Kathy's New England Stitcher's Retreat Blog

EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT OUR SPRING 2010 RETREAT (MAY 20-23) WITH BELINDA KARLS-NACE OF BLUE RIBBON DESIGNS!!

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 15:14:00 -0500

We are EXTENDING REGISTRATIONS UNTIL ALL VACANCIES ARE FILLED!!
There are still a few vacancies available for our May 20-23, 2010 Spring Retreat, but we expect for them to go quickly! We don't want for anyone to be left out of this incredible event! So, if you have just been unable to clear your calendars before now, but would really love to come, we would LOVE to have you there! If you make your registration AFTER April 5, 2010, your registration MUST BE PAID IN FULL, by either credit card, PayPal, or check. All payments for current registration balances are due on April 5, 2010.

Also, we are offering an EXTRA NIGHT'S' ACCOMMODATIONS ON WED., MAY 19TH, for the May 20-23, 2010 Stitching Retreat, at the Great Stone Dwelling House, located at the Enfield Shaker Museum. The cost is $50.00 per person. Meals are on your own. We will provide a list of area restaurants that we recommend.

If you have been putting off that decision, and would really love to come to this exciting stitching retreat, don't hesitate another moment!

I recall, last year, that I really wanted to attend a great stitching retreat being hosted in my home state, and I just kept putting it off, telling myself that I really shouldn't spend the money.. Finally, one day, I told my husband, about how badly I wanted to go, and after all, I had a very special "turning of age" birthday coming up, if you know what I mean. "Well", I thought, "it could be my very, very special birthday present!" What a great idea! Fortunately, I have a very loving husband, who told me, that if it would really mean that much to me, then, he would give me the registration for attending that fabulous stitching retreat as my BIG BIRTHDAY PRESENT! I was thrilled, and happily made my registration, just a few weeks shy of the actual date of the stitching retreat! Talk about waiting until the last minute to make a big decision! I don't do that, as a rule.

If you have never been to a stitching retreat, let me tell you, that it is worth more than words can impart here. Once you have attended one retreat, you will never want for it to end, and you will be eager to sign up for another one as soon as it is announced! Stitchers are very special people, and we just love sharing our love of needlework with other stitching enthusiasts!

Hoping to Cross in Stitches & Friendship With You Soon!
Kathy

Autumn 2010 Victoria Sampler Special Project Design

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:32:00 -0600

MORE EXCITING NEWS!! We have just posted Thea Dueck's beautiful project design for our October 2010 retreat, (October 8-11, 2010). You just have to make plans to register for this very special retreat with Thea, and stitch this NEW addition to her very popular Gingerbread Stitching House.

Just for our Autumn retreat Thea has created a very beautiful four-sided "Gingerbread Tree Etui, which will open up to hold some equally beautiful little Christmas Stitching Accessories. Photos of the finished piece will be released this summer and we will post them as soon as we receive them.

Don't miss out on this marvelous retreat. Spaces are already filling up, so register now for your place at our very special Autumn retreat with Thea.

EXCITING DISCOUNT ON MERCHANDISE FOR RETREAT ATTENDEES!!

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:56:00 -0600

We have some VERY EXCITING NEWS FOR ALL OF OUR RETREAT ATTENDEES! ABC Stitch Therapy, LLC, is generously offering a 25% discount off of all needlework merchandise, purchased during our needlework retreats! Isn't that just the best news ever?

So, start saving up for those wonderful stitching goodies that we just know you will be dying to purchase while you are attending one of our fabulous retreats this year!

Retreat Project Design for October 2010 Retreat with Thea Dueck of The Victoria Sampler

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:20:00 -0600

Hello Everyone!

I am snowed in here in Pennsylvania, where I arrived last Sunday to visit with our new little grandson, Emery, born to our son, Kevin, and his wife, Gwen, on Jan. 18th. He is just adorable, and such a good little baby, who only cries when he wants to be fed or changed. I can't believe that he is only 3 weeks old tomorrow already.

Thea Dueck has not notified me of the design that she will be teaching at the October 2010 retreat at this time. She has some ideas in mind, and of course, we all know that whatever Thea designs for us, will be absolutely exquisite! As soon as we have the photos of her project design, we will post them for you.

I have attended several retreats at which Thea has taught, and have gained so much knowledge into learning some new stitches, as we create, together, a beautiful new piece of needlework. Believe me, when I tell you, that she is a wonderful instructor, extremely kind and patient. Thea always takes time to talk with each stitching attendee throughout class, as she walks around the classroom, for a brief chat and to check on how our pieces are coming along. Learning with Thea is a very special experience.

Car Rentals @ Dartmouth Coach Drop-Off Location in W. Lebanon, N.H.

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:08:00 -0600

In answer to Mary Lou Duren's inquiry about available car rental agencies near the Dartmouth coach station in W. Lebanon, N.H., there are several. I contacted Dartmouth Coach at 90 Etna Rd., in Lebanon, N.H. 03766, and they advised that if you make a reservation with one of the car rental agencies, and state that you need for a car to be brought to you at the bus station, they will deliver it to you.
These are the car rental agencies near the bus terminal (type in the zip code of 03766 in your search)
www.enterprise.com/ (1 Glen Rd. W. Lebanon,N.H. 03784-1638
(Phone: 603-298-0218) Hours: M-Fri (8am-6pm) Sat (9am-12N) Closed Sundays
www.budget.com;
www.NationalCar.com
www.Avis.com

Contact me by email if you need further assistance with your searches.

One Stitch at a Time....

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:27:00 -0600

One Stitch at a Time, we have some exciting changes for you at the New England Stitcher's Retreats website (www.stitchingretreat.com). We decided to add a little spice to our website this year, by adding a BLOG to our home page!

We know that stitchers just love getting to know other stitchers, and sharing their love of this addictive needlework craft. So, we now will have a fun venue on which to share our latest retreat news with you, and so that all of you can share, with everyone, your latest stitching projects, family news, recipes, and ask us questions or offer suggestions to make our retreats the best ever! So, please visit us on our BLOG whenever you wish! (If you have subscribed to the newsletter, you will still get all of the latest news every month.)

As January comes to a close, we have been experiencing some record cold weather, and some very stormy weather across the southwest and midwest. Here in Massachusetts, we woke up to a very cold morning temperature of 1 degree! Wherever you live, we hope that you are safe and warm, and perhaps able to enjoy some cozy warm, guilt-free stitching time indoors with your favorite needlework project.

Now and then I come across some stitching tips that I love sharing with other stitchers. This week, as I was sipping on a cup of hot tea, thoroughly enjoying the March 2010 issue of Cross-Stitch & Needlework, I noticed a tiny little block on one of the pages called, "Project Tip": "Go With the Grain". My interest was piqued...so I read on... The little paragraph talked about the importance of "following the grain" of floss, so that "you will lessen the wear and tear on your thread as you draw it through the fabric. This results in stitches that look smoother and silkier". I was definitely intrigued! The tip went on to say, "to find the grain direction, cut a length of floss. Loop the thread over so both the cut ends lie next to each other. Do not allow the two ends to bundle together, as you must be able to differentiate between them. Holding the cut lengths close together, about 1/2" from the tips, use one finger of your free hand to gently tap the cut ends. Watch carefully...the end that balloons most is the end that should be threaded through your needle, (and is the shorter tail)." This is the easiest little trick, and lo and behold, it does indeed create a smoother look with each cross stitch!

I have been working on a new Blue Ribbons Design, called "Read Between the Lines", which is a beautiful piece that has some of my favorite colours, of cranberry, reds, and multiple shades of blue. It is a very special design, just like all of the beautiful pieces, designed by Belinda Karls-Nace. It will be in my stitching bag tomorrow, as we travel to Pennsylvania to visit our first little grandson, Emery, born to our son, Kevin and wife, Gwen, on January 18, 2010. Just can't wait to hold that precious little bundle of joy for the first time!

We hope that you are considering joining us for our Spring retreat, to be held from May 20-23, 2010 with Belinda Karls-Nace, of Blue Ribbons Designs. We have updated our website with a new registration form, that offers some multiple payment options, to make registration payments more manageable. I enjoy a "layaway
plan", for many of the retreats I attend. Then I can save up for souvenir purchases I want to make at the retreat, with less guilt!

As you are making your travel plans, we want for you to know that there are many options available for you to check out on our website. If you haven't seen them, please "Click" on RETREAT INFO and read about the Driving and Flying Options available for you, at the BOTTOM OF THE PAGE. Also, note that the DARTMOUTH COACH BUS provides wonderful transportation directly, from Boston's Logan airport, right into Lebanon, NH, where we will happily pick you up, if you provide advance notice. One of our retreat attendees is flying into Logan airport, and taking a connecting flight, via Cape Air, to the Lebanon Airport, which is ONLY 18 minutes from the Enfield Shaker Museum. With advance notice, we will pick you up, or if you prefer to rent a car, several auto rental agencies are available at the Lebanon Airport.

Hopefully you are spending some special moments with your needle and thread during these winter months. We will be crossing in friendship and stitches with you, one thread at a time...

New England Stitchers Retreat Update

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:30:00 -0600

First of all, we wish all of you hope, peace, good health and happiness in the New Year of 2010. If you are anything like me, you are probably still recovering from the hustle and bustle of a very busy holiday season. I always treasure the beautiful season of advent, but when the holidays are suddenly upon us, it seems like everything goes in a big blur of wrappings, ribbons, cooking galore, gift exchanges and gatherings with family and friends. Then suddenly it is all over, and my husband and I just collapse and wonder where the days went in such a flash. Now that we have put many of our Christmas decorations away, taken down our tree, which began dropping needles everywhere the day after Christmas, we finally have some quiet times to enjoy spending time with each other, and pulling out our needle work again. Yes, my husband, Bruce, is my stitching partner, and he does the most incredible needlework imaginable, particularly Hardanger pieces, while he watches his favorite sports games on TV! Bruce will be hosting the New England Stitcher's retreats with us in New Hampshire. So, stitching husbands, don't be shy to come out of the closet and join us for a retreat(s), if you have a desire to meet other stitching husbands!

We have two very special retreats planned for 2010. Both retreats will be held at the Enfield Shaker Museum in Enfield, New Hampshire, with accomodations and classes to be held in the historical Great Stone Dwelling House, (check out pictures of this beautiful dwelling and grounds on our website). Our first needlework retreat will be in May 2010, and we are very excited to announce that Belinda Karls-Nace, of Blue Ribbon Designs, will be our retreat designer-instructor for this wonderful weekend stitching event!

Spring Project - Beauty In Simplicity

Belinda has designed a very special piece, adapted to fit into the lid of a beautiful oval Shaker box, along with several little matching accessory pieces too!

See Spring Project here

Our second stitching retreat will be in October 2010, and we are honored to announce that Thea Dueck, of The Victoria Sampler, will be our weekend retreat designer/instructor, for another very special, and memorable needlework event. Thea is also currently working on one of her very special designs for this retreat, and we will be releasing the photos of her project as soon as it is finished. Watch for updates in the near future!

Each needlework retreat offers an evening welcome reception, two full days of stitching classes, all meals, snacks, and an English Tea Party at ABC Stitch Therapy LLC, just minutes from the Enfield Shaker Museum, where stitchers can relax with a cup of tea and some delectable delights, and then "Shop Til You Drop" in this beautiful needlework shop.

When you subscribe to our newsletter, you will receive up to the minute updates as we have them ready to be released. Please check out our needlework retreat website @ www.stitchingretreat.com for complete details about both our May and October 2010 retreats. If you have any questions that cannot be answered by reviewing the information on the website, please contact me by email or phone.

Well, this is all the news for now, but look for more exciting news as it develops in 2010! We hope that you will consider joining us for one or both of our very special needlework retreats, and bring a friend or two, or come and make new friends. As you probably know very well by now, stitchers are just about the most warm and friendly people you will ever know in your lives. Whenever stitchers gather together, new friendships are born with those who have touched our lives, and we are blessed by the moments that we have shared together. On that note, we wish all of you a very blessed and Happy New Year!

Crossing in Stitches and Friendship,

Kathy Roseen, Events Coordinator
New England Stitcher's Retreats