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Alumni Winter Escape
& Alumni Addicts Day
2014
Fun Report
At the request of the Stitcher’s Hideaway alum an optional additional day -- Alumni Addicts -- was made available for the first time ever to those attending the annual 2-day Alumni Winter Escape. You know....it was for those crazy stitchers for whom 2 full days of stitching, shopping, dining, and laughing together just wasn’t enough! There were 32 attendees and 24 chose to attend the additional day! Also, for the first time the event was held at the Publick House Inn in Sturbridge, MA, which gave us loads of room. The attendees were from CT, MA, ME, NY, RI and Ontario.
We used large circular tables in roomy Paige Hall, which you can see here -- before we invaded it with all our stash!! Waiting at each table was a Stitcher’s Hideaway Fun Pack filled with goodies!
Donations for the Fun Packs and doorprizes came from Bush Mountain Stitchery & Framing, Calico Crossroads, Elizabeth’s Designs, Giulia Punti Antichi, Jeannette Douglas Designs, Kreinik, Morning Glory Needleworks, Nordic Needle, Rosewood Manor, Tempting Tangles, The Prairie Schooler, ThreadworX, Udder Cream, Victoria Sampler, Weeks Dye W0rks, With My Needle, and Karen Capello, a friend of Stitcher’s Hideaway!
The day before the retreat a snowstorm came into the area. I waited until later afternoon when it had almost stopped to make my way there. The freshly fallen snow was beautiful -- and turned the Publick House Inn into a little winter wonderland!
After setting up our stitching room for the next day, I had dinner in Ebenezer’s Tavern -- oh, yum! I had their famous Chicken Pot Pie -- with a Pecan Sticky Bun, of course (drool....). By then I was ready for a good night’s sleep. We had three different lodging options and this was the first time I slept in the Inn. How very cozy! I felt like I was in my grandparents old home.
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This was my room.
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Hildie & Sharron checked into this room the next day.
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The next morning at breakfast in the Inn’s main restaurant I ran into several of the attendees. We had a great time seeing each other and getting caught up! Shortly afterwards the Alumni Addicts Day and stitching frenzy began!
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There was a lot of talking and laughing going on -- and shopping!!!! Bush Mountain Stitchery & Framing had set up shop for us -- Wheeee!!!!!
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Oh, what stash we had!!! The door prizes were wonderful!!
We had our delicious meals in a converted barn right next to our classroom.
Many of us lingered long after meals just chatting away.
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Kristen, our host (photobombing us above), was a great source of entertainment!
She told us history of the Publick House Inn -- and even told us ghost stories!!
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After checking the pictures I’d taken with my camera and seeing the picture to the right,
well, all I could think of was the ghost of Colonel Ebenezer!!! LOL!
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THE PECAN STICKY BUNS!!!!!!
And while all this stitching, shopping, and eating was going on, we had a wonderful view of some lightly falling snow and icicles!
Our Show ‘n Tell was fantastic -- and we are AWESOME!!! It’s amazing that the room didn’t explode from all that talent!!
It was just so inspiring to see everyone’s work!
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“The Stitching Addicts Alumni Retreat at Sturbridge was just great. I had not previously attended an alumni retreat so this was a perfect get-together as far as I am concerned! Three days of stitching, chatting, eating (and a little sleeping) was the perfect event. It was an opportunity to finish Patriotic Sampler, a project that had been waiting since last summer. That alone was worth every moment and every penny spent. And I even had time to make a good start on a second project. As usual, your organization and attention to every detail is just amazing. And I love the Publick House and Kristen the storyteller! Thanks for all you do to provide so much fun for us stitchers.”
Linda E.
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Linda showed us her Christmas ornaments. We were all very excited for her when she finished her Patriotic Sampler at the retreat! This was taught by Jeannette Douglas at a 2013 Stitcher’s Retreat.
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Awwww....Look who made stockings for herself and each of her kitties!
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“When I heard that we weren't going to gather at Mystic for our alumni retreat, I was a little upset. What? No dinner at The Steak Loft, no shopping at the Mystic Village and no good eating or stitching at the Comfort Inn? I don't like change very much. However, going to the Publick House was a wonderful change. Loved the Inn, loved seeing everybody again after a year had gone by, loved stitching for two and a half days and loved the food! What a great room to gather in and stitch! I was so motivated after I left. I finished my bunny project the Monday after I returned home. Started the Sweetheart Tree, A Bevy of Bunnies, project and I'm almost finished with that. Oh boy, I'll have a lot for show and tell next year.
Sue, thank you for organizing this great retreat. Hope you'll have next year's get away at The Publick House. Wishing you all a happy/healthy 2014.”
Di
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Donna finished her Mystic Christmas Sampler -- project from the Mystic 2014 Stitcher’s Hideaway Retreat with instructor Thea Dueck
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Gayle
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Roberta showed us her beautiful quilting!
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Jeanne with her amazing quilted bag
with loads of pockets and storage.
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Donna
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And here I am at Show ‘n Tell -- and dancing “The Rippit” to a musical frog!
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Just in case we didn’t have enough projects to work on already -- I designed this little keepsake for everyone!!
And the door prizes kept on coming!!!
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Jeanne with door prize from Karen Cappello - a friend of Stitcher’s Hideaway
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Linda with door prize from
Rosewood Manor
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Kathy with door prize from Karen Cappello, friend of Stitcher’s Hideaway
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Melissa with doorprize from
Victoria Sampler
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Peggy and Pat with door prizes from Victoria Sampler
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Jamie with door prize from Rosewood Manor.
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“Neither rain, sleet or snow would have kept me away for attending the Alumni Retreat in Sturbridge, MA. Although it took us 6 hours instead of 3 hours to drive from Maine in a snowstorm, it was well worth it to see old friends and meet new ones. I especially enjoyed this year's retreat because it was closer for us Mainiacs to drive but also on the plus side was that we had lots of extra room to spread out as compared to Mystic. Also great was the option of going for 3 days! So nice to be able to get away for 3 whole days to stitch as long as we wanted, talk with other stitchers, shop to our heart's content and to eat the awesome Publick House food!! Of course, having the option to stay at the Publick House was great the and rates we were able to get for the Motor Lodge was awesome. Hoping that we can use the Publick House again next year and also have the option for 3 days again. Don't we all love the sticky buns! Thanks again Sue for all that you do for us!”
Linda M.
(Linda with door prize from Victoria Sampler.)
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“I had a wonderful time at February's Alumni Retreat. I have been to the retreat in Mystic and now in Sturbridge. That room in Sturbridge was so open. I really liked it there so much. It was fun to have room to walk around and see what everyone was doing. The food was delicious and so was the free coffee and sticky buns in the morning. Not to mention giving us places to spend our money!! The whole time (and the extra day-yeah!!) reached all my expectations.
Thank you, Sue, for all you have done to keep Stitcher's Hideaway going and making it such a positive and fun endeavor. You rock!!”
Marilyn
(Marilyn with door prize from With My Needle)
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“Thanks for the best Alumni Retreat yet! I had a wonderful time.
It was so nice to have it midweek and for 3 days! The extra day was the icing on the cake! I didn't feel as if I had just gotten started and now it was time to leave :(
Being in Sturbridge was a good choice. The stitching room was wonderful - plenty of room to spread out my stuff, but also able to get up and look at what everyone else was doing. The food was excellent and so conveniently close. I loved having Bush Mountain Stitchery and our Secret Vendors right on hand for my shopping pleasure.
I stayed at The Lodge. The downside was leaving late at night having to deal with the icy sidewalks and driveway to get to my room. But the room was reasonably priced and clean.
I stitched my heart out, and actually finished the piece I was working on - Jeannette Douglas' "Four Seasons of Mystic" - just before I left Friday night! Amy took the picture of me with my piece (thanks again, Amy).
Thanks for a fantastic retreat, as always. I can't wait for next year!
Hugs,
Bev
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“This was only my 2nd retreat (the 1st being the Spooky Retreat in Mystic - Oct 2012), but I felt as if I'd been coming to these for years! Your enthusiasm and energy make these events so much fun! I loved my door prize, and all the wonderful stash!
I got to the retreat Thursday and stayed until Saturday morning. I was fortunate to have a room right in the inn, which proved to be extremely comfortable! And oh my goodness, the food! YUM! The staff were nice, especially the gals at the front desk.
I loved getting to know many of the stitchers better, and feel I came away with some new friends (fortunately one of them wasn't Ebenezer!). For my first alumni retreat, and first time in Sturbridge, it was a total blast! I can't wait for the next one!
Christine F.”
(Christine with door prize from Rosewood Manor)
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“Just wanted to thank you again for a fabulous retreat! What a joy to spend 2 days with such nice people, enjoying one of my favorite hobbies. The “rest of the world” went away for 48 hours!
I know there is a lot of work to putting the retreat together, and appreciate all you do to make it so nice -- the food, the goody bags, the door prizes -- all great!
I will look forward to next year and think of you from Rome in October!”
Stephanie
(With door prize from Victoria Sampler)
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“Sue, a wonderful job, well done. I think everyone enjoyed it. I especially enjoyed the gentle ribbing that took place during the Olympics. It was so much fun hearing everyone cheering on their teams.
A huge thank you for that frog door prize, he will have a place of honour next to my stitching chair and hopefully keep the other nasty frogs away - you know what I mean - those other pesky frogs who come to visit and force us to “rip-it, rip-it.”
Warm hugs,
Louise
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“I just wanted to write my feelings about the absolutely wonderful retreat in February.
This was our second retreat. We loved it last year. We loved it more this year. Last year Sharron and I were made to feel very welcomed and we had a great time. This year, our 2nd retreat, felt as though we were welcomed back with open arms. We felt part of something so special. The friendships. laughter, conversation and of course all the stitching time were priceless. We are already counting down the days to next year’s retreat (347 in case you are curious!).
Sharron and I shared a room with 2 twin beds. The room was a lovely Victorian room. Clean and had plenty of room for us and all our stitching supplies. We loved being in the same building where we stitched and ate. We were able to wear our slippers all day and never needed a jacket! Not only was it convenient but it was cozy, pretty, clean and added to the special time we had.
We are looking forward to the many more “Stitchers Hideaway Retreats” to come. When Sharron and I get together now to stitch and we feel hungry, we now use our new favorite expression... “It’s time for a feeding.” We always would laugh, Sue, when you said it at mealtime!!!
Thank you for all your hard work that you put into making the retreat such a success. We loved every second...and we mean that literally!
We hope to see you soon.”
Hildie and Sharron
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“Just wanted to let you know that I had a great time at the alumni retreat in Sturbridge. I loved that you extended the retreat with an optional day. As always, everything was top-notch, especially the desserts. It was great catching up with old friends and hearing what everyone has been doing since we last saw each other. Looking forward to another retreat in the future. Many thanks for all the hard work you do to put the retreats together for us.”
Cynthia
(With selection of autumnal threads - door prize from Weeks Dye Works)
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“Well, I was told I had a smile on my face the whole time! Finished a project that I’d been working on for two years. Yeah! And got a good start on another. Pattern swap made me very happy, along with all the shopping options this year - Roberta’s stitching bags, Stitcher’s Hideaway shirts, and a “supply store” just steps away. And the food! OMG! Good food, good converation and beautiful (haunted?) Accomodations. What fun! A well-needed relaxing visit with friends. What could be better?”
Marie
(With door prize from Nordic Needle)
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“I had such a wonderful time in Sturbridge. Gave me something to look forward to through the winter. Our stay at the Hampton was equally as great. Food, outstanding. Looking forward to next year.”
Jan
(Jan with door prize from Victoria Sampler)
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Some of the stitchers participated in a stitching exchange!
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We had fun exploring the Publick House!
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And that, my friends, is how we spent our time together at the Stitcher’s Hideaway Winter Escape and Alumni Addicts Day!
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And this was me at the very end.....Going...going...going...gone! Zzz-z-z-z-z-z-z-z!
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See you at the next retreat!
Sue
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