My First Cross Stitch Retreat

Friends touch our lives in ways no one else can....

They leave lasting imprints on our hearts.

K.Williams

    First let say "Thank You" to all who have starting following my blog. It has been exciting reading all the new comments.

    Last fall I was able to attend my first cross stitch retreat. I do a lot of cross stitching shopping on line and was once again browsing on the ABCStitch website when I saw they had just hosted their first retreat. My husband and I were in the middle of planning a fall foliage trip to the New England states. I mentioned to him that there would be a retreat in New Hampshire at the Enfield Shaker House right in the middle of our trip. Much to my surprise he said "book it" and I will visit friends in Maine while you are there.

    From the minute I arrived at the retreat I knew this was going to be a special time. Marie the owner of ABC Stitch and Nataly her helper made everyone feel so welcome. I had found Nataly's blog before I left home and had enjoyed following her. What a treat to now meet her. We were so pampered at the retreat from goodie bags on arrival, the most delicious food all weekend, surprise treats left at our door all weekend, a trip to the shop with a tea party, not to mention our reason for attending, a wonderful project to work on taught by Thea of Victoria Sampler.

    I was a little intimidated going to the retreat since I had not been stitching that long. I wasn't sure how much of the project that needed to done before I got there. So when the project arrived at my door I dropped all other stitching and got to working on my Gingerbread Tree Etui. We had one piece of linen and all these pieces had to fit. I must of measured re measured at least a dozen times before that first stitch went in. I was never so nervous because this piece everyone would be watching me stitch. Boy did I worry over nothing. Everyone at the retreat was so warm and friendly. They even shared a few stitching tips with me. I had so much fun I will be attending again this fall doing the back to back retreats.

    Attending the retreat was not just the fun of staying in a shaker bedroom, the fantastic treats and food, the fun games and prizes, learning new stitches,  it was meeting all the cross stitch lovers and making life time friends. Getting to know Nataly on Nataly's Needle Creations was so special after reading her blog. I do have to say a big "THANK YOU" to her for mentioning me in her blog inviting you to join mine. Marie and her staff at ABC Stitch, visit stitchingretreats.com and see what I will be doing in the fall. It was at the retreat I met Pam who we are now great email buddies. We will both be attending the retreat together. She and I started blogs together, please visit hers at confessions of a southern stitcher. She has posted an interesting question, can't wait to read your comments.

This is my retreat project. All four sides have a different scene.

It was fun learning to do a bullion knot rose, spider web rose, whipped spider web rose and the queenstitch.

Always keep love in your stitches,
Teresa