Stitcher’s Hideaway Fun Reports!

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Stitcher’s Hideaway
Kindred Spirits TWO
in Sturbridge, MA with
Ellen Chester of With My Needle

Fun Report

The demand for this retreat was so great that two Kindred Spirits Retreats were held a week apart!  Both took place at the Publick House Historic Inn in Sturbridge, MA. 

Ellen Chester’s project for us was her Kindred Spirits Shaker Carrier.  In addition to the carrier, the project included a luscious silk-ribbon-embellished needleroll, a pin cube, a scissors holder, a pipkin, and an optional ruler holder.

Ellen taught us a variety of stitches, including Algerian eye, alternating double backstitch, closed herringbone, cross stitch over one linen thread, diamond eyelet, eyelet, four-sided, herringbone, mosaic, nun’s stitch, Rhodes, rice, satin, Smyrna cross, tent, tied half-Rhodes, tied herringbone, triple cross and Williamsburg stitch!  Wow!   We learned a lot!!   She also  guided us through all the finishing instructions we needed to complete the project. Her written instructions were excellent, but how wonderful to learn directly from her during our two days of classes!

There is just so much excitement as each retreat begins!  Everyone looks forward to it for SO long.  When the doors are finally opened and everyone comes in -- what joy! This group of stitchers came from CA, MA, NH, NY, OH, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, Canada.  It was a smaller group, but no less enthusiastic!

At each seat was a Stitcher’s Hideaway Fun Pack waiting for them filled with generous goodies donated by Bush Mountain Stitchery & Framing, Elizabeth’s Designs, Kreinik, Morning Glory Needleworks, Rosewood Manor, Samplers and Such, Stitchers Hideaway, Tempting Tangles, Udder Cream, Victoria Sampler, and  Weeks Dye Works.    And just in case we didn’t have enough stash -- Bush Mountain Stitchery had set up shop for our Stash Enhancement Pleasure! 

Soon it was time to settle down for our class to begin and we eagerly dove into our kits.  Each one included a generous cut of 36-count linen, beautiful silk threads, duponi silk, overdyed silk ribbons, cat’s eye beads, a custom-made bee marking pin, and our stunning tiger maple divided carrier! 

Our class time was devoted to working on the six-sided pinkeep, which used the stitches we would need to complete the project.  Ellen was very patient as she guided us through each step.

Ellen is a fabulous instructor.  Her directions, both in class and in her printed materials were superb!   Bev & Cynthia - long time stitching buddies       Ellen helping Sue   Jodi and Amy Carol and Nataly       Elin Mikki, Veronica, Father Joseph     Jen Cathi     June and Marietta Laura     Virginia and Kimberly Sue and Ruth

Throughout the retreat lucky recipients received generous door prizes from 123Stitch, Bush Mountain Stitchery & Framing, Morning Glory Needleworks, Praiseworthy Stitches, Rosewood Manor, Seraphim Hand Dyed Fabrics by Laurie, Stitchers Hideaway, Victoria Sampler, With My Needle, and Kathy Roseen & Linda Mosch, friends of Stitcher’s Hideaway.  There were also some absolutely amazing donations from an anonymous donor.  Thank you all!  What fun!

Barb with door prize from With My Needle   Cathi with door prize from Rosewood Manor         Kathy with door prize from an Anonymous Donor   Laura with door prize from Rosewood Manor

We had a wonderful optional stitching exchange at this retreat. Participants stitched and finished their stitching as some object or framed piece.  They were all brought to the retreat gift wrapped, numbers were drawn, and then we picked a gift by the order of our drawn number.  It’s a lot of fun! 

Mikki      Nataly         Virginia   Sue         Kathy   Amy       Here’s a picture of each one.

During the retreat we had a fantastic presentation by Rebecca Beall and Jean Contino of Old Sturbridge Village!  They came in with sewing tools and accessories from the OSV collection -- it was wonderful!!!!  To read about this presentation, go to Constant Companions: Sewing Tools from the Old Sturbridge Village Collection.

There was a little bit of mischief going on during the retreat! By the way, I have had many mother and daughter/s attendees, even 3 generation attendees, but this was the first time I ever had a mother and son attend one of my retreats!  How wonderful that they can share their love of needlework together!

We did a lot of shopping at the Bush Mountain Stitchery Shop!     Sue & Kathy Sue & Sue, Incorporated         Laura working away.... Occasionally we let Ellen relax!

We had an absolutely amazing Show ‘n Tell!  I think I’ll begin by showing you the pages of a beautiful gilded book stitched and finished by Veronica.  We were all just amazed by this. The design is “Days of Advent” by Mary Beale.  I just know someone is going to ask me where to get it, so here’s a link to Mary Beale’s website.

Get ready to be inspired!   These gals brought in some absolutely stunning Show ‘n Tell!

We saw more than needlework at this retreat when Mikki shared her paintings!  This is something new for her and we were very impressed!

What a great time!  What a fabulous project!   What an excellent teacher!

Until next time -

Sue
 

Read about the Kindred Spirits ONE Retreat

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