What fun to hear the buzz of all the conversations and laughter!

Our delicious meals were in “The Barn” at the Publick House -- right next to our stitching room!

Before and after each meal we enjoyed hanging out and chatting.

 The ceiling was decorated with big snowflakes and icicles.

Ada with a door prize from an
Anonymous Donor

Bob with a door prize from
With My Needle

Barbara with a door prize from
Rosewood Manor

Deb with a door prize from
Norden Crafts

Anita with a door prize from
an Anonymous Donor

Jamie with a door prize from
123Stitch

Jeannette with a door prize from
an Anonymous Donor

Jeanne with a $25 gift certificate
from 123Stitch

Kathy with a door prize from
an Anonymous Donor

Bev with a door prize from
Rosewood Manor

Chris with a door prize from
With My Needle

Janet with a door prize from
an Anonymous Donor

Janice with a door prize from
Rosewood Manor

Kate with a door prize from
an Anonymous Donor

Ellen with a door prize from
an Anonymous Donor

Linda with a door prize from
an Anonymous Donor

Ellen with a door prize from
Rosewood Manor

Maria with a door prize from
With My Needle

Christine with a door prize from
Rosewood Manor

Linda with a door prize from
123Stitch

Linda with a door prize from
Kathy Roseen, a friend of Stitchers Hideaway

Di with a door prize from
With My Needle

Connie with a door prize from
an Anonymous Donor

Jacqueline with a door prize
from Stitchers Hideaway

Andrea

Ellen

Hildie

Ellen

Pat

Bob

Janice

Bob

Melissa

Anita

Marie with a door prize from
an Anonymous Donor

Sue with a door prize from
an Anonymous Donor

Janice with a door prize from
an Anonymous Donor

Maureen with door prize from
Rosewood Manor

Terre with a door prize from
an Anonymous Donor

Melissa with a door prize from
an Anonymous Donor

Nancy with a door prize from
an Anonymous Donor

Pat with door prize from
With My Needle

Sue with a door prize from
123Stitch

This retreat was quite different for me.  (What an understatement!)  My husband Michael and I had been in a terrible car accident a month before, with me spending 3 days in the hospital and a week in rehab learning to walk again!  I thought for awhile that I would need my buddies to run the event for me, but with the help of Michael and many of the attendees, I was able to be there and run things. 

I had a great time being with everyone, but was forbidden to cross stitch due to whiplash injuries.  I sure missed being able to stitch, but what fun I had going from table to table to spend time catching up with everyone!  I had the use of an office chair with wheels that allowed me to glide around the room (what a sight!) and a cane to help me the rest of the time.

Me & my wonderful Michael

Have cane will travel!

This is Kris Jacobson of the Public House next to me.  She is Banquet Manager, Event Coordinator, Entertainer Extraodinaire, Photo Bomber, Teller of Ghost Stories, and so much more.  I’ve worked with Kris for a number of years now and her assistance, support, and creative ideas have always been wonderful -- but never more so than at this retreat when extra help was needed.  Thank you, Kris!!   XOXO

I would have been really struggling without the help of Jen Cane, my good friend who came to my house to do things that I was unable to do myself due to whiplash injuries.  She spent a good chunk of time getting all the fun packs together and transporting loads of stuff to the retreat.  She set up my shop there, too.  And then when the retreat was done she packed everything back up for me and transported things back to my home.  She also gathered up all the  items donated by the attendees to bring to a women’s safe house.  THANK YOU, JEN!!!

    “Thank you for once again organizing a WONDERFUL “Winter Escape”!  As always, the friends, the fun, the food made it a relaxing - and rejuvenating - few days.        I love seeing all the projects and marvel at the needlework skills of the group.  It is always nice to visit with friends and make new ones.  And I even accomplished a lot on my pieces!  Already I am looking forward to October and next February.
     The only “cloud” was knowing you are still in pain and working hard to heal. Can’t believe you actually “carried on” to make the retreat happen so soon after your accident.  I  hope and pray you have a speedy recovery so you will be able to enjoy stitching and all other good things in the near future.”

                            Best, Stephanie

Stephanie with door prize from
With My Needle

    “I want to take this opportunity to thank you for such a wonderful time at the Stitcher’s Hideaway last month.  It was a truly wonderful event, and Bob and I had a terrific time. You did a great job arranging everything, the door prizes were wonderful, and you were very brave after your accident to have gone ahead and held the event. 
      I can’t tell you how great this event is, and can only hope it continues for years and years.
     Thank you for everything you do, and for everything you are.”

                     Your friend,
                     Kate Festo

Kate with a door prize from
an anonymous donor