day and even quilt after dinner until your too tired to sew anymore. No cooking. No cleaning. Plus lots of quilting girls to talk to, and others projects to see.

For all of the above and every time I go, he suddenly realizes how much he misses my cooking, and my cleaning, and my company......

I used to so love my annual retreat in the spring when I was working for the reasons already posted. It was always a bright spot to look forward to. Now that I'm retired, I sew with two groups and knit with another group each week so don't have the same need to 'retreat'. I do have a retreat I'll go to in the fall but a good friend puts it on and Karen Kay Buckley will be the guest teacher. Seeing my friend and taking a class with KKB will be extra special.

Laughter, of course!
On yea....and some sewing.

I like going on retreats. I like the three day two night retreats the best. I go with quilting friends and we have so much fun being together. I have gone to retreats where I knew no one and had a great time. I use to think retreats weren't for me until I went to one.

I have never been attracted to a retreat because every time I take a class at my LQS I forget something. I can only imagine how many things I would forget if I was packing for a retreat. I also have arthritis in my hips and 1 hour is the maximum time I can quilt without getting up and moving around. Perhaps I would have enjoyed them when I was younger but I raised 3 children, worked and then raised 4 grandchildren. There was never the time or the money to go on a retreat.

I love going to retreats...for all the things that have already been mentioned.. The place that we go to is a beautiful place with walking trails, a lake and at the foot of a mountain. Just being out in nature where you can rise and just praise God for all the beauty is worth the trip. I live 20 minutes away but I always pay to stay there with my friends.

The retreat organizer has games and a class is offered for those that want to take it otherwise we take our own stuff. I usually take a couple of UFO's stuff for a new pattern or I end up taking the class. We have a local store bring their "store"and they have anything you might need or forgot to bring.

If you forgot something that the store does not have most quilters will lend you one thing or another.

A retreat as such is meant to provide a calm and relaxing environment where one can go to let go of daily stress. For me it means somewhere nice with like-minded people with nothing else to do but sew, visit, snack, relax and laugh. (Well, there may be a glass of wine or two in the mix too.) One of the retreats I attend happens on the beach which is so beautiful. The gals who share a house are quite compatible and we have become quilty friends over time.
Another aspect of the retreat is to learn new techniques. It really is a win-win.

I also enjoyed getting to know women from my guild better. At guild meetings things are busy and rushed so when I was able to attend a retreat I got to speak with members longer.

The first retreat I went to, none of my small sewing group were going but I had a lot of fun. At my second retreat my sister came down from Michigan. She doesn't quilt but she worked on flannel story boards for her library and I sewed and we had a really good time.

I know my current guild's retreat sold out the first week it was announced and there are 100 people attending. I hope to attend one year soon but right now I am a single parent to a teenager.

The other thing about a retreat is that I finish projects. I bring several and work on what I want, but when people are walking by and checking on your progress it is hard to just give up on something that is almost a complete top - for me it's a positive reinforcement...if my enthusiasm was flagging at home, I'd toss the project to the side and go watch tv.

One can learn so much from the other participants...and not just quilting and sewing tips. :0)

The key is to not take everything you own on a retreat. Pack your equipment in terms of projects. I usually take two pre-cut projects (in case I have an issue with one). My sister-in-law includes a hand-sewing project with her two quilt project. I have my two projects kitted up in project boxes. I take a notions box, small cutting mat with cutter, a light, an extension cord, my machine, a comfy chair, a wooden TV folding tray (remember those?) and pencil and note paper. My kits, notions, mat, light, cord, pencil and paper fit in a Thirty-one utility tote. I use a rolling tote for my machine. It's super easy to load and unload.