Mn 2005 II

Minnetonka, MN 2005 Fun Report Continued!

After a hearty breakfast the next morning we eagerly went back to class with Thea. Oh, she was a delight! We learned SO much from her! Throughout the day we learned to make Chrysantemum flowers, foliage stitch, three sided eyelet (really cool looking!), modified smyrna crosses, scotch stitch, nun stitch, blanket stitching, and even hemstitching! It was all made simple with the help of Thea. When she introduced new techniques to us we gathered in groups around her for a demonstration. She also came around to help us individually whenever we needed it.

Kelly making great progress on her “Friends in Stitches.”

Whenever we had breaks we were able to poke through all the stash from Stitchville. I purchased a tweezer-sort of thing to remove threads that looked a bit like stork scissors, but for some reason reminded me of a pterodactyl. I discovered when I opened and closed its “mouth” that it made a little squeaking noise if I held it just right. Pity the poor stitchers who sat next to me once I got a bit tired and silly, because I had my pterodactyl sneaking up on them, squeaking in their ears and then attempting to nip them! Beware stitchers everywhere -- sit next to me at a retreat at your own risk!! Heh-heh-heh!!

During one of those moments that required a bit of extra assistance from Thea, we could hear LuAnne whimpering “H-h-hold me” as she tried out some of the new techniques. Being ever so sympathetic, I brought my pterodactyl over to pay her a visit. It made him very happy. {giggle} Some of the stitchers were heartbroken that I had purchased the last available pterodactyl.

On Saturday afternoon, guess who joined us!! Karen Kluba of Rosewood Manor! She was in the area visiting her daughter and so she and her daughter came in and set up Karen’s trunk show! There is nothing quite like seeing stitched models. They were fantastic! We were very impressed! She had some of her designs on sale and stitchers really went to town purchasing those and others. It was a great opportunity to meet Karen in person! Karen has regularly donated items for Fun Packs and Door Prizes. Since she was there she was able to personally give out a door prize. That lucky recipient received a gift certificate for her designs and was thrilled!

Karen Kluba of Rosewood Manor

In the evening we had a wonderful Show and Tell. This is a retreat tradition and one I look forward to so much. I am always amazed at the creativity and skill of the stitchers and just love looking at their work.

Many of us shared stories about our work, and we placed the items on a table so that we could come up and admire them all afterwards. Someone brought in their completed “Heirloom Christmas” -- a design by Thea. It was so incredible and I felt so confident that I could do the work after learning so much from Thea that I purchased the chart and thread pack at the retreat! I found out that a few others are all working on this beautiful design together.

The one thing that I just don’t like about any of these retreats is that they eventually have to come to an end. It was obvious that many of the stitchers felt the same way I did as they came up to thank me and got so choked up they had trouble speaking! I had the same big lump in my throat. I just want everyone to stay and just stitch and eat and shop together forever!! But our other lives beckon us back home, where we return freshly inspired to stitch on our own until we can meet again!

To Thea I offer a HUGE thank you for traveling so far to be with us and for being so patient as we learned from her. She is just so knowledgeable and I know we all left enriched from our time with her. Mystic stitchers -- get ready! Your turn with Thea is coming in November!!

Sue

Anna classes up her Stitcher’s Hideaway t-shirt with a jacket!

Dear Sue, Thank you for the wonderful weekend. The new friends we made, you and Thea all made for a very special time. My only complaint is that time went way too fast. Sure hope I’m able to attend another one – would love to go to one of your retreats in Connecticut. Hope to see you in 2006. ~ Lois

I had the best time at the Stitcher’s Hideaway in Minnesota and hope to join many more. I want to thank you for all your hard work and effort. You made it look easy which I’m sure it’s not – so you did a spectacular job! Thank you also for all the nice gifts in the bags of goodies. I won one of the Sudberry boxes from you and can’t wait to find the perfect pattern for it. Maybe even your Lacis Butterfly (we’ll see how badly I murder the pattern –never done it before). Thanks for the great time! ~ Linda

Oooo! Could LuAnne have just been nipped by the pterodactyl?!?

I have been working on the Minnetonka project and have thoroughly enjoyed stitching on this piece. Thea suggested I go on line and use her animated techniques for cutting and then stitching the hemstitching band. The animations were so helpful. Because I am left-handed I had to switch the hemstitching around a bit, but it worked out great. I love this project. ~ Karen

The retreat was fun, even for an "old fogey" like me. Kathy and I always enjoy going to stitching events together, and Thea was a great lure. We love her designs and have lots of them in the stash mostly just waiting to be done. You did a very good job of organizing the events. Thanks again. ~ Gwen

Sisters Kenne and Mary

We had a great time last weekend. It was hard getting back to reality. (A 3 hour nap Sunday afternoon helped!) And we're already looking forward to next year! Thanks for all your hard work. You're doing a great job! ~ Kathy

Stacy playing in her stash in her hotel room

I just wanted to tell you I had a great time at your retreat – a time I will never forget! And you are just sooo cool! I loved hearing about your story – you are just a cool chick! Till next time….Happy Stitching – Stacy

Those wild and wacky Minnesota stitchers!!
Look at their beautiful t-shirts!!! What babes!!

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