Rhonda

In Sept I hosted my first Quilt Retreat at Bentonsport Iowa. We had 4 ladies come and we had a great time. I was asked to plan another so I have chosen to do it this next spring.

The B & B:

The Mason House Inn B & B is a beautiful old building with a lot of local history. The rooms are really great with a lot of the original furnishings. There are quilts on all the beds and antiques in the rooms. Joy the owner provides a really nice breakfast and when we were there in Sept we really enjoyed it.

There is room for up to 12 quilters so reserving a room as soon as you can will keep your place for you.

For Reservations:
http://www.masonhouseinn.com/

Arrival Time

I will start setting up on Wed at 10 am. Registration is not til 3 for the rooms but we can have access to the common areas from 10 am on. So I will be there for whenever you can arrive. I will stay through Sun aft as long as anyone wants to work.

Classes

I will be teaching my "Blocks" in the mornings(Wed I will do the Blocks in the aft) and providing projects and or kits for you to use if you like in the afternoon sessions. There will be a small fee for the kits but not the projects. You can bring your own fabric to make the projects with or use my fabric I will provide. I recommend that you use small print to tiny print cottons for any small projects you may want to make. I will provide projects that can be made any size you want.

The evenings after supper each day will be free time to work on your own projects brought from home or continue to work on class projects etc. You are invited to join in but not required to follow any classes . You are welcome to do your own thing anytime you choose.

I will be showing how to make a couple of my "Blocks each morning then following up with this with the projects and kits in the aft.

Fabric Shopping

We will be going to my favorite local store in Cantril Ia. The Dutchman's Store is a Mennonite family owned country general store with bulk foods and a toy section and household goods and homemade items and a great fabric side. The prices on the fabric average around $5 a yard. It is one of my all time favorite places to buy fabric!

Expenses

Of course you are responsible for your own room expense.
There is no fee other than the one for meals
We will eat out 3 meals and you will be responsible for your own expense at these times.

There is a $50 fee to cover all the rest of the meals and snacks that I will provide. I would prefer to receive this before the 1st of May.

Local Color

There are a few shops along the boardwalk across from a beautiful river and a foot bridge. There is a lot of history in this area that makes for a nice break from time to time. There is a shop called Iron and Lace that is a blacksmith shop and pottery shop. Then there is Grief's General Store which is a small antique mall that is fun to look through. There is a shop that sells homemade fudge and other goodies and a shop that sells yard signs and other country decor. Something for everyone. The ladies that came in Sept got to watch a class at the blacksmith shop and had a great time.

Supplies Needed

I will provide irons and ironing boards/ a large cutting mat and mini cutting mats/ my templates/power strips and extension cords

You should bring your own sewing supplies such as
Your own sewing machine
Rulers
Rotary Cutter
Thread / needles
Scissors and other necessities like a seam ripper! LOL


If you have any questions just email me at [email protected] or pm me.

You are welcome to bring snacks if you like to share. I will have some snacks and drinks available no charge.

If there is anything I didn't cover just let me know. Thanks!! Rhonda

Quilt Mom

Rhonda, the first retreat was SO fun! I wish we could make it to this one. To all who are considering this - make time to go!!!! It is well worth the time and effort. We learned a lot, and had a great time.

It should be fantastic :thumbup:

Rhonda

Thank you Quilt Mom. I so enjoyed it too! I learned alot about hosting one and hopefully this one will be better yet. Your feedback was so important to me and I kept all the comments in mind as I planned this one. I love being able to improve each time.

I loved getting to know you Quilt Mom and your daughter and the other ladies and enjoyed the experience.

I considered changing the location but the atmosphere of Bentonsport is so great and fits the quilting experience so well we will be using the B & B again this next time.

Illsa

Where is Bentonsport IA? Are you the Haunted House?
Where do we eat? Illsa

Rhonda

Yes it is the Haunted House. I have several things planned for meals. We will go to the Bonaparte Retreat for one meal and there is a Pizza and Steak House in Keosauqua that is really good. They have great pizzas and hot meals and sandwiches. Their homemade flour taco is one of my favorites! It is a foot long and 8" wide stuffed with all the taco fixings! I usually end up taking half of it home! My daughter is going to bring in some meals for us and I thought I would do some crockpot meals a time or two. When we go to Cantril there is a little cafe across the street we like to eat at so that is the plan for lunch that day. My DD is going to make soups and I have a chicken veg soup I am going to make and we will do a soup and salad meal for one of them.

Anyone who wants to bring snacks is more than welcome. I wlll provide some snacks and drinks. I will have coolers and Joy provided us with a pitcher of water last time.

Here is what I have planned for the schedule and meals so far but DD and I are still discussing her part and what she will make. So this is not exactly set yet but won't change too much.


Wed
10am-12
I will be there to set up - everyone is welcome to come at this time but we can't register til 3pm
12pm - 1pm
Joy(owner) will provide a sandwich lunch
1pm-3 -
I will teach 2 of my "Blocks"
3pm-4 -
Registration and check out the shops(not quilt shops sorry) Iron and Lace and Grief's etc
4pm-6 -
Introduce my projects and kits
6pm-7 -
A crockpot supper - I'm thinking maybe beefburgers? Not sure yet.
7pm-10
Free time to work on your own quilting

As we are in a B & B and the owners live in the back part they request we not use the sewing machines after 10pm. Joy serves breakfast at 8am and again at 9am so we can't start til 10am. Her breakfasts are really good!

Thurs
10am-12pm
2 more "Blocks" introduced
12pm- 3pm
Go to the Dutchman's Store in Cantril and eat at the Nook across the street.
3pm-6pm
Work on projects and or kits
6pm-7pm
Hot meal brought in by my DD (I'm thinking lasagna because she makes her own sauce and it is all homemade) but we are still discussing this
7pm -10pm
Free time to sew

Friday
10am-12pm
2 more "Blocks"
12pm-1pm
Lunch possibly another meal by DD
1pm- 2pm
Break
2pm-5pm
Projects and kits
5pm-6pm
Eat at Bonaparte Retreat
6pm-10pm
Free sewing time

Sat
10am-12pm
2 more "Blocks"
12pm -1pm
Pizza and Steak House
1pm- 2pm
Break
2pm-5pm
Projects and kits
5pm- 6pm
soups and salads
6pm- 10pm
free sewing time

Sun
10am-12pm
free sewing time
12pm -1pm Sandwiches
1pm- ? We can stay as long as anyone wants to stay. so I will play it by ear to see how long. I will stay as long as anyone wants to stay and work on anything.

Rhonda

Bentonsport is southeast of Keosauqua by about 7 miles
You can take Interstate Hwy 218 and then turn off onto Hwy 16. then you will look for the Bonaparte/Bentonsport turn or you go on to the end of the hwy where you turn south and go through Keosauqua. It is only about a half mile and you turn east and go 6 or 7 miles. don't remember the exact number.

I don't go through Bonaparte usually because the roads are narrow and winding. When you get to Bonaparte you turn right before the bridge and it is about 5 miles to Bentonsport.

Bentonsport was built by the Mormons as a temporary home til they could travel to Utah. So the town is spread out and is lots of brick two story homes. Lots of trees and lots of room between houses. It is a very peaceful quiet place. I considered other places to have the retreat but the atmosphere at Bentonsport is really too great to give up. There is lots of history and it is a wonderful place to create and sew and relax.

MommaDorian

I'm very interested. I'm thinking I could convince my dh that this could be my birthday present (6/6). Is there a requirement that we stay all 5 days?

Rhonda

No there is no requirement. I didn't realize til I already had it set up that that is Mother's Day weekend. but I can't do it any other weekend. So I just decided to leave it. If people want to leave on Sat or whatever that is entirely up to you.

MommaDorian

Do you know how many have already signed up and made reservations?

Rhonda

No not yet. There were a couple of people who were interested but it may be too soon for them to decide. I know it will mean saving up for some.

The one I did in Sept was only 4 ladies but I have no idea how well this one will draw people. I hope we have a few! LOL LOL We had a really good time tho with just the 5 of us!