More Black Belt Stitching Wizard Stuff

Friday, January 31, 2014

January IHSW - Timberhouse Retreat 2014

I am behind on all of my scheduled blogging lately, so here is my belated IHSW (International Hermit and Stitch Weekend) report!  I hope this isn't going to be the trend for 2014, I'd hate to start the year off behind and continue the year that way!

I honestly didn't hermit at ALL the weekend of January 17-19... it was even BETTER than hermitting I was stitching with 17 other ladies at the Timberhouse Country Inn Resort!  As a group except for a quick little trip to do a little stash shopping most of us pretty much stayed inside warm and safe stitching!

Up until this past November the retreats I go to at the Timberhouse were run by Ann of Knowledge and Needles but now that she has become a Snowbird, she's not around anymore.  We all wanted to continue the tradition of our January, March, and November stitching retreats so Bonnie and I have taken over running them.  In all honesty Bonnie does much of the work as she's much closer to the facility than I am.  But I'm there as a sounding board, support and help whenever she needs it.  January was quite a challenge to get off of the ground this year.  Up until late November we had a full retreat and slowly people started dropping out.  That is quite a challenge and frustrating when you have people dropping out and needing to fill spots three weeks before a retreat!  We've learn a few lessons and will put a few things into place to hopefully reduce that stress.



On the upside, we had a few new faces there!  It was nice to spend the weekend with my friends Julie and Mylene.  Julie and I took a little selfie Saturday morning!  It was wonderful to get to spend a weekend with Teresa who I had previously met twice at the annual Knowledge and Needles open house that Ann holds near the end of August.  So I guess that's the upside of some of the usual retreaters dropping out, we get some new wonderful additions to the group!


I didn't really take any pictures this year...  My urge to take pictures seems to have left me this last year.  Saturday afternoon we did get out to Knowledge and Needles since Ann had left the keys for Bonnie and I to open the shop to anyone who wanted to do a little shopping.  I of course couldn't help myself and I did buy a few things.


I was also able to finally pick up the signed chart I had won off of Facebook from Norden Crafts.  They regularly give away charts and if your name is drawn its sent to the LNS of your choice to pick up.  I'm looking forward to stitching this one on 40ct in a gorgeous red!

... I like long romantic walks on the beach.... (please note down winter coat, snow on the ground and that Lake Ontario is FROZEN!)

On the way back to the Timberhouse, I wasn't in a very social mood so I took a little time by myself with my camera.  I stopped a few times on my way home AND I went down to the "beach".

Here are some of my shots...







Meanwhile back at the Timberhouse...


 Stitching-wise it was a productive weekend!  I worked on getting all of the white put in on the adorable owls in Three Little Maids.

Tall Snowman
cHeart In Hand
Stitched on: 32ct Belfast Linen - Autumn Field from Zwiegart
Stitched with: DMC & WDW

When I had enough of stitching with white floss I pulled out some of my other January starts which were ornaments and worked on those.  I managed to have three finishes!  So that's I think 5 of my 15 starts finished in the fist month of 2014.


Christmas Favorites Santa & Reindeer
cPrarie Schooler
Stitched on: Mystery fabric


As usual Sunday came around all too soon and it was time to head home.  Normally we pack up around lunch time but it was snowy, and windy.  I decided shortly after breakfast it would be best to start making my way home.  Instead of 3-3.5 hours to get home it took 5.5 hours!  Wow!

Check out both Bonnie and Christin's blogs they took a few more pictures than I did, many of the stitching on display.

27 comments:

Chris said...

Great update Dani! Lovely solitary pics from your walk. Great stash and your stitching is great, you are way ahead on ornament stitching for this year! Have a great weekend!

Bruna Aguiar Melo said...

Seems like you have had a great time!
And that's all that matters.
Great stitching pieces!
xoxo

Arthemise said...

Looks like fun!

Kate said...

Sounds like you all had a wonderful time. Hopefully your arrangements are more stress free next time.

Vickie said...

It seems it turned out very well Dani. I hope your weekend is great.

Annette said...

I see snow, I want snow!!!
It sounds so great a retreat!!
Beautifull pieces

Annette said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Linda said...

Sounds like a fun time Dani. Love the PS ornaments. I need to stitch those. Great new stash.

Linda

valerie said...

Glad you had a good time on your retreat Dani! It looks so cold where you live. Stay warm! Great finishes...congrats!

Emma/Itzy said...

Looks like you had a lot of fun!

Wonderful stitching, I love the prarie schooler finishes!

Susan said...

Good friends (old and new), stitching and stash, couldn't ask for a better weekend. Beautiful stitching and congratulations on your finishes.

sharine said...

Looks like a great time. Love the beach pictures:)

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

Beautiful pictures of the beach walks :)
I bet it was a good great time at the retreat!

Melanie said...

Looks like a super fun time, despite the difficulties getting to that point. Hopefully the next one goes off a little smoother and with less stress. I would totally be there if you were closer. :)

Jackie's Stitches said...

I always enjoy hearing about your retreat weekends! That people were backing out so close to the event would most certainly stress me out too. Glad you filled those spots with new faces; I'm sure they were happy a space opened up!

Lesleyanne said...

Sounds like you had a great weekend. Your finishes are gorgeous. Love your photos.

Kaisievic said...

Thanks for taking me on the retreat with you - the stitching pics are great but I love the snowy ones.

Brigitte said...

Stitching at a retreat in the company of other stitchers is even better than hermitting, lol. Must have been a real treat. But how stressful that some of the regulars had to drop out so shortly before the retreat.
Good stitching anyway - with nice progress and even some finishes.

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

Tell them that next year the price for dropping out late is to pay to fly me over to take their place!!

And could you put that lovely fire picture after the snowy ones to warm me up please!

Sounds like it was a great weekend anyway.

Anne said...

Looks like it was a great retreat Dani! I wish you all could come to Vancouver and do one here...wink wink!! Too bad we don't have a LNS...such a shame! Anywho, wonderful selfie photo of you and Julie. Great stitching too. Love the PS ornies!!

Um, I would like to also be flown over like Jo the next time someone drops out!

Faith... said...

looks like a beautiful weekend Dani! I wish I was closer I would love to have a stitchy weekend every once in a while. Your winter pictures are very pretty.

Catherine said...

Sounds like good times! I would love a weekend away stitching! Beautiful photos!

Julie said...

A lovely post Dani. Wonderful that you and your friend have taken on the organising so you can all still meet up and have fun.
It looks so cold there... {{big hug}} to you xxxx

Bekca said...

Congratulations on your first finishes! It looks like you had a wonderful time at the retreat :)
Best wishes.

stitcherw said...

Looks like a fun time, I love retreats! One of the best parts is seeing what everyone is working on, things looks so different in real life than just on a pattern cover. Beautiful pictures, but as we've been getting a lot of snow and ice here too I'm really ready for winter to be over. Nice stash, I love the PS Santas, and the fabric was gorgeous. Sue

Annette-California said...

Gorgeous photos! Wow snow on the beach - too cool (pardon the pun - lol). Great re-treat and happy to hear all worked out. Wonderful stitching and finishes you managed to get done. love Annette

Meari said...

What a fun time you had. :) Is that Julie from Canada?

Cute little stitches.