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Updated 7/31/2023

Upcoming Retreats:

Halloween Drum Class!
Featuring Thea Dueck of Victoria Sampler.
October 23-24, 2023 in Sturbridge, MA!
Registration Now Open!

Making Memories in Mystic 2023!
December 7, 8 & 9, 2023
Mystic Hampton Inn & Suites, Mystic, CT

Three days and nights of stitching delight!  A special holiday treat!
Registration Now Open

Winter Escape 2024!

February 19 - 23, 2024 in Sturbridge, MA.

Two to Five days and nights of stitching delight!
Save the Dates

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July 31, 2023

Hello Stitchers!

It’s been a busy summer here as preparations are being made for our October Trick or Treat retreat with Thea Dueck from Victoria Sampler!  Thea is coming out of teaching retirement  for this special Halloween-themed class where we will be stitching her Spooky Treats design with instruction on how to finish it as a drum roll.  There are only 12 spots left, so please contact me as soon as possible to register!

SpookyTreats-DrumPincushion1

Although the summer heat is here, we are preparing for winter and our annual  Making Memories in Mystic retreat.  We will be enjoying three days of stitching fun on December 7, 8 & 9 at the cozy Mystic Hampton Inn & Suites.   Last winter, we had a great time meeting new stitching friends, sharing our show-n-tell projects, and having lots of door prizes, good food & doing our favorite thing - stitching!  See our 2022 Making Memories in Mystic Fun Report for a peek at the fun!

2022 MMM Group 2

Enjoy the summer fun and hope to see you at a retreat soon!

Jen

 

January 12, 2023

Happy New Year Stitchers! Last month we were at the 3-day 2022 Making Memories in Mystic Retreat, and what a great time we had!  It was a really fun kickoff to the holidays as we gathered for stitching, fun and food!  We had an amazing variety of projects being worked on in both needlepoint and needlework.  A few of us had finishes during our time together and we were all so excited for each one! We also had an impressive session of Show and Tell and an optional gift exchange  and what wonderful door prizes!!  We can hardly wait for next year to do it all over again!

Jan_Kringle_Finish

Jen_Sue_NY

Jeannette_WIP

Next up is the annual  Winter Escape Retreat  on February 20-24 in Sturbridge, MA!  For this retreat you can choose from 2 up to 5 days of stitching, shopping, great food and fun!  Registration is already opened and registrations are already coming in, so don’t delay in sending in yours!

In addition, I’m so excited to tell you that Thea Dueck of the Victoria Sampler will once again be coming to Stitcher’s Hideaway to instruct.  She is designing a Halloween Drum project that is sure to be spectacular.  The class will be held Monday & Tuesday, October 23-24, 2023 in Sturbridge, MA.   More information will be coming soon, so Save those Dates

Happy Stitching!
Jen

October 2022

Happy Halloween Stitchers!

We had a spooktacular time at our Spooky Retreat at the Publick House in Sturbridge, MA this month!  Stitchers enjoyed dressing in Halloween and fall theme attire  while working on their choice of projects, spooky or not. The Publick House served our delicious lunches and dinners. Then,  the evening entertainment included door prizes, a spooky themed gift exchange, show and tell, Halloween bingo and even a visit from Frank E. Stein showing of his favorite spooky stitches!

Next, we are getting ready for our Making Memories in Mystic where stitchers will be staying cozy while stitching and enjoying the holiday atmosphere in charming Mystic, CT.  It was just so enjoyable last year that we’ve been looking forward to going again all year!  It was a much-appreciated, relaxing pause with friends before the busyness of the holidays. 

Winter Escape 2023 registration is now open!  Attendees choose from 2 to 5 days to escape together in the middle of the winter for stitching, stash enhancing, fantastic food, and more!  This event has grown each year, so register early to hold your spot!

Happy Stitching!

Jen

 

July  2022

Hello Stitchers!

YAY!!!    Stitchers Hideaway is back up and running!  First, last December a small group gathered for the annual Making Memories in Mystic retreat, and then a larger group gathered for the 2022 Winter Escape Retreat.  And now we’re ready to forge full steam ahead!   

First up is the Stitchers Hideaway Spooky Retreat on Monday & Tuesday, October 24-25!  I’m cooking up some spooky fun and surprises for the lucky attendees!   We’ll be gathering with the express purpose of catching up on our WIPs (works in progress) -- and if it’s a spooky design, all the better!   We will have access to our stitching room from 8 a.m. to midnight both days so that we can devote ourselves to being stitching fools, admiring each other’s work, and stash enhancement!!

Anything can happen during a Spooky Retreat! Costumes and mayhem are greatly encouraged, so bring it on stitchers!  And if you know me at all, you know I’m already plotting mischief for the weekend--mwha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!  

There will be an optional Spooky Stitching Exchange -- those who’d like to participate will gift wrap their spooky stitching to exchange with others.  

After our great pandemic pause – we are sure to have an amazing Show ‘n Tell of our projects!!  I can hardly wait to see it all!!

Randi from The World In Stitches will be on hand to provide us with spooktacular stash enhancement opportunities!! Wheeeeee!!!

Stitcher’s Hideaway retreats are very casual and relaxed gatherings.  You can stitch in your jeans, a Halloween costume, or stitch in your pajamas -- it’s all good!!  If you come by yourself, you’ll quickly find new stitching friends.   Come ready to have a great time!

Jump over to Spooky Retreat 2022 for all the details and registration information!

But wait….there’s more!!!    Save the dates! 

  • Making Memories in Mystic 2022:  December 1-3 in Mystic, CT!
  • Winter Escape 2023:  February 20-24 in Sturbridge, MA (register for 2-5 days and nights of stitching delight!

Get in on the Fun!!

   Jen

October 3, 2021

It’s been such a long time since our last retreat and I’ve missed everyone so very much!  I’m happy to say that Stitcher’s Hideaway will once again be hosting stitching retreats!  Our first being the Making Memories in Mystic retreat on December 2nd - 4th at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Mystic, CT. 

I had hoped to have a fall retreat this year but with the recent masking requirements and uncertainty with the latest COVID variant, it was difficult to prepare for a fall retreat.  In general, I’m planning retreats six months to a year ahead of time but it’s been such a rollercoaster this past 18 months that planning has been a challenge to say the least.  

The good news is that in addition to our Mystic retreat this December, we will also have our Winter Escape this coming February in Sturbridge, MA.   So please save the dates for February 21 - 25, 2022!

I hope you are all doing well and I’m looking forward to seeing you all soon!

Happy Stitching!

Jen. 

July 3, 2020

Happy 4th of July Stitchers!! With the ups and downs this year, it encouraging to celebrate our great country’s birth and the people that make it great.  I’ve missed seeing you and hope you are doing well and enjoying plenty of stitching time!  These past four months, I’ve gotten a little stitching in between working from home and home-schooling the kids. I hope you have been able to get some projects done that you’ve wanted to complete.   Thankfully social media and on-line meetings have kept us connected and showing off the fun projects we’ve been stitching!  Retreat Alumni, please encourage us by sharing any projects from Stitcher’s Hideaway retreats on our Alumni facebook page.  If this is your first visit to Stitcher’s Hideaway’s newsletter, Welcome! and you can also see previous retreat projects on the Fun Reports page.  

Now there is some sad news to report.  Due to the restrictions from the pandemic and the potential for a resurgence in fall, I have canceled the Fall Frolic retreat for October 2020.   I hope to have Amy Bruecken teach again some time in the future but at this point we can’t say when that may be.  

I am hopeful that I’ll be able to host the smaller Making Memories in Mystic retreat this December and the Winter Escape 2020.   We will have to see how the summer goes and what requirements will be decided for events like Stitcher’s Hideaway retreats.  Safety is a top concern.  Please be safe and keep on stitchin’!

Happy Stitching!

Jen

December 31, 2019

This month we were at the 3-day 2019 Making Memories in Mystic Retreat, and what a great time we had!  It was a really fun kickoff to the holidays as we gathered for stitching, fun and food!  Some of us were working on Christmas presents, others trying to finish up some other works in progress, and some started brand new projects!  A few of us had finishes during our time together and we were all so excited for each one! We also had an impressive session of Show and Tell and an optional gift exchange  and what wonderful door prizes!!  We can hardly wait for next year to do it all over again! 

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Next up is the annual  Winter Escape Retreat  on February 17-21 in Sturbridge, MA!  For this retreat you can choose from 2 up to 5 days of stitching, shopping, great food and fun!  Registration is already opened and registrations are already coming in, so don’t delay in sending in yours!

I wish each of you a peaceful holiday season  and a great New Year of stitching adventures!

Jen

August 28, 2019

Are you ready for Pumpkin Spice everything?  I was just asked that the other day and thought “It’s way too early for autumn flavors!” but really, it is just around the corner.   So is STITCHER'S HIDEAWAY LADY’S WORKE BOX RETREAT on October 7-8, 2019.  Ellen Chester of With My Needle will be teaching her Lady’s Worke box project which has an embroidered panel on the front, and inside of the box lid. A hornbook threadholder with an embroidered panel, a Jacob’s Ladder needlebook with embroidered cover, a ribbon-embellished embroidered pincushion, and a three-sided scissors weight are stored inside. The box interior is lined with dupioni silk, and the lining has pockets for storing additional small items. Everything you need to complete all the pieces is provided, including a wooden hornbook threadholder, a wooden ruler, a wooden box, two threadwinders, and printed covers for making a small notebook!  Space is limited, so please contact me at stitchershideaway@outlook.com for availability.

We have our 3rd annual Making Memories in Mystic retreat coming up December 12th-14th.  This is a great time to relax with fellow stitchers and work on our own projects or finishing gifts.  The Hampton Inn in Mystic does a wonderful job of making everything cozy for the holidays -  plus it's right down the road from Olde Mystick Village with its many shops and holiday events.  Check out the fun we had last year in the Making Memories in Mystic 2017 Fun Report!

 Registration is also open for Winter Escape 2020 at the Publick House in Sturbridge, MA.   We've had such a great response that we are continuing with our optional Stitcher’s Hide-a-week.   You can choose from two days up to five whole days of stitching to your heart’s content, enhancing your stash with The World in Stitches needlework shop.

Welcome Autumn and Happy Stitching!!

Jen

June 17, 2019

It’s been a busy time here getting ready for two instructor-led retreats!

On July 15-16 - just 4 weeks from today -  Dawn Fisher of Morning Glory Needleworks will teach her  GRANDMA’S BUTTON BOX project, inspired by childhood hours spent playing in her own Grandma's button box. A Whitman's Chocolates box is used to create it, which means easy finishing and a homework assignment of emptying the box of its contents! The kit includes vintage buttons, which you can easily switch out to include your own heirlooms. We'll have an optional stitching exchange, Show 'n Tell, wonderful food and fun together! For our stash enhancement pleasure, Randi from The World in Stitches will set up shop. There are still some openings, so don’t miss out on some summer fun with fellow stitchers! 

Have you seen the amazing project Ellen Chester of With My Needle will be teaching us at the STITCHER'S HIDEAWAY WORKE BOX RETREAT on October 7-8, 2019?!?  When finished, the 5 ˝ x 9 x 7 high box is decorated with an embroidered panel on the front, and inside of the box lid. A hornbook threadholder with an embroidered panel, a Jacob’s Ladder needlebook with embroidered cover, a ribbon-embellished embroidered pincushion, and a three-sided scissors weight are stored inside. The box interior is lined with dupioni silk, and the lining has pockets for storing additional small items. Everything you need to complete all the pieces is provided, including a wooden hornbook threadholder, a wooden ruler, a wooden box, two threadwinders, and printed covers for making a small notebook!  AN ADDED BONUS to the class are more than 120 images of antique worke boxes and their contents that Ellen will be showing!!!!

Did you know that you can read Fun Reports about all the great times we had at past Stitcher’s Hideaway retreats? The reports are loaded with pictures that any stitcher would enjoy seeing. Those who attended past retreats will be especially happy to hear that all the Fun Reports have now been converted to downloadable PDF files!  This makes it easier to read, but also allows you to download memories from past stitching adventures!

 

And here’s some more good news!  I have just opened registration for the third annual Making Memories in Mystic retreat, December 12-14 in Mystic, CT!  This perfectly timed stitching break before the holidays is just the best!  We bring whatever we’d like to work on and spend 3 glorious days hanging out with stitching friends, enjoying great meals, and having a fantastic time!  Get in on the fun!
 


See you at a retreat!

Jen


 

 

May 8, 2019

Happy Spring! 

The flowers are blooming all over here in Connecticut and all that color has me itching to do some beautiful floral designs.  However, I got a bit waylaid by a mishap with an evil vegetable peeler and had a pretty cut-up finger.  No stitches, but still made it hard to type, much less stitch.  Thankfully, my finger is on the mend and I’m ready to get back to my work-in-progress projects.  One of my favorites, ever since Stitcher’s Hideaway held its Kindred Spirits retreat with Ellen Chester in fall 2016, has been her gorgeous design of purple florals, bee skeps, and shepherdess and her lambs in the fields.

KS1 Ellen Teaching Connie1Plus, there is added incentive since Ellen Chester will be with us again this October in Sturbridge, MA.  Yay!!  She will be teaching her latest design, Lady’s Worke Box.   Her designs and finishing instructions are amazing so I hope you can join us!!

LadysWorkeBox

 

I am also thrilled to announce that we have the dates booked for our third annual Making Memories in Mystic retreat!  The dates are Thursday through Saturday, December 12 -14, 2019.   This is the second weekend after Thanksgiving but still plenty of time before the holidays.   It’s a wonderful gift of stitching time to yourself and/or an opportunity to finish any hand-made presents for loved ones!

MMM18 Misc 7MMM18 Group

Button Box

Don’t forget, we still have our two-day Button Box retreat this summer with Dawn Fisher for a creative and fun vacation project!

Did you know that Stitcher’s Hideaway is on Facebook?  Come visit us there!  https://www.facebook.com/Stitchers-Hideaway-115414615137367/

Happy Stitching!

Jen

 

March 3, 2019

Hello Stitchers!WE19 Class Group 8

We had a great start to a year of stitching adventures, beginning with the 2019 Winter Escape Retreat!

Over the five days at this annual retreat, 48 stitchers enjoyed working on their own favorite projects, spending time with fellow stitching enthusiasts, enhancing their needlework stash from The World In Stitches and Morning Glory Needleworks and having amazing meals at the charming Publick House Inn!

 

WE19 Class Group 20                                          WE19 FInishes Janice Meyers

Although the weather outside was cold and snowy, we had a wonderful time inside stitching to our hearts delight!!

As we get ready for warmer weather, we are excited to have Dawn Fisher of Morning Glory Needleworks come back to Sturbridge to teach her Grandma’s Button Box project! Those of us at the 2019 Winter Escape Retreat were able to see the beautiful stitched model!

      52854606_2315917158420424_7837920268403081216_n     Button Box

This is a great retreat for those who love the nostalgia and beauty of buttons and New England antiquing as this retreat is held on Monday and Tuesday, July 15th & 16th, right after the July Brimfield Antique & Flea Market, the largest in New England. For more information and to register, visit Button Box Retreat.

Then in the fall, we are thrilled to have Ellen Chester of With My Needle to teach her Lady’s Worke Box project!

 Check out the latest fun report from our Bling in the Holidays with Stitcher’s Hideaway retreat which featured Thea Dueck of The Victoria Sampler teaching her gorgeous Christmas

Happy Stitching!

Jen

November 10, 2018

Hello Stitchers!

Happy Autumn!   It’s been a long wait but the beautiful fall foliage finally arrived.  Now the leaves are falling fast and the air has that tingle of snow to it.    The holidays will be coming soon, but at Stitcher’s Hideaway we got an early start with our  in the Holiday retreat featuring a gorgeous Christmas tree retreat project designed by our amazing instructor, Thea Dueck of Victoria Sampler.   Stay tuned --  the Fun Report for this incredible retreat will be coming soon!

Making Memories in Mystic 2017We are getting ready for our second annual Making Memories in Mystic retreat this December 6-8 where stitchers will be staying cozy while stitching and enjoying the holiday atmosphere in charming Mystic, CT.  It was just so enjoyable last year that we’ve been looking forward to going again all year!  It was a much-appreciated, relaxing pause with friends before the busyness of the holidays. 




WinterEscape2018
There’s a lot going on in 2019!  First up is the annual Winter Escape in Sturbridge, MA on February 18-22.  Attendees choose from 2 to 5 days to escape together in the middle of the winter for stitching, stash enhancing, fantastic food, and more!  This event has grown each year, so register early to hold your spot! Read about last year’s Winter Escape!



tButton Box
Next up is the Stitcher’s Hideaway Button Box retreat
on July 15-16 - and Registration is now officially opened!
Dawn Fisher of Morning Glory Needleworks will be teaching her “Grandma’s Button Box” project, inspired by her own Grandma’s button box.  No construction is required because the box itself is a Whitman’s Chocolate box!  Students will provide their own box and as pre-work assignment will eat the chocolate!   
Get in on the fun!

 

LadysWorkeBoxOn October 7-8, also at the Publick House, Ellen Chester of With My Needle will be teaching her Lady’s Worke Box with its many wonderful accessories!  We’ll learn to make a needlebook with a Jacob’s Ladder binding, a pincushion, a three-sided scissors weight, and an embroidered panel for a wooden hornbook thread-holder. Registrations have already started coming in for this exciting class!
Click here for more info!

As the weather turns chilly, it’s always nice to think of warm summer days.   See how Stitcher’s Hideaway stitchers enjoyed this past summer in our A Mystic Summer Retreat Fun report!

Happy Holiday Stitching!

Jen

 

8/10/2018

Hello Stitchers 

TT_OChristmasTreeWSummer has been flying by and a lot has been going on here.  Thankfully the air conditioning has been running because it is hard to get in the winter mood when it's 90 degrees outside!  So with the chill of A/C I've been working on some holiday fun for our Bling in the Holidays retreat with Thea Dueck of Victoria Sampler.   Registration will be closing soon, so if you are interested please e-mail quickly to get in on the fun of this beautiful Christmas Tree project that Thea has so wonderfully designed!  

We also have our 2nd annual Making Memories in Mystic retreat coming up December 6th-8th.  This is a great time to relax with fellow stitchers and work on our own projects or finishing gifts.  The Hampton Inn in Mystic does a wonderful job of making everything cozy for the holidays -  plus it's right down the road from Olde Mystick Village with its many shops and holiday events.  Check out the fun we had last year in the Making Memories in Mystic 2017 Fun Report!

 Registration is also open for Winter Escape 2019 at the Publick House in Sturbridge, MA.   We've had such a great response that we are continuing with our optional Stitcher’s Hide-a-week.   You can choose from two days up to five whole days of stitching to your heart’s content, enhancing your stash with The World in Stitches needlework shop, checking out designs from Dawn Fisher of Morning Glory Needleworks and, of course, spending time with fellow stitchers!

Dawn Fisher will also be teaching her Grandma's Button Box at a new Stitcher's Hideaway retreat on July 15-16, 2019 at the Publick House in Sturbridge, MA.   We are so excited to have Dawn teach for us again and share about her love of antique buttons and the inspiration from her own grandma's button box for this design.   Participants are encouraged to bring their own buttons to personalize their project or to use the beautiful buttons supplied with this project.  Plus, the weekend prior to the retreat is the Brimfield Antique Show, one of the largest and well-known antique shows in the country!  If you've never been to Brimfield before, it is well worth the visit and it's just down the road from Sturbridge.   More information and registration will be posted soon.  

LWB I am happy to announce that registration is now open for the Stitcher's Hideaway retreat featuring Ellen Chester of With My Needle and her beautiful project,the  Lady's Worke Box.  For this project, you will make two embroidered panels and a silk lining for a wooden worke box. You will also make a needlebook with a Jacob’s Ladder binding, a pincushion, a three-sided scissors weight, and an embroidered panel for a wooden hornbook threadholder!  Ellen is an excellent teacher and you will receive clear diagrams and instructions to finish this gorgeous worke box.   

 

 So many exciting projects are coming up!  I guess I'd better get cracking on finishing up what I'm working on now!

 Happy Stitching Everyone!

Jen

 

July 4, 2018

Hello Stitchers!!

Summer is officially here with temperatures reaching near 100 degrees in New England!  That sounds like a great time to stay in the air conditioning and stitch.  

newsroom_photoI hosted my first official retreat last week - the Mystic Summer Retreat in Mystic, CT. It was a lot of fun thanks to Amy Bruecken, our instructor, who designed and taught her beautiful Seaside Sampler.  We were all able to finish our Whale Tail Scissor Fob and quite a few finished the Crab Pin Keep as well.  Amy then taught us how to use chalk paint to create our own custom frames plus tips for other chalk paint projects.  We were also able to pick up some adorable new projects from Amy€’s trunk show which highlighted her colorful and often humorous designs.   We then finished the retreat with a Lighthouse cruise!  Stay tuned for the full fun report coming soon!

So now, it’s time to think about some winter stitching!  Read about our Making Memories in Mystic 2017 retreat and the fun we had inside while the snow fell outside.   We enjoyed the time so much, we had to do another one!  I hope you can join us for Making Memories in Mystic 2018.  Come join us for our cozy time together in Mystic before the busyness of the holidays sets in.

There are a few openings left  for the Bling in the Holidays retreat featuring a gorgeous Christmas Tree designed by Thea Dueck of Victoria Sampler!  We are going to have some wonderful early Christmas fun together learning new stitches and blinging up our Christmas Trees!  

I have just officially opened registration for the 2019 Winter Escape (February 18-22, 2019) - yay!   I know many of us look forward to that time together all year long.  Even though summer is here, I’m already looking forward to next winter!

Happy  Stitching!

Jen

June 1, 2018

Hello Stitchers!! 

Summer is just around the corner and we are so excited for the upcoming  Mystic Summer Retreat The Mystic Summer Retreat will feature Amy Bruecken of Amy Bruecken Designs.   She has created a beautiful Seaside Sampler for this retreat, along with a whale tale scissor fob and crab needle keep!  Along with fun stitching, in class we’ll be painting our frames using an old chalk paint technique!   We’ve  added an optional two-hour Lighthouse cruise for the day after the retreat.  What a wonderful way to end our seaside-inspired retreat and welcome Summer!  There are still some openings for A Mystic Summer Retreat so don’t miss out on the fun!

Registrations are still coming in for  Bling in the Holidays with Stitchers Hideaway Retreat featuring a gorgeous Christmas Tree design by Thea Dueck of Victoria SamplerWe are going to have some wonderful early Christmas fun together learning new stitches and blinging up our Christmas Trees!  What’s it like taking a class with Thea?  Read about the 2017 Thanksgiving Retreat when Thea taught for Stitcher’s Hideaway.

Making Memories in Mystic - Come join us for our cozy time together in Mystic before the busyness of the holidays sets in!

Happy Summer Stitching!

Jen

March 7, 2018

Hello Stitchers!

We certainly had the best of times at the 2018 Winter Escape Retreat!  This was the largest group to attend so far and that just made it all the more fun!  It’s so inspiring to see what everyone is working on, what everyone has finished, and wonderful to see each other again and to meet new stitching friends.  We were so pleased to have 3 sets of mothers and daughters at this retreat! 

It was also really sweet to see more experienced stitchers helping others along -- especially Linda Marchand, who is like the Queen of Finishing!!  There are some of us that don’t know what we would do without her!

 

 

It’s been very exciting here with registrations coming in for both the Mystic Summer Retreat and the Making Memories in Mystic Retreat!  We are so pleased with the location we found for these retreats -- the Hampton Inn & Suites in Mystic, CT, just about a half mile from Olde Mystick Village and also close to Downtown Mystic.  The location offers us new things to explore before and after these retreats.  How fun!

The Mystic Summer Retreat will feature Amy Bruecken of Amy Bruecken Designs.  We really like her fun, colorful design style.  She has created the Seaside Sampler for this retreat, along with a whale tale scissor fob and crab needle keep!  What could be better for summer!  Also, Jen is working on lining up a lighthouse cruise for those who might be able to stay on an extra day!

This December we’ll be holding our second Making Memories in Mystic Retreat after having such a great time last year.  It’s three days and nights of stitching bliss working on whatever you’d like to - a perfect time to catch up on your stitching before Christmas, while enjoying some holiday fun with fellow stitchers!

And now....drum roll please...we’re opening registration for the Bling in the Holidays with Stitchers Hideaway Retreat!   Thea Dueck of Victoria Sampler has designed a gorgeous Christmas Tree for us to stitch and then bling to our hearts content!  You’ve just got to read the project description -- we’re going to have such a blast! Bring on the Bling!!

If you haven’t had the opportunity to take a class yet with Thea -- you are missing out!!  She is known internationally for her wonderful designs and her teaching skills.  She has a way of making us all comfortable no matter what our skill level is and no matter what needlework technique she is teaching.  Plus -- she is a lot of fun!

 


This is truly a year of stitching adventures and fun ahead!  Come join us!

Sue & Jen

February 6, 2018

We are getting VERY excited here as we fast approach the dates for the 2018 Winter Escape!  With 60 attendees, this is the largest Stitchers Hideaway retreat ever!  We can hardly wait to see everyone!   Let the stitching frenzy begin!!


Registrations have started coming in already for the Mystic Summer Retreat as stitchers make their summer vacation plans.  Designer Amy Bruecken of Amy Bruecken Designs has created the Seaside Sampler -- with scissor fob and needle keep -- just for this retreat.   It’s a perfect opportunity to enjoy some time along Connecticut’s beautiful coast, so spend some extra days before or after the retreat if you can.  We will be working with a tour group to set up a lighthouse cruise as an optional extra day with all those who can stay a little longer.  More details on that excursion coming soon.

And now for some more exciting news!   We have just opened up registration for the Making Memories In Mystic retreat on December 6-8, 2018!  This was such a fun time together in 2017 and we look forward once again to this cozy time together in such a fun location.  We did some serious work on our WIPs (works in progress) and enjoyed delicious meals from Mystic Market together.  We snuck away for some shopping adventures at Olde Mystick Village during the retreat, too!  Come join us for some pre-Christmas fun!

We know many of you have been eagerly awaiting news about the project for our Christmas Theme retreat on October 15-16 with Thea Dueck of the Victoria Sampler.  Thea is still in the design process for this project and we hope to have all the information by the end of this month.  Save the dates!

See you at a retreat soon!

Sue & Jen

 

January 18, 2018

Hello Stitchers!

We have just now opened registration for A Mystic Summer Retreat!  It will be held on June 25-26 in Mystic, CT, and Amy Bruecken of Amy Bruecken Designs will be our talented instructor.  Amy’s project for us is her Mystic Lighthouse-inspired “Seaside Sampler” with a Whale Tale Fob and Crab Pin Keep.  What a perfect summer stitching project!  Follow the links to read all about it, along with fun things to do in Mystic while you’re in town.  Summer is a great time to visit!  Registration is strictly limited to 24 attendees for A Mystic Summer Retreat, so register early to get in on the Fun!

And now....back to getting ready for the big Winter Escape next month! 

Jen & Sue 

 

January 1, 2018

Happy New Year Stitchers!

We have a wonderful New Year of stitching adventures planned!

First up is the 2018 Winter Escape on February 18-22 in Sturbridge, MA.  Attendees choose from 2-5 days for stitching on their own projects, stash enhancement, gathering with friends and meeting new ones, delicious food, laughs and fun!  We have just 3 openings left for this popular event!

On June 25-26 we have a perfect summer retreat planned with Amy Bruecken of Amy Bruecken Designs in Mystic, CT.  Amy’s project features the famous Mystic lighthouse and comes complete with a frame, a colorful whale tail scissors fob and crab pin cushion.  We are planning to add an optional day for a lighthouse cruise or another fun area excursion but will not be able to know what that will be until April or so when we will know date availability.  We will be opening registration for this retreat soon!

Thea Dueck of the Victoria Sampler is working on a very special Christmas-themed project for the October 15-16 retreat at the Publick House in Sturbridge, MA.  The suspense is killing us!  We’ll let you know once we have project photos to show you.

We are also holding another Making Memories in Mystic Retreat on December 6-8!  We enjoyed the location and time of year so very much in 2017 that we just have to do it again!

Here’s hoping that we all have a great 2018 filled with wonderful stitching memories!

Sue & Jen

December 17, 2017

Hello Stitchers!

Last weekend a group of us had a wonderful, warm and cozy 3 days at the Making Memories in Mystic Retreat in Mystic, CT!  It was just SO enjoyable and relaxing!  We stitched our fingers off, had fabulous meals, and generous fun packs and door prizes.  Some of us completely finished some works in progress!  We loved the hotel - the staff was so welcoming! Every night they had a hot chocolate bar for us!  There were special holiday events going on at Olde Mystick Village and many of us spent some time (and money-lol) there.  We had some surprise snow on Saturday and that just made it even cozier for us!  We enjoyed it so much that Jen & I have already picked December 6-8, 2018 for Making Memories in Mystic Again!

Right now we are gearing up for the 2018 Winter Escape on February 18-22.  There are only 7 openings left at the moment, so don’t delay registering any longer!  You must be registered in order to attend this private event and shopping experience.  And speaking of shopping, I am pleased to let you all know that The World in Stitches, owned by Randi Nelson, will set up shop for us the entire 5 days! 

As many of you know, Maeann and Gary of Bush Mountain Stitchery have filled the roll of providing stash enhancement at Stitchers Hideaway Retreats for quite a few years, but with physical challenges over the past two years they have made the decision to do strictly online sales.  You can still find them on their website as well as on the “BushMountain Stitchery Overstock Blowout Sale!!!” on Facebook.  Maeann is working with Randi to help her put together a great shop for us at the Winter Escape.

Jen and I have been plotting away with Amy Bruecken of Amy Bruecken Designs to plan out a very special summer retreat in Mystic, CT.  Amy’s project for us features the famous Mystic lighthouse and comes complete with a frame and accessories.  As soon as we have the project photos and all other information, we’ll post it and open registration. To be added to the mailing list to receive retreat notification, email Stitchers Hideaway your name and email address so that you can be kept in the loop.  The retreat will take place on Monday & Tuesday, June 25-26, but we also hope to add an optional day for a lighthouse cruise!  Unfortunately we can not book the half-day cruise until much closer to the summer so right now it is our dream to make it happen, or to plan another fabulous outing in its place! Jen and I know this area very well and have loads of ideas!

Thea Dueck of the Victoria Sampler is working on a very special Christmas-themed project for the October 15-16 retreat.  She’s described it to us and it’s killing us to wait to see photos of it -- lol!!  But we know it will be fantastic ....because... well, she’s Queen Thea!

So...we have a very busy 2018 ahead of us, and we hope that you can be a part of it!

Sue & Jen

October 17, 2017

I have SO much news to share! 

The Thanksgiving Retreat with Thea Dueck was FANTASTIC!!  The project was even more gorgeous in person then I could imagine.  44 stitchers gathered for this retreat from CA, CO, CT, GA, IN, MA, ME, MN, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA and Canada!  We learned so much and had a great time together.  We even had a Thanksgiving Dinner together with turkey and the works!  I’ll be working on a fun report to tell you all about our time together.

This group enjoyed Thea and her design and teaching style so much that they begged for her to come back again soon -- and I’m happy to say that will indeed happen -- on October 15-16, 2018 with a Christmas theme this time!  What fun that will be!  It will be quite awhile before I can post all the details, so until then -- hold the dates!

I have just opened up registration for Memories in Mystic - three days and nights of stitching bliss in Mystic, CT on December 7-9, 2017!  This is another Stitchers Gone Wild event -- no instructor -- just a wonderful room to stitch together in for 3 days and nights with delicious catered meals included -- in the wonderful Hampton Inn & Suites in Mystic, CT -- just about a half mile from Olde Mistick Village where we can get in some shopping and enjoy the Festival of Lights there on Friday evening!  The Village will be lit up with over 4,000 luminaries all along the walkways and there will be special music and entertainment.  I’m so looking forward to it!  I have Christmas stitching to get done, and what could be better then to hang out with stitching friends!   This retreat is limited to 24 stitchers.  First crack at registration will be given to Stitchers Hideaway Alum and then after November 1 it will be open for newcomers to get in on the fun!

At this moment there are still some openings in the 2018 Winter Escape.  It will be February before we know it, so get your registrations in and start dreaming of all the fun we have with stitching, stash enhancing, door prizes, Show ‘n Tell, and pecan sticky buns!  Mmmmm....    And crab cakes....Chicken Pot Pie....Yankee Pot Roast....oh, all those delicious favorites at the Publick House in Sturbridge, MA!

Several retreats are already in the works for 2018 and 2019 and you can have a Sneak Peek at them.  Once each is fully developed, details will be  posted and registration will be opened. 

And now on to some more great news!  During the next year I will be mentoring Jen Cane to eventually take over running Stitchers Hideaway!  I’m so happy about this because -- wow, I’m pushing 67 years old -- and I want to retire but I don’t want to stop seeing everyone or going to the retreats!   Now I won’t have to stop with Jen soon to be at the helm!  Jen has been helping me out for years behind the scenes.  She’s sweet, thoughtful, funny, enthusiastic, creative, loves needlework and getting together with other stitchers, and is one of my favorite people on the planet!  Many of you have probably already met her at the retreats.  I’m so excited about this!   I’ll be able to assist HER instead of her assisting ME!  YAY!!  And Jen and I are having so much fun working together! 

See you at a retreat soon!

Sue

 

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