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I'm off again this weekend, on every quilter's favorite sojourn. The Quilting Retreat! My friends and I have been planning this since last summer, and the excitement is high! Eight of us leave today for a serene monastery, tucked away in the East Bay hills. The monks will be doing all the cooking and cleaning, and all we ladies have to do is settle into our big sewing room for a weekend of chatting, playing silly games, eating, sipping wine, and oh yes, QUILTING!!!! I have a field trip organized for Saturday afternoon to a local quilt shop, as the weekend wouldn't be rounded out with at least a bit of shopping. And if we get tired of our own activities, it is my understanding that we are welcome to stroll the monastery gardens or join the monks in the refectory.
I would show you a picture of the pile of stuff waiting to be packed into my car, but it isn't half so pretty as the gumdrops above. It's amazing how much junk you think you had better take with you on these retreats. Heaven help you if you forget something important and can't run out and get more. Iron, ironing board, two cutting mats, four leg extenders to raise the height of our cutting table, wine, snacks, five projects to finish, two sewing machines, iPod and speakers, wine, snacks, sewing kit, extra thread, sew and tell quilt, extra cutting blades, camera, party favors, and most important--a cooler with wine and snacks.
Wish us good luck friends! I wish all of you could be there with us, and promise to do my best next week to share lots of pictures and tales of our mad cap weekend of quilting. There are some talented quilters going on this trip, and the photos of their projects should be very inspiring.
Your retreat sounds wonderful. I am also going to a quilting retreat this weekend -- but no monks at my retreat. Take lots of pictures and have a great time quilting. Let us know what monks cook :))
Posted by: Pam | April 13, 2007 at 07:51 AM
You said wine three times! ;) Have fun!
Posted by: Mrs. Goodneedle | April 13, 2007 at 08:02 AM
Sounds HEAVENLY, Nicole! I'm sure you will have a wonderful time and I can't wait to read about it and see pictures when you return!
Posted by: Lisa D. | April 13, 2007 at 08:34 AM
Sounds like a glorious weekend. Wish I could go with you. Quilting retreats are so much fun.
Posted by: Susan Ramey Cleveland | April 13, 2007 at 08:34 AM
Have a lovely time! And, umm, don't forget the wine and snacks...
Posted by: Jill | April 13, 2007 at 09:32 AM
Have fun, fun, fun. Can't wait to see pictures of all your doings and happenings. There's nothing like a Quilt Retreat - time for lots and lots of sewing, food, sewing, laughs, giggles, snickers, prizes, wine, food, wine, sewing, sewing!
Posted by: Darlene | April 13, 2007 at 10:01 AM
I always worry about mixing too much wine with machinery -- so keep those fingers away from the presser foot! And let us know where the monastery is -- I'm in the East Bay Hills and I'd love to organize a retreat there...
Posted by: floribunda | April 13, 2007 at 02:52 PM
Oh that sounds absolutely exciting! Have a wonderful time, and I can't wait to see the photos! =)
Posted by: Beachy | April 13, 2007 at 04:29 PM
Lucky lucky you!!!!!!!
I have to wait till September.
Hope you can give me some tips.
Have the bestest time! :-)))
Posted by: Leigh | April 14, 2007 at 03:46 AM
Hope you are all having a blast! Can't wait to hear all about it.... and thank you for this gorgeous picture of the gumdrops! Now I'll have to run out and get some! ;-)
xo,
Kim
Posted by: Daisy Cottage | April 14, 2007 at 03:28 PM
Jealous, jealous! Seems like forever since our retreat in January. Your gumdrops are making me hungry!!!
Posted by: Morah | April 15, 2007 at 01:49 PM